An edge-of your seat thriller about two women- strangers on a plane- who disappear after sending texts to their friends about the same man. The story is riveting. The characters had me feeling for them. Suspension of belief comes into play; some parts are predictable and the POV switches aren't perfect.
The first half was tightly written and engaging, with just the right amount of backstory. Unfortunately, the second half lost some momentum. It read more like a checklist of Jasmine’s to-dos after the flight, and much of it felt repetitive, especially with the inclusion of texts we’d already seen earlier in the book.
The ending wasn’t a jaw on the floor moment for me as I expected. But it was worth the read and I would do it again. 3.75 stars.

Do yourself a huge favor and get this book. From chapter one, the pacing was lightning fast. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. So much so that I had to download the audiobook version so I didn't waste time driving because I had to know what was next. The twists were twisting, and the turns were insane! I had to pick my jaw up off the floor multiple times with this one. How have I never heard of Jessie Garcia?

What is with crazy long chapters in books? No, thank you. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I listened to this as an audio book and it was GREAT!!!! I finished it in two days I loved that it was told from multiple different points of view very suspenseful and kept me guessing right until the end ....I was a little disappointed with the way the book ended but still a solid five star read that you won't want to miss I loved it!!!!!

What an exciting debut novel!

This is one of those suspenseful books you can’t put down, even if your eye lids are desperately trying to tell you it is time to go to sleep. Just one more chapter. Just one more chapter.

Garcia breaks this thriller down into chapters told in the voice of named characters and provides the time period for which this part of the story is taking place, for example, the first chapter is titled, “Jasmine The Day of the Flight”. Subsequent chapters will may say how many days before or after the flight, etc. this helps the reader know the timeline of the book and to keep the characters straight throughout.

You may think you have this one figured out in the end, but don’t count on it! Jessie Garcia has a twist up that writer’s sleeve you won’t see coming. I can’t wait for novel number two.

First, thanks Netgalley for sending me a ARC copy. This book was a fast quick read with ALOT of twist I did not see coming. I enjoyed reading this book the characters were very engaging and the plot OMG! I love the fact that it was written in different POV's. Trent was annoying but I see why he played perfectly in the story. I absolutely loved this book; this was my first book by Jessie Garcia and I can't wait to read more.

The Business Trip totally hooked me at the start. The rotating POVs, the steady drip of new info, and that feeling that something just isn’t right, I was all in. It was fast-paced, twisty, and had me flying through chapters.

But once I hit the second half, it started to fall apart a bit. The tone changed, and instead of letting the story unfold naturally, it felt like everything had to be spelled out. The mystery that was so fun to piece together turned into pages of explanation.

Still, the premise is solid and the beginning is genuinely fun and suspenseful. I just wish it had stuck the landing a little better.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jessie Garcia bursts onto the scene with The Business Trip, a debut that delivers a suspenseful thriller full of psychological intrigue. The chance meeting of Stephanie and Jasmine on a plane propels a relentlessly tense and sharply written narrative. The expertly crafted twists and turns make this an utterly addictive read that’ll have you glued to the pages. The story's multiple perspectives flowed effortlessly, maintaining a gripping pace from start to finish. With its believable characters and fast-paced speed, this is a must-read! This book was easy to devour in just one afternoon.

I tried reading this book a couple different times thinking it was a mood issue but unfortunately decided to DNF for good after the 3rd try. I usually love a good thriller but this one just didn't work for me. I did not care about the characters, the intrigue wasn't enough to keep me turning the pages.

This book hooked me in the beginning with lots of suspense and twist. This is a book had lots of twists that had me guessing. The first half had me really excited to keep reading, but by the end I was a little disappointed in the twists and rushed pace. This was a good debut and I would read this author's next work as she has promise to right some twisty suspenseful novels that will keep you guessing.

The Business Trip is a fast-paced mystery thriller that grabs you from the start and keeps you on edge nearly the entire time. Jessie Garcia does a great job building suspense, pulling you into a tangled web of secrets and shifting perspectives that keeps you guessing. The story is compelling, the pacing is tight, and the audiobook is excellent—with a full cast of narrators that helps keep the various points of view distinct and engaging.

That said, the last 10–15% of the book felt rushed. After so much careful buildup, the ending seemed to speed by without sticking it’s landing. It wasn’t a bad ending, just not as fleshed out as I hoped it would be. For a story this engaging, I wouldn’t have minded an extra 50 pages for a more perfect ending.

Still, this was an enjoyable and quick read overall. If you’re into mystery thrillers and enjoy a multi-POV format, I highly recommend experiencing this one via audio.

What I liked: Felt like an episode of Dateline, with a chance encounter on a flight, stolen identities, murder, a dumped body, and revenge

What I disliked: The twist at the end was too far fetched and diminished the story’s overall quality

A fast-paced, flirty escape that’s equal parts drama and fun.
Garcia nails the tension and chemistry. It's like eavesdropping on a scandal you can’t look away from.

Thank you, St Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Business Trip.

What did I just read? The pacing and intrigue of the novel kept me coming back for more. I hated having to put this one down. The tension kept building and kept me guessing at what was going to come next. Recommend this if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing and wanting to come back for more!

The business trip, this was a tough story line for me to buy into. Two different women meet on a flight and seemingly the same man is their link.

I just found this to be quite separate story lines all of which I didn’t connect to. I wanted one to stand out and none did for me. I think the premise of two story lines coming together has been done in a cleaner way.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Wow! What a ride! This book kept me on my toes and reading wya past my bedtime. Very suspenseful with great twists!

Now this is the type of mystery/thriller that keeps you on your toes and turning the pages to see what happens next. This book is a whirlwind for sure. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending but overall it was quite the read!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I Loved how this was told in chapters with each characters POV. This allowed the plot to progress doling out a little more information with each characters recounting of events through their perspectives. Telling the story this way makes for a slow start but with each new perspective there is a moment that the reader is left wondering if they really know what is going on. You are left rethinking what you thought you knew with the addition of new information. The ending of this book was a true surprise for me because it never crossed my mind that it was even a possibility. Once I was truly hooked by the plot, I simply could not put the book down. I usually can see the end coming but this one was a real shock and I loved that the author was able to do that.
I will for sure be using that security lock at all future hotels that I stay at because I will forever more think of this book every time I stay at one. That scene will haunt my memory for the rest of my life!
Anyone who enjoys trying to predict the end will certainly love this book!

📚: #thebusinesstrip
👩: @jessiegarcia_author / @stmartinspress / @netgalley
📆: January 14, 2025
✍️: "The Business Trip: A Novel" by Jessie Garcia is a psychological thriller that follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who meet on a plane and then mysteriously disappear. Both women have been in contact with a man named Trent McCarthy before vanishing, leading to questions about his involvement and the nature of their disappearance. The story unfolds with twists and turns, exploring themes of manipulation, secrets, and the complexities of human relationships.
💭: One word describes this book - WILD. I swear I was like WTF is going on the entire time! I had no idea who was who, and this is one of the most fun thrillers I have read in a LONG time. It kept me super invested the entire book, and the ending was 🙌🙌🙌. Justice was served 💯. Loved the full cast of characters that helped build the confusion and suspense. Such a quick and fast-paced book - perfect for the beach! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, #Partner @stmartinspress and @netgalley, for my #gifted (free) copy. Available now!

I literally can not believe this is a #debutnovel because it reads like a seasoned author wrote this! It was so freaking good, and the twists and turns had my jaw on the floor multiple times! I had a hard time putting this one down. If you haven't read this yet, I definitely recommend this wild book.

Stephanie and Jasmine meet on an airplane. Stephanie is on a business trip, and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. The two women start chatting, and Jasmine has an idea that can solve all her problems, so she steals Stephanie's ID. A couple of days later, both women are reported missing. The lies and manipulation will have you guessing and guessing, and you won't have a clue what is actually happening! 4.5 stars.