Stephanie and Jasmine have everything and nothing in common. They don’t know each other, but both are on the same plane. Stephanie is traveling for work, while Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, both women send eerily similar text messages to their friends—texts about the same man, Trent McCarthy. What starts as a vague discomfort quickly spirals into something stranger, more unsettling, and increasingly erratic.

And then, just like that, both women vanish.

The texts stop. The red flags appear. Panic sets in. As authorities declare Stephanie and Jasmine missing and in danger, one question looms: Who is Trent McCarthy? What exactly happened between these women and this man—or, perhaps more troubling, what did they do to him?

In the first half of the book, I found myself intrigued but not fully engaged. There was a slow build, but something felt missing. I couldn’t quite connect with the characters at first, and though I was curious about what would happen next, I wasn’t yet hooked.

Then came the second half. I couldn’t put it down. The twists kept coming, and just when I thought I had the story figured out, I realized I was completely wrong. The plot was so much more clever than I expected, and I was left genuinely surprised by where it went. In the second half, I finally felt a deeper connection to the characters, even though they were decidedly unlikable.

The suspense ramped up to a level where I was on the edge of my seat, and the revelations—especially the final twist—had my jaw dropping. It was a fantastic, twisty read that kept me guessing right until the very end. The mystery of Trent McCarthy, and the dark undercurrents running through the story, made for a thrilling ride that I didn’t see coming.

A good read, just not my favorite type of book. Think you have it figured out and then there is always a big twist, no spoilers, but good overall.

I really enjoyed this book, it definitely kept me up really late because I just HAD to find out what happened to each woman. Who was finally going to solve the mystery and save the day. I had so many theories and still didn't figure it out. I love how the pieces all came together and I would totally recommend this boo to friends.

Can't wait for her next one.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a tense, fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With its layered twists, unreliable narratives, and a disturbing exploration of manipulation, the novel takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of suspense, making it nearly impossible to put down.

Tis was a quick read and a solid debut for Jessie Garcia. I wanted to read it because Frieda McFadden recommended it. The twists and turns were satisfying. I loved the pace of the story but the character development fell a bit flat. Lots pf POV's which got confusing.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an early release of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A twisty page turner and a clever plot line. Two women meet the same man and then stop contact with their friends. What happened to them?

I absolutely loved how the author spread out the timeline, and used different points of view through multiple narrators. This story had me guessing so much, and so poorly, about what wound happen next. The end was just so incredibly good.

Thank you St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Well, this was an addictive psychological thriller. It reminded me of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst or Kiersten Modglin... a popcorn thriller that keeps you guessing with a bit of a far-fetched, surprising ending. Two women, Jasmine and Stephanie, from Madison, WI take a flight to Denver. Both of them are trying to escape their lives in a way - Jasmine from an abusive boyfriend and Stephanie from her ho-hum life. Part 1 is from their POV, Part 2 jumps to several POV's from each of the women's lives and by the end of Part 2, we are wondering what the hell happened. Then we get to Part 3 and Part 4 where shit really hits the fan... nothing like what I was expecting. In a good way.

The Business Trip was fast paced, with the suspense building and building. A page turner that was hard to put down. Such a fun, entertaining read.

What a wild, twisty ride! Anytime I thought I knew what was going on, I was so, so wrong. This is a page turner, I couldn't wait to see how this played out - if you are looking for a fun, easy, page turning read this is for you! It was so good, it takes a lot to shock me these days but Jessie Garcia did it!

This was a unique premise, but it fell a little flat for me - I would recommend to lovers of the genre, but I don't think it was particularly memorable.

The first half of this book was good. Lots of intrigue and character development. however, the second half of the book where it was describing everything that happened felt like everything was too good to be true. Like everything worked out perfectly for Jasmine until it didn't. One plot hole that I noticed was wondering how Stephanie (Diana) would have checked into the hotel without an ID. I work for hotels so that is something I noticed, but wouldn't be noticed by the general public.

I also would have liked to see some of the reactions to how Jasmine was caught up to. what was Anna's thinking? Or the ex boyfriend? What about Lucy and Bruce? Or even Drake and his friends and family? we saw a lot of repetitiveness in the story from getting the same scenes from a couple different points of view, but it left out other perspectives when we were already getting multiple points of view.

I was intrigued by the story and before things fell into place, I was definitely wanting to know what was going on.

I plan to share this story with spoiler free edits on my instagram a few days before publication.

Jasmine and Stephanie have nothing in common: Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship while Stephanie is on a business trip for news directors. The two women meet when they're on the same flight. A few days later, they each text their respective friends about the same man, but something seems off.

I can't say too much else without giving anything away, but this was a very fun and fast paced read. After initial chapters from Jasmine's and Stephanie's POVs, we then switch to a rotating cast of characters from each of their lives, who are trying to piece together what has happened along with the reader. I felt like that was a really effective way to tell the story and the first half of the book was really strong. The second half was a little weaker, with what felt like a lot of coincidences/conveniences to explain some things, but the twist at the end was jaw-dropping and I did not see it coming. The epilogue was unnecessary but at least short. Overall, though, a great read for fans of suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller grips readers from the first page with a suspenseful plot and characters whose motives are as layered as they are chilling. The author crafts a vivid, dark atmosphere that heightens the tension, making every twist and revelation feel both shocking and inevitable. Full of unexpected turns, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat and lingers long after the final page.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book was okay. I found myself hooked in the first half, but the second half really lost me. I liked the multiple POVs of the situation. I felt like the story was a little unbelievable especially the ending. Overall this book was okay.

This was a fast paced quick read for me. It keep my interest and I thought overall it was really enjoyable.

This book kept me entertained throughout, and it was a pretty easy read. I do feel like the twist came out of no where at the end, and I wish it would have been something more believable with how the story ended.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jessie Garcia’s debut novel, The Business Trip, is a riveting psychological thriller that masterfully intertwines suspense and emotional depth. The story follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, whose lives intersect in unexpected and chilling ways during a seemingly ordinary business trip.

Stephanie is a corporate professional on a routine business trip, while Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. Their paths cross on a flight, and what begins as a chance encounter quickly spirals into a gripping tale of mystery and danger. After a few days, both women send identical, increasingly erratic text messages to their friends about a man named Trent McCarthy. Then, they vanish without a trace.

Garcia’s narrative is fast-paced and filled with twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The dual perspectives of Stephanie and Jasmine provide a rich, layered storytelling experience, allowing readers to delve into the complexities of their lives and the sinister events that unfold. The author skillfully builds tension, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

This novel explores the psychological manipulation and control exerted by Trent McCarthy. Garcia delves into the minds of her characters, revealing their fears, motivations, and the impact of their pasts on their present actions. This psychological depth adds a chilling realism to the story, making the characters’ experiences all the more harrowing.

The setting of the novel, from the corporate boardrooms to the shadowy corners of unfamiliar cities, enhances the sense of unease and suspense. Garcia’s descriptive writing brings these environments to life, immersing readers in the story’s atmosphere.

The Business Trip is a commentary on the vulnerabilities and strengths of women navigating dangerous situations. Garcia’s portrayal of Stephanie and Jasmine is both empathetic and empowering, highlighting their resilience and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.

Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip is a standout debut that promises to leave a lasting impression. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and relentless suspense, this novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Garcia has set a high bar with her first novel, and readers will undoubtedly be eager to see what she delivers next.

I had high hopes for this book. It started out slow for me, like I felt there was too much character fluff. But, as it got to the main part it grabbed my attention. There weren't many twist in my opinion. But the one at the end was very shocking!

🧳 Book Review 🧳

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: January 14, 2025

Rating: Not for me!

The plot had a lot of potential but I think what didn’t work for me as a reader were all the different POVs. They all started to sound too similar to our two main women, Jasmine and Stephanie.

I think if the chapters were shorter and we focused more on the two FMC rather than getting our information from side characters, then this book would have been a knock out of the park.

For fans of:
🧳 First Person POV
✈️ Multiple POV
🧳 Descriptive writing
✈️ Character study
🧳 A few twists

This was a really fun and twisty read that gave me all the similar feels of Julie Clark's thriller The Last Flight. The Business Trip is a quick read that kept me guessing until the very end. While there were a lot of points of view, the narrative was laid out in an interesting way, slowly and purposefully peeling back the layers of this thriller. There were some clues that felt overly obvious in the story, and yet, even then, I still didn't piece together the ending -- and I love it when an author manages to surprise me. For readers looking for a page-turner (and okay with suspending disbelief) this was a bingeable and entertaining thriller.

This book was a wild ride. Not knowing what was going on in the book kept me engaged in the beginning. Then the twists started to happen. I didn't predict any of them. I'm glad it didn't end the way I thought it would.

Stephanie and Jasmine happen to be on the same flight. One has everything and one has nothing.

This book is not to be missed.