The book starts out with Jasmine lamenting her lot in life. She has decided to run away and leave her abusive boyfriend behind. We also meet Stephanie who is in a rut in her own life and wondering about making some changes herself possibly. They meet on the airplane and things soon spiral off from there. There are multiple POV's in this book which made it interesting. You get to see what is gong on in Jasmine's head, along with what Stephanie is thinking. There were twists and turns and I wil not spoil those. I will say that the book was entertaining and I finished it quickly. I didn't care for Jasmine but still found myself engrossed in the story enough to keep reading. The conclusion was interesting.

What a creepy roller coaster ride. I felt like I was in the minds of the characters. The characters were written and realistic. I loved the premise for the story. Sitting by a stranger won’t be the same anymore.

Debut author Jessie Garcia has an interesting concept but it seems every possible plot twist has been added to make this a cumbersome mystery novel.

Jasmine Littleon is escaping a controlling relationship. Stephanie Monroe is on her way to a conference in San Diego, CA. They are on the same flight to Denver Co. Both have contact with TV station boss Trent McCarthy. Each chapter refers to the time based on the initial flight - day of, day after, etc.

The plot twists are sometimes misleading, sometimes so hard to believe yet always interesting. The ending really threw me for a loop. I hope her next tale has better editing.

When Stephanie is sent on a work trip to San Diego she engages in conversation with another woman sitting in her row. This is a common occurrence that happens every day but today is different and the woman might not be an ordinary woman. What happens next is hard to believe and will change everything for Stephanie.

Sorry for the poor synopsis as I really didn’t want to spoil anything, I have very mixed feelings on the book. It started off on the slower side but I could tell it would be a slow burn and assumed it would get better. About halfway through the story really picked up and I enjoyed how the story unfolded and provided an explanation for what happened at the start. Unfortunately, the ending was pretty disappointing. I found the author rushed it and it was a bit far fetched. This book had a ton of potential and to be a five star read but it turned into a bit of a let down. As I always say to each their own so give this one a chance and you may really enjoy it but for me it was just average.

This was a great book that had me hooked from the beginning. It was a fast read and I couldn’t put it down. I thought the writing was fantastic and loved all the twists and turns even if some were a little unbelievable. I would definitely like to read more books from this author. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC from Netgalley. I truly enjoyed this book.

I had an ARC of this debut novel from Jessie Garcia. It was a 48 hours copy & I just finished a book so I thought let me start this one. Initially I didn’t like Jasmine’s boyfriend. The descriptions of him and his treatment of her and others, created a despicable person and I almost stopped, but the jacket info about two ladies who went missing on a flight was too intriguing. I’m glad I didn't stop. I actually read into the wee hours of the morning, since you know summertime. Very creative plot for a debut novel. I loved the way it was written from various character points of view, which helped to keep everyone straight. Crazy ending that I totally did not expect. I can not wait to read more from this author.

This novel started out with such promise. I was instantly a fan of the characters and the writing. The storyline was well plotted at first and I anticipated an unexpected plot twist. Then, the book went off the rails. Disturbing revelations and murderous events soon took over the novel. Without revealing too many details, I lost interest as the mystery lost credibility. The ending was unsatisfying and without a resolution I could accept. I think it needs rewriting and editing. Sorry, but this was a disappointment.

Two women end up on the same flight together: one is fleeing a abusive relationship; the other is going to a business conference. Friends start to worry when they receive odd text messages from both women involving a guy named Trent. What really happened? This was a incredible debut novel and I am so thankful I got a chance to read it! This was a absolute twist filled ride, and just when I thought I had it figured out, I definitely did not. I loved the fast pace, the short chapters (for the most part) and the story in general. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to SMP for the eARC. I should have known when I saw a one word blurb from Frieda McFadden. Unfortunately, this was hard to stomach. The writing was on par (or below) wattpad standards. I did not enjoy this and would not recommend it. I tried to stick with it thinking some of the writing was a character choice - but all POVs were poorly written and painful to read.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia was a bingeable popcorn thriller, easy to consume and kept the pages moving along. The twists in this one weren't ones I saw coming, but I also wasn't side-swiped by them either. It was like a hazy picture that got clearer the more I read. I really liked the plot concept and had fun trying to solve the puzzle. The only thing that I had a hard time with was the characters. Each person felt like a thin layer representation of a type of person and not a fully formed person. If you are looking for a quick read, beach thriller with a solid mystery to solve then I would recommend this one.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing the digital book in exchange for my review. I appreciate you!

Thrilling and fast-paced! This was great for a debut. I thought the storyline was interesting and I wanted to know the outcome immediately. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I did not move from my spot until I read the last page, and by then I was completely shocked from the turn of events. I did not see it coming at all!

This was a pretty good twisty story! I can say that I enjoyed Jasmine until the very end, it had me rooting for anyone but her. I didn’t like Stephanie at first and disliked her more at the end. Trent was just disgusting, as he was meant to be. I loved all the twists, great story!

Thanks to net galley for an advance copy. Finished in one day - lots of twists and turns and thoroughly enjoyable. I don't usually read thriller/mysteries but that just may change!

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Jasmine Littleton has a problem: her live-in boyfriend, Glenn, is abusive. But Jasmine has a plan, one that she’s executing in the wee hours of the morning. She’s planning to head for Denver . . . a place she hopes no one will find her.

On the plane, she meets Stephanie Monroe, a WISC newsroom director headed for a conference in San Diego. The two women pass the time in conversation and Jasmine is able to relax a bit, believing she’s escaped Glenn’s abuse.

But after the conference, strange texts are sent, calls are not returned . . . and soon the two women have vanished.

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Strong, believable characters populate this spellbinding tale of a woman desperate to escape her abusive life. With suspense building on every page, the telling of this tense and unpredictable tale transmits an undercurrent of anxiety that keep readers guessing.

Told from several points of view [mainly Jasmine and Stephanie], the unfolding story is both gripping and unpredictable. As the plot twists and turns, what seems, at first, to be a simple airplane flight changes everything for both women and keeps readers turning the pages as fast as possible.

Readers who enjoy psychological mysteries will find much to appreciate here as the narrative races toward a satisfying denouement they aren’t likely to expect. The narrative’s compelling sense of place, its formidable mystery, and its captivating premise work together to weave a tapestry that is an extraordinary, unputdownable tale . . . don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#TheBusinessTrip #NetGalley

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin Press..

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review

Two women meet on a plane and end up missing. They are a business woman and a woman running from an abusive relationship. Their friends start receiving strange texts from them before their disappearance. It is a tale of mystery that will have you wondering what really happened to them. An edge of your set thriller that will have you glued to your read.

What a twisty debut! I couldn’t put this book down, and read long into the night until the end. Stephanie and Jasmine meet while on the same plane. One is headed to a conference and one is running from an abusive relationship.. This plane trip changes both of their lives and we are all along for the ride. There are lots of twists and turns but the final twist was a surprise. Each chapter is told by the point of view of a different person so we learn a lot about our ladies’ pasts and their relationships with others. It helps to explain why they are how they are and helps to explain their motivations for their actions. I can’t wait to read future books by this author.

As the story progressed and the truth about Stephanie and Jasmine's disappearance unfolded, it looked like the villain's plan was succeeding. Up until almost the end of the book, I thought I might get the ending I hoped an author would have the courage to write -- where the villain wins and there is no prospect of a sequel were good triumphs over evil. Alas, it was not to be. However, the story is quite good, with plenty of suspense and surprises. There were aspects of the ending that were predictable but also aspects that I would never have guessed.

Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Traditional format (digital). The Business Trip is a thriller debut from Jessie Garcia that had me turning pages late into the night! This story was told from multiple POVs with changing timelines and had all kinds of twists and turns from beginning to end.

What I liked:
-I liked the changing POVs and timelines throughout the book - it added interested and dimension to the plot by mixing around the timeline shifts and POVs
-Fast paced with lots of plots twists and non stop action
-The book was just the right length for me. I don't like when author's add unnecessary filler to drag the novel out and while this one has 352 pages I didn't feel anything needed to be cut out to shorten it.

Areas for improvement:
-I didn't love the ending especially the epilogue. It just fell a little flat for me and was a letdown after all the action.
-I know this is an ARC but there we a few word errors that stood out for me. I generally don't notice this when reading ARCs but at least twice in the book they made me go "huh?"

I am really picky about thrillers and can usually guess the plot twists a mile away but this book definitely kept me guessing and engaged until the end Overall, this was a solid thriller. I give this a 4/5.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read! Jesse Garcia does a great job of jumping right in and getting into the thick of it. The story moved fast with several “wait what?,” moments. I kept asking myself if I actually knew the main characters or if I was being bamboozled. I liked the nice clean ending. It was satisfying not being left on a cliffhanger. I didn’t want to put it down and finished it in like two days. I cannot wait to read more of Jessie Garcia!