4.5 stars!!

This was WILD. The premise of this was so intriguing and the execution was fantastic. I had so many theories and while I was right about one of the twists- the final one got me. I had NO idea it was coming and that is one thing I love most in a thriller!

The characters were almost all horrible people- a testament to how well written they were that I hated them so much.

Go into this one blind and enjoy the ride!

The book starts off strong with Jasmine leaving the house before her husband wakes up. She has tried to leave him twice but has failed. But this time she has to succeed. She cannot live with her abusive boyfriend.

Stephanie, the news director, is flying to another work conference. Why is she always the one who has to attend meetings and conferences all over the country?

Two women sit next to each other on a plane. They exchange life stories and then leave, but their paths cross in a very unexpected and unusual way.

Very suspenseful story. Both women fly on the same plane, split up and go to different cities, where they presumably meet the same handsome but controlling man. From that moment on, everything starts to get complicated.

I thought I knew where the plot was going pretty early on, but the twist surprised me. This was an intriguing and exciting book to read.

This was a wild ride. If you're a fan of Freida McFadden you will enjoy this, if you don't like that style of writing, I would steer clear.

Stephanie and Jasmine board a plane at the same time. Both have secrets and both will soon go missing.

This one was super cool and I was so invested for about half of it. The characters were unique. I felt so bad for Jasmine. Her back story really pulls on your heartstrings as she flees from an abusive relationship. Stephanie is more stuck in her life and just looking for a little break. The story is told in an interesting way where you focus in on whatever POV you have going at that moment, which hides so much of what is really going on under the surface. It was around 50% through that I started to not be so invested in the story. There was a lot of telling of what was really going on that I don't think I needed all of. The twists were fun! And I really liked where the story was going but didn't need the scenes in different POVs to still be invested in the story.
The side characters really made this story for me. Their panic comes through strong when Stephanie and Jasmine go missing. That kept my heart pounding for those early scenes. Overall, I liked the narration and the concept, but wanted a little less of the explanation.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

The Business Trip was an interesting ride but not one that I would recommend for all. The storyline sounded intriguing and started off okay, however the twists were a little too twisted. I understand wanting to have "the big twist" but the last one kinda made everything fall apart for me.

The Business Trip threw me for a loop. I thought I had it pegged. And then I thought - incorrectly again - that I had it all figured out. I was very wrong. And I was eating it up. And then the final twist? It was so unreliable to me that the entire storyline fell apart. I get that we want shocking twists, but please, make them make sense.

SOOOOOOOO good. This book grabbed me from the very first page. It had so many terrifying Dateline moments that I could not put it down. A must read for sure.
I finished this a few weeks ago and the plot is still coming back to me! So good!

Stephanie and Jasmine don't know each other but they are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends and coworkers eerily similar messages exact messages about the same man. But how could that be? What is really going on? How are their stories linked?

It's best to go into this one blind. I originally read the synopsis and thought it sounded good, but by the time I got around to reading it I had forgot some of the details. That is a good thing as you can be left in the dark right along with the people Stephanie and Jasmine leave behind.

The book opens up with brief introductions to Stephanie and Jasmine and what is immediately going on in their lives. Then they're both off on a trip and we are left in the dark as to what happened to them. It's not immediately clear to friends and coworkers that something bad happened but something is definitely off. Only the reader knows that there are two women to worry about.

I like the way the story is told. Anxiety and mystery is created through texts. We see everything from these other characters' perspectives. It's chilling thinking about it. The characterization of some disagreeable characters is done well.

The perspective shifts later on to another character and we begin to learn what happened from another point of view. Parts of these chapters dragged a little and there was extensive detail on some of their activities that I didn't care to read about.

The truth about everything is a little over the top and unbelievable but I think it's meant to be that way. I found myself laughing a little at the villain's last words. There is one final twist that I enjoyed very much despite it not being realistic. It does give you something to think about though....

If you want to read a thriller that's told in a different way then The Business Trip is for you!

3.5 stars

The Business Trip started off strong and I was interested pretty quickly but the last half became a bit of a struggle to finish. I didn't really enjoy all the differing points of view and something about the writing style just kind of bugged me. There were a lot of twists that were surprising and kept me guessing where it was going. The final twist thought for me was a bit much and I didn't love it. Three stars from me and would recommend for anyone to give it a try. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty solid debut thriller, with lots of twists and turns. This is about two different women who have nothing in common except that they are both on the same flight. A few days after the flight friends receive messages about meeting someone named Trent McCarthy and then the two women disappear.

I’m a bit conflicted on this book because some parts seem well-written and engaging, then in the middle/end it was a confusing mess and the twists were quite predictable. This is a quick read and I feel with thrillers a 3 star can scratch the itch. It is a fun ride, and a quick read. I’d recommend it to fans of McFadden, but want something a bit different.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.

Started off strong but I struggled the last half or so. Lots of twists and I did enjoy the story just not the writing style. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

3.75 stars

It was a solid 4 until the very end. There was one aspect of the ending that unfortunately lost me just a little bit. Still, for a debut thriller, this is largely a good one. I really enjoyed the various perspectives and how the story unfolded.

Wow! ... just wow! What a debut from Jessie Garcia, but she hit it outta the park with this one. I couldn't put it down from start to finish. I loved the unique construction of the novel, and the relatable characters, from several points of view but it did not get confusing.

With more unexpected twists than a bag of pretzels, I thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding of the mystery and how the main character Jasmine put it all together. The ending was yet another shocker with this unexpected reveal.

Watch out Freida McFadden, you've got some competition here. Best wishes in future endeavors, Jessie Garcia. This will be a hard act to follow.

Get your copy Jan 14, 2025 at your favorite retailers or pre-order it today!
My thanks to St Martins Press, a favorite publisher - provided through NetGalley for the e-arc.

So messy and thrilling. You truly didn’t know what would happen next. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt completely on the edge of my seat from a thriller.

Wow!!! What a wild ride. This was a great read.
The first half was kinda slow to me, but I was still really invested in the story. Now.. the second half!!! I could not put the book down!! I really thought I had this all figured out, but I did not. This was such a twisty read and I would definitely recommend it to my fellow thriller lovers!!

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia tells of two very different women who meet on an airplane, and within a few days each sends similar text messages to her friends about meeting the same man and deciding to go off with him. Not alarmed at first, the friends become more concerned when the messages become odder and imply that their friend is in danger. Then the messages stop. The women have vanished, and panic sets in for those who care about them.

This is a skillfully written, riveting, and suspenseful read with an intricate and complex plot. You may think you have it figured out, but you will be proven wrong again and again. Surprises all the way with this one! It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel, and it definitely makes the author one to watch. I'm already looking forward to her next book!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 1/14/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own and are freely given.

The Business Trip is a debut novel about two women on the same plane who go missing. Stephanie is heading to a conference in San Diego. Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. They don’t know each other, just sit in the same row of the plane. But days after the flight, friends receive identical messages from each, about meeting someone named Trent McCarthy.
The story is initially told from multiple POVs, which keeps the first half of the story moving at a brisk pace. I was especially engaged by Stephanie’s co-workers. Liking this story comes down to being engaged by the twists in the plot. The first twist fell flat for me. The second half of the book is told from a single perspective and became a recital of how things occur. Another negative. After that, I found myself skimming. The big reveal at the end was really bad and was the final nail in the coffin.
I’ve said it before, I don’t mind if a character is unlikeable as long as they’re interesting. And this one wasn’t. The character also comes across as inconsistent and unbelievable.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Wow what a mystery thriller this one is! When I started reading this one I never expected to be totally consumed by it. To say I did not want to put it down is such an underwhelming statement. I truly did not want to do anything else but read it. In the beginning you meet Jasmine who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. A chance encounter on a plane puts her in the seat next to Stephanie who is going to California on a business trip. If that sounds familiar it is but this one goes so far beyond what chance encounters can be. Just when you think you have all the clues, guess again. Jessie Garcia is a master at character development, thinking outside the box and storytelling. If I could give this book 10 stars I would. Rarely am I so impressed with a story. I totally look forward to her next book.

I wish to thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Business Trip is a stunning and accomplished thriller that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. The story follows two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, who have nothing and everything in common. Stephanie is on a business trip, while Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, leading to a series of intense and intriguing twists. Garcia's characters are hugely relatable, making the addictive storyline even more compelling. The plot is expertly woven, with surprises that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you devouring every word written. The Business Trip is an impressive debut from Jessie Garcia. If you enjoy twisty, fast-paced mysteries, this is a must-read. Garcia's writing is engaging, and her ability to craft relatable characters and unexpected plot turns makes for a thrilling read.
I look forward to more exciting releases from this talented new author.

The writing style did not work for me. I'm sure other readers might click with it more. There was too much info dumping and telling not showing going on and so the flow felt off and I couldn't get into it and had to DNF.