The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

Summary:
"A stunning and accomplished debut, with hugely relatable characters and an addictive storyline that kept me turning the pages well into the night. Bravo!" --BA Paris, New York Times bestselling author

"Wow, The Business Trip was nonstop twists and turns. I loved the unusual way that the story was told, and I kept reading all day long because I couldn't wait to see how it ended!" -- Freida McFadden, New York Times bestselling author

THE BUSINESS TRIP is the gripping, page-turning debut from author Jessie Garcia.

Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but 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 the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women— or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, The Business Trip takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?

Review: 5-star
Wow, what a trip this book takes you on. The ending is not how I saw it ending. Once you start reading the book engages you so much you can’t stop until you’ve finished the book. One of the best page-turners I’ve read so far this year. The flow of the storyline is perfect, editing is spot on.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others: YES
Would I buy this book as a gift: YES
Would I read other books written by this Autor: YES

This was wild! I never would have guessed the twists. I don’t know how these authors come up with such awesome stories and weave them together so well!

I couldn't put this book down! Although I spent the first half of the book assuming I knew the plot, I enjoyed "the ride" anyway. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, the story took a completely unexpected turn. I loved all the twists and turns and thought the story was very clever. I enjoyed seeing the story evolve from many (even minor) characters' points of view. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this debut novel. I look forward to reading more from the author. Highly recommend this book. I think it would be the perfect vacation read.

This book definitely impressed me! I wasn’t sure where the plot was going but it really picked up as it went and I enjoyed it very much. Will definitely be recommending to others!

A thriller that keeps you guessing! It really held my attention but when the story shifted to the narrative of the main character (being vague to avoid spoilers!) I felt that things lined up a bit too easily for tings to unfold the way that they did. Overall it is a good read and I would recommend it.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia. I was torn between 3 and 4 stars, but rounded up Because it was so NOT what I was expected. Just wild. Big twists at the end, I was expecting one thing, but not the other. This was a nail biter for sure and a super fast read. More narrators than I think I’ve experienced, but it worked. Definitely a jaw dropping thriller. Heavy or the details which at first seemed too much, but then good bc it weaved the viewpoints together well.

Are all business trips like this one? The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is definitely not what I expected. Boy am I glad I received this ARC.
Two women Stephanie and Jasmine meet on a plane to San Diego. Stephanie a news director divorced with a son she never sees. She has a beautiful apartment ,a cat and a bestie neighbor Robert. Yet something is missing. Then we have Jasmine who is no where in the class that Stephanie is in. She is escaping an abusive relationship a mediocre job with not way of turning her life around. She needs a new life away from her old one.

Once both women are gone their friends are receiving texts saying they have met someone. A man named Trent McCarthy who is also at the news conference. Robert and Jasmine’s friend Anna feel something is way off. Could they be right? What happens when these three lives mix brings on nothing but trouble especially for Trent. As I read this book I thought of cat and mice. Yet we don’t know who the cat was or who the mice were. It truly kept me guessing till the end. I couldn’t put it down. Especially when you throw in so called friends from the past.

This book was thrilling and suspenseful. The things people will do to be someone else. Makes me wonder who will be sitting next to me on my next trip.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the Arc. Thank you Jessie Garcia for a well written book. Looking forward to reading more from you.

ARC Review for The Business Trip-Debut novel by Jessie Garcia
Pub Date: January 14, 2025

READ. THIS. Book! You won’t be able to put it down. Be ready for the hurriedly flipping of pages into the wee hours.

Two women from very different walks of life, find themselves dreaming of an escape, a new and much different life than they lead now. These dreams are just short hours before they both board the same flight. They find themselves sitting next to each other with an empty middle seat as one heads to a business meeting in CA and the other to an unknown destination in CO.

Days later, friends and coworkers, fearing the safety of each of the women, find themselves dragging into a text messaging, AI nightmare that becomes all too real when an Atlanta businessman is charged with their disappearance and murders. There is forensic evidence!

But the twists have only just begun. The story heads away from the Atlanta death location to Mexico and back to CA. Can’t give away too much—but the main questions to keep in mind: Who is dead, who is missing, who is to blame?

I loved Stephanie Monroe-Director of News in Madison, WI. She works too much, is alone after a divorce, and has a limited relationship with her adult son. She is stuck covering all the business trips because she is single. She must leave her beloved cat, Freddie, AGAIN with her best friend and neighbor, Robert. I could see myself in her. Dreaming of a better life with less work and having the best gay boyfriend next door.

Jasmine was the character, you loved to hate. She kept putting herself in bad relationships with bad men. She settled for working in a bar and only dreams of escaping the latest evil boyfriend and having a cute apartment again. She has a few good friends, but no family support. I felt for her as she is awakened to a pillow over her face and laughing from the current naked boyfriend.

I asked myself on behalf of each of these women, do we make our lives or are our lives mapped out for us before we even have any real choices?

The story is filled with outrageous texts, AI audio and at times the responses of family and coworkers are humorous. Robert made me laugh on several occasions as he lived vicariously through Stephanie. Go For It, Girl! Love it!

Five Stars! Get your copy on Jan 24, 2025! A must read!

Net Galley and St Martin’s Press have provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wow, this book is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you know what is going on another one comes along to shock and surprise you. I tried to go to sleep tonight, but ended getting back up so I could see how this ended. Excellent book.

This started off strong, with an interesting plot. Unfortunately, it quickly fell off the rails around 40% and was wholly outlandish and unbelievable from that point forward.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Jessie Garcia’s debut was truly a page-turner. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good suspense. The twists were very enjoyable.

That said, going on the journeys with the heroines was not easy. It is hard to explain why without giving away some details, but I found myself wincing at the terrible choices that (beep) made. Watching (beep)’s downfall take shape was not pleasant.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Really enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the different POV. I was drawn in from the beginning and found it hard to put down. The book starts with Jasmine and her escape from her abusive husband, Stephanie- a middle aged news director who is going to a work conference. There are quite a few twists that you do not see coming, all the way to the end.
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND and will now watch for this author!!!

The Business Trip is a thriller about Stephanie and Jasmine. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is leaving an abusive relationship. They travel on the same flight. They text the same things to friends and then they both vanish.

I wanted to read this novel because it sounded like an exciting thriller. It was! There is the mystery of what happened to Stephanie and Jasmine and who Trent McCarthy, the mysterious man, is as well. This was a fascinating read with strong characterizations that I recommend for other fans of fast moving thrillers.

THE BUSINESS TRIP was a fast paced and creatively written thriller, with multiple POVs and timelines. The positives were many - a very twisty and easy to read story, a plot that pulls you along compulsively, and an overall highly entertaining and engaging novel.

There were a few times when the plethora of characters got confusing and the two main male “villains” were characterized so similarly and stereotypically that it was laughable at times how over the top they were. The ending also felt rushed and while it was probably meant to feel like a literary mic drop, it was just surprising that it ended there.

Overall, still enjoyed this one and breezed through it - would definitely read the next one from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review THE BUSINESS TRIP.

This book is for sure dark and twisty but I enjoyed it!! It will definitely be purchased for the bookshelf and to do a reread.

Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me. I was intrigued by the plot of the story, and do wonder how it was going to resolve, but the many points of view felt unnecessary and confusing.

I was excited to read this because of the other positive reviews, but it fell flat to me. The voice wasn't my favorite, and I didn't find myself getting pulled into the story in the way I wanted to be. I wanted it to be unputdownable, but unfortunately I was able to put it down very easily.

Jasmine is running from an abusive relationship when she meets Stephanie on a plane. Stephanie is a rich, successful businesswoman. Jasmine hatches a plan on how to change her life.

This will make you leery of who you sit with on a plane and what you share. It was diabolical to see the way Jasmine mine worked and what she would do to get the life she thought she deserved.

Jasmine is a woman on a mission. She has secrets and she has gotten away with it before. I love the surprise twists at the end.

Two women meet on a plane. Stephanie is traveling for business and Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. What happens next will keep guessing, until the very end.
This book was very hard to put down. It’s told by many different perspectives and so many things are happening. If you like a good thriller that will put you on the edge of your seat, you should check this one out!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. #Netgalley #thebusinesstrip

Pub. Date: 1-14-2025

Very unique premise!! I read the synopsis and thought I had an idea of what was going to happen. I was wrong! I read this book on a day! It kept me guessing and had a great twist.