I read the kindle format of this and loved it so much I just had to request the audio for reread. The audiobook brought it to a whole new level. I loved it so much!!

This book took a little time to get started as the two main characters are introduced, but once it takes off - buckle up! Twists upon twists that honestly floored me, and an ending that had my jaw dropped. I liked the multiple point of views, even though I did want to shake each of these women!

The multiple narrators took the story to another level, really bringing it to life. They all did a fantastic job and helped me connect more with the characters. I throughly enjoyed this book!

Thanks for the opportunity to listen!

I love a good mystery that has me thinking I know what’s going on, but finding out there is so much more to the story.

There were some things that happened in here that made me hate some of the characters, but I still needed to find out what the hell was going on. I was mad about it, but the suspense had me coming back on for more! It made me want to get back to this every chance I had. So even though I was irritated with the characters, I still give this 3 stars for keeping me interested enough to want to finish it.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Very twisty mystery/thriller. A little Scooby-Doo-ish towards the end, but overall very gripping and entertaining.

Jasmine escapes an abusive relationship in Wisconsin. She sneaks out in the middle of the night and boards a plane to Denver. After a few days, she contacts a friend and tells her that she met a man and after that no one is able to contact her. Stephanie is a news director at a television station in Madison and she boards a flight to attend a news conference. After a couple of days, when she doesn't return when expected, her friends and colleagues receive a series of odd texts from her saying she has met a man and is going to spend time with him. Then she vanishes as well. What happened to these two women?

I listened to the multi-narrator full cast audiobook production of this novel and it was fantastic. It really helped to get immersed into the story and involved in what was happening. It allowed me to feel the emotions of the characters and get to know them better than I would have on the page.

The narrative moves between the present day, the near past, and the past. The story unfolds deliberately and I was absolutely captivated wanting to know what was going on with the situation. It's difficult to know who to believe--if anyone! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another curve ball is thrown and I was surprised yet again at the turn of events.

Although the ending felt a bit dumbed-down due to the over-explanation of every single detail of how everything transpired, this was still a completely entertaining mystery thriller that is sure to please readers of the genre. There's a bit of suspension of disbelief needed, but overall if you just relax into the story you are sure to enjoy the experience.

It isn't that this wasn't fun in a vaguely lifetime movie kind of way, it's that the characters were so flat and myopic that it became distracting.

Stephanie and Jasmine are strangers that meet on a plane by chance. Both of them go their separate ways and then begin texting their families about a man. Shortly after that, they both go missing. Is this man to blame or is there something more sinister going on? EVERY SINGLE TIME I thought I had the story or a situation figured out, I was slammed with another twist. It was an amazing read. I cannot wait to read more from Jessie Garcia!

I believe that the several narrators in this ALC are what made the story so special. Each narrator played their characters seamlessly so that there was never any confusion about who was who. They embraced the both the positive and negative qualities in there characters and played them beautifully! Jessie, you have a new fangirl! Thank you NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and Jessie Garcia for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

This audiobook hit the spot regarding a compulsive listen that I didn't want to push pause on! As the listener we hear from two women's POV's, one is escaping and one is attending a conference. It's not clear what is happening at the beginning, but the two different stories are interesting to follow.

The story gets a bit crazy and twisty in a really fun way! While it's not a really smart thriller and it's not a popcorn thriller, it lands right in the middle with an entertaining read.

Early reviews on this book are mixed, so I started it with some trepidation and low expectations. I found myself drawn into the story immediately and, while not perfect, it exceeded my expectations. I did not realize until halfway through that the author is the same Jessie Garcia I watched for years as a sports anchor on our local CBS station. The many Madison, Wisconsin references piqued my interest and were an unexpected bonus throughout the book.

Jasmine and Stephanie have nothing more in common than being on the same flight to Denver. Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship and Stephanie is attending yet another work related conference. Both women appear to vanish after claiming to be with the same man, an Atlanta news director who also happens to be a major sleaze bag.

The plot is twisted and has some obvious holes, but ultimately it didn’t bother me. The full cast, multiple POV narration kept me engaged until the end. The narration built tension and contributed to my enjoyment. The main characters - all of them - were lacking in morals and decency which was perfect for the plot. I definitely think the audio version is the way to experience this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Whooo boy this book was a wild ride! The story introduces us to Jasmine, a woman in a tough situation and I was immediately invested in her situation. I started listening to the audio and I didn't want to put it down. I read almost all of it in one sitting I was that engrossed. The story is split between multiple povs and that really helped increase the tension for me because each perspective included information that added to the intrigue. I 100% recommend the audio for this book! I don't think I'd have love it as much if I read it with my eyes. The full cast narration was a smart choice for this book. All the narrators did a fantastic job creating distinctive voices to help differentiate between all the perspectives. Despite all the characters I was never confused because the narrators made it clear who was speaking. I will say the final plot twist lost me a little bit. That's where it stretched the bounds of belief a bit. I was on board for all the twists and turns up to that point though and I still had a great time. I'm so glad I picked this book up! I'm very excited to read more from this author.

Garcia's debut novel tells the tale of two women who meet casually on a plane. Stephanie, the news director of a local tv station in Madison, Wisconsin, is headed to a conference in San Diego and Jasmine, who works in a bar in Madison, is fleeing an abusive relationship and on her way to Denver, where she knows no one. Consumed by anger at not only her current situation but about her entire hard life, Jasmine becomes entwined with Stephanie, who has some fantasies of her own of trying a different life. The story unfolds from there and also features Trent McCarthy, the news director of a tv station in Atlanta. For the most part the many twists and turns of the story work well, and although the ending is clever and unforeseen, it produced a little bit of a let down in this listener. The book's strength is its plot. Character development seems to rely as much upon stereotypes as upon a fleshed out picture. Trent is a good example of an almost unbelievable stereotype. But this is a nitpik. The publisher's choice of multiple narrators was a wise one. They were all excellent and they helped to enhance the novel. The Business Trip will appeal to readers who like mysteries that are not solved easily.

Wow! It’s little slow to get going and it seemed to drag a bit initially- on top of all the characters- but keep going and hang on to your hat! Things start twisting and speed up quickly, as everything falls into place. The chapters are mostly short and very fast paced. I quite liked it!
The narration of the audiobook is done by a team voices. With so many characters to keep track of, having different narrators, rather than someone doing all the voices, really enhances the audiobook.
Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

The cover of this debut thriller immediately caught my attention, and after seeing the rave reviews pouring in, I knew I had to read it.
I received ebook and audiobook copies from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio. There's something so enjoyable about reading along while listening to the audiobook, and this particular gem features multicast narration that truly elevates the experience. It's easy to keep track of the many characters while listening, and I can't recommend it enough!

The story revolves around two intriguing women: Stephanie and Jasmine. Stephanie is navigating life after her divorce and works as a TV executive for a news station that takes advantage of her. On the other hand, Jasmine has a difficult past marked by emotional and physical abuse. Fate brings them together when they find themselves seated next to each other on a flight—Stephanie reluctantly heading to yet another uninspiring conference and Jasmine escaping her abusive boyfriend. Just days into their trip, their friends start receiving strange texts about a man named Trent, which marks the beginning of their real adventure! I found myself completely engrossed in their story.

This tale is packed with twists and unexpected surprises, making it challenging to share many details without giving away juicy spoilers. If you prefer realistic fiction, you might find some aspects of the story a bit far-fetched, but "The Business Trip" completely surpassed my expectations. I'm a fan of wild plots that leave me breathless, and this one definitely delivers! The ending is exhilarating, but be prepared to keep an open mind as you navigate this chaotic adventure.

Jessie Garcia's The Business Trip is a thrilling and suspenseful audiobook, a debut that has captivated listeners with its intricate twists and compelling characters. Narrated by a full cast of talented voice actors, including Fred Berman and Hillary Huber, the performance elevates the story's tension and drama, keeping you hooked from start to finish.

The plot revolves around two women with seemingly unrelated lives until a chance encounter on a flight sets off a series of shocking events. Garcia’s ability to weave an unpredictable narrative has been praised, with reviewers highlighting the "wickedly clever" twists and the addictive, fast-paced storytelling. The audiobook balances character-driven moments with gripping suspense, making it impossible to pause. Fans of psychological thrillers will appreciate its originality and the seamless blend of mystery with emotional depth.

Listeners have compared the storytelling style to works by Lisa Gardner and Julie Clark, emphasizing the tight pacing and unpredictable plot. If you’re in the mood for a rollercoaster ride of a story, this audiobook comes highly recommended

3.5🌟 (rounded up)

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia is a debut thriller that feels like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces—you’re confused for a while, but once you find those extra pieces that fell on the floor, you can’t help but admire how well it all fits together.

Two women, Stephanie is on a business trip, and Jasmine is fleeing a bad situation. They seem to have nothing in common (or so it seems). Until they both go missing after sending bizarrely identical texts about the same guy, Trent McCarthy.

I went into this book completely blind and I’ll be honest: the first half had me questioning my ability to follow a plot. There are a lot of characters, and the narrative structure feels a little disjointed like it’s running on caffeine and chaos. But if you hang on through the first act and trust the process, everything starts to make sense—well, as much sense as it needs to. Hey, it’s fiction—let it be wild and messy. That’s half the fun!

Now, about that ending—let’s just say it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was bold, unexpected, and will definitely have a lot of people buzzing.

Despite not being perfect for me, this book is definitely memorable and an unforgettable ride. When it comes down to it, I think most people will enjoy the process of piecing it all together. I rounded up to 4 stars because it kept me on my toes and had an ending I don’t think anyone will see coming.

It’s a yes for me!

DeAnn 🖤
@deannsdailydrop

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.

Definitely a good narrator as well.

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 on Sunday, Jan 12.

This debut novel absolutely blew me away! Jessie Garcia has delivered a gripping and suspenseful story that had me hooked from start to finish. I devoured the audiobook in a single day - I just couldn’t stop listening!

One of the standout features of this audiobook is its full-cast narration. With multiple perspectives woven into the story, I was initially worried it might be confusing and overwhelming. But the format is perfection. The story is divided into parts, each told from different characters experiencing the same situation. The chapters are clearly labeled with POVs and timelines, which made the transitions seamless, even with so many voices.

The full cast brought these characters to life in a way that completely immersed you into the story. The narration flowed so effortlessly, mirroring Garcia’s writing style, which is sharp, suspenseful, and easy to follow despite the complexity of the plot. The unpredictable twists kept me guessing until the very last chapter.

This book gave me Freida McFadden vibes - it’s dark, twisty, and filled with tension. The unique concept of two women whose lives collide in terrifying ways made this story unforgettable. Every twist left me eager to uncover the ending.

It’s hard to believe this is Garcia’s fiction debut because it’s executed so well. From the brilliant structure to the compelling character dynamics, I am first in line for whatever she writes next.

If you’re a fan of binge-worthy, suspenseful thrillers, I highly recommend adding The Business Trip to your tbr!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱!

⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy of THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia!

THE BUSINESS TRIP begins with two very different women. Jasmine is a young woman in a difficult relationship. As the book opens, she is sneaking out of her house and away from her abusive partner. Stephanie is a young woman with few connections in the world. Her job takes advantage of this and she's the one elected to go on yet another business trip. Both women wind up on the same plane in the same row in a coincidence that will change both of their lives. With both women suddenly MIA for the people in their life, people back home start getting strange text messages which open more and more questions.

This book had a really interesting structure. We get a lot of setup at the very beginning, following the POV of both women involved. From there the POVs open up much more as those back home start to realize something feels wrong. The story jumps back and forth in time for its reveals.

There were moments where I felt like the need to suspend disbelief got to be a little bit much, but I still was having a good time with it. The story did manage to bring some good surprise twists along the way as well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

The Business Trip is a gripping psychological thriller, and listening to it as an audiobook added another layer of intrigue. The story follows Stephanie, traveling for work, and Jasmine, escaping an abusive relationship. The two women don’t know each other but become connected in a chilling way—both sending identical, erratic texts about the same man, Trent McCarthy, before vanishing without a trace. What unfolds is a suspenseful, twist-filled descent into manipulation and mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The narrators were fantastic and really brought the story to life. Each voice fit the characters perfectly, and their performances heightened the suspense and fed the tension as the twists and turns unfolded. Hearing the story from both Stephanie’s and Jasmine’s perspectives made their experiences feel even more real and immersive. The audiobook format truly amplified the emotional intensity and sense of dread.

While the narrators kept me engaged, the story itself felt repetitive in places. Some sections rehashed earlier moments, which occasionally broke the flow. That said, the strong narration helped smooth over those bumps and kept me hooked until the final twist.

Overall, the audiobook of The Business Trip is an exciting listen, thanks to its intriguing concept and talented narrators. If you’re a fan of thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one’s worth adding to your playlist!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio!

The Business Trip is a domestic abuse thriller. Jasemine a victim of domestic abuse victim, decides to flee her life and start a new one. Stephanie a news reporter goes to Atlanta for a news conference. These two women meet by chance when they are seated next to each other on their flight. the two hit it off, and Stephanie becomes a big influential part of Jasemine starting over.

This book has a good enough plot, but I was not crazy about the writing style. At times I had to reread sections to understand what was happening. I didn't know if Stephanie was Jasemine or Jasemine was Stephanie or if Stephanie was the sister of Jasemine or if Jasemin was the sister of Stephanie. Then there were a range of characters popping in and out of the story. Most of the characters were pretty flat, and I thought the story could have been told without some of them. However, when I got further into the story, things began to make sense. I begin to see how all the pieces to the puzzle fit, and as the story unfolded, I was there for it. I wanted to see what would happen next. This was quite a crazy ride. I mean some of the things these people were doing, was incredulous to believe that they believed it would pass. There were twists and turns, even down to the last chapter. It was quite crazy! I enjoyed the ride, and I did like the ending. The one issue I did have is that Jasemine doesn't quite seem
to be a pushover, yet she continues to take the abuse from her husband. To me, I think it would have simply been easier to off him. Why would she go through such an elaborated risky plan when she could just end the life of her abuser and get a payout from insurance on him. Really, why not make the one who deserves it pay for it. Also, I found it hard to believe that Stephanie, this organized, respectable, driven and reliable reporter would do the things she did. It doesn't seem like she would be that careless. Perhaps if we were given more of a back story of her being a bit careless and free, then maybe I could see it, but from what I do know about Stephanie, it seems off for her character. I did really like the character of Robert. He felt like an actual person whereas many of the characters felt like talking heads.

Overall, I enjoyed the read. Once the pieces started to connect is when I really got into this story. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for this ARC for my honest review.

This was a great debut novel! With few complaints I recommend this to all audiences as there is a very interesting plot line here that spans long distances and time.
The final twist was a bit in my opinion, but I think it did tie in nicely with the rest of the story
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan audio for my copy of this audiobook.