I went into The Business Trip, by Jessie Garcia, totally blind—which is not always the case. I had read the blurb a few weeks prior, and when I downloaded the audiobook, I was doing some things around the house and didn't feel like rereading the blurb, reviews, etc. And I'm so glad I didn't! The audiobook was fantastic, with specific narrators for each character (10 in total, and they were all pitch perfect!). If the large number of POVs sounds confusing—it wasn't. It really made the audiobook feel so much more compelling and suspenseful. And I loved how I believed the protagonist to be one thing and I was completely surprised when she turned out to be the exact opposite. But the transition wasn't one of those: Whoa, where did that come from??? Garcia had dropped plenty of hints, but they were so subtle I didn't put them together until she revealed the truth. Such a satisfying twist! And that wasn't the only one, either. There were several twists throughout, including the one at the very end, which was absolutely shocking in the best way possible. I think this is Garcia's debut, though I honestly can't believe it. She is a new fave author for me. Highly recommend!!!

I can't believe this was a debut thriller! Totally blew my expectations out of the water. This hasn't been a great thriller year, and this just got me excited for what's to come in 2025. The audiobook is excellent, there's a unique narrator for the whole collection of characters. Such a fun, fast paced read, that will have you on the edge of your seats.

Stephanie and Jasmyne sit in the same row on a plane, both coming from different backgrounds and traveling for very different reasons. Stephanie is traveling for a work conference and Jasmyne is traveling to escape her abusive boyfriend. Then both seem to go missing.

There's a big cast of characters, but I didn't get confused at all. They all overlap into each others chapters and have unique voices so you got to know each one pretty well. The novel is broken up into 4 parts and each part has a different set of characters that rotate being the main POV. It really was a unique thriller the way that it was told and built up maximum suspense. I was hooked from the very beginning and stayed totally invested until the end. The only slowish part was part 3 or 4 when it was primarily a specific person's POV, because you didn't get too many unique details and you knew what happened already, so it was a smidge repetitive and a little drug out, but that's okay, that's being nit picky. I think I was just anxious to get on with the story to see what happens next lol.

The audiobook was a huge hit and I feel like really made the story come to life! I recommend experiencing the story this way. If the author writes another thriller, I will be sure to read it. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE BUSINESS TRIP
Jessie Garcia

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. Sometimes your life is the last one you want to be living. And taking a chance is your last resort.

Jasmine no longer wants to be in her shoes.

She’s in an abusive relationship and she is at the end of her rope. Glen, her partner has gone from being a nice guy to being someone she’s afraid of, someone she despises. She’s been planning to leave for months. Tucking away part of her tip money. Ones and fives, nothing bigger than a ten. It’s taken a while, but with the help of friends, she finally has enough to leave, and never come back. She will leave this weekend, God willing.

Stephanie is at the end of her rope as well.

But for very different reasons. She finds her life to be mediocre and barely worth living. She struggles to find the inspiration to get out of bed every morning to go to her uninspiring job. She is divorced, and her son hardly answers her calls and takes her for granted. She’s unsure which is worse. She’s headed on another business trip this weekend. She has been sent on far too many recently and the hotel life is not for her.

They end up on the same plane sitting next to each other. Days later they each send a text to their friends saying they met a man, a man named Trent. As more days go by, their texts and descriptions of Trent become alarming and confusing.

Who is Trent?

When each of the women end up missing, Trent becomes the first one people want to talk to. How does he know each of the women, and what does he have to do with their disappearances?

OK. How do I say this without giving anything away?

You could call THE BUSINESS TRIP unbelievable, and I would agree. You could call it basic, and I’d nod my head in affirmation. You could call it a horrible way to waste an afternoon and I wouldn’t argue.

To keep it simple THE BUSINESS TRIP is too similar to what is already on the market. And the only things that make it different are also what makes it ridiculous.

I’m not asking for a lot when I sit down to read a thriller. I am asking to be entertained. I am asking for the story to make sense, and when I’m feeling needy, I ask for the twist to be twisty, the characters to be dark, and the storyline to be unique.

Sometimes even when you have all of that, it can still go very, very wrong. That was the case with THE BUSINESS TRIP.

I’m sorry this one didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies!

THE BUSINESS TRIP…⭐️⭐️

This is one of those where you really dislike the main character. You would think because the main character is in an abusive relationship you would be sympathetic towards her, but it is hard to feel bad for a sociopath. This did not go where I thought it would, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Wow! This book was crazy!
You have a woman who leaves her abusive boyfriend and a woman who is having a midlife crisis, but also has to go on a business trip to a news reporter convention.

The story is told from multiple points of view. I’m forgetting who the male chauvinist of a newscaster was, but the narrator who voiced him was superb. I definitely wanted to give him a slap or two.

If you like Freida McFadden, this is a similar style to hers, with crazy twists and turns.

All of the narrators did an excellent job and I’m looking forward to future audiobooks from this author.

Definitely pick this one up and give it a read!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

THE BUSINESS TRIP is a book you're not going to want to put down. When I finished the first chapter, I knew right away I was going to like this one. The chapters alternate between Jasmine and Stephanie and each of their POV's. I found both of them to be very interesting characters. Maybe Jasmine’s character even a bit more since we learn a great deal more about her and her past. There are a lot of surprises, with some more shocking and more believable than others. I absolutely enjoyed being able to listen to this audiobook. It was very well done and I can recommend it!

Many thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This book will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

When Jasmine has had her fill of domestic abuse from her violent controlling partner, Glenn, she begins squirreling away enough money to run for her life. She gets to the airport and is seated on a plane in the same row as Stephanie, a successful business woman and news director. Stephanie is divorced, estranged from her grown son and lives with her cat who is being watched by her neighbor, Robert. Although they look enough alike that another passenger asks if they are related, the two women seem to be polar opposites.

Told through various POVs, the story quickly becomes a fast paced thriller in which both women go missing. Each has texted a friend that she has met a man named Trent McCarthy who is described as a love interest by both Jasmine and Stephanie. But who is he really ? What does he want? And who exactly are these women? Did they truly just meet in the plane ?

In a very well constructed twisty plot things get mysterious, suspenseful and very bloody. But why? I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong About three quarters into the story it changed direction. It became a bit too much like show and tell, focusing on just one character’s thoughts but even then things took a turn.

I listened to the audio version on a long car trip and never tired of the plot. There were three readers who did a great job. Each character was well developed and most were not likable, a fact that didn’t impact my enjoying the book. This was a debut by Jessie Garcia , whose books I will look for in the future. Four twinkling stars for a read that may require you to suspend reality a bit but is sure to keep you guessing. Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan audio for providing me with this audio book in return for my honest review. It will become available on January 14, 2025. Go get it !

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for the book #TheBusinessTrip by #JesseGarcia. Two women on the same plane go missing and the common thing between them is the name Trent McCarthy. One is fleeing a bad relationship and the other is on a business trip for the tv station she works for. Did Trent do something to these girls or is something else going on? Do these girls know each other?

Thank you Netgalley& Macmillan audio for an ALC of The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia!

Wow, I flew through this one, it's a truly addictive and unique plot. A really great debut and I did NOT see that 2nd half of the book coming.

The story has multiple POVs, which is always my favorite. First, Stephanie and Jasmine are two women who don't know each other, but are sitting next to each other on a flight from Madison. Stephanie's on a business trip for work, and Jasmine is leaving her abusive boyfriend. Why is it that after a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about a man named Trent, then both vanish?

Eventually, you get Trent's POV, too. There are several narrators in this one - and it's produced SO well. I can't say much more about the plot without giving anything away, but this one WENT THERE. My jaw actually did drop a couple of times, and there wasn't one, two, three, no, there were more twists than I could honestly count. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and certainly can't believe it was her debut novel.

I found the book very confusing and hard to follow for the first part. There was too much going on.

I became more interested around 55% when it was revealed what happened on the airplane.

From there I struggled with how over the top and unbelievable it was. The jasimije backstory was also too much.

Then the ending. That ruined the book for me; It was too many bridges too far and the dialogue became cartoonish.

Great narrators though.

4.5⭐️ Two strangers send the exact same text about the same man and suddenly go missing

✨ Read if you enjoy: missing women, full cast audiobook, twists
✨ Don’t read if you loathe: multiple POV’s, far-fetched shenanigans

Obsessed with the start of this book. I absolutely loved the format. It’s separated into parts, each part told from a different group of characters, all experiencing the same situation

The writing flows so freely, it’s easy to follow, even with the large amount of characters

Listening to the full cast audiobook was epic. I mainly read audiobooks, so I don’t say this lightly.

Glen was a favorite - he was so awful, his performance made me lol! Of course buy the book, but if you can get the audiobook (free on Libby) it’s a great gateway audiobook, for audiobook nervous newbies

There’s a lot of character depth, even with the smaller characters. I loved Stephanie, but I wasn’t completely convinced by Jasmine. I struggled to know her and found her story less believable

I can’t say much more without spoilers, other than this book is super juicy and twisty

This is Jessie Garcia’s fiction debut and I am first inline for her next novel

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

This book was such a wild ride. The characters were deceiving, the storyline was fast paced and interesting, and the narration was great. 🎧 I highly recommend this one if you want a spooky thriller.

I cannot believe how much I loved the narration! It was wonderful! Every single person nailed the role.
I am not sure I was attached to any of the characters. I did root for jasmine for a few minutes though and I hated myself for that. That is good writing!

The Business Trip was a fun and fast-paced thriller about 2 women, seemingly unconnected both going missing. They’re from two very different backgrounds, which made them fun “dueling MCs”.

I had so many theories - who knew who and who were working together, etc., and was pleasantly surprised by being wrong! Lots of twists and turns, which kept me turning pages.

I will say there were a lot of characters we got to hear from. Like everyone we were introduced to go their own point of view chapters. It was a lot to keep track of, but it made it exciting. I listened on audio, and found that really compelling!

Thank you to SMP and MacMillan Audio for the review copies of The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia.

TL;DR: An impressive debut! The audiobook is particularly noteworthy, featuring a multi-cast performance that enhances the experience. Recommended for fans of quick, twisty escapes—perfect for readers who enjoyed last year's First Lie Wins.

Content Warning: Readers sensitive to the treatment of women or themes of abusive relationships should approach with care.

Full Review:
The Business Trip is a fun, twisty escape read that delves into cat-and-mouse dynamics and examines women's lives and mistreatment by men. The story boasts complex, memorable characters, making it an impressive debut. I’m excited to see what Jessie Garcia writes next.

The plot is thoughtfully executed and engaging, particularly through the use of multiple characters’ perspectives. This approach shines in the audiobook format, with its excellent voice performances. The pacing is strong overall, and I found myself fully immersed in unraveling the plot and discovering where the story would lead.

Audiobook Highlights:
The voice performances are outstanding. I initially found the portrayal of the main male character a bit over-the-top, but I came to realize it was entirely intentional—and effective. The narrators for the female protagonists were nuanced and engaging, adding depth to their characters. I highly recommend this book in audio format, especially for road trips or holiday travel.

A Few Notes (Spoilers Ahead):
While I enjoyed the plot and pacing overall, some elements felt repetitive in the middle and later sections. Although I understand the intent behind these moments, I found the repetition a bit distracting, as the dual POVs didn’t always add much new information (e.g., texts remain the same regardless of perspective).

Additionally, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the full arc of the story. Why this particular set of crimes instead of a direct escape from the toxic relationship at home? A bit more development of the protagonist’s motivations and the triggering events could have made the story even more compelling.

Having Freida McFadden blurb this book makes a lot of sense, as their writing styles feel very similar. This is a fast-paced book with many twists & turns. It’s told through multiple different POVs & a non-linear timeline, which made for a unique form of storytelling. At times the multiple POVs made it difficult to keep everyone straight & separate their thoughts & experiences, but I listened to the audiobook version, which was read by a full cast (10 Narrators) & it was great!

As a debut fiction novel from Jessie Garcia, this was very well done! The story was twisty & unexpected through & through. The first half of the book was a lot of groundwork, but it didn't come off as boring or tedious. I felt invested in the informational development, even when I wasn't sure where things were headed at that point.

I thought I knew where this book was going; I had my theories & felt I was on the right track - but I wasn’t even close!

It does start to get a bit far fetched the further you go into the story, but I’m trying to learn that part of the enjoyment of reading is sometimes expanding your sense of reality; believing things that may not be quite realistic once you really start breaking them down.

I definitely suggest you read it for yourself, because the reviews seem to be very mixed - but don’t let the negative reviews turn you away from this one! I'm a tough critic at times (or so I’m told) & I really enjoyed it. If you & I have similar tastes in books, please let me know your thoughts after you've read it! The Business Trip will be available on January 14, 2025.

Holy Moses …. TBR right now! Just might be in the top 5 of my thriller list of the year. Wow is all I can say. This is one of those books that ends and you didn’t see that coming. It will forever live rent free in my head. If your looking for a thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat, look no farther…


Thanks Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for this advanced readers copy.

This book should come with a warning: Read if you need a total pallette cleanser. Aside from the fact I had just finished a 400+ book that was deep, Jessie Garcia's writing was totally addicting. She sucked me in from page 1. This book was so fast paced and I totally wanted to binge every second of it.
Now, by no means was this too believeable and a bit outlandish, but it made for a great thrill.
I had an initial prickle that things were not going to be what they seemed but once our two protaganist go quiet and we begin to only hear from their friends, loved ones and co workers, my worry about what happened to our women. Clearly something was wrong. Who was alive? Who was murdered? Who was responsible?

Garcia crafted this book perfectly and unleashed it with impeccable timing. This I believe is her debut book and I am already going to be stalking her socials for book # 2.

I really had a great time on this Business Trip, I promise you won't regret it!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review this advanced copy f The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Several different points of view going during the story, but I liked how they all intertwined. I really thought I knew what was going on and then the ending surprised me. Audiobook was well narrated.

This book started off good but took a turn for the worst about 40% through the book. I enjoyed the character buildup and part of the plot, but as the book went on, it got less and less believable. There’s no way that everything will just click the way. It’s clicking in this book and it was just missing some major plot holes in my opinion.