Thank you for the early copy.
I had very hard time with this audio. I lost track of all the characters and their story lines. It was too many and I found myself losing interest and concentration. It was hard to follow.

This is a suspenseful mystery about a woman named Jasmine and she is in a bad relationship. She sees no way out except running away. On her journey to freedom, she makes calculated decisions that land her in a worse situation than before she left.

I’m still racking my brain about how the story unfolded. With so many ways it could have gone, I never would have seen this ending the way it was written.

The author had me feeling bad for Jasmine but hating her at the same time. I believe this story touches on narcissism and psychological thrills of the main character.

I listened to the audiobook and recognized the narrators. I try not to be partial or biased about them, but there are two that are on my “favorites” list: Hillary Huber & Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton). They always portray the characters the way they should be. No question about that at all.

This is an #ARC sent by #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio. The opinions expressed are my own. Publication date: January 14, 2025.

#TheBusinessTrip #HillaryHuber #AndrewEiden #TeddyHamilton

This one wasn't for me. I felt like the writing was amateurish, the plot was nonsensical, and the twists were too far out there for me to get behind. As far as the audiobook goes, I thought the voice actors were all very strong and I appreciated that each character had their own actor to help keep everyone straight.

I really don't enjoy bashing books or authors, so I won't be posting a review for this one. I do appreciate the invite to listen to the ALC.

The narration of this was really well done. I am not a huge fan of multicast narration unless it is done well. Unfortunately, I just didn't love this book. The twist had me rolling my eyes a little but. I will try another book from this author but this one missed the mark for me. Thanks to NetGalley for this early release audiobook.

This was pretty good and kept me entertained until the end, but the last few chapters were SO far-fetched and I absolutely hated the ending. I actually would have enjoyed it more if it ended a lot sooner without the twist.

I also really didn't like hearing from the abuser or the other douche bag's POV.

This had so much potential to be great, but the twist just didn't do it for me. Would love to read more of this author's work in the future!

---clever and twisty and tense---

THAT LAST TWIST!!!! So good, totally didn't see it coming!

I liked this story quite a bit. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief in some parts but it was clever and twisty and tense. There were certain parts that were very "I did this thing for this reason, and then I did this other thing, and then I did that too" overly explanatory but it didn't take away from this all that much for me, personally. It was just something I noticed but didn't take me out of being invested.

I thought I had an idea of where this was headed then it went a different direction and by the final parts I truly had no idea! Really liked this story overall!

The narrators (there are a bunch of them) were all great! This is told in multiple POVs and goes back and forth in time: the days before the flight, day of the flight, days after the flight, etc. It was all very well-laid out and super easy to understand.

Audio Narration: 4.25⭐️
Actually prose: 2.5⭐️

I’m actually really frustrated after finishing this book as I was enjoying it in a fluffy sort of way until it became so repetitive. When you are giving another persons perspective of the same situation it should be new information and not regurgitating the exact same prose.

I was tasked with reviewing the audiobook and the narration was great! The multi-cast effort was very well done which brought my rating up as I averaged it out. It was very easy to listen to at 1.75 speed which made it a fast read!

That being said I literally became angry at the end of the book. I can handle plot holes and things that are just unbelievable as it’s fiction, even when it’s supposed to be in the real world. However!! When a “twist” comes out of left field… not even left field, it came from a different sporting event , with no backup it’s frustrating.

Usually when a good twist happens your brain starts thinking about all the small details that now make sense in a different way. It can be brilliant. But not this. This had no backup at all in the prose and just leaves a reader ticked off. I should have realized earlier on as the book was a whole lot of tell and not show. Had this been an eARC I probably would have given it come grace thinking that it had a few more revisions coming, but this is the audiobook which means it’s a done deal. That’s why they come out much later in the early process!

Anyway, I feel awful that this book just wasn’t for me but just plain frustrating as it actually was a fun concept that I was enjoying for about half the book. This book with some major rewrites could be a hot seller.. it just needs too much work to get there unfortunately 😢

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to listen to which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

5 Stars – Absolutely Loved It!

The Business Trip is an incredible debut from Jessie Garcia that totally blew me away! I’m usually not a fan of books with more than three POVs, but every single perspective in this story worked so well together, adding depth and tension that kept me hooked! The way the different points of view intertwined made the story even more gripping.

And that last twist? I’m still in shock! It completely blindsided me and left my jaw on the floor! Garcia does an amazing job of keeping you on edge with each twist, layer by layer, until everything you thought you knew gets turned upside down.

This was such a thrilling, unpredictable ride, and I can’t wait to read more from this author! The Business Trip is a must-read for anyone who loves a great mystery!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

If you like a twisty psychological thriller, this book is for you. There were multiple unexpected twists in this book that left me shocked. The audiobook was easy to listen to and fast paced. There were a couple small things I had an issue with in this book, but nothing that would keep me from recommending it. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I found it to be a fun listen! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be exceptionally engaging, unpredictable, and thoroughly enjoyable; I finished it in a single session. There are so many twists and turns that keep you guessing.
The narration was superb, and the storyline was truly unique.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio, for providing me with this ARC

4.5/5.0 Stars

THE BUSINESS TRIP – by 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.’

I love how the story plays out with an ending I did not predict—Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an eBook and Audiobook of THE BUSINESS TRIP at the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release, January 14, 2025, Though Subject To Change.

Possibly a 3.5.* It was interesting enough to listen to. I’d probably try another book by this author. The twist at the end was unexpected, but I’m not sure it was necessary. Definitely wasn’t expecting the villain to be who it was. Thanks NetGalley for the audio copy to review.

Stephanie appears to lead a charmed life as a network director for a local news organization in Madison, Wisconsin while Jasmine is trying to escape an abusive relationship, poverty and a waitressing job where she feels like a nobody. When they both end up on the same plane seated in the same row, Jasmine to Denver and Stephanie to San Diego the wheels begin to turn and the story begins.

From the onset of the book the reader is introduced to a lot of characters and this was both a positive and a negative. While it helped with the shifting focus, especially as points of views changed throughout the first half of the book, by the end there were stories that felt unfinished. Jasmine's friend Ana played a large role, but what happened when she found out the truth? Jasmine's abusive boyfriend was given some street level justice, but then what happened to him? And what of Stephanie's family, particularly her son Evan, because Stephanie referenced a strain in their relationship following her divorce from Evan's dad?

The pacing of the story felt right and it was very easy to become invested in the story and the characters of Jasmine and Stephanie. Jasmine frustrated me though as I felt she became too calculating too quickly. This was later explained with another twist, but the that personality shift didn't really fit with her as a battered woman. A lot of the twists, while surprising, were very convenient and you did have to suspend some level of belief to move with the flow.

There was one glaring plot hole though, and the set it hit, I struggled to come back into the story with the same level of investment. This is a massive spoiler so stop reading if you haven't read the book yet. We know Stephanie checked into her hotel in San Diego, because that is where the conference was and where she met Daisy. We also know Jasmine stole Stephanie's license when they were on the plane and she began plotting to take over Stephanie's life. When Jasmine arrived at the hotel, she used that ID to get new room keys made to Stephanie's room. How did Stephanie check into the hotel without knowing her license was missing? That smacked me in the middle of listening, and it was hard to shake. That is also around the time when the pieces just started to feel convenient and a little too easy.

My thoughts on The Business Trip are a little all over the place, because I liked it but it had flaws. I think fans of thrillers, especially psychological thrillers will enjoy this one and I look forward to see what Jessie Garcia has in store for her sophomore release.

Narrated by a cast of characters I felt this elevated the audiobook because there are so many characters to keep track of which can often be difficult when it's only a person or two. The decision for each character to sound so different was a smart one and I would definitely recommend the audiobook for this reason.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

The Business Trip (audio) 5⭐️

What a wonderfully unhinged roller coaster.

The book opens introducing two women both headed to the airport. Their circumstances are very different. I looked forward to seeing how their paths were going to cross, but then POVs switched to their friends/coworkers. Things seem “off” and then I REALLY needed to know what happened on that plane. This was so smartly written, especially for a debut novel. I loved the chaos throughout and how everything wrapped up by the end.

Audio specific: Superb production and voice acting! Several narrators was a great choice with so many POVs.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jan 14 2025

"The Business Trip" delivers high tension right from the start, as main character Jasmine sneaks out of her home to escape her violent boyfriend. Fleeing the state, she meets Stephanie on her flight, a high-powered executive who runs a news station. After the flight, both women go missing — yet each sends texts to her friends, claiming that she's fallen in love with a man called Trent McCarthy. As their friends grow increasingly suspicious of their sudden departures and out-of-character texts, they begin to dig deeper into what may have happened to the two women.

This was a fun thriller and a solid fiction debut for the author. I loved that Jessie Garcia had some deeper character development, which can sometimes be glossed over in favor of fast thrills. Garcia masterfully moved me from rooting for certain characters to instead wanting to see their demise. The ending was a bit far-fetched, but it was a good twist I did not see coming.

This is a full cast narration that's well produced, creating a fully immersive experience that alternates between several points of view. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jessie Garcia for an advance copy for honest review.

*The Business Trip* by Jesse Garcia is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly weaves suspense and intrigue. The story introduces Jasmine, a woman haunted by a troubled past, desperately seeking an escape, and Stephanie, a determined and ambitious career woman en route to an important business trip. The two strangers strike up a seemingly casual conversation on the plane, but days later, both women mysteriously vanish. As the story unfolds, readers are left in a constant state of uncertainty, never sure who to trust or suspect, making for a deeply engaging and unpredictable narrative.

The pacing of the novel is taut and skillfully executed, keeping me on edge as I tried to piece together the clues. The plot is clever and original, offering just enough twists to keep me guessing until the final pages.

Overall, *The Business Trip* is a captivating thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of how our past shapes who we are, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story that challenges the mind while delivering edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and I really enjoyed the cast of narrators and thought they did a great job bringing the characters to life. This book moved slowly at first, but I liked the way the story unfolded. I liked that the reader gets to see multiple views of the characters because there were so many views. Jasmine has planned out leaving her abusive boyfriend and going off to start a new life. Stephanie is headed to a news conference even if she is tired of the boring work travel she always seems to get stuck with. The two women are about to go on a topsy turvy journey that no one could have predicted. The last third of the book was excellent (although I saw the final curve coming) and it would have been 5 stars if the beginning hadn’t of been so slow. I definitely would be interested in more from this author.

The Business Trip is a great thriller that kept me invested throughout. Jasmine and Stephanie are strangers. They meet on a plane and then both go missing. The only thing they had in common was texts that they sent people back home about meeting a man named Trent McCarthy.

I was invested in both stories, and it’s impossible to talk about a lot of this without some spoilers that happen midway. My only complaint with this book was the number of characters. They were not all integral to the story, but there were still a lot of names thrown at you.

This had an ending I didn’t see coming, and I will be willing to bet that you won’t see it coming either. If you like thrillers, then this is one to check out for sure.

Stephanie and Jasmine end up on the same plane when Stephanie is going on a business trip and Jessica is running away from her abusive relationship. They sit near each other and have conversation, but other than that, they have nothing in common. They both will text their friends a similar message about the same man and share details of their relationship with him. Stephanie and Jasmine both disappear and it leaves their friends freaking out, wondering what happened. Both sets of friends start to look into Trent McCarthy and what he could have done to these women.

There were quite a few characters to keep up with and two main points that made this story a little ridiculous for me. 1. Jasmine was not portrayed as smart in the beginning with having to have a friend help her use uber so hoe did she know how to plan for some of the identity stealing that she tried to do? She went from being so dumb and having to depend on her abusive boyfriend to being really smart and intuitive. 2. It made no sense that they both would have disappeared at the same time and had the same relationship with the same guy if the cops would have talked to both sets of friends. Other than these two points, the twists and turns, and who actually did it kept me intrigued the whole time. The ending was a good twist with another case of switched identity.

The Business Trip is a dark debut that follows two women - Stephanie and Jasmine - and what happens to them after a fateful flight.

This story was wild - broken into different parts, with numerous POV chapters from the entire cast of characters, you never quite know what you're about to read next. The timeline and POV swaps allow for the reader to experience the story in forward motion, then concurrently, then backtracking to reveal what we missed - and it just adds to the overall craziness of what the plot reveals.

Jessie Garcia has done a great job at giving the cast of characters a wide range of attributes and quirks that make you like some, hate others, root for a few, and ultimately never really know what's going on in the head of some. Her character development and depth is what made this novel stand out - I haven't read a thriller in awhile where the cast was so fully fleshed out.

The audiobook has a full cast - which adds such a fun element to this story. Listening to it, you're able to clearly understand all the narrators at a higher listening speed which is important to a lot of readers. The differing voices also allows you to easily keep straight who is talking when - which comes in handy with all the different POV chapters and swapping of timelines, this was a great call on part of the author. Because of the full cast, I'm giving the audiobook a 5 star review - one extra star specifically for the vocal talent.

Without giving away any of the plot, I can honestly say I haven't read a book like this before. The story unfolds over a few short days, and so much happens it kind of makes my head spin. I'll be keeping my eye out for her next novel for sure!