Two women, Stephanie and Jasmine, are on the same plane, sitting in the same row, but have never met.

Their circumstances are very different. Stephanie is traveling to a business meeting; Jasmine is escaping from an abusive relationship.

Days later, both women begin texting friends about the same man. The texts become increasingly strange and concerning. Then Stephanie and Jasmine disappear...

"The Business Trip" is a story I was drawn into immediately and found seriously addictive until Part Three, which began to slow down and feel repetitive, often quoting the same dialogue from previous chapters. I did enjoy the author's creative storyline and the balance of likable and unlikable characters, but I wanted to know more about them. Perhaps giving the characters more depth of backstory would have been better than using so many pages to explain what happened.

I never stopped reading and remained curious about the final denouement. I understand how thrillers can feel over the top, and I am okay with that in this story. What I was looking for and didn't find were reasons why I should root for characters I didn't feel a connection to. For me, the characters are the most essential part of every story.

An immersion read, the audiobook has an entire cast of narrators recounting each character's first-person narrative. It was well done!

"The Business Trip" is a story I liked, and Jessie Garcia is a creative storyteller and author to watch!

3.25⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Jessie Garcia for a DRC and an ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I am OBSESSED with this book. Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing in common and would normally not cross paths. If they weren’t on the same plane. I don’t want to give too much away because I feel the smallest detail would give something away. This book had me hooked from the very beginning which what is going happen next. The description of each of the characters were described in such detail that I could imagine what they looked like and their mannerisms. The story keeps you guessing on what happens next.

This was an interesting book to listen to. I liked that there were different POVs and voices to go along with them. The book was fun, a bit twisty but nothing too crazy. I enjoyed it but have heard and read better.

This was a fantastic thriller/mystery, especially in audiobook format! There were tons of great narrators to cover the different POVs of the characters as the listeners try to figure out what in the world happened to intersect the lives of Jasmine and Stephanie, and what does Trent have to do with it? And who even are these people?! I didn’t expect so many changes, but kept being thrown for a loop, and stayed consistently engaged throughout the entire novel. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

THank you for an advance copy of this thriller. I m glad I did the audiobook of this one. This story that starts with Jasmine leaving her abusive boyfriend takes so many twists. It had more POV/narrators than I can even count, but the audiobook made that easy to keep track. I really enjoyed this, it was a fun, twisty ride of suspense. One note, the Trent character was AWFUL and I found his chapters quite offensive. I know that was the point to show how awful he was, but it was pretty off putting. But otherwise I enjoyed this book.

Awesome popcorn thriller! Multiple POVs and full of TWISTS! You will be very surprised! Who is Trent McCarthy? UNPUTDOWNABLE!

The Business Trip was a quick, easy read. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and was drawn into the storyline from the start. While the twists were there, they were also way over-the-top, leaving me with a dislike for the novel by the end. The story was replete with unlikeable main characters, shallow supporting characters, and twists that made this much too hard to truly believe.

While the plot was twisty and fairly unpredictable, I didn't enjoy it. It was very much a popcorn thriller, similar to the works of Freida McFadden (her fans will likely really enjoy this one!).

The audio presentation of The Business Trip was extremely well executed.

This book was the epitome of popcorn thriller. Lots of POVs increased the mystery and made it fun to read. It’s a book that had you rooting for the bad guy, which by the end gave me a bit of an ick. Audio is the way to go here with a full cast!

Thoroughly enjoyed the audio on this one. Two women meet on a plane. One is headed out for a business trip, the other is escaping her past. They both disappear days after the flight.

This one kept me captivated and would be a great binge book.

I love to try debuts and this had some buzz swirling so I gave it a shot. I'm sad to say that it wasn't for me. The setup was good - Stephanie, an overworked news director, and Jasmine, a woman running from an abusive relationship, meet on a plane and make a connection while talking about their lives. I won't spoil what transpires since it seems a lot of people like this book, but parts were suspenseful, parts were unbelievable, and 2 of the characters were completely unlikable. I both read and listened to this title and did like reading it more than listening, for the simple reason that I could flip back easier to catch up when I put it down for a couple days. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. 2.5-3 stars

3 stars! This story follows Jasmine, who is in an abusive relationship and saves enough money to leave her abuser. She decides to fly to a different city for a fresh start. Stephanie, a news director is on her way to a business conference and meets Jasmine on the flight. They engage in conversation on the flight and they never see each other again.

Stephanie sends a text message to her friend letting him know that she is extending her trip because she met a man, named Trent and they are spending time together and getting to know each other. Jasmine also texts her friend letting her know that she met a man, and his name is also Trent. Then, both women disappear and Trent is arrested for their disappearance.

Did Trent hurt both women, or is there more to this story. This story had multiple POVs that I felt were a little unnecessary but overall this story was good.

These women had enough but do I believe in their cause? Not really. I won’t be able to say more without spoiling the story for those who haven’t read it.

Stephanie and Jasmine were on the same plane for very different reasons. However they disappeared the same. They sent same texts to their loved ones but both filled with red flags to those who know them well. They were both declared missing after awhile when they stopped texting. That’s when story took a new direction with introduction of waste of space Trent McCarthy.

If you want to understand a mind of a manipulator, go ahead and read this or listen to a true crime podcast. It was well meaning story but did not resonate with me.

What a great debut novel! Having multiple narrators was a brilliant move because a listener you kept wondering who you would hear from next. As the story moves along it makes you think about the assumptions we make of others' lives, the stories we share, and the secrets we keep. I accept the end though I can't say I loved it. It was an entertaining listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jasmine is sneaking out of her trailer one night. Her abusive boyfriend sleeping next to her. She doesn't dare make a sound. She has been saving every penny for this moment, she is going to jump on a plane and disappear. Stephanie is the head of a mid-sized tv new station and is being sent to a dreaded conference in San Diego. These two women's worlds collide when they fatefully meet on the same plane. Days later they both vanish. Their friends are still receiving texts from the women saying they are in Atlanta, but something doesn't seem right, and then the texts stop. Both women mention the man Trent McCarthy, but what does he have to do with them and where are they?

I loved the opening of this story, I hated the ending. The psychological thriller starts off with each woman's POV. We know they are living very different lives but what happened on that plane and where did they go afterwards. It was great. About halfway through side characters start to get introduced and the story becomes muddy with their points of view, but I was still engaged. More and more characters and POVs get added from friends of the women, their boss, boyfriend and the infamous Trent. Too much. The ending goes off the rails. I'm good with a dark twisty story and a surprise ending but this one just went too far for my liking. I would try another novel from Jessie Garcia but this one ended up being a miss for me.

The story is told by many povs so it was read by Andrew Eiden; Dylan Fitzpatrick; Fred Berman; Gail Shalan; Hillary Huber; Jennifer Pickens; John Pirhalla; Kimberly M. Wetherell; Kirby Heyborne; Tim Campbell. I appreciate everyone's efforts and have a hard time distinguishing who read who's part. It was a bit messy to listen to although it was more the story than any one performance.

I listened to the audio version of this book. I wasn’t a fan of narrator of Stephanie. I found the start of the book a bit boring. The end and the twist is what changed my mind about the book. I found some parts very far fetched. But I had heard so many good reviews. So this is a book you need to read for yourself.

Thank you @Stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a solid debut that kept me guessing! I was invested in Stephanie and Jasmine’s stories. Their lives are totally unrelated but when they end up on the same flight and text their friends about the same man something is definitely up. When both women end up missing the real question is who is this mystery man and how are they all connected? I don’t want to give too much away but this was a great mystery!

I’m a huge fan of audiobooks—the way they bring stories to life, lifting them right off the pages and making them feel so real. And when you have an incredibly talented narrator (or in this case, a full cast of them!), it takes the experience to a whole new level! This audiobook was everything I love—each voice actor absolutely nailed their character, making the story even more immersive. It was the best kind of listening experience, the kind that pulls you in and doesn’t let go! With that said, this debut novel from Jessie Garcia was a solid four star read for me. I'm excited to see what she writes next.

Jasmine has spent years serving drinks and making small talk as a waitress at a local bar, but behind the easy smiles, she’s been planning her escape. At 44, she’s stuck in a suffocating relationship with Glen, a younger man who started out charming but turned possessive and controlling. Every day, she pockets a little extra cash, tucking it away like a secret lifeline. And then, finally, when the moment is right, she takes it—sneaking out in the dead of night, her heart pounding as she leaves behind the life that’s been holding her prisoner. Her destination? Denver, where she hopes for a fresh start, a new identity, and maybe even a chance to finally breathe.

Meanwhile, Stephanie is living a completely different kind of life—or so it seems. A successful news director, she’s built her career on discipline, precision, and a tireless work ethic. Divorced and with a grown son, her life is all about the newsroom, deadlines, and control. So when she heads out of town for a conference, no one thinks twice—until she starts texting her neighbor about a mysterious new man she’s met. Her messages grow more surprising: she’s skipping the conference altogether, heading to Atlanta with this guy. Her co-workers are floored when she casually announces via text that she’ll be out for the whole week. This is not the Stephanie they know—the woman who practically lives for her job, who would never just disappear like this. Something doesn’t add up.

Two women. Two disappearances. But are they running to something—or from something far more dangerous?

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to both read and listen to this book - I feel both bring their own unique style and I love experiencing both when possible!
This released January 14th meaning it's available now!

Thank you NetGalley, Jessie Garcia, and St.Martin's Press for gifting me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although this started out a bit slow, the second half picked up and I was hooked. I really enjoyed the audiobook, especially since each character was voiced by a different narrator. I found it to be full of twists and turns and quite clever. The ending was not what I expected at all, and although I found it a bit far-fetched, I still enjoyed the ride. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

4.5 stars 🌟

I did NOT expect anything, but boy, did it deliver! I've been loving this trend of seemingly random books from Netgalley ending up as total bombshells. The Business Trip had SO many unexpected things going on that made it quite the (mostly) unpredictable ride. The multiple narrators in the beginning seemed like it could have been overwhelming, but as it tapered off, I realized how enjoyable it was to not know who I'd be hearing from next. It offered so many points of view to show a full picture. I actually pondered whether any of them would become the main characters and was totally surprised to find out who eventually took over the story. So many of them were unlikeable too, which made it quite an interesting turn of events.

I really enjoyed listening to this story and am always impressed when I don't see the twists coming. It was exciting and unexpected in the best ways. Especially for a debut! I will definitely look for more from this author in the future.

Shoutout to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jessie Garcia for the early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! This is a debut novel and I am still trying to wrap my head about that! I absolutely loved that this book had more of a psychological intrigue to it as it kept me flipping the pages and moved the book along at a fast pace! There are some twists that were so good, but you do need to suspend reality a bit for them! I do have to say that I found myself picking up the ebook a bit more than the audiobook. I thought the narrators did such a good job, but just due to the storyline and characters, I found myself getting more confused with the audiobook. Others may enjoy it a bit more though!

Overall, this was a wonderful debut and I am excited to see what else the author has in store for us!