OMG The Business Trip was so good. I inhaled this book almost in one sitting, only stopping to force myself to go to bed. It is full of twist and turns that will have your jaw dropping in delight and disgust.

I loved the multi-cast narration! With this kind of constantly switching multiple POV, it’s a necessity and the voice actors were cast so well. They really brought the story to life and definitely influenced my perspective of the characters based on their inflections. Their narration really helped drive the story for me.

3.75 stars

I love an audiobook with a full cast narration – especially a thriller. This one was so well done. Very fast paced and entirely bingeable. I loved the edge of your seat action and all the twists and turns.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 341 / Genre: Psychological Thriller
Audiobook Narrators: Andrew Eiden, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, Tim Campbell
Duration: 9 hours 7 minutes
Release Date: January 14, 2025

Jasmine has finally decided to leave her abusive boyfriend and is on the run. Stephanie is a news manager for a local TV station and is on a business trip. The two meet on a connecting flight and nothing is the same again from that moment on.

I can’t even say more than that because so many unexpected twisty things happen in this thriller, I don’t want to ruin any of them for you. Is it all believable? No, of course not, it’s too crazy and wild and I loved every moment! Never a dull moment to be sure.

This fast, bingeble read is even better on audio with a full cast of narrators. This book comes out January 14, 2025, so be sure to add it to your TBR.

Thank you, @JessieGarcia_Author, @Macmillan.Audio, @StMartinsPress, and @NetGalley for my free copies. I loved it!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
THE BUSINESS TRIP
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery/thriller
📖 352 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: ✈️🎥😱🏙️💊🔫🐈💬🚔👀🧳🇲🇽
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 1/14/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ twists galore
◽️ multiple timeline
◽️ clever & suspense

🩵𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🩵

Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley @macmillianaudio for the #gifted copy!

What an outstanding debut! This book captivated me from start to finish with its clever storytelling & gripping plot. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, with timelines that alternate between past & present, offering fascinating insights into the events from various characters’ POV.

The intricate plotting kept me on my toes—I couldn’t predict how the storylines would connect, & none of my guesses were right! While the cast of characters is large, each one is distinct & easy to follow, adding complexity to the story. The twists were plentiful, & the conclusion was incredibly satisfying, tying everything together beautifully.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-crafted, surprising read. It left me eager to see what the author will deliver next!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Stephanie & Jasmine are strangers who meet on the same flight. Stephanie is traveling for work, while Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship. Days later, they each send their friends eerily similar & increasingly bizarre texts about a man named Trent McCarthy. Then, both women disappear without explanation, triggering widespread alarm. As they are declared missing & in danger, the mystery deepens: who is Trent McCarthy, & what really happened?

SOOOO good!! the twist! I said, "hold on, wait a second" then "oooooh" I loved this so much it kept me hooked from the very beginning!!!! I could not stop listening! I loved the full cast on the audiobook!

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.