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Bad Honeymoon
Not yet published
Expected 19 Jan 27With Jessie Garcia's signature multi-POV, rapid-fire style that will keep you on your toes until the last page, Bad Honeymoon is the next twisty thriller from the author of The Business Trip.
In search of a ratings hit, TV reporter Becca Larson flies to Florida to cover what should be a simple story: a newlywed couple’s honeymoon gone wrong by a nightmare hotel stay.
Eve Schmidt’s story is compelling, disturbing, and sure to entice viewers. Becca meets with Eve, plans the shoot, and lines everything up for the next day. The story is off to the perfect start.
Then, Eve goes silent.
Calls go unanswered, emails bounce back. With no story and no explanation, Becca heads home, embarrassed and bracing herself to explain the failure to her boss.
What she doesn’t know is there’s been a murder. When police show up at her door, everything Becca thought she knew snaps into terrifying focus. A woman is dead. Eve has vanished. And the evidence suggests Becca may have been involved.
This isn’t just a story about a bad honeymoon anymore.
As suspicion turns toward Becca, every decision she made in pursuit of the segment is under scrutiny, and the more she tries to explain herself, the more it seems to implicate her. With her career unraveling, her credibility in question, and her marriage straining under the weight of doubt, Becca must find a way to clear her name before this story defines her for good.
Bad Honeymoon. Sometimes the best stories bring out the worst in people...
In search of a ratings hit, TV reporter Becca Larson flies to Florida to cover what should be a simple story: a newlywed couple’s honeymoon gone wrong by a nightmare hotel stay.
Eve Schmidt’s story is compelling, disturbing, and sure to entice viewers. Becca meets with Eve, plans the shoot, and lines everything up for the next day. The story is off to the perfect start.
Then, Eve goes silent.
Calls go unanswered, emails bounce back. With no story and no explanation, Becca heads home, embarrassed and bracing herself to explain the failure to her boss.
What she doesn’t know is there’s been a murder. When police show up at her door, everything Becca thought she knew snaps into terrifying focus. A woman is dead. Eve has vanished. And the evidence suggests Becca may have been involved.
This isn’t just a story about a bad honeymoon anymore.
As suspicion turns toward Becca, every decision she made in pursuit of the segment is under scrutiny, and the more she tries to explain herself, the more it seems to implicate her. With her career unraveling, her credibility in question, and her marriage straining under the weight of doubt, Becca must find a way to clear her name before this story defines her for good.
Bad Honeymoon. Sometimes the best stories bring out the worst in people...
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 19, 2027
About the author
Jessie Garcia
10 books1,135 followersJessie Garcia knew she wanted to be a writer or a reporter from about the age of 8. After growing up in Madison, WI she attended college at Boston University, gravitating to television journalism.
Jessie spent over 25 years on the air as a sportscaster and became the sideline reporter for the Green Bay Packers as well as a host of NFL coach's shows. She then got into TV management and now oversees a newsroom of journalists.
Jessie also taught journalism at four universities and produced a documentary on a little-known piece of track and field history.
She has several award-winning non-fiction books out but recently turned to fiction. She has always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers and is excited to be bringing you THE BUSINESS TRIP.
Jessie has two adult sons and lives in Wisconsin with her husband. Their two animals truly rule the house: a savvy cat who simply appeared in the front bushes one day, and a dog who won their hearts at the Humane Society.
Follow her on Instagram at jessiegarcia_author for behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
Jessie spent over 25 years on the air as a sportscaster and became the sideline reporter for the Green Bay Packers as well as a host of NFL coach's shows. She then got into TV management and now oversees a newsroom of journalists.
Jessie also taught journalism at four universities and produced a documentary on a little-known piece of track and field history.
She has several award-winning non-fiction books out but recently turned to fiction. She has always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers and is excited to be bringing you THE BUSINESS TRIP.
Jessie has two adult sons and lives in Wisconsin with her husband. Their two animals truly rule the house: a savvy cat who simply appeared in the front bushes one day, and a dog who won their hearts at the Humane Society.
Follow her on Instagram at jessiegarcia_author for behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Becca Larson is a television reporter who was contacted by a woman named Eve about the horrible experience she and her husband had on their honeymoon! Becca can't wait to interview Eve and report on this honeymoon nightmare. She and her producer believe it will be ratings gold as Eve's story is compelling and horrific. They know their viewers will eat it up, but after an initial interview in Florida, Eve is unreachable. Then a woman is found murdered and the evidence points to Becca!
I had a lot of fun reading this book. This proved to be a fast read full of twists, turns, drama, tension, and secrets. I had a lot of suspects and came up with several conspiracy theories while reading. Anyone and everyone were on my suspect list. This book had a lot going on, and I was there for all of it.
If you are looking for a fun, fast paced, mystery, Bad Honeymoon may be the book for you!
*This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review of Bad Honeymoon to get her thoughts on the book!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. This proved to be a fast read full of twists, turns, drama, tension, and secrets. I had a lot of suspects and came up with several conspiracy theories while reading. Anyone and everyone were on my suspect list. This book had a lot going on, and I was there for all of it.
If you are looking for a fun, fast paced, mystery, Bad Honeymoon may be the book for you!
*This was a buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review of Bad Honeymoon to get her thoughts on the book!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 31, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Becca is a reporter for a local news station in Minneapolis.
She’s contacted by a woman named Eve, who also lives in Minnesota, but is in Florida on her honeymoon.
Eve explains that when they checked into their hotel they were appalled to find dead mice in the closet and mold that was so bad that it put her husband in the hospital (I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and this was already feeling a bit farfetched).
Thinking that the story would be an interesting segment for their news show, Becca talks her boss into letting her fly to Florida to film Eve’s story.
The day that she arrives she meets Eve at the hotel and everything goes great.
They make plans to meet again the following morning to do the filming, only Eve never shows up and her phone has been disconnected.
Clearly Becca has been ghosted.
Things get even worse for her when she returns home to Minneapolis.
I think the plot for this book was a great idea and it sounded exciting.
So why only 3.5 stars?
It isn’t that this book is at all bad, but I just couldn’t get that enthusiastic while reading it.
The last 25% of it was pretty good, and it had a very nice ending, but in the first half it felt like not a lot was really happening.
As far as twists, excitement, tension, I didn’t really feel much of that.
When I am reading a 5 star thriller or mystery, I’m constantly telling myself “just one more chapter” and I’m often thinking about the book while doing things other than reading like running errands or going to the gym.
That just wasn’t the case here.
I’ve read another book by Jessie Garcia, The Business Trip, and I enjoyed it much more than I did this one.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
Becca is a reporter for a local news station in Minneapolis.
She’s contacted by a woman named Eve, who also lives in Minnesota, but is in Florida on her honeymoon.
Eve explains that when they checked into their hotel they were appalled to find dead mice in the closet and mold that was so bad that it put her husband in the hospital (I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and this was already feeling a bit farfetched).
Thinking that the story would be an interesting segment for their news show, Becca talks her boss into letting her fly to Florida to film Eve’s story.
The day that she arrives she meets Eve at the hotel and everything goes great.
They make plans to meet again the following morning to do the filming, only Eve never shows up and her phone has been disconnected.
Clearly Becca has been ghosted.
Things get even worse for her when she returns home to Minneapolis.
I think the plot for this book was a great idea and it sounded exciting.
So why only 3.5 stars?
It isn’t that this book is at all bad, but I just couldn’t get that enthusiastic while reading it.
The last 25% of it was pretty good, and it had a very nice ending, but in the first half it felt like not a lot was really happening.
As far as twists, excitement, tension, I didn’t really feel much of that.
When I am reading a 5 star thriller or mystery, I’m constantly telling myself “just one more chapter” and I’m often thinking about the book while doing things other than reading like running errands or going to the gym.
That just wasn’t the case here.
I’ve read another book by Jessie Garcia, The Business Trip, and I enjoyed it much more than I did this one.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, this was a GOOD time! 😈🔪 Not exactly the kind of honeymoon anyone would put on their bucket list, but as a reader? I was happily checking into this disaster!
I really enjoyed how Jessie Garcia takes what initially sounds like a juicy little human-interest story and slowly turns it into something much more complicated. Becca travels to Florida thinking she has found the perfect story for her TV segment, only to have everything go spectacularly sideways. Eve disappears, a woman ends up dead, and suddenly Becca isn’t reporting the story anymore—she IS the story. And unfortunately for her, not in the flattering, career-making way she was hoping for!
What worked especially well for me was the way the mystery kept shifting as we moved through the different perspectives. Every time I thought, Okay, I see where this is going, another piece of information would make me reconsider. There’s a nice little game of manipulation happening between what we know, what the characters know, and what we THINK we know, and I definitely enjoyed playing detective along the way.
I also liked that the story isn’t simply about solving a murder. There’s Becca’s career, her reputation, her marriage, family dynamics, buried secrets, and all these personal complications slowly getting tangled into the mystery. Watching everything she worked for begin to wobble while she desperately tried to prove she wasn’t responsible made the stakes feel much more personal.
That said, I did feel some of the POV sections could have used a little trimming. A few chapters took the scenic route when I was sitting there thinking, “Girl, get to the point! We have a MURDER to solve!” 😂 There were moments when the information could have been delivered more tightly, and a little editing would have made the pacing even sharper.
BUT—and this is important—the overall progression worked for me. I liked watching all those seemingly separate threads gradually find their way toward each other, and I thought the mystery was wrapped up nicely. Even when I had suspicions about certain things, I still wanted to keep reading to see how Garcia was going to connect all the dots.
It’s twisty, messy, entertaining, full of suspicious people, questionable decisions, and enough secrets to make me trust absolutely nobody. 😂 A fun, addictive thriller that turns one disastrous honeymoon into a much bigger nightmare—and I was here for the chaos!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this exciting, unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest review.
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I really enjoyed how Jessie Garcia takes what initially sounds like a juicy little human-interest story and slowly turns it into something much more complicated. Becca travels to Florida thinking she has found the perfect story for her TV segment, only to have everything go spectacularly sideways. Eve disappears, a woman ends up dead, and suddenly Becca isn’t reporting the story anymore—she IS the story. And unfortunately for her, not in the flattering, career-making way she was hoping for!
What worked especially well for me was the way the mystery kept shifting as we moved through the different perspectives. Every time I thought, Okay, I see where this is going, another piece of information would make me reconsider. There’s a nice little game of manipulation happening between what we know, what the characters know, and what we THINK we know, and I definitely enjoyed playing detective along the way.
I also liked that the story isn’t simply about solving a murder. There’s Becca’s career, her reputation, her marriage, family dynamics, buried secrets, and all these personal complications slowly getting tangled into the mystery. Watching everything she worked for begin to wobble while she desperately tried to prove she wasn’t responsible made the stakes feel much more personal.
That said, I did feel some of the POV sections could have used a little trimming. A few chapters took the scenic route when I was sitting there thinking, “Girl, get to the point! We have a MURDER to solve!” 😂 There were moments when the information could have been delivered more tightly, and a little editing would have made the pacing even sharper.
BUT—and this is important—the overall progression worked for me. I liked watching all those seemingly separate threads gradually find their way toward each other, and I thought the mystery was wrapped up nicely. Even when I had suspicions about certain things, I still wanted to keep reading to see how Garcia was going to connect all the dots.
It’s twisty, messy, entertaining, full of suspicious people, questionable decisions, and enough secrets to make me trust absolutely nobody. 😂 A fun, addictive thriller that turns one disastrous honeymoon into a much bigger nightmare—and I was here for the chaos!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this exciting, unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest review.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoy this author’s books. This one is no exception. It’s a good, suspenseful story. However. I thought quite a few parts were really cheesy. 3.5 stars rounded up.
August 20, 2026
Great book! I enjoyed the twists and turns. Thank you NetGalley for the free advanced copy. I couldn’t predict the ending. It was great.
August 14, 2026
• BOOK REVIEW •
NEW ARC COMING IN 2027!
Date of Release : 19TH JANUARY 2027
Date : 14th August 2026
Book : Bad Honeymoon
Author : Jessie Garcia
Genre : Psychological Thriller / Suspense
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is actually my first book from Jessie Garcia. I always thought ‘A Business Trip’ would be my first considering how hyped it was but I never got the chance to read it yet.
This is the story of Becca, a well known TV reporter from Channel 7 who read through a couple of letters from the public and had to choose one to interview. And that one person who got picked so happened to be a woman named Eve and her husband who wrote about their bad honeymoon starting from dead mice in their hotel to mold all over.
She then decides to travel solo to Florida instead to meet up with Eve to get this interview started and to report on it and she does of course, but things go haywire when Eve just disappears at the next meet up. Confused, embarrassed and furious after being ghosted, she tears up and goes home only to find out that she’s now linked to a crime.
I actually liked this story a lot as it definitely was fast paced and got me focused right til’ the end. I thought the writing had a good plot although I did find it predictable quite early on. Nevertheless, it was a great book and I actually recommend this to anyone who loves or who’d like to get into thrillers!❤️
Thank you @stmartinspress , @netgalley and the author for letting me read and review this book with my honest thoughts.
NEW ARC COMING IN 2027!
Date of Release : 19TH JANUARY 2027
Date : 14th August 2026
Book : Bad Honeymoon
Author : Jessie Garcia
Genre : Psychological Thriller / Suspense
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is actually my first book from Jessie Garcia. I always thought ‘A Business Trip’ would be my first considering how hyped it was but I never got the chance to read it yet.
This is the story of Becca, a well known TV reporter from Channel 7 who read through a couple of letters from the public and had to choose one to interview. And that one person who got picked so happened to be a woman named Eve and her husband who wrote about their bad honeymoon starting from dead mice in their hotel to mold all over.
She then decides to travel solo to Florida instead to meet up with Eve to get this interview started and to report on it and she does of course, but things go haywire when Eve just disappears at the next meet up. Confused, embarrassed and furious after being ghosted, she tears up and goes home only to find out that she’s now linked to a crime.
I actually liked this story a lot as it definitely was fast paced and got me focused right til’ the end. I thought the writing had a good plot although I did find it predictable quite early on. Nevertheless, it was a great book and I actually recommend this to anyone who loves or who’d like to get into thrillers!❤️
Thank you @stmartinspress , @netgalley and the author for letting me read and review this book with my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I jumped at the chance to read this book because Jessie Garcia has impressed me with her books. I was I a bit of a book slump and luckily Bad Honeymoon didn’t disappoint. I loved this one!
Becca Larson is a tv reporter looking for her next big story when she gets wrapped up in a murder investigation. This story was fast paced and interesting. I enjoyed reading about Becca’s family. Jessie Garcia is becoming a must read author for me!
Becca Larson is a tv reporter looking for her next big story when she gets wrapped up in a murder investigation. This story was fast paced and interesting. I enjoyed reading about Becca’s family. Jessie Garcia is becoming a must read author for me!
September 6, 2026
4.5
Thank you netgalley and st martins press for an advanced copy of this book! I was very excited to receive this authors, newest book as an advanced copy because I really really enjoyed the business trip. just like the business trip, this was an extremely fast and thrilling and engaging read. I could have definitely read this in one day if I didn’t have plans. I love all of the multiple point of views that are in this story and seeing how things come together. As usual, I was extremely shocked by how the book ended. I did not want to stop reading the her books. Just really grab your attention right away. I highly recommend reading her books if you never have and if you have and enjoyed them, I definitely recommend picking this one up as well. I look forward to hopefully getting the chance to read more from this author.
Thank you netgalley and st martins press for an advanced copy of this book! I was very excited to receive this authors, newest book as an advanced copy because I really really enjoyed the business trip. just like the business trip, this was an extremely fast and thrilling and engaging read. I could have definitely read this in one day if I didn’t have plans. I love all of the multiple point of views that are in this story and seeing how things come together. As usual, I was extremely shocked by how the book ended. I did not want to stop reading the her books. Just really grab your attention right away. I highly recommend reading her books if you never have and if you have and enjoyed them, I definitely recommend picking this one up as well. I look forward to hopefully getting the chance to read more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Becca Larson is a reporter who has a segment where she works with the community to turn bad experiences into good ones. When she receives an email from Eve, who is writing in about a bad Honeymoon that resulted in her husband being hospitalized, the network sees it as a great story for sweeps week.
The problem is when Becca goes to meet Eve for her actual interview, she is a no-show. Becca is in a panic because this could impact her credibility at work. Then a woman is found dead. Eve is missing in action and Becca has no idea what is going on. Especially, when the police question her.
This is a fun, quick read. I was continually changing my mind on who was responsible. I love the multiple points of view and how different each character is and how they interact with each other.
I truly enjoyed this story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The problem is when Becca goes to meet Eve for her actual interview, she is a no-show. Becca is in a panic because this could impact her credibility at work. Then a woman is found dead. Eve is missing in action and Becca has no idea what is going on. Especially, when the police question her.
This is a fun, quick read. I was continually changing my mind on who was responsible. I love the multiple points of view and how different each character is and how they interact with each other.
I truly enjoyed this story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
I loved Jessie Garcia’s first two books, so I jumped at the chance to arc read this one!
I absolutely love this authors writing style and this one pulled me in right from the beginning. I enjoyed the storyline, the twists, the turns, and the characters.
I had so many different scenarios running through my head and suspected almost every character at some point.
While some twists were a little predictable, I enjoyed going along for the ride & the way this one unfolded. I’m so happy with the way this ended!!
Jessie Garcia is an auto read author for me and I can’t wait to read more of her books!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martins Press for this advanced reader copy!!
I absolutely love this authors writing style and this one pulled me in right from the beginning. I enjoyed the storyline, the twists, the turns, and the characters.
I had so many different scenarios running through my head and suspected almost every character at some point.
While some twists were a little predictable, I enjoyed going along for the ride & the way this one unfolded. I’m so happy with the way this ended!!
Jessie Garcia is an auto read author for me and I can’t wait to read more of her books!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martins Press for this advanced reader copy!!
August 16, 2026
Becca is a well known tv reporter with a new segment titled From Bad to Good, where she highlights locals having a rough time and utilizes local resources to make the situation better. Becca is getting sick of these stories and is dying to get back to investigative journalism. She finally gets a chance to follow a story down to Florida and then everything goes from bad to worse.
This was a great weekend or beach read. Easy, quick, with multiple POV. While the ending was predictable I had a fun time getting there. 3.5 rounding up to 4 for Goodreads.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This was a great weekend or beach read. Easy, quick, with multiple POV. While the ending was predictable I had a fun time getting there. 3.5 rounding up to 4 for Goodreads.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
September 16, 2026
3.75 stars. No one wants to have a bad honeymoon, and certainly no one wants to be accused of murder. This was a fun, fast-paced book. It was helped along by different POV chapters which always makes a book more enjoyable for me. It was a tad outlandish at parts, but it made for an enjoyable read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To Be Published January 2027 (review limited to avoid spoilers)
I have read Ms Garcia's The Business Trip and am currently reading The Fair Weather Friend. Suffice it to say that I enjoy the author's premise and writing style enough that she keeps me wanting more.
This story is told through multiple POVs, which I thoroughly enjoy as it gives more insight into the characters and their thoughts.
In the story, Becca is a television personality that has a segment called From Bad to Good. This leads her to travel for a segment and ultimately results in the books mystery.
I was able to guess some parts of the story but the ending had an unexpected twist.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.
I have read Ms Garcia's The Business Trip and am currently reading The Fair Weather Friend. Suffice it to say that I enjoy the author's premise and writing style enough that she keeps me wanting more.
This story is told through multiple POVs, which I thoroughly enjoy as it gives more insight into the characters and their thoughts.
In the story, Becca is a television personality that has a segment called From Bad to Good. This leads her to travel for a segment and ultimately results in the books mystery.
I was able to guess some parts of the story but the ending had an unexpected twist.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.
August 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, all the twists and turns made me not want to put the book down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
September 1, 2026
I could NOT put this book down! I loved the twists and turns, and especially the multi-POV. It was great to see the inner thoughts of each character. I’ll be checking out more of Jessie Garcia’s books. :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a dud. There was no suspense or thrills. The characters were all flat and indistinguishable from each other. The boss's POV was unnecessary. The attitude towards weed was really weird. The epilogue was cringe and unrealistic. Also there is no "Seven eleven" in Minneapolis!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve read Jessie Garcia before and enjoyed her books, so I was excited to read Bad Honeymoon. This was another quick, easy thriller that was really easy to fly through.
Becca Larson is a TV reporter in Minnesota looking for a good story when she hears from Eve, a newlywed whose honeymoon in Clearwater, Florida was basically a disaster. Mold, dead mice, a sick husband—the whole thing sounds like the perfect story for Becca’s news segment. So she heads down to the Clearwater/Tampa area to meet Eve and put the story together.
Except after their initial meeting, Eve disappears.
Suddenly Becca’s simple honeymoon-from-hell story turns into something completely different. There’s a woman found murdered on Clearwater Beach, Eve is nowhere to be found, and somehow evidence starts pointing back to Becca. I really liked the whole idea of a reporter going to cover a story and then becoming part of the story herself. The Florida setting was also fun for me since I’m familiar with the area.
There are multiple POVs, family issues, complicated relationships and plenty of people to be suspicious of. I definitely had my theories about what was actually going on. At one point I was pretty confident I had figured it out.
I was wrong. 😂
I did notice a couple of things that made me stop and question them. One was when Becca was being questioned by the police and they didn’t read her Miranda rights until they actually arrested her. Maybe I’ve read and watched way too many detective stories, but I definitely stopped and thought…wait, can they do that? There were a few little details like that that stood out to me.
But overall, I enjoyed this. It was fast, twisty and kept me wanting to know what really happened in Florida. It didn’t completely blow me away, but Jessie Garcia managed to fool me, and I always give a thriller credit for that!
3.75 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Becca Larson is a TV reporter in Minnesota looking for a good story when she hears from Eve, a newlywed whose honeymoon in Clearwater, Florida was basically a disaster. Mold, dead mice, a sick husband—the whole thing sounds like the perfect story for Becca’s news segment. So she heads down to the Clearwater/Tampa area to meet Eve and put the story together.
Except after their initial meeting, Eve disappears.
Suddenly Becca’s simple honeymoon-from-hell story turns into something completely different. There’s a woman found murdered on Clearwater Beach, Eve is nowhere to be found, and somehow evidence starts pointing back to Becca. I really liked the whole idea of a reporter going to cover a story and then becoming part of the story herself. The Florida setting was also fun for me since I’m familiar with the area.
There are multiple POVs, family issues, complicated relationships and plenty of people to be suspicious of. I definitely had my theories about what was actually going on. At one point I was pretty confident I had figured it out.
I was wrong. 😂
I did notice a couple of things that made me stop and question them. One was when Becca was being questioned by the police and they didn’t read her Miranda rights until they actually arrested her. Maybe I’ve read and watched way too many detective stories, but I definitely stopped and thought…wait, can they do that? There were a few little details like that that stood out to me.
But overall, I enjoyed this. It was fast, twisty and kept me wanting to know what really happened in Florida. It didn’t completely blow me away, but Jessie Garcia managed to fool me, and I always give a thriller credit for that!
3.75 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was looking forward to Bad Honeymoon, but this one just didn’t work for me.
It was described as a mystery/psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, but I never really felt that tension. Much of what was happening seemed fairly obvious to me, and I struggled from the beginning that no research was done by Becca, a seasoned reporter.
The multiple points of view also took some getting used to, and I never connected with most of the characters. Frankie was the exception, and Brian eventually grew on me. Liz and her mother were much harder for me to like because so many of their choices felt selfish and hurtful. By the time Liz showed a change in attitude, I was no longer invested in her character.
I considered putting the book down several times, but because this was an advance reader copy. I wanted to finish it and give it a fair chance.
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t improve things for me. After everything Becca experienced, I was surprised by the friendship she ultimately chose to pursue. I was shocked that the reconciliation scene was that limited after 59 chapters.
I can see where some readers might find it enjoyable, but it wasn’t the suspenseful psychological thriller I had hoped for.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy received via NetGalley.
It was described as a mystery/psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, but I never really felt that tension. Much of what was happening seemed fairly obvious to me, and I struggled from the beginning that no research was done by Becca, a seasoned reporter.
The multiple points of view also took some getting used to, and I never connected with most of the characters. Frankie was the exception, and Brian eventually grew on me. Liz and her mother were much harder for me to like because so many of their choices felt selfish and hurtful. By the time Liz showed a change in attitude, I was no longer invested in her character.
I considered putting the book down several times, but because this was an advance reader copy. I wanted to finish it and give it a fair chance.
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t improve things for me. After everything Becca experienced, I was surprised by the friendship she ultimately chose to pursue. I was shocked that the reconciliation scene was that limited after 59 chapters.
I can see where some readers might find it enjoyable, but it wasn’t the suspenseful psychological thriller I had hoped for.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy received via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Bad Honeymoon! This was a fun, twisty read that kept me interested the whole way through. I loved the honeymoon setting and the suspense of trying to figure out exactly what was going on.
It moved at a good pace, had plenty of twists and turns, and was one of those books that was just really easy to keep reading. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something would happen that made me question it again.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable thriller and I would definitely recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It moved at a good pace, had plenty of twists and turns, and was one of those books that was just really easy to keep reading. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something would happen that made me question it again.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable thriller and I would definitely recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2026
4.5⭐️
“Bad Honeymoon” by Jessie Garcia is an enthralling and meticulously crafted narrative that delves into the complexities of human relationships. The author’s ability to weave a compelling plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end is commendable. The unexpected twists and turns in the story add an element of suspense and intrigue, making it a captivating read. The author’s portrayal of the human condition is both insightful and relatable, resonating with readers on a profound level.
“Bad Honeymoon” is a must-read for those who enjoy literary fiction with unexpected turns of events.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
“Bad Honeymoon” by Jessie Garcia is an enthralling and meticulously crafted narrative that delves into the complexities of human relationships. The author’s ability to weave a compelling plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end is commendable. The unexpected twists and turns in the story add an element of suspense and intrigue, making it a captivating read. The author’s portrayal of the human condition is both insightful and relatable, resonating with readers on a profound level.
“Bad Honeymoon” is a must-read for those who enjoy literary fiction with unexpected turns of events.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
Read
October 6, 2026A very fast paced story of an ordinary columnist who's stumbled on a new story that would change her career. But of course, instead of achieving stardom and greatness she's led down a rabbit hole of murder and mystery. Not necessarily a unique story, but goid. Some twists were predictable but the characters were interesting, believable, and the story was tense and engaging.
August 26, 2026
“Bad Honeymoon” by Jessie Garcia was a great twisty thriller! It’s full of secrets, deception, and revenge, with plenty of twists to keep me guessing. I couldn’t put it down!
August 29, 2026
Thank you @Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for ARC. This book was so good. Jessie Garcia is becoming one of my go to thriller authors. This book follows Becca a news reporter in MN. She thinks she is onto a huge story and flys to FL but it’s not what she expected. Nothing goes as planned and she is arrested for murder. Can she escape with her freedom?
September 7, 2026
This book was okay. The twist was good but I found myself not wanting to pick it up as much as other books. It just went in too many directions for me
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of tension and intrigue. It kept my attention throughout, and I really enjoyed watching the story unfold. A solid thriller that was easy to get completely wrapped up in.
September 4, 2026
I received this ARC and really enjoyed the twists and turns. Initially I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the multiple points of view, but it was a great read and quite the surprising plot twist.
September 11, 2026
Bad Honeymoon grabbed me right away and did not let go! Becca travels from Minnesota down to Clearwater Beach, Florida, to cover a story for her weekly “From Bad to Good” news segment, but things go from bad to worse for her! First her contact ghosts her, then she’s almost mugged, and it just keeps going downhill from there! I seriously had NO clue who I could trust at any point and did NOT expect the ending! This was my second Jessie Garcia book, and I am definitely a fan!
July 6, 2026
When I first started this book, I loved the premise and was excited to see where the story would go. However, as I kept reading, I started to lose interest. One of my biggest issues was the number of different points of view—I felt there were too many, and it made the story harder to stay invested in. Overall, it wasn't a bad read, and I did enjoy parts of it, but I didn't love it as much as I had hoped.
Thanks NetGalley and St.Martins Press for this advanced readers copy for my honest review
Thanks NetGalley and St.Martins Press for this advanced readers copy for my honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC!
I loved The Business Trip, so my expectations were high for this one, and Jessie Garcia absolutely delivered. I binged it over a weekend and kept going back and forth, trying to figure out who was setting Becca up and what everyone’s ulterior motives were. The different POVs were easy to follow, and once the dots finally connected, I was genuinely shocked, but everything made sense. Such a well-woven thriller and easily right up there with The Business Trip for me.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC!
I loved The Business Trip, so my expectations were high for this one, and Jessie Garcia absolutely delivered. I binged it over a weekend and kept going back and forth, trying to figure out who was setting Becca up and what everyone’s ulterior motives were. The different POVs were easy to follow, and once the dots finally connected, I was genuinely shocked, but everything made sense. Such a well-woven thriller and easily right up there with The Business Trip for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If your favorite thrillers are the kind that whisk you away on vacation before pulling the rug out from under you, Bad Honeymoon is a fun, fast-paced mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Jessie Garcia has quickly developed a signature style, and fans of The Business Trip and Fair Weather Friend will feel right at home here. Once again, she delivers a story told through multiple points of view, creating a twisty mystery that keeps the pages flying.
Television reporter Becca is desperate for a story that will boost ratings during sweeps week when she’s contacted by a woman named Eve. Eve claims that what should have been a romantic honeymoon in Florida has turned into a nightmare, complete with mold-infested hotel rooms, dead mice in the closet, and a resort refusing to make things right. It sounds like the perfect consumer investigation, so Josie flies to Florida to meet her source.
Only Eve never shows up.
Her phone turns out to be a burner, the hotel insists there was never a guest by that name, and there is no record that the wedding Eve described ever happened. Suddenly, Josie finds herself chasing a mystery that is far stranger than a bad honeymoon. Who is Eve? What is she trying to accomplish? And why choose Becca?
One of the things I continue to enjoy about Garcia’s books is her cast of characters. Her female leads are intelligent, resourceful, and easy to root for, while the male characters are equally well-rounded with motivations and personalities of their own. No one feels like a caricature, which gives the story a balanced, believable dynamic.
The twists aren’t designed to leave your jaw on the floor, and experienced thriller readers will probably predict a few of them. The premise also requires a healthy suspension of disbelief. But honestly, that’s part of the charm. This is the kind of thriller you read for the entertainment value, not because every detail is perfectly realistic. It’s an engaging, escapist mystery that’s simply a lot of fun.
While there is a murder, this isn’t an especially dark or graphic thriller. The body count stays low, the violence remains in the background, and the emphasis is on uncovering the truth rather than shocking the reader. It lands much more firmly in the psychological suspense category than horror.
I also have a feeling this will make an excellent audiobook. Garcia’s multiple-POV format has translated well to audio in the past, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one receives another strong multi-narrator production.
Who should read this?
* Fans of Liv Constantine, Jeneva Rose, and Robyn Harding.
* Readers who enjoyed Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip and Fair Weather Friend.
* Thriller readers looking for an entertaining, fast-paced mystery with multiple POVs, vacation vibes, and enough twists to keep the pages turning—even if you guess a few along the way.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted electronic ARC. Publication date: January 27, 2027.
Jessie Garcia has quickly developed a signature style, and fans of The Business Trip and Fair Weather Friend will feel right at home here. Once again, she delivers a story told through multiple points of view, creating a twisty mystery that keeps the pages flying.
Television reporter Becca is desperate for a story that will boost ratings during sweeps week when she’s contacted by a woman named Eve. Eve claims that what should have been a romantic honeymoon in Florida has turned into a nightmare, complete with mold-infested hotel rooms, dead mice in the closet, and a resort refusing to make things right. It sounds like the perfect consumer investigation, so Josie flies to Florida to meet her source.
Only Eve never shows up.
Her phone turns out to be a burner, the hotel insists there was never a guest by that name, and there is no record that the wedding Eve described ever happened. Suddenly, Josie finds herself chasing a mystery that is far stranger than a bad honeymoon. Who is Eve? What is she trying to accomplish? And why choose Becca?
One of the things I continue to enjoy about Garcia’s books is her cast of characters. Her female leads are intelligent, resourceful, and easy to root for, while the male characters are equally well-rounded with motivations and personalities of their own. No one feels like a caricature, which gives the story a balanced, believable dynamic.
The twists aren’t designed to leave your jaw on the floor, and experienced thriller readers will probably predict a few of them. The premise also requires a healthy suspension of disbelief. But honestly, that’s part of the charm. This is the kind of thriller you read for the entertainment value, not because every detail is perfectly realistic. It’s an engaging, escapist mystery that’s simply a lot of fun.
While there is a murder, this isn’t an especially dark or graphic thriller. The body count stays low, the violence remains in the background, and the emphasis is on uncovering the truth rather than shocking the reader. It lands much more firmly in the psychological suspense category than horror.
I also have a feeling this will make an excellent audiobook. Garcia’s multiple-POV format has translated well to audio in the past, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one receives another strong multi-narrator production.
Who should read this?
* Fans of Liv Constantine, Jeneva Rose, and Robyn Harding.
* Readers who enjoyed Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip and Fair Weather Friend.
* Thriller readers looking for an entertaining, fast-paced mystery with multiple POVs, vacation vibes, and enough twists to keep the pages turning—even if you guess a few along the way.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted electronic ARC. Publication date: January 27, 2027.
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