Bad Honeymoon

by Jessie Garcia

With 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...

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 19, 2027

About the author

Jessie 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.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Olga Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lady Georgette (ieatpagesforbreakfast) · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 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.

[Kim McFall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Honeymoon is my first read by Jessie Garcia, and wow this one really grabs you fast and doesn’t let go. It’s a twisty, multi-POV thriller that starts with what looks like a simple human interest news segment and quickly spirals into something much darker, messier, and way more fun to read than a “bad honeymoon” headline suggests. The setup is great, TV reporter Becca Larson heads to Florida to cover a newlywed’s nightmare honeymoon story. Eve Schmidt seems like the perfect interview subject, disturbed, compelling, and ready to spill everything on camera. Their early interactions have this slightly awkward, slightly tense vibe that feels so true to how reporters and interviewees circle each other. You can tell Becca thinks she’s landed a ratings win. And then Eve disappears. From there, the author shifts gears into full on thriller mode. Becca’s confusion turns into embarrassment, then panic, and then outright fear once the police show up at her door. The way characters interact from this point on is one of the book’s strongest elements, everyone becomes a potential threat, a potential liar, or a potential piece of the puzzle. Becca’s coworkers, her boss, her husband, even the cops… every conversation feels loaded. The author really nails that claustrophobic feeling of being watched, judged, and doubted by everyone around you. The plot moves quickly, with short chapters and shifting perspectives that keep the tension high. I loved how the author uses Becca’s career, her instincts, her ambition, her mistakes to drive the story. Every decision she made for the segment becomes a breadcrumb, and watching those breadcrumbs turn into evidence against her is both stressful and addictive. The twist lands well. It’s one of those reveals that makes you rethink earlier scenes without feeling cheap or out of nowhere. The author plants just enough clues to make the payoff satisfying, and the unraveling of what really happened to Eve is both disturbing and believable. As for the ending, it’s sharp and fitting for this genre. It doesn’t tie everything up with a neat bow, but it gives enough closure to feel earned. Becca’s final moments in the story hit that sweet spot between relief and lingering unease exactly what I want from a psychological thriller. All in all, Bad Honeymoon is fast, tense, and genuinely entertaining. The author's multi‑POV style keeps the energy high, and her characters feel real enough that you can imagine this whole thing playing out on the evening news. As a first read from her, I’m definitely interested in whatever she writes next. #netgalley #badhoneymoon

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆-𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔--𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.

TV reporter Becca Larson heads to Florida expecting to cover a sensational story about a honeymoon gone spectacularly wrong. Instead, the woman she's there to interview disappears, a murder is committed, and somehow Becca ends up looking suspicious enough to catch the attention of the police. From there, this book abandons all sense of restraint, slams the accelerator to the floor, and dares you to keep up. If you've ever fallen down an internet rabbit hole at two in the morning thinking, 'there is no way this is real,' congratulations. That's the energy this book radiates.

I had an absolute blast with this one because it never once pretended to be anything other than wildly entertaining. Is it believable? Sometimes. Is it completely outrageous? Also yes. But honestly, have you seen the things people are fooled by online every single day? Entire lives are manufactured behind a screen, and this story leans into that reality with gleeful abandon. It also plays with the unsettling idea that someone you've never even met can quietly decide you're the villain in their story. That's a terrifying thought if you stop to think about it for too long. The alternating points of view made all of that even more addictive because every chapter handed me another piece of the puzzle while making me question the last one.

This felt like reading the most unhinged tabloid headline imaginable and then discovering the next headline was somehow even crazier. Every time I thought the story had finally reached peak chaos, it cheerfully said, "Hold my drink," and kept going. If you're willing to buckle up, suspend a little disbelief, and simply enjoy the ride, this is ridiculously fun. Sometimes thrillers don't need to be realistic. Sometimes they just need to make you miss your bedtime because you absolutely have to know what outrageous thing happens next. So many thanks to St. Martins Press for this early copy that will publish January 19, 2027.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becca is tired of the “From Bad to Good” series, wanting to return to serious investigative journalism. However, it is popular and it is helping the TV station beat its main competitor in viewership, meaning more ad revenue. When she gets the email about a honeymoon that turned into a nightmare, she is excited, seeing the possibilities for the piece. Plus, it would mean a trip from Minnesota to Florida. Once in Florida, she meets up with Eve, who sent the email, for the first time to plan the actual interview for the next day. That will be basically the only thing that goes “right” on the trip, as Eve fails to show the next day and all attempts at contact fail. And a woman with whom Becca had a brief confrontation will end up dead, and Becca appears to be the killer. But it is an elaborate setup.

While it is certainly plausible that Becca would get scammed, it is hard to believe that neither she nor her supervisor would have done at least some minimal due diligence to verify Eve’s identity and story, especially given the network’s financial constraints, the required trip from Minnesota to Florida, and the importance of the story for the network. This seems like a significant plot flaw to me.

The identity of Eve is pretty obvious after 15% into the story, although her motive is unclear at the time.

But despite the plot flaw, the story is pretty creative. A combination of careful planning mixed with lucky occurrences (Becca losing her scarf, Liz hiding something in Trevor and Becca’s home to make Becca look bad) and poor choices (Becca smoking pot with her brother) will make Becca seem like a viable murder suspect. Her husband, Trevor, will have reason to doubt her. His ex-girlfriend, Liz (who is the mother of his daughter Frankie) wanted to see Becca knocked down a peg but the possibility that Frankie’s stepmother is a murderer prompts more fear than joy. Then there is Brian, Becca’s brother, with whom she stayed while in Florida and with whom there is a history of animosity. Could he somehow be involved? How the frame-up of Becca is exposed is amusing and creative and involves a mix of people from various aspects of her life.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second read by Jessie Garcia, and it did not disappoint! I have a feeling she will quickly become a go to recommendation for readers who enjoy Freida McFadden or Lisa Jewell.

A Bad Honeymoon follows Becca, a news reporter with her own segment, From Bad to Good, on a local Minnesota news station. She takes people’s bad experiences and works with locals to give them the experience they deserve. Becca certainly seems to have set herself up for some good karma, so what could go better for ratings than a story about saving a couple’s disastrous honeymoon, complete with dead mice and mold so bad the husband was hospitalized? That is, until Becca finds herself in hot water after being thrown into the middle of a murder investigation. Her husband struggles with whether to believe she could have done it, his ex wife is less than thrilled about stepmommy potentially being a criminal in front of their adorable ten year old daughter, and her boss is definitely not pleased. Will Becca survive the bad honeymoon?

Like Garcia’s last book, this story is told through short chapters from multiple perspectives. Garcia does a great job making it difficult to like or trust most of the characters, similarly to Lucy Foley’s books. There is always that little feeling that someone has their dirty hands involved. My only qualm was that the crime happened so early, and I wondered what else the book could possibly be about. But Garcia redeemed herself in the second half, which was just as intense and created even more distrust between the characters. I loved how everything ultimately tied together and the mystery was solved.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Jessie Garcia. If you enjoy fast paced thrillers with unlikable characters, questionable motives, and plenty of secrets, definitely add A Bad Honeymoon to your TBR!

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Honeymoon by Jessie Garcia (Jan. 2027) [reading in August '26]
352-page Kindle Ebook

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Movie Rating Equivalent: R

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎙📹📺

Featuring: Bibliography for Jessie Garcia, Edina, Minnesota; Clearwater, Florida; News Reporter, Newlyweds, Blended Family, Bad Luck, Multiple POVs, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Saint Paul, Minnesota; Family Dynamics, Crime Trap

Bad Honeymoon is my second story by Jesse Garcia, and it was just as good as—if not a tad bit better than—The Business Trip. The opening was phenomenal! It was a little busy at first since there are multiple points of view, and it takes a while to sort out exactly what's happening and how everyone is connected, but once it all comes together, it's fantastic.
​Unfortunately, right as the story got amazing, that was when the ball was dropped. The pacing felt rushed from that point on, which is the main reason this didn't quite reach the five-star zone for me. Nevertheless, it's still a solid read, and I will definitely be picking up The Fair-Weather Friend as well as whatever she releases next.

​Recommend to others: Wholeheartedly! This is a fast-paced, quick thrill.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Songs for the Soundtrack: "Rocky Raccoon" by The Beatles, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones, "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young, "Truckin'" by The Grateful Dead, "All the Way Home" by Bruce Springsteen, "Goin' Home" by The Rolling Stones, "1999" by Prince and The Revolution, "Down by the Seaside" by Led Zeppelin, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" by Eliphalet Oram Lyte,

Books and Authors Mentioned: SpongeBob SquarePants by Stephen Hillenburg, The Firm by John Grisham, Carrie by Stephen King, My Life with the Green & Gold: Tales from 20 Years of Sportscasting by Jessie Garcia; Going for Wisconsin Gold: Stories of Our State Olympians by Jessie Garcia

[Chanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad Honeymoon 🏝️🔪🩸
By: Jessie Garcia
Story: ✨✨✨ 3.4/5
Narration: N/A

🫖 Spoiler-Free Tea

Becca needs a win.

As a reporter for one of the most successful segments at her news station and across the Twin Cities for that matter, she’s doing well. But Becca wants more. She wants the opportunity to prove she’s capable of something bigger.

So when work takes her to Florida for an exciting tape-piece, Becca sees it as the perfect chance to aim higher.

What she doesn’t know is that something much bigger is waiting for her there.

Suddenly, what should’ve been a career opportunity takes an unimaginable turn, leaving Becca’s life completely changed.

How did she get here?

What really happened in Florida?

And how does she possibly move forward from it?

Find out more in Bad Honeymoon by Jessie Garcia.

🧋 Final Sip:

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Jessie Garcia’s team for the advanced e-ARC opportunity.

One thing I always appreciate about Jessie Garcia’s writing is the way she uses multiple POVs to keep you questioning what really happened and more importantly, how did we even get here?

Bad Honeymoon definitely did that.

I wanted answers and that curiosity kept me reading until the very end. But while the mystery was there, the road to those answers felt a little dull at times. There was a steady sense of suspense throughout the story, but I found myself waiting for more of the thrill to kick in.

Now, with that being said…

There was one night I had to put this book DOWN because the suspense had officially started freaking me out and I couldn’t go to sleep. 😂 So clearly, it managed to get me when I least expected it.

Overall, though, this wasn’t a particularly memorable read for me. I enjoyed parts of it, and I’ll continue picking up Jessie Garcia’s books, but The Business Trip still holds the top spot for me.

☕ Sipping Mood: 🤔➡️😐➡️😰

[Linda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Author Garcia’s publisher emailed me asking if I would like to read/review an ARC of Garcia’s new book, I jumped at the chance. I’ve read two of her novels (The Business Trip and Fair Weather Friend), both of which were page-turners. Ms. Garcia is, in my opinion, the undisputed queen of unexpected twists and her novels do not disappoint. Bad Honeymoon ranks right up there with The Business Trip and I completed reading it in two days.

The story centers on Becca, who is a reporter for a local Minneapolis news station. Her claim to fame is coming up with a feel-good show called “From Bad to Good” that has become the station’s top-rated program. The show features regular Minnesotans for whom something has gone wrong and it is the station’s job to make it right. Becca is the star of the show, and because sweeps are coming up, is looking for a story that will pack a punch. She gets that with an email from a mysterious “Eve” who tells a tale of a honeymoon gone bad. Eve and her husband, who live in Minnesota, are in Clearwater, Florida where their honeymoon went sour leaving the husband hospitalized. Becca convinces her station manager, Julie, to let her go to Florida to interview them. Julie agrees and thus begins a sequence of events that leave Becca in serious legal jeopardy.

Author Garcia uses different points of view to tell this tale and in each segment there are subtle clues that the reader must follow to unravel the mystery of who is targeting Becca. The cast of characters whose heads we enter include Becca, Julie, Trevor (Becca’s husband), Liz (Trevor’s ex-girlfriend), and, of course, Eve.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Honeymoon. It is an excellent mystery with richly developed characters and an ending you don’t see coming. Highly recommended for mystery and thriller fans!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this title.
A suspense novel built on a revolving door of narrators relies entirely on the strength of those individual voices to build tension. While I had no trouble keeping track of whose chapter I was reading, the character development falls flat. None of the individuals possess a distinct personality, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested in anyone's survival or downfall.
The character logic also falters as the story progresses. Several characters swing drastically from believing in someone's innocence to deciding they must be guilty over the smallest details, which felt very unrealistic. One character in particular seemed to have an entirely different personality depending on which chapter of hers I was reading, and I really struggled to figure her out.
However, the brisk pacing and short chapters create a fast-moving momentum that kept the pages turning. It is an easy, straightforward read, that did keep me entertained throughout.
When the climax hit, the resolution felt abrupt and anticlimactic. I would have preferred a final chapter from the killer's perspective to unpack their motives; even though the reasons were obvious, hearing it in their own words would have provided a much stronger payoff. Instead, the story tacks on an epilogue that felt out of place and cringy, leaving a sour note at the very end.
If you like multiple points of view, quick chapters, and straightforward suspense, then you will enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #BadHoneymoon

Spoilers drop on release day at www.spoiltheplot.com. Until then, explore the site to find your next great thriller!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique read that I enjoyed, though I was left with some questions. The story centers on Becca, a hotshot TV reporter who runs a segment about solving issues that people write in about. When she hears from Eve, who had a honeymoon disaster in FL, she convinces her boss to let her travel and chase the big story. However, when she arrives, there is no sign of Eve, but other things start to happen and it is clear that someone is trying to make her look bad. She has to figure out what is really going on to save her job and reputation.

I thought the premise of this one was very interesting, though the way some of the characters acted put me off a bit. Some of the things they did were petty, or overreactions, or both, and I found it hard to believe that a top reporter like Becca wouldn't do more research before walking into a potentially bad situation. I really liked Becca's boss, Julie, and thought she was the most realistic character in the book (along with the stepdaughter, who was charming). While I enjoyed going back and forth on who the villain was, when it was finally revealed I was surprised because I couldn't fully get behind their reasoning for doing the things they did. That being said, I did enjoy the suspense. The end tied up everything neatly in a way that I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, but I liked it and walked away feeling good about how it all turned out.

Overall, this isn't my favorite book of the year but I did enjoy it and thought it had a unique premise and decent suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author delivers a fantastic novel yet again in Bad Honeymoon! I was so excited to read this book when I was given the opportunity!

Becca is a TV reporter who is newly famous in her town for doing a show where her network takes bad stories from viewers and turns them into good stories. For example, they hear about someone who got a terrible tattoo, so they do a spot on it, and get the viewer a free cover up tattoo.

Becca feels like she's in a bit of rut, though, as her main love was the investigation part of reporting, not feel-good stories. However, she does seem to have an award-winning piece coming her way when she gets an email about a local who had a disastrous honeymoon filled with mold, dead mice, and a hospital stay. Becca heads to Florida to meet the woman who emailed her, Eve.

At their first meeting, Eve is everything Becca envisioned- a woman who is heartbroken that she ended up with a bad honeymoon. Becca agrees to meet her the next day. Unfortunately, the next day Eve is nowhere to be found. Her phone is turned off and Becca is completely unmoored.

Becca heads home only to discover that she's wanted for questioning regarding a death that occurred in Florida- and it looks like she was involved.

Now everyone in Becca's life is wondering if they really knew her, as her marriage and job are on the line. She isn't sure who to trust or why this is happening to her.

Twisty, quick, multiple POV, and delicious!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is pure fun escapism! Suspend belief as you open up the book and just enjoy the ride. Becca is a TV news reporter in Minnesota. Looking for that big story for her make a bad situation right sort of segment, she flies out to Florida to investigate possible shady resort practices. Eve has contacted her through email with a story about her honeymoon nightmare. Eve is on her honeymoon and is experiencing things such as dead mice in the closet of their room and mold so bad that her husband has been hospitalized just for starters and the hotel is not offering any help or compensation. Becca meets with Eve and they make plans and get everything set up to shoot the story in the morning. Well, the next morning, no Eve. And all ways of contacting her are cut off. Now, I did question why this whole scenario wasn't more carefully researched before hoofing it down to Florida, but that's one of the things where you just gotta let it go, because this really is a fun book! Becca heads back home and lo and behold, cops show up and inform her of a dead body they think she left behind in Florida! HUH? Obviously, someone is setting Becca up, but who? The suspect list is long, and I figured out the culprit, but again, who cares? I still had a great time reading this one! I recommend Jessie Garcia if you are looking for a fun, quick and easy read. Her stories are perfect!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jessie Garcia and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[PJ S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to St. Martin's and Netgalley for this ARC.

Bad Honeymoon was a little unexpected. I had an idea about where the mystery aspect would go, and that was NOT what I got. I was thinking maybe MC would get embroiled in some mafia scheme or something. Instead it was ... a soap opera?
Overall, this was an easy, fast read (about 2.5hr to finish), so it wasn't a huge investment. FMC was easy enough to root for and the suspense of it all was interesting.

However, I was turned off by the multiple POV. When I say multiple I mean every character in the story (just about) got a few chapters. And most of these people are horrible so I just wasn't interested in slogging through their side of the story. At all.
Then there were a lot of illogical and implausible plot points, including police procedure, that had me going, "WHAT?!" It too often didn't make sense.
The ending (epilogue) especially was ... 🙄🙄 It ruined the whole story for me. Let's just say, it was a tenuous relationship that (in reality) would have NEVER been amicably resolved (and didn't need to be), so the out-of-the-blue love fest felt completely insincere and absurd.
I was maybe at 3.5* rounded up to 4* before that ending. So that was unfortunate.

I've not read this author before, and probably not rushing to try more.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becca is an investigative reporter working mostly on fluff pieces on turning bad situations into good situations. For the upcoming sweeps, she’s found one of the best stories yet - a bad honeymoon in Florida. She’ll even get to travel to sunny Florida for this one and hopefully get herself on track to return to the more serious investigative news. Unfortunately, in her rush to get the story ready in time, she makes some critical errors. Like… confirming the story is real. At first, she’s just worried that her job is in jeopardy, but when the police start questioning her back home in Minnesota, it’s clear this is about so much more than a bad honeymoon.

If you can get past the idea of a seasoned journalist not checking her sources, I guess the premise isn’t too unbelievable. But all the strange occurrences that happen before she’s stood up by the source should have been flagged immediately. So It’s hard to empathize with her character when she just keeps making poor decisions. I did figure out most of what was going on based on clues by the author. I couldn’t wait to see justice served, but it didn’t seem like anyone was going to figure out the truth!

It’s an overall fun and fast-paced story that’s focused more on entertainment than reality. Just like the news!

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Yvette Jarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
📺 A Bad Honeymoon by Jessie Garcia
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What starts as a story about a disastrous honeymoon quickly turns into something much bigger and much stranger. TV reporter Becca Larson heads to Florida to investigate a couple’s nightmare honeymoon, only to discover that her mysterious source has disappeared, the story doesn’t quite add up, and Becca suddenly finds herself tangled in a murder investigation.

Told through short chapters and multiple POVs, this fast-paced thriller kept me questioning who I could trust. There are secrets, questionable motives, unlikable characters, and plenty of twists that kept the story moving. I especially enjoyed Garcia’s character development, everyone feels like they have their own agenda, making it difficult to know who is telling the truth.

Some of the twists are easier to see coming, but honestly, that’s part of the fun! This is more psychological suspense than dark thriller, making it a perfect quick, entertaining weekend or beach read.

If you’re looking for a twisty mystery that embraces the chaos and keeps you turning pages to see just how crazy things can get, add this one to your TBR! 📖🌴

This was my first book by Jessie Garcia, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading more from her!

🗓️ Available January 19, 2027.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Honeymoon could be called Bad People because there are several of them in this story.
Becca produces a hit reality show about righting wrongs, so when a request comes in to save someone from a terrible honeymoon she flys down to Florida to cover the story, but things aren't quite adding up. Fresh off impending professional embarrassment, she returns home to be implicated in a murder in the town she just visited. Becca will have quite a fight on her hands to clear her name.
Adding to Becca's complications we have her we're-do-well brother who she just refused a loan to, her husband's ex and mother of her step daughter who is very cold to her, and Becca's boss who refuses to let her cover more hard hitting stories. All of these characters and more play a part in what has happened to Becca and what will happen to her.

I want to keep this review spoiler free so I'll just say that some characters jump to conclusions way more quickly than one would expect them to and some participate in some truly dark behaviors that had me wishing the cops were witnessing them. The twist was predicable but still enjoyable, and the ending was perhaps shinier than it deserves to be. That all said, this is an engaging story, fast paced and well worth the read.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected Digital File

Someone brought murder to Clearwater Beach.

When Minnesota new reporter Becca Larson receives an email from Eve Schmidt regarding a Florida honeymoon turned disastrous, she convinces her boss, Julie Dougherty, to let her travel to Florida to investigate.

Becca meets up with Eve and the two women schedule a formal interview for the following day. But at the appointed time, Eve is nowhere to be found. Supremely discouraged, Becca heads home.

And then she discovers that she is suspected of being involved in a death in Florida.

=========

An intriguing premise pulls readers into the telling of the tale. Told from multiple points of view, the unfolding story moves quickly, thanks to its short chapters. Twisty and filled with well-defined [but mostly unlikeable] characters, the story is engaging. Readers may cringe at some of the unrealistic/unbelievable police procedurals, but the overall lead-up to the unexpected, surprising denouement keeps the pages turning.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BadHoneymoon #NetGalley

[Cindy Bokma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Television reporter Becca really wants an interesting story to report on. She's frustrated with her on-air series where she helps people turn their bad luck around, but its getting old. She wants more excitement, a real scoop.

When she gets an email from a woman on a disastrous honeymoon in Florida, Becca books a trip to meet Eve Schmidt, newly married and experiencing a complete nightmare of a trip. Becca imagines she can help Eve and her husband and boost the ratings.

After meeting Eve, Becca is confident she can help her. Only Becca's follow up calls and texts go unanswered. Eve seems to have vanished into thin air.

Who was Eve, really? And when a woman is found dead on the beach, evidence points to Becca having killed her. Someone framed her, but why? And by whom? And what does this have to do with Eve? Now Becca is going to lose her job and everything she's worked so hard for, and for what?

I read this quickly, its an entertaining and fast read that is full of suspense and twists. I really enjoyed it!

[Casey thirty_wordy_and_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

Thank you St Martin’s press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in 2 days! The short chapters and multi POV interior monologue set an easy story pace.

Although bad honeymoon is marketed as a thriller it read more like a mystery one to me—a very bingable one. The story unfolds through multiple POV, with writing that feels like a stream of consciousness, pulling you directly into each narrator’s thoughts and perspective. Sometimes these are jealous thoughts, sometimes selfish, and others random. I had a lot of “ just one more chapter” moments.

For me it was an okay but enjoyable read. I actually liked the aspect of the MFC being a reporter and the inclusion of a stempmom/stepdaughter/biomom relationship. That was cool.

I recommend it to readers, looking for a quick mystery that lets you tune out the world without demanding a huge emotional investment. It’s accessible, straightforward, and would be a great pic for someone who doesn’t read thrillers often or who wants something suspenseful, but not too intense.

[Jeff Matlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

Jessie Garcia is an anomaly to me.

I can give you 50 reasons why her writing isn’t good at all. I can give you another 30 reasons why her storylines aren’t good.

But somehow she keeps writing page turners anyway.

Like her book “Business Trip,” I didn’t want to like this book. In fact the writing (particularly the dialogue) was so cringe in some parts that I was actually embarrassed for the editor.

But I still couldn’t put it down.

Becca is a producer for a local TV station in Minnesota. She’s a minor local celebrity. She gets an opportunity to put together a story down in Florida so she hightails it down there to make sure her story can be ready for awards week.

Well, one thing leads to another as they usually do in situations like this, and the next thing we know Becca’s world has been turned upside down.

I won’t spoil it for you in case you read it.

Will I read Jessie Garcia’s next book?
I’m not sure.
But I probably will and then write a very similar review.

#netgalley #badhoneymoon

[Delores Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martins’s Press for this amazing ARC of Bad Honeymoon by Jesse Garcia. This is my voluntary review of the book.

I really enjoyed this book! Poor Becca, just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for her it did and I loved every minute of it! Becca is a reporter who runs a popular series where she turns bad experiences for people into good.

She is ready for a few days in sunny Florida to chase a story that would for sure win her praise from her viewers. Also a chance to rekindle a relationship with her estranged brother. Plus she gets to help newlyweds Adam and Eve turn their bad honeymoon into an unforgettable one.

Suddenly Becca is blocked from all communication from Eve. Uh, oh! This won’t look good to her boss, Julie. Time to head back to Minnesota and face the music.

When she gets home she realizes a woman she had an encounter with on the beach is now dead and the police want to speak with her about it.

Watch the story unravel while Becca fights to clear her name before it is too late.

[Kerie Angele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC. This is my honest review.

Unfortunately I was close to not finishing this one, but the need to know how everything played out won over. The characters need to be rounded out a bit more and the story needs some streamlining. It reads clunky and random instead of flowing smoothly. I think that some more personal interaction between the FMC and her brother could strengthen the relationship and make it more believable. I wanted to feel the tension between the FMC and her husband. I wanted to be drawn into her need for him to support her and his search for what to believe. It would also help to really build up their relationship in the beginning, sell me on their marriage so that when the plots twists, I feel their struggles. It felt too shallow when the seriousness of the plot calls for depth.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof.

Let's start with the fact that this is an entertaining beach read and I definitely didn't expect the 'who' in this one. I'll also say that the multiple points of view weren't terrible. The women did all blend together at first, but I was eventually able to see them as separate characters.

But...

This is kind of messy and the villian word vomit towards the end is...bad. This was not the way to explain everything that happened. As for the denouement after the word vomit...wow. It's all chick flicks and weed and very, very strange.

It's a 2.5 but rating a generous 3 because once I got past the middle of the book, I read it at breakneck speed to find out the who and what. And then I ended up completely bemused by everything.

I'll just wish you good luck with this one and I hope you enjoy it.