48 pages • 1-hour read
The Business Trip
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and physical abuse.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. Were you surprised that Jasmine was the murderer and that Stephanie was still alive? Why or why not?
2. Which of the four sections of the novel did you find most compelling? What was most interesting to you about this part of the novel? Which was the least interesting?
3. How does this novel compare to other doppelganger novels you’ve read, like Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train or Steve Cavanagh’s Kill for Me, Kill for You?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. How do the depictions of Jasmine’s abusive relationship in the first part of the novel influence her characterization? How did they affect your impression of her?
2. Have you ever wanted to escape your life for a weekend? Would you ever use a doppelganger website like Stephanie did?
3. At what point in the novel did you realize that Trent was not responsible for the deaths of Stephanie and Jasmine? Did you ever feel empathy for Trent?
4. At what point in the novel did you realize that the “Stephanie” that Trent met at the conference was not really Stephanie?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How do the discussions about mental health in the newsroom relate to larger social conversations about the importance of mental health care and accessibility?
2. How do modern technologies like artificial intelligence and social media influence the action of the novel? How might the novel be different if it were set in a different time period?
3. How do Jasmine’s anxieties about money relate to current discussions about income inequality?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How did the structure of the novel—moving back and forth in time and between character perspectives—affect your reading experience?
2. Which of the main characters did you find most relatable, Jasmine or Stephanie? Why?
3. How do the novel’s three settings of Madison, San Diego, and Atlanta influence the mood and tone of the novel? Why might Garcia have chosen these cities for the novel?
4. How does the recurring motif of doppelgangers influence the action of the novel?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If this book were adapted into a movie or television series, who would you cast in the roles of Trent, Jasmine, and Stephanie? Would you cast the same actress as both Jasmine and Stephanie?
2. Do you think that this novel would be more effective as a movie or a television series? How would you handle the changes in timeline and perspective?
3. Imagine a sequel to this novel—what do you think is next for side characters like Anna, Glenn, and Robert?
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