Three strangers—David, Gillian, and Michael—accidentally swap luggage at the airport, leading them to a mysterious facility where they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler. Each character is forced to confront their personal burdens: David’s career crisis, Gillian’s family tensions, and Michael’s struggle with his father’s expectations. The Baggage Handler helps them realize that letting go of their emotional baggage is essential for moving forward in life.Three strangers—David, Gillian, and Michael—accidentally swap luggage at the airport, leading them to a mysterious facility where they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler. Each character is forced to confront their personal burdens: David’s career crisis, Gillian’s family tensions, and Michael’s struggle with his father’s expectations. The Baggage Handler helps them realize that letting go of their emotional baggage is essential for moving forward in life.

The Baggage Handler was a book by a new author for me. It was wonderful. I was intrigued by the back cover and the book itself did not disappoint. I loved the character development, the particular phrases the author used to get his point across, and how it mirrored real life. It definitely was a book that made me think long after I turned the last page … so much so I’m still thinking about the message and its implications and I read the book over two weeks ago. This was a wonderful book I would definitely recommend others read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are exclusively mine.

Powerful allegory and easy to read

I enjoyed reading The Baggage Handler and read it quickly, within twenty-four hours, because I couldn't put the book down. We're introduced to three characters who are struggling with major issues that are negatively impacting their lives.

I travel regularly for work, and I usually travel light with carry on luggage to avoid being delayed at the baggage carousels. I could relate to the characters at the start of the story, and the time pressures they were experiencing during their journey.

The story was fun and easy to read. I loved the powerful allegory message underpinning the story. The Baggage Handler is a character you'll want to meet. I recommend this book to readers who are open to being challenged on how to deal with the emotional baggage in their life.

What an amazing analogy to the “baggage” people carry around with them every day. There are so many things that change our lives. While you’re dealing with the three characters’ baggage, you may find yourself examining your own life and discovering what “baggage” you are carrying around. The story is delivered without forcing Christianity down your throat. But as a Christian, I definitely saw the link between the Baggage Handler helping us lighten our load and being the One who can save you.

This is a good book for someone who needs to examine their life and see what loads you can get rid of. It could ultimately change your future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A small book with a big message. I knew just a few pages in that I was going to enjoy getting to know The Baggage Handler and the people he comes across.

Not one person who reads this will walk away without thinking how this impacts them. I am a little older now but I can remember the baggage I carried from my teens, my twenties, thirties and even 40s.

What a heavy load we carry! GOD promises that we don't have to carry this heavy burden alone.

Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Whether we want to admit it or not we are all carrying baggage. For Gillian Short, David Hawke, and Michael Downer after a normal flight, and an encounter with a seemingly normal baggage handler, they go about their lives but with one little problem: a crazy baggage mix up that ends up being more than they bargained for. This little mix up leads Gillian, David, and Michael to confront more than their physical baggage but also emotional baggage that is weighing each of them down, whether they want to admit it or not.

Gillian is the wife and mom that feels like herself and her life do not measure up, David is putting all of his focus on work and trying to deal with a marriage that is broken, and Michael is the son that is trying to do everything he can to please his father instead of pursuing his own passion. Each person has baggage that we can all relate to in one form or another, which really pulls you into their plight and delves you deeper into their stories.

Incredibly thought-provoking and very well written, The Baggage Handler really hits home, moving you to examine your own life and your own baggage, and motivates you to take action in dealing with the things that weigh you down and hinder you from being your true self. It's a speedy read that packs a powerful punch, and is worth every second.

The Baggage Handler is a cleverly written analogy about all of the “baggage” we carry around whether we realize it or not. It is a short, thought provoking book that stayed with me long after I finished it. Author David Rawlings has written a unique book with this one.

We meet Gillian. She is not happy with what she has or who she is and compares herself to others, especially her older (and unhappier) sister. Then there is David. He struggles with forgiveness. Lastly we meet Michael, a young man, who has pressure from his father about the future which creates self doubt about his own future desire. Besides these three, there is the upbeat, wise baggage handler.

This is the first book I have read by author David Rawlings. I enjoyed his style of writing. It had a current vibe that was easy to read. A few spots seemed to drag for me. One of my favorite things he wrote was “The siren song of Facebook, a song she could never deny, called to her.” How true is that? So poetic and cutting for a current issue. Then he used “the siren song” again a bit later and I was disappointed to hear it again.

The characters broke my heart. Why didn’t they see what weighed them down everyday? The book will make you take inventory of your own baggage. The ending left me wanting more. I wanted this book to evangelize about Jesus and Heaven. The Christian in me whispered that this book missed its mark. The end did, also. I wanted to know what happened after the characters left baggage claim. The Baggage Handler just left me wanting. However, I was thrilled to find Discussion Questions at the end.

“The Baggage Handler” is a book that will make you think about your life. It certainly did me. I would recommend it. It would work wonderful in a reading group. There is so much to dissect and discuss. Individuals will enjoy it, too. I rated it a 3.5 stars.

This is a very literal book about the baggage you carry with you. I think it would be an amazing choice for a book group, it would definitely spur the conversation. It could also be used in church support groups to direct the discussion.

The Baggage Handler is a curious story. It’s short, and covers a timespan of mere hours. It’s more like three intertwined (longish) short stories than a typical novel.

But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s shallow. It’s not. The story centres around three passengers who each pick up the wrong suitcase after a flight. Chaos naturally ensues, as they each have items in their luggage they need for the day. Each contacts the airline, and is directed to return to the airport.

There they meet with the Baggage Handler, and find it’s not simply a case of swapping luggage. They each have baggage, and are challenged to deal with it rather than continue carrying it. Each of the three has unique baggage, but also baggage we can all relate to, so it’s interesting to read their reactions.

The Baggage Handler puts a modern twist on well-known allegories, relating ancient yet relevant truths. The writing style is similar to authors such as James L Rubart or Billy Coffey. Rawlings is a strong writer and has woven some deep life and spiritual truths into three universal stories.

The Baggage Handler is a strong debut novel and would make a great book club read. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Coming into this book, I had really high expectations. Whenever I’m about to read a book published by Thomas Nelson, I know I’m in for a real treat because all the Thomas Nelson books I’ve read before I have rated 4.5+ stars.

However, I was… quite disappointed by The Baggage Handler, and I actually ended up DNFing it. I have never been one for multiple POVs (points of view), but I thought I’d try this book out anyway. From the start, the personalities of the different characters confused me (not to mention that ebook I was given wasn’t formatted the best which contributed to the confusion) and I spent quite a lot of the beginning forcing myself to stop reading, switch POVs, and continue reading (which makes for a rather unpleasant reading experience XD).

I also didn’t really enjoy the writing style. It was a bit too laidback and slow-paced for me. After reading up to around the midpoint of the book, I decided to stop because I wasn’t invested in the characters at all and just wasn’t enjoying the book.

Overall, I didn’t love it! However, I do know that a lot of people do enjoy multiple POVs and a slower paced writing style, so I would go for it if you’re one of those people, and I think you’d enjoy! It just wasn’t for me. 2 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

SPOILERS may follow, be warned.

This book had an awesome premise. Three different characters with "baggage" get a divine intervention regarding said "baggage". It could have gone in a really good direction, but instead it followed a predictable route, with the divine character only able to look at other characters with "eyes approaching wistfullness" or tears in his eyes. Seriously, it was ridiculous how the same phrase was used over and over and over again. This was an eARC, so hopefully the finished copy shows that thesauruses are still alive and well.

Three characters with "baggage" and I wasn't sure I quite agreed with how the character who was cheated on was dealt with by the divine intervention. His workaholic ways were driven by his perceived "need" to keep bringing home more and more money to provide for his wife and kid. He was never there, so his wife cheated. The baggage the divine intervention was dealing with was his anger and unforgiveness for his wife.

Not what was driving his workaholism, he didn't get the intervention BEFORE his wife cheated and while she said it was a one-off thing, the evidence was multiple receipts and she kept a pic of her kissing the guy she cheated with on her phone. I don't think she was telling the truth about it being a one-off thing.

And so he forgives her, then what? That's not dealing with his underlying baggage with working too long and hard away from his family. I don't see why he had to forgive and stay with her. He could forgive and still split from her. I agree forgiveness would be the best for him, but not necessarily staying with her, or even forgiving before he was ready. One can't be pushed into something like that.

The ending for the woman who say everything as amazing except for her and her life was unbelievable, in how she saw her sister as all that, but when she saw the "truth", her sister's new car was dirty with "wash me" on the back, the clock dial was broken, etc. If her sister was all about appearances, there is no WAY the new car would 1) be that dirty and 2) have anything broken in it. Not buying it.

And the "baggage handler" was annoying. I didn't really like him and the way he treated the one male character. Kind of judge-y. I guess if he was a rep of God, it makes sense, but since it was written by a human, it didn't really sit right by me.

Not a bad book, but it didn't live up to my expectations of it, which may have hurt it more than if I had just read it without knowing anything about it. The over-usage of the same phrase describing how the "baggage handler" looked at the characters and how the cuckold was treated didn't really work for me. 2, I expected better, stars.

When I read the description of this book it sounded interesting to me. But after reading it I have to say it just wasn't my cup of tea. Again I thought the story idea was a good one but the actual reading of the story fell flat for me. I just didn't like the style I guess. I realize that the baggage handler was supposed to be someone that actually helped with your baggage, but I just thought he was odd and a bit creepy. I am sure that many are going to love this book and if the description appeals to you I hope that you'll give it a try.

Review I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit different from normal. These people were on a plane and each had the same type of luggage. They each have problems and take the wrong luggage off the carousel. They then call the airport to get their luggage back and are sent to a warehouse where they meet the Baggage Handler. This man tries to get these people to understand all the baggage that they carry around each day and how to get rid of it. This was well written and enjoyable. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. (less)

The book is similar in content to a few others I have read. I did enjoy the book and meeting the three main characters. We all have baggage we hold on to and don't realize how it slows us down in life. I loved how the author took three different characters and allowed us to watch them unpack their baggage with surprise and confusion. I often wonder how many people have picked up the wrong baggage and realized it after they left the airport? For each character there is an urgency to retrieve the right baggage and scurry on their way.

It is easier to stuff your baggage with regret, anger, low self-esteem and other emotions and forget about them. What we don't realize is that someday those forgot about emotions will unpack at a time we are not ready for them. As each character is sent to a place to pick up their correct baggage, we see each one open up the heavy burdens they have been carrying. It reminds me of a backpack filled with bricks. You carry it around because you don't want to put it down and see what's inside . When you decide you cant go on, you unburden yourself of the baggage and there waiting is all the baggage called anger, deceit, forgiveness, pride and many other things that stare you right in the face.

As you read this story, immerse yourself in it and allow God to take your burdens away. The lies we have believed and the struggles we have encountered have loaded us down and it is time to be set free . As the Baggage Handler explains to each of the three people, they must be able to let go of the baggage once they give it to him. How many times have we told God that we give our troubles to Him, then pick it up again? At the end of the book are questions that are worth looking at. These questions are for you to examine yourself and see what baggage you need to get rid of. The choice is ours to make: do we want to get rid of baggage that leads us to joy and freedom or hold on to it and continue to be unhappy ?

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

The Baggage Handler was a very short and quick read, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t good or didn’t have any substance to it.
While I’m not usually a fan of this type of allegorical work, I felt that Rawlings did an excellent job handling the emotional baggage that many of us have. He wrote about the “baggage” in a very relatable and realistic way without glossing over any of the more difficult parts. I did, however, feel like the characters with the emotional baggage were a bit flat and cliche. This was understandable, considering he was dealing with very common struggles, but I thought that they could have been developed a wee bit more.
The story was written in a very engaging way and it didn’t once lose my interest, which is amazing. Rawlings used many fun and colorful descriptions that made the story somewhat more lighthearted and gave it a good balance between heavy and light. I did read a NetGalley copy of this book though, so there were, of course, some errors and awkward places throughout that did bother me a bit, but I’m sure everything is much smoother in the final copy.
All in all, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book because of the issues that it deals with, and if you enjoy reading this type of Christian allegorical fiction, I would recommend it to you!

**I received both a copy of this book from JustRead publicity tours and Thomas Nelson for the purpose of this book tour. All opinions in this review are my own.**

An interesting and engaging reading experience. A work of fiction that will make you stop and think. I honestly read through it in a matter of hours because I just couldn’t put it down once I had started it.
We see three characters who hang on to their struggles and how it effects them negatively, after they grabbed the wrong suitcase at the airport.

There is a lot to relate to in this book, something that I think most can identify with to some degree. If you or someone you know has some ‘negative baggage’ you're hanging on to, then you should check this book out.

As I read this book, my sofa was covered with my daughter’s clothes. It was the first day of spring break and she was packing for a trip. But this book is about a different type of baggage – the kind we carry around on a daily basis. The things that weigh us down – unmet expectations, anger and bitterness over wrongs done against us, the expectations others place on us, guilt, the list goes on and on.

David Rawlings has written a thought-provoking story. It caused me to reflect on what type of baggage I may be carrying. As the story points out so well – health issues can be caused by our baggage. Unfortunately I can see myself in the main characters and I know my health is being impacted.

When Carrie first sent out the invite for this tour, I did not sign up because I thought my schedule was too full. When she sent out the second request and I saw it was due after spring break I decided to sign up. I am glad I did. I needed this book. And it really was a quick read. It took me less that two hours – time well invested.

I highly recommend this book to ALL, whether you think you have baggage or not (because you are probably carrying some). Pray with me that the Baggage Handler (our Heavenly Father) will help each of us release the baggage we are carrying.

Thank you David Rawlings for this book. You did a great job of teaching Biblical lessons through a well-written story.

I want to thank the Thomas Nelson and Just Read Publicity Tours for the complimentary copy of the book.

The Baggage Handler was certainly an interesting read with the Baggage Handler. As the author states, we all have baggage we carry around every day. This story focuses on gaining freedom from your baggage. With the Baggage Handler being a symbol of Jesus, the meaning is clear. The story made me think. It made me contemplate what I need to hand to Jesus. A book like this can't be ignored. Try as hard as you might, but this story will stick with you. That is what all stories should do and this one nailed it on the head.
The writing style is relatable and understandable. With smooth transitions and an engaging tone, this supports the plot.
I suppose you want to hear about the plot. In all honesty, it had some surprises that I saw coming and others that I did not see.
I would recommend this novel to those who know they have baggage to sort out and those who don't think they have any - because you do. (sorry if i burst your bubble)

Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Content Rating: 4 Stars

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

AH-mazing story! Profound truths!
Not since Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman (2017) has a book touched me so deeply. No, this book probed into me. Made me look at myself and examine my soul. Forced me to see things—baggage—I thought were long gone…
Mr. Rawlings takes his characters—and the reader—on a deep heart journey.
The prose of this story is artistic, the impact deep and profound. Each of the three main characters, David, Gillian, and Michael, met the Baggage Handler in a seeming logistical mix-up.
Mr. Rawlings has each of the three unpack the contents of their baggage and examine it. In true parable form, as the characters see what they’ve been toting around, so, too, does the reader.
This reviewer identified readily with Gillian, recognizing some of the baggage she owned. My heart squeezed as she struggled against the weight of it, resisting, even, the desire to release her grip on it.
Michael, too, carried baggage familiar to this reviewer. Not so much David; David’s baggage made me sad. (no spoilers)
A remarkable book, a story wonderfully crafted, three lives intersected and three stories woven into one.


I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.


#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Baggage Handler, David Rawlings

“The Baggage Handler” is an entertaining, quick read I finished in one sitting (ironically, on a plane). The handler himself has a spiritual aspect to him, and is certainly well versed in pop culture references. This is an approachable read a lot of folks could enjoy as it doesn’t mention religion...then again, I found that lack a bit disappointing and kept expecting it, given that the book is published by Thomas Nelson.

Not everyone got a happy ending, which made the story more realistic...not everything can get wrapped up in a few pages, and each character took a different amount of time to “get” the handler’s memo.

Overall a decent read with some challenging one-liners.

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.