In the Bag: A Novel

By Kate Klise

A European vacation. A luggage mix-up. A note from a secret admirer.

Meet two single parents who think they're too busy to date.
And two teenagers who can't stop writing flirty emails.
This is a tale of connections—missed and made—in a universe that seems to have its heart set on reuniting Ms. 6B and Mr. 13C.

Webb
I can't believe I picked up the wrong bag at the airport. My dad is never going to let me hear the end of it.

Coco
I don't understand why Mom told me to pack my worst underwear. And now I've lost my bag? Ack!

Andrew
I cannot stop thinking about that woman in seat 6B on the flight to Paris.

Daisy
I don't have time to worry about the creep sitting in 13C who slipped a note in my purse. I have to find my daughter's missing bag before this ruins our vacation.

In the Bag is a smart and stylish story that explores the old-fashioned art of romance in a modern world, where falling in love can be as risky as checking a bag on an international flight. Buckle your seat belt—it's going to be a bumpy vacation!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062108067

Kate Klise

Kate Klise is the author of several picture books and novels, including Grounded and Homesick. She frequently collaborates with her sister, the illustrator M. Sarah Klise. Kate travels all over the country speaking to classrooms about her work. She lives in Norwood, Missouri.

Book preview

Day 1: Sunday

Dear Ms. 6B,

Please forgive my clumsiness while boarding. I would be more than happy to pay for the cleaning or replacement of your blouse. Truth is, I would be even happier if you’d let me take you to dinner sometime when we return to our side of the pond. That is, if you do plan to return to the U.S. (For all I know, you could be Parisian. You have That Look. )

CHAPTER 1

Webb

Oh, God.

I saw the problem as soon as I unzipped my black duffel bag. There in two neat piles sat clothes that were definitely not mine.

Colorful new T-shirts (size S). Ironed jeans. (Who irons jeans?) Flip-flops. High-heeled sandals. A skirt. A gypsy-looking blouse thing. And flowered underwear and bras.

Oh, God, I said again, this time out loud and with a low groan.

What’s wrong? Dad asked. He was walking out of the bathroom wearing a hotel robe and drying his hair with a towel.

This isn’t my stuff, I said.

What do you mean? Dad replied.

This bag, I said. It’s not mine. I must’ve picked up somebody else’s bag at the airport.

Dad sighed. Oh, God, Webb. As always, it sounded like Oh, cobweb.

A half hour before this conversation, we’d checked into the Palace Hotel in the heart of Madrid. Dad had been hired to design an exhibit at a nearby contemporary art museum. The show was scheduled to open in two days, which meant Dad would be busy with work and I’d be free to spend my spring break urban hiking. That’s why I’d packed my favorite boots.

And now what did I have? High-heeled sandals, a gypsy blouse, and bras.

What do I do? I asked, sitting on the bed on my side of the hotel room.

Call the airline, Dad said. If your bag’s still in Paris, they’ll put it on a plane and get it here. We can ask, anyway. He didn’t sound encouraging. Is that your backpack?

Yeah, I said, kicking the green nylon bag at my feet.

And did you have your other bag when we went through Customs in Paris?

I tried to remember. I’d slept for most of the flight. I was barely awake when we went through the Customs line.

They didn’t open my bags, I recalled, digging through my backpack in search of my cell phone. That’s when I remembered.

Oh, no, I said.

Now what?

I think I left my phone at school.

Dad sighed again, this time louder. Do you have your baggage claim ticket? Or your boarding passes?

I rummaged through the pockets of my jeans: gum wrappers, a dime, a dusty Tic Tac. I don’t know.

Dad walked over to the desk chair where he’d thrown his jacket. He emptied the pockets.

Here, he said, holding up a fistful of papers. So at least we know what flights we were on. American Airlines flight 854 connecting to flight 42. Then, Air France flight 1600 from Paris to Madrid.

Uh-huh, I mumbled.

And of course, Dad continued, you had a tag on your bag. He paused. Webb, please tell me you had a tag on your bag with your name on it.

Yeah, I said tentatively. I think I did. I mean, I’m pretty sure I did. Wait. Did I?

Oh, God, Webb.

CHAPTER 2

Coco

Oh, shit!"

What’s wrong? Mom asked from the bedroom.

She’d been nice enough to offer me the bedroom, but I really did prefer the futon in the living room. All I had to do was open the wooden shutters and I could look out and see Paris. Paris!

I’d been waiting for this moment for months. For Christmas, Mom had given me a black duffel bag from L.L.Bean filled with Paris guidebooks. I’d spent much of the flight from Chicago highlighting all the things I wanted to see during my spring break.

Now all I wanted to do was kill myself.

"Shit!" I said again.

You know I hate that word, Mom said, walking the short distance from the bedroom to the living room of our borrowed apartment on rue des Trois-Frères.

Well, I hate myself, I answered, flopping on the futon.

"What is it?" Mom demanded.

But one look at the grubby wad of clothes in the middle of the floor answered her question. Instead of the clothes I had carefully chosen and meticulously packed, she saw a pile of old T-shirts, dirty jeans (Who packs unwashed jeans?), stinky hiking boots, boxer shorts, and one wrinkled white shirt.

Whose stuff is that? Mom asked.

I don’t know, I answered.

Then how’d you get it? And where’s your bag?

"I don’t know, I said icily. And then I hated myself even more for snapping at my mom. I swallowed hard and tried again. I somehow picked up the wrong bag at the airport. I’m such an idiot."

You’re not an idiot, Mom insisted. She looked around the room. Do you have your book bag?

Yeah, I said. I had that with me on the plane. It’s the other bag—the bag I checked.

"Okay, did you have both bags when we went through Customs?"

I thought back to the line we’d stood in at the airport. I was carrying two bags. The Customs agent had looked at me and then at my passport. Then he stamped it, and that was it.

Nobody opened my bags, I said. So I don’t know if I had the right one even then. I could feel hot tears burning in my eyes.

It’s okay, Mom said. We’ll go back to the airport and get your bag. It’s not a big deal. Just give me five minutes to change clothes. I’ve got to get out of this blouse. I smell like vinegar.

She turned and promptly stubbed her toe on a table.

"Shit," she said. And she hobbled down the hall to the bedroom.

CHAPTER 3

Andrew

Oh, hell.

What had I done? Webb thought I was being short-tempered with him about the bag. And granted, that was one complication we didn’t need. But the truth was, I was kicking myself for something I’d done earlier in the day.

Here I had one of the biggest commissions of the year—designing an exhibit of digital art at the Palacio de Cristal in Madrid—but instead of working on my final notes for the show, I spent the entire flight from Chicago to Paris obsessing about a woman sitting in first class.

I saw her as we were boarding. She was already seated, reading a magazine and drinking a complimentary glass of red wine from a real glass. (Ah, the privileges of first-class travel.) I was glad to be walking behind Webb so I could linger a bit longer over this vision in seat 6B. I willed her to raise her eyes from the magazine so I could see her face better, but she was engrossed in a recipe. I tried to see what it was. Something gratin? Something rustique? I was struggling to read upside down.

And that’s when Webb stopped to help an elderly passenger load a roller bag in the overhead compartment. I walked right into my son and lost my balance. It was only for a split second, but long enough for me to bump Ms. 6B’s arm just as she was raising the glass to her lips.

Dammit! I said as she spilled red wine down the front of her blouse. I’m so sorry.

Oh! said the woman, her eyes on the stain.

Can I— I started to say.

But a flight attendant swooped in with a damp cloth. Here, let me blot, she told Ms. 6B. And then like a stern nurse she ordered me to take my seat. "Now."

I spent the next eight hours in a fog of mental distraction and physical contortion.

If I twisted my neck to an absurd angle, I could see her from my aisle seat in row thirteen. I watched her cross her legs, first in one direction and then the other. She was wearing attractive black shoes that she slipped off early into the flight. How old was she? Forty? Maybe forty-five?

I watched as she coiled her golden-brown ponytail around itself until it became a bun. A bun? No, that sounds like something from my mother’s generation, and this was definitely a postmodern woman. Witness her rectangular glasses—so chic and architectural. The perfect frame for her angular face. In a previous era, she might’ve been a noblewoman who modeled for Botticelli.

Best of all, I didn’t see anyone sitting next to her. For a moment I almost regretted cashing in my first-class ticket, provided by the client, to buy coach-class tickets for Webb and me. Neither of us fit comfortably in the seats, especially not my six-foot, four-inch son.

But there we were in row thirteen. While Webb watched the god-awful Adam Sandler movie, I drafted the note in my head. When Webb finally closed his eyes to sleep, I pulled a piece of paper from my briefcase and began writing.

Dear Ms. 6B,

Please forgive my clumsiness while boarding. I would be more than happy to pay for the cleaning or replacement of your blouse. Truth is, I would be even happier if you’d let me take you to dinner sometime when we return to our side of the pond. That is, if you do plan to return to the U.S. (For all I know, you could be Parisian. You have That Look. )

Were I traveling alone, I might be bolder and introduce myself to you when we land. But for now, all I can do is invite you to e-mail me if you’re interested in meeting an admirer who feels terrible about ruining your travel attire.

Most sincerely,

Mr. 13C

My e-mail: lineman@com

P.S. You are truly first class.

I immediately regretted the P.S. It bordered on sleazy, but I liked the way it balanced the note. I hoped she’d read it with a wry smile. She looked like a woman with a sense of irony, the kind of character you see in BBC dramas. A Kate-Winslet-esque actress who wears red lipstick and a silk slip.

I wondered if I’d really have the nerve to give the note to the woman. Probably not. I’d never done anything even remotely like this before. Who did this kind of thing? Desperate men. Lonely men. Single fathers with teenage sons.

I decided to do it. Why not? Why the hell not? What did I have to lose? Yes, I thought. I’ll do it!

I waited until we’d landed at Charles de Gaulle and were collecting our luggage at the baggage claim area. Webb and I had to catch our connecting flight to Madrid at the Air France terminal, so there was no time to waste.

Grab your bag and let’s go, I told Webb. I’d already spotted Ms. 6B by the baggage carousel.

She was taller than I’d thought. Prettier, too, with an air of self-confidence. Her face looked freshly washed. Her hair was pulled back in the original ponytail. The style nicely set off her long neck. I liked her choice of travel clothes: wide-leg black slacks and a short black jacket that covered her ruined blouse. But mostly I liked her face. The narrow nose. The way her lips formed an involuntary smile. She looked strong but kind, even after a transatlantic flight.

I brushed past her, close enough to see she wore no rings on her left hand. Then I stuck the note in her bag.

I did it! I thought. I DID IT! Two seconds later my mind shifted to: Why did I do that?

Come on, Webb, I ordered under my breath. "Get your bag and let’s go—now."

It was my fault he’d grabbed the wrong bag.

Oh, hell.

CHAPTER 4

Daisy

Oh, please.

I didn’t even see it until we were back at the airport, looking for my daughter’s bag. Coco was paging through a laminated book, trying to find the picture that best matched her black duffel bag. I was digging through my purse in search of reading glasses.

That’s when I saw it, a note wedged in an inside pocket of my bag. Was I really that careless with my purse?

My chest tightened as I checked to make sure my wallet was still intact. When I was certain it was, I read the note silently while Coco continued to flip through the suitcase book.

My first reaction? Oh, please. Any man who calls a woman first class is a man who will also call her a lady and, later, a lover. It reeked of Tom Jones and Neil Diamond.

But it was even worse than that. This guy had obviously meant to bump into me and ruin my blouse—a favorite Donna Karan piece—so he could offer to pay the cleaning bill if I’d just send him my e-mail address. What kind of scam was this?

I tried to remember what he looked like, but it had all happened so fast. I couldn’t have picked him out of a lineup.

And what look did I have that made me appear Parisian? Was it just the fact that I drank two bottles of wine on the flight? Two tiny bottles. In total, probably less than one bar-size glass of wine. That made me look Parisian? Oh please, Mr. Lineman.

Why were men so damn pathetic? More to the point: Why did only the most pathetic men find me attractive?

I read the note again. Our side of the pond. Oh, stop. Who says that? And wait. He’s not traveling alone?

Now I wished I had seen this guy. So he was traveling with someone (the poor girl) and sticking notes in other women’s purses? Oh, this was a class act. And they say men can’t multitask? Did he preprint these things before he left home, and then find lonely-looking women to spill things on so he could stick notes in their purses?

Did I look lonely? Answer: No. I looked tired, which I was. And I always looked more tired when I traveled. And I was using dime-store makeup because I’d run out of everything good and didn’t have time to go shopping for cosmetics before we left Chicago.

I decided right then and there to treat myself to new makeup in Paris. Maybe Coco and I could get professional makeup lessons at Galeries Lafayette. That would be fun.

I considered e-mailing the note-passing joker just to let him know what a jackass he was. No, I thought, what I really should do is give the note to airport security—or maybe Interpol?—and let them deal with it. I mean, honestly, it was outrageous that this jerk had practically assaulted me on the plane. And then he had the audacity to rummage through my purse? What I really should do, I thought, was . . .

Mo-om! Coco was waving her hand in front of my face.

What?

They don’t have it, she said.

Have what?

"My bag, Coco stated emphatically. It’s not here."

It has to be here, I told the woman behind the counter. Then, in broken French, I asked if it was possible the bag was on the next flight.

You can wait if you want to, the woman finally answered, as if waiting for luggage was something people did for enjoyment. She had a silk scarf tied around her neck in that effortlessly stylish way only French women can pull off.

Could it be stolen? I asked.

"Eees possible," the woman said, looking in the distance and frowning.

Why did French women feel the need to sulk? Did they think their pouting—combined with that catty air of self-important laziness they cultivated—made them even more beautiful? The fact that it did only made it doubly annoying.

Mom, Coco said, tears now welling in her eyes. "I need my stuff."

I know, I said. Then, turning to Mademoiselle Scarf, I said firmly: "S’il vous plait. How do we report a missing bag? Or a stolen bag?"

There, said the woman, making an airy gesture toward a counter littered with forms against the opposite wall. "Or you can file the paperwork online. The eeeenternet."

As I saw it, I had two options: one was to tell Mademoiselle Scarf that she was in the wrong line of work; the other was to breathe deeply and solve the problem myself.

I put my arm around Coco’s shoulder. Let’s find an Internet café. We’ll file a report with the airline.

Coco sniffled and nodded. And then,

Reviews for In the Bag

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an absolutely adorable read. It was a feel good book. I loved it.Coco and her mother Daisy go to Paris for a vacation when Daisy once more quits her job. Andrew takes his son Webb with him as he goes to Madrid for work. Coco and Webb's bags are interchanged. The teens start e-mailing each other unbeknownst to their parents. Daisy, as a favor to her friend, does the food for the art exhibition that Andrew has been designing. They start talking. What happens is a wild ride. With old fashioned ideas and new technology how does romance fit? I loved these four characters. I wasn't sure what to expect but watching them interact with each other and how botched their thinking was was so much fun. Nobody was ever right about what the other was thinking. I laughed out loud by the end. Delightful! Perfect beach read

[ennie_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you ignore the fact that the plot is somewhat contrived, this was a delightful little book (maybe not that little, 306 pages). A single mom traveling to Europe with her teenage daughter entangles with a single dad and his teenage son. There are notes, emails, mixed-up luggage, and much coincidence (oh gee, the mom's friend is able to lend them her Paris apartment because she is overseeing the exhibit in Spain that the dad is organizing). I was rooting for everyone. The plot seemed cinematic, but I didn't find anything about a movie version.

[pidgeon92_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like a good romantic comedy, and this one was fine, but not overly interesting, That it took me three weeks to finish is telling.

[monkeyreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a little too young for me once I started reading it, so I really just skimmed. But the plot is cute.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute novel that would be perfect for the beach or pool with the alternating four points of view and short chapters. Even reading it post-Labor Day was fun. A mixed up LL Bean duffel bag from the Paris luggage carousel turns two single parents European trips (with their respective teens) into a fun, breezy romance. Because of their alternating viewpoints, it's easy to pick up the track of the story even if you put it down.

[bookappeal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Light, cute story poking fun at the difference between teen romance and adult romance in the digital age and how each generation communicates, or, rather, fails to communicate with their own generation and the other. The teenagers are suitably self-absorbed and the adults struggle with their figurative "baggage" as they navigate Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona in a crazy jumble of coincidences. The story has a fun European vacation atmosphere that causes characters to do things they might not normally do. Enjoyable summer read.

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is Kate Klise’s first endeavor into the world of adult fiction…which due to the story itself, could easily be housed in the land of Young Adult without feeling like a wolf among sheep. In this story, we have a case of mistaken identity…of a case…a written note that was met with a heart full of skepticism despite its true intentions…and the mission of one bag to change the fate of four people for better or worse. It’s the actions of those that found and lost said bag that get things rolling, but fate seems to have a big hand in it all as well. It’s hilarious, it’s touching, it’s sweet, it’s not to be missed….which of course you’ve heard all before, but trust me, it applies. Fans of her children’s fiction will not be disappointed as her popular style of storytelling is not completely erased despite the older audience aimed for. The appearance of correspondence throughout the book from the handwritten note to the emails that fly back and forth between Coco and Webb work wonders to put you right there in the story while giving it that air of familiarity that can’t be denied. Another deja vue moment? The included illustrations when day turns to night. The images depicted give readers a glimpse of what’s forthcoming in the next few chapters, but only enough to peek your interest while not spoiling the fun. I know, I know…pictures in an ADULT fiction book, and yet…it works REALLY well. Now on to the characters…Daisy and Andrew are the slightly jaded adults just trying to make their way through another trip abroad. Daisy is there for pleasure with her daughter Coco; Andrew is there for work with his son Webb. All work and no play makes for one stressed out papa, but the same can be said about all play when a work opportunity that will also help out a friend is staring you in the face. Let’s just say they’d be a match made in heaven if their paths would only cross…and cross they do but they end up more crossed than anything else. It’s rather funny and a great example of how one should not assume what another means nor what their intentions are….just ask them to speak their mind already! SO much confusion could be afforded. Now on to the teens…Coco is just graduating high school with college right around the corner, a good girl (too good at times according to Mom) and smart as a whip….Webb is right along the same paths as well, though his Dad wishes he would become technology challenged for a while at least and enjoy the European landscape. Their chance email encounter due to the bag switcheroo is entertaining to say the least…especially when they are trying to sort out if they each are who they say they are. Never has a case of “mistaken identity” been captured so fully and full of life as this….well, that I’ve seen so far at least. Plans are made, dates are set and gasp! They agree to meet, swap bags, and maybe numbers if all goes well….but as this one is more contemporary fiction, it is given free reign to have things go wrong that can go wrong. It mostly boils down to a lack of communication…which again is pretty ironic since that’s what they were doing this whole time…and bottled up feelings, but it translates to a story you won’t be able to put down. The pages fly by and before you know it, you’ve reached the end….and although its not the one you thought you were speeding towards, it’s perfect just the same.A great summer reading pick for young adult readers and beyond! If you enjoy a fast flowing story of mishaps, chance encounters, potential connections missed and gained, as well as time spent in a foreign land, this one is most certainly for you. There are moments that are smile inducing, moments of frustration, kindness shown and forgiveness given…but mostly there are the moments we stumble and share through a life well lived that lead us down those often unexpected but truly worthwhile paths that memories are made of. A grand adventure you won’t be able to put down that celebrates the value of the written word...*review copy received in exchange for my honest review

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know where you might find copies of Kate Klise's adult debut novel In the Bag this summer ..... in quite a few beach bags! It's absolutely perfect for summer reading - sweet, charming, light and fun. Chef and single mom Daisy is on her way to Paris to take a much needed vacation with her teenage daughter Coco. Single dad Andrew is on that same flight with his teenage son Webb on their way to Spain. When Andrew accidently spills a glass of wine on Daisy, he feels terrible....but also smitten. Daisy is well - the kind of woman he could fall for. So he decides to tuck a note into her carry on luggage with his email contact information. You never know, right? It is only when each pair arrives at their hotels that the teenagers discover that they have picked up someone else's luggage. Three guesses here. Yes - Coco and Webb have each other's bags. When they discover contact info in the bags, they begin conversing by email. And the conincidences don't stop there..... Klise has conjured up a simply delightful plot, full of miscommunications, misperceptions, missed cues and misunderstandings. She has chosen to tell the story from the viewpoint of each of the characters, which really worked. The characters were believable and rang true. I nodded my head and chuckled at much of the parent's thoughts and dialogue. It brought back memories of my own two (now grown) teenagers. Klise also did a great job with Coco and Webb. Much of their communication is done through email and Kate wrote witty missives that seemed to capture the tentative beginnings of teenage relationships. Interestingly it is only when they meet in person that Coco and Webb have trouble communicating, mirroring today's dependence on electronic connections. And no summer beach read is complete without a happy ending. Yes, you can see it coming but Klise makes the journey there so much fun. Chick lit fans will love it. And it would make a cute rom/com movie too! And it was only when I finished the book that I discovered the idea behind the book. Klise found a hand written note in her own carry on bag. I wonder if she ever followed up?

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Okay, so I'm a 30-something single mom of 2 boys, not yet teenagers but they both think they're 40. This book really hit home with me as a single parent and kept me hooked from first page to last. I really loved the writing style that Ms. Klise uses, telling the story between four alternate points of view. The four characters are wonderfully created and really capture the readers attention with their comedic ways!I really enjoyed travelling to Paris, Madrid and Barcelona with this 4 amazing characters. Daisy Sprinkle, who gets wine spilled on her by a stranger on her flight. Andrew Nelson, said stranger and writer of a secret admirer note that Daisy is so not impressed with. Webb Nelson, Andrew's 17 year old son who, upon arrival in Madrid, realizes that he does not wear bras and panties so he must have the wrong bag. Coco Sprinkle, Daisy 18 year old soon-to-be-college-student-wanna-experience-life daughter who realizes that she must have some grungy guys bag when they arrive in Paris. That alone is enough to keep the reader hooked and laughing. But it's what happens after all this happens that really takes the reader for a fun, exciting, whirlwind ride!Coco and Webb plot to return their bags to each other after Webb finds Coco's email address. Their emails are quite funny and very sweet between two teens who are very inexperienced in the dating world! Daisy meets Andrew in Madrid when she is recruited by her dear friend, Solange, to cater to the art display she's hosting. Little did Daisy know that Andrew is the man she emailed after receiving an admirer note that left her reeling!I will stop there. I'll give the plot away with what happens to them all and I don't spoil it for anyone! I will tell you that this summer, you need to sit back, relax, and take a trip to Paris (and Madrid!)(and Barcelona!) with this fun loving characters. You'll be swept off your feet by the wit and charm that flows from these sweet characters and you'll learn that parenting isn't always easy, but that you need to relax and go with the flow.I definitely recommend this book with 5 Books, two thumbs up, hats off and so much more! It is a fast paced read-short chapters, each one told from a character's point of view. You'll laugh and you'll....well, laugh! Ms. Klise has done a wonderful job at creating this light, airy novel and I am highly anxious to see what she releases next for her new grownup fans!

[kibosa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is great for reading in short bursts - waiting at appointments, lunch break, etc. The story is light and fun. I loved the short chapters told from the four main character's points of view. I thought the plans Webb and Coco made to meet in Paris (rather than have Coco accompany her mother to Spain) were unnecessary, until I finished the story. All the happenings came together to a decent conclusion. Great for someone looking for a light, romantic comedy.

[ceh0017 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this fun, quick read! It was not difficult to keep up with all the different characters at all; I loved having characters that I could root for until the end! If you enjoy a good love story, you should definitely pick up this book; it's a quick, easy read that you won't want to put down!

[catherinea_56 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Kate Klise so I was very excited to receive an ARC of In the Bag, her first book for adults. While I enjoyed it enough, I would not say it was one of my favorites. Her work for young readers is so fantastic (the Regarding series, Grounded, 43 Old Cemetery Road, etc.) that I was really excited to see what she would do for adults. While I mostly liked the characters (more Andrew and Daisy - Coco was beyond annoying), the story was a very far-fetched. I didn't feel connected to the story or compelled to find out what would happen next. I brought the book on vacation with me and started it just before the end of my trip. When I got home I was fairly busy and didn't read for a few days and all of a sudden I realized I had forgotten to pick it up again. A book that I'm really interested in I don't have to remind myself to pick up again. Basically I didn't really care what happened to the characters.I did pick it up again and finish and I'm glad I did (unless I am really hating something, I don't like not finishing a book) and it was a sweet, frothy but totally forgettable ride. I still love Kate Klise's work and will continue to read anything she puts out but I found In the Bag to be disappointing because my expectations were so high.

[lrobe190 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daisy and her daughter Zoe are traveling to Paris from St. Louis for Zoe's spring break. Daisy is a top-notch chef and recently left a restaurant job to clear her mind and decide what she wants to do next. Andrew and his ason are heading to Madrid for Andrew's job as an exhibit designer. On the plane, Andrew actually jostled a woman holding a glass of wine which spills on her silk blouse. Andrew feels terrible. The woman is very attractive and Andrew is drawn to her. Uncharacteristically, Andrew composes a note apologizing and asking her out for a drink when they are back in St. Louis. He stuffs the note in her open purse. When the parties arrive at their respective destinations, Zoe and Webb realize that somewhere during their journey, their bags have been switched. From this unpromising beginning, the four characters...Daisy, Zoe, Andrew and Webb...go about their business not realizing that everything they do is connected in some way.This book is a light, entertaining and funny read. It is told through the POV of each character. The reader sees the interconnections among the characters which adds to the fun and fast pace. It's really two stories...Daisy's and Andrew's, both looking for something more in their lives...and Webb and Zoe's...both on the brink of adulthood and trying to stand on their own. Teens  will enjoy this book as much as adults will. It's a perfect beach book!

[ltcl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an advance copy of this book and can't wait for it's debut in May. In the Bag makes you want to be Daisy and Coco and Andrew and Webb. It makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time and does what the perfect feel good book must do - it makes you feel warm and misty at the memory of and first love. I could identify with the characters easily and the change up between each person's view of what happens is magical. Coco and her chef mother Daisy are on a vacation to Paris as is Webb and his exhibit designing dad Andrew. When the kids luggage gets mixed up it is kismet. Or will it just be the beginning of one misunderstanding after another. Does it help that it takes place in Paris and Madrid - Oui! This will be a terrific summer read- the perfect accessory to a vacation. Tres bien Mme. Klise!

[carolo_77 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The moral of this sweet story is never ever jump to conclusions. The happy ending is obvious from early in the plot but the characters keep setting up roadblocks as they each make assumptions and jump to conclusions. The fun is following the characters as they detour down dead ends before finding each other at the end. The story is told from 4 points of view and I think is enjoyable to read whether you identify with the single parents or their teenage kids.

[lucky11_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A mother and a daughter, a father and his son's, europeon vacations are instantly changed with the mix-up of two bags at the air port.  Kate Klise's book "In the Bag" is written with each chapter told by a different character, and almost like a journal of the four characters days.  This is Kate Klise's first adult novel but I can also see many teen readers enjoying the book.  I actually found the  storyline of the teens in the book better then the adult characters storyline.  Even though the storyline was a bit predictable I found the book to be a quick and light read which would be great to take to on vacaction with you.

[nebraska_girl1971 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Let me begin by saying, even though this is her first "adult" book, this could be read by YA's also. It was a very easy read about a single-mother and daugher who have several encounters with a single-father and son. The ending seemed rushed and overall was a let down, but I did enjoy the novel as a whole - would recommend as a beach or weekend read.

[candyh_64 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is not the best book. It is the story of travelers who get involved in a luggage mix up and how that issue is solved. It is not very believable . This author should stick to the children's books she is used to writing. I would not recommend this book. However I am pleased that I was chosen to review this book for LibraryThing.