The Exchange Student

by A.J. Carter

Would you let a stranger into your home?

With Alyssa’s teenage daughter quickly becoming a recluse, she’s running out of ways to help her confidence. Naturally, she jumps at a last-minute offer from the school to send Summer on a student exchange.

This is her first mistake.

In Amsterdam, Summer struggles being alone in a foreign country. Except she’s not completely alone – Aart, the man of the house, keeps her under lock and key, terrifying her more with each aggressive outburst. She longs to escape and return home, but first she must find a way to understand the awful secret she finds in that house. The secret that leaves two big questions burning holes in her mind.

Who has taken her place back home, and is her mother safe?

THE EXCHANGE STUDENT is the new psychological thriller from Bristol author AJ Carter, whose books are bursting with mystery, danger, and multiple dark twists.

Genres: Thriller, Ebooks, Fiction, Psychological Thriller

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

AJ Carter is a psychological thriller author from Bristol, England. His first book, The Family Secret, is praised by critics around the world, and he continues to regularly deliver suspenseful novels you can’t put down.

Sign up to his mailing list today and be the first to hear about upcoming releases and hot new deals for existing books. You’ll also receive a FREE digital copy of The Couple Downstairs – an unputdownable domestic thriller you won’t find anywhere else in the world: https://BookHip.com/WAXFLLP

Reviews

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by A.J. Carter and wow did it keep me up way too late! I could not stop reading and the ending !!! Holy cow!! The Exchange Student is riveting all throughout the whole book.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a cliche for me to write but the truth is every book I read by this author the writing gets better and better, 🤗 this time he has outdone himself with a creepy, at times scary, frighteningly realistic tale of 2 Exchange Students…where nothing and no one is quite as they seem
I would understand if you thought ‘Ahhhh ok this is a student who moves to a host house and causes choas’ etc but it is more, much bone tingling more than that….I don’t want to give anything away on the plot other than it is burning hot, and chilling
The characters are unforgettable, am not saying all are likeable but without doubt you wont forget them, nor the cornflakes!
My only small ponder is that I have found the Dutch often more proficient in the English language than we are ( one of the main characters goes to Amsterdam ) but its a minor thing tbh
I read a lot of psychological thrillers but this one stands out for it’s ‘difference’ in theme
Give it a go and you will see what I mean….

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! It kept you on the edge of your seat. The author can write a great psychological thriller. The endings are always a surprise.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW The Exchange Student a psychological thriller by A.J. Carter is an amazing roller coaster.

Allysa's sixteen year old daughter Summer is being bullied at school and has become introverted because of it.

Damien holds down more than one job to keep a roof over their heads and as man of the house he does not want Allysa to work.

A place becomes free on a student school exchange trip to Amsterdam even thought they could ill afford it so both Allysa and Damien think it would be an opportunity for Summer to grow and leave Bristol behind to explore Amsterdam if they sent her on this trip of a lifetime.

Noah is an exchange student from Amsterdam and unbeknown to Alyssa and Damien he is not going to be the model student but their living nightmare as he comes to stay at Summer's home.

Summer arrives in Amsterdam and stays in Noah's home with his Father and Mother whom Summer has been told is very sick and has to stay inside her bedroom at all times unless Aart, Noah's Father permits her to vacate the bedroom of his son Noah. Aart confiscates her laptop and mobile phone because he specifies this technology is only for adults.

Both Aart and Noah have an agenda that they planned and the outcome will not be good for the Oakes family in Bristol and for Summer in Amsterdam as they end up having to do their best to survive the consequences of their actions.

There is a brilliant twist at the end of this thriller which blew me away and also some sad news.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer is the daughter of Alyssa and Damian who is always getting bullied. Her parents send her to Amsterdam on a foreign exchange and welcome their exchange student Noah into their home.
Summer doesn’t seem to be getting on too well in Amsterdam living with Aart and just wants to go back home. Noah seems to just cause trouble for Alyssa back in the UK.
Things just seem to go from bad to worse in both the homes. Events unravel and things escalate. What are all the secrets and goings on?
As always, a brilliant thriller by AJ Carter. Fantastic storyline that kept me hooked throughout. It was very engaging from the start and I was page turning wanting to find out more!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was phenomenal, electrifying, and chilling read. The author is a master at skillfully articulating an intense, heart racing on the edge of your seat thriller. Well executed with fleshed out complex characters and engaging storyline with spine tingling twists. I read the book in one day . He is the epitome of a fast-paced thriller. Highly recommend.

[Maisie Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glued to the first half of this book but feel as though it became repetitive & unoriginal, and was so disappointed in the ending.

[Shelley Whipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story! Thrilling from start to finish! The story is so well written that you will just keep reading until you get to the end. Unputdownable is definitely the word to describe this book. I simply love it! Well done AJ!

[Donna Mallery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do REALLY like this author! I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited and kept putting off reading it. I typically don’t like books where there is an “evil” child and the title indicates this. But given the author I had to read it! I did feel uncomfortable at times, but there were also parts that I didn’t expect and in a good way. The big twist was good but I got frustrated at the last paragraph. I hate when authors add something at the last second that doesn’t add to the book. Just leave well enough alone! I know I’ll be an outlier and I’m glad because, again, I really like this author! And I’ll continue to read his books. I just had to give my honest review…

[Jerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose that there are people that might like this. Sadly I am not one of them. The story didn't work for me. There was nothing that I liked or made me feel connected to the story or characters. It was just bad. 2 stars is being generous.

[Georgie Higson Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this so quick, only 99p as well so very good!
Enjoyed it, easy thriller, didn’t expect the twist but it was okay! Overall quite a random story line and didn’t get some bits of it… hahah

[Susan Marie Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was my first for this author and it won’t be the last! I was very impressed with writing of this author and how I was taken in within the first few pages and it kept me engaged!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[AlishA HartMann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a great book. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wonder what normal woman would take an exchange students abuse, like Alyssa did. And why did Noah give her his address and number at the end in case she wanted him dead? That's very odd to me. Overall, it was well written and kept my attention.

[Dalene Dawdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book to say the least. When I read the back and read many reviews I was immediately sucked in and I knew I had to read it. Well even from the first couple chapters I could tell this was a very beginner level book in my opinion. This book is great for someone who is new at reading books and reading books like these (psychological thrillers). The way the book was written was so difficult to enjoy. It was like... this happened, then this happened, then we went here, and that happened, then he did this, and now were here. Like, there were 0 details and if there were details, they would last for not even a paragraph. I have read many very well written psychological thriller such as Lucinda Berry, and Natasha Preston and their writing is phenomenal and I just feel as if this book really missed its shot. The twists were great but again, they were kind of just thrown at you and it seemed as if the author just wanted to finish writing. Some of them also seemed very far fetched, however I wont spoil it. The story and premise of this book is great, which makes it so much more disappointing that it was not as enjoyable as it could have been.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book. Lots of twists and turns that were difficult to predict. I’m looking forward to reading other books by this author.

[Monica Mil-Homens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opinião: Senhor Carter fez de novo! Mais um Thriller Psicológico intenso, cheio de reviravoltas e um final diabólico! Imaginem só confiarem a vida da vossa filha adolescente a uma família estrangeira, em outro país e vocês ficarem responsáveis pelo filho dessa mesma família? Até aqui nada de anormal, existem vários intercâmbios de estudantes que permitem essa experiência. Mas e se eu vos disser que aqui nesta estória, não há margem de manobra nem para respirar se querem sobreviver? Ambas as famílias escondem segredos que lhes mudam a vida para sempre de forma irreversível e cabe ao leitor saber que existem cenas bastante gráficas mas necessárias para se compreender até onde se vai para se esconder algo… Mais uma vez recomendo a leitura deste livro, e de TODOS OS LIVROS deste autor que são incríveis e uma leitura necessária para quem gosta de bons Thrillers Psicológicos de transtornar até a pessoa mais calma! Podem adquirir na Amazon ou com a subscrição do Kindle Unlimited.

ENG REVIEW: Mr Carter has done it again! Another intense Psychological Thriller, full of twists and turns and a diabolical ending! Just imagine entrusting your teenage daughter's life to a foreign family, in another country and you being responsible for the child of that same family in return? Nothing unusual so far, there are several student exchange programs that allow this experience. But what if I told you that here in this story, there is no room for breathing if you want to survive? Both families hide secrets that change their lives forever in an irreversible way and it is up to the reader to know that there are scenes that are quite graphic but necessary to understand how far some people go to hide something... Once again I recommend reading this book, and ALL BOOKS by this author. Incredible books and a must have read for anyone who likes good Psychological Thrillers that can upset even the calmest person! You can purchase it on Amazon or with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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[Mrs B E Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty scary read, especially if you have kids of the same age, but it is not to be missed. Excellent and compulsive reading.

Well, what can I say except what a tense and truly spine chilling story this is. Thank goodness that when my daughter went to Germany as an exchange student, she never experienced such a terrifying and traumatic time.

Each book just gets better and better. A socially inept young girl, a strange anti social young man from The Netherlands, swap homes and countries as exchange students. Each looking for a new experience.

What will they each gain from their temporary experience and new families? Well - this story will pull your feelings in directions you never expect and the twists and turns will have you wondering what to expect next. As for the ending, definitely unexpected. Excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommend. Each book just gets better and better. A socially inept young girl, a strange anti social young man from The Netherlands, swap homes and countries as exchange students. Each looking for a new experience.

What will they each gain from their temporary experience and new families? Well - this story will pull your feelings in directions you never expect and the twists and turns will have you wondering what to expect next. As for the ending, definitely unexpected. Excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommend.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel expertly weaves a chilling narrative that taps into every parent's worst fear—allowing a stranger into your home and the unknown dangers that might follow.

A.J. Carter crafts a deeply unsettling atmosphere as we follow Alyssa and her daughter Summer, who finds herself trapped in a foreign land, not just by distance but by the sinister intentions of the man she’s supposed to trust. The tension is intense, with every page heightening the sense of dread as Summer uncovers a dark secret that could change everything. The mystery is tightly wound, with twists that feel both shocking and inevitable.

The characters are complex and believable, drawing you into their world and making you feel every ounce of their fear and desperation. Summer’s journey is particularly gripping, as she battles not just for her freedom but for the truth, all while questioning whether her mother is safe back home.

Carter's ability to maintain suspense, while gradually revealing the layers of the plot, makes "The Exchange Student" an unputdownable read. The story doesn’t just entertain; it lingers in your mind long after the final page, leaving you questioning the thin line between safety and danger, and the dark secrets that might be hiding just beyond it.

[Janine Roussouw · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gripping, nail-biting, edge of your seat psychological thriller. Summer's parents send her on an exchange programme to Amsterdam, thinking that this will bring her out of her shell and meet new people. Little do they know it ends up being a huge mistake for them and for her. The student who comes from Amsterdam to stay with Summer's parents is the worst house guest ever! Here the author brings across the message to be careful who you let into your home and you can't trust anyone, not even the ones closest to you. Loved the unexpected twists and turns and edge of your seat moments in the book. Definitely a 5-star rating and I would highly recommend this book.

[Jane Avery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible.

The author didn’t build enough of a foundation of the daughter’s relationship with her parents at the beginning to really capture the depth of the situation.

The story was repetitive until about 70% into the book then a whole lot of diarrhea of ideas lay across the pages to tell an outlandish tale. The ending was unbelievable but not in the suspenseful good thriller or mystery way.

To be honest I skimmed through most of the middle of the book because it was just too monotonous. I would give no stars but I gave the author the benefit of the doubt since I made it through to the last page.

[annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally really enjoy this author's books but I felt like this one did not develop the character enough who surprised us at the end. Maybe I wasn't a smart reader, I'll admit, but there there were no clues at all. The couple just didn't seem to have a relationship below the surface. Their relationship was really boring so I found myself not really caring how it ended. And why throw in the terminal illness at the end? Who cares? I don't think we got to know our heroin enough to be sad about it. The other books are better. I found myself really looking forward to how things were going to play out and once it ended I said to myself, What a waste of time . . .

[Phyllis Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intense, pulse pounding and creepy thriller that holds your interest from page one. The twist is jaw dropping and so surprising. Told by two voices, Alyssa and her 15 year old daughter Summer. On a house swap exchange program Summer goes to Amsterdam and Noah comes to Bristol UK. There are language barriers to overcome as Summer doesn't speak any Dutch and Noah knows very little English. Summer arrives at a house of horrors and Noah turns his visit into a house of horrors as well. Who will survive? A must read 5 star thriller. I highly recommend it.

[Sharilynn T, La May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two unexpected twists make this one of the best psychological thrillers I've read. Nothing is what it seems for two young people whose parents involved them in the student exchange program. A quiet reclusive girl is paired with a controlling father and no mother in sight. A hard-boiled teenage boy finds himself with a kind mother who tries hard to ignore his obnoxious behavior. It's all part of a vicious plan. Be prepared to stay up all night to finish this unexpected plot.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are so many questionable things in this story but my intrigue kept me reading. I was shocked by the unbelievable actions ( or in-actions) of the protagonist and why the situation ever came about in the first place. Surly there are regulations! But as I said, I kept reading. There is an element of dread hovering over the whole scenario and the suspense keeps you going. Not my best read in this genre but it kept me entertained.

[Tracey Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undecided

I've read and enjoyed A J Carter's books but this was the absolute curate's egg. A great idea but I really didn't enjoy reading it. A hugely implausible plot line, whilst often compelling, just made me want to get to the end as soon as possible and I thought the ending was, quite frankly, a bit silly.

[AGilden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty strange end on the final page, and a somewhat unconvincing motivation for the big crime, but if I ignore that, it's a very good story. We spend most of it at a total loss about why threatening things are happening to the two main characters, but struggling and suffering with them all the way through. That made it both a good mystery and captivating thriller that I read in one sitting.

[Miraclin · Rating 4 out of 5]

not even kidding, this was my first book from A.J. Carter, and I think I just found another favorite author of mine. His writing keeps you at the edge of your seat, and is thrilling! I like how the story unfolds and keeps you curious throughout, finished this in a few hours, and could not be more content.

[Rhiannon Wates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I started this book off not really liking it but kept on. I had no idea what was coming!! Read it in 3 hours, couldn’t stop. It did push me to the ends of believability but if you go along with it then it’s a brilliant story, a page turner for sure! Would definitely read more by this author again.

[Hope Noar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and all I can say is WOW! This book had me engaged from start to finish. The twists and turns kept on coming. I liked that this was a unique story, and not a repeat of so many books I have read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an exciting thriller! I hope to read more books like this!

[Charissa Packham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the twist in it - only thing is as a Dutch person (who is living in the UK), I can say that Dutch people speak a lot better English than portrayed in this book! We get to learn English from very early on.
But that didnt stop me from wanting to finish the book the moment I started it. On to more AJ Carter books!