Exchanged

by Dan Perucco

A student exchange program mix-up turns hilarious and heartwarming in this "idiots-to-lovers" YA rom-com from debut author Dan Perucco—cultural exchange has never been this complicated.

Enzo Rossi knows Irontown, Michigan—a declining mining town—isn’t exactly a dream study abroad destination. So when his family is chosen to host an exchange student, he jumps at the chance to spend his senior year with a fellow music nerd from the outside world.

But when the Rossis arrive at the airport expecting Davit from Georgia (the country), they’re greeted instead by Garrett Andersen—a handsome football jock from Georgia (the state). Somewhere, something got lost in translation.

Living across the hall from someone so cool, so hot, and so obviously straight is not what Enzo signed up for. He can’t stop putting his foot in his mouth, and Garrett is always ready with a comeback. Enzo writes Garrett off as a spoiled and cocky city boy; Garrett thinks Enzo is too stuck up for his own hometown.

Yet as Garrett dazzles the rest of Irontown with his Southern charm, Enzo keeps stumbling over his own feelings. The longer they’re thrown together, the harder it is for both boys to keep their guard up—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Dan Perucco is a middle school English teacher who writes fiction for teens and adults. When he’s not teaching or writing, he directs theater and coaches quiz bowl. He lives in Minnesota with his husband and their floppy rescue dog.

Reviews

[Colin Perucco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This is my husband's debut book and I could not be more proud of him. There. That's out of the way.

That being said, I'm going to do my best to set that aside and review this book as a gay man who: grew up in small town, was super into music/theater and was SOOO not sporty, majored in English and now tries to teach 8th graders to love books, has read his fair share of YA romance, and who has fallen in love with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Just wanted to be clear. Now, let's get to it. There's so much to love about this book.

The setting. This book captures the experience of growing up in a small town so beautifully, highlighting all of the charms, quirks, benefits, and drawbacks that come with it. If you're from a small town, you'll feel like you're right back there. While our towns all have their own "things," so many of those elements are universal: close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone, equal ratio of bars to churches, main streets that are the hub of the town (even though they're shorter than a football field), minimal stoplights (if any), and small high school classes that mean you KNOW what everyone's business is. If you're not from a small town: enjoy this glimpse into a fascinating world of unique customs, local culture, and a pride in the place you come from, even when its weird or feels like it's holding you back. The setting is so well-crafted in this book, it feels like you're there in Irontown, experiencing all its eccentricities for the first time with Garrett and seeing why Enzo loves (and sometimes hates) it so much.

The characters. It seems like I know Enzo. I understand Garrett's struggles. I get the family dynamics. Enzo's classmates make me feel all the things I felt when I was in high school: the closeness of your weirdest friends, the otherness of being queer, the imposter syndrome of hanging around with people way "cooler" than I thought I could ever be. This book's characters are deep and complex and draw you into the story because you want to know more about ALL of them.

The plot. I want to know what's next, every step of the way. Right off the bat I need to know how the exchange mix-up is going to get resolved. I have to know when the enemies-to-lovers shift is going to happen. Which moment is going to be the tipping point? When will they stop butting heads and pissing each other off? When will Garrett's snarky comments go too far? When will Enzo realize he's messing things up because he refuses to see Garrett in any other light than that cocky jock who's always made his life hell? Every beat, the story pushes forward and I want to know more.

The writing. This is the teacher in me, but this book is both accessible for YA readers and offers great depth and reflection. Often I see books where one of these is sacrificed for the other: write a book that will be high-interest and an easy read to get reluctant readers on board, or dive into the deep complexities of youth and queerness and lose a lot of readers in the process. This book balances being engaging (hooking readers and moving the story forward), relatable (the high school experience has some overarching themes and this book hits them all so well), and thoughtful (allowing space for readers to reflect on their own experiences and how they connect to this story). The comedy moments are funny. The emotional moments are impactful. The intimate moments are touching. This book is beautifully written and is, genuinely, a delight to read.

Okay. Longest review I've ever written, but I mean every word. Whether or not my husband wrote this book, I love it for its authenticity, what it captures about the high school and small town experience, and for the loveable, flawed, and fun characters who learn a lot and take us on a journey.

Five stars and this will for sure become a book I read over and over and recommend to my students throughout the years.

Bravo, Dan.

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, but I have some critiques.
I can't tell the reason behind the breaks between chapters, it doesn't contribute anything to the story, the actual scenes and language felt upper ya while the writing and characters felt aimed at younger audiences. The characters are annoying, not in the 17/18 year olds sense, more in the bad characters sense. Also, what's with the many hp references? I got that the author is millennial from saying a party didn't "look like mean girls" when euphoria is right there.
Also, maybe check trigger warnings because I walked into that one unaware expecting a cute ya romance and while I got that it was way heavier towards the end.
Writing this review I realized I have way more problems with it than I thought, I'll have to lower the rating to 2.5

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

[Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of Exchanged by Dan Perucco!! All opinions are my own.

Exchanged is a beautiful melodious story that I loved! It truly wasn’t what I was expecting in the best way. I couldn’t even put this book down once I started. A story that starts with a lot of misconceptions and frustrations leads to love and a found family.

This book follows Enzo, when his family hosts Garrett as an exchange student, although he literally was not what they were expecting. While they start off rocky, they begin to bond and even realize they have things in common. These two end up dealing with homophobia and the difficulties of figuring out their futures. Despite all of these hurdles they fight for love and their dreams.

Exchanged is a memorable book I’ll be thinking about for a while. I was so surprised to see that this was a debut novel and I hope to see more from this author!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most bingeable book I've read in a long time! I usually struggle to start books but this one pulled me in from the beginning, and the journey was so fun. The romance managed to give me real butterflies that felt like I was a teenager again... like, I was eagerly anticipating every scene with Enzo and Garrett to see what would happen. So much delightful awkwardness and angst that was funny and felt relatable.

Also I have to say that the setting of this story really transported me and gave me more appreciation of what it is like growing up in a small blue-collar town, especially for someone who is drawn to creative arts. I really loved reading about a classical music nerd (Enzo) like myself.

Very excited to see what this author writes next!

[Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley.

The story has all the ingredients for something compelling, identity, belonging, and the push and pull of leaving everything you’ve ever known.

My biggest struggle was with Enzo as a narrator. I found myself far more drawn to Garrett, and I genuinely think the story would have been better with chapters from his point of view. What was framed as a rivalry between them never really felt like one. Instead, Enzo came across as closed off and projecting hostility onto Garrett, which kind of made him unlikable as the narrator.

Saying that, Garett was a fun character to follow as you literally peel the layer by layer of who he is and his upbringing. That's what keep me motivate to keep reading.

What did resonate with me was the emotional core around family and the fear of leaving. As someone who has gone through the immigrant experience firsthand, that enmeshment, the guilt, and the sense of loyalty pulling you back felt very real. But I also found myself questioning the logic behind Enzo’s situation. I didn’t fully understand why going so far away was presented as the only option for the majority of the book. A neighboring state school or even an online program could have achieved similar goals. And financially, taking out loans and working part-time is a very real and common path for many students.

We moved from event to event, and some of the jumps felt kind of abrupt. On top of that, the ending needed more room to breathe. An extra chapter or even a short epilogue would give it a more resolved ending. I feel like there are deeper conversations that still need to be fleshed out between Enzo and Garrett before the ending.

[Mateo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exchanged by Dan Perucco really said, “Hey, do you want to read a YA book or accidentally unpack your personal life?” and apparently my answer was yes.

So here we go!!!

Enzo annoyed me to no end at times. Like sir... for someone who has been bullied for being different, you are doing a wildly impressive job of turning around and treating someone else the exact same way because they are not what you expected. The hypocrisy was loud. The frustration was real. I wanted to reach into the book and tell him to get it together.

And Garrett? That boy has to be the cleanest teenager alive. The number of times he comes out of the bathroom had me dying. I started noticing every single time. At one point, I was like, does this boy live in there?

I usually do not mind a one sided POV story, but this is one of those books where I was practically begging to get inside the other main character’s head. I needed Garrett’s POV badly. Desperately. Emotionally. Spiritually. I just know he had thoughts, and I wanted all of them.

What really got me though was the family dynamic. The family abandonment and hurt in this book is strong, but I appreciated that it was not handled in a super stereotypical way. As a single father, that stood out to me. I am always paying attention to stories that might reflect little pieces of life my own kids could connect with, and this one surprised me in that way.

Now the dad? Lord help me. He annoyed me to absolute hell and back in the first half of this book. The whole “I am going to protect my child by controlling every aspect of their life and never letting them grow” parenting style makes me want to scream into the void. Kids are supposed to grow up. They are supposed to make choices, make mistakes, learn, and become who they are. That is literally the assignment.

But to the book’s credit, it also gave me enough of his background to understand why he was like that. Did I agree with him? Absolutely not. Did I have more compassion for him once the layers started peeling back? Unfortunately, yes. And honestly, that is one of the things I appreciated most here. These characters are flawed. They make bad calls. They are frustrating. But they feel human. Reading them gave me space to think about how different people react to pain, fear, love, and trauma, even when I would make totally different choices myself.

And I do want to give the dad his flowers for this too. Choosing to raise children on your own is not easy. At all. For anybody. And to love your children for who they are, stand by them, and stand up for others too in a town that reads as more conservative? That mattered.

Also, I need media to calm down with the “college is impossible unless you sacrifice your firstborn child, your kidney, and your will to live” narrative. Yes, college can be expensive and stressful. Very true. But there are also options, alternative paths, and support systems out there. I would love to leave that tired storyline behind, especially in YA. This book eventually lands in a much better place with that, and I appreciated it.

One of my favorite things about this story is that even though there is brokenness in the family, it is not presented as fully broken. There is still support. There is still love. There are still siblings showing up. As someone who is not close with his own siblings, I actually really loved seeing that.

Honestly, this book made me process more of my own life than I expected, which was rude of it, but also kind of impressive.

So yes, I complained about these characters. A lot. But that is also why I enjoyed this book. I do not just want perfect characters making perfect choices. I want messy people. I want bad decisions. I want the kind of story that makes me pause and go, okay, I do not agree with you at all... but I see how you got there.

Anyway, this book was great. It frustrated me, made me think, made me reflect, and somehow got me emotionally invested while I was actively yelling at people in my head.

So obviously, I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Miss Lady Orchid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC review.

I wish books like this had existed when I was younger. This is a strong debut book for the author.

This is a wonderful YA coming-of-age gay romance that balances a little angst, a little heat, and a whole lot of sweetness. It’s closed-door when it comes to intimacy, which fits the tone of the story perfectly. Instead of leaning on explicit scenes, the emotional journey carries the narrative.

I loved how realistically the teenagers are written. They didn’t have “adult” attributes to them, which I’ve noticed can sometimes happen in YA. Tier worries and motivations felt age-appropriate; fitting in, wanting affection, navigating friendships, and craving approval from their parents.

Enzo’s internal struggle is especially relatable for me, and I’m sure will be for others too. His conflict between staying close to home and pursuing college opportunities feels deeply real, particularly when tied to his complicated relationship with his father. The way he sometimes moves toward decisions without fully understanding why he’s doing it captures something very authentic about being a teenager. It called me back to the many questionable decisions and conversations I had based on unknown emotions.

I adored Garrett and how he navigated all the curveballs that were thrown his way. I appreciated that he had varied interests and dimensions beyond just being the jock from the big city. He felt like a full person with his own life and personality.

If I had one critique, it’s that Enzo occasionally felt less varied in comparison. At times it seemed like he expected Garrett to fit into his world instead of meeting him halfway, even after some of the character growth that happens throughout the book. I would have liked to see a little more balance there.

The setting was also charming. While I’ve never been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula myself, the portrayal reminded me strongly of stories friends have told about living there. It also brought back memories of growing up in a smaller town. The quirky local traditions, the places that are technically closed off but every teenager still sneaks into, and especially the outhouse race. Those details added so much personality to the story. I found myself laughing out loud at moments because it felt so true to small-town life.

Overall, this is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about identity, relationships, and learning how to understand both yourself and the people around you. I’d highly recommend it to teens, or anyone who enjoys YA stories focused on emotional growth and introspection.

Content-wise, readers can expect on-page kissing and a fade-to-black first sexual experience.

It’s a sweet, sincere story that captures the messy, confusing, and hopeful experience of growing up.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Roaring Brook Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Ok so it’s super early but I couldn’t help it, this book sounded so good, and it was! Enzo has spent his whole life growing up in a small town, and it’s not that he doesn’t love Irontown Michigan, he does, but he also wants to be a composer and that won’t happen here. Plus not much ever changes in his town so when his family suggests they host an exchange student, someone from the country of Georgia, who also happens to be into music and board games, Enzo jumps at the chance. Only the guy who comes off the plan doesn’t look like he’s from another country and he doesn’t sound like it either. Turns out there was a miscommunication and Garrett is from the state of Georgia. Garrett is the opposite of everything Enzo hoped for. He’s a jock who’s all cocky arrogance who everyone seems to love. And he’s hot, why does he have to be hot? It also turns out that he thinks he’s too good for Irontown. Enzo can’t stand him but the more they are forced to be around each other the more he’ll see that Garett might not be so bad. But he shouldn’t get too close to a straight guy right? Garrett’s straight right? But soon Enzo’s not so sure. And if not could Garrett possibly return his feelings? And they’ll only be in each other’s lives for a year so what does it matter anyway? It shouldn’t should it? A heartwarming and heartbreaking story! I enjoyed both Enzo and Garrett’s journey! Dan Perucco tells a deep story of small town life, homophobia, acceptance, love, and standing up for oneself! It’s a quick read that I couldn’t put down!

[ChristineReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book pulled me, I was excited by the fun premise and the intriguing characters. I was really excited to see what this story would hold and how it would unfold. It was an enjoyable story with a cool premise that tackled some tough topics.

And ... while the story felt like it covered tricky topics well, created space for characters to be lived in and real, and overall would have been a great YA book, it ultimately left me struggling. It is the year 2026, and I really struggled with the multiple Harry Potter mentions. This book is about LGBTQIA+ characters and yet it platforms a story whose author is loud about supporting anti-trans movements. As part of the queer community it feels icky to highlight JK Rowling's work. She is actively supporting anti-trans legislation. Trans rights are human rights. I felt like there are so many other ways we could highlight Enzo's love of music and composition without giving her a platform and it feels like a choice to choose to use Harry Potter as an avenue to do that-- especially with no challenges to JK Rowlings beliefs in the text.

I wanted to rate this book higher as it was a story well told, but I can't. I will leave it up to other readers to choose if they would like to read, for me I am really sad that a book that took care with a character who couldn't be himself with his parents would platform an author actively hurting the community as a whole. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[gracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay we'll get to why I rated it 2 stars in a bit. This was such a beautiful story with writing that was perfect for YA audiences and not overly dumbed down, I liked that. I love both Enzo and Garrett even with how harsh the start was. I enjoyed how the family dynamics were written about and how all the characters were placed in it. The book does an amazing job at showing how difficult it is to have big dreams in a small town and have to choose between them and being close to your family. It was all very palpable.

However I couldn't fully enjoy the story because of the multiple name drops and references to Harry Potter. It's 2026, we're all aware of how racist, transphobic and overall queerphobic Rowling is so it's definitely a choice, and an insane one at that, to have your QUEER ROMANCE BOOK have references to her work all over. I understand that it's definitely a popular phase for most kids that grew up in the 2010s but there were also a lot of other cultural phenomenons that could have been used in its place instead of platforming a person who is against everything your work is and stands for. That was very disappointing to me.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Monzerrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆

This was such a cute and heartfelt story about two boys who were never supposed to meet but somehow end up changing each other’s lives.

The story follows Enzo, whose family is expecting to host an exchange student from Georgia the country. Instead, they end up with Garrett, a confident football player from Georgia… the state. What starts as a hilarious mix-up quickly turns into a rocky beginning full of misunderstandings, teasing, and frustration.

As the story unfolds, Enzo and Garrett slowly begin to realize they might have more in common than they first thought. Their bond grows in the most unexpected ways, turning awkward moments and arguments into something deeper and more meaningful.

Beyond the romance, the book also touches on heavier topics like homophobia, identity, and the uncertainty of figuring out the future. Watching them navigate those struggles while still fighting for their dreams and for each other made their journey feel even more real and emotional.

I’m honestly still surprised that this is a debut novel from Dan Perucco. The characters felt authentic, the humor landed perfectly, and the emotional moments truly stood out.

Overall, this was a sweet, funny, and heartfelt YA romance about misunderstandings, growth, and finding love where you least expect it.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Exchanged. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book hit it out of the park for me. I genuinely laughed and cried multiple times, and the story has stayed with me. So many thoughtful themes about authenticity, what it means to find home, what it means to leave home, and how we navigate difference. Beyond that, it was just a really fun ride and had lots of great dialogue. I've already pre-ordered my copy, and I'm excited to share it when the book is released.

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable queer romance that highlights the value of acceptance and the importance of found family. Both boys struggle with different self esteem issues. With the help of their friends, and the power of their families, good and bad, they have to make some incredibly tough life choices. I love a realistic YA book that has some grit to it! Kids in high school fall in love, get picked on, have terrible parents, and have to make difficult financial choices about college that impact them for the rest of their lives. This is a must read for any high schooler.

[Sebastian Rios · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS WAS SO GOOD. I loved the slow burn and the characters. The plot was perfectly set up and written and the tension between the two characters was so great! 10/10!

[Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really cute! I loved how supportive Enzo's family was.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this at 8:30 pm and could not put it down until I finished at 12:15 am. I have to work in the morning but I don’t even care. This book was beautiful and felt so real and I cried my eyes out at least 4 times. I felt so much of what Enzo was feeling with his future and my heart breaks for Garrett. This is something I know I will be thinking about for weeks! I will absolutely be buying a copy and rereading as soon as I possibly can.

[Jennifer T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of Exchanged by Dan Perucco. All opinions are my own.

The little blurb as well as the cover got me interested in this book. A very good book by first time novelist, Dan Perucco.

I went into the book thinking it was going to be a typical nerd/jock romance trope, but it surprised me with the nuances. The characters are not stereotypes. Enzo and Garrett are the two protagonists in a wonderful coming-of-age story.

I agree with another review I read that I really wanted a Garrett pov chapter just to get some of his thoughts as well as what he was doing while Enzo was off with his friends.

In other books, you'd have Enzo chasing his dreams of attending Burton-Clark and somehow it would all magically work out despite potentially putting his family in debt. In this book, Enzo learns to find the middle ground between his dream and his family. He attends a good college nearby, doesn't put more of a financial burden on his family and ultimately comes to understand that yes, he lives in a small town but he does actually love his small town. Speaking of small towns..

My favorite part was the setting of Irontown. The unique traditions, the caving grounds, the lakes, the stars; I could almost picture everything about this idyllic setting. Beautiful.

Overall, its a sweet coming-of-age story.