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The Exchange
She’s fighting the present. He’s fleeing the past. Can love survive across the ages?Pendleton, 2030. Ari never backs down from doing the right thing. And when her defiance almost costs her father’s job, her punishment is to host an exchange student from the early Twentieth Century. But the cute farm boy she gets stuck with unexpectedly steals her heart… and unleashes a flood of trouble.
James hates life in 1903 and wants to live in the future. Yet instead of finding the secret to staying in 2030, he unearths a catastrophe set to consume his home. Now he must decide, save his family from mortal peril or give up the girl he loves?
Driven by her feelings, Ari puts everything on the line to help James. But changing the course of history comes at a cost.
Will two teens in love rewrite the future or send it to its doom?
The Exchange is the first book in the unique Exchange time-travel YA romance series. If you like star-crossed couples, vivid historical settings, and unnerving futures, then you’ll adore M.F. Lorson’s captivating tale.
Buy The Exchange to pit passion against the clock today!
James hates life in 1903 and wants to live in the future. Yet instead of finding the secret to staying in 2030, he unearths a catastrophe set to consume his home. Now he must decide, save his family from mortal peril or give up the girl he loves?
Driven by her feelings, Ari puts everything on the line to help James. But changing the course of history comes at a cost.
Will two teens in love rewrite the future or send it to its doom?
The Exchange is the first book in the unique Exchange time-travel YA romance series. If you like star-crossed couples, vivid historical settings, and unnerving futures, then you’ll adore M.F. Lorson’s captivating tale.
Buy The Exchange to pit passion against the clock today!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2018
64 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 18, 2019
Review coming soon.
July 25, 2019
This is one of those awkward to review books where, as I was reading it, I thought it was pretty good, but as soon as I tried to formulate my ideas about why for the review, I started to realise how many problems it had.
It’s what my book club refer to as ‘Twilight Syndrome’ - the experience of generally enjoying a book until you stop and think about it.
Now there is nothing here as egregious as in Twilight. James is a sweet love interest - respectful and bashful in equally endearing measures. Ari is a feisty character with strong ideas about how the world should be. No, the problem with The Exchange is that the plot makes absolutely no sense.
It centres around the conceit that an agency are able to bring people forward in time so that the modern day world can ‘learn’ from the past. Which makes sense, until for reasons never really clarified, they can only bring forwards teenagers, who they then send to the local high school in a nowhere town, where they are taken to math class and go shopping but don’t appear to do any sort of teaching...
The ‘why’ of the time travel is my biggest bug bear. It doesn’t appear to benefit anyone. Why would all that money be spent on bringing people to the future to then just have them go to school? Where are the worldwide authorities on those historical periods lining up to interview the travellers? Where are the writers lining up to tell their stories? Nah, just go to art class and prom.
Basically, the whole set up is entirely to facilitate a time travel romance.
The characters from the past read exactly the same as the modern day teenagers, with very little distinguishing them. James wears suspenders and has old fashioned chivalry, but that’s the extent of his 1903 characterisation. I could forgive this if the plot worked, because the romance is kind of cute, and it's a book out to entertain, not win literary prizes, but with everything else going on it was just another problem fuelling my post-read annoyance.
If you don't look at it too hard, this is a fun, entertaining, quick read about two teenagers falling in love. But start to pull at the threads at the edge of the plot holes and everything starts to unravel rather quickly. I don't regret the two hours or so it took me to read it, but I won't be rushing out to get the author's next book.
2.5 stars
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s what my book club refer to as ‘Twilight Syndrome’ - the experience of generally enjoying a book until you stop and think about it.
Now there is nothing here as egregious as in Twilight. James is a sweet love interest - respectful and bashful in equally endearing measures. Ari is a feisty character with strong ideas about how the world should be. No, the problem with The Exchange is that the plot makes absolutely no sense.
It centres around the conceit that an agency are able to bring people forward in time so that the modern day world can ‘learn’ from the past. Which makes sense, until for reasons never really clarified, they can only bring forwards teenagers, who they then send to the local high school in a nowhere town, where they are taken to math class and go shopping but don’t appear to do any sort of teaching...
The ‘why’ of the time travel is my biggest bug bear. It doesn’t appear to benefit anyone. Why would all that money be spent on bringing people to the future to then just have them go to school? Where are the worldwide authorities on those historical periods lining up to interview the travellers? Where are the writers lining up to tell their stories? Nah, just go to art class and prom.
Basically, the whole set up is entirely to facilitate a time travel romance.
The characters from the past read exactly the same as the modern day teenagers, with very little distinguishing them. James wears suspenders and has old fashioned chivalry, but that’s the extent of his 1903 characterisation. I could forgive this if the plot worked, because the romance is kind of cute, and it's a book out to entertain, not win literary prizes, but with everything else going on it was just another problem fuelling my post-read annoyance.
If you don't look at it too hard, this is a fun, entertaining, quick read about two teenagers falling in love. But start to pull at the threads at the edge of the plot holes and everything starts to unravel rather quickly. I don't regret the two hours or so it took me to read it, but I won't be rushing out to get the author's next book.
2.5 stars
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2019
Synopsis:
The Exchange is a YA time travel tale where the Institute at Pendleton in 2030 brings on exchange students from various important timelines so that the students of the present day can learn from them first-hand about their respective histories. But there is something that the Institute is not telling them. How is it that when these exchange students are sent back and no one says anything about their experiences which would surely have found a place in history somewhere?
Review:
This is Ari and James Cooper's story. Also, it is my first read by the author. It starts with a prologue from both their point of views. She's at the Institute in Pendleton, waiting to eavesdrop on the conversation between her father and her professor. The year is 2030 and Professor Limmerick is serious about ousting her from the student exchange program because of her actions. She is currently enrolled in Pendleton High School. In another time in the world, James is a simple farm boy who is in his final year of school at Heppner but he has big dreams. The year is 1903 when he comes to know about the Institute which will take on students for an Exchange Program based on a fair assessment. His 500-word essay on "Why I want to help the future remember the past" sealed the deal for him. But, what the Institute doesn't know is that he has no intention of returning to his past.
The concept is fresh and very interesting. A YA novel involving a student exchange program but with a twist. Because it isn't your usual country to country student exchange, rather it involves the past and future - time travels. But the story is filled with loopholes.
The references to the past brought on a nostalgic quality, what with Ari's father driving a 1956 Chevy pickup. But then again, Marvin hasn't been able to ever do much good by his daughter, what with his loyalty to the Institute even when he felt the loss of her mother so strongly. A loss brought about by the Institute's meddlesome habits. It's said that he's busy in his attempts to try to change the past though it's not revealed whether it was fruitful or not in the end. Also, who knows what was he doing for him to appear so fatigued to Ari. There are some shocking revelations about her parents towards the end of the story, but they remain unexplained.
Most of the story takes place in 2030 only after James reaches there as an exchange student. Due to her past misdemeanours, Ari has to work as a transition guide against her wishes. The work entails helping the new exchange students to settle down in the present. She hates the Institute and everything that it stands for. Having lost a friend earlier to the exchange program, she wants nothing to do with it but her father losing his dear job is what reins her in. She is paired up with James, while her gay and only best friend Michael Allen is paired up with Elizabeth. The story progresses from three POVs - Ari's, James' and Michael's.
The Institute, in the name of working on a time travel student exchange program which wants to preserve history, works in a very hush-hush way. And there is something off about James being an exchange student which he is determined to find out about. He doesn't exactly fit into the criteria of the students that are selected for the program. Another unexplained thing is why was James picked up for the program. Gradually, the sinister begins to take shape in the form of Ari questioning herself about how exactly the institute managed to keep a lid on the Exchange Program and how no one ever in the past mentioned it.
Ari and James both are socially awkward, and it takes time for them to break the ice. That slow burn development of friendship is also something that I liked about this book, which slowly transformed into romance.
The Time Ball is an event held close to the conclusion of the Exchange Program and the cover, while it wasn't preferred by many readers, is something that accurately defines the story.
There was a Jurassic Park reference and I was kind of expecting that. And how funny it is to read that the male protagonist would have preferred an Emily Dickinson poster, had there been such things in 1903. Maybe I should get one of my favourite author's poster too.
What starts as a sci-fi/fantasy turns into a romance and somewhere in between it falls flat since some main plot points are left unexplored and some relevant questions unanswered. It is an abrupt ending which leaves much to be desired. Even James and Ari's happiness couldn't eclipse the questions that I had. What happened to Ari's mother? What will happen with Marvin now? What exactly was the purpose of time travel? Is what Professor Limerick is doing wrong, unethical somehow? What exactly happens to students of the past when their window of teaching is up, how are they kept shut up? Michael had a strong voice in the entire story but he's nowhere at the end and neither we know what happens with Elizabeth. Some explanations have been provided but some of them are so vague that I couldn't be sure about them.
In the end, all I want to say is that this standalone fiction needs a sequel.
Now, on a lighter note:
Yikes, nothing changes in the next decade too? Oops!
I hope that does happen within the next decade, the world will be a much better place to live in.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.
UPDATE
The author just announced on her Instagram post that there will be a sequel, so I'll be updating my review accordingly later on.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
The Exchange is a YA time travel tale where the Institute at Pendleton in 2030 brings on exchange students from various important timelines so that the students of the present day can learn from them first-hand about their respective histories. But there is something that the Institute is not telling them. How is it that when these exchange students are sent back and no one says anything about their experiences which would surely have found a place in history somewhere?
Review:
This is Ari and James Cooper's story. Also, it is my first read by the author. It starts with a prologue from both their point of views. She's at the Institute in Pendleton, waiting to eavesdrop on the conversation between her father and her professor. The year is 2030 and Professor Limmerick is serious about ousting her from the student exchange program because of her actions. She is currently enrolled in Pendleton High School. In another time in the world, James is a simple farm boy who is in his final year of school at Heppner but he has big dreams. The year is 1903 when he comes to know about the Institute which will take on students for an Exchange Program based on a fair assessment. His 500-word essay on "Why I want to help the future remember the past" sealed the deal for him. But, what the Institute doesn't know is that he has no intention of returning to his past.
The concept is fresh and very interesting. A YA novel involving a student exchange program but with a twist. Because it isn't your usual country to country student exchange, rather it involves the past and future - time travels. But the story is filled with loopholes.
The references to the past brought on a nostalgic quality, what with Ari's father driving a 1956 Chevy pickup. But then again, Marvin hasn't been able to ever do much good by his daughter, what with his loyalty to the Institute even when he felt the loss of her mother so strongly. A loss brought about by the Institute's meddlesome habits. It's said that he's busy in his attempts to try to change the past though it's not revealed whether it was fruitful or not in the end. Also, who knows what was he doing for him to appear so fatigued to Ari. There are some shocking revelations about her parents towards the end of the story, but they remain unexplained.
Most of the story takes place in 2030 only after James reaches there as an exchange student. Due to her past misdemeanours, Ari has to work as a transition guide against her wishes. The work entails helping the new exchange students to settle down in the present. She hates the Institute and everything that it stands for. Having lost a friend earlier to the exchange program, she wants nothing to do with it but her father losing his dear job is what reins her in. She is paired up with James, while her gay and only best friend Michael Allen is paired up with Elizabeth. The story progresses from three POVs - Ari's, James' and Michael's.
The Institute, in the name of working on a time travel student exchange program which wants to preserve history, works in a very hush-hush way. And there is something off about James being an exchange student which he is determined to find out about. He doesn't exactly fit into the criteria of the students that are selected for the program. Another unexplained thing is why was James picked up for the program. Gradually, the sinister begins to take shape in the form of Ari questioning herself about how exactly the institute managed to keep a lid on the Exchange Program and how no one ever in the past mentioned it.
Ari and James both are socially awkward, and it takes time for them to break the ice. That slow burn development of friendship is also something that I liked about this book, which slowly transformed into romance.
She was Cinderella, ready for the ball and he was the farm boy who drove the pumpkin carriage, not the prince.
The Time Ball is an event held close to the conclusion of the Exchange Program and the cover, while it wasn't preferred by many readers, is something that accurately defines the story.
There was a Jurassic Park reference and I was kind of expecting that. And how funny it is to read that the male protagonist would have preferred an Emily Dickinson poster, had there been such things in 1903. Maybe I should get one of my favourite author's poster too.
What starts as a sci-fi/fantasy turns into a romance and somewhere in between it falls flat since some main plot points are left unexplored and some relevant questions unanswered. It is an abrupt ending which leaves much to be desired. Even James and Ari's happiness couldn't eclipse the questions that I had. What happened to Ari's mother? What will happen with Marvin now? What exactly was the purpose of time travel? Is what Professor Limerick is doing wrong, unethical somehow? What exactly happens to students of the past when their window of teaching is up, how are they kept shut up? Michael had a strong voice in the entire story but he's nowhere at the end and neither we know what happens with Elizabeth. Some explanations have been provided but some of them are so vague that I couldn't be sure about them.
In the end, all I want to say is that this standalone fiction needs a sequel.
Now, on a lighter note:
She and James finished the rest of the pizza in silence. The news had moved on to one of those obnoxious political pundit talk shows where everyone talks over each other and loses their temper.
Yikes, nothing changes in the next decade too? Oops!
He’d been just a toddler when his mother had marched for women’s rights in 2017, but it’d had only taken a few years for real change to happen and for most of the old, white, homophobic men to get booted out of power. The only world he had ever known was one of total equality.
I hope that does happen within the next decade, the world will be a much better place to live in.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.
UPDATE
The author just announced on her Instagram post that there will be a sequel, so I'll be updating my review accordingly later on.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
October 10, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. The blurb sounded pretty cool and that cover is just gorgeous. However, despite the story-line showing much promise, it just dragged too much and there were a lot of things that annoyed me, such as the lack of spark between James and Ari.
I just feel like the story could have been so exciting and full of impact and intensity and yet, it wasn't. It came off as bland and dull.
I just feel like the story could have been so exciting and full of impact and intensity and yet, it wasn't. It came off as bland and dull.
June 18, 2019
I'm a fan of Young Adult Time Travel Romance books, so that's what first drew me to the book. I got an early copy in exchange for a review, and am I glad I did. I loved this book. Besides what I've stated it already has, it has a little bit of mystery to it as well, like is there a flaw in the Institute's Exchange program? Or why does female lead Ari naturally hate the program? Is it because of her workaholic father or her deceased mother? (No spoilers here). If you like young adult mysteries, time travel, or romance books, get this one.
June 22, 2019
(English Below) 4 sobre 5
(Gracias a Netgalley por la copia a cambio de una opinión sincera)
Una historia de amor y viajes en el tiempo que me ha gustado mucho. La trama se centra en Ari, James y La Institución, que se dedica a traer al año 2030 estudiantes de otras épocas para aprender de sus vivencias y así no olvidar el pasado. En este caso James es el estudiante que viaja desde 1903 y Ari su guía, encargada de acompañarle y ayudarle en lo necesario durante los meses que dura el intercambio.
Ari es un personaje rebelde, fuerte y con convicciones. No está a favor de los intercambios, pero acepta ser la guía de James para hacerle un favor a su padre y que no lo despidan de La Institución. James está cansado de la vida que lleva y quiere aprovechar esta oportunidad para no volver a la rutina de siempre y aprender cosas nuevas.
Quiero destacar a Michael y Elizabeth, dos personajes secundarios que toman parte importante a lo largo de la historia, contada desde el punto de vista de Ari, James y Michael.
Al romance que va creciendo poco a poco hay que añadir el misterio que rodea a La Institución. ¿Es verdad todo lo que cuentan sobre los viajes en el tiempo y los intercambios? ¿Qué secretos esconden?
Si os gusta este tipo de libros os animo a leerlo. A mí me ha sorprendido para bien y se lee muy rápido.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 stars
(Thanks to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for a sincere opinion)
A story of love and time-travels that I liked a lot. The plot focuses on Ari, James and the Institute, which brings students from other eras to 2030 to learn from their experiences and thus not forget the past. In this case, James is the student who has traveled from 1903 and Ari is his guide, in charge of accompanying him and helping him as needed during the months that the exchange take place.
Ari is a rebellious character, strong and with convictions. She is not in favor of exchanges, but agrees to be James' guide to do his father a favor and that way he won't lose his job at the Institute. James is tired of the life he leads and wants to take this opportunity not to return to the usual routine and learn new things.
I want to highlight Michael and Elizabeth, two secondary characters that take an important part throughout the story, told from the point of view of Ari, James and Michael.
To the romance that is growing little by little I want to add the mystery surrounding the Institute. Is everything they tell about time travel and exchanges true? What secrets do they hide?
If you like this kind of books I encourage you to read it. It has surprised me for good and it's fast to read.
(Gracias a Netgalley por la copia a cambio de una opinión sincera)
Una historia de amor y viajes en el tiempo que me ha gustado mucho. La trama se centra en Ari, James y La Institución, que se dedica a traer al año 2030 estudiantes de otras épocas para aprender de sus vivencias y así no olvidar el pasado. En este caso James es el estudiante que viaja desde 1903 y Ari su guía, encargada de acompañarle y ayudarle en lo necesario durante los meses que dura el intercambio.
Ari es un personaje rebelde, fuerte y con convicciones. No está a favor de los intercambios, pero acepta ser la guía de James para hacerle un favor a su padre y que no lo despidan de La Institución. James está cansado de la vida que lleva y quiere aprovechar esta oportunidad para no volver a la rutina de siempre y aprender cosas nuevas.
Quiero destacar a Michael y Elizabeth, dos personajes secundarios que toman parte importante a lo largo de la historia, contada desde el punto de vista de Ari, James y Michael.
Al romance que va creciendo poco a poco hay que añadir el misterio que rodea a La Institución. ¿Es verdad todo lo que cuentan sobre los viajes en el tiempo y los intercambios? ¿Qué secretos esconden?
Si os gusta este tipo de libros os animo a leerlo. A mí me ha sorprendido para bien y se lee muy rápido.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 stars
(Thanks to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for a sincere opinion)
A story of love and time-travels that I liked a lot. The plot focuses on Ari, James and the Institute, which brings students from other eras to 2030 to learn from their experiences and thus not forget the past. In this case, James is the student who has traveled from 1903 and Ari is his guide, in charge of accompanying him and helping him as needed during the months that the exchange take place.
Ari is a rebellious character, strong and with convictions. She is not in favor of exchanges, but agrees to be James' guide to do his father a favor and that way he won't lose his job at the Institute. James is tired of the life he leads and wants to take this opportunity not to return to the usual routine and learn new things.
I want to highlight Michael and Elizabeth, two secondary characters that take an important part throughout the story, told from the point of view of Ari, James and Michael.
To the romance that is growing little by little I want to add the mystery surrounding the Institute. Is everything they tell about time travel and exchanges true? What secrets do they hide?
If you like this kind of books I encourage you to read it. It has surprised me for good and it's fast to read.
October 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this story but there were a lot of things that bothered me about it.
The first thing I kept thinking throughout the entire story was that the plot didn't really make a lot of sense. The students from the past were supposed to come to the future to teach the modern kids about significant events in their time period; that was the whole premise of the story. The only thing is, there was no teaching. If anything, the past students learned more about the future than the future students learned about the past. The students from the past, called the 'exchanges', just basically followed their host students around from class to class in high school of 2030. They lived with their hosts but again, there was not much teaching and the author never backed up her plot with any official reason for them to be there. The actual story was interesting and the outcome very satisfying but this, to me, was a major plot hole.
Another thing that I questioned was the relationship between the two main characters, James and Ari. They seemed to jump from exchange and host to having feelings for each other without much interaction between them. The transition from meeting to love wasn't shown, just told. Ari was indifferent to the point of rudeness when James first arrived. James was attracted to her but was confused by her attitude. Suddenly, they're working together to solve the mystery of why James was chosen to be sent to 2030. I would've liked to see their feelings develop as they worked together. That's the fun of reading romances but there just wasn't much. The only real indication was Ari's repeated thoughts about how attractive James was.
My last problem with this book was the ending. It was one of those endings that kind of leave you hanging. It was a great ending but you're supposed to assume what happened afterward so there were some questions left unanswered. Since I'm a happy-ending kind of girl, I assumed the best outcome. Some other readers might not be satisfied with this type of ending, though and be irritated that so much was left open.
As I said, I really enjoyed the book, I was just taken out of the story a bit by the above-mentioned snags.
Would I read this author again? Definitely! There was a lot of good in this book and the author's style sucked me in despite my troubles with it.
The first thing I kept thinking throughout the entire story was that the plot didn't really make a lot of sense. The students from the past were supposed to come to the future to teach the modern kids about significant events in their time period; that was the whole premise of the story. The only thing is, there was no teaching. If anything, the past students learned more about the future than the future students learned about the past. The students from the past, called the 'exchanges', just basically followed their host students around from class to class in high school of 2030. They lived with their hosts but again, there was not much teaching and the author never backed up her plot with any official reason for them to be there. The actual story was interesting and the outcome very satisfying but this, to me, was a major plot hole.
Another thing that I questioned was the relationship between the two main characters, James and Ari. They seemed to jump from exchange and host to having feelings for each other without much interaction between them. The transition from meeting to love wasn't shown, just told. Ari was indifferent to the point of rudeness when James first arrived. James was attracted to her but was confused by her attitude. Suddenly, they're working together to solve the mystery of why James was chosen to be sent to 2030. I would've liked to see their feelings develop as they worked together. That's the fun of reading romances but there just wasn't much. The only real indication was Ari's repeated thoughts about how attractive James was.
My last problem with this book was the ending. It was one of those endings that kind of leave you hanging. It was a great ending but you're supposed to assume what happened afterward so there were some questions left unanswered. Since I'm a happy-ending kind of girl, I assumed the best outcome. Some other readers might not be satisfied with this type of ending, though and be irritated that so much was left open.
As I said, I really enjoyed the book, I was just taken out of the story a bit by the above-mentioned snags.
Would I read this author again? Definitely! There was a lot of good in this book and the author's style sucked me in despite my troubles with it.
September 11, 2018
I received an ARC copy of The Exchange- this is my honest review! As always, I'll keep it spoiler-free.
First off, I *love* the author’s writing style. She keeps the lines clean and tight, giving just enough detail to every scene, without weighing them down. The stories feel real and relatable!
The Exchange was easy to follow; sometimes when you have changing point of view, it gets messy. Not so here! I like that each chapter is clearly labeled, so that you always know what perspective to expect. This also leads into the characters themselves– I really dig the differing tones between them. The author did a great job of both Ari and James relating to their respective time periods, as well as keeping the story grounded. It’s more motive-and-development driven than action-driven, which is a fine change of pace for me!
What a clever take on the exchange student idea! We always think of exchange students in a geographic sense- I’ve never even considered it in a time sense. This concept also allowed me to better understand the spark between the characters– after all, they don’t have a whole lot of time!
The ending of the book really ramps up for a sequel- I’m curious to know what happens next.
Overall, I give The Exchange 4 out of 5 stars- it’s a fun read with a few tropes flipped on their heads. I really enjoyed the concept of the Institute and time travelling, especially with the “student” aspect. I like how… realistic the novel is? Like, usually when you have a Sci-Fi element like time travel, everything gets spatial and far out and sometimes hard to follow. This one takes the idea, plants it between a Taco Bell and an old Chevy pickup, and lets it go about its business.
First off, I *love* the author’s writing style. She keeps the lines clean and tight, giving just enough detail to every scene, without weighing them down. The stories feel real and relatable!
The Exchange was easy to follow; sometimes when you have changing point of view, it gets messy. Not so here! I like that each chapter is clearly labeled, so that you always know what perspective to expect. This also leads into the characters themselves– I really dig the differing tones between them. The author did a great job of both Ari and James relating to their respective time periods, as well as keeping the story grounded. It’s more motive-and-development driven than action-driven, which is a fine change of pace for me!
What a clever take on the exchange student idea! We always think of exchange students in a geographic sense- I’ve never even considered it in a time sense. This concept also allowed me to better understand the spark between the characters– after all, they don’t have a whole lot of time!
The ending of the book really ramps up for a sequel- I’m curious to know what happens next.
Overall, I give The Exchange 4 out of 5 stars- it’s a fun read with a few tropes flipped on their heads. I really enjoyed the concept of the Institute and time travelling, especially with the “student” aspect. I like how… realistic the novel is? Like, usually when you have a Sci-Fi element like time travel, everything gets spatial and far out and sometimes hard to follow. This one takes the idea, plants it between a Taco Bell and an old Chevy pickup, and lets it go about its business.
September 18, 2018
First of all, thanks to the author for sending me an ARC to read and review!
This is definitely an interesting concept. There is an exchange where people from the past can go to the future for three months so that later generations can learn from history. Ari isn't such a fan of The Exchange and it's gotten her in trouble quite a few times. After one last mistake, she has to help out. She is there to help James who is more than happy to head to the future!
That's when things get tricky and aren't what they seem. The Exhange really got me thinking, what would I do if I was sent to the future? Or how would I feel if I met someone from the past? Changing history isn't supposed to be possible, but what if it was?
Ari was a character who I thought developed a lot in this book. As I was reading, I definitely understood her not liking The Exchange.
James was such a fun character as well. I love seeing him experiencing things for the first time! He definitely had a lot of hard choices to make. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
That ending left me wanting more, because near the end there are quite a few twists I did not see coming. The author created a brand new world that really kept me interested and wanting more. The Exchange really left me thinking of how something like that could change the world!
The only reason why this didn't get five starts is I would've liked more background on her best friend and maybe more interaction. I also think a lot of the action took plae at the very end, I think it would've been interesting seeing them try and figure out the puzzle a bit sooner, so that we could've gotten more time with that.
All in all an amazing book though and I can't wait to read more in this world!
This is definitely an interesting concept. There is an exchange where people from the past can go to the future for three months so that later generations can learn from history. Ari isn't such a fan of The Exchange and it's gotten her in trouble quite a few times. After one last mistake, she has to help out. She is there to help James who is more than happy to head to the future!
That's when things get tricky and aren't what they seem. The Exhange really got me thinking, what would I do if I was sent to the future? Or how would I feel if I met someone from the past? Changing history isn't supposed to be possible, but what if it was?
Ari was a character who I thought developed a lot in this book. As I was reading, I definitely understood her not liking The Exchange.
James was such a fun character as well. I love seeing him experiencing things for the first time! He definitely had a lot of hard choices to make. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
That ending left me wanting more, because near the end there are quite a few twists I did not see coming. The author created a brand new world that really kept me interested and wanting more. The Exchange really left me thinking of how something like that could change the world!
The only reason why this didn't get five starts is I would've liked more background on her best friend and maybe more interaction. I also think a lot of the action took plae at the very end, I think it would've been interesting seeing them try and figure out the puzzle a bit sooner, so that we could've gotten more time with that.
All in all an amazing book though and I can't wait to read more in this world!
August 1, 2019
publisher synopsis: Ari hates the Institute and everything it stands for. But to save her father's job, she's agreed to help host a time traveling exchange student. She only has to behave for 3 months while he's here, then off he goes back to 1903 where he came from. Easy peasy, right? There's just one problem. The more time Ari spends with James the harder she falls for him.
This book had a really good pace, and was really interesting to read. I really liked the main characters, but I wish we had a little more insight of their progressing relationship. Just little transactions of time would be nice. That said, this book made you feel the progression of feelings, even though you weren't privy to it. Lorson did a wonderful job of including you and making you feel like a part of everything and wanting a great turn out for the characters.
I really hope there is a sequel to this book as there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
This book had a really good pace, and was really interesting to read. I really liked the main characters, but I wish we had a little more insight of their progressing relationship. Just little transactions of time would be nice. That said, this book made you feel the progression of feelings, even though you weren't privy to it. Lorson did a wonderful job of including you and making you feel like a part of everything and wanting a great turn out for the characters.
I really hope there is a sequel to this book as there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
September 9, 2018
The Exchange is wonderful twist on the whole exchange student idea. Set in 2030 these exchange students come from the past. Ari was forced into hosing a student even though she hates the whole exchange program. However she connects with her exchange James very quickly. They both how hard its going to be when he returns to his time in three months. The Exchange is filled with wonderful characters and smart writing. This book could have easily been confusing or over stuffed but it was perfect. I loved Ari. She was strong and snaky. Also ALL HAIL PATRICK. He was a total scene stealer! I'm really hoping theres a sequel because that ENDING! not nice... seriously!
September 7, 2018
I was lucky enough the get a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED it! I love books that have a science fiction dystopian kind of vibe and this definitely gave me that. I didn’t want to put it down. I think my only.. not criticism but more of disappointment was that all of the action took place in about 3 or 4 pages at the very end. There’s such a build up throughout the book and it just ended so quickly and abruptly. I realllyyy hope there’s a sequel because I NEED to know what happened ❤️
September 16, 2018
Ah The Exchange. A book about time travel and how it's supposed to teach teenagers about the exchanges (the one time traveling) about their life and the disaster that happens in their life. I've never heard of of M.F. Lorson before this book. My book friend told me about reading an ARC of a book that comes out soon. Okay. I read the description and I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. I loved hearing about the Institute and their secrets. I loved James. The sweet farm boy from 1903. BTW can I travel to 1903 to meet my farm boy? Well Ari and James story intertwine when Ari has to be James guide while he's in 2030. Oh the drama. Oh the friendships. Oh the sweet innocent young adult romance. Although this is my first book by M.F. Lorson, it will not be my last. Loved it!
July 2, 2019
I wanted to like this book...but wow was it bad. There will be spoilers so read on at your own risk.
Again, there will be spoilers.
The beginning had some promise, and I didn't mind the concept. I'll get on board with whatever you like if you write it well enough. But alas, the writing was weak and the characters were flat. They had potential, but that's about as far as it could get. The easy way she all of a sudden just couldn't help falling for him because of his good looks was shallow and just annoying. The biggest thing was the ending, wow was it bad. The Institute was this horrible place and needed to be stopped and everything, yet, we don't see any resolution there, just that she used a "pod" to go back in time....sorry, can't recommend on any of it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
Again, there will be spoilers.
The beginning had some promise, and I didn't mind the concept. I'll get on board with whatever you like if you write it well enough. But alas, the writing was weak and the characters were flat. They had potential, but that's about as far as it could get. The easy way she all of a sudden just couldn't help falling for him because of his good looks was shallow and just annoying. The biggest thing was the ending, wow was it bad. The Institute was this horrible place and needed to be stopped and everything, yet, we don't see any resolution there, just that she used a "pod" to go back in time....sorry, can't recommend on any of it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I expected to love "The Exchange," given its intriguing premise; though I did enjoy it, it didn't quite live up to its potential as a story.
The idea of time-traveling exchange students was fascinating and opened up a lot of possibilities that were largely cashed in on. The mystery aspect was fun, and I really loved how the truly far-fetched parts of the book - time-traveling exchange students - were integrated into the story so seamlessly. It wasn't difficult to suspend disbelief. However, it took well over half of the book for the plot to truly get going, and even when it did, there were quite a few loose ends that never got resolved. The mystery-ish aspect was really fun, and it COULD have helped the book overcome its weaker first half, but it left a little too much unresolved. For example *SPOILER*: why do we never find out if the Exchanges are actually being sent to their deaths? The kids talk about it as if it's fact, but we never actually learn whether they're right or not. And what's up with the mom subplot? It's thrown in for a few pages at the end of the book and helps to give credence to the kids' theory, but is sort of never touched on again despite the deep ramifications it should have had for the characters. There are also oft-repeated references to a character named Americus, someone who apparently had a huge impact on protagonist Ari's life, but whose identity is never fully explained. We're told that she was an Exchange from 1940s Hawaii, but nothing else. WHO WAS SHE??? And what the heck happened to her that turned Ari against the Institute? Whatever happened to Americus (and why is her name Americus? That doesn't seem period-accurate) is supposed to have shaped Ari's outlook and views in the future, so I don't understand why she was so glossed-over. *END SPOILER* Those loose ends, and the vague ending, kind of killed the momentum of what would otherwise have been a gripping finale. Now, if this book has a planned sequel, that's another thing entirely - that would make a lot of sense given the vague ending and plot holes. But since there isn't any mention of one anywhere online, I'm going to assume it's a standalone.
I wasn't hugely fond of the writing style either; it lacked polish and seemed, in places, unedited. Granted, this could very well be a consequence of the fact that it's an ARC, but the style of this didn't work for me. I'm probably just overly picky about this, but the punctuation was often off, and the sentence structure was...clunky at best. That, more than the plot holes, was what bothered me most about "The Exchange."
I know what I've said thus far sounds very harsh, and believe me, I wanted to edit it down to make it less so, but found that largely impossible. I enjoyed this book quite a bit - I really did! - but it had a lot of writing flaws that I found it hard to overlook. The good news? A lot of what I mentioned could be revised by the time the book is released, since nothing I mentioned would be impossible to correct. I hope it is, because "The Exchange" is a fun distraction with a fascinating premise and all the potential in the world were some minor issues to be addressed.I wasn't hugely fond of the writing style either; it lacked polish and seemed, in places, unedited. Granted, this could very well be a consequence of the fact that it's an ARC, but the style of this didn't work for me. I'm probably just overly picky about this, but the punctuation was often off, and the sentence structure was...clunky at best. That, more than the plot holes, was what bothered me most about "The Exchange."
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I expected to love "The Exchange," given its intriguing premise; though I did enjoy it, it didn't quite live up to its potential as a story.
The idea of time-traveling exchange students was fascinating and opened up a lot of possibilities that were largely cashed in on. The mystery aspect was fun, and I really loved how the truly far-fetched parts of the book - time-traveling exchange students - were integrated into the story so seamlessly. It wasn't difficult to suspend disbelief. However, it took well over half of the book for the plot to truly get going, and even when it did, there were quite a few loose ends that never got resolved. The mystery-ish aspect was really fun, and it COULD have helped the book overcome its weaker first half, but it left a little too much unresolved. For example *SPOILER*: why do we never find out if the Exchanges are actually being sent to their deaths? The kids talk about it as if it's fact, but we never actually learn whether they're right or not. And what's up with the mom subplot? It's thrown in for a few pages at the end of the book and helps to give credence to the kids' theory, but is sort of never touched on again despite the deep ramifications it should have had for the characters. There are also oft-repeated references to a character named Americus, someone who apparently had a huge impact on protagonist Ari's life, but whose identity is never fully explained. We're told that she was an Exchange from 1940s Hawaii, but nothing else. WHO WAS SHE??? And what the heck happened to her that turned Ari against the Institute? Whatever happened to Americus (and why is her name Americus? That doesn't seem period-accurate) is supposed to have shaped Ari's outlook and views in the future, so I don't understand why she was so glossed-over. *END SPOILER* Those loose ends, and the vague ending, kind of killed the momentum of what would otherwise have been a gripping finale. Now, if this book has a planned sequel, that's another thing entirely - that would make a lot of sense given the vague ending and plot holes. But since there isn't any mention of one anywhere online, I'm going to assume it's a standalone.
I wasn't hugely fond of the writing style either; it lacked polish and seemed, in places, unedited. Granted, this could very well be a consequence of the fact that it's an ARC, but the style of this didn't work for me. I'm probably just overly picky about this, but the punctuation was often off, and the sentence structure was...clunky at best. That, more than the plot holes, was what bothered me most about "The Exchange."
I know what I've said thus far sounds very harsh, and believe me, I wanted to edit it down to make it less so, but found that largely impossible. I enjoyed this book quite a bit - I really did! - but it had a lot of writing flaws that I found it hard to overlook. The good news? A lot of what I mentioned could be revised by the time the book is released, since nothing I mentioned would be impossible to correct. I hope it is, because "The Exchange" is a fun distraction with a fascinating premise and all the potential in the world were some minor issues to be addressed.I wasn't hugely fond of the writing style either; it lacked polish and seemed, in places, unedited. Granted, this could very well be a consequence of the fact that it's an ARC, but the style of this didn't work for me. I'm probably just overly picky about this, but the punctuation was often off, and the sentence structure was...clunky at best. That, more than the plot holes, was what bothered me most about "The Exchange."
October 4, 2018
*I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review.
In 2030, Ari attends an institute that holds an exchange program… for time travelers. Ari is constantly getting in trouble due to her hate of the program. To save her father’s job after another incident, she unwillingly agrees to be a guide for one of the exchanges.
In 1903, James has a very dull farm life. He wants nothing more than to go to school and not have to attend the farm with his parents. When he hears of the exchange program, he writes an essay explaining why he would like to participate, and is given the chance to go to the future for three months. However, he has no intention of ever returning.
Despite her hate for the program and the Institute, Ari warms up to James. As they become friends and begin trusting each other more, they start discovering secrets about the program. Dangerous secrets. Life-changing secrets. Together, they must work to uncover the truth and right some horrible wrongs.
I really enjoyed this book. I was going into it wanting just some light, fluffy romance story, and I thought that’s what I was getting. It was so much more than that! It was intense and I had so much anxiety toward the end! It really surprised me and I loved it even more for that.
The characters were varied and interesting. The writing was well done. The only thing I didn’t like was how it ended. Well, that’s not true. Without giving too much away. I loved the ending, but I didn’t feel like there was enough closure on some of the things brought up throughout the book. If there is going to be a sequel, then the ending is perfect. I just don’t know if there will be or not. Again, it’s hard to explain without spoilers.
This book was good though. It’s fun and kept my attention very well. I would recommend it if you’re interested in time travel, different cultures, and/or romance.
**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**
Alright, so an explanation for the ending. Basically, they discovered that all of the Exchanges are people from times of some sort of disaster, so right when they return, they die and can’t tell anyone about time travel. Ari helps him go back in order to save his family, but gets stuck there.
Throughout a lot of the book they question whether or not they can trust her dad and ask for his help. Well, at the very end, we see Ari show up in 1903 to find James. The epilogue is a letter to her father on where she’ll be so he can bring them both back.
We never find out if they return, though. I assume her father would, but what happens then? What about the Institute? What about the other Exchanges? Does she tell her father everything, including the truth about her mother’s death? Do they take down the Institute? Does James get to stay in 2030? Does he have to hide?
I NEED ANSWERS.
In 2030, Ari attends an institute that holds an exchange program… for time travelers. Ari is constantly getting in trouble due to her hate of the program. To save her father’s job after another incident, she unwillingly agrees to be a guide for one of the exchanges.
In 1903, James has a very dull farm life. He wants nothing more than to go to school and not have to attend the farm with his parents. When he hears of the exchange program, he writes an essay explaining why he would like to participate, and is given the chance to go to the future for three months. However, he has no intention of ever returning.
Despite her hate for the program and the Institute, Ari warms up to James. As they become friends and begin trusting each other more, they start discovering secrets about the program. Dangerous secrets. Life-changing secrets. Together, they must work to uncover the truth and right some horrible wrongs.
I really enjoyed this book. I was going into it wanting just some light, fluffy romance story, and I thought that’s what I was getting. It was so much more than that! It was intense and I had so much anxiety toward the end! It really surprised me and I loved it even more for that.
The characters were varied and interesting. The writing was well done. The only thing I didn’t like was how it ended. Well, that’s not true. Without giving too much away. I loved the ending, but I didn’t feel like there was enough closure on some of the things brought up throughout the book. If there is going to be a sequel, then the ending is perfect. I just don’t know if there will be or not. Again, it’s hard to explain without spoilers.
This book was good though. It’s fun and kept my attention very well. I would recommend it if you’re interested in time travel, different cultures, and/or romance.
**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**
Alright, so an explanation for the ending. Basically, they discovered that all of the Exchanges are people from times of some sort of disaster, so right when they return, they die and can’t tell anyone about time travel. Ari helps him go back in order to save his family, but gets stuck there.
Throughout a lot of the book they question whether or not they can trust her dad and ask for his help. Well, at the very end, we see Ari show up in 1903 to find James. The epilogue is a letter to her father on where she’ll be so he can bring them both back.
We never find out if they return, though. I assume her father would, but what happens then? What about the Institute? What about the other Exchanges? Does she tell her father everything, including the truth about her mother’s death? Do they take down the Institute? Does James get to stay in 2030? Does he have to hide?
I NEED ANSWERS.
February 1, 2020
Read more of my reviews at the book blog life
I loved the concept of this book, I mean who wouldn’t want to read about an exchange program that involved time travel. I really wanted this book to blow me away but unfortunately I wanted more from both the plot and the characters. I think The Exchange would have scored more stars if there had been more of resolution at the end and I didn’t have as many questions as I did when I got to the end. I’m not sure whether there is going to be another book in the series, but I think there should be, I think there is so much more that could happen to these characters, and I would be really interested in finding out what happens next.
Overall I really enjoyed the characters that were in The Exchange. I do wish that they were a little more developed, I think that some of them were extremely superficial. Their backstories were never really delved into and I don’t think we got to see the big picture for any of them, plus I really struggled with the character’s voice. I kinda wished that they had been more distinct especially with James and the fact that he was from a completely wrong time. I felt like there was a trick missed with the fact that he spoke like most off the other people within this story.
I think the best bit of The Exchange was the mystery element that seemed to present itself and how the Institute really did business. I would have loved for this to have taken up more of the story than some of the other filler like content. I loved the concept of exchanges, and I think there was a lot of potential for it to go a lot further than what it does. I do hope there’s going to be another book so that I can find out what happens next.
I think the bad thing about The Exchange is how rushed the storyline feels and how the ending just feels a little unfinished. I also think the way that the story twists and turns could be better, we never really end up finding out what was happening and why things happened. I struggled with the voices of the different characters and I wanted for there to be more of a reason for the exchanges to be happening because I actually couldn’t see the reason for the time travel.
I would recommend The Exchange especially if there is another book planned because I think that most of the problems I had with this book would be solved by having another story to learn more about the characters and the world they are.
Read more of my reviews at the book blog life
I loved the concept of this book, I mean who wouldn’t want to read about an exchange program that involved time travel. I really wanted this book to blow me away but unfortunately I wanted more from both the plot and the characters. I think The Exchange would have scored more stars if there had been more of resolution at the end and I didn’t have as many questions as I did when I got to the end. I’m not sure whether there is going to be another book in the series, but I think there should be, I think there is so much more that could happen to these characters, and I would be really interested in finding out what happens next.
Overall I really enjoyed the characters that were in The Exchange. I do wish that they were a little more developed, I think that some of them were extremely superficial. Their backstories were never really delved into and I don’t think we got to see the big picture for any of them, plus I really struggled with the character’s voice. I kinda wished that they had been more distinct especially with James and the fact that he was from a completely wrong time. I felt like there was a trick missed with the fact that he spoke like most off the other people within this story.
I think the best bit of The Exchange was the mystery element that seemed to present itself and how the Institute really did business. I would have loved for this to have taken up more of the story than some of the other filler like content. I loved the concept of exchanges, and I think there was a lot of potential for it to go a lot further than what it does. I do hope there’s going to be another book so that I can find out what happens next.
I think the bad thing about The Exchange is how rushed the storyline feels and how the ending just feels a little unfinished. I also think the way that the story twists and turns could be better, we never really end up finding out what was happening and why things happened. I struggled with the voices of the different characters and I wanted for there to be more of a reason for the exchanges to be happening because I actually couldn’t see the reason for the time travel.
I would recommend The Exchange especially if there is another book planned because I think that most of the problems I had with this book would be solved by having another story to learn more about the characters and the world they are.
Read more of my reviews at the book blog life
September 21, 2018
The Exchange puts a unique spin on the student exchange concept: instead of getting students from other countries, they get them from other time periods. The story begins with Ari of 2030 Pendleton, Oregon. She gets in trouble yet again at the Institute, the organization responsible for the time travel exchange program, and is forced to volunteer as a transition guide.
Ari's exchange is James, a farm boy from 1903 Heppner, Oregon. She begins to fall for him and his old-fashioned manners despite knowing that he'll be going back to his time after the exchange trip is done. In an effort to support Ari, her best friend Michael also becomes a guide and gets his own exchange, social rights activist Elizabeth from 1968 Washington, D.C. Together, the four of them dig deeper into the Institute's ulterior motives for the time travel exchange program and discover what really happens to the exchanges when they go back to their time.
Since this book is set in 2030, I had thought there would be a lot of technological advances and futuristic situations, but it seems to focus more on the past rather than predict the future. For example, Ari's dad Marvin drives a 1956 Chevy pickup and Ari uses microfiche at a library for research. There is also a fair amount of 1990s/2000s pop culture references, including character descriptions: "Appearance-wise, James could have been the reincarnation of Paul Walker" and "Jerry, an overweight monitor [...] was a dead ringer for the scientist who screwed everything up in Marvin's favorite old movie, Jurassic Park." For a fantasy book set in the future, it's got lots of nostalgic throwbacks to appeal to contemporary readers as well.
The Exchange is an interesting story for fans of the young adult fantasy romance genre. It keeps the details of the time travel mechanics to a minimal, so readers who are new to time travel stories can easily jump into this book. It also ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so here's hoping there will be a sequel.
Ari's exchange is James, a farm boy from 1903 Heppner, Oregon. She begins to fall for him and his old-fashioned manners despite knowing that he'll be going back to his time after the exchange trip is done. In an effort to support Ari, her best friend Michael also becomes a guide and gets his own exchange, social rights activist Elizabeth from 1968 Washington, D.C. Together, the four of them dig deeper into the Institute's ulterior motives for the time travel exchange program and discover what really happens to the exchanges when they go back to their time.
Since this book is set in 2030, I had thought there would be a lot of technological advances and futuristic situations, but it seems to focus more on the past rather than predict the future. For example, Ari's dad Marvin drives a 1956 Chevy pickup and Ari uses microfiche at a library for research. There is also a fair amount of 1990s/2000s pop culture references, including character descriptions: "Appearance-wise, James could have been the reincarnation of Paul Walker" and "Jerry, an overweight monitor [...] was a dead ringer for the scientist who screwed everything up in Marvin's favorite old movie, Jurassic Park." For a fantasy book set in the future, it's got lots of nostalgic throwbacks to appeal to contemporary readers as well.
The Exchange is an interesting story for fans of the young adult fantasy romance genre. It keeps the details of the time travel mechanics to a minimal, so readers who are new to time travel stories can easily jump into this book. It also ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so here's hoping there will be a sequel.
April 22, 2019
The cover got me to check this one out, it's GORGEOUS. And to be fair, the story is interesting too. Set just far enough in the future that some implausible things can happen (2030), but not so far in the future people aren't relatable, The Exchange is about time travel exchanges. People from previous times come forward to the year 2030 to live for 3 months in the idea that they can explain how life was where and when they lived. To help them integrate into the world while they're visiting, the Institute chooses teenagers, who go to high school with their guides. Then they're sent back to the same day they left with a memory wipe.
Ari hates the Institute, which created the time travel option. She has been known to screw with things in the past, to the point her father's job is in jeopardy. To help him out, she agrees to become a Guide: a teen that helps a time traveler adjust to life in 2030. She's assigned James, who's from Heppner, Oregon, in the year 1903. And against her better judgment, she starts falling for him, and he for her.
The book is set in Pendleston, Oregon, which isn't all that far from Heppner. The fact James is that close to the Institute is unusual, along with the fact he's from such a small place. A member of the Institute lets it slip that James being chosen is unusual, which starts some wheels turning in Ari's head.
The rest of the book moves along at a decent pace, and I really enjoyed it. Ari's best friend is a pink haired, gay teen named Michael who's fun in his own right. He's also a Guide, and his charge, whose name escapes me at the moment, is an activist from the racially charged 1960s. She's smart and takes no crap, and gets involved in wonder why the Institute works as it does.
Overall, a fun read that I devoured in a few days, with a gorgeous cover. The ending isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it does leave it open enough for a sequel.
Ari hates the Institute, which created the time travel option. She has been known to screw with things in the past, to the point her father's job is in jeopardy. To help him out, she agrees to become a Guide: a teen that helps a time traveler adjust to life in 2030. She's assigned James, who's from Heppner, Oregon, in the year 1903. And against her better judgment, she starts falling for him, and he for her.
The book is set in Pendleston, Oregon, which isn't all that far from Heppner. The fact James is that close to the Institute is unusual, along with the fact he's from such a small place. A member of the Institute lets it slip that James being chosen is unusual, which starts some wheels turning in Ari's head.
The rest of the book moves along at a decent pace, and I really enjoyed it. Ari's best friend is a pink haired, gay teen named Michael who's fun in his own right. He's also a Guide, and his charge, whose name escapes me at the moment, is an activist from the racially charged 1960s. She's smart and takes no crap, and gets involved in wonder why the Institute works as it does.
Overall, a fun read that I devoured in a few days, with a gorgeous cover. The ending isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it does leave it open enough for a sequel.
September 2, 2019
The first thing I really liked about this book was the characters. They all felt like real teenagers and I could picture all of them from the great descriptions that Lorson gave. The settings of museums and libraries in their small town were also well described. My favourite aspect of the book was the relationship between the protagonist and her father, which was extremely realistic and developed in an interesting way.
Unfortunately, other aspects of the book didn't gel so well.. The romance felt very forced; there was no banter or chemistry between Ari and her love interest, James, although I did think they were both good characters on their own.
The worst thing for me was that the author made so much of the mystery element of the story, only to leave everything unresolved. I read the last page no wiser about why the institute was so evil, why adults had been dumped from the exchange in favour of students, and the whole explanation of what happened to Ari's mother just didn't make sense. I wanted to know the shadowy villain's motivations, but nothing was explained or wrapped up at the end.
I would definitely read the sequel, as I was interested in the story, but mostly, I'm still dying to know if there are actual solutions to all of the mysteries in this novel! If more attention was paid to solving them, this book would be a five star read.
Unfortunately, other aspects of the book didn't gel so well.. The romance felt very forced; there was no banter or chemistry between Ari and her love interest, James, although I did think they were both good characters on their own.
The worst thing for me was that the author made so much of the mystery element of the story, only to leave everything unresolved. I read the last page no wiser about why the institute was so evil, why adults had been dumped from the exchange in favour of students, and the whole explanation of what happened to Ari's mother just didn't make sense. I wanted to know the shadowy villain's motivations, but nothing was explained or wrapped up at the end.
I would definitely read the sequel, as I was interested in the story, but mostly, I'm still dying to know if there are actual solutions to all of the mysteries in this novel! If more attention was paid to solving them, this book would be a five star read.
September 14, 2019
This is one reason M. F. Lorson's work in The Exchange feels so ageless and era-hopping as you would expect a time travel novel to be.
As the novel opens, we learn that time travel is already a pursued action, it became a kind of part of the familiarity in each of their lives.
There are three narrators, one of them, Michael who's young and smooth plotting, second of them Jamie, winningly have a sense of free will and determinism, and thirdly Ari, she's much more balanced and complexed character than the others. The most compelling portraits in this book are ones where the origin of any event might lie in the past of their stories.
Many of which they explore the consequences of this kind of time travel.
This book is genuinely magnetizing, I am such a fan of time traveling in books, especially when it’s done well. All these young people caught up in a sick lie that everyone half-knows but can't look at directly. Especially when they are deeply involved in different angles. That utterly has changed/or will change their lives, and in this sense, life-altering and devastating if they don't do something about it.
But by the end, I found myself anxious over the simple and trustful relationship between the three of them, facing their greatest fears among other things together.
As the novel opens, we learn that time travel is already a pursued action, it became a kind of part of the familiarity in each of their lives.
There are three narrators, one of them, Michael who's young and smooth plotting, second of them Jamie, winningly have a sense of free will and determinism, and thirdly Ari, she's much more balanced and complexed character than the others. The most compelling portraits in this book are ones where the origin of any event might lie in the past of their stories.
Many of which they explore the consequences of this kind of time travel.
This book is genuinely magnetizing, I am such a fan of time traveling in books, especially when it’s done well. All these young people caught up in a sick lie that everyone half-knows but can't look at directly. Especially when they are deeply involved in different angles. That utterly has changed/or will change their lives, and in this sense, life-altering and devastating if they don't do something about it.
But by the end, I found myself anxious over the simple and trustful relationship between the three of them, facing their greatest fears among other things together.
February 3, 2020
Individuals are brought from the past (for 3 months) to the year 2030 with the intent that those in the future can learn from them and their real-life experiences. They are told after 3 months they will be returned to their own time and their memories wiped clean. It will be as though they never left their own time. But what if they aren't being told the full truth?
Ari is the daughter of one of the workers at this institute. She despises the program and everything it stands for. After losing her mother to a tragic accident and many run-ins with security at the institute, it is surprising when she is volunteered to host one of the exchanges. What ensues is a race to find out what is really happening and what she is willing to do to fix what is broken.
This is a very interesting concept. I never fully bought into it though. The romance felt forced, there seemed to be a lot of inconsistencies, and the relationships built were much too fast to be believable for me. I just don't see how this program could be seen as desirable, I guess. That made it hard for me to fully immerse and believe the story. It was just an ok read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest review.
Ari is the daughter of one of the workers at this institute. She despises the program and everything it stands for. After losing her mother to a tragic accident and many run-ins with security at the institute, it is surprising when she is volunteered to host one of the exchanges. What ensues is a race to find out what is really happening and what she is willing to do to fix what is broken.
This is a very interesting concept. I never fully bought into it though. The romance felt forced, there seemed to be a lot of inconsistencies, and the relationships built were much too fast to be believable for me. I just don't see how this program could be seen as desirable, I guess. That made it hard for me to fully immerse and believe the story. It was just an ok read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest review.
July 5, 2019
*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars
The plot of this book was the major stand out. The concept of time travel presented in the book was interesting and like nothing I've read before. I also found the motives behind the way The Institute operates and their selection of candidates for time travel to be intriguing. I hope there is a sequel so that more of the operation and motives of the Institute can be revealed. While many questions are answered in this book, there are many questions raised towards the end of the book that are never answered.
In terms of the characters, I found that they were underdeveloped and there was more of a focus on the plot. I think only having Ari's and James' point of view would have helped with this instead of also including Patrick's point of view. I also thought that the relationship between Ari and Patrick was forced as they didn't seem to interact much before they started liking each other; the relationship appeared to be mostly based on physical attraction.
Overall, this was an interesting read that had a great plot but needed some more character development.
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars
The plot of this book was the major stand out. The concept of time travel presented in the book was interesting and like nothing I've read before. I also found the motives behind the way The Institute operates and their selection of candidates for time travel to be intriguing. I hope there is a sequel so that more of the operation and motives of the Institute can be revealed. While many questions are answered in this book, there are many questions raised towards the end of the book that are never answered.
In terms of the characters, I found that they were underdeveloped and there was more of a focus on the plot. I think only having Ari's and James' point of view would have helped with this instead of also including Patrick's point of view. I also thought that the relationship between Ari and Patrick was forced as they didn't seem to interact much before they started liking each other; the relationship appeared to be mostly based on physical attraction.
Overall, this was an interesting read that had a great plot but needed some more character development.
July 5, 2019
I love this book so much! I've been loving the idea of two people from different time periods falling in love lately. I'm not going to lie, I would have loved James to like Michael.
This book is so short but it is also so well-written; I usually don't expect short books to be well constructed, but this one really is! It was the right length in my opinion.
One thing I didn't like though is how they didn't like Elizabeth for reasons I fail to understand. She is a black woman from the 1960s, of course she is going to be the way she is!!! I loved that about her and hated how it was portrayed as a bad thing in the book from Michael, especially. (although he did seem to learn towards the ending)
Also another thing I did not understand is how the mom was pregnant in 2016 and the main character in 17/18 in 2030? A simple mistake to correct is my guess. Or maybe it is my mistake.
The cover is 5/5 in my opinion, it definitely campured my attention and made me want to read this book.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves time travel!
This book is so short but it is also so well-written; I usually don't expect short books to be well constructed, but this one really is! It was the right length in my opinion.
One thing I didn't like though is how they didn't like Elizabeth for reasons I fail to understand. She is a black woman from the 1960s, of course she is going to be the way she is!!! I loved that about her and hated how it was portrayed as a bad thing in the book from Michael, especially. (although he did seem to learn towards the ending)
Also another thing I did not understand is how the mom was pregnant in 2016 and the main character in 17/18 in 2030? A simple mistake to correct is my guess. Or maybe it is my mistake.
The cover is 5/5 in my opinion, it definitely campured my attention and made me want to read this book.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves time travel!
October 26, 2019
"James wasn't so sure he loved everything about the future. There were definite drawbacks. People were less connected, people rushed through their day, their meals, their relationships, but they also had the free will to do all of that."
-M.F. Lorson, The Exchange
2.5🌟/5
I received this e-book from Netgalley.
This book is mainly a romantic one, where time travel is involved.
The main protagonists are: James , who comes from Heppner 1903 and gets the chance to go to the future and experience a travel exchange, while Ari, comes from Pendleton 2030 and hates anything that has to do with the Institute, a time travel organization which her own father works for.
The Exchange is one of those books you read when you are in a reading slump, a fast-paced and simple one. However, unfortunately there are many questions which in my opinion are left unanswered or given very little response to.
It's a forgettable story, but nice nonetheless.
-M.F. Lorson, The Exchange
2.5🌟/5
I received this e-book from Netgalley.
This book is mainly a romantic one, where time travel is involved.
The main protagonists are: James , who comes from Heppner 1903 and gets the chance to go to the future and experience a travel exchange, while Ari, comes from Pendleton 2030 and hates anything that has to do with the Institute, a time travel organization which her own father works for.
The Exchange is one of those books you read when you are in a reading slump, a fast-paced and simple one. However, unfortunately there are many questions which in my opinion are left unanswered or given very little response to.
It's a forgettable story, but nice nonetheless.
September 22, 2018
**Disclaimer – I received an ARC copy via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my review in any way.**
Full Review: charmedbookhavenreviews.wordpress.com...
Ari is paired up with James and their connection is immediate and continues to develop through the story. James does not want to go back to his time due to his current placement of slaving away on his family farm. Ari begins not to want him to go back because of her attraction to him. Soon, them along with Ari’s best friend Michael and his exchange student Elizabeth go on the hunt of unraveling the mystery of The Institute’s hidden agenda concerning the exchange students.
This book is nothing short of brilliant! It’s a short, yet enticing ride. The action is well balanced with the other events in the book, uh, I could not get enough of it! For a time traveling, YA novel, you won’t be disappointed!
Full Review: charmedbookhavenreviews.wordpress.com...
Ari is paired up with James and their connection is immediate and continues to develop through the story. James does not want to go back to his time due to his current placement of slaving away on his family farm. Ari begins not to want him to go back because of her attraction to him. Soon, them along with Ari’s best friend Michael and his exchange student Elizabeth go on the hunt of unraveling the mystery of The Institute’s hidden agenda concerning the exchange students.
This book is nothing short of brilliant! It’s a short, yet enticing ride. The action is well balanced with the other events in the book, uh, I could not get enough of it! For a time traveling, YA novel, you won’t be disappointed!
June 28, 2019
The Exchange
Ari was always in trouble in school. For punishment the professor suggested she be a guide when the next exchanges came in. Of course her best friend Michael had to do the same. The exchange was students from the past that signed up for it. They were supposed to teach the future students something about the past and vise versa. Of course when they returned to the past their memories would be wiped. James from the past and Ari’s ward had nothing to share from the past. James did learn about computers that he never heard about. Ari’s mother passed away when she was ten. Michael let Ari know her mother was an exchange. Ari and James found out that when he returned to the past he would die in a flood. Playing around and sneaking into the exchange room James was sent back ahead of time to save his parents. Not having a chance to get back in time he was now in the past but alive. Three days later Ari came to him. She missed him terribly.
Ari was always in trouble in school. For punishment the professor suggested she be a guide when the next exchanges came in. Of course her best friend Michael had to do the same. The exchange was students from the past that signed up for it. They were supposed to teach the future students something about the past and vise versa. Of course when they returned to the past their memories would be wiped. James from the past and Ari’s ward had nothing to share from the past. James did learn about computers that he never heard about. Ari’s mother passed away when she was ten. Michael let Ari know her mother was an exchange. Ari and James found out that when he returned to the past he would die in a flood. Playing around and sneaking into the exchange room James was sent back ahead of time to save his parents. Not having a chance to get back in time he was now in the past but alive. Three days later Ari came to him. She missed him terribly.
July 1, 2019
Interesting premise for a book. Any time a book or movie thwarts time in any way, in this case time travel, I am usually left confused. But as I read this book I felt like I had a full grasp of what was going on. I was enjoying the read right up until the end. There were twists along the way that I did not see coming that added to the intrigue of the whole Institute plot. And then suddenly, the story ended and I thought, "Wait. What????" So I ended up confused anyway. Not because I didn't get the time travel part but because far too much was left open ended. If this is setting up for the next book in a series it makes sense but if this is a stand alone, I want a whole lot more of the plot tied up nicely in a bow. I'm writing my own ending.
Sex: a kiss, some sexual undertones, and passing reference about Ari's conception.
Language: a little
Violence: no
Sex: a kiss, some sexual undertones, and passing reference about Ari's conception.
Language: a little
Violence: no
January 9, 2020
The author’s premise for time travel was interesting - bringing people forward for the purpose of learning from them. There is something rotten in there somewhere and the teens in the story figure out a piece of what is happening.
I gave the story only three stars because the author went overboard at the beginning with Michael being gay. I don’t mind reading about gay people but make them a regular part of the story don’t exaggerate the sexual orientation. Michael was a good friend to Ari and that was the important part. James and Elizabeth were good characters with solid moral fiber that move the story forward to figure out what the Institute is really doing.
The narrator did a good job, so four stars for performance.
The ending is unresolved which contributed to three stars for the story.
I gave the story only three stars because the author went overboard at the beginning with Michael being gay. I don’t mind reading about gay people but make them a regular part of the story don’t exaggerate the sexual orientation. Michael was a good friend to Ari and that was the important part. James and Elizabeth were good characters with solid moral fiber that move the story forward to figure out what the Institute is really doing.
The narrator did a good job, so four stars for performance.
The ending is unresolved which contributed to three stars for the story.
January 4, 2020
I really wanted to love this story!! After the Outlander time travel craze it’s become a trope I would love to read again! However, this story just never quite took off for me.
This is a YA story about a school that hosts time travel exchange students. In which, students from different points in time come to the year 2030 for 3 months to learn and teach about the time that they come from. James is from year 1903 and time travels to Ari’s year of 2030. Ari’s family plays an important part in the program as well as hosts James during his time in their year. Ari and James have a slow build romance while they start to discover hidden secrets within the program. Together they start to discover they have to change the program forever.
This is a YA story about a school that hosts time travel exchange students. In which, students from different points in time come to the year 2030 for 3 months to learn and teach about the time that they come from. James is from year 1903 and time travels to Ari’s year of 2030. Ari’s family plays an important part in the program as well as hosts James during his time in their year. Ari and James have a slow build romance while they start to discover hidden secrets within the program. Together they start to discover they have to change the program forever.
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