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.

I was looking forward to this so much based on the premise but unfortunately this book fell flat for me. The characters weren’t well developed, the romance felt forced and it was slow, with work I think could be a good book as the groundwork is there, but just needs a lot more development, so at this time it’s not for me.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Ari’s father works for The Institute in Pendleton, Oregon, a company responsible for time travel student exchange programmes. A key aim is to enable students in the present day setting of 2030 to learn more about the past. In order to save her father’s job, Ari agrees to be a transition guide for an exchange student for 3 months. His name is James and he has come from 1903. There’s a slight problem however; Ari hates the institute and everything it stands for...

Before even starting this book the premise was instantly intriguing to me. I couldn’t wait to learn more about the exchange programme and how people from the past are chosen to be ‘exchanges’. I found the story to be really fast paced and enjoyed the different chapter viewpoints of Ari, James and Michael, Ari’s best friend.

There were many twists along the way not only about Ari’s family, but the Institute itself and this really added to the depth and drama as the story progressed. The secrets that were revealed made this is a really interesting and engaging read. I also enjoyed the glimpses in to James’ life in 1903 and also in to Elizabeth’s life (another exchange student) during the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s.

The only thing that let this story down for me was the abrupt ending. I felt like much more could have been explored and I would have liked to have learnt more about the aftermath for the characters involved. It built momentum and then ended at a point where I was expecting more. It was still a clever ending though and I would definitely love for there to be a sequel. I would definitely like to read more of M.F. Lorson’s books in the future.

When I requested this book on Netgalley, I was mostly interested in the time traveling part and the phrase that this was for the lovers of the Ruby Red series from Kerstin Gier. I was therefore very excited to start reading, but I have to admit that now I've finished the book I see a lot of potential and great elements, but a sometimes sloppy execution.

Let me start with the things I did like. Firstly that is the writing style. Like a true Young Adult the book is written in nicely flowing and easy and quick to read English. I could devour the pages and finish the entire book in one day without much effort. It was, when it comes to that, a very pleasant reading experience.

I also really liked the mystery woven into the story. It started a little late, but it was exciting and the more mystery slipped into the story, the more invested I started to feel. It was the mystery part that made sure I didn't grow bored or lost interest completely. But, sadly enough, I also feel like the mystery part of the story didn't really get a satisfying ending. It doesn't feel solved. And that what was there, felt really rushed lacking the drama that could have been there. It feels like the book stopped in the middle of it and I was actually really looking forward to what came after.

But the mystery wasn't the only thing that could have been so much more. The characters and romance could too. Not once during the story did I really feel chemistry between the main characters. I don't feel like they really bonded or connected, which has partly to do with the fact that I don't really feel like I know them. We've been told a lot about them and who they are, but we've seen not that much of it and I never felt like coming close to these characters. Even now, at the end of the story, I still don't feel like I know what they see in each other, why they love each other. And I know there are a million forms of love, but this didn't feel like one of them.

It's certainly not a bad book and it's entertaining at times, but with some more editing, expanding and rewriting I think the book could have been a lot more and maybe even epic. Because the plot, the idea, the writing and the premise are truly amazing.

This novel had all the pointers of being a really good read. It wasn't it was just an ok one, entirely forgettable so much so that if based on the cliff hanger style ending there will be a second book, I will have to re-read this to remember what went on.

The time travel aspects of this book are very enjoyable as they are well written and help push the plot along, despite it's numerous plot holes,which could do with sorting before publication as it hampers the readers enjoyment of the story.

Ari is a problem child- she knows it, no need to beat around the bush. Ari is always trying to sabotage her father’s work and has basically been banned from anywhere said work is kept. But she does it for good reason- her father works for The Institute, the group of sketchy, sleaze-ball scientists who run the Exchange Program and bring people from the past to their time for research and learning purposes… or so they let people think.

James is a farmer from 1903, eager to leave his daily life behind in search of something new and exciting. Jumping at the chance to be apart of the Exchange, James gets paired up in 2030 with Ari as his guide, much to her displeasure. Ari thinks she can deal with the Institute for James’ three month exchange, then send him back on his merry way to his old life. Except James has no intention of going back.

As James tries to convince Ari to help him stay in the future- as Ari’s dislike of the program could give him a chance at a life in 2030- they begin to uncover the truth of the Exchange Program and the horror of why each exchange is chosen. The Exchange is a gripping, compelling stand-alone read that brings a new twist to time-travel romance, and the consequences of trying to conquer time.

“You can’t just let it happen because you’re afraid to say anything. History is full of moments where people stopped injustice by standing up to the bigger party. That could be us.”
I went into this book loving the premise and the storyline, but I wished I could have loved it just a tiny bit more. The synopsis and the cover drew me in right away, promising a romance time travel fiction- which it was. And while I enjoyed this story and do not regret reading it for one second, I wish the writing had just been a little less… flaky? Like at any second the story could change it’s mind and go from time-travel romance to thriller to contemporary to an unfinished work. While I love multiple cross-genres and an open ending in some books, in this one I just didn’t feel it, but it made for a fairly light read.

It started with a great hook and developed into some amazing world building. The tone of the story pulled me in right away, and I loved learning about the setting of 2030 as the story began. The characters each were completely unique, and I liked reading the thoughts of multiple POVs, as well as how each character has different experiences from the time their originating from. It provided the reader with some insight on how life in other time periods was like, and it was super hilarious to watch them learn about the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time travel in this story, and the mystery that goes along with the forces of time and the butterfly effect. There were also some interesting secrets that were kept from the characters, and the readers (we did not find anything out until they did), that kept the story interesting, and I honestly would not have expected most of them at all. Kudos to the writer for that (I pride myself in being a good guesser of secret plot points, but maybe I’m tooting my own horn a bit 🤷🏻‍♀️.)

“I think sometimes people believe the best in something when it’s too hard to think about the worst.”
But, if I’m justifying my rating here, I would not have read this story if it weren’t for the time travel. It made the story interesting and pulled the entire plot along. Sure, the characters were fun and unique, but they didn’t really go anywhere during this story, nor did they have a believable ending. The ending was cute, but I did not think the climax was necessarily believable, and it seemed things just fell into place for these characters.

Also, maybe I should put a WARNING: insta-love label up there. I get infatuation, but this was not that. Maybe I could blame the YA genre for the lack of romantic tension but I just wish the characters developed and grew more in this story, because they had such a promising beginning to move from.

Overall, The Exchange was entertaining and an easy read. It’s perfect for the younger spectrum of YA fiction, no doubt. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to older YA or adult readers, who enjoy the build up and turbulence of a realistic story. This was a smooth ride, perfect for those wanting their story to be happily ever after.

I had higher hopes for this novel as I love a good time travel tale. The story was just ok for me and I feel like if the ending and pacing had been a bit different I may have liked it more. Thank you for the chance to read this novel to negalley.

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.

I'm a bit torn on this novel because I enjoyed the plot line, yet I thought it really fell short in some crucial areas.

The character development was a bit lacking and I found some of the characters to be a bit dry. While there are main characters from different eras, the voice remains the same. I couldn't tell you how was from 1903 versus 1930 if it did not specify who the speaker was. I fell like the author would have benefited by doing a bit of research in language and idiosyncrasies of the various past eras. It really would have helped the novel feel more lifelike. Also, she missed the mark on ages as the math does not equate. Ari's mother was pregnant with her in 2016, however; she is 17 in 2030. The only character I really liked was James, though he certainly didn't feel like he was from 1903. The writing style felt a bit novice. These issues really took away from the quality for me.

I did think that it was a nice plot line. There are some discrepancies or unexplained plot holes, though I am hoping these issues will be fixed in the next installment. While I thought there were some shortcomings in this novel, I still found it entertaining and engaging enough that I would like to read a sequel to find out what happens next and see what Lorson can do with a followup novel.

This was a fairly quick read that had me digging with delight! Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention.

*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.

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!

I wanted to like this book, I liked the idea of the exchange program and the plot ahead. However, it was not a great read.

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 could have had some potential, but they really didn't have any depth to them. The insta-feelings that she had all of a sudden for the boy just because of his good looks was shallow and just annoying. There wasn't any depth, the author tried to give events and happenings to make it "talk-worthy" seemed pushy and overdone. The biggest issue was the ending, wow was it bad. Also, the Institute was this horrible place and needed to be stopped and everything, yet, we don't see any resolution there. And the ending was weak and just not well thought out. Would not recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. While the characters were well written, I just didn't find them to be very enjoyable for me. It felt a bit like a recycled romance plot that just so happens to combine different time periods. It was cute, but it just wasn't for me. I would probably say that this is a good book if you just want to pass the time.

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.

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.

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.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book, and a few I didn’t. For starters, it was pretty short. I actually didn’t mind this and thought that dispite the limited number of pages, the story was well written and contained everything it needed. As for the grammatical side, it was pretty good. The editor might want to review comma rules and conjunctions, because there were several run on sentences. Other than that it was good.

Plot wise, it was interesting and kept me hooked. I found a lot of it very funny and laughed quite often, although I’m not sure I was supposed to.

The simplicity of the time travel machine wasn’t very believable, but then again it does take place in the year 2030 so they could have it all figured out by then. Ari’s relationship with her dad also bothered me because it didn’t seem realistic. Come to think of it, none of the teens got along with their parents. That's just sad and again, not realistic.

I did like the LGBTQIA and different ethnicities representation. Ari’s best friend is gay, and one of the members in their group of four is African American. That was nice to read about, although their dialogue sometimes wasn’t.

That brings me to another dislike. There were a lot of crude references in this story, both about sex and drugs. But mostly sex. As someone who actively avoids that type of fiction, it wasn’t fun to read about. Nothing major went on between the two main characters, other than a few kisses, but her gay friend and a cowboy on the other hand...

The characters themselves were decent. I wouldn’t say Ari was extremely likable, but she was fine. James, Micheal, and Elizabeth were all okay. The book overall was just okay. I wouldn’t say it was anything special, but if you are looking for a light, quick read, this will do it.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review



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