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smadronia's review against another edition
5.0
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.
tderby's review against another edition
3.0
The Exchange was a fun read with an entertaining storyline. There were a few gaps in the storyline; for example, how a teenager from 1903 would ever be exposed to time travel and just go along with it without questioning it.
lurihime's review against another edition
4.0
(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.
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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.
mayhemmel's review against another edition
4.0
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.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
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.
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.
theeditorreads's review
3.0
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
adriology's review against another edition
4.0
*e-arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed reading this book. The idea behind this book was one that I was very interested in and it did meet most of my expectations. I have seen other individuals who have read this book talk about how the book was full of tropes and it is bust actually really enjoyed them and saw them coming. Overall this book was very good and was written and developed well and that makes me want to read more from this author.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The idea behind this book was one that I was very interested in and it did meet most of my expectations. I have seen other individuals who have read this book talk about how the book was full of tropes and it is bust actually really enjoyed them and saw them coming. Overall this book was very good and was written and developed well and that makes me want to read more from this author.
tderby's review
3.0
The Exchange was a fun read with an entertaining storyline. There were a few gaps in the storyline; for example, how a teenager from 1903 would ever be exposed to time travel and just go along with it without questioning it.
mrsbofe's review
1.0
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
ramonamead's review
2.0
I really wanted to love this book and the characters, but I never got there. It's solidly okay. The premise is interesting: The Institute is an agency that has perfected time travel. In a time travel exchange student program, teenagers are brought from various points in the past to the year 2030 where they are paired with a high school student for three months. The why is never really explained. The purpose is supposedly so the future can learn from the past but I didn't see what happening. It's more like the kids from the past hang out and do all the same things as the future kids. The transition doesn't seem hard on them and there isn't much difference in their demeanors. I had hoped for a bit more depth from the synopsis. But it's a fun, easy to read love story.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.