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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
The Exchange by M.F. Lorson
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.