Foreign Exchange

By: Denise Jaden

Narrated by: Anna Kasabian

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Jamie Monroe has always played it safe. That is, until her live-for-the-moment best friend, Tristan, jets off to Italy on a student exchange program. Left alone with her part-time mother and her disabled brother, Jamie discovers that she is quite capable of taking her own risks, starting with her best friend's hotter-than-hot older brother, Sawyer.

Sawyer and Jamie have been neighbors for years, but as Jamie grows closer to the family she thought she knew, she discovers some pretty big secrets - not only from her, but from each other. As she sinks deeper into their web of pretense, she suspects that her best friend may not be on a safe exchange program at all. Jamie sets off to Europe on a class trip with plans to meet up with Tristan, but when Tristan stops all communication, suddenly no one seems trustworthy, least of all the one person she was starting to trust - Sawyer.

©2014 Denise Jaden (P)2016 Denise Jaden

ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED FOREIGN EXCHANGE!

A wonderful story with the perfect mixture of characters. A fun love story with so much more than just a love story.

I received this audiobook free of charge from Audiobook blast, in exchange for an unbiased review

Good

“ I voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to pass the time

Great listen but I would've liked a better ending

Any additional comments?

I knew I was dealing with a YA book but I thought I would still give it a try since it would involve travels to Europe.

For starters, the narrator was really good. A lot of the book took place in Jamie's head and the narrator was able to make the machinations of a teenage mind come to life. Actually, the narrator was too good. I found myself swallowed whole into the how and why of Jamie's thinking.

I liked the listen, Jamie's teenage reasons for doing things notwithstanding. I knew where the search for Tristan, Jamie's best friend, was going (I mean, duh), but it was still a good story.

There were a couple of loose ends, we don't really get a sense of the repercussions for the bad decisions and the HEA was barely one, but it was a good listen nonetheless.

Foreign Exchange

Would you consider the audio edition of Foreign Exchange to be better than the print version?

since I have not "read" Foreign Exchange it is hard to say, but I thought Anna did an awesome job bringing the characters to life!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jamie - she's unsure of herself at the beginning and as the story goes she really grows into her own skin. She shows that she's stronger than she ever thought she was and that she is loyal & would do anything to keep her loved ones safe.

Have you listened to any of Anna Kasabian’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't believe I've listened to anything by her before, but I thought she was awesome at bringing the characters to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Jamie realized that she had gotten herself into a heap of trouble by going into the modeling agency. She understood quickly what was happening but refused to give up, once she was reunited with Tris, you see just how much their friendship means to Jamie when she is willing to risk her life so that Tris can get to safety.

Any additional comments?

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Very good book...I would recommend it to anyone!

Good YA Story

Any additional comments?

Jamie, the main character, is best friends with Tristan but everything is not as it seems. When Tristan goes to Europe, the mystery deepens. Tristan has warned Jamie to stay away from her brother Sawyer, so of course they fall in love. I didn't always understand or agree with their actions but I had to remember that these were kids, not adults. The narration was well done and the ending surprised me a little. I liked that there was a message here for young people, not just another romance story. I really enjoyed Foreign Exchange and would recommend it.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.

Foreign Exchange

Any additional comments?

Sometimes dreams do come true and sometimes they turn into nightmares.

Entertaining and engaging YA/NA story of friendship, love, lies, loyalty and family that is part mystery, part romance.

Even though it was easy to see where the story was going and exactly what was going on this was still an interesting and enjoyable story.

A likable cast of believable characters. The shy slightly insecure girl , the model good looking friend and the most popular guy in school.

Jamie discovers her best friend Tristan hasn't been completely honest with her. She's been keeping secrets. The mystery surrounding Tristan slowly builds as Jamie and Sawyer become closer. The story really gets interesting once Jamie and Sawyer arrive in Spain then start their search for Tristan. The last quarter of the book as it gets farther into the mystery surrounding Tristan is really good. It also takes on a much darker tone.

The story presents a very real and dangerous situation that does happen unfortunately in this world. It's a heartbreaking and scary thought to think how often this actually occurs. The story presents a scenario of just how easy it would be to get caught up in a situation like this.

Anna Kasabian did a good job with the narration. Pleasant voice. Easy on the ears. Clearly spoken with a nice pace. Good character voices. Her voice for Jamie was a bit to soft for me but it fit Jamie's character. It was also easy to tell when Jamie was thinking to herself. There is a slight difference for Sawyers voice but not much. But it was enough to distinguish between the characters and was much better than trying to do an unnaturally deep male voice. Her other male character voices were distinct and good. She was able to make you feel the emotions of the characters and bring the story to life. Overall very enjoyable.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher.

A nice and interesting listen

If you could sum up Foreign Exchange in three words, what would they be?

A love story with interesting characters and plot

Any additional comments?

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

Better for a young adult

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no. I think it is a better book for a young adult. It was too much indecision for me. It got a little boring

Has Foreign Exchange turned you off from other books in this genre?

not particularly

What aspect of Anna Kasabian’s performance would you have changed?

the performance was Ok I just did not like the book

Could you see Foreign Exchange being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no

Any additional comments?

I received this book as a gift from the narrator or author for an honest review

Great book that you have to find out the ending!

This is wonderful story that intertwines a variety of storylines with great action and suspense. You have BFFs, a school trip to Europe with surprise side trips, the boy next door, falling in love & helping your disabled brother. You just have to keep listening and can not wait to find out what happens to these fantastic characters. A very enjoyable book.