Book Review: The Exchange Student by AJ Carter

Alright, thriller fans, let’s get into The Exchange Student by AJ Carter. If you’ve seen it hyped up on TikTok like I did, you probably thought, “A creepy exchange student who causes chaos in a suburban family? Count me in!” But let me tell you—it just didn’t live up to the hype.

Here’s the setup: A seemingly normal family hosts an exchange student who moves in and starts shaking things up. At the same time, their own daughter goes off to live with the exchange student’s family abroad. Sounds like a recipe for a nail-biting psychological thriller, right? But instead of tension and mind-blowing twists, we get… not much.

Let’s start with the exchange student who stays with the family. They’re supposed to be unsettling, but instead, they’re just plain weird—and not in the good, creepy, keeps-you-up-at-night way. There’s no depth to their character, no gradual unraveling of some sinister backstory. They’re just awkward, socially off, and downright dull. For a book that hinges on this character being the source of unease, they’re the biggest disappointment. I kept waiting for some big reveal about why they were acting so bizarre, but nothing really came of it.

Now here’s where it gets even weirder—and not in the “thriller” way. The family’s daughter, who goes to live with the exchange student’s family, is essentially locked away while she’s there. She’s completely cut off—barely communicating with her parents, which, let’s be honest, should’ve been a major red flag. This is a teenager we’re talking about. A teenager not glued to her phone, posting on social media, or even texting her parents? That alone should’ve raised alarm bells! But nope. The parents are just like, “Oh, she’s probably adjusting,” or something equally dismissive.

I don’t know about you, but if my kid stopped texting me, let alone stopped showing any signs of life from another country, I’d be on the first flight out of there. But these parents? They’re weirdly passive about the whole thing. It’s like they were in some sort of parental autopilot, completely blind to the huge red flags waving right in their faces. Their daughter is essentially cut off from the world, and they’re barely worried. It made no sense.

This lack of urgency from the parents killed any chance of the story feeling believable or tense. It was hard to stay invested when the characters themselves didn’t seem to care about what was happening. The lack of communication and their nonchalant attitude sucked the life out of what could’ve been a great subplot.

And then there’s the pacing—so slow it felt like a slog. Instead of building suspense, the story dragged, with long stretches where nothing much happened. By the time the “twists” rolled around, I was more annoyed than surprised. And the twists? Predictable and underwhelming. I didn’t gasp. I didn’t even flinch. I just sighed and thought, “That’s it?”

What’s frustrating is that this book had so much potential. The idea of swapping teenagers with another family and things going terribly wrong is gold! It could’ve been packed with psychological tension, twists, and complex characters. But instead, it stayed flat and predictable, never diving deep enough into its own premise.

So, would I recommend The Exchange Student? Not really. If you’re new to thrillers and looking for something light, you might find it okay. But if you’re someone who thrives on jaw-dropping twists, smart character development, and edge-of-your-seat tension (The Silent Patient, Gone Girl, Behind Closed Doors), this one will leave you disappointed.

What about you? Did you read it? Am I being too harsh? I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’ve got recommendations for thrillers that actually bring the heat, please let me know—I’m always on the hunt!