Amazing story by Nadija Mujagic. Love how psychology was applied to this story mixed with thrill and suspense. I was on my toes to see where the life of Sam will bring her when she tries and tries to overcome many trials of life. Now that she starts the Exchange it takes her to another spin of life to get someone back to her. Just because life does not your plan does not mean you take the easy path. 5 thumbs up to Nadija.
Sam graduates high school and moved to L.A. to pursue her dreams of being an actress. L.A. nfs up being much harder than she imagined and she has to get a job at a coffee shop. Sam meets Corey goes out a few times with him and ends up moving in. She becomes pregnant not remembering being intimate and Corey makes a deal that she has the baby and he will get her acting career going. Circumstances come about and she decides to run and keep the baby. Four years later, her son disappears and she tells the police she is sure Corey is involved and makes her have to tell all surrounding the relationship and circumstances that she’s kept private the last four years. I really enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery, suspense but yet an easy read of that makes sense.
Thrilling and twisted This was so unexpected and very unpredictable. The story builds over the time with many twists, suspense, mystery and drama. This leads to a very emotional and intense read. There were times where I felt the story didn’t flow as cleanly as it could but overall there was enough to keep me engaged right through to the unforeseen ending.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Rayne Easthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRayne East2023-03-04 02:04:272023-03-10 13:43:47The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Rayne East
This book starts off by hooking you immediately with a tale of kidnapping and a missing child. Remembering that will help you get through some of the slower middle parts. I get where the story needed to go and why it went there, I just needed it to go faster.
Samantha “Sam” Crawford grew up in a small nothing and nowhere town with an addict mom and thinking she killed her father as a small child. Since she was 6 years old, Sam knew she wanted out of there and made the plans to do it, moving to LA to be an actress. When Sam gets there, it is not all sparkles and bright lights. It is crappy apartments, gang violence in the streets, low paying jobs, and a whole lot of no’s. When she meets Corey, a beautiful pilot that treats her well and has connections in the industry, she knows things are going to get better.
Soon, Sam finds out that Corey lied. He has no connections. He is not who he says he is and he wants a strange deal. Sam agrees to the deal and the exchange. She changes her mind and manages to escape Corey. When Sam’s past catches up to her, she has to make some tough decisions to be free from her long ago choices forever.
There are enough twists and turns to keep one engaged. Although I found the pace a little slow, overall a great read.
Before this book I had never heard of Nadija Mujagic, but now that I have, I am hooked and must read more of her amazing work. As a mother the first chapter definitely set the mood of the book, Sam’s four-year-old son Jake goes missing from the local public pool. Heart racing, I couldn’t put the book down and before I realized I was nearly halfway through the book needing to learn more. Chapter two is the first-time jump, going back four years to before she had her son. Living in small towns I understand her hunger for something bigger and better.
Her dream is to be an actress, so she starts by looking for an agent to represent her, to help her get into the industry. When Stacy Goldberg responds saying she will only discuss things with her in person 5 days later Sam has no choice but to quickly find an apartment and get a bus ticket to L.A. Our dreams never seem to play out the way they do in our heads, no matter how many different paths you think of, and Sam’s were no different. Her first meeting ends with her feeling confused and like her career is already over. Stacy tells Sam she has “the look” and then tells her you either parish or persist. While trying to figure out how to go about auditioning she begins working as a barista at a local café. Michael her new coworker who freelances as a writer asks her to dinner, declining she says she’s not currently in a good place. Only other than not being attracted to him her biggest fear in any new situation is anyone getting closer to her and wanting to dig into her dirty past. By the age of six Sam had lost her paternal grandparents, the only ones she ever knew, and her father. After her father’s death her mother seemed to care more about her next high than her daughter, so she learned to be independent at a young age. Only Sam has a deep dark secret, a secret so terrible that she not only has to keep it from her mother, best friend, and small town but from herself.
Will Sam parish or persist in the world of acting? How does the handsome stranger she meets at work play into her dream? Is it possible for her to continue to keep her secret after all these years? The world the author creates is realistic, no sugar coating on the ways of the world while always keeping her character relatable. The twists and turns this book had kept me entranced from page one and I couldn’t stop until I was done.
This book took me for a rollercoaster ride! I hadn’t read anything by Nadija Mujagic before, but they are definitely on my watch list now. I love psychological thrillers so this was right up my alley. When you think of moving to LA to chase your dreams of becoming an actress, you get the feeling it will be difficult but worth it, right? Once Sam graduated high school, she decided to do just that and leave quite the secret behind her. Only she didn’t realize just what was in store for her. She was receiving rejections left and right until she met Corey. He swears he can help her achieve her dreams if she does him the small favor of giving him a child. I won’t give anything away but WOW! This book kept me glued to the pages and had twists that I never saw coming. I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a go if you enjoy psychological thrillers!
Sam is just a small town girl with a big dream. She wants to become an actress. Her first step is to move to Los Angeles. As much as she thought she was prepared for the big city, there was so much she wasn’t expecting.
Almost getting denied instantly, she sets out to find a job in the meantime. Sam starts working in a small cafe when she meets Corey. She thinks he is quite handsome and charismatic. After only knowing him a short time, he asks Sam to move in and be his roommate until she can find something more permanent.
Corey wants to help Sam achieve her goals of becoming an actress. The only thing he wants in return is her unborn baby. Just a small exchange right? Sam has no idea what to do. Can she trade a human being for life as an actress? It’s all she ever wanted since she was a kid.
As soon as Sam got to L.A. I knew she was too naive for the big city. She seemed too trusting. As soon as Corey was introduced to the story, my instincts were screaming for her not to trust him. In reality, it was so much more than distrust she needed. This book was intriguing from start to finish. I hated each character in their own way which made me love the book that much more. Action, mystery, suspense with a twist on top of that, I could not put the book down!
Powerful story! Great storyline, strong characters. The book was a gripping fast pace page-turner. It will keep you guessing to the very end. With lots of twists and turns, this one will not disappoint. This is my first read by this author, but I look forward to reading more.
Powerful story! Great storyline, strong characters. The book was a gripping fast pace page-turner. It will keep you guessing to the very end. With lots of twists and turns, this one will not disappoint. This is my first read by this author, but I look forward to reading more.
I was not expecting this book to be filled with the twists and turns, unpredictable, the suspense, the thrill. I really enjoyed this book; it was a book out of my normal and I can’t not believe how amazed I was to be held on to by a book. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I could not put it down to find out what would happen with Samantha, leaving home, wanting to inspire to be something and make a life that she would want to live. But of course, that all changed when she met a man that said he could help her. But not the way Sam was hoping for. This book was so well written and captivating that I honestly believe that it could be a true story. I had to read this book to the end.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Reimerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Reimer2023-03-03 18:23:002023-03-10 13:39:03The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Jennifer Reimer
A gripping psychological thriller which had me hooked from page one. The intriguing storyline and plot twists definitely made this an unpredictable story, and it kept me guessing until the end. Sam Crawford moves to Los Angeles having finished high school to pursue acting, but after several failed prospects she is no further forward with her plans. She then meets a man who promises that he can help her with her acting, and being desperate to succeed Sam takes Corey up on his offer. However, she was not expecting his proposition to be an exchange, that involves her unwanted baby. When her child goes missing four years later she doesn’t know what to think, has the exchange finally happened, or has Sam become a mastermind of organised crime. Sam is a great main character who really brings the story together, however she’s not a very reliable narrator, meaning as a reader you never really know who to trust or believe in this story, making it a suspenseful read. It definitely had me reading late until the night and I wasn’t expecting the promised incredible twist!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Gordonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Gordon2023-03-03 15:44:392023-03-10 13:38:11The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Jennifer Gordon
This novel is a gripping story of an aspiring actor, Sam Crawford, and the unthinkable decision that she has to make. No matter what decision she makes, her life will be altered. This is a psychological thriller that does not disappoint. This story is realistic enough to frighten you into turning page after page. It is a decently paced story, with characters that make you care about the outcome. It is suspenseful and unpredictable and leaves you breathless with anticipation. The only thing I had trouble with was putting it down when reality beckoned. If you are looking for a suspenseful read that keeps you so engrossed that your eyes just zoom over the pages and your mouth hangs open, this is it. I highly recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christine J. Spulakhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine J. Spulak2023-03-03 14:16:382023-03-10 13:37:39The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Chrissy Spulak
The storyline is extremely interesting and has a lot of surprising twists, especially the end.
The main character’s inner dialog is all over the place but in a good way, it kept me guessing what was real and what wasn’t. I was truly expecting it all to have been a psychotic breakdown or something.
My only reason for not giving this book 5 stars is because there are some time-line and time jumps that were really confusing and that took away from the story.
If the author sorts out those minor issues this book can definitely be a best seller
View all my reviews
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenique Bornmanhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenique Bornman2023-03-03 12:34:072023-03-10 13:36:40The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Jenique Bornman
This the first book by Nadija Mujagic I have read, and I was a little disappointed. I was expecting to get my feet knocked off. I can see a lot of potential with this book. It is a good coming of age story and I saw some twist and turns. I was reading to see what was going to happen next. I enjoyed reading this story but just wish it flowed better.
After graduation Sam leaves her small hometown behind her to move to LA and start a career in acting. Once in LA it is not as easy as Sam was hoping that it would be nor is life as she had expected. Her apartment is rundown, the neighborhood she lives in is rampant with crime, and her money is running out. Things start to look up for Sam when she lands a meeting with a talent agent, but her hopes are quickly dashed when the agent rejects her. With her hopes and dreams suddenly shattered Sam starts to look for a job to make ends meet. She finds a small coffee shop that hires her immediately and she eagerly accepts the job.
While at work an attractive man comes into the coffee shop and flirts with Sam who instantly becomes smitten with him. Cory promises her that he can help her with her acting career and takes her under his wing. He helps her out of her desperate situation and offers her a room in his house where she can feel safe. It does not take long before Sam realizes that something is not right with her living situation but with nowhere else to go, and no money, or job, she brushes off her uneasy feeling. When Sam becomes pregnant Cory offers a proposition that seems too good to be true. He can make all her acting dreams come true in exchange for her child.
Four years go by, and Sam is living a normal life and raising her child on her own. When her child suddenly goes missing without a trace Sam wonders if Cory has made good on the deal and taken her child. She is desperate to find her son, at any cost, but what will that cost be? To what lengths will Sam go to in order to save her child?
This book was a brilliant read and I instantly fell in love with the character of Sam. She was smart, determined, strong, and never gave up hope no matter how dire the situation became. She kept her wits about her when most others would have given up all hope and fallen into despair. Cory was superficially charming but something sinister lurked under the surface. This book took some twists and turns that I did not suspect coming and they caught me off-guard. To say that Sam was clever is an understatement. Wow, just wow! I will not spoil it; you will have to read it for yourself. Brilliantly written!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tara Johnson Barneshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTara Johnson Barnes2023-03-02 14:39:492023-03-03 11:46:54The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75554457-the-exchange” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”The Exchange: A Novel” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672780965l/75554457._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75554457-the-exchange”>The Exchange: A Novel</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20556790.Nadija_Mujagic”>Nadija Mujagic</a><br/> My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5385545117″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /> I enjoyed the book, but at times the pacing of the story was a little slow. This is a quick read if you aren’t looking for longer book and need something for a car ride or traveling. Samantha the main character is a struggling actress that is looking for her big break. However, as is the world, she is in need of money which then leads to title of this book ‘The Exchange’. The ending was a bit of a twist, and worth the read! <br/><br/> <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/44107748-emily”>View all my reviews</a>
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Emily Beehlerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEmily Beehler2023-03-02 14:38:022023-03-03 11:46:38The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Emily Beehler
What makes this novel a thriller is the psychological aspect and impact it can and does happen in our everyday real life. A budding actress, Sam, moves west to LA where she dreams of being on the Hollywood red carpet and big screen. She meets someone who guarantees they will help her become a star. The truth behind his lies will bring you page after page of terrifying thoughts and images. If you love psychological thrillers like I do then this book won’t disappoint!
This messed up thriller will keep you awake and haunt your dreams. It was the first book I have read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last.
Sam is a high school graduate leaving for LA to pursue her big dreams of becoming an actress, while also leaving behind her past. She meets with an agent the day after her arrival, but after multiple prospects fall through, she is becoming desperate. That’s when she meets Corey, who offers her an out and a road to success, as long as she agrees to the terms – the ones regarding her unwanted baby boy. Years later, her son Jake goes missing one day at the pool.
Interesting, intriguing, suspenseful, haunting. Some things felt predictable even with all the buildup but the ending was surprising. Regardless, quick read that kept me turning the pages and finishing it in one sitting.
Wow wow wow! The twists and the turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Sam wants nothing more than to follow her dreams (and run from her past). Nothing turns out how she thought it would be. She finds herself in a desperate situation where she must rely only on herself to get free. The tears and heartbreak are real, but who doesn’t love a book that breaks you a little.
This book was wild. I have never read anything by the author but that changes now. What a twist and turn, heart pounding read. Sam was a great character that seemed very well thought out. Her story had my brain short circuiting. I was up all hours of the night after reading this just thinking back on the story and recuperating all the feelings i spilled on the floor while reading it. A very interesting read and definitely worth sticking through until the end!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00April McCoyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngApril McCoy2023-03-01 19:21:342023-03-03 11:40:36The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by April McCoy
Trigger Warnings*** not exactly sure how to categorize these warnings.
This was a very dark read, I love psychological thrillers but this one had me deeply feeling all the emotions in this novel. Mujagic’s talent far surpassed my expectations. I could not put this down, as much as I thought I had figured out all the twists and turns there was a new one ahead. Throughout the novel I had so many questions in which all were answered as I continued to read.
Certainly a read for psychological thriller lovers.
This is an intriguing story that I knew I had to try from the moment I read the description. The author has certainly thrown some twists and turns in there to try and keep you on your toes. The book has quite a slow pace to it, which I wasn’t expecting and it and it made it a little harder to engage with initially. However, I did still find myself following the story and wanting to know how things were going to turn out. This is a new author to me and I think this is a good place to have started. This book really gives an insight into her writing style and I definitely enjoyed it overall. I am looking forward to discovering more of this authors work.
I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed their writing style as well as their attention to details to give the story a realistic feel. I found this book to be well written with twists and turns that you don’t want to miss. This is a fast paced and engaging story that is hard to put down. The characters pull you into their world with ease. They bring support to each other and have great growth. A story with secrets, a missing child and people who may not be who you thought them to be. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in the future by this author. I highly recommend this book.
I’m a big fan of thrillers- and psychological ones could be my favorite. This one was pretty great. The idea behind this story isn’t a new one- kinda reminded me of the story of Rumpelstiltskin (if that’s how you spell it). But i love that it’s a modern day telling and I ended up really into the storyline. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it at first- but I ended up really enjoying it! I saw a reviewer describe it as bizarre and I think that’s the perfect word to sum up this book. Bizarre isn’t bad- it just means the book is different!! This was my first read by the author- and I’m eager to try more. This was a solid 4 stars for me!
Wow I was definitely not expecting to finish this story so quickly. However once I started I couldn’t put it down and needed to finish to find out what happened! The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic was a short and fast read. Sam is a recent high school grad who aspires to be an actress. And as any young aspiring actress does, she moves to LA to live out these huge dreams. Once there, she finds out just how hard the industry is and how you can’t trust just anyone. After finding out some hard truths, shes faces with a decision that will change the course of her life forever. It’s a good read if you’re looking for something that you can’t completely guess what will happen.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kristan Andersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKristan Anderson2023-02-28 20:38:092023-03-03 11:28:14The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Kristan Anderson
Wow! A Suspense Thriller true to those words. Sam Crawford graduated high school and is ready to start her future. She has her goals set and plans to make them happen. Sam is determined and independent as well as wanting to leave her past behind.. Moving to LA she tries to make a career in acting. As things don’t progress as she likes she agrees to The Exchange. That is where this high paced and thriller of a story takes off. No Spoilers here! This author sucked me in before I finished the first chapter. Her writing is clear and easy to follow. The characters are independent and know what they want. The story has many twists and turns which make this story all the more frightening. Icontinued to read this story as I could not put it down. I Loved It! This author is new to me, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Great suspenseful book, full of emotions and fantastic twists. I would think I had things figured out, then bam another twist. Be prepared to stay up all night. I didn’t want to put this one down. I would absolutely recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Toni Sellershttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngToni Sellers2023-02-27 21:13:312023-03-03 11:15:18The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Toni sellers
The Exchange is a compelling story of Sam. When Sam moves to LA to chase her dream of being an actress, she meets Corey. While Corey seems charming at first, Sam slowly discovers his motives for keeping her around. I was glued to this book as I learned all about Sam, her journey to LA, and her harrowing escape back home. If you like thrillers with a lot of twists, then this is the book for you.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Allenhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Allen2023-02-27 17:08:022023-03-03 11:10:21The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Jennifer Allen
Sam is an aspiring actress who moves to LA to follow her dreams but quickly learns Hollywood is not all its cracked up to be and becoming an actress is a lot more than she thought. She meets a man who seems to be her knight in shining armor, who offers her success for “the exhange” will she take the deal to get the success she desires? I felt this book was fairly gripping especially in the beginning (omg heart stopping moment) but felt it was pretty abrupt in its transitions and I felt the story could have been developed more in depth and it would recieved all 5 stars
Sam moves to California hoping to start her acting career. Her interview for an agent doesn’t go well. She ends up applying for a job in a cafe. Luckily she gets hired on the spot. Boss warns her to be early or on time never late. She tries to turn her coworker Michael down gently. Corey she meets and it’s instant attraction.
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