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Exchanged
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26A student exchange program mix-up turns hilarious and heartwarming in this "idiots-to-lovers" YA rom-com from debut author Dan Perucco—cultural exchange has never been this complicated.
Enzo Rossi knows Irontown, Michigan—a declining mining town—isn’t exactly a dream study abroad destination. So when his family is chosen to host an exchange student, he jumps at the chance to spend his senior year with a fellow music nerd from the outside world.
But when the Rossis arrive at the airport expecting Davit from Georgia (the country), they’re greeted instead by Garrett Andersen—a handsome football jock from Georgia (the state). Somewhere, something got lost in translation.
Living across the hall from someone so cool, so hot, and so obviously straight is not what Enzo signed up for. He can’t stop putting his foot in his mouth, and Garrett is always ready with a comeback. Enzo writes Garrett off as a spoiled and cocky city boy; Garrett thinks Enzo is too stuck up for his own hometown.
Yet as Garrett dazzles the rest of Irontown with his Southern charm, Enzo keeps stumbling over his own feelings. The longer they’re thrown together, the harder it is for both boys to keep their guard up—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.
Enzo Rossi knows Irontown, Michigan—a declining mining town—isn’t exactly a dream study abroad destination. So when his family is chosen to host an exchange student, he jumps at the chance to spend his senior year with a fellow music nerd from the outside world.
But when the Rossis arrive at the airport expecting Davit from Georgia (the country), they’re greeted instead by Garrett Andersen—a handsome football jock from Georgia (the state). Somewhere, something got lost in translation.
Living across the hall from someone so cool, so hot, and so obviously straight is not what Enzo signed up for. He can’t stop putting his foot in his mouth, and Garrett is always ready with a comeback. Enzo writes Garrett off as a spoiled and cocky city boy; Garrett thinks Enzo is too stuck up for his own hometown.
Yet as Garrett dazzles the rest of Irontown with his Southern charm, Enzo keeps stumbling over his own feelings. The longer they’re thrown together, the harder it is for both boys to keep their guard up—and the closer they come to seeing each other clearly for the first time.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
63 people want to read
About the author
Dan Perucco
1 book9 followersDan Perucco is a middle school English teacher who writes fiction for teens and adults. When he’s not teaching or writing, he directs theater and coaches quiz bowl. He lives in Minnesota with his husband and their floppy rescue dog.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2026
Disclaimer: This is my husband's debut book and I could not be more proud of him. There. That's out of the way.
That being said, I'm going to do my best to set that aside and review this book as a gay man who: grew up in small town, was super into music/theater and was SOOO not sporty, majored in English and now tries to teach 8th graders to love books, has read his fair share of YA romance, and who has fallen in love with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Just wanted to be clear. Now, let's get to it. There's so much to love about this book.
The setting. This book captures the experience of growing up in a small town so beautifully, highlighting all of the charms, quirks, benefits, and drawbacks that come with it. If you're from a small town, you'll feel like you're right back there. While our towns all have their own "things," so many of those elements are universal: close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone, equal ratio of bars to churches, main streets that are the hub of the town (even though they're shorter than a football field), minimal stoplights (if any), and small high school classes that mean you KNOW what everyone's business is. If you're not from a small town: enjoy this glimpse into a fascinating world of unique customs, local culture, and a pride in the place you come from, even when its weird or feels like it's holding you back. The setting is so well-crafted in this book, it feels like you're there in Irontown, experiencing all its eccentricities for the first time with Garrett and seeing why Enzo loves (and sometimes hates) it so much.
The characters. It seems like I know Enzo. I understand Garrett's struggles. I get the family dynamics. Enzo's classmates make me feel all the things I felt when I was in high school: the closeness of your weirdest friends, the otherness of being queer, the imposter syndrome of hanging around with people way "cooler" than I thought I could ever be. This book's characters are deep and complex and draw you into the story because you want to know more about ALL of them.
The plot. I want to know what's next, every step of the way. Right off the bat I need to know how the exchange mix-up is going to get resolved. I have to know when the enemies-to-lovers shift is going to happen. Which moment is going to be the tipping point? When will they stop butting heads and pissing each other off? When will Garrett's snarky comments go too far? When will Enzo realize he's messing things up because he refuses to see Garrett in any other light than that cocky jock who's always made his life hell? Every beat, the story pushes forward and I want to know more.
The writing. This is the teacher in me, but this book is both accessible for YA readers and offers great depth and reflection. Often I see books where one of these is sacrificed for the other: write a book that will be high-interest and an easy read to get reluctant readers on board, or dive into the deep complexities of youth and queerness and lose a lot of readers in the process. This book balances being engaging (hooking readers and moving the story forward), relatable (the high school experience has some overarching themes and this book hits them all so well), and thoughtful (allowing space for readers to reflect on their own experiences and how they connect to this story). The comedy moments are funny. The emotional moments are impactful. The intimate moments are touching. This book is beautifully written and is, genuinely, a delight to read.
Okay. Longest review I've ever written, but I mean every word. Whether or not my husband wrote this book, I love it for its authenticity, what it captures about the high school and small town experience, and for the loveable, flawed, and fun characters who learn a lot and take us on a journey.
Five stars and this will for sure become a book I read over and over and recommend to my students throughout the years.
Bravo, Dan.
That being said, I'm going to do my best to set that aside and review this book as a gay man who: grew up in small town, was super into music/theater and was SOOO not sporty, majored in English and now tries to teach 8th graders to love books, has read his fair share of YA romance, and who has fallen in love with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Just wanted to be clear. Now, let's get to it. There's so much to love about this book.
The setting. This book captures the experience of growing up in a small town so beautifully, highlighting all of the charms, quirks, benefits, and drawbacks that come with it. If you're from a small town, you'll feel like you're right back there. While our towns all have their own "things," so many of those elements are universal: close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone, equal ratio of bars to churches, main streets that are the hub of the town (even though they're shorter than a football field), minimal stoplights (if any), and small high school classes that mean you KNOW what everyone's business is. If you're not from a small town: enjoy this glimpse into a fascinating world of unique customs, local culture, and a pride in the place you come from, even when its weird or feels like it's holding you back. The setting is so well-crafted in this book, it feels like you're there in Irontown, experiencing all its eccentricities for the first time with Garrett and seeing why Enzo loves (and sometimes hates) it so much.
The characters. It seems like I know Enzo. I understand Garrett's struggles. I get the family dynamics. Enzo's classmates make me feel all the things I felt when I was in high school: the closeness of your weirdest friends, the otherness of being queer, the imposter syndrome of hanging around with people way "cooler" than I thought I could ever be. This book's characters are deep and complex and draw you into the story because you want to know more about ALL of them.
The plot. I want to know what's next, every step of the way. Right off the bat I need to know how the exchange mix-up is going to get resolved. I have to know when the enemies-to-lovers shift is going to happen. Which moment is going to be the tipping point? When will they stop butting heads and pissing each other off? When will Garrett's snarky comments go too far? When will Enzo realize he's messing things up because he refuses to see Garrett in any other light than that cocky jock who's always made his life hell? Every beat, the story pushes forward and I want to know more.
The writing. This is the teacher in me, but this book is both accessible for YA readers and offers great depth and reflection. Often I see books where one of these is sacrificed for the other: write a book that will be high-interest and an easy read to get reluctant readers on board, or dive into the deep complexities of youth and queerness and lose a lot of readers in the process. This book balances being engaging (hooking readers and moving the story forward), relatable (the high school experience has some overarching themes and this book hits them all so well), and thoughtful (allowing space for readers to reflect on their own experiences and how they connect to this story). The comedy moments are funny. The emotional moments are impactful. The intimate moments are touching. This book is beautifully written and is, genuinely, a delight to read.
Okay. Longest review I've ever written, but I mean every word. Whether or not my husband wrote this book, I love it for its authenticity, what it captures about the high school and small town experience, and for the loveable, flawed, and fun characters who learn a lot and take us on a journey.
Five stars and this will for sure become a book I read over and over and recommend to my students throughout the years.
Bravo, Dan.
Review of advance copy
This is the most bingeable book I've read in a long time! I usually struggle to start books but this one pulled me in from the beginning, and the journey was so fun. The romance managed to give me real butterflies that felt like I was a teenager again... like, I was eagerly anticipating every scene with Enzo and Garrett to see what would happen. So much delightful awkwardness and angst that was funny and felt relatable.
Also I have to say that the setting of this story really transported me and gave me more appreciation of what it is like growing up in a small blue-collar town, especially for someone who is drawn to creative arts. I really loved reading about a classical music nerd (Enzo) like myself.
Very excited to see what this author writes next!
Also I have to say that the setting of this story really transported me and gave me more appreciation of what it is like growing up in a small blue-collar town, especially for someone who is drawn to creative arts. I really loved reading about a classical music nerd (Enzo) like myself.
Very excited to see what this author writes next!
February 24, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of Exchanged by Dan Perucco!! All opinions are my own.
Exchanged is a beautiful melodious story that I loved! It truly wasn’t what I was expecting in the best way. I couldn’t even put this book down once I started. A story that starts with a lot of misconceptions and frustrations leads to love and a found family.
This book follows Enzo, when his family hosts Garrett as an exchange student, although he literally was not what they were expecting. While they start off rocky, they begin to bond and even realize they have things in common. These two end up dealing with homophobia and the difficulties of figuring out their futures. Despite all of these hurdles they fight for love and their dreams.
Exchanged is a memorable book I’ll be thinking about for a while. I was so surprised to see that this was a debut novel and I hope to see more from this author!
Exchanged is a beautiful melodious story that I loved! It truly wasn’t what I was expecting in the best way. I couldn’t even put this book down once I started. A story that starts with a lot of misconceptions and frustrations leads to love and a found family.
This book follows Enzo, when his family hosts Garrett as an exchange student, although he literally was not what they were expecting. While they start off rocky, they begin to bond and even realize they have things in common. These two end up dealing with homophobia and the difficulties of figuring out their futures. Despite all of these hurdles they fight for love and their dreams.
Exchanged is a memorable book I’ll be thinking about for a while. I was so surprised to see that this was a debut novel and I hope to see more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Roaring Brook Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Ok so it’s super early but I couldn’t help it, this book sounded so good, and it was! Enzo has spent his whole life growing up in a small town, and it’s not that he doesn’t love Irontown Michigan, he does, but he also wants to be a composer and that won’t happen here. Plus not much ever changes in his town so when his family suggests they host an exchange student, someone from the country of Georgia, who also happens to be into music and board games, Enzo jumps at the chance. Only the guy who comes off the plan doesn’t look like he’s from another country and he doesn’t sound like it either. Turns out there was a miscommunication and Garrett is from the state of Georgia. Garrett is the opposite of everything Enzo hoped for. He’s a jock who’s all cocky arrogance who everyone seems to love. And he’s hot, why does he have to be hot? It also turns out that he thinks he’s too good for Irontown. Enzo can’t stand him but the more they are forced to be around each other the more he’ll see that Garett might not be so bad. But he shouldn’t get too close to a straight guy right? Garrett’s straight right? But soon Enzo’s not so sure. And if not could Garrett possibly return his feelings? And they’ll only be in each other’s lives for a year so what does it matter anyway? It shouldn’t should it? A heartwarming and heartbreaking story! I enjoyed both Enzo and Garrett’s journey! Dan Perucco tells a deep story of small town life, homophobia, acceptance, love, and standing up for oneself! It’s a quick read that I couldn’t put down!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Exchanged. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book hit it out of the park for me. I genuinely laughed and cried multiple times, and the story has stayed with me. So many thoughtful themes about authenticity, what it means to find home, what it means to leave home, and how we navigate difference. Beyond that, it was just a really fun ride and had lots of great dialogue. I've already pre-ordered my copy, and I'm excited to share it when the book is released.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I started this at 8:30 pm and could not put it down until I finished at 12:15 am. I have to work in the morning but I don’t even care. This book was beautiful and felt so real and I cried my eyes out at least 4 times. I felt so much of what Enzo was feeling with his future and my heart breaks for Garrett. This is something I know I will be thinking about for weeks! I will absolutely be buying a copy and rereading as soon as I possibly can.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews