Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

Item: Ex Marks the Spot
Author: karenbaron

Posted January 4, 2025 by karenbaron in Review, Romance / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ex Marks the Spot

by Gloria Chao
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers on December 31, 2024
Setting: Tawian
Genres: YA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Audible Audiobook, Kindle, Paperback
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon

A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . .
Family secrets that can't stay buried . . .
A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . .

This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Filled with ingenious puzzles, a vibrant Taipei setting, and a delicious romance, Ex Marks the Spot is an exciting adventure by award-winning writer Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei, The Inheritance Games, and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao showcases how sometimes knowing your roots isn’t everything.

Is learning about the past a great way to move forward?

Gemma Sun

Gemma Sun grew up for eighteen years without knowing anything about her Taiwanese heritage. Her mom decided they were American and that Gemma didn’t need to know about that part of her. Except that is a big part, she felt she was missing. Once her grandpa died and his lawyer came calling, Gemma decided that she was going to take a stand and go to Taiwan to learn about herself. The big hiccup is actually herself getting to Taiwan. Gemma loves puzzles and seeing things that others don’t see. She is also an artist like her grandfather, even though she knows nothing about him.

I love everything about Gemma. She knows what she wants and pursues it even if she doesn’t know the whole picture. She is a fantastic character.

Xander Pan

Xander Pan is Gemma’s ex-boyfriend, whom she must bring along on her treasure hunt. He helps Gemma get accepted to a program that takes American-Taiwanese teenagers to Taiwan to learn more about their heritage. I think this is a fantastic opportunity.

Xander is one of those characters that uses humor to destress a situation. He also tries to help Gemma throughout the years during high school, even if Gemma doesn’t realize it.

I love Xander’s willingness to do anything to help Gemma. They are cute together, but they need to learn to communicate better and not take each other for granted.

Five Stars

My rating for Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao is five stars. Ms. Chao did a fantastic job transporting me to Taiwan and helping Gemma solve the puzzles her grandpa left.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

About Gloria Chao

Gloria Chao is a screenwriter and the award-winning author of Ex Marks the Spot (forthcoming 12.31.24), The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club (forthcoming 6.24.25), When You Wish Upon a Lantern, Rent a Boyfriend, Our Wayward Fate, and American Panda. She graduated from MIT and became a dentist before realizing she’d rather spend her days in fictional characters’ heads instead of real people’s mouths. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the curling ice, where she and her husband are world-ranked in mixed doubles.

Her books have received starred trade reviews; were Epic Reads x Target, Junior Library Guild, Indie Next List, YALSA Teens’ Top 10, Amelia Bloomer List, YALSA Amazing Audiobook, and Common Sense Media selections; and were featured on the “Best of” lists of Seventeen, Bustle, Barnes & Nobles, PopSugar, Paste Magazine, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street, and more.

Gloria is on the NaNoWriMo Writers Board and was a 2022 We Need Diverse Books Mentor and 2019 PitchWars mentor.