This is a story about Gemma figuring out who she is, where she comes from, and where she’s going. It’s an epic adventure full of twists, family secrets, and a rivals-to-lovers romance. It also showcases the beauty of Taiwan and what family, culture, and roots can mean. The puzzles build upon each other, and some can be solved by the readers.

This book is such a fun little adventure! Treasure hunts, family secrets, enemies-to-lovers—it has all the ingredients for a great time. Loved it.

First time reading from Gloria Chao and I enjoyed it!!!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC for an honest review, and I liked this one.

Ex Marks the Spot is a cute and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers story that explores what it's like trying to connect with your cultural roots while also solving a thrilling treasure hunt. As Gemma and Xander untangle the past and rediscover each other, they also reconnect with their heritage in meaningful ways—something that deeply resonated with me. The story’s rich themes of Asian identity and family reminded me of summers spent visiting Asia and the warmth of time shared with my grandpa. It’s a cozy, emotional read that left me smiling, a little nostalgic, and full of appreciation for love in all its forms—romantic, familial, and cultural.

Fun adventure book but didn’t love it. Was really excited about the setting of Taiwan and a great enemies to lovers trope.

first of all, the premise? a second-chance romance set against the backdrop of a treasure hunt-what’s not to love about that setting?

the book was full of riddles and clues that kept me turning the pages. i wish i knew Chinese to solve those plus the Taiwan setting with the lively streets and history, the food descriptions were written so good. watching gemma learn about her family and her roots was one of the highlights for me. it’s emotional, messy, and heartfelt.

but it felt like one or the other was just missing. the characters sort of fade into the background. it made the pacing felt a bit uneven. there were moments when i was completely hooked but then... some sections dragged. while i loved the idea of gemma and xander reconnecting after all those years, i didn’t feel their chemistry as much as I wanted to, i wanted more moments that made me go, “yes, these two belong together!” also, the side characters? i wanted more depth, especially since the setting had so much potential.

overall, Ex Marks the Spot was a fun read with a unique concept and some great moments.
3.5 stars

pick Ex Marks the Spot, if you like
♡ rivals-to-lovers romance
♡ hidden family secrets
♡ a treasure hunt
♡ vibrant streets of Taiwan and
♡ mouthwatering food

Ex Marks the Spot is a delightful blend of adventure, romance, and cultural exploration. Gloria Chao masterfully weaves a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The treasure hunt serves as a compelling backdrop for Gemma's personal growth and her reconnection with her Taiwanese heritage. The dynamic between Gemma and Xander is engaging, with their rivals-to-lovers arc adding depth to the story. Chao's vivid descriptions of Taipei immerse readers in the setting, making the city feel like a character in its own right. The puzzles are cleverly designed, adding an element of intrigue that keeps the pages turning. Overall, this novel is a heartwarming and adventurous read that celebrates identity, family, and the courage to embrace one's past.

If you like a good enemies to more young adult romance with an adventure then this is a great book for that. I enjoyed the love story along with the treasure hunt. Definitely worth the read.

*This review has been added to goodreads*

Okay, this book was such a surprise gem 💎✨ If you love treasure hunts, enemies-to-lovers tension, and globetrotting with a side of emotional growth, Ex Marks the Spot is your next must-read!

Gemma’s story pulled me in right away, her journey to Taiwan is filled with rich cultural threads, clever clues, and some seriously swoony chemistry with her ex-rival Xander (yes, forced proximity fans, this one’s for you 😏). What starts as a quest for inheritance quickly becomes something deeper, a journey into her roots, her grief, and the possibility of letting love in again.

The Taipei setting was vibrant and immersive, and the puzzles sprinkled throughout made this feel like The Inheritance Games meets Loveboat Taipei, but with so much heart. And honestly? I loved watching Gemma navigate not just the physical journey, but the emotional one too.

If you’re in the mood for a YA romance that’s adventurous, heartfelt, and a little bit nerdy in the best way, Ex Marks the Spot is totally worth the read.

I was lucky enough to read/ listen to this one (thanks to PRH Audio and Penguin Group) while traveling in Mexico City which added to the sense of adventure this book brings to life!

“I love my mother—she’s my whole world—but sometimes I wish my world were just a little bit bigger.”

actual rating: 3.75⭐️

Spoilers ahead, you have been warned.

This book was incredibly rich in so many aspects; culture and self-discovery being the main things I want to highlight in this review because it stood out to me from the first few chapters.

A little summary for those that want the gist of this light-hearted but impactful story. Gemma Sun, a Chinese-American first generation soon-to-be college student receives a mysterious message from her grandfather that sends her on a treasure hunt through Taiwan. Her motivations for embarking on this treasure hunt are mostly monetary because she believes that her grandfather left money behind with the inheritance—which she needs a lot of money with her pending tuition bills. In order for her to Taiwan she convinced her ex-boyfriend, Xander, to let her participate in the TARP summer program that is going abroad to Taiwan. What else, oh and there’s tension between Gemma and Xander’s family because of their grandfathers’ history.

Now that I have laid out the foundation of this story I must comment on how detailed and well thought out the treasure hunt was and allowed for me to understand a lot of Chinese-Taiwanese lore, Mandarin phonics, and Taiwan landmarks. Even further, I really loved how Gemma flourished as a character in Taiwan with the other TARPers. Gemma has always felt a bit out of place and has always seen patterns in things that are patternless to most people. That’s why this puzzle is the perfect bridge to not only connect with her grandfather but also her culture, her identity, and with others that share the same struggles as her. The feeling of “Being too Chinese for America yet too American here” is the most relatable thing that any first-generation immigrant deals with—I am Dominican American and I felt that in my soul. It’s a hard act to balance especially for Gemma because she didn’t grow up learning the language or the traditions. But the other TARPers really help her bridge that gap as best as they can while Gemma as she puts together the puzzle is expanding her family’s heritage. But also her realizing things about herself that she definitely inherited from her grandfather such as her love for painting or a good puzzle. It was just all so beautiful to read.

The romance leaves little to be desired but I am honestly not mad about it—it was very simple and for a book like this where the main topics of conversation take priority and are pushing the story forward I actually prefer the romance to take a backseat so we can focus on those themes.

This book was published on December 31, 2024 and it’s taken me this long to finally read it and I have to say I am mad at myself for not reading sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

this one just sounded right up my alley but in the end, i found it just okay, if not a bit boring at times, really. the setup is a little complicated to explain but essentially it follows gemma, who lives with her mom, and as far as she knows her mom is the only family she has. but one day a man shows up on their doorstep with the news that her grandfather has just passed away and that he left behind a scavenger hunt of sorts. the whole thing is a shock to gemma, considering she thought the grandpa she never met long gone, and her ties to taiwanese culture with it, too. gemma and her mom's financial situation isn't great, and gemma is convinced her grandpa has left them an inheritance, which she'll find at the very end of the scavenger hunt, so she convinces her mom to let her go, and begs her ex xander to take her along on his taiwanese heritage trip thingy (the name was too long okay i don't remember). so begins gemma's trip and the scavenger hunt, and mayhaps also some chemistry between the exes...

i think gloria chao just tried to do a little TOO much with this one. i've loved her other novel, "rent a boyfriend" (though i read that one ages ago), and this one just felt like it was trying to hit all the spots at once. second chance romance, financial struggles, family history & lies, feuding families, high school to college transition, trip to unfamiliar place, scavenger hunt... and it was also just a little too silly and over the top at times. the characters were mostly well built, and i think the relationships between them (whether that be gemma & xander or gemma & her mom) were explored well, but i think they required a bit more depth that got overshadowed by the other stuff.

the scavenger hunt was really fun though! i want someone to give me a scavenger hunt to do across taiwan too, please?? if you know me, you know just HOW much i love puzzles, and i did have a lot of fun figuring it out along with gemma & xander, though gemma's stubbornness did get on my nerves a little at times.

overall, this was an okay, or maybe slightly above average (though i might just be saying that because i loved the setting & main plot so much...) young adult contemporary! i think it would have benefitted a lot from a restructure that cut some of the themes handled, to make the others better-handled, but it was not unbearable by any means. ignore that this took me way too long to read, but i'd recommend if you're looking for a quick ya read with some emotional family-related scenes and a unique & fun main plot!

✨ The right book at the right time—and an instant five-star read for me. This fun YA novel checked all my favorite boxes:
📖 Enemies to lovers
📖 Second chance romance
📖 Rival families & family secrets
📖 International travel
📖 A high-stakes scavenger hunt with riddles & clues

Are you sold yet? Because I was.

While the romance is great, the real star here is the thrilling scavenger hunt and layered family mystery. Every new riddle and clue adds depth to the past, and the puzzles? Absolutely brilliant—steeped in culture and language, yet totally accessible for readers without prior knowledge. The author makes sure you can follow along and learn. It’s so much fun!

Plus, the book is set in Taiwan—where I’m actually headed for spring break on a school trip! Experiencing this vibrant setting on the page before I see it in person? Perfection.

📍 If you need a book to get lost in—or a cure for your reading slump—this is it.

This book was honestly adorable (and made my crave Din Tai Fung!!). The relationship between Gemma and Xander felt realistic, rife with the miscommunication, anxieties, and tension of teenagerhood. The treasure hunt unspooled at a lovely pace, providing reasons for the characters to move forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book started off a lil rocky; the info dumping was a lil much. BUT I ended up enjoying it a LOT more than I thought I would! This book has so many layers. The cultural heritage, the identity within that heritage, family trauma and secrets, etc. I LOVED how much Asian culture was shown in the book. The Taiwan setting was written very well, and I really appreciated experiencing that! The second chance romance was also done well; everything from the awkward exes stage to the reconciliation was realistic to me and I can see how others would relate. The puzzles and clues were fun, but I had NO idea how half of them got solved. It was still entertaining tho, and I loved having everything come together. The big reveal SHOCKED ME BUT IN SUCH A FREAKING GOOD WAY. AND THE ENDING HAD ANOTHER BIG REVEAL THAT WAS EVEN BETTER. This was a really good read, and a quick one too! I highly recommend!

Even though this book is a romance, it’s so much more than that. It’s self discovery, it’s a treasure hunt, it’s a family history, and it’s about self acceptance. Gemma is bit different from everyone else, I actually related to her a lot, and through out the book we watch her learn to accept herself even though it was never the focus. The way secrets and family histories were handled was also incredibly well done, with the book placing a lot of emphasis on nuances and how not everything is black and white. The story itself was very interesting, I finished it in one day and I liked seeing Gemma and Xander’s character development. Out of all of Gloria Chao’s books, I think this one is my favorite.

This was definitely adorable and I definitely enjoyed the little romance sprinkled in between the bit of mystery. I do think I wanted more of a treasure hunt with more interactivity but I do love a good journey of self discovery and frenemies situation. I loved the cute little interactions and the "Loveboat Taipei" vibes! Definitely w ould recommend for YA readers that enjoy a dash of romance, a little treasure hunt that ends with a great journey to self discovery, plus the magic of friendship :) I especially love the incoporation of being a bit scared and detached from your own culture and getting to discover that (PLUS THE FOOD)

This is such a cute treasure-hunting romcom! It must've taken so much plotting and planning for Gloria Chao to write this, and I am seriously impressed! Plus, the romance was pretty cute (although it did feel like it took a while for the romance to get going). Now I definitely want to visit Taiwan!

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

I really enjoyed this book! A great look at the immigrant experience and how it's different for each family. Whereas Gemma wasn't even taught the language versus her mother who was forced to be the perfect Asian daughter.
This also had a great point on regrets and learning to let go of grudges. Of what happens when you're too stuck in the past to see what has changed.
I also really enjoyed the puzzles!
Great book!

This was such a fun read!! I was instantly hooked from the first page. Gemma has such an interesting way of expressing herself. She's witty and awkward, but also incredibly passionate, and we can see this during the whole of the book, which is full of family, love, and messy cardboard dogs that just won't go away.

Quote: "I think about how before this trip, I wanted to have a bigger family so badly. It had just never occurred to me that you not only can’t choose how much family you have but who they are."

YA adventure/romance/mystery is making a comeback, and I am here for it!

Gloria Chao introduces us to the world of Gemma, a recent high school graduate that is struggling to connect with her Taiwanese culture. And also figuring out how to pay for college. But suddenly, her future opens up when an unknown man shows up with her recently deceased grandfather's will. His will leaves clues for a treasure hunt that could possibly lead to an inheritance. There's just one major problem: the hunt takes place in Taiwan. And the only way to get there, is by enlisting the help of her number one enemy - her ex-boyfriend Xander.

Once in Taiwan, Gemma embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Solving ingenious puzzles, traveling to foreign places, and eating the yummiest food, Gemma discovers that this treasure hunt will uncover more than just her possible inheritance. Grappling with mixed feelings about Xander, her culture, and her own familial relationships, Gemma realizes that there is much more to her life - and the lives around her - than she ever knew.

I loved this book. I am a puzzle fanatic, and this story was up my alley. Admittedly, I would not have been able to solve many of these puzzles as quickly as the characters did, but it was still fun! The romance between Xander and Gemma was incredibly sweet without being too corny. The way secrets were uncovered seemed very organic and the author did an amazing job in letting the story just naturally flow.

I did figure out the main "twist" pretty early on, but I don't think it was due to it being "obvious," more so that I just read quite a bit. Also, the conclusion did seem pretty clunky, and I had to re-read passages to understand what was occurring. In order to close-out the main storylines, many subplots had to be closed out, as well, and all those endings did get tangled a bit.

Nevertheless, I immediately recommended this book to my niece that also loves a good mystery. And I would love to read more from this author. Much gratitude to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced read. All opinions are my own.

A sweet enemies to lovers story with full of Asian culture representation and treasure hunt. I felt so hungry just by reading about mouth watering food items in the book. It also talks about the self discovery part while getting to know about your family roots.

If you love fun sweet breezy romance with a hint of mystery solving, this is it.

Ex Marks the Spot was super fun and had a cool premise—like rivals-to-lovers meets National Treasure with a Taiwanese twist—but it didn’t totally hit that unputdownable level for me. The treasure hunt was interesting, and I loved getting glimpses of the culture and setting, but the vibes felt a little more cute and casual than heart-racing or swoony. Gemma and Xander had some good moments, but I never felt super invested in their chemistry. Overall, it was a solid read with a unique concept, just not one that completely stole my heart.