I had a fun time reading this book! I love the fun puzzles, anagrams and equations. Sometimes they're even too much for my brain haha! I also love how this book shows how hard it is to be a child of an asian immigrant in the US. It perfectly depicted in the story how hard it is to decide if you would live your life how your parents want you to vs. your own expectations, how hard it is to not know your parent's cultures and discovering them yourself and also the ups and downs of the asian culture. I just wish there were a little bit more attraction between the main characters but I still enjoyed the story a lot!
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for letting me read this ARC.

This is a fun, adventurous YA romance that perfectly encapsulated the scavenger hunt plots I loved as a teen (Indiana Jones, National Treasure, etc.) People who like that kind of storyline and solving puzzles will enjoy this book.

Beyond the scavenger hunt element, there were some deeper plot points that gave Ex Marks the Spot a complexity I really enjoyed. Gemma's disconnect from her roots, complicated family/generational dynamics, and financial issues all felt complex and real and had me invested in what would happen to Gemma and her family.

I was honestly less interested in the romance than I was in the treasure hunt and family history. The dynamic between Gemma and Xander wasn't that compelling to me, since they don't seem to mesh well personality wise. The "lesson" of the story is that Gemma has to loosen up a bit and live in the moment--which I get--but I thought that particular arc wasn't executed as well as it could have been. Gemma needs to focus on academics because she's fairly poor. She must get scholarships in order to go to college. Xander never seemed to understand that, though it's a real issue for many people, with life-altering consequences. For that reason, his flippant attitude throughout soured his character for me a bit.

Still, I enjoyed this book; Gemma was sympathetic, the elements of exploring her cultural heritage were compelling, and the descriptions of food had my stomach rumbling and me fantasizing about takeout. I would recommend this book to teen and adult readers alike.

Slow start, interesting story. Although I thought this book was fantastic, the slow start prevents me from giving it higher than three stars. This has nothing to do with the plot or the characters (whom I enjoyed), but it seemed like there were a lot of unanswered questions and misunderstandings that were resolved more through emotional outbursts than in a timely manner. Once more, I have nothing against this book; in fact, I found it to be quite enjoyable. Although the romance was endearing, I can't say that I was truly cheering them on. More than anything, I liked the mystery. Apart from that, I have nothing more to say. What a mystery!

3.5 (rounded up)

Ex Marks the Spot is a heartwarming YA story about family ties, diaspora identity, and the journey of discovering oneself, all wrapped up in an intriguing inheritance heist amidst the bustling city of Taipei.

All her life, it has always just been Gemma Chan and her mother. However, on the eve of her high school graduation, Gemma receives an inheritance from her estranged grandfather, who she never knew, that leads her on a treasure hunt all the back to his home in Taiwan. Along the way, Gemma reluctantly teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Xander Pan and golden boy, who is seemingly perfect in every way Gemma isn’t. Together, they unravel clues that soon illuminate light on their shared family history and Gemma learns more about her cultural roots and herself in the process.

I absolutely loved the idea of an inheritance treasure hunt and Gloria Chao does a great job tying each clue to aspects of Gemma’s Taiwanese heritage and her grandfather. There were some aspects of the treasure hunt that seemed slightly unbelievable to me, but nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed the story each step of the way. I thought Chao’s depiction of Gemma’s own issues with her Taiwanese-American identity were really well done and the depiction of assimilation, with its good and bad, were really important to explore especially in a young adult novel.

Tying together love, family and loss, Ex Marks the Spot is both a fun and moving YA story full of unexpected twists and turns that will have guessing until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

In this endearing American Chinese coming-of-age novel, the story centers around Gemma Sun, a high school student longing for a broader family beyond just her and her mother. Financial challenges have always been present, forcing her to mature faster than she would have preferred. Gemma takes her academics seriously, aiming for excellent grades to qualify for scholarships. Additionally, her mother, in an attempt to assimilate her completely into American culture, has eradicated all traces of Asian culture from their lives. English is the only language Gemma speaks, and her native culture is completely foreign to her.

Enter Alex (or Xander, as he prefers), Gemma's co-valedictorian at graduation and her nemesis. Xander is popular, seemingly carefree, and comes from a wealthy family that speaks fluent Mandarin. During his graduation speech, he compares everyone to a box of chocolates, leaving the audience in laughter. Gemma wonders how she can possibly follow up on such a captivating speech.

Suddenly, after the graduation ceremony, a man tries to approach Gemma and her mother, prompting her mother to rush them home. Later, Gemma learns that the man was her grandfather's lawyer, attempting to deliver a package intended for her and her mother. Shocked, Gemma discovers that her grandfather has recently passed away, contrary to what her mother had told her when she was young.

Gemma's grandfather has left behind a puzzle that either she or her mother must solve. However, there's a catch—Gemma must travel to Taiwan. To assist her, Xander's program, designed to help Chinese American students connect with their roots, offers a way for her to travel to Taiwan.

Similar to "Love In Taipei," this novel immerses readers in the culture of Taiwan, where the barely there counselors are just young college students with a relaxed approach to the rules, thus allowing Gemma to go off on her own to solve the treasure hunt her grandfather wants her to embark on. Despite their initial dislike for each other, as Gemma and Xander embark on this journey together, Gemma learns more about her culture, herself, and the story of her grandfather. She also discovers that things are not always as they seem, including Xander.
While this book is targeted toward Young Adult readers and is a stand alone, I could easily see this novel turn into a series. I would like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this e-ARC for my honest review.

Interesting story, slow start. I really enjoyed this book, but the reason I can't give it more than three stars is because the start just felt really slow. This has nothing to do with the story, or the characters (Whom I liked) but it just felt like there were so many questions and a lot of confusion that wasn't taken care of in a timely manner and instead more through emotional outbursts. Again, I have nothing against this book, it was actually really entertaining. The romance was sweet, but I can't say I was really rooting for them in the end. I enjoyed the mystery more than anything. Other than that, I don't have any other comments. Great mystery!

This book was enjoyable!

I loved the writing and the story and the adventure it took the characters on. I loved how it discussed culture and even if I'm not Chinese like the main character, I could relate to some aspects as half Hispanic. The romance wad sweet and even though it took a little to get into, it was a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for and E-ARC

The story is fine! In the end it didn't re-invent anything, but it was a cute YA romcom that I think a lot of people will relate to and absolutely enjoy. We need more stories like this one, and I'm happy they're being made.

This was a cute, yet heartwarming YA novel about coming of age and discovering your roots, along with an enemies-to-lovers slash second-chance travel romance. I know that's a mouthful, but this book is all of that and it works. It's full of compelling language, all told from MC Gemma's point of view, and ends up reading quite quickly It's fun and cut, but also has a ton of heart. Plus, there's a family twist that was completely unexpected but absolutely adorable. Like, I was desperate to figure out how this book would end.

“I am a mix of all my experiences.”
🗺️
Gemma has had to struggle her whole life. She grew up with a single mom who works multiple jobs and now just graduated in a valedictorian tie with her ex-boyfriend. At the same time she learns her mother’s father has died and left her something in his will. Gemma learns it’s the beginning of a treasure hunt that takes place in Taipei. She hates to do it, but ends up begging her ex, Xander, to let her into a summer abroad program so she can afford to go. Once there it turns out she and Xander must work together in order to find the treasure at the end. The journey ends up being more than the two bargained for.
❌
Oh my goodness! This was such a well-researched & well-written YA romance book. I loved learning so much about Taipei and its surrounding locations. It felt like I was there too. Fans of Loveboat Taipei and The Inheritance Games will love this novel as I believe it’s a great blending of what made both those series’ so good. Gloria Chao how did you think of all those clues?!Amazing! Also, I got very teary at the end. Tropes include #enemiestolovers #secondchanceromance, travel, & treasure hunt. This title releases December 31!

CW: death of a grandparent, abandonment, classism, grief, generational trauma

Knowing nothing of Taiwanese culture, I was amazed at how well Gloria Chao was able to weave it within the overall structure of exes to enemies to friends to lovers - all with an incredible puzzle structure that kept me hooked even more so than that aspect.

The concept of family, identity, and acceptance is one that I'm constantly trying to integrated in my classroom library, and the intersectionality of this title makes it a perfect choice to have on shelves.

Oh, my god. A new favorite. A romance with a bit of adventure and longing? Perfection. I need more like… right now would be nice.

Super cute and charming for anyone looking for a light read. The pacing and writing are spot-on for a teen YA. However, the clues did feel a little too convoluted to be unraveled by two teenagers. Thanks to penguin teen for an advanced copy!!

While the plot was different, this story reminded me of A Banh Mi For Two, which I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed Ex Mark's the Spot. While the story is centered around two teens are, essentially, rebelling against their mothers there were so many enjoyable elements. I really loved how this book explores Chinese culture and how this was interwoven into Gemma's experiences and perspective while Xander provides more context. The author did a good job of illustrating this sk it felt natural and interesting as the reader. Speaking of Gemma and Xander, they were well-developed and interesting characters. I was glad we got to see them grow individually, conjointly, as well as see the growth in their relationships with their mothers. Also, I don't want to spoil too much of the story,but the mytstery and puzzle elements of the story were a nice added touch that was enjoyable to read.

I love a good puzzle and following the story and clues with the main characters in this book was really fun. I enjoyed it being set in a different country, and I enjoyed trying to visualize the places they visited. I enjoy stories where people connect with who they are and where their family comes from. The stories of multiple generations and families were woven throughout and some were heartbreaking. I think I'd read this again, and it was a fun ARC that wasn't even on my radar. Thank you NetGalley!

thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin Teen for the ARC!

Ex Marks the Spot follows Gemma Sun, who finds a puzzle in her grandfather's will that sends her on a treasure hunt through Taiwan with her ex. She discovers hidden family secrets and learns about her identity, heritage, and future.

This was a quick, easy but very fun read! I loved the premise of this and how I felt completely submersed in Taiwans culture. It truly made me want to book a ticket so I could try all the yummy food they had!

I'm a mature woman reading this teen/young adult book clearly targeted for that demographic. I loved it, though. I enjoyed the introduction to Chinese culture and places as experienced through Gemma., while learning more from Xander's explanations. The tension between these two, as well as their chemistry, is palpable. The teens are both rebelling against their mothers, but this trip to explore their origins brings them closer - to their mothers, to each other, and amongst the two families. The food descriptions were interesting but I couldn't relate since I'm of German/Russian origin. The puzzles and the treasure hunt, however, are the highlight of this tale. There are numerous different types of puzzles to solve, and all were part of this exciting adventure. If I was Gemma, I would have been thrilled to learn more about my Grandfather in such a novel and exciting way! I was carried along as the hunt progressed, excited about the next steps - all while still absorbing the different culture.

Spoiler: Throughout the whole story, Gemma never gave her Grandfather any credit for being the wronged party. in her family. When her mother got pregnant, she never gave him the opportunity to support her - she just fled and never looked back. All of Gemma's hardships were because of her mother's decisions - where is the accountability there?

Anyway, other than disliking Gemma's mother, I loved this adventure! It was exciting and fun, and it was heartwarming!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Reader Group for giving me the opportunity to read and review an early copy!

Ex Marks The Spot is a young adult book filled with enemies-to-lovers, self-discovery, exploring one’s roots and a fantastic treasure hunt that proves not everything is truly as it seems.

When Gemma Sun receives a letter from her estranged grandfather sending her on a treasure hunt that forces her to work with her ex. This book was absolutely adorable! So well researched and so deeply touching. The book was fast paced, funny and gave such a beautiful insight into Taiwan and the culture.

I think this book did a wonderful job at portraying the feelings you have when you realize you know nothing about the place you’ve come from. Even if you do not come from Asian descent I feel like that’s an emotion that many children of immigrants experience in their lifetime and Gloria did an excellent job at putting those emotions into words!

Ex Marks the Spot is overall an excellent and emotional book that is a love letter to Gloria Choa’s culture that comes across so deeply in her writing!

3.5 stars! ~ this was a quick fun read that I enjoyed very much. I love the elements it took on discussing asian cultures, upbringings and assimilation when it comes to immigrant families/parents. Overall this was a quick fun read. I wish the angst and banter frm Xander and Gemma were a little bit more fleshed out and background of their relationship could have been more explored. Otherwise entertaining read!

This is such a cute and heartwarming story. Gloria Chao cleverly combines the adrenaline of a treasure hunt with Gemma learning about her culture and her grandfather who she never knew. Requiring her ex to solve the treasure hunt and having their pasts inextricably linked works really well with the enemies to lovers story.

I read this in one sitting and felt like I was there beside Gemma as she navigated growing up and making friends and understanding and making peace with her mother while also navigating a foreign country. Luckily she has a great group of fellow summer program students there with her to help with both the treasure hunt and with connecting to her Chinese culture that her mom always kept her separate from.

Highly recommend this one. It's a lot of fun and the treasure hunt to discover Gemma's grandfather's past adds a level of excitement and intrigue that other learning-about-your-past-and-culture books don't always manage.

*Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.