Gloria Chao's Ex Marks the Spot is an exhilarating and heartfelt adventure that will sweep readers off their feet. This thrilling rivals-to-lovers romance is set against the vibrant streets of Taiwan, offering a captivating blend of mystery, culture, and personal growth. Gemma’s journey to uncover her inheritance takes readers on a globe-spanning treasure hunt filled with puzzles and unexpected twists, all while uncovering the deep secrets of her family’s past. The dynamic between Gemma and her ex-rival, Xander, is both swoony and relatable, providing the perfect backdrop for their blossoming romance.

Chao’s rich storytelling shines through in this charming tale, with her intricate depiction of Taiwan’s lively culture and a plot that expertly balances adventure with emotional depth. Gemma’s quest not only helps her rediscover her heritage but also allows her to confront her past and forge new connections. Ex Marks the Spot is a delightful and heartwarming read, perfect for fans of romance and adventure, and a must-read for anyone looking for a story full of heart, mystery, and personal discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“Ex Marks the Spot” was so fun to read and get lost in! I loved many of the characters (especially Val and Trisha!), and I especially loved the author’s mouth-watering descriptions of the food and gorgeous landscapes in Taiwan. This Romeo and Juliet style story with feuding families is even more layered with the fact that the main character Gemma once dated her now biggest enemy Xander.

The whole story is a bit of a whirlwind with Gemma graduating high school, then finding out her grandfather just passed away and has left her a clue to a treasure hunt, and she must ask Xander for help her to get to Taiwan. It’s a coming-of-age story where Gemma finally uncovers many secrets of her family’s past and sees her future in a new light.

My only two small complaints were the abrupt end to the love triangle and the museum scene that felt unbelievable for a book set in modern times. Maybe things are different with security in Taiwan, but I doubt it. Otherwise, I was fully invested in this book and very much enjoyed solving the treasure hunt about as much as Gemma did.

Overall, there was so much to like about this book, that I highly recommend it for teens and young adults. It would be a great summer read with the summer break timeline, but the story is a good escape for any time of the year.

This was a delightful read that kept me interested, and had me finished with it in a matter of hours. I loved the character development, exploration of culture, romance, and the story of the two grandfathers. I did sometimes get overwhelmed by the pages of puzzle explanations and skimmed through them.

I was looking forward to another novel by Gloria Chao, but unfortunately, this one was not my favorite. I enjoyed the trip to Taiwan and the two main characters getting to know a bit more about their family and ancestors. I found Gemma unlikeable throughout most of the story and didn’t really feel like she grew or changed to give me anything redeeming by the end of the novel.

Stars: 4 for being as comfy and delicious as your favorite pajamas

My Thoughts:
This devour-worthy story has mystery, a great scavenger hunt and enough regret and drama to keep readers surprised. While Gemma always thought she had no family besides her mom, a surprise visit from a lawyer about an inheritance in Taiwan from her recently deceased grandfather puts her in a tailspin. Not only does she need the "inheritance" for her college, but she needs to figure out how to get to Taiwan. Of course her high school academic rival (and her ex) is running a summer program to Taiwan. Gemma must swallow her pride and dig up some pitiful story to get a spot on the Taiwan trip.

Gemma hates Xander, but luckily, Xander (Alex) does not hate her, so he uses his enormous charm with his family to accept her at the very last minute. The two teens were not ready for the "blood feud" type of resentment between Xander's mom towards Gemma's mom, but between Gemma's grandfather's riddles and Gemma's utter inability to speak anything but English, she has to learn to trust Xander and clue him in on what she is trying to do. She really is a fish out of water. Together, they travel around Taiwan and learn more about both of their grandfather's lives. The most interesting part of this book is not the romance between Xander and Gemma. That is inevitable. The real hook is the story of these two families. It is the misunderstandings, the hidden lives, the loss of relationships, and the understanding of a loved one even after they are gone.

From the Publisher:
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 problem: 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.

Publication Information:
Author: Gloria Chao
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (December 31, 2024)
Paperback: 384 pages

This was a fun time. I really enjoyed following as Gemma solved each of the puzzles, and I would definitely recommend this to fans of The Inheritance Games. This is also a book about culture, family secrets, and finding oneself.

What really made this book stand out though was the setting. Gloria Chao really immerses you into the world and makes you feel like you're in Taiwan along with the characters. Definitely don't read this on an empty stomach, either, because there a lots of food descriptions that will have your mouth watering.

Why Did I Listen To Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao?
Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao really appealed to me because one, I’ve read almost all of Chao’s previous books — except for one. Two, because I love a good puzzle/treasure hunt. Also, I love second chance romances too. I went with audio because it is one of the easier ways for me to focus and really get through a book lately. Having previously devoured Chao’s books I knew Ex Marks The Spot would be a winner for me.

What’s The Story Here?
Ex Marks The Spot opens with Gemma graduating high school. It’s always just been her and her mom. She is looking forward to college and getting an education for a job that will provide economic stability. Gemma’s mom works really hard to provide and money is very tight. Gemma works hard at school but ends up not getting valedictorian. Instead, that goes to her rival Xander, who also used to be her boyfriend. He has life easy as his family has money. When Gemma’s estranged grandfather dies, he leaves behind a will that has a puzzle to unlock and so, Gemma goes to Taiwan to reconnect with her roots and to dive into her family history. There, she learns about a culture that she really has been kind of cut off from. She also starts to make new friends and while unraveling her grandfather’s past, teams up with Xander who helps her solve the puzzles and clues.

How Did I Like Ex Marks The Spot?
I found the audiobook of Ex Marks The Spot to be a really enjoyable lesson. It was easy for me to connect with Gemma – as she grew up very financially insecure. I felt a kinship with her for not having the financial resources of her peers. She’s very smart — but also thinks differently than others, she thinks in puzzles. I just love that part overall. I also loved learning about her grandfather’s secrets. There’s also the bond and romance that starts to form between her and Xander while in Taiwan which was also captivating. This is just a really good book. I think if you like The Inheritance Games, this is sort of in that vein, but also not quite. It stands on its own merits and as said, is quite a good listen.

How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of Ex Marks The Spot is narrated by Yu-Li Alice Shen. It is 9 hours and 1 minute. Of course I listened to this slightly sped up. I think this was the first audiobook I’ve listed to by Shen. I liked her narration — it was smooth, easy to listen to. Her voice added to Gemma’s character, I think. I didn’t find myself zoning out during Shen’s narration.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Gloria Chao, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma has only know life with just her and her mom. No one else. Not even any grandparents. She has always thought they were dead. One day though, a mysterious man shows up to tell her that her grandfather has passed away and gets a clue to lead her on a hunt for an inherit a fortune.
There's just one big problem, she has to go to Taiwan, where her grandfather lived and she has to ask her biggest rival, Xander for his help!
Soon though, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world ready for an adventure and money. While on her adventure though, Gemma realizes there may possibly be more to life than money. Will she even find love?


A very sweet enemies to lovers YA read! I loved the talk of food and culture. I also loved how Gemma found more of herself.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one.

I really liked the way culture was shown in this book. I found it relatable how everyone had different experiences and struggles but shared a common heritage. The mystery/puzzle element was great. Gemma did annoy me sometimes but she got it together towards the end. The weaving of the past and present was magnificent. I’d definitely recommend this!

I have been wanting to read something fun and light after all the deep contemporary reads which I love, but my brain needs a break lol. When I heard about this book, I jumped on it right away.

This was a really fun Asian read with interloping themes of found family, uncovering past tangled connections, Asian roots and self discovery filled with my favourite part of the book - puzzles. My hyperactive brain loves puzzles to decode, so I loved every bit of the treasure hunt. (Yes there's one *wink*).

The biggest highlight in this book for me, was exploring Taiwan with its sights and foods along the way, reading about them, made me add Taiwan to my bucket list, especially sights of Yangmingshan and niu rou mian. Also, Daphne and Xander's 'enemies to lovers' trope angle was fun but also real to read.

Coming to layers, there were lovely layers. I could connect with Daphne right away with her struggle to take care of herself but also needing support to lighten her burdens. I have highlighted a few of my favourite quotes, so do slide the carousel along.

Kudos to the writer for bringing it all together. I enjoyed reading this one.

Book Recommendation - Hell Yeah.
Thanks to colorpagestour, penguinsteen and gloria chao for gifting me a free copy for an honest review.

Overall this was a cute and enjoyable story, though I did find myself bored at times. Both Gemma and Xander annoyed me at times, but Gemma did exhibit some growth over the course of the book.

one will, an epic adventure across taiwan, two ex lovers, thirteen hints, and a lot of untold stories. will this trip across the ocean fix everything or be the reason everything falls apart?

ex marks the spot [★★★★★]

AHHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! ex marks the spot is the perfect coming of age book that encapsulates the cultural identity crisis and that feeling of not fitting in anywhere right. this book shows the desperate attempt of a dying man to connect with his child 🤧 also miss gloria??!?! your brain is insanely impressive cause this treasure hunt? i would've failed 500 times within just the first clue (and that's being generous)

“𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪…” 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚. “𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.”𝙃𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚—𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚. “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙯𝙯𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝘼 𝙋𝙖𝙣.”

gemma is our adorable protagonist who feels completely lost in life and wants to learn about her culture and her family. and she gets the perfect opportunity: her grandfather’s will. so now all she needs to do is get to taiwan to start this epic treasure hunt. but that would mean getting help from her annoying ex. ugh who wants that? but desperate times call for desperate measures *sigh*

i may not be chinese, or asian american, but as a third culture kid, i could painfully relate to gemma’s struggles with culture. and throughout the book we see the treasure hunt evolve from a means of inheritance into something way more important. it shows us who gemma’s grandfather aka gong gong was, and what led him to make the mistakes he did. i absolutely loved this aspect of the book, because it serves as a reminder: they might not be right, we can atleast try to understand them better.

this is your book, if you love:
🗺️ treasure hunt
🏮 set in taiwan
💔 lovers-to-rivals-to-???
🥹 found family
😭 unexpected plot twists

also the puns and jokes and all in this book is top tier! even the title itself is one big pun 🤭 ex marks the spot is out now!!! thank you so much to @coloredpagesbt @penguinteen @gloriacchao for this opportunity to be part of the book tour!

Gemma Sun and her mom have always relied only on each other to make ends meet, so Gemma is surprised to learn that she has a grandfather who recently passed away and left her some kind of inheritance. Documents containing clues to a treasure hunt will lead her to his apartment in Taipei, Taiwan. Hoping there will be money to help pay for her college, Gemma decides to accept the challenge. In order to get paid travel to Taiwan, Gemma reaches out to her rival and former boyfriend Xander Pan asking to join his Taiwanese American Roots Pursuit (TARP) summer program. Gemma meets new friends, learns about her culture, and partners with Xander to solve the puzzles that lead to her inheritance.

I enjoyed the adventure of Gemma taking her first trip to Taiwan and being able to learn more about her Taiwanese culture by sightseeing, trying new foods, and learning more of the language. I also appreciated that Gemma was able to feel connected to her grandfather through their common interest in creating and solving puzzles and in art.
The relationship between Gemma and Xander was playful and sweet.

I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a lighthearted YA romance with an international adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The puzzles really kept me wanting to continue the story. I also really enjoyed getting some cultural information as the story moved along. I have never been out of the US so books really help paint the pictures for me.

I also enjoyed the romance aspect of the story. It was really sweet to see how the 2 MCs developed by the end of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a sweet love story or puzzles!

I really enjoyed my first Gloria Chao novel! I own American Panda but haven't read it yet (story of my LIFE) and I will definitely be striving to read it in February! Ex Marks the Spot was a lot of fun! A bunch of puzzles to a possibly hidden treasure at the end? Plus rivals to couple?! I can't call it rivals to lovers because there is no "loving" in this so we will leave it open-ended, do what you want! lol.

I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with everything in this book, but over all it was a good story. I enjoyed the treasure hunt the two main characters set out on when they went to Taiwan. I have to agree that this book is reminiscing of "Loveboat Taipei". I was a fan of both books.
Gemma and Xander made the story interesting, and we got to see what a misunderstanding can do to friends.
This book is well worth a read! :)

Gemma has always loved puzzles, and always seen clues in seemingly innocent places. When she's given her grandfather's will - a grandfather her mother told her had died years ago - she sees the start of a treasure hunt. But the clues are leading her to where he spent the last years of his life - Taiwan.

There's no way Gemma can afford to travel to Taiwan - she still doesn't know how she's going to pay for her first semester of college. Except, there is a program at her school. Unfortunately run by one of her least favorite people - her ex boyfriend who she now calls Xander Pander. He can't take anything seriously and is always clowning around, looking for jokes and approval. Still, she sucks up her pride and begs, and against all odds, he finds a way for her into the program. She's now part of TARP, and on a paid trip to Taiwan with other kids around the nation wanting to connect with their roots.

Gemma is hoping for an inheritance, a way to solve her financial problems and get her into the college of her dreams. Instead, she finds herself getting to know her grandfather, his hopes and his flaws, and the part of her culture her mom has always refused to acknowledge.

This journey was great, with Gemma getting to explore another country, with kids her own age and with similar backgrounds. At first, she feels like the odd man out - she doesn't know Mandarin, something she's always felt ashamed of - and so many of the references go over her head. Soon she finds out that the other TARPers - the name unfortunately grows on her - have similar feelings of inadequacy when it comes to knowing all about their family's pasts. As she explores Taiwan with her grandfather's words, and even has to rope in Xander to help, she finds roots where there'd only been empty space before.

Wonderfully written, thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for the early copy of this one!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook.
Rating: 3.5

“Ex Marks the Spot” by Gloria Chao follows Gemma, a recent high school graduate. She begins to realize there’s more to life—and more to her small world—than the tunnel vision she’s had for almost her whole life. She’s raised by her single mother, who it turns out, hasn’t been honest to her daughter about her only recently deceased grandfather. To learn more about him (and a potential life changing inheritance), she must go on scavenger hunt in Taiwan and ask her only serious ex-boyfriend, Xander for help.

The journey that follows ended up being so sweet—I loved the FMC point-of view and the self-exploration/growth the reader gets to see. The puzzles created by the grandfather are so well done, and while maybe the list could be hard to follow at times—it ended up making sense. The couple of plot twists with the grandfather were well set up (and maybe a bit predictable?). They were still interesting and fun to get too—for example (spoilers incoming****skip this paratheses if you don’t want to know!!*** The grandfather ends up being the secret artist “X” whose work they see at a museum exhibit, minus one painting. It really wasn’t too much of a surprise as his clues were repetitive “to get to know me,” “x marks the spot,” and he saved all of his repainted works. There was also one piece of work missing, and it was a major clue. Also, the fact that he was in a relationship with Xander’s grandfather, they are not ex-business partners. It’s clear that her grandmother abandoned the marriage around the 60’s because of his secret relationship. There’s also a couple of works that show relationships between the same gender***)

The scenery, the descriptions, even historical references were very well done. I cannot tell you how the food descriptions—ugh—sent me! I desperately want to go to Tawain for the street side snacks, for this perfect tangy/spicy soup. I did read both the NetGalley ARC and waited a bit longer for the audiobook to become available (which was very well done, especially reading Mandarin). There are some novels that I read that are YA, where my reaction is usually along the lines of “well….it is YA, lower your expectations,” but this isn’t how I felt all. The romantic tension was closed door, and very tender. I also got vibes that our FMC maybe neurodivergent (she feels excluded—some of that is her own actions, for sure, but other times--) it’s clear that she thinks about things differently. The reason for the break up as freshman was a big misunderstanding, and she just assumed the teasing/jokes was bullying and not him trying to be friends. It seems like she had a hard time, at least from her own point of view, in connecting with others/feeling grounded in friendships. Also the thought process/way she makes connections: painting, the puzzles, even her own growth and re-evaluating—all of that was well done and highlighted that’s she a bit different (at least to me).

I think this a great YA book that expands to new adults as well. I would say my final rating is a 3.5. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and I’m happy to recommend to readers who want a touch of romance, but more adventures/puzzles. This a great book for recent high school graduates especially, as I think there’s a lot that young people let out into the world as adults for the 1st time—can relate too. I think some of her initial feelings in the first half of the book made me feel frustrated as a reader. But a lot of that is just miscommunication—my least favorite in a book.

A fun YA romance centered around a treasure hunt. The main character, Gemma, doesn't have the money for college after graduating high school, but she learns that her grandfather left her a treasure hunt as her inheritance, which may just allow her to afford college. BUT she needs help from her ex-boyfriend Xander, who is pretty much the last person she wants to ask for help. Gemma must travel to Taiwan to work through all of the clues in the treasure hunt. Of course, there will be fun and romance along the way.