Gemma Sun has been raised by her single mom, without any other family in the picture, for her whole life. She’s just graduated high school when she finds out that the grandfather she thought had died when she was little actually just died weeks before. And he’s left her … a box of newspaper clippings.

What becomes clear soon enough is that the box is just the first of a long set of clues in some kind of treasure hunt. Gemma is both sad and angry that she never got to meet her grandfather, but this is a way to get to know him a little. And maybe, just maybe, though it sounds like he had no wealth to speak of, somehow the hunt will end in money. Because Gemma and her mom have both been working for years and still the cost of college seems impossible to pay.

It also becomes clear Gemma’s going to have to go to Taiwan, where her grandfather has been living for decades and her mom grew up. Unfortunately, again, she has no money to get there. Enter Gemma’s ex from when they were both 14: Xander, a wealthy and privileged guy who happens to run a program that connects Taiwanese youths with their heritage. She’s been annoyed by Xander for four years, but she swallows her pride and asks him for help.

Then she’s off to Taiwan, where she gets to explore many parts of her heritage that her American-focused mom hasn’t shared. And where she has to try to piece together the clues to solve this set of puzzles.

Ex Marks the Spot has a fun mix of elements: it’s a sweet romance; it’s a story about an Asian-American teen trying to figure out where she fits in; it’s a treasure hunt. I enjoyed all the elements and how neatly they fit together.

Most of the book is set in Taiwan, and it is one of the stars of the book. Gloria Chao makes it shine, with descriptions of beautiful places, delicious foods, and interesting bits of culture and language. I certainly felt compelled to want to visit myself sometime!

A clean story that ticks all the boxes. (And if you loved Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games books, you’ll likely enjoy this.)

Quick synopsis: Gemma needs to solve a puzzle she believes will lead to her inheritance. But the only way to do that is to go to her grandfather's house in Taiwan. And the only way to get to Taiwan is to get her ex and rival, Xander, to help.

Thoughts: I cannot emphasize enough how much I loved this book. The vibrant descriptions of Taiwan, the landmarks, and the food made me feel like I was right next to Gemma and the TARPers. I loved the large cast, Xander's personality, Gemma's competitiveness and determination to see the hunt through, and the emotional journey she goes through as she learns more and more about her Gong Gong. I think you'll enjoy this if you like puzzles, atmospheric reads, deeply emotional stories about family, especially estranged ones, and a little bit of romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. I loved the storyline and the character development. I would definitely recommend this book.

I adored this book. You can feel how much of a love letter to Taiwan it is, and it's wonderful. Granted, you don't have to be Taiwanese to appreciate Gemma's journey. I grew up with similar complicated family dynamics that were portrayed in this book and felt so seen (I honestly just thought it was me with the k-drama level backstory for so long, lol). I love how so many different API upbringings were portrayed. I'm not Taiwanese, but I still got the references about leaving your wet hair out in the AC, the unlucky number four, and even growing up on rice crackers!

The puzzles and entire treasure hunt were so cool to read about. We're talking Davinci Code level over here. I had so much fun trying to figure things out before the answers were revealed.

The story left me in my thoughts about my own parents, their experiences coming to Canada, and how it must have been like for them. I have a complicated relationship with my parents, to say the least, but this book gave me a different outlook on what life must have been like when they were my age. I love how books provide a safe space to explore things like this within your head.

This one is a great read if you enjoy puzzles, adventure, and heartbreaking stories.

(4.5) I need to start a new list of books that will put you in your grandparent feels. (If you want your grandparent feels to have more adult enemies to lovers you should pick up You with a View.)

This made me CRY so it's automatically rounded up to a 5 star rating. This is Today Tonight Tomorrow meets The Inheritance Games with Loveboat, Taipei.

CW: Parental abandonment (theme); Poverty (theme)

This book is an beautiful ode to puzzles, neurodivergent brains (Gemma and her grandpa are so autistic-coded), Taiwan, learning about your culture regardless of your age, and forgiving those who have already passed on and aren't able to accept the apology anymore.

Gemma's mother has made sure she assimilates as an American, so she has no connection to her Chinese heritage and doesn't speak a lick of Mandarin. When she learns her grandfather passed away recently (and not years ago like she was told) she finds a puzzle in his will, sending her on a hunt through Taiwan. While on her two-week adventure, Gemma heals multiple relationships, including one with herself, and most importantly, she is forced to work alongside her rival and co-valedictorian.

The comps I made at the beginning of the review literally describe this book perfectly. Take the rivals to lovers and hunt vibes of T3, add in the Taiwan setting and the lack of chaperons for a school trip from Loveboat Taipei, sprinkle in the scavenger hunt by way of an estranged, deceased grandparent's will à la The Inheritance Games... and you have this book! And I think almost every element was executed well.

This wasn't quite a perfect read for me, mainly in the romance. I wanted it to start so much sooner, both the rivals-to-friends-again bit, but also the actual romance itself. Gemma is off on her own for too long at the beginning. I felt like the book really picked up once Xander joins her. The caretaking would have hit so much harder if they had mended some of their relationship more by that point. Also, minor spoiler about the romance: (view spoiler)

I also predicted all of the plot twists, but that happens every time I read a book these days so that didn't affect my enjoyment.

I loved talking about this book with my family and friends who have been to Taiwan, and I can't wait to make all of them read this book. My family all went without me because I had finals and I am still mourning. I wish Gemma and Xander had to go up the monkey mountain and end up getting chased by monkeys (rip to my sister who was actually chased by monkeys on that mountain. She's alive dw). Maybe in a sequel when they return to Taiwan? Gloria Chao are you hearing this??

The ending really sold this book for me. I had tears running down my face. 🥹

Rep: Chinese main characters; Latina side character

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the arc and the finished copy. This does not affect my review at all and my opinions are my own.

4/5🌟
Ex Marks the Spot is sure to be a treasure for readers craving a cozy, coming of age adventure where the main character finds herself while learning more about her roots, her culture and family history. There are foodie highlights to make you crave good eats and fast pace fun, feel good adventure and a nice pinch of sweet second chance/rivals to lovers romance.

Definitely check it out!

Thank you to Penguin Group, Viking Books for Young Readers, Netgalley , and the author for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

The found family aspect mixed with the deeper meaning of what it means to have a community really hit home. The concept of this book hit the mark. I was impressed on the deeper message of family and community that was portrayed in a young adult story. This book was a delight from start to finish.

This was a quick and fun frenemies to lovers story. I think that the general premise of the story was fairly predictable but what made the story were the puzzles and the storyline with their grandfathers. For me the secondary storyline and the way the author wrote about Taiwan - the food, the scenery, the culture - is what really made this book exciting and interesting. While I do think that the main characters could have been a little more dimensional and their plot line a little more deep it was still a fun book and I enjoyed reading it.

This was a really entertaining second-chance romance book about Gemma, a recent high school graduate who, after receiving a mysterious box full of strange newspaper stories from her grandfather in his estate, travels to Taiwan with a student program for a treasure hunt. In the end, this pursuit serves as a means for her to uncover long-kept truths and investigate her family's past and along the way her own identity. She is accompanied by her ex-boyfriend, Xander.

The wordplay, puzzles, and most importantly, the math with Chinese characters were my favorite aspects of this book. It was incredibly cleverly put together; nothing was so simple or too complex that you couldn't imagine anyone could understand.

There were also some weaker areas. For their age, the characters' behavior seemed a tad juvenile. Additionally, it seemed improbable that someone like Gemma wouldn't already know how to pay for college.

This book lacked a bit in depth for me but overall it was a good read for me!!!

For Gemma, it’s always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knows, all her grandparents—and her connections to Taiwanese culture—are long gone. That is, until a mysterious stranger arrives with two shocking revelations: her grandfather has just passed away, and he left behind the first clue to a treasure hunt that could lead to a life-changing inheritance.

There’s just one catch: to follow the trail, Gemma must travel to Taiwan. The only way she can get there is by teaming up with Xander, her ex and former high school rival. Reluctantly swallowing her pride, Gemma sets off on an adventure halfway across the globe. But as she pieces together the clues, she realizes this hunt isn’t just about money—it’s about uncovering her family’s story, reconnecting with her roots, and maybe, just maybe, opening her heart to love.

I LOVED this book. I learned so much about Taiwan that I want to GO to all the places Gemma and Xander explore. The mystery aspect reminded me of the Grandfather from Inheritance Games, except this time, the puzzles were made out of love. I would love to see how Gloria Chao mapped all these puzzles out! Would love to see more of this enemies to lovers team again!

This was a lighthearted read. I loved the themes of culture, the representation of Taiwanese culture, and the journey of self-exploration and discovering one's roots. The book takes us on a treasure hunt adventure as the main character, Gemma Sun, seeks to reconnect and learn more about her grandfather.
Thank you Penguin Teens and ColoredPagesBT for the gifted copy.

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.

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

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

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED THIS BOOK!! The puzzles, the romance, the culture oh my gosh! I loved Gloria’s When You Wish Upon a Lantern so much and I was so excited about the book and it didn’t disappoint! Gemma and Xander are so cuteee. I loved the exploration of culture and Gemma feeling like she’s not connected to her Asian culture. I’m Asian American and I don’t know the language my culture is from. Gemma doesn’t know Chinese so she feels very isolated from her culture also due to her mom not sharing it with her. There’s always a struggle of feeling not Asian enough but also not quite American enough. This book captures that feeling and I almost cried at the end because of how much I related to it. This really hit home and I’m so excited to meet Gloria someday!! I also can’t wait for Gloria’s next books! I need to read the rest of her backlist now.

I went from this book is going to be a 3 star to omg I am obsessed. The beginning of Ex Marks the Spot was slow. I wasn't sure I liked Gemma. I even considered putting it down at one point, for the time being but I am so glad I pushed through.

The story gets so much better in the second half and the characters grow, both in the story and on me. This book is so good in talking about cultural identity and how much it can be a struggle to fit anywhere. It takes place all over Taiwan and now I want to visit it.

One thing that I have liked and appreciated the most in a few of the recent Asian literature I have read is the fmc's relationship with their mothers. In Asia, we have a number of cultural and so much history and even the present lifestyle that differentiates us but I think one thing we can all agree on is the not so smooth relationship daughters have with their mothers. I mostly feel the scene in these parts of the storyline.

The treasure hunt was so nicely done and all points to Gloria Chao for writing it so well.

This was an exceptionally well written book dealing with heritage and family. It handles it in a very interesting and fun way, a treasure hunt. While I’m definitely not the target audience, I did enjoy it.

Another hit by Gloria Chao!

Gemma feels like her world is small - it's always been her mom and her against the world and all she's ever known is her small town in Massachusetts. However, when a treasure hunt takes her abroad to Taipei, Taiwan, her eyes are opened to not just another part of the world, but her own history, her own family, and her own heart.

I had so much fun reading this book. The writing was easy to fall into, as is always the case with Gloria Chao, and Gemma and Xander pop off the page from the start. I loved getting to know them, along with the TARP crew, and seeing all the different ways these diaspora teens interacted with their culture - some were fluent in Mandarin, others weren't; some have been to Taipei, other only heard about it through stories; some knew their history, while others never got to learn - all were valid and it showed that various ways that the diaspora exists and I loved that.

The treasure hunt was a way for Gemma to learn about her history - the life of her grandfather, but also those who knew him. With some plot twists and secrets uncovered, it ended up being everything and more than what Gemma had initially bargained for. After reading The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, this story hits different.

While this book has bits of romance, I feel like this story was truly a love letter to Taiwan, its diaspora, and the history we've lost and gained over time. I absolutely loved it and it made me so so hungry while reading!

TW: grief; mentions homophobia, death of a grandparent, pregnancy, cancer

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Finished copy gifted via Colored Book Tours by Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review

I feel like I've seen or read another book by this author - which is what originally caught my eye.
The cover art felt familiar. And it's definitely eye-catching.

This book is young adult, but it still held my attention fairly well.
It tackled topics of heritage and family.

Cute read overall.

I loved this book. This story was full of second chances, family mystery, and love. Chao did such a wonderful job weaving mystery, culture, and self-discovery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Ex Marks the Spot follows Gemma as she embarks on an overseas scavenger hunt setup by her late estranged grandfather.

This was a sweet little book! The rivals-to-lovers plotline, Gemma's journey connecting not only to her family's history but also her culture, the whole arc of all of her grandfather's puzzles, all of it kept me engaged and enjoying the experience of reading this book. Gloria Chao is great at character, and Gemma is a character I quickly grew to love and had no trouble rooting for. I adored how most of the internal conflict involved Gemma's own understanding of herself and her family, and that the romance, while certainly present, wasn't the only thing this book had going for itself. While this wasn't necessarily the twisty mystery to end all twisty mysteries, nor the whirlwind swoonworthy romance to end all romances, overall Ex Marks the Spot was a lovely read that I'd certainly pick up again, and recommend to anyone looking for a lighter vibes YA that still has some meat on its bones.

3.25⭐️
A fast paced young adult story about finding yourself and understanding where you come from. While this book can be emotional at times, it was also so much fun! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming of age story’s, and ya romance with an emotional plot.