Ex Marks the Spot
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
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 things: 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 Gemma can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, she 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Taiwanese American 18-year-old Gemma Sun is used to being considered boring and socially awkward, especially compared to her popular and charismatic Taiwanese American ex-boyfriend Xander Pan, whom she detests after an unpleasant breakup ("He accused me of being no fun") and whose connection to their culture she envies. Then she's contacted by an attorney, who tells her that her grandfather recently died and that he'd left Gemma old newspaper clippings with a secret message prompting her to visit his apartment in Taipei. The news causes a rift between Gemma and her mother; she told Gemma that he'd died a long time ago, and Gemma now blames her for her loneliness and disconnect with her heritage. Reluctantly, she enlists Xander, whose involvement in the Taiwanese American Roots Pursuit program helps secure Gemma a trip to Taiwan. As a non-Mandarin speaker, Gemma struggles to decipher her grandfather's elaborate clues, prompting Xander to persuade Gemma into letting him help her in exchange for part of whatever's at the end of their search. What follows is a whirlwind adventure through Taipei, which Chao (When You Wish Upon a Lantern) depicts using vivid prose that details Taiwanese tourist life alongside a simmering second-chance romance. Ages 12–up.
