SUMMARY

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 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.

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.

Image and summary from Goodreads.

REVIEW

I read Ex Marks the Spot on my Kindle and from the moment I read the synopsis, I knew it sounded like something I’d enjoy. I’m always drawn to stories that involve family secrets, hidden clues, puzzles and a mystery that slowly unravels. So this book definitely caught my attention.

The story follows Gemma as she’s pulled into an unexpected treasure hunt that uncovers long buried family secrets. Along the way, she’s forced to work with someone from her past – Xander, which adds another layer of tension to the adventure. Between deciphering clues, travelling to different locations and uncovering pieces of the mystery, there was always something happening to keep the story moving.

My favourite part of the book was definitely the mystery. I loved trying to piece everything together alongside the characters and seeing how each clue led them closer to the truth. The family history woven throughout the story gave the adventure a lot more meaning than if it had simply been a treasure hunt. It wasn’t just about finding something valuable, it was about understanding where the characters came from and uncovering parts of their family’s past that had been hidden for years. Those were the moments that kept me turning the pages.

I also enjoyed the puzzle-solving aspect of the story. It reminded me a little of the adventure movies and books I loved growing up, where every answer leads to another question. Watching the characters connect the dots and slowly uncover the bigger picture was a lot of fun and I found myself trying to solve the clues before they did.

While I enjoyed the mystery, I didn’t connect with the romance quite as much. It wasn’t bad by any means, but I found myself much more invested in the adventure and the family secrets than I was in the relationship. There were some sweet moments, but I never felt completely attached to the romance in the way I’d hoped.

I also think the pacing was a little uneven at times. Some parts flew by as the mystery picked up momentum, while others slowed down enough that my attention started to wander. Even so, I was always curious enough about the next clue or revelation to keep reading, which says a lot about how engaging the central mystery was.

Overall, I had a really enjoyable time with Ex Marks the Spot. It wasn’t a book that completely blew me away, but it was exactly the kind of light mystery I was in the mood for. If you enjoy stories filled with hidden family histories, treasure hunts, clever puzzles and a little bit of romance along the way, I think you’ll have a good time with this one.

This was a 3-star read for me. While I was hoping to connect a little more with the characters and the romance, I genuinely enjoyed the mystery, the puzzle-solving, and slowly uncovering all of the family secrets. Sometimes that’s all I need to keep turning the pages, and Ex Marks the Spot definitely delivered on that front.

-Rachelle

I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf