Ex Marks the Spot

Surprise! Gemma, your grandfather you didn’t know you had just died and left you a scavenger hunt, which requires you to go to Taiwan! When Gemma finds out that she had living family, she is so angry with her mother, who still refuses to tell her anything… about their roots, their family, their past. So Gemma makes a pact with her mom: if Gemma can find a way to Taiwan, she can go follow the clues in the hunt.

Inspiration hits, but it involves her ex-boyfriend, Xander, who formed a group to bring students to Taiwan. She humbly (mostly) begs to join the group, even though the due date for applying has long passed. So she is incredibly surprised when Xander offers her a spot that opened up when someone dropped out. Gemma hopes to find an inheritance, but instead finds so much more – family, culture and maybe love?

Heartwarming and winsome, this far-flung quest takes readers through breathtaking Taipei and Gemma’s family history. It’s a reminder that family histories are deep and layered, and that love can be in the most unlikely of places. It’s cute, and sweet, and funny, and another great hit for Chao.