Review Detail

Growing up, Gemma has always been assimilated into the American culture with her mother tossing her Taiwanese roots to the side. When she discovers that her mother has been lying to her about having no family, Gemma finds herself wanting to know more about her family’s culture. With her grandfather’s recent passing, he leaves her a box full of newspaper scrapping. Upon first glance, they seem like trash, but Gemma’s mind works different from others, and she sees the clues hidden on each piece of paper. They all point to Taiwan, but she doesn’t have the money to get there, so she must rely on her worst nemesis: Xander.

Xander is Gemma’s ex-boyfriend and biggest school rival. He always has to one-up her even though she needs resources more than he does. While he comes from a family with money, Gemma and her mother don’t have much besides each other. However, his program is just what she needs to get to Taiwan. Once there, she starts her journey of learning more about her grandfather and her family’s history. Following the clues, she sets out on her treasure hunt, but quickly realizes she can’t do it alone. Xander and Gemma’s families are tied together, and she can’t complete the hunt for an inheritance without him. Along the way, she discovers more than what she expects. She discovers herself and more about her roots.

EX MARKS THE SPOT is a rom-com that revolves around a treasure hunt. Gemma doesn’t have enough money and this quest for an inheritance may be her only option. While going through life, it’s almost like Gemma is wearing blinders and can only see things her way. This journey is just what she needs to remove them and Xander is the perfect support beam for her, even though she refuses to see it. I love Xander’s character because, even though Gemma doesn’t see it, he’s a very caring person who isn’t one to put himself first. I also love how Gemma’s brain sees puzzles and ways to solve them in almost every situation. It makes me wish my brain worked like that. Watching her character growth is inspiring. It’s fascinating seeing Taiwanese culture as a reader too because I love how people do things differently. It just shows that there’s always something out there to learn. The world is too big not to.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this for fans of teen fiction who enjoy rom-coms, adventure, stories highlighting Taiwanese culture, adventure, and coming of age. Gemma’s journey is magical in the realest way and I love watching as she shapes herself into a better person through enlightening experiences.