Ex Marks the Spot

Gemma has always had only her mom beside her. She believed her grandparents were gone and that her link to Taiwanese culture had gone with them. Then a stranger turns up with news that her grandfather has just died, and with the first clue in a treasure hunt tied to her inheritance.

There is a condition. To solve the hunt, Gemma must go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan, and the only way she can afford the trip is by asking for help from Xander, her ex and longtime rival. She has to set her pride aside to do it.

Once in Taipei, the two chase clues through the city's streets. The hunt turns out to be about more than money: it draws Gemma toward her family, her roots, and the boy she never got over.

This is a young adult romance in the rivals-to-lovers mode, written by Gloria Chao. It pairs a puzzle-box adventure, where each clue leads to the next, with a richly drawn Taiwanese setting. Expect a brisk, playful pace, with the banter of two people who know each other too well and the tug of unfinished feelings running under the search.