Gloria Chao > Quotes

“I couldn't go through life as a shadow.”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“And right now I had no idea where I ended and my parents began.”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“If I lied, the real me would disappear.”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“Do we create art for the world, for ourselves, or for our longevity?”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Once I stopped trying so damn hard to be someone else, I started to enjoy life. Being alone was hard, but better than feeling shitty about myself all the time”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“And for the record, I'm also not related to every other Chu out there.”
She sipped her water as we laughed. I thought of how in high school, everyone had assumed Ping Lu was my cousin, but no one assumed Ally Jones and Mike Jones were related.”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“There was no right or wrong here. No morality. Just two roads, leading in different directions but both ending in heartbreak. Life was, as I was finding out, Choose Your Own Adventure with most of the fun stripped away.”
― Gloria Chao, American Panda

“There is magic on this sometimes wretched, unremarkable Earth. But often, you have to make your own wishes find the light.”
― Gloria Chao, When You Wish Upon a Lantern

“It’s time for a heist.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“I wanted to reach into my chest and hand her my heart, so she could finally understand what made me tic. Maybe then she would also see how each of her words perpetuated the crack she and my father had put there months ago.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“boba milk tea.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Remember when you were young,” I said, still gazing out the window even though my parents were out of view, “and things seemed so easy yet so hard? I wish we’d known then to enjoy it while it lasted.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“That was why I used to keep everyone out: because once someone gained enough of a hold on you, they had the ability to crush you so small you disappeared. But even knowing that, I didn’t regret letting Chase in.”
― Gloria Chao, Our Wayward Fate

“Before, we were childhood best friends, constantly playing together in the alley shared by our family’s neighboring businesses. Then, more recently, he started becoming Kai, as in Kai with the infectious laugh and defined arms and delicious buns (I’m talking about the breads he bakes, okay?).”
― Gloria Chao, When You Wish Upon a Lantern

“It started in fifth grade when Mrs. Hearn told the class that Stephanie Lee had won a spelling bee and I clapped enthusiastically, only to realize moments later that she had actually said, “Stephanie Lee was stung by a bee.”
― Gloria Chao, When You Wish Upon a Lantern

“It was about being able to see yourself mirrored in another, with the return reflection making you clearer, more focused.”
― Gloria Chao, Our Wayward Fate

“Human mouths are frigging disgusting.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“All relationships have problems. It’s how you solve them that matters.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“Sometimes a piece of you must die for the rest of you to survive, and for me, I lost so much I became a different person.”
― Gloria Chao, Our Wayward Fate

“They remind me that there’s beauty and greatness out there, even in the darkness, and that I need to look for it.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“There’s an empty frame on the wall. It’s what you can’t see that matters.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Can’t you—” I start, but he backs up only so he can put a hand over my mouth. I shake it off, and he puts an index finger up to his lips. Footsteps sound past us. Guards, he mouths to me. I freeze, waiting. I lose my footing slightly—standing on someone else’s shoe is surprisingly difficult—and Xander grabs my arm to steady me. My elbow accidentally pushes the tarp (Tarp! Tarp! I can’t help chanting in my head). As it flutters, we hold our breaths, hoping no one is on the other side, or if they are, that they’ll think it was a random breeze, maybe from the AC. I try to focus on my breathing so I’m not thinking about Xander’s hand on my arm or his exhales onto my face. Or how his breath smells like mint and how he used to always use Listerine after eating—does he still? Suddenly, the sign moves. Someone’s found us. I want to scream, but there’s no time. Xander kisses me. Except he doesn’t. His nose is pressed against my cheek, his hand covering the lower half of our faces. We’re not kissing, but I’m guessing it looks like a kiss to whoever is now standing in front of us.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Sometimes I'm ashamed of how I've clung to them with bloody, torn-apart hands, trying to make it work even after they show me again and again it's not worth it. But I'm somehow also ashamed of choosing myself now.”
― Gloria Chao, Rent a Boyfriend

“As I settle deeper into my window seat, my phone buzzes with a text. My eyes widen when I see it’s from Brett.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“When I shine the black light onto Gong Gong’s replica, the tea house comes to life, glowing. A beacon. Highlighted now not just by its central positioning but also color. The leaning gate is also glowing.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Mao Gong ding—a tripod vessel from the Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1045–771 BCE) with the longest ancient Chinese bronze inscription known today.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Two days before we leave, Xander helps me pack up Gong Gong’s belongings to mail back to the US. My original strategy was to simply seal up the boxes they came in, but Xander insists I ship my dirty clothes (which are lighter) while keeping the most valuable items on me (photos, jewelry, art supplies, and any paintings that can fit in my luggage).”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Go to gymnasium!”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“He waves us off with a nostalgic look, and Xander gives him a friendly wave before leading me away. “He understands young love,” Xander whispers to me. My cheek where Xander’s nose was a minute ago feels as hot as my palm in Xander’s hand.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“So when are you leaving for Kaohsiung?”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot