Gloria Chao's Blog
June 20, 2025
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB is out on Tuesday!
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB is out in 4 days! This was the most fun I’ve had while writing, and I hope it shows on the page. The book is a humorous murder mystery filled with shenanigans and revenge, but the heart of the story is the friendship between the three girls who discover they’re dating the same man. And when they band together to get revenge on him only to find his body, they now must solve his murder together before they go down for it.
I loved writing Kat with her nerdy chemistr...
May 8, 2025
Preorder Campaign and Giveaway!
I'm so excited to announce the preorder campaign for THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB! I've partnered with some of my favorite indie bookstores to offer a signed bookplate and bookmark with purchase of the book, while supplies last! Participating bookstores and preorder links:
Murder by the Book
Tropes & Trifles
Next Chapter Booksellers
Mysterious Galaxy
Old Firehouse Books
Silver Unicorn Books
For signed/personalized copies, order from The Book Cellar before June 20 here!
And for Chicago readers, the launch party will be at The Book Cellar on June 24 at 6:30pm. You can RSVP for the free event here! I'll be in conversation with the fabulous Mia P. Manansala.
Thank you so much for your support!
There's also a Goodreads giveaway for THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB now through May 15!
Enter giveaway here!
About the book: three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they’ll need to solve his murder before they go down for it.
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB Full Synopsis:
The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead.
Do they look guilty? Yes.
Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.
But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.
To clear their names, Kat, Olivia, and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex’s life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn’t commit?
Filled with humor and shenanigans, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a romp of an adventure by award-winning author Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and John Tucker Must Die.
Murder by the Book
Tropes & Trifles
Next Chapter Booksellers
Mysterious Galaxy
Old Firehouse Books
Silver Unicorn Books
For signed/personalized copies, order from The Book Cellar before June 20 here!
And for Chicago readers, the launch party will be at The Book Cellar on June 24 at 6:30pm. You can RSVP for the free event here! I'll be in conversation with the fabulous Mia P. Manansala.
Thank you so much for your support!
There's also a Goodreads giveaway for THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB now through May 15!
Enter giveaway here!
About the book: three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they’ll need to solve his murder before they go down for it.
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB Full Synopsis:
The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead.
Do they look guilty? Yes.
Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.
But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.
To clear their names, Kat, Olivia, and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex’s life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn’t commit?
Filled with humor and shenanigans, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a romp of an adventure by award-winning author Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and John Tucker Must Die.
April 9, 2025
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club giveaway and sequel announcement!
There's a Goodreads giveaway for THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB now through April 15!
Enter giveaway here!
About the book: three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they’ll need to solve his murder before they go down for it.
For signed/personalized copies, order from The Book Cellar before June 20 here!
And I'm so excited to announce that this will be the first book in the Hu Done It mystery series, with the sequel to come in 2026!
Stay tuned for more giveaways and where to order from for a signed bookplate and bookmark!
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB Full Synopsis:
The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead.
Do they look guilty? Yes.
Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.
But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.
To clear their names, Kat, Olivia, and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex’s life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn’t commit?
Filled with humor and shenanigans, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a romp of an adventure by award-winning author Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and John Tucker Must Die.
Enter giveaway here!
About the book: three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they’ll need to solve his murder before they go down for it.
For signed/personalized copies, order from The Book Cellar before June 20 here!
And I'm so excited to announce that this will be the first book in the Hu Done It mystery series, with the sequel to come in 2026!
Stay tuned for more giveaways and where to order from for a signed bookplate and bookmark!
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB Full Synopsis:
The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead.
Do they look guilty? Yes.
Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.
But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.
To clear their names, Kat, Olivia, and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex’s life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn’t commit?
Filled with humor and shenanigans, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is a romp of an adventure by award-winning author Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Dial A for Aunties, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and John Tucker Must Die.
December 9, 2024
Giveaways for EX MARKS THE SPOT and WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN!
EX MARKS THE SPOT is coming out Dec 31 and the WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN paperback is releasing next week! To celebrate, Penguinteen is giving away FINISHED COPIES for both of these on Goodreads!
EX MARKS THE SPOT: rivals-to-lovers treasure hunt through Taiwan
Enter giveaway here!
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN: childhood friends-to-lovers romance with lanterns and wish granting
Enter giveaway here!
EX MARKS THE SPOT Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN synopsis:
Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes, but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.
Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.
Then Liya discovers her family’s wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can’t do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.
While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?
When You Wish Upon a Lantern
EX MARKS THE SPOT: rivals-to-lovers treasure hunt through Taiwan
Enter giveaway here!
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN: childhood friends-to-lovers romance with lanterns and wish granting
Enter giveaway here!
EX MARKS THE SPOT Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN synopsis:
Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes, but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.
Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.
Then Liya discovers her family’s wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can’t do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.
While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?
When You Wish Upon a Lantern
October 23, 2024
Finished copy giveaway of EX MARKS THE SPOT!
There is now a Goodreads Giveaway for FINISHED COPIES of EX MARKS THE SPOT (rivals-to-lovers treasure hunt through Taiwan)! Twenty copies up for grabs! We're now 2 months away from release!!!
Enter here!
Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm for this book!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
Enter here!
Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm for this book!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
October 8, 2024
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club!
In case you missed it, I recently announced my adult debut! In The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club, three women discover they're dating the same guy and band together to prank him, only to discover his body. With a motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA, they must now solve his murder before they go down for it. This is the murder mystery version of John Tucker Must Die. This will come out June 24, 2025, and preorders are already open!
I had so much fun writing this, and I can't wait to share it with you all! Thank you for all the enthusiasm already!
You can add it on Goodreads here (thank you!):
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club: A Novel
I had so much fun writing this, and I can't wait to share it with you all! Thank you for all the enthusiasm already!
You can add it on Goodreads here (thank you!):
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club: A Novel
October 1, 2024
100 Copy Goodreads Giveaway!
Another Goodreads Giveaway is going on right now for ONE HUNDRED (!!) print copies of EX MARKS THE SPOT (rivals-to-lovers treasure hunt through Taiwan)! Ending this week! This will be the last giveaway with this many copies!
Enter here!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
Enter here!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
September 25, 2024
Announcing: The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
I’m so excited to announce my adult debut and my first mystery! The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is coming out June 24, 2025 from Mira/HarperCollins, and you can already preorder it!
Harper Collins|Bookshop | Amazon |Barnes & Noble | Target |Books a Million | Apple Books
Add on Goodreads
Here is the lovely write-up announcing the book in Publishers Weekly:
And here’s the Publishers Marketplace Announcement:
In this laugh-out-loud murder mystery, three women dating the sam...
August 27, 2024
Sales, ARCs, and Giveaways!
Hello, hello! A few fun updates.
SaleFirst, the WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN hardcover is 50% off now through September 2nd at Barnes & Noble, both in-store and online! Meaning, you can get it for $9.49! You can get your copy here.
Goodreads GiveawayThere is currently an EX MARKS THE SPOT Goodreads giveaway for 50 print arcs through August 30th. Enter the giveaway here.
NetGalleyAnd finally, EX MARKS THE SPOT is now available to request on NetGalley and Edelweiss! Thank y...
August 13, 2024
Another EX MARKS THE SPOT Giveaway!
If you didn't get a copy in the previous giveaway, another Goodreads Giveaway is going on right now for FIFTY print copies of EX MARKS THE SPOT (rivals-to-lovers treasure hunt through Taiwan)!
Enter here!
The release date has also changed, so now you can read it a month earlier, on December 31, 2024! This will be a paperback original at a lower price point of $12.99.
Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiasm!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
Enter here!
The release date has also changed, so now you can read it a month earlier, on December 31, 2024! This will be a paperback original at a lower price point of $12.99.
Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiasm!
Synopsis:
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 things: 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, exploring 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 The Inheritance Games, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and Loveboat, Taipei.
Ex Marks the Spot
