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THE MORTAL ENEMY MURDER CLUB

A Hu Done It Mystery, Book #2
Hanover Square Press, Harlequin

An instant USA Today Bestselling series!

Out July 28, 2026

Harlequin | HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Bookshop | Books a Million | Apple Books

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The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is back with a twist in this smart, hilarious mystery by USA TODAY bestselling author Gloria Chao.

Kathryn Hu is not getting into the business of solving murders. Yes, she and her friends Olivia and Elle figured out who killed their cheating ex-boyfriend. But now Kat can get back to her usual, murder-free existence.

Then she gets an unexpected plea for help. Mandy Thorne has ruined countless lives through her revenge podcast. She also did her best to frame the girls. Now, she claims, someone is trying to kill her. And the girls are the only ones who can save her.

But can the trio and Mandy put aside their mutual contempt long enough to prevent a murder and solve this case? Can they become…the Mortal Enemy Murder Club?

Praise for The Mortal Enemy Murder Club

An Instant USA Today Bestselling series!

“Clever, twisty, heartfelt, and full of shenanigans. You won’t stop laughing or gasping! I devoured this series.”
—Wendi McLendon-Covey, star of St. Denis Medical, The Goldbergs, and co-founder of Strong Beach Productions

“Laugh-out-loud funny, balanced with just the right amount of warm and fuzzies. Fans of cozy mysteries are going to devour The Mortal Enemy Murder Club. I adore how Chao shows women showing up for one another at their glorious, messiest best.”
—Bianca Marais, USA TODAY bestselling author of A Most Puzzling Murder

“Hold on to your socks (orig: an 1887 newspaper article about cricket)…Kathryn Hu is back! And the stakes feel higher than ever in this hilariously twisty-turny follow-up to The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club. As always, Chao deftly keeps us guessing (and laughing) as the suspects—and the bodies—pile up. By the end, I was desperate to be in the club myself—with mortal enemies like these, who needs friends?”
—Birdie Horne, author of Don’t Cross Mo Ellery

Film Rights:
to Strong Beach Productions, with the author adapting

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THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB

A Hu Done It Mystery, Book #1
Mira, Harlequin

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In this laugh-out-loud murder mystery, 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 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.

Praise for The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club

An Instant USA Today Bestseller!
The Gloss Book of the Month October 2025
A Bookbub Hottest Mystery of the Summer
A Goodreads Editor Pick
Illinois Reads Pick 2026

I devoured this series.
—Wendi McLendon-Covey, star of St. Denis Medical, The Goldbergs, and co-founder of Strong Beach Productions

“YA author Chao delivers a perfect blend of laugh-out-loud humor and clever mystery in her first adult novel. With its fresh take on friendship forged through shared betrayal, sharp dialogue, and satisfying payoffs, this novel will appeal to both mystery enthusiasts (especially fans of Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, and Janet Evanovich) and readers seeking smart contemporary fiction with heart.”
—Library Journal

“[A] fast and funny murder mystery. Chao’s heroines—particularly the idiom-obsessed Kat—make for lovable sleuths, and the author throws plenty of effective plot twists in their path. Cozy fans will devour this breezy, bloodstained ode to female friendship.”
—Publishers Weekly

“The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club has it all: wacky shenanigans, heartfelt vulnerability, and a cleverly plotted murder. Throw in the most ride-or-die friendship ever and you get a book I could NOT put down. Such a fun read!”
–Mia P. Manansala, author of the best-selling Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series

“A wildly funny, clever, and heartfelt debut. The hijinks will have readers laughing out loud, and the many twists and turns will keep them on the edge of their seats. But it’s the friendships that blossom between three wronged women that give The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club its beating heart. In this story, revenge is best served by a trio of unlikely friends—with lots of laughs on the side.”
—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, USA Today bestselling author of Till Death Do Us Part and The Girls Are All So Nice Here

“Unexpected, fast-paced, and hilarious, The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club was an absolute delight. Chao’s lovable characters and clever writing will draw you in immediately. Come for the murder, stay for the heartwarming testament to the power of female friendship.”
—Jilly Gagnon, author of All Dressed Up

“This charming Boston-based whodunnit has as many hijinks as it does motivated suspects.”
—WBUR

“A clever, emotionally charged murder mystery. Chao is notable in this novel for her unpredictability and deft use of humor. A worthy and powerful novel [that] will instill confidence in female readers to grow their value.”
—Bestsellers World

“Such an interesting story, filled with lighthearted bond between slighted women, and amateur sleuth investigating with a pretty unexpected plot twist at the end. If you enjoyed the movie John Tucker Must Die, this book would be very enjoyable as well.”
—The Gloss

“A well-written and fast-paced drama that had me immediately immersed. With a solidly wicked plot filled with suspense, intrigue, and hilarity. Delightfully engaging.”
—Dru’s Book Musings

Buzz for The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club

Bookbub’s Hottest Mysteries and Thrillers of Summer 2025
Bookbub’s Most Frequently Wishlisted Crime Books
WBUR’s 12 books with New England ties to read this summer
NetGalley / We are Bookish’s 30 Books to Read This Summer
BookTrib’s The Chill Quill: Beach Reads with a Body Count
She Reads‘s Standout AAPI Stories You’ll Love in 2025
She Knows’s 15 New Books We Can’t Wait to Read in Summer 2025
Goodreads’s 20 New June Books Goodreads Editors Can’t Wait to Read
Goodreads’s Cozy Books for Fall Reading
Book Riots’s 18 New Mystery, Thrillers & True Crime for June 2025
CrimeReads’s 10 New Books Coming Out this Week
Novel Suspects’s June Mystery and Thriller Releases
Rec-it Rachel’s Best Adult Books of 2025
MIT Technology Review’s Recent Books from the MIT Community
Dru’s Book Musings’s New Releases June 22, 2025

Signed copies

I’ve partnered with the following bookstores to offer signed bookplates and a bookmark with purchase of THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB! While supplies last.

Participating stores:
Murder by the Book
Tropes & Trifles
Next Chapter Booksellers
Mysterious Galaxy
Old Firehouse Books
Silver Unicorn Books

Film Rights:
to Strong Beach Productions, with the author adapting

Foreign Sales:
German translation – HarperCollins Germany
Ukranian translation – ARTBOOKS

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EX MARKS THE SPOT

Viking, Penguin
An Indie Next Pick

Paperback Original. Also available in eBook and Audiobook (Narrated by Yu-Li Alice Shen)

Penguin | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Books a Million

Add on Goodreads

Read or listen to the first chapter on Nerd Daily here

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.

Praise for Ex Marks the Spot

Indie Next List

“Smart and utterly swoon-worthy, Ex Marks the Spot has Gloria Chao’s signature humor and so much heart. Whether you’re looking for the perfect rivals-to-lovers rom-com, a love letter to diaspora communities, or a thrilling, beautifully written adventure around Taiwan, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this book.”
—Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of I Hope This Doesn’t Find You

“Gloria Chao does it again with an adorable and endearing YA romcom! A sweet love story that highlights culture, family, acceptance, and allowing people to be their true selves. A beautiful (and delicious) exploration of Taiwan from an honest and thoughtful diaspora lens. Fun, humorous and delightful!”
—Kat Cho, New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a K-Prom

“Irresistibly entertaining and deeply sincere, Ex Marks the Spot is a propulsive journey through culture, family, self-discovery, and the love we find hidden in the most exquisitely unexpected places. Gloria Chao continues to deliver the kind of funny, relatable stories we all deserve!”
—Julian Winters, award-winning author of Prince of the Palisades

“Chao artfully weaves in themes of Asian American identity, generational trauma, and compassion as each clue that Gemma uncovers leads to another compelling revelation. A thoroughly enjoyable romp that’s also rich in self-discovery and romance.”
—Kirkus

“A whirlwind adventure through Taipei, which Chao (When You Wish Upon a Lantern) depicts using vivid prose that details Taiwanese tourist life alongside a simmering second-chance romance.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A beautiful story about discovering your roots and understanding the difficult choices adults make.”
—Booklist

“[A] beautifully written adventure. For those who are looking for a perfectly sweet romance story, this book is a must read.”
—School Library Journal

“Fresh and unexpected. Intimate and expansive. A dynamic, though-provoking exploration of Taiwan through time and space.”
—TaiwaneseAmerican.org

Buzz for Ex Marks the Spot

Publisher’s Weekly’s New and Noteworthy Children’s and YA Books: December 2024
NetGalley / We are Bookish’s December’s 10 Most-Anticipated Books
BookRiot’s New YA Books For The Rest of 2024
The Honey Pop’s Sweet Listens: December Audiobooks to Round Out the Year
Rec-it Rachel’s Best YA Books of 2024
Books Forward’s Book Recs from AAPI Influencers to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Pop! Goes the Reader’s 30 Most Anticipated Young Adult Books: October-December 2024

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WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN 🏮

Viking, Penguin

Also available in eBook and Audiobook (Narrated by Carolyn Kang and Dylan J. Locke)

First Chapter on We Need Diverse Books

Add on Goodreads

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?

Praise for When You Wish Upon a Lantern

EpicReads x Target Selection March-April 2023
A Common Sense Media Selection & Book of the Month
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2023
A PopSugar Best Book of 2023
A Honey Pop Favorite Book of 2023
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
A Gold House Book Club Selection April 2023
A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Book
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Book

“Laugh-out-loud dialogue, the pair’s simultaneously innocent and snarky alternating POVs, and a vividly captured Chicago Chinatown setting imbue this memorable narrative with warmth and joy.”
—★ Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review

“Chao writes some of YA’s best romances, and this is her greatest yet.”
—BuzzFeed

“Gloria Chao’s charming tale about culture, community, and first love is a must-read for teens.”
—Common Sense Media

“As delectable as a mooncake.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“A culturally rich, luminous love story.”
—Booklist

“[A] vibrant romance.”
—PopSugar

“A deeply resonant story of love, family, and culture that anyone can relate to.”
—Asian Avenue Magazine

“A delicious story of best friends falling in love.”
—School Library Journal

“A magical Chinese American story. A distinctive and engaging read that invokes emotion and nostalgia.”
—Asia Pacific Arts

“An adorable friends-to-lovers romance, filled with baking, wishes, and hope, When You Wish Upon a Lantern by Gloria Chao is a must-read this summer. Has everything you could wish for!”
—The Honey Pop

“[Chao’s] thoughtful self-reflection, articulated through beautiful and imperfect characters, is such a strength of her fiction. A delightful, heartwarming read for teenagers and adults alike, “When You Wish Upon a Lantern” is a lovely contribution to the growing canon of TaiwaneseAmerican lit.”
—TaiwaneseAmerican.org

“A heartfelt story about the beauty of Chinese culture, first loves, and finding magical moments in everyday life. This book is pure joy—don’t miss it!”
—Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After and Tokyo Dreaming

“A delightful and enchanting page-turner from start to finish. When You Wish Upon a Lantern is officially one of my favorite romances. My not-so-secret wish is to see this on the big screen.”
—Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper and Kingdom of the Wicked series

“A love letter to community, culture, family, and first love, featuring the cutest will-they-or-won’t-they couple, When You Wish Upon a Lantern feels like the warmest of hugs. I wish I could read it for the first time again!”
—Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and XOXO

“When You Wish Upon a Lantern tackles the sting of grief and the fear of change in a poignant coming of age journey. With rich cultural traditions, mouthwatering food, and whimsical hijinks, Gloria Chao shows us the kind of love that feels like magic.”
—Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

“When You Wish Upon a Lantern is a luminous love story about the complexities of falling for someone you’ve known for years, and the advantages—and sometimes disadvantages—of friendship as a foundation for love. Hilarious and heartfelt, Chao has written a romp of a romance that unfolds with pitch-perfect pacing.”
—David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Electric Kingdom and Mosquitoland

“Everything ordinary is made extraordinary in this magical miracle of a book—the blush of first love, the bonds of community, and the poignant power of everyday kindness. Gloria Chao is a star.”
—Sarah Kuhn, author of From Little Tokyo, With Love

“One of my favorite voices in YA—fresh, fun, and utterly distinctive. This book truly shines, filled with lovable characters, hilarious hijinks, and the most luminous kind of hope.”
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of See You Yesterday and Today Tonight Tomorrow

“Chao is a master of interweaving delightful romance with a deep and abiding love for tradition, culture, and community. When You Wish Upon a Lantern fittingly glows with warmth and light while giving you all the sweetness, humor, and charm you could ask for.”
—Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer

“A luminous love letter to the power of community and the magic in everyday moments, featuring a childhood friends-to-lovers romance that is impossible to not root for. With writing that shines with humor and warmth on every page, Gloria Chao’s words are a pure joy to escape into.”
—Marisa Kanter, author of As If on Cue

“A delightful, feel-good read that will charm you with heartwarming traditions, Chinese culture, and wish granting. Liya and Kai will capture your heart and leave you swooning.”
—Suzanne Park, author of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous and The Perfect Escape

Buzz for When You Wish Upon a Lantern

BuzzFeed’s 31 Of The Most Anticipated Winter YA Books
Goodreads’s 2023’s Most Anticipated Young Adult Books
PopSugar’s Best YA Books of 2023: 28 Young Adult Books to Add to Your Reading List in February
Kirkus’s 11 Swoonworthy YA Novels for Teen Romance Readers
Goodreads’s 48 Deeply Romantic New Young Adult Books
Goodreads’s New and Upcoming Books to Discover This AAPI Heritage Month
Epic Reads’s 50 YA Books to Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Epic Reads’s 19 Books Featuring Love and Romance With Asian Characters
Epic Reads’s 16 Childhood Friends-to-Lovers YA Books to Live Vicariously Through
Epic Reads’s 42 YA Books About Asian Americans in the Past and Present
BookRiot’s The Best New YA Books Out in February 2023
SheReads’s Most Anticipated YA Books of 2023
Nerd Daily’s YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR In 2023
BookStacked’s The Most Anticipated YA Books of 2023
In Between Drafts’s The Best New Book Releases of February 2023
Pop! Goes the Reader’s 50 Most Anticipated Young Adult Books: January-March 2023
Epic Reads’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022
Just Another Teen Reading’s 2022 Anticipated Books
Pop! Goes the Reader’s Do! Judge a Book By It’s Cover

Foreign Sales:
Russian translation – Eksmo

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RENT A BOYFRIEND

Simon & Schuster BFYR
An Indie Next Pick
A Shelf Awareness Pick

Hardcover: Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Paperback: Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target

Read about the inspiration behind the book on Frolic (“Why Some Asian Women Rent Boyfriends to Introduce to Their Parents”)

Add on Goodreads

First Chapter on Hypable

Also available in eBook and Audiobook (narrated by Feodor Chin & Emily Woo Zeller)

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets The Farewell in this incisive romantic comedy about a college student who hires a fake boyfriend to appease her traditional Taiwanese parents, to disastrous results, from the acclaimed author of American Panda.

Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn’t met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your ’Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

Drew Chan’s passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your ’Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like “Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures” comes naturally to him.

When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they’ll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.

But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not ’rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything?

Foreign Sales:
Spanish translation – Munyx Editorial
Indonesian translation – PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Awards for Rent a Boyfriend

YALSA’s 2022 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

Praise for Rent a Boyfriend

Indie Next List
Shelf Awareness Pick
United by Pop’s Best Books of 2020
SheRead’s Best Fall books by Asian Authors
Wisconsin State list, WSRA Just One More Page 2022, Young Adult

“Sharp, funny.”—BuzzFeed

“Isn’t just an adorable romance, it’s also a beautifully realized coming of age story.”—PopSugar

“Entertaining. Uplifting.”—Shelf Awareness

“Entertaining and nuanced.”—Kirkus

“With hilarious scenes and heartfelt young adult musings, RENT A BOYFRIEND is Chao’s most entertaining book yet. Highly recommended!”—The Children’s Book Review

“With Chao’s signature humor and lovable characters, she once again offers insights into Taiwanese culture alongside scads of delightful rom-com ordeals, mishaps, and kisses.”—Booklist

“Fun and flirty. A natural with romantic comedy, Chao keeps the reader engaged.”—South China Morning Post

“Gloria Chao has done it again! Nobody writes family, first love, and finding your voice quite like she does. Rent a Boyfriend is laugh-out-loud funny, achingly honest, and unbelievably swoony. You’ll cheer for Chloe every step of the way. Just like Drew’s paintings, Gloria Chao has created a masterpiece.”
—Stephanie Kate Strohm, author of Love a la Mode and It’s Not Me, It’s You

“I’m obsessed with this book. Gloria Chao writes with a deft combination of humor and empathy, her characters so bright and aching and full of longing. Rent a Boyfriend is exactly the kind of romantic romp promised by the title, but it’s also an emotional gut-punch, a careful excavation of family secrets, and a reminder to anyone who’s ever felt alone that they are absolutely worthy of love.”
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, award-winning author of Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, and Our Year of Maybe

“I adored this book! In Rent a Boyfriend, Gloria Chao pivots stunningly from romcom hijinks to family drama…and then back again. This romance is authentically swoony, laugh-out-loud funny, and genuinely moving. I cheered for Chloe and Drew—and readers will too.” —Amy Spalding, bestselling author of We Used to be Friends and The Summer of Jordi Perez

“Rent a Boyfriend is a hilarious, joyful, absolutely delicious novel. It captures perfectly the giddy sense of inevitability that happens to people when they realize they are meant for one another.” —Jessie Ann Foley, Printz Honor-winning author of The Carnival at Bray and You Know I’m No Good

“Sweet, romantic, hilarious, and heartfelt, Rent a Boyfriend is the feel-good book you’ve been waiting for—I couldn’t put it down!” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be and Something Like Gravity

“I adored this totally charming tale of two lovable fakers who find the courage to be real with one another, and with themselves.” —Rebecca Podos, author of Like Water

“A beautiful story about finding and following your own path, full of warmth and humor.” —Ashley Herring Blake, author of Girl Made of Stars

“I was expecting Rent a Boyfriend to be that thoroughly enjoyable, delightfully delicious rom-com. What I actually got was a richer, more decadent story filled with moments that actually took my breath away. The type of story that wraps itself around you like the sweater that you pull on because you need a hug. Every reader will find pieces of Rent a Boyfriend that feels crafted just for them. The quiet genius that is Gloria Chao and her writing is on full display in Rent a Boyfriend, easily Ms. Chao’s best book to date.” —Kathleen March, Anderson’s Bookshop (Downers Grove, IL)

“Has everything you could ever want in one novel: natural humor, complicated emotions, and the power to prove that love is undeniably real. The chemistry, growth, and understanding between Chloe and Drew are so authentic and true that readers are bound to relate and see pieces of themselves within them both.” —Andrew King, The University Book Store (Seattle, WA)

“Readers everywhere will see themselves in Chloe as she faces the ultimate decision of living her life in the safety of her parents’ approval or risking it all to discover her own path.” —Stephanie Heinz, Print: A Bookstore (Portland, ME)

“Gloria Chao returns with a new book that will capture your heart, break it then mend it back together.” —Teresa Steele, Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins, CO)

“A beautiful story not only about falling in love, but also finding who you are, following your dreams, and accepting others for who they are.” —Renee Becher, Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins, CO)

“Reader, I loved this.” —Audrey Huang, Belmont Books (Belmont, MA)

“Romantic, and tackles big topics like misogyny and family expectations.” —Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana (Frederick, Maryland)

Buzz for Rent a Boyfriend

Buzzfeed’s 7 New YA Romances To Curl Up With This Fall
Buzzfeed’s 32 Young Adult Books We’re Excited To Read When They Release This Fall/Winter
BuzzFeed’s 5 Comfort Books We Love And 5 Books We’re Highly Anticipating This November
Buzzfeed‘s The Best YA Books To Gift This Holiday Season, According to YA Authors
Buzzfeed‘s “To All The Boys” Is Ending, So Here Are 10 Books And 10 Movies To Fill That Void
Buzzfeed’s 20 Joyful Asian Stories You’re Going to Love
PopSugar’s 11 New Romance Reads That Will Keep You Warm This November
Bitch Media’s 9 YA Books Feminists Should Read in November
Culturess’s 10 YA Book Releases We’re Feeling Thankful for this November
Goodreads‘s 72 New Books by Asian American Authors to Read Now
Goodreads‘s 48 Highly Anticipated YA Novels for the rest of 2020
Goodreads‘s November’s Most Anticipated Young Adult Reads
BookRiot‘s 20 Must-Read YA Romcoms for 2020
Brit + Co‘s 10 Great Books to Read for Your Next Virtual Book Club
The Tempest’s 10 most anticipated book releases for November 2020
Bookbub‘s 7 Fall Romances That Come Author Recommended
SheRead‘s Best Fall books by Asian authors
Pop Culturalist‘s 4 TA Contemporary Books for Your 2020 TBR
Kirkus’s 11 Diverting Teen Reads for Stressful Times
United By Pop’s Must Read YA Book Releases for November 2020
BookRiot‘s 10 November YA Releases to TBR
Hofstra HerCampus‘s YA Must-Reads for November
BookRiot‘s 3 New YA Books Set Over the Holidays
BookRiot‘s 3 on a YA Theme: YA Books about Fake Dating
United By Pop‘s 100+ of the best YA books of 2020
Smart Bitches Trashy Books’ November’s New Releases, Part One
Epic Reads’s The 14 Most Anticipated YA Books to Read in November
Fannatality‘s We Can’t Skip This Year of 2020 Because We Need These 33 Upcoming Books by Authors of Color
Quite Simply Miranda‘s 6 Books That Have Given Me All the Feels This Month
Mouse That Read‘s 25 Books by Asian Authors You’ll Want to Read ASAP in 2020
The Bookish Skies‘s Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd half of the year

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OUR WAYWARD FATE

Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster BFYR

Hardcover: Bookshop | Amazon | B&N | BAM!

Paperback: Bookshop | Amazon | B&N | BAM!

Add on Goodreads

First Chapter on Bustle

Also available in ebook, Audiobook, and Audio CD (narrated by Emily Woo Zeller)

A teen outcast is simultaneously swept up in a whirlwind romance and down a rabbit hole of dark family secrets when another Taiwanese family moves to her small, predominantly white midwestern town in this remarkable new novel from the critically acclaimed author of American Panda, which The Wall Street Journal called “weepingly funny.”

Seventeen-year-old Ali Chu knows that as the only Asian person at her school in middle-of-nowhere Indiana, she must be bland as white toast to survive. This means swapping her congee lunch for PB&Js, ignoring the clueless racism from her classmates and teachers, and keeping her mouth shut when people wrongly call her Allie instead of her actual name, pronounced Āh-lěe, after the mountain in Taiwan.

Her autopilot existence is disrupted when she finds out that Chase Yu, the new kid in school, is also Taiwanese. Despite some initial resistance due to the “they belong together” whispers, Ali and Chase soon spark a chemistry rooted in competitive martial arts, joking in two languages, and, most importantly, pushing back against the discrimination they face.

But when Ali’s mom finds out about the relationship, she forces Ali to end it. As Ali covertly digs into the why behind her mother’s disapproval, she uncovers secrets about her family and Chase that force her to question everything she thought she knew about life, love, and her unknowable future.

Snippets of a love story from nineteenth-century China (a retelling of the Chinese folktale The Butterfly Lovers) are interspersed with Ali’s narrative and intertwined with her fate.

Praise for Our Wayward Fate

United by Pop’s Best YA Books of 2019
Barnes & Noble’s October’s Best YA Reads
Paste Magazine’s Best YA Novels of October 2019
Indigo and Barnes & Noble’s Most Anticipated
Michigan State list, MISelf in Books, 2020, High School

“With OUR WAYWARD FATE, Chao establishes herself as one of the premier writers in contemporary YA. Ali’s story is one of young love, long-hidden secrets, cultural divides, and the pressure, not only to find balance between one’s history and future, but to understand how the one affects the other. No one writes family in all its beauty and complexity like Gloria Chao.”

—David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, Kids of Appetite, and Mosquitoland

“Chao is a master of combining humor with more serious moments in a story that’s sure to stick with you for a long time.” —Buzzfeed

“This honest and hilarious love story will have teens entranced. With whip-smart dialog and a fast-paced mystery, OUR WAYWARD FATE is the perfect book for any teen.” —Children’s Book Review

“Beautifully heartbreaking. With authentic teen voices that will help readers easily connect with the characters and their stories, OUR WAYWARD FATE is an excellent choice for readers who love a mix of contemporary and historical fiction.” —BookPage

“OUR WAYWARD FATE is [an] amazing story about juggling family expectations and what you want for yourself. If that’s not the essential teen journey, we’re not sure what is.” —Paste Magazine

“This is more than a coming-of-age novel, and readers will fall in love with Ali.”—School Library Journal

“Chao brings readers a witty protagonist who breaks stereotypes of Chinese Americans by simply being herself.” —Kirkus

“[an] inventive, deeply heartfelt love story that explores connections of many kinds.” —Booklist

“Ali’s first-person narration employs colloquial, authentic teen language. . . . Also noteworthy is Chao’s inclusion of a retelling of the famous Chinese “Butterfly Lovers” legend; the retelling is parsed out between chapters, providing valuable insight into Ali’s culture.” —The Horn Book

Buzz for Our Wayward Fate

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An Indigo’s Most Anticipated Teen Title

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Paperback

Hardcover

AMERICAN PANDA

Simon Pulse
First Chapter on Bustle
Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook (narrated by Emily Woo Zeller)

Four starred reviews for this incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei Lu should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when she reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

From debut author Gloria Chao comes a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

Canada: Indigo | Amazon Canada

Add on Goodreads

Foreign Sales:
Paperback out in Indonesia from PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Also available in eBook and on Google Play

Awards and Nominations for American Panda

YALSA’s 2019 Teens’ Top Ten
Friends of American Writers’ Young People’s Literature Award Winner
Society of Midland Authors Award–Children’s Fiction Honoree
Nerdy Book Club Award Winner 2018

YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adult 2019 Nominee
YALSA’s Amazing Audiobook 2019 Nominee
YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2019 Nominee

Praise for American Panda

A Junior Library Guild Selection
Indie Next Pick
Shelf Awareness Pick
Amelia Bloomer List 2019
Booklist‘s Best Debut YA Book of 2018
Bustle‘s Best Young Adult Book of 2018
Seventeen Magazine‘s Best YA Book of 2018
Paste Magazine‘s Best Young Adult Novel of 2018
PopSugar‘s Most Riveting YA Book of 2018
A Chicago Public Library Best YA Book of 2018
A Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year
YMCA’s Summer Reading List for Teens
Illinois Reads 2019, Grades 9-12
Nevada Reading Week 2023 Book List, Grades 9-12
New Mexico Land of Enchantment Black Bear Reading List, 2019-2020 for Grades 9-12
Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Top Pick
Wisconsin State Reading Association’s Reading List

“Weepingly funny“—The Wall Street Journal

“Delightful.” —Buzzfeed

“Vibrant and bright.” —Bustle

“Beautifully told.” —Hypable

“Vibrant, complex, and refreshing . . . A soulful and hilarious debut.”—★ Booklist, Starred Review

“Effervescent.”—★ Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“This deserves a place on every shelf, though it will not stay there long.”—★ VOYA magazine, Starred Review

“Universal.”—★ School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Eye-opening, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking.” —Shelf Awareness

“An earnest, funny, and emotional story.” —Book Riot

“An absolute delight . . . Overflowing with wit and empathy, Chao’s debut charmed my socks off.” —David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Kids of Appetite and Mosquitoland

“A charming and hilarious tale . . . Mei Lu is a goofy, lovable American teenager. I loved her.” —Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon

“Incredibly timely, honest, and moving—the must-read book of the season!” —Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi

“A dazzling debut that hooked me with its humor and heart from the very first page.” —Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician

“The perfect coming of age story for anyone who’s ever felt unsure of where they belong.”—Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper

Buzz for American Panda

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Bustle’s 11 Novels For ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Fans Who Want More Modern (And Diverse) Takes On The Classic Tale
Womanly Live‘s 10 Books with Asian Characters Worth Reading
Epic Read’s 12 Most Exciting Books, Winter 2018
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Publishers Weekly’s YA 2018 Booklist: First-Generation Tales
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Buzzfeed‘s 27 Books For Everyone On Your Christmas List This Year

For those who preordered American Panda and/or Our Wayward Fate, you can still access the exclusive content: American Panda | Our Wayward Fate