Artifacts of an Ex

A teen uses her heartbreak to produce a public art exhibit in Chen’s jubilant debut. Sixteen-year-old Taiwanese American artist Chloe Chang isn’t thrilled when she’s forced to leave her boyfriend Jake behind in N.Y.C. after her family moves to Los Angeles. But her heartbreak gets worse when she receives a breakup package from him. On her way to trash the box of simple mementos, inspiration strikes, and Chloe determines to channel her grief into a new project. She puts out an ad offering to buy “breakup objects” from other heartbroken teens and books a gallery to showcase her exhibit, Heartifacts. She also sets into motion Operation Get Back Together, a five-step plan to win Jake back. When Chloe meets Korean American teen filmmaker Daniel Kwak, she develops an immediate and intense crush. But she’s dead set on reuniting with Jake, and Daniel has been a rebound too many times to want to pursue anything serious. Richly detailed prose makes for an amorous atmosphere, while Chloe’s artistic eye and determined, optimistic first-person POV renders a vivid world in this lighthearted romance. Ages 13–up. (Nov.)