Artifacts of an Ex

by Jennifer Chen

When Chloe Chang gets dumped via USPS after moving across the county from NYC to LA, her first instinct is to throw her box of memories in the garbage. Instead, she starts buying other teenagers’ break-up boxes to create an art exhibit, Heartifacts. Opening night is going great, until she spots Daniel Kwak illicitly filming his best friend’s reaction to his ex’s box. When she tries to stop him, an intense discussion ends up launching a creative partnership and friendship… and a major crush for Chloe.

There’s just one problem: Daniel is dead set on not being another rebound.

Five times he’s been the guy who makes the girls he’s dating realize they want to get back with their ex. And he refuses for there to be a sixth. She insists she’s over her ex, but when he shows up unexpectedly with his new girlfriend, it turns out Daniel was right. She isn’t ready for a new relationship.

She throws herself into making Heartifacts successful, but flashy influencers threaten her original vision of the exhibit. To create the exhibit she’s always wanted, Chloe needs to go back to basics, learn to work with artists in a more collaborative way, and discover what love can be. Only then will she convince Daniel she’s truly ready for everything they could be to one another.

In the tradition of Jenny Han and Emma Lord, Jennifer Chen’s Artifacts of an Ex is a story of love, art, and finding your way when everything you know has changed completely.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, Fiction, Friends To Lovers, Young Adult Contemporary

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

Jennifer Chen is a freelance journalist who has written for print and online, including pieces in the New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, and Bust. She earned an MFA and BFA in dramatic writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and is a proud alumnae of Hedgebrook, a women’s writing residency. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV writer husband, twins, two pugs, and a smoky black cat named Gremlin.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cute, light-hearted story about friendships and relationships told through art.

and i dont have much more to say than that. this is a quick read that covers all of the basics and delivers exactly what the synopsis promises it will. is it a bit surface level? sure, but its enjoyable fluff.

all in all, this has all the sentimental charm that lovers of contemporary YA fiction should enjoy.

thanks for the ARC, st. martins press/wednesday books!

↠ 3.5 stars

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 39% This book just wasn't for me.

I really wanted to like this book. Cute cover, the concept was interesting but I just couldn't even force myself to read beyond this point. The plot and the writing felt really awkward and cringy. I was grating my teeth bc it was extremely immature even for YA and the characters lacked depth. Nothing was working for me. Maybe I am just not the right audience for this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the gifted arc.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Artifacts of an Ex was a cute and fresh YA novel. It was my first book by Jennifer Chen and I would definitely read more from her. I like her style.

Chloe has been broken up with via a USPS package and decides to do something with it. An art exhibit. I loved this aspect of the story. I thought it was so fun. This is where she meets Daniel. I adored both Daniel and Chloe. It was a lot of back and forth which is not my favorite in a romance, but the story itself was so fun.

While I was reading this book I could see it playing out as a film in my head. I think it would make an amazing movie. I loved both of the main characters and the writing style. I would recommend this for fans of YA romance.

[Hannah B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was so mid for me 😭

I realized pretty quickly that the heartifacts exhibit is an interesting concept, but not one I’m interested in reading about. I think going to one in real life, about real people would be super fun!! But reading about it just didn’t really land correctly with me. There were just so many details about a fake exhibit and fake relationships and I understand that I’m sounding crazy because Hannah it’s FICTION all of it is fake!!! but it just wasn’t interesting. The last 10% revolves around the final version of the exhibit, as the relationship was already wrapped up with a bow.

There also wasn’t much tension in the romance? She was hung up on her ex which got tiring; he was too scared to be a rebound…which valid…but that also got old. I liked that she was the pursuer, but it still didn’t do much for me. Also the video they made in the first third of the book felt very random and made for cute tropes…but did nothing for the plot and was over by 30%?? I thought I was going to BE the plot.

Chloe was an okay heroine, and I didn’t mind her POV. I wasn’t a big fan of her Happy Planner stuff though, as it felt very out of place. It didn’t really tie into the plot at all? Daniel felt a little like a cardboard cutout…and I didn’t buy his big confession. I really would’ve liked to have his POV; it would’ve explained his thoughts and feelings in a way we simply didn’t get. As it stood, his rebound reasoning was pretty one-dimensional and fell flat.

Mainly, I just felt that the pace was super off. The heartifacts thing started so quickly I kinda got whiplash. I genuinely think the book could’ve been over around 50%? The structure was the same throughout the whole book: version one of exhibit, she asks him out and is rejected; version two of exhibit, she asks him out and is rejected; version three of the exhibit, they get together. It felt like I was reading the same thing three times…which meant a lot of exhibit stuff and a lot of lukewarm pining.

Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me which is so sad. The bones of a good romance were there, but as a whole it felt rushed and underdeveloped…yet still too long? I’d read more from the author, but I wouldn’t reread this one. It took me way too long to read physically, so maybe grabbing the audiobook would help the pacing issues I had.

HOWEVER, I do need to note that I loved the last paragraph. I’m like 98% certain it’s referencing one of the last scenes of Valentine’s Day!! In the movie scene, Anne Hathaway’s character ignores a phone call and says she going to have sex with her boyfriend on Valentine’s Day instead. In this scene, Daniel is like we’re gonna be late, and Chloe says she’s too busy kissing her boyfriend. Idk I could be totally connecting the wrong dots…but I basically have that movie memorized so I’m pretty confident.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All options are honest and my own.

[alaska]

dnf at 3% because there was absolutely no need for the main character to send an eggplant and peach emoji barely a few pages into the book

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Artifacts of an Ex was exactly the fun-loving book that I needed this weekend. The characters and romancee were fun and they each had their own, emotional arc to follow. I like that there are a lot of layers to the story, so it didn't feel totally formulaic. All in all, it was a very entertaining book and I totally recommend it.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenna Bracy (semi hiatus cuz school) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I read it at my grandmas house with nothing better to do. It wasn't my favorite.

[Thamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe has just learned her relationship with Jake is over through a box he mailed to her new home in LA. She decided to make this experience into an exhibition of other boxes with objects telling stories of heartbreaks, and that's how she meets Daniel. Daniel hasn't had a relationship yet but he's experienced a heartbreak after the other as all his dates have decided to go back to their exes. For that reason, he doesn't want to date Chloe and turn her into one more that gets away.

Now, this might not be the most unique idea ever, but it's full of heart without going overboard. You won't need a box of tissues for Chloe's journey – she's too determined to let it knock her down. Sure, the breakup affects her, and maybe she's not exactly toughing it out, but she's not moping for a guy who isn't meant to be.

Here's where things get a bit tangled up. I get it, Chloe loves art, wants to be a curator, and is going all-out for her exhibition, even though she's new in town. But we end up with way too many paragraphs describing every little art piece. Compare that to her grandma's cookie subplot (which is a blast, by the way), and it's like they're on opposite ends of a seesaw. The artsy angle is cool at the start, but it drags on too much.

In the end, this book runs super long (no page count in mind, just how it feels) even though it digs into some aspects that other YA stories don't touch on. Chloe kind of gets on your nerves, and the drawn-out descriptions didn't help. Daniel's pretty cool, though. He's not exactly a swoon-worthy character for me, but I dig his journey and how his documentary changes everything – including himself. The side characters are the real stars and carry the show.

In a nutshell, it's a solid pick for a YA read. It doesn't go overboard on the mushy stuff or the drama, and the extra stories mixed in give it some oomph.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

[nitya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and quick read! The LA references escape me but I liked the focus on art and the reality of being a creative

Content warning: relative with dementia

[౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️'s. imo has way better potential as a movie but the dialogue felt way too cringy for me at times 😭

[eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

nie do końca siadło mi tłumaczenie-
czytało się cudownie, więc to zdecydowanie na plus <3
główna bohaterka czasami mnie irytowała :-

[Ashleigh (edwardanddamon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an e-arc for review via Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Artifacts of an Ex was my first book by Jennifer Chen. This was a cute YA romance, and good for a debut!

I really enjoyed the art aspect of the story and found that really unique! Chloe and Daniel made a great team, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. I think Daniel was my favorite character, as Chloe kind of annoyed me sometimes. I also liked how the importance of family was talked about in the book. Chloe has a great relationship with her grandmother and her parents.

I would recommend to those that enjoy YA!

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I was hoping from it, and more. It's a solid debut YA romcom, and one that has me very excited to see more from this author!

What really stood out for me in this book are two elements: the incredible eye for detail, and the focus on art. Every description in the book is so vivid and detailed that it was so easy to picture everything, and it made for such an enjoyable read to know so many details about every scene. It made everything feel very real.

And it was so fun to read about Chloe's art project, which was given a lot of thought and attention, and sounded so very interesting. Chloe goes through a lot of growth through working on this project, so it's truly entwined with the story.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, chick lit, multicultural romantic comedy

Chloe is an extremely talented, 17-year-old, Chinese-American girl whose burning ambition is to be an art curator. She has already obtained an impressive amount of experience for her age, although she got a little too ambitious for her last show, which she created on behalf of her 18-year-old, African-American boyfriend, who specializes in textile art. Unfortunately, he has not yet forgiven her for the debacle, and shortly after her family moves from NYC to Los Angeles to care for her Taiwanese grandmother, who is in the early stages of dementia, he mails her a shoebox full of mementos from their relationship which includes a Dear Jane letter.

With amazing resilience, it occurs to Chloe that, if she collects shoe boxes of mementos from fellow brokenhearted teenagers in a similar situation to hers, she could turn the detritus of failed, teenage romance into a compelling art show. Along the way of pursuing this goal, she makes friends with a Latina, lesbian, teenage girl named Francesca, who has many connections in the local teenage art community, and a handsome, sweet-natured, 17-year-old, Korean-American, accomplished filmmaker named Daniel.

Though this novel has a strong romantic subplot, it is structured more as chick lit than romance, given that Chloe's primary journey across the course of the novel is not a romantic courtship but, rather, strengthening her abilities as an art curator and becoming more comfortable with the artistic scene in LA as compared to the artistic scene she was used to in NYC, as well as letting go of her remaining feelings for her ex, so she can be emotionally capable of moving on with a new boyfriend.

There is plenty of authentic and detailed information about what is involved in curating an art show throughout this book, which many readers may find of great interest.

I am happy to report that, unlike the vast majority of YA novels, Chloe's parents are neither neglectful, cruel, nor blundering idiots. They are sweet and supportive toward her as their beloved, only child. She also has a loving relationship with her grandmother.

Chloe's romantic interest is a great guy as well. He is a terrific example of a "cinnamon roll" hero, and theirs is a G-rated, "friends become lovers" romance.

This is a very inclusive novel, with representation of the LGBTQIA community and multiple races.

Though there is mention of Chloe having had a sexual relationship with her ex-boyfriend, no sexual activity occurs on stage beyond a few kisses in her new romance. There is no foul language, no drinking and no drugs.

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah this one wasn't for me. I was originally gonna rate it 1 star but it did get better in the second half when there felt like there was a bit more of a plot, so now it's a 2.5 star. To be honest I just didn't vibe with the writing style, the instagram, social media, and pop culture references every two lines got annoying pretty quickly. I think using this stuff in books is a bit weird because if you recognise the thing it's referencing it's a cool detail, but if not you have to stop reading to google what it is they are talking about and that takes you out of the story.

I also think it would have improved a lot by making Chloe and her friends in their twenties because they just didn't read like teenagers to me, I kept forgetting the main characters are like 16 or 17 years old, they just do too much and seem too successful? It was like reading the life of a successful 20-something but written in the messy writing style of a young teenager if that even makes sense. Chloe read as both too immature and too mature for her age. What I did like was the relationship between her and Daniel, I thought it was really well done and I'm glad he wasn't the usual ya love interest cliche. The representation was also well done and good to read.

[Mariana ✨]

okay but this cover is ADORABLE!!!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

At this point I don't even care if everyone knows that I read 3 AAPI teen romcoms for every piece of literature that I read

[Ginny Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute YA contemporary romance.
The story follows Chloe’s journey of a new move from New York to LA, from heartbroken over a breakup (with Jake) to a crush to love(with Daniel,) and from an idea forming from her break up box of love artifacts to a full blown art exhibit that gains big museum attention - so it covers a lot of ground. The strokes are broad, but also surprisingly detailed in Chloe and her friends’ idiosyncrasies. So many details are given about Chloe’s craft supplies and her planning videos, to Jakes’s art, to Daniel’s video obsession, to food eaten and drinks consumed. So many details! There is also a side component of her supportive family as they care for her ailing, but delightful, grandma (as well as a whole side story of trying to rediscover a lost family recipe as the grandma has dementia.) The family restaurant and interactions also bring in many elements of Korean culture.
In some ways I feel that the author tries to cover too much ground and throw in every type of relationship possible, as well as highlighting various foods, sites, art mediums, etc. It’s a lot. It took me a while to get through it because I got a bit bored in the details. But I can also appreciate that the author is expressing inclusion, acceptance and a wide variety of experiences. A young audience might appreciate the expansive breadth that is covered. The friendships, love, and art appreciation are highlights of the story. I think this will hit well with young, open minded, artists.
My personal enjoyment of the book might be 3⭐️, but I’m giving it 4⭐️ because I think it hits the mark it’s aiming for as an inclusive YA romance.

* Thankful to receive this as an ARC via Netgalley. This review is my honest opinion given on my own accord.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had so much potential but lacked depth and character development. There needed to be more passion and drama. It felt stagnant overall. Such a great idea though. The To All the Boys reference was noted.

[Oliwia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

Nie było tak źle, jak zanosiło się na początku, ale liczyłam na więcej. Mega szybko się czytało, ale zdecydowanie szybko o niej zapomnę

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't bad for a YA... It was a chill read

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would probably have been more interesting if I was into art, but it was pretty good nonetheless

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute YA romance about a girl who gets dumped and uses that to create an art exhibit based on the items we have leftover after a breakup. The idea was creative and sounds like something I would really enjoy seeing (because I’m nosy). I found the characters likeable and believable and their chemistry was just the right amount for this genre. Recommended for a quick, fun read.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This book is very cutesy, but it doesn't have much substance. The characters all feel rather flat, and it all moves to quickly. Also, I'm supposed to believe this random teenager has a lot of experience with curating art exhibitions, which felt... weird. Not quite sure who the audience was meant to be, because the writing felt too young for some of the content.

Anyway, mixed feelings. My full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on November 24, 2023. Do visit when it goes live!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Hannah Nowak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this in a GoodReads Giveaway, so that's fun - had I looked closer at the giveaway, I probably wouldn't have entered since I'm not a huge YA fun anymore, but this was a cute YA. A quick, easy read that focuses more on Chloe curating an art show (as a high schooler?! This felt unrealistic to me.. also, when did they go to school?!) than her new romance. I felt like Chloe's first heartbreak was realistic and I admire Daniele for holding strong to not date Chloe until she was fully over her ex.

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

DNF ~7%

Not feeling it 😪

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe’s family has just moved to Los Angeles from NYC to help take care of her ama, who’s sick. So getting a box from her boyfriend should have been exciting. That is until she finds out that she’s single from a break up package (all of the memories of their relationship showing up via the post office). But after dropping the contents in the rain and running into a person she knows from school, an idea forms to cathartically help her process the emotions. What if she turned that box of relationship memorabilia that everyone has into an installation?

On opening night of “Heartifacts”, she has a run in (or meet cute) with Daniel while telling him not to film in the building. She’s still getting used to being on the other side of the country from her friends and home, so what should have been awkward, turns into a budding friendship. But having just gotten dumped, even he knows she isn’t ready for more than friendship.

This was a really cute and charming story about two artsy kids who fall in love while doing what they love. He’s a filmmaker and she’s a curator, which you don’t see that kind of relationship as often, if ever, in YA.

I love that Chloe’s ex was basically Banksy with yarn. That was hilarious. But even though his art was cool, I really disliked him as a person.

Literally every other character was incredible!! I wanted Chloe and Daniel to get together much sooner, but I trusted the process and it paid off in the end. Slow burn is, at times, too slow for me. 😂 But insta love is too quick. Why am I so needy? 🤣

I really enjoyed Artifacts of an Ex and can’t wait to see what Jennifer Chen has coming up next.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started writing a review in my notes app yesterday because once I got maybe halfway into the book my perspective on it really shifted!! Lots of thoughts below:


Artifacts of an Ex seems to start out with one idea and message that I found morphed and changed throughout the book. This actually really worked because it tied into what I interpreted as the main theme of the story: that relationships change, art changes, people change. So what you think is initially a story about a girl getting dumped and meeting a rebound guy- Is really about getting dumped and trying to get back together, rebounding with a new guy but then catching real feelings when it's too late, and being scared to embrace something new. It's interesting how it deals with endings and beginnings, moving on, and the back and forth nature of it all. What you thought was a story about keepsakes from a past relationship- Is really about how we are all connected by love and hurt and everyone of us feels the same but also different.

I also like its take on art and popularity. It fizzles out halfway through the book but I really thought it was interesting, the idea of what makes art good. Is it being seen by a lot of people and having a wide reach? Or is it that even if only 2 people see your art and are moved by it, it was worth creating. What if no one sees your art? A very cool discussion that could have played out a little more!

I thought it was very inclusive and thoughtful in how it handled young people of all backgrounds and how love and art come in so many different forms! This really impressed me 🍍

[seafullofbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kolejny raz mam problem z oceną książki ale w tym przypadku sprawa jest mocno złożona. Autorka umieściła bardzo ciekawy wątek główny w tej powieści - stworzenie przez główną bohaterkę wystawy z pamiątek po swoich eks i w tym celu odkupowała od obcych ludzi ich pamiątki tworząc Emocjonalia. Cała powieść zresztą ma dużą dozę artystycznego przesłania bo Chloe uwielbia sztuke, wystawy, muzea i ich wpływ na człowieka. Zupełnie odmiennie ode mnie bo nie mam w sobie krztyny artystycznej duszy i pewnie to w jakimś stopniu nie przekonało mnie by dzielić z nią te wydarzenia.

Podobały mi się bardzo próby stworzenia idealnego ciasteczka ananasowego, które w swoim sklepie piekła babcia Chloe. Autorka przemyciła tu wątek osoby starszej, która ma problemy z pamięcią i rodzina przeorganizowuje swoje życie by z nią zamieszkać i jej pomóc. Wszystko związane z rodziną Chloe było bardzo urocze jak i cała kawarnia „U słodkiej Yen”. Ilość słodkich przekąsek i smakołów również była spora, więc nie polecam czytać na pusty żołądek bo człowiek od razu googluje gdzie można najbliżej kupić mochi🤭.

Podobała mi się również relacja między Chloe a Danielem choć rozwijała się naprawdę w tempie slow burn. Przyznaje nawet, że zastanawiałam się czy faktycznie uda im się być w związku czy jednal Daniel będzie ją odpychał ale tego zdradzać Wam nie będę😉.

Całość jednak czytała mi się dość ciężko - nie wiem czy to kwestia sposobu pisania autorki, tłumaczenia, samej historii czy jeszcze czegoś innego ale cała książka zajęła mi dobrze ponad tydzień czytana na raty. Polecam jednak wyrobić sobie własną opinie bo Wam może przypaść do gustu.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun YA romance with a unique twist. Native New Yorker and "Plan-it" expert, Chloe Chang is an Asian American teen girl who finds herself moving to Los Angeles and trying to get over her ex after being recently dumped after getting a box of her things shipped to her via USPS.

Inspired by other found object exhibits, Chloe decides to create "Heartifacts," an art exhibit of other people's break-up boxes to fulfil a school assignment but things get out of hands when it turns into a social media influencer photo op rather than the serious exhibit she wanted.

Chloe also finds herself very attracted to new friend Daniel, but he is determined not to be another rebound guy after helping six other girls realize they wanted to get back with their exes rather than date him. Great on audio narrated by Cindy Kay and perfect for fans of authors like Jenny Han.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!