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

“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

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

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

“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

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

“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

“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

“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

“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 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

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

“All relationships have problems. It’s how you solve them that matters.”
― 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

“Leads.” Oh. Goddammit. I should’ve known. That horse’s ass. Literally. Leads is short for Leads the Way, my father’s beloved racehorse. And when I say that, I do not mean it in the logical meaning of those words. He doesn’t own the horse. He bets on him. Drives around, sometimes a few states away, just to watch him run. His second-favorite child, after Jiao. The true number two son, and a better fit for the nickname Poop Son.”
― Gloria Chao, When You Wish Upon a Lantern

“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

“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

“The stolen piece showed two men with x’s for eyes and mouths, holding hands, unaware of the five elements trying to destroy them from all sides: fire, water, earth, wood (represented by a falling tree), and metal (represented by a sword).”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“He hands me the magnifying glass, but I shake my head. “You do the honors.”
― Gloria Chao, Ex Marks the Spot

“Go to gymnasium!”
― 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

“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