The Starter Ex

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From the USA Today bestselling author of When Javi Dumped Mari comes a hilarious twist on How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.

Vanessa Cordero used to run a profitable side gig: For a reasonable fee, she’d date your crush…and make his life miserable. Too clingy? Check. Jealous? Check. A parent’s worst nightmare? Triple check. By the time Vanessa was done with him, your guy was practically begging for you.

Enter Jason Torres, a certified commitment-phobe who doesn’t plan on getting married anytime soon, much to his mother’s dismay. What he needs is a temporary girlfriend. A totally inappropriate girlfriend. Someone his mother will hate, so she’ll finally abandon her dreams of getting him to the altar.

Vanessa’s younger sister, Lisa, has her eye on Jason, and convinces Vanessa to come out of retirement for one last starter ex engagement. The rules are simple: no touching, no fooling around, and definitely no falling in love. But nothing’s going according to plan. Because Vanessa can’t ditch Jason no matter how hard she tries to scare him away. And the longer they’re around each other, the more neither of them wants to be apart.

One of Town & Country’s Best New Romance Novels in 2026 
One of BookBub’s Best Romances of 2026
One of The EveryGirl’s Most Anticipated Books for Winter 

“Sosa continues to put her own unique spin on rom-coms with a splendidly satisfying romance that is brimming with snappy humor and steamy sexual chemistry and enhanced by the author’s love for her Latinx culture.”
—Booklist

“Readers are sure to love Sosa’s signature witty dialogue in her sexy, slow-burn romance.”
—Library Journal

“Sosa’s plotting is successfully zany. … A funny, light-hearted romp.”
—Kirkus Review

“The Starter Ex, a playful and prank-filled romance from the Queen of Rom-Coms, Mia Sosa, balances humor, spice, and deep emotional connection against the vibrant backdrop of Spanish Harlem and Nuyorican culture. I thoroughly enjoyed it!”
—Alexis Daria, bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola