The Starter Ex
When it comes to love, she’s crushing it!
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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 BookRiot’s Best New Romance Books to Read in March
One of Town & Country’s Best New Romance Novels in 2026
One of BookBub’s Best Romances of 2026
One of Goodreads’ Most Popular Books of March 2026
One of The EveryGirl’s Most Anticipated Books for Winter
One of The Root’s Most Anticipated Books by Black Authors in March 2026
One of Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Romance Books of Spring
“Mia Sosa delivers a feel-good romantic comedy built on a delightfully outrageous premise and a whole lot of heart. . . . With its playful nods to classic romcom setups—think How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days—this story feels both familiar and fresh. (In other words, perfect for spring).”
—Washington Independent Review of Books
“Fans of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days will adore Mia Sosa’s latest romance… A fun, banter-filled love story!”
—Woman’s World
“This romance is a fun, fresh read.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Mia Sosa is reliable for rom coms that deliver the romance and the comedy.”
—BookRiot
“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