The Starter Ex - by Mia Sosa (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An Amazon Editor's Best Book of the Month Pick

The best worst girlfriend finally meets her match . . .

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 dream 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.

Review Quotes

One of Book Riot's Best Latine Books of 2026
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

"Filled with hilarious moments, family chaos, and plenty of chemistry, The Starter Ex is exactly the kind of romantic comedy that's perfect for a weekend binge read." --Luz Media

"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

"A delightfully playful and prank-filled romance from the Queen of Rom-Coms." --Alexis Daria, USA Today bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola

About the Author

Mia Sosa is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and contemporary romances that celebrate our multicultural world. She has received praise from The Washington Post, Bustle, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Popsugar, Buzzfeed, Oprah Daily, and many more. A New York City native, she now lives in Maryland with her college sweetheart, their two book-obsessed daughters, a gentle Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and one adorable rescue cat that rules them all.