This was my first Mia Sosa book but it will not be my last. Gosh this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I was hiding behind my hands from secondhand embarrassment one moment and then tearing up the next.

Vanessa just moved back to New York from Chicago to open a new branch of the investment firm she works for. She's hoping that being back in New York will allow her to reconnect with her family. While at lunch with her sister, an old school friend reveals that Vanessa had a side hustle in college being a terrible girlfriend to her friend's crushes. This allowed the girl to be there for her crush and develop a relationship. When her sister hears this, she wants Vanessa to do this one last time for her. Vanessa doesn't want to, but reluctantly agrees in the hopes of reestablishing her relationship with her sister.

Jason tried to be a good son to his family, but after a bad break up he doesn't want to marry. When he and Vanessa meet, it's loathing at first site. But when she starts using her usual bad girlfriend tricks on him, sparks fly and they quickly become close. Neither one of them is looking for a forever, and both have past trauma they need to resolve, but they may each other's missing piece.

4 stars.

"The Starter Ex" is another fabulous book by the incomparable Mia Sosa. It's a story that has been told before, but somehow feels fresh and new under Sosa's prose. I found myself fully immersed in this story, these characters, the setting, etc. I really enjoyed the banter between the main characters, Vanessa and Jason. They had excellent chemistry with one another! Vanessa attempts to sway Jason's feelings towards her sister, Lisa, and not on herself, by being the worst/most annoying date/girlfriend ever, setting her sister up to come in and "clean up the mess." It's a hustle Vanessa used to employ in college to make some extra cash. There is a bit of an insta-love element to Vanessa and Jason's romance, but it didn't bother me, and it felt realistic. I enjoyed watching their friendship slowly grow as their relationship grew, too. They are playful with one another, always teasing and touching, but the lines between reality and "the hustle" start to get blurred rather quickly. This is a relatively short book, which makes for a quick read. Definitely something fluffy and care-free that you can take to the beach or enjoy at the pool!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Sosa, Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This story reminded me why I love rom-coms that aren’t afraid to be both unhinged and sincere. It was flirty, sharp, and deeply satisfying. I already want to reread it.

This was a really cute read! It felt like a unique twist, instead of a familiar trope and I really enjoyed that. Vanessa and Jason also had depth as characters and it was well-paced. Recommend!

It’s the kind of rom-com that delivers on every promise while still surprising you with how much heart it holds. Completely unputdownable.

Thank you to Putnam for the advanced reader copy of The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa!

Vanessa ends up being a ‘starter ex’ as a side gig in college. She will date the person you’re interested in and make the person as miserable as possible, before you come along as the person's next relationship. Later on in life, Vanessa’s sister, Lisa, learns of Vanessa’s previous side gig and wants Vanessa's help. Motivated to help her sister, Vanessa decides to do it and be a starter ex for Lisa’s person of interest, Jason. As Vanessa starts dating Jason, the relationship ends up more complicated than her previous starter ex jobs.

I originally listened to this story as an audiobook on Audible and enjoyed it so much! If Mia Sosa writes it, I will read it. I loved the premise of this story - I was sold immediately. It was so enjoyable to revisit this romance between Vanessa and Jason. I love these two. A standout part of this story is the final act. I love how the story concludes for Vanessa and her sister, Lisa.

If you enjoy a fake dating type romance, this is one to check out!

I was excited to read this because it’s a very interesting concept and overall I thought it was very cute. Definitely felt nice to read something with a plot that felt different. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Very unique romcom! I don't think I've read anything similar to this so that was super refreshing.

The romance here is adorable and super fluffy. I really liked their chemistry and thought they complimented each other well. I was rooting for them to stay together. The third-act breakup did make sense and was not entirely predictable.

I also liked that Jason wasn't clueless the whole time about what Vanessa was doing. Him finding out actually created some hilarious situations.

This reminded me of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, so if you enjoy that movie you'll probably like this. Overall this was very cute and would be a great pick-me-up read.

2.75/5 rounded up.

I'm so sorry, this was so insta-love I could not stand it. I really do not like insta-love stories, they annoy me so much. They always feel so lackluster and thrown together, you can't just make your characters instantly love each other, that's not what romance novels are about. Most people want character development and relationship development in this sort of book.

This was extra disappointing to me because the summary had so much potential! Our MMC needs a fake girlfriend (that his family will not like) - that is so good! That could've been so fun and dramatic and juicy! But no, this fell so flat for me because of that insta-lovey feeling. This really was a story that needs a slow ramp up and development of the characters.

I've also heard such good things about this author, so that added to my disappointment. I guess this just isn't the Mia Sosa book for me. I'm sure there are readers who don't mind insta-love and who would love this book. It's just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Think the read can be characterized as "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days' but with a Latina flair.

The author's transparent about Vanessa's motivation for her actions. The reasoning for it (financial, need to reconnect with her sister) is acceptable. The execution of their romance, not so much. Need more than immediate attraction to invest in a fictional characters HEA. Their respective backgrounds, his broken one with his father and her disconnect with former classmates, didn't garner much sympathy from me. Rather, the hints of romance between the main characters' siblings proved more intriguing.

There was a funny scene at the characters' attendance of a couples party but it resulted in a slight smile rather than a LOL reaction.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons , via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#TheStarterEx #NetGalley

Vanessa Cordero had an unusual side hustle in college—she was a professional "starter ex." Clients, mostly women (and occasionally men), would hire her to date their love interest and play the role of the worst girlfriend imaginable, paving the way for the client to swoop in as the much-needed "sunshine after the storm."

Now, years later, Vanessa is unexpectedly transferred by her boss back to her hometown—New York City—without her input. As she reconnects with her family, her sister Lisa uncovers Vanessa’s unconventional past. Intrigued and a little desperate, Lisa convinces Vanessa to revive her old role one last time.

The target? Jason Torres. Jason is commitment-averse and determined to keep it that way. With his sister's wedding approaching, his meddling mother is ready to play matchmaker with every eligible woman in sight. Jason needs a solution: a fake date to keep his mom at bay.

Enter Lisa—with a long-standing crush on Jason—and her sister Vanessa in tow. Jason isn't interested in Lisa, but Vanessa might be just what he needs to escape his mother's matchmaking efforts. What starts as a strategic arrangement becomes increasingly complicated as unexpected feelings surface.

Can Vanessa convince Jason to give Lisa a chance—or will her own emotions get in the way? And can Jason ignore the growing connection between himself and the woman hired to push him toward someone else?

While the premise is fun and the setup has potential, the story leans a bit too fluffy, and did not leave a lasting impression. I admit I came close to giving up on this story. What saved it was the male lead in the story. He was about the only character I liked.


2.75 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for allowing me to read this one! I have already listened to this story when it was published as an Audible Original and love it! Mia Sosa is one of my favourite authors. I discovered contemporary romance thanks to her books so I may be a bit biased but I just loved this book. The main idea of this book is super original, the characters are perfect, I just loved this!
I'll add my reviews on GR when this edition will be added.