The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa: Vanessa Cordero has a very specific (and very successful) side hustle: she gets paid to date men… and be the absolute worst 
girlfriend imaginable. Clingy, dramatic, completely over-the-top—whatever it takes to make them run straight into someone else’s arms.
She’s retired from the business, but when her younger sister asks for one last favor, Vanessa agrees to take on a final “starter ex” job. Her target? Jason Torres—a charming commitment-phobe whose mother is desperate to see him settle down. Jason needs a girlfriend so awful his mom will finally back off, and Vanessa is more than qualified for the role.
The rules are simple: no touching, no real feelings, and definitely no falling in love. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to tell what’s real and what’s part of the act—and walking away starts to feel like the one thing neither of them actually wants.
THE STARTER EX by Mia Sosa delivered such a fun, charming read—it was way more heartfelt than I expected
The banter between Vanessa and Jason is fire, the situations are genuinely funny, and their chemistry just hits. It pulls you in with the humor, but it’s the tension and emotional shifts between Vanessa and Jason that keep you fully locked into every moment of this story.
Tropes & Themes
💍 Fake dating
🎭 Forced proximity
💬 Witty banter
❤️🔥 Slow-burn chemistry
🫶 Emotional vulnerability
💞 Love vs expectations
👩👧 Family pressure
🌱 Personal growth
THE STARTER EX by Mia Sosa is a fun, emotionally layered romance about control, vulnerability, and what happens when the one relationship that’s supposed to be temporary starts to feel like the most real thing in your life.
Perfect for readers who love fake dating setups, sharp banter, and stories where humor and heart work together to create something that feels both light and meaningful..
QOTD: Do you think fake dating makes falling in love easier—or way more complicated?
Book Info:
Publication: Published: March 10, 2026 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons |
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.
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