The Starter Ex

This cute if improbable rom-com from Sosa (When Javi Dumped Mari) follows frequent heartbreaker Vanessa Cordero, who made money in college as a “starter ex,” someone classmates would pay to date their crushes, demonstrate every red flag in the book, and thus make the other woman look better by comparison. Now a financial planner, she returns to her hometown of New York City looking to make good. When her sister, Lisa, asks for help winning over her best friend’s brother, Jason Torres, Vanessa, who regrets letting her family down in the past, reluctantly agrees to take on one last job. Jason has never had romantic feelings for Lisa, but when he meets Vanessa, he falls hard. Then he learns of Vanessa and Lisa’s plans for him, and decides to turn things around on Vanessa by refusing to be scared off. The premise—which owes an obvious debt to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days—strains credulity, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Jason and Vanessa, while fun, leaves both characters feeling shallow and unsympathetic. Still, Sosa injects the tale with plenty of humor and, eventually, delivers a more serious exploration of the emotional impact of lies and deception. It’s not perfect, but the author’s fans will find plenty to enjoy. (Mar.)