The Ex-Perimento

by Maria J. Morillo

A woman enlists the help of her favorite musician to win her ex-boyfriend back in this sparkling romantic comedy set in Venezuela by debut author Maria J. Morillo.

Maria “Marianto” Camacho is a planner. At twenty-seven, she has her life perfectly mapped out. Her long-term boyfriend, Alejandro, is perfect on paper, and she’s expecting a proposal any day now. She has a stable job as a lifestyle columnist at Ellas, one of Latin America’s biggest digital magazines. Her future is set; she’s sure of it.

Until everything falls apart overnight: Marianto loses her boyfriend and her job. But she’s determined to get them both back with an idea that is either delusional or ingenious—a juicy new article for Ellas that documents a series of romantic experiments to get her ex back. Thus begins The Ex-Perimento. With her bank account dwindling, however, Marianto lands a temporary gig on Venezuela’s hottest new singing competition show. Her job? Personal assistant to Simón Arreaza, the lead singer of her favorite indie band.

It’s only her second day on the job when Simón discovers Marianto’s list of romantic experiments, striking her ideas and replacing them with his own better ones. Out of desperation, she offers a proposition: Help her win back Alejandro, and she’ll give Simón’s band a profile in the magazine once she returns to Ellas. But between the close quarters on set and the blurred lines of a budding friendship, Marianto and Simón find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, caught in a whirlwind of unexpected romance.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Music

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[naz]

This was such a great representation of Latin culture I felt SEEEEEENNNNNN!!! 🥹✨ Not only that, but I related so deeply to how relationship expectations can sometimes dim your light from within. DON'T EVER LET A MAN DO THAT TO YOUUU

We meet Maria Antonieta, who has a plan with her boyfriend of over four years. She’s ready for the next step… until that same boyfriend suddenly decides he needs space.. LOL So what do you do? Well, you create an experiment to get him back duhhh 😌 I don’t want to spoil the whole book, so I’ll leave it at that.

I loved not only the plot but once again the Latin representation 🫶. The culture, the food, the phrases, and the Spanish dialogue agh!!! 💖 I especially loved how fearless Maria Antonieta was throughout the book and how, little by little, she starts to realize that what she truly wants might not be what she had… but something new ✨

I do want to mention that this is a closed-door romance. That’s not a dealbreaker for me at all, and I really enjoyed the tension, banter, and romance between Maria and her love interest 😍 I also think it’s the perfect length for what the author was trying to achieve.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but I do think is a bit of a slow burn and the FMC I sometimes wanted to kick her lmaooooo but no one is perfect so definitely it depends on the reader.

tropes
💙 closed door romance
💙 strangers to lovers
💙 slow burn
💙 latino rom-com

[Zoë]

literally how could this girl have possibly been writing a love advice column that’s so wild

[Robin]

Hand flex but it’s just being so annoyed people are messing with your girl

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, but it’s trying to win back the man who left you after four years together, all with the help of your favorite indie singer. A breakup gone viral, a firing, and a list to fix it all begins this gorgeous contemporary romance debut from author Maria J. Morillo. Bringing readers to Caracas, Venezuela—the people, cityscapes and serene nature— all while exploring the downfall of living our lives solely for other people, The Ex-Perimento is a romance meant to be lived in. Just like our protagonist Marianto, stuck for so long living life for others, this novel forces the reader to experience the journey of finding oneself when we aren’t trying to be what others expect of us. The Ex-Perimento is a story for the people pleasers who twist themselves into whatever everyone else wants them to be, and the reality of untangling ourselves to uncover exactly who we are. Wrapped up in a quest for discovering how to win back an ex while falling for your wingman, The Ex-Perimento feels classic rom com with a deeper pulse of community and want. Morillo understands the atmosphere of the romance, where the city is almost its own character and the characters struggle against suffocating expectations, finding freedom in the attempt to live their lives differently and the romance which evolves parallel to that. Marianto casting off the desires of others to forge a new path of her own making is an altogether freeing journey, as is her romance with Simón who provides her the space to grow and decide what it is she wants. Tied with a sparkling romance that leans into the slow burn and strong Venezuelan roots, The Ex-Perimento is one debut to live vicariously in and savor endlessly.

Read my review

thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance review copy

Bookstagram | Blog

[Mira]

3.75⭐

Maria thought she was about to get a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, but instead, he unexpectedly broke up with her. Still, she’s determined to win him back—with help from her favorite singer, whose assistant she accidentally becomes.

Maria is so cute and genuine, but she finds herself in such a complicated situation—it was really interesting to follow her journey! I also really liked Simón, and honestly, I wish he had appeared more often. I’d say the focus isn’t so much on the romance as it is on Maria herself and her personal growth.

I had such a great time with this book—I read it in half a day, putting everything else aside. There were so many moments that made me smile and giggle. It’s also such an atmospheric story set in Caracas, Venezuela, that it made me want to visit the city myself!

A lovely debut, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this author’s future work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Cozy Puppy Reads]

If you love the nostalgic rom-com vibes of movies like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “The Devil Wears Prada”, you will absolutely adore this debut. “The Ex-Perimento” by Maria J. Morillo is a beautiful, immersive escape to Caracas, Venezuela, that completely surprised me with its emotional depth and sweetness. I love music romances and travel-themed romances, there’s something about them that just hit me in the heart, and this one felt like a gorgeous blend of both.

The story follows Marianto, an ambitious, career-driven journalist who’s seriously tired of writing relationship fluff pieces, meanwhile, all while her own life feels like it’s crashing down. Picture this, just as she’s expecting a potential wedding proposal, her super toxic boyfriend (all the red flags), Alejandro, dumps her instead. This sends her on a whirlwind journey where she lands a job on a reality show (similar to “The Voice”) and is paired with the swoon-worthy heartthrob Simón Arreaza, lead singer of one of her favorite popular indie bands. After a seriously cute meet-cute, Simón agrees to help Marianto get her ex back, so she can finally have the stability she craves in life so desperately. Naturally, sparks fly and tensions are high, and suddenly things start shaping up into something more.

What made this book stand out to me was how the city of Caracas felt like its own character. From the sweeping cable car tour, to the simple, sweet scenes of feeding macaws on the balcony, the atmosphere was vivid and authentic. Having grown up in the shadow of her celebrity mother, who was formerly Miss Universe and Miss Venezuela, Marianto finds herself craving stability and consistency in life. I also thought her personal struggle to find her own voice as a writer felt real, and navigating a competitive industry, and a tough career felt so relatable.

Simón is written as being totally dreamy. Yes, he's a charming musician, but what really steals your heart is how observant he is to all of the small details, and simply caring in a way that creates a beautiful, unspoken bond. At its core, this is a story about the importance of choosing someone who chooses you. Seeing Marianto move from being preoccupied with her disrespectful ex to someone who truly notices all the tiny details about her was so satisfying. Ultimately, this is a true slow burn. While there isn't heavy spice or any open door scenes, the emotional buildup is the star.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sofia Palmero, and she was fantastic. Even at an accelerated speed (over 2x), her voice remained clear and concise, capturing the rom-com energy and the characters' nuances perfectly. Her performance brought so much authenticity to the dialogue and pacing.

Perfect if you love:
❤️ How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
✨️ The Devil Wears Prada
🥰 Rom-com movies with a flipped trope: (how to get an ex back vs. how to lose a guy in 10 days).
🎶 Music-themed romances
✨️ MMC is a guitar-playing lead singer (swoon!)
💖 FMC is an aspiring journalist who deserves more
🌎 Travel vibes set in the heart of Venezuela
🎧 Single POV
✨️ Closed door, no spice romance
💕 Adventure! Cable car tours, karaoke nights and feeding macaws
💛 BIPOC Representation

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy for review consideration. I am choosing to write this review voluntarily, and these are my honest opinions.

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆]

જ⁀➴ 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)

Thank you SO much to Berkley Romance, Maria J. Morillo, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Ex-Perimento is out now!

"Safety doesn't come from being anchored in a city, having a nine-to-five job, knowing what will happen every minute of every day. It comes from knowing your heart is secure, cared for. It comes from knowing you've found the place where you belong, a ground solid enough to build upon. No matter the distance, no matter the time difference, no matter the circumstances."

‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪
I think this is going to be one of those romances that fly under a lot of people's radars this year for a variety of reasons, and I honestly hope it doesn't. I absolutely loved this book, and if you're looking for a debut BIPOC author to root for this year, look no further than Maria J. Morillo and The Ex-perimento.

Marianto is very Type A. She loves her schedules, her perfectly tailored life, and has all her plans set for years in the future: watch her boyfriend, Alejandro, graduate medical school, then they get engaged, buy a house in a fancy area of Caracas, have some kids and pets, and get promoted at her job working for Ellas, as an arts and lifestyle editor rather than being their social media curator. When Alejandro breaks up with her, and she gets fired from her job, her perfect life is not so perfect anymore. Her boss gives her one ultimatum: come up with an article on how to get her ex-boyfriend back, and she'll not only get her job back, but she'll be promoted to the Arts and Lifestyle editor position she so desperately wants. She resorts to working as a PA for a guest celebrity on a children's talent TV show to make ends meet, and ends up working for Simón Arreaza, the lead singer of her favorite up-and-coming band, Caballo de Troya. When ideas for her article, "The Ex-perimento," land in Simón's hands by accident, he gives it back to her with feedback...and becomes her wingman. Will Marianto get Alejandro back with his help, or will her life take a different course along the way?

I absolutely loved the vibrant descriptions of Caracas and the setting of the story. While I don't have plans on traveling there any time soon, the descriptions made me feel like I was there myself, witnessing everything that it had to offer! I could feel the culture and the vibrancy of the nightlife, the people, and the music coming right off the page. Even the COVER is absolutely vibrant and gorgeous, and it's even better in person than on a screen- I highly suggest making a stop at your local bookstore and seeing it in person!

I think the one thing that made me love this book so much was Marianto herself, although there is a gray area to this. I saw a lot of myself in Marianto and her relationship with Alejandro, and related to her because I, too, am also Type A and feel like I need to have a long-term plan to work towards with goals and feel like my life has some degree of stability. On a more personal note, I could relate to her heartbreak and wanting to get her life back on track by trying to restore everything to the way it was before. I can understand what it's like to feel like you have everything on track and things seem to be falling into place, but of course, life gets in the way and throws a wrench in your plans because...that's just life.

I think this hits close to home a little bit more for me than for others, especially if you've been in a long-term relationship that ended so abruptly with little to no closure. As someone whose first real heartbreak a few years ago was from a relationship that lasted seven years, it hurts because that's really all you've ever known, and you don't know what's coming next, so finding comfort and safety in the known is what your mind chases because that's what's familiar. While Marianto and Ale's relationship lasted four years, I can still understand her heartbreak and her desperation to get him back and try to mold herself into someone she's not to meet his family's expectations, his own, and get her life back on track.

With that said, while her initial list for The Ex-perimento was cringy, I can sort of relate to how Marianto felt trying to get Alejandro back to restore order and balance to her life, to some extent. I understand the why behind why she has to do what she has to do, because they go hand in hand: if she gets Ale back, she gets her relationship and her job back, WITH a promotion. However, her boss gave off Miranda Priestly vibes in the worst way possible, and she never saw Marianto as more than just a measly employee there to keep the company running. I felt like Marianto was trying way too hard and spiraling out of control at times to get back to the life she wanted, when it's so clear that life is trying to push her towards a different direction.

On the other hand, I can also relate to Alejandro's sentiments on needing breathing room to find himself as a person after graduating med school, and how he felt like Marianto was super controlling and didn't let him have a say in anything. I can relate to him feeling like he needed to find out who he was as a person outside of med school, coming from someone who spent six years getting a pharmacy degree and living, eating, sleeping, and breathing all things pharmacy during that time. Hobbies and things to do for fun fade away when you're so focused on school that once you graduate and have free time again, before you start work or whatever, you're just like, "....now what?"

Simón was probably my favorite character in the story. He was the most realistic despite being a celebrity, and he was just so normal and down-to-earth. Like, he was truly the dictionary definition of "be yourself" when people are like, "Oh, just be yourself when you talk to someone you have a crush on." I would've loved to read more about his past growing up with music and how his band got together. There are some mentions of it here and there, but I feel like a lot about what we know of him in the story is that he's the lead singer of his band, and he's there to coach some kids on a music singing show.

Another thing worth mentioning about this book in particular is that there's no spice in it, so if you're the kind of person who prefers no spice AT ALL—not even closed-door scenes—this may be the book for you! I personally don't care whether or not a book has spice in it, but I figured this would be something to bring up since I know some people tend to prefer one or the other. I read my fair share of romance books, most of which have spice in them in varying degrees, but I think this is the perfect example of how not every adult romance book necessarily needs to have spice to make it good and relatable to the audience.

I think the biggest takeaway from this is that you may have plans and have things all figured out, but life always has a way of turning you down a different path that you may not enjoy at first, but looking back, you'll see how much you've grown and how far you've come. It's such a powerful message that we can't always play God in our story that we call life, and love always has the funniest ways of creeping into your life, even when you think all is lost. If you're looking for a quick read, a palette cleanser, a book to comfort you in your heartbreak, a debut author to support, or your next Latine author to read from, PLEASE read this book and thank me later.
‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹‧₊˚♪

[Maria]

I think it’s pretty good.

[Mariah (Wondered Pages)]

Connect with me!
✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph ✏ TikTok ✏ Facebook

The Ex-Perimento starts with a plan to win back the wrong man and ends with something far better.

Maria Camacho is a planning perfectionist. She likes structure, stability, and a future she can map out step by step. She does what she does best when her relationship unravels overnight. She makes a plan. A very organized and worrying list of romantic experiments to win back Alejandro. Then, Simón Arreaza enters the picture and immediately disrupts her plan.

Simón is a musician with a completely different rhythm. He starts rewriting Maria's plan the moment he gets his hands on it. What begins as a strategic partnership turns into something charged with tension, curiosity, and a connection that sneaks up on both of them.

The fake dating works exactly how you want it to. It starts off playful and calculated. Then, slowly melts into something real. Simón pulls a vulnerability out of Maria that she has been avoiding. Watching that shift happen is what makes the romance so sweet. He is patient, a little teasing, and never pushes her past what she is ready for. His confidence makes every interaction feel electric.

Alejandro hangs around just enough to remind you why he was never the right choice. Watching Maria finally choose herself instead of the life that looked perfect on paper is so satisfying. Her growth becomes the heart of the story.

The romance takes its time. The connection builds through small moments, shared space, and learning how to meet each other where they are. Simón does not run when things get complicated. He finds a way to meet Maria in the middle when it comes to the one thing holding her back from committing. The payoff makes the happily ever after feel so easy to root for.

Sofía Palmero adds so much to the audiobook. Her delivery feels effortless and immersive. Her Español flows beautifully throughout. The accent adds depth without ever making it harder to follow. Sofía just pulls you deeper into the story.

The Ex-Perimento is a romance that gives you butterflies and leaves you smiling when it ends. Readers will love this if they are looking for a happily ever after romance that is light, heartfelt, and swoony.

[Eilonwy]

I read this yonks ago, but it's one of my favorite romances for this year. I enjoyed the setting, Marianto's voice, the many layers of complexity in her life that enriched the story, and the slow sweetness of the romance. It was satisfying on so many levels.

I'll add that it is a VERY CLEAN romance for anyone craving one. There is nothing steamier than a kiss. And yet that was all the story needed.

[Ale]

A Venezuelan ROMANCE book set IN Venezuela with Venezuelan protagonists!!!!???? EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. Give it to me NOW.

[Genni]

This looks like such a cute book! And the beautiful cover! Thanks to Goodreads and Berkley for the ARC!

[kate]

3.75* With all the hallmarks of a 2000's rom-com movie, The Ex-Perimento was an incredibly fun read.

My favourite part about the whole book was undoubtedly the way Maria J. Morillo wrote about Venezuela. The Ex-Perimento read like a love letter to Venezuela and city of Caracas and it was a joy.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf]

⭐ 5
🌶️ 0
❤️‍🔥 Swoon Factor: 3
📚 Tropes/Themes: slow burn, workplace romance, Rockstar romance, love triangle, slow burn
👀 Single POV 1st person

💬 Dammit, this was amazing 😭 Like...I love this book. It's been a long time since I did the "just one more chapter" thing until 3am.

Honestly this book was so refreshing after having read so many formulaic books lately. Part of me wonders if I need to step back from spicy books because I've been getting more and more bored with the focus being on the sexual aspect of the romance/relationship.

I think really I just found Maria so endearing and idk another word I can't think of that sorta means relatable. She's kind of a hot mess, but the character growth has me rooting so hard for her. And special shout out to Since U Been Gone which was also my karaoke debut over a guy that broke my tender 22 yo heart 🤣

It's a very slow burn but the tension and swoon is ✨so good✨ I really enjoy Morillo's writing style - I got goosebumps at their first kiss 😩And by the end I was super stressed... on tenterhooks even... trying to figure out what was going to happen but it was just perfect.

I'm not well versed in Latin culture, but I especially enjoyed the Venezuelan (Caracas) setting/culture too

I would've enjoyed learning a little more about Simón, but this is more women's fiction so not a huge deal.

I think if you would love a coming into yourself/coming of age rom-com mash up of The Devil Wears Prada + How To Lose A Guy In 10 Dates set in Venezuela then I highly recommend this

[Natalie]

What an absolute delight of a read. It was fun, funny and swoony. This book took every reservation I had at the start about Marianto (because she had a few red flags of her own with her rigid life plans), and then knocked it out of the park. Obliterated it. The plot and character development. The pace. I devoured this book in one sitting. What a fantastic debut.

I really enjoyed Marianto's growth from stubbornly pursuing a disinterested Alejandro to realising she can open herself up to a better life than the one she planned if she lets go. She was kick arse in her job (even the temporary one), and I was so glad she finally stood up for herself to her ex-boss. Simón was an utter sweetheart - I loved his edits to her list! At every turn he was there for Marianto, loving her as she was, and his overture to address her need for certainty and stability? Perfection. I also appreciated that Alejandro, who, while he strung Marianto along, wasn't the complete villain either and that both of them could have a closure that so many people don't get.

I loved the Venezuelan setting (my first) and am so glad that the author wasn't compelled to set it in the US - instead I found myself searching flights to Caracas! I'm looking forward Maria J. Morillo's next books to see how her writing career develops. Loved it.

Thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kimberlyyyreads]

*4.25

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted physical e-arc! 🌟

WOW, Is it too early to name The Ex-perimento as the Rom-Com of the Year?!

We need more Latine Rom-Coms with two featuring Latine leads set in Latin America in the trad publishing space, Maria J. Morillo saw this and worked MAGIC!

Marianto is your type-A FMC, she's planned her life down to a T. She is someone who perfers stability and predicatability above all else. Working as a lifestyle columnist and having a long-term relationship with her perfect boyfriend who's a doctor, she's ready to settle down. Or so she thought...

Suddenly, she's lost everything. Her boyfriend has called for a break and she has been fired after she accidently records her breakup and uploads the video making it go viral. And the cherry on top is her mom, who has never been a consistent figure in her life is moving in with her. Marianto is starting from SCRATCH. Trying to set her life on track Marianto is faced with two choices; Embrace the future with new opportunities or grasp on to the past.

If you've seen How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and LOVED it! This will be your new favorite read. No only do we see some experiments testing the bounds of love but you also get that tension between the protagonists.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it takes place in Venezuela, Marianto is born and raised in Caracas, this is intregal to understand Marianto's character and her decision making. We all get to see Caracas through a native perspective, which is so incredibly important!

Latine bands are some of my favorite forms of music, I grew up and still love Reik, Rio Roma, Camila, and my personal favorite: Morat. I can confirm that Simón, lead singer of a Colombian boyband is SOOOOO fine. He's charming, kind, considerate, and completely downbad for Marianto!

Now I don't have movie producer connections or any connections to the film industry but if any producer, director, or movie company rep is reading this... "Hey, y'all need to make this into a movie! STAT!!" I'll sell my soul to the devil to make this happen. This is the kind of book that the romance community needs an adaptation for.

I'll humbly wait for my VIP invite to the premier, Berkley (I'm manifesting here.)

I could endlessly yap for hours about this book but for your guys sake i'll end it with saying that this is a romance that you will not want to miss out this year!

[Elena Oertel]

So cute 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹!!!! As someone who like to plan everything and loves the security of knowing what’s next, this book was so relatable and beautiful. I’ve worked SO hard to walk away from what I think I expected in my own life, and the way my life has opened up for me ✨ never would’ve thought I’m where I am.

Also. I LOVEEEE Simon. Okay that’s it. Xoxo. 💋

[Sabrina]

3.5 Stars

I really cannot explain this rating because honestly The Ex-Perimento was not great, and I put it down at 30% because there was no Romance to be found. But the concept was so outlandish - Maria’s gonna get her (POS) ex back with the help of her indie-musician crush who happens to be in town to be on the same reality TV show as Maria’s mother - I had to know what happened. And once I picked it back up, I could not put it down.

This is really a story about Maria’s growth, and she was a character I couldn’t help but root for, no matter the ridiculous situations she consistently found herself in. And despite the lack of depth Simón got, he was a good Hero….or the idea of him was? Because the reader never really got to know him? Or his motivations…? The idea of Simón is very good.

Bottom line: When the book focused on the Romance, I could see what the author was trying to do and that was where her writing had the most depth but there was simply too much stuff going on all around it for the Romance to get the page-time it deserved or for it to be developed believably. I’ll keep an eye out for Morillo’s next book, and I do recommend this for a fun, quick, and addicting read!

[Gabriela Lacruz]

I will go to war for this book. The Ex-Perimento is fantastic. It's funny, swoony, and made me feel so nostalgic with its incredible sense of place in Caracas. Simón is kind, considerate, capable, and so so hot, and Marianto is relatable, driven, and perfectly flawed. Their chemistry is delicious and the turns of events of how they get together make this book unputdownable. Maria J. Morillo had me rooting for them from the very first meet-cute! I devoured my early copy in a few days.

[Catalina ♡]

This is such good representation.
Not just for Venezuela and Colombia (although ten tens all across the board for being such beautiful and honest representation for a country so misunderstood like Venezuela), but it's also fantastic representation for girls who fear instability and love to plan everything ahead, and who are also in their flop era, like myself!

The romance was so cute, I would've fallen in love with Simón too PHEWWWWW he was swoony 🙏🙏🙏

One thing I wouldve liked to see more of was Marianto's relationship with her mom, I thought we could've spend more time with that and made the conclusion of that side plot more satisfying. But overall I am very happy!

Me: This girl is so annoying being delusional and paranoid about her future like that, she needs to grow up.
Me: oh my God she's literally me.

Four stars!!⭐⭐⭐⭐

[lucialeelibros]

e-ARC review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨✨✨✨✨!!!!

I have to say, this book has easily become one of the best I’ve read so far in 2025. First of all, I want to thank NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and María J. Morillo who’s not only incredibly kind but also Venezuelan like me! That made me feel even more emotionally connected to this story.

Without giving too many spoilers, this book is a love letter to women and to that saying that we can reach the moon if we truly want to chase our dreams. Our protagonist, María “Marianto” Camacho, is a planner through and through. She believes she’s got everything figured out: the perfect boyfriend, job, stability, a life that’s right on track. But after one (horrible) situation, everything falls apart in the blink of an eye. And that’s when Simón, a famous Colombian singer, walks into her life and brings back the spark they both didn’t know they were missing.

And let’s talk about Simón… because oh my God. He’s that spark we women sometimes crave or simply need ( not in a dependent way), but in an energetic one. Through his playful flirting, his determination, and his drive to win her over, he doesn’t just see her as that woman; he truly connects with her energy. Simón was pure charm. A MAN, in every sense of the word.

But beyond the romance, what truly stole my heart was how deeply Venezuelan this story felt. The setting, the rhythm, the humor everything reminded me of those classic early-2000s telenovelas we used to watch on national television. It felt like being transported back to a time that no longer exists, but still lives inside all of us who grew up with it.

Goddddd, I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I felt nostalgic, I relived childhood memories and now I just want to read more from María J. Morillo. Thank you for reading this far 💛 The book comes out on February 17, 2026, so mark your calendars you’re not going to want to miss it!

[Elizabeth Curran]

Maria needed to work out some stuff. I found the relationship between her and Simon difficult to believe due to the fact they never had any meaningful conversation. However this book was a love letter to Venezuela and I really appreciated that.

[ambersometimesreads]

I loved this!! I was definitely a little skeptical at first because WHY are you that desperate to get your shitty ex back, to the point where you come up with a 10+ step experiment to make him come back. it had that same feeling when you side eye your bestfriend for her horrible taste in men.

but luckily that doesn't work. the plot is about her finding a better man and she definitely does 🤭 this is one of the only "musician" romances I've liked in a whileee and I thought it was overall such a fun read

[michelle (magical reads)]

3.75 stars

rep: Venezuelan protagonist and cast, Colombian love interest

a bit fast paced but honestly I think that’s what I needed rn. really liked the chemistry between the main couple !

[Tochi_reads]

The narrator was spectacular. I loved the Exposure to Latin American places, culture etc. Venezuela is now on my B-List.

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet)]

This was very cute! Not typically a fan of celebrity romances, but this one was sweet. Love how unapologetically Venezuelan and Latine this book is.

[Danielle (bookslamour)]

The Ex-Perimento
By Maria J. Morillo

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: 📖🎧
Published: 2/17/26
Publisher: Berkley Romance

🙏 Thank you Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! Published 2/17/26.

A meticulous lifestyle columnist Marianto sees her perfectly mapped-out life implode after a viral breakup, leading her to launch a desperate series of experiments to win back her ex. Her plans take a chaotic turn when she enlists the help of her favorite indie rock star, Simón, only to discover that the best path forward might be the one she never scripted.

I was really excited to pick this one up especially because it’s a debut that takes place in Caracas, Venezuela which had me so intrigued. I did love seeing the Latin culture portrayal and its infusion in the writing. Unfortunately the love story just didn’t work for me. The FMC is 27, but she often reads more like a lovesick teenager. Completely boy obsessed and loosely invested in her job, mostly in the sense of trying to appease toxic bosses and complain about being asked to do anything that wasn’t considered glamorous or "fun". Her main focus for most of the book was winning her ex back, and then suddenly she has an epiphany and is supposedly in love with her boss, who also happens to be her favorite boy band singer, and she becomes just as fixated on him. Despite the fact that most of their interactions revolve around her talking about her ex and how to get him back, he somehow ends up infatuated with her too.

I struggled to feel any real chemistry between her and either love interest. Much of the story felt like the FMC swooning over these men, but without enough meaningful interaction to make the relationships feel believable or emotionally grounded. I’m usually a sucker for a happily ever after, but in this case I honestly found myself hoping she’d end up single and realize that happiness doesn’t have to revolve around a man. That friendships and personal growth matter too and to focus on herself before jumping into another relationship.

There is some character growth, but it doesn’t really appear until the final 5–10% of the book, which wasn’t enough for me as a reader. I tend to get frustrated with stories that frame a woman’s happiness as dependent on romantic validation, and here we rarely saw the FMC invest in anything else. The only time she meaningfully interacted with a friend was when she was using that friend to help win her ex back. Because of that, she came across as fairly surface-level and self-absorbed to me, which made it difficult for me to root for or truly empathize with her.

If you are looking for something extremely light, with some latin flare this might satisfy you. I think I just need more layered, complicated characters.

[Morgan Rohbock]

4⭐
G🌶️

I love a famous person not famous person romance but I think there's something even more exciting when the famous person is a Latin American singer. But also Maria, we didn't have to be so hung up on Ale, babe!

[Amy]

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free book!

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

This book was a fun, engaging read with a great premise. What starts as a straightforward “get your ex back” plan takes an unexpected and refreshing turn, especially with the addition of her famous wingman. The chemistry was strong, the banter felt natural, and the emotional tension kept me turning pages. I especially liked how the story explored growth and self-realization rather than sticking to a reunion plot.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable romance with a clever twist that stands out from typical ex-back narratives. Definitely worth the read.

Thanks so much for the ARC copy! @BerkleyRomance

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely love to read more from this author. I love adding to my library!

[Martha K]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I have been on the hunt for more Latinx contemporary romance novels that will give me the all the feels as some of my favorite romance novels give me and I am so glad I came across The Ex-Perimento. The storyline was great; I love me a good “rock star” romance and I especially love when an ex realizes what he has lost. Maria Antonieta or Marianto as she prefers to be called was an amazing main character. I typically do not care for women who want to get back with their ex, but this storyline really allowed us to see growth. She learned how to be happy on her own. What can I say about Simon? He’s hot, a rock star, super sweet and considerate and I just loved how he always took care of Marianto. The slow burn was worth it for those swoon worthy kisses.

But if I’m being honest my absolute favorite part of the novel was the setting. I loved that this book took place in Venezuela, and I got to “see” this country through the beautiful narration of this author. I felt like I was there the whole time. I especially loved Marianto’s morning routine of drinking her coffee in her balcony and feeding the macaws. UGH it made me wish I was there! Oh, and as a Latinx chica I appreciated the Spanish sprinkled throughout the novel. It made me feel like it was written for ME and isn’t that what we all wish for?

If you are looking for a romance novel with lots of slow burn yearning and a whole lot of culture, then this book is for you!

Happy Pub Day Maria J. Morillo. I cannot wait for what the future has in store for you.

[Shivani]

3.75*

Thank you @berkleyromance for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼

I quite enjoyed this book, and I know that's true because in the midst of studying for exams and medical school I finished this book in 2.5 days because I quite literally could not put it down. I found the plot of this book to be fun and cheesy but done in a way that I just wanted to continue on Marianto's journey with her. I did see the complexity of her character as far as how she interacted with her mother, friends, how she navigated her career. I wanted to understand why she was the way she was, but I will say there were a number of times it felt like she kept going in circles. I also personally thought she wasn't the greatest of friends to Blanca. I do feel could have been expanded a bit. It was giving, everything is happening in the last act of the book when there's only 50 pages left. What I enjoyed about the book though was the whimsical, romantic imagery of Caracas, Venezuela. I felt like I was transported there through the author's descriptions. And then of course, the main part of the book was the romance! Simon was incredibly swoon-worthy, and I found that him and Marianto had great chemistry and banter. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a short and sweet romance! This was a great debut from this author!