Exclusive: Mia Sosa's ‘When Javi Dumped Mari’ Cover Reveal and Excerpt Has Our Jaws on the Floor

has us constantly wondering what she has up her sleeve. She knows a thing or two about falling in love and her books are no exception. Her hot and swoon-y romances are always ones that we know we're gonna obsess over as soon as we pick them up. So it's not too surprising to see that her next one hits the same just from the first page. After all, she is one of the biggest (and one of our favorite) romance writers out there. Which is why it's so exciting that the wait is finally over when it comes to finding more of what it'll be about. And, trust us, it's going to keep you on your toes especially after you find out what's in store for Javi and Mari.

Cosmopolitan has an exclusive look at Mia Sosa's next novel, , which is set to be released on June 24, 2025. With a pact in place, these two BFFs seem to have the perfect friendship, even though it's clear that there are some sparks between them. But what happens when Mari jumps in and surprises Javi with the biggest shock of all? Well, you're going to have to wait to find out! Luckily, you can find out more about what you can expect right now thanks to some more info from our friends at Putnam :

The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them suddenly decides to get married. On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn't approve of. Now, ten years later, Javi has a problem. Mari, the woman he's secretly pined for since sophomore year, is engaged—and Javi didn't even get the chance to vet the Pedro Pascal knockoff she plans to marry. Mari, a successful entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, is no longer seeking Javi's dating advice or waiting for him to declare his love for her. Instead, Mari's made a different pact—with herself. And to succeed, she's vowing to build a future with someone else. With his life and theater career finally on track, Javi's ready to confess his feelings. Except Mari's changed the script and moved on without him. Javi has just eight weeks to convince Mari this marriage is a flop. If that means he needs to ruffle some feathers to help Mari avert a disaster, well, he's up for the challenge. After all, isn't that what best friends are for? Oh, and did we mention that the cover has quite possibly the most gorgeous sunset ever?! You can check it out below:

And that's not all! You can read the first chapter below which is told from Javi's POV and gives us a glimpse on his friendship with Mari that is so cute, you're definitely gonna ship them together ASAP. But what could that big surprise be? Read on to find out! Just don't forget to also and even check out some of while you're at it!

An Excerpt From When Javi Dumped Mari By Mia Sosa

Chapter 1 I'm not the kind of man who fidgets, but tonight I can't stop messing with every object on this table. The pepper shaker isn't close enough to the saltshaker. The candle centerpiece should be shifted three centimeters to the right. The tiny ripples in the cream linen tablecloth need smoothing over, too. Now that I think about it, where are those little sugar packets for our after-dinner coffee? Mari loves her café con un montón de azúcar like no one else I know.

And where's my best friend, anyway?

I glance at my watch, then loosen my tie as I scan the small group of people lingering near the hostess's podium. Maybe I shouldn't have dressed up for the occasion. Not that this is a special occasion exactly, but to me, it's a big deal, so I figured I'd look the part of a guy who's going places. Too much? Maybe. Still, Mari's going to be floored when I tell her about the changes in my life since we last saw each other: a spot to call home that isn't a glorified frat house; excellent career prospects on the horizon; a therapist to help me process years of suppressed emotions. These are huge steps for me—all of them long overdue and meant to show Mari that I'm on my way to becoming a worthy partner. Mari would probably say I have a lot of nerve being impatient now; given how long it's taken me to get my shit together, she'd be a thousand percent correct.

I survey the dining room, my attention snagging on a man who's tapping a spoon against his wineglass. He stands, presumably to address his guests, and because this stranger's business isn't mine—a phrase Mari jokingly imprinted on my brain years ago—I look away.

The absence of a distraction means I can no longer ignore my clammy palms and bouncing knees. Annoyed by my own restlessness, I double-check our last text exchange.

Me: we still on for 7 at Bella Trattoria? Mari: definitely Me: can't wait to see you Mari: same :-) That was only two hours ago. Mari's never stood me up, so I'm not worried that she won't show, but she's ten minutes late, and work is usually the culprit. I suppose it can't hurt to check in again.

Me: everything okay? Me: not a problem if you need a raincheck I'd hate to miss out on the opportunity to see Mari tonight, but I don't want to place any undue pressure on her. Besides, if I have anything to say about it—and Mari's suggested on numerous occasions that I do—we'll have plenty of time to spend together while I'm here in California.

The moment I take a sip of water, someone settles a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. I look behind me, and there she is: the woman who's captured my heart in a vise.

Mari rounds our table and slips into her seat, then takes a deep, steadying breath. "Hey, sorry to make you wait. I had to run to the restroom."

She gives me a weak smile, places her hands in her lap, and centers all of her attention on the bifold card promoting the restaurant's cocktail specials.

No kiss on the cheek. No hug. No eye contact, for that matter. Her placid expression suggests she isn't particularly upset, but she doesn't seem to be herself either. I'll find out what's bothering her in the next few minutes. Neither of us has much patience for bullshit. In the meantime, I can't help but stare at her, taking in her glowy tan skin; the gorgeous curly hair skimming her shoulders; the full, glossy lips that always captivate me when she's talking.

"It's good to see you, M," I say, shifting in my seat. "You look beautiful."

She blushes, her gaze slowly lifting to mine. It's the first sign of the Mari I'm used to. The one who never quite knows how to take a compliment.

"Oh, stop. I'm the same ole me. But you? You look fantastic, Javi." Waggling her eyebrows, she adds, "Que gatinho."

We quietly eye each other, matching smiles on our faces, and my spirits lift. We're good. Of course we're good. Now that my mind's at ease, I can't contain myself any longer and blurt out, "I have good news!"

Giving her a secretive grin, I reach into the messenger bag at my feet and grab the first draft of the musical script Mari's been urging me to finish for years. It's done. Finally done. Well, the bones of it. And yeah, there's still a ton of work to do before it's ready for showtime—the music and half of the lyrics, for starters—but this is a symbolic end to the rut I've been in, and I'm in a celebratory mood.

The brightness in her eyes dims, and her shoulders slump, immediately putting me on high alert. "I have news too," she says less enthusiastically than I did.

I let the libretto slip from my hand. It lands at the bottom of my bag, the faint thump of its pages making me flinch. The book can wait. Because she didn't say her news was good, and my antenna when it comes to Mari couldn't be more fine-tuned.

"You first," I say, peering at her closely.

She reaches for her water glass and takes a long sip, then leans forward, as though she has something urgent to say. "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads-up sooner, but I brought someone with me. He's parking the car."

I relax into my seat and blow out a slow breath. Jesus, is that all? A random date I can handle. These men are never worthy of her anyway. "I thought you were going on a romance hiatus? That's what you said the last time I saw you."

"It ended," she says, her face as blank as an untouched canvas. "Didn't get a chance to tell you."

I casually park an elbow on my chair's armrest. "So, who is he? Another former classmate from law school?" I chuckle. "Damn, that guy was a pendejo to rival all pendejos."

Mari twists her lips into a half smile and playfully rolls her eyes. "Don't remind me. He's married now, and I pray for his partner daily." Straightening her shoulders, she adds, "But seriously, this new guy's great, and I really hope you like him. His name is Alex Cordero. We, uh . . . we work together at the firm."

The passing mention of her father's entertainment law firm irks me. It's just another tool Luiz Campos uses to exert control over his daughter. She'd be better off someplace else, where her talents aren't wasted, but her career choices are just that—hers—and I tend to give a wide berth to any subject that relates to her dad.

Wait. A frisson of alarm runs down my spine when I focus on what she said about her date: "But seriously, this new guy's great." By agreement, I'm supposed to be the judge of that. I mean, considering we've been gatekeeping each other's relationships the past two years, that's literally my job. And as to Mari, I have yet to meet someone who passes muster. Hell, I don't even pass muster, but I'm willing to live trying.

I lean forward conspiratorially. "Still, I'm here to do my duty as your best friend. Tell me what you need, an interrogation or a shakedown?"

Most people are subjected to interrogations; shakedowns are reserved for individuals who've already raised a few red flags. Either way, this guy will be a blip in Mari's history once I'm done with him.

"Neither," Mari says. "Just do me a favor and get to know him organically, okay? No third degree. No snarky remarks. I want you to give Alex a fair chance."

Well, damn. She's never imposed any stipulations on my assessment before. Is she into this Alex guy? Does she want me to rubber-stamp what she already knows? In all the time we've been vetting each other's dates, our mandate has been unfailingly clear: approve or disapprove. Except Mari's essentially telling me she won't be swayed by my opinion—as if it's too late for me to do anything. I'm fucking stumped by this change in the status quo, but I eventually gather enough wits to respond. "Sure, sure. Whatever you need."

Mari briefly closes her eyes and exhales, then glances at the restaurant's revolving door.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, unsure what to make of her mood. She seems . . . off. And she seems especially off considering it's just us. Mari and Javi. Javi and Mari. She can tell me anything. She has to know this by now.

Mari reaches over the stretch of distance between us and places her right hand on mine. "You mean so much to me, Javi. Please don't ever forget that. I . . ."

Okay, what the fuck, heart? Chill. I breathe through my nose as I massage the left side of my chest, hoping to calm my quickening pulse. Is there something else? Is she moving out of the country? I narrow my eyes and study her face more closely. Is she sick? What the hell is going on? "Whatever it is, Mari, just tell me. I want to be there for you. We'll get through it together."

She looks past me, and her whole face lights up as she rises to her feet. "Here he is now."

I turn in the direction she's facing, my jaw dropping as I watch Alex make his entrance. And I'm not exaggerating when I describe it as an entrance. I mean, the guy's straightening his cuff links, his overcoat flapping behind him like a superhero's cape while the people in his wake pretend they're not staring at this prime specimen. He's Latine, maybe, and tall. Really tall. I mean, I'm no short king, and this guy probably has four inches on me. To add insult to injury, he also comes equipped with hazel eyes, a chiseled jaw, and—I glance at the floor around him—huge feet. He's the fucking Beyoncé of men. Okay, fellas, no need to get in formation. It's a wrap.

Alex folds Mari into a warm embrace. "Sorry to keep you waiting, princessa," he says, his lips grazing her temple. Then he looks down at me, flashing a big, confident smile. "And here's the man of the hour. Glad we're finally meeting in person, Javier. Marisol's told me so much about you."

Mari and I exchange an awkward glance before I jump up and shake his hand. "I wish I could say the same."

Alex grins, completely unaffected by my lukewarm greeting. "There's plenty of time for us to get to know each other before the wedding."

I frown at him, my brain struggling to comprehend the words coming out of this stranger's mouth. "What wedding?"

by Mia Sosa, published by Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright (c) 2025 by Mia Sosa.

When Javi Dumped Mari, by Mia Sosa will be released on June 24, 2025. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice: