Ah the pesky ex, everyone has one. But not every ex has the wherewithal to write a book chronicling how you're a "master manipulator" for an already established audience.

The American Hustle star, who was (very) briefly married to actress Jennifer Esposito from December 2006 until May 2007, is believed to be the mystery men mentioned in her new book Jennifer's Way, according to New York Daily News.

The 41-year-old star describes the man as "funny, smart, cocky, arrogant and a master manipulator", claiming that she didn't "necessarily find him that attractive" when they first met but they quickly became a couple.

The Blue Bloods actress, who has written the book mostly about her lifelong battle with coeliac disease (that point alone isn't enough to sell the book), went on to say the boyfriend had a "mean, cold side", and his personality "could flip on a dime."

Jennifer claims their relationship was unhealthy and she "became very sad and I felt very alone", before she attended a seminar in Los Angeles, after which the relationship "hit an all-time low" and within a week it was over.

Speaking about the couple's break-up, she said it happened: "Abruptly, rudely, and with the exact callousness that I'd come to expect from him."

39-year-old Bradley, who is now dating 22-year-old model Suki Waterhouse, has only briefly spoken about his marriage to Jennifer, saying: "It was just something that happened. The good thing, we both realised it... Sometimes you just realise it. It just wasn't right."