Finally we get more of Vero! Her life before Finlay has been alluded to in the earlier Finlay books, but now we get the actual story in full. This story is short and sweet but a lot of fun. We also get to see more of Javi and find out more about their relationship which I really liked. I also liked how Vero worked to solve the bank thefts while working as a bank custodian. There were lots of funny moments and even a couple mentions of Finlay and other characters we already know, so that was a fun tie-in. Enjoyed!

Loved this short story and learning more background about one of our fav characters!!! Getting more of Vero’s story makes you understand her relationships and family better too.

his is a prequel to one of my favorite series! We get the backstory for Vero and it’s awesome! I already loved Vero and now I love her even more!
Thank you NetGalley, Ms. Cosimano and Minotaur Books!

Loved getting some extra background on Vero after quite a bit of her origins remained a mystery in the first three books of the Finlay Donovan series - this short story filled in some (though not all) of the gaps while containing the trademark brand of humor that keeps me coming back for the next installment.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & Minotaur for making the entire series (thus far) briefly available for download in exchange for honest reviews!

This was a short story, took me about an hour to read but personally I didn't feel like it added anything to the overall story and Vero wasn't at her best here.

Honestly I loved Finley Donovan 1&2. This is just run into the ground.

This books spacing was horrendous. It was so hard to read as most of the words in this book had no spaces in between . It was impossible to read

Rating: 4 ⭐️
How I Read It: 📱

Synopsis
Elle Cosimano gives readers a little background on Finlay Donovan’s sidekick, Veronica Ruiz aka Vero, with the short story, “Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank.” Vero has just been accused of stealing from her sorority and is on the run. She needs to get out of Maryland, so she changes her name and heads to her cousin Ramón's. She gets a job at a local bank, where she starts investigating who is stealing money from the bank in hopes that she will be promoted from cleaning lady to bank teller once she finds out who the culprit is.

My Thoughts
Veronica and Javi are my favorite couple in the series. I love the banter between the two and how Javi is always looking out for Vero, while Vero is oblivious to how much Javi loves her. It was nice to get a little background on their story. Vero seemed a little smarter in this short story than she has in the Donovan books where she acts a lot more reckless. If you’ve read the Finlay Donovan series, you should pick this quick read up.

Ratings
Characters: 4 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 4 ⭐️

Thank you St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
Always love a book that keeps your attention!
Good series!

I love this window into who Vero is and her context in this universe. This is a quick, sassy read. I loved it.

Unfortunately I could not get through this book because there were so many errors in the ARC copy that the words literally didn't make sense. There were strings of multiple words all strung together without spaces with random letters included. I loved the rest of the series so this was a disappointment to me.

I recieved this digital copy long after release thanks to Elle Cosimano and Netgally releasing all books in the Finlay Donovan Series on netgalley, so, thank you! This was so much fun, and I truly enjoyed getting Vero's perspective and past.

The Finlay Donovan books have been my absolute favorite, so I was especially disappointed as I read this one. Vero is a wonderful character and I was excited to read a book from her perspective and see how they met, but this was predictable and disappointing. I suppose it’s good to know the origin story of their duo, but honestly the meeting in the garage was a much better origin story. I understand these are mysteries with romantic tension, and I like the tension with Javi, but this book could have done with that being cut and more focus on Vero and Finlay’s meeting.
I also think I would have enjoyed this more as an audiobook as the narrator really enhances Vero's hilarious character.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a nice addition to the Finlay Donovan series. It tells us about Vero and how she came to work for Finlay. I liked getting the backstory.

Vero is an interesting character. It could have been a little better but still a good addition to the series. I would have preferred the original narrator as well.

In this short story, Vero is on the run after being falsely accused of stealing. She overhears a conversation she shouldn’t and is determined to solve the mystery and get a better job out of it.

Vero’s relationship with her cousin Ramón was an enjoyable mix of loyal support, typical familial meddling opinions, and minor mischievous threats. Vero had a magnetic pull to Javi and their banter was feisty and charged. Readers also get to see the moment Vero first met Finlay.

What a fun snippet of Vero’s backstory!

I enjoy that we got a back story for Vero but it was pretty lackluster of a story. With it being so short I understand why we didn't get more but I think I would have preferred clues about Vero's past intertwined within the main storyline. With this being a standalone there was less substance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy. This is out now!

4-Star Review for Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

Elle Cosimano delivers another fast-paced, witty, and delightfully chaotic installment in the Finlay Donovan universe with Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. This time, Veronica takes center stage, and her journey is just as hilarious, unpredictable, and action-packed as fans would expect.

The novel shines with Cosimano’s signature blend of humor and suspense, making it an engaging ride from start to finish. Veronica’s character arc is well-developed, and her antics—whether intentional or accidental—keep the stakes high and the pages turning. The banter, especially between Veronica and returning characters, adds an extra layer of charm.

The reason this isn’t a full five stars? At times, the plot leans a bit too heavily on its wild twists, and some moments feel slightly over-the-top. However, the book’s entertainment value more than makes up for it. If you love snappy dialogue, high-stakes hijinks, and strong female leads, this one’s a must-read.

A fantastic addition to the series that leaves me eager for more!

Vero has been one of my favorite side characters in the Finlay Donovan series, and it was nice to dive into her world and discover what makes Vero, Vero! I loved it!

I loved getting to see this side of Vero and what led to her being the Vero we all now love.

Cosimano created such amazing characters!

A fun short read getting to know a bit more about Vero; how she left school, got the job in the bank and ended up working for Finlay.