This short story gives us a glimpse in Vero’s past and what brought her into Finlay Donovan’s life. It’s interesting to see Vero in this context and get a chance to see inside her head. This is short but I think an important part of the story. If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan series like I am, you’ll appreciate this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with this ebook in exchange for honest review.

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Y'all, I just finished reading Vera’s backstory in the Finlay Donovan series, and let me tell you — it was pure perfection. I’ve always known Vera is my spirit animal, but learning more about her made me love her even more. This girl can get herself into the worst situations, just like her best friend Finlay, and it’s honestly part of what makes her so awesome.

One of the things I’ve always wondered is how Vera and Finlay became such great friends. Well, this book gives us all the juicy details, and it was exactly what I wanted. The way their bond formed, the ups and downs, and just everything leading up to their friendship was so fun to read. I mean, now I can’t imagine one without the other — they’re just meant to be besties!

As usual, Elle Cosimano nails it with her ability to create a fast-paced, easy, and totally entertaining read. I couldn’t put it down! There’s something about her writing that just keeps you turning the pages, and you never want it to end. If you’re a fan of the series, this book is a must-read. And if you haven’t picked up Finlay Donovan yet, you’re seriously missing out. Trust me, Vera will steal your heart!

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

While it was interesting getting to know a little bit more of a background on Vero, I feel like there was an opportunity to have a little bit more with it. I did listen and read the book, and I was sad to hear that the narrator wasn't Angela Dawe, who has been the narrator for the rest of the series. The girl that did this one wasn't bad, it just wasn't Angela Dawe and didn't sound like the Vero that we've heard throughout the rest of the series.

This fun novella gives a bit of backstory for Vero from the Finlay Donovan series.

Vero is on the run from false accusations of theft from her sorority sisters. She decides to crash with her cousin and takes a job as a bank in an effort to solve a crime.

Definitely not a necessary book to the series, but fun all the same.

This is a simple novella telling the backstory of Vero, a main character in the Finlay Donovan series. This novella invokes a mystery at a bank and the zany ways Vero goes about solving it. I enjoyed the time she spent with her family the most in this story. A quick read.

I received a copy of this text through NetGalley for review.

I have been a long-time fan of Finlay Donovan, but reading about how the start of her and Vero's friendship was a breathe of fresh air. Also, getting to read about Vero's background was an entirely new experience.

The light heartedness was there, as well as the attitude we have all come to expect from Vero.

In the delightful short story Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank, Elle Cosimano takes readers on a whirlwind journey filled with humor, intrigue, and a touch of romance. This engaging addition to the Finlay Donovan series offers a deeper look into the past of fan-favorite character Veronica Ruiz, who finds herself in a precarious situation that sets the stage for an adventure of self-discovery and redemption.

Cosimano’s writing is vibrant and engaging, pulling readers into Vero's world with ease. The dialogue is snappy and filled with charm, keeping the pace brisk and the readers invested. The story also offers fresh insights into the dynamic between Vero and Finlay, making it a must-read for fans who have been eager to understand their relationship from the beginning.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a captivating short story that combines humor, mystery, and a dash of romance. It's a tale of resilience and finding one’s footing in the face of adversity, resonating with anyone who has ever felt out of place. Cosimano has crafted a delightful narrative that will leave readers both laughing and rooting for Vero as she breaks new ground in her life and love. Highly recommended!
In the delightful short story Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank, Elle Cosimano takes readers on a whirlwind journey filled with humor, intrigue, and a touch of romance. This engaging addition to the Finlay Donovan series offers a deeper look into the past of fan-favorite character Veronica Ruiz, who finds herself in a precarious situation that sets the stage for an adventure of self-discovery and redemption.

Cosimano’s writing is vibrant and engaging, pulling readers into Vero's world with ease. The dialogue is snappy and filled with charm, keeping the pace brisk and the readers invested. The story also offers fresh insights into the dynamic between Vero and Finlay, making it a must-read for fans who have been eager to understand their relationship from the beginning.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a captivating short story that combines humor, mystery, and a dash of romance. It's a tale of resilience and finding one’s footing in the face of adversity, resonating with anyone who has ever felt out of place. Cosimano has crafted a delightful narrative that will leave readers both laughing and rooting for Vero as she breaks new ground in her life and love. Highly recommended!

Getting to know a little of Vero's background and how she and Finlay met was enjoyable. The origin of her wit, ingenuity, snooping skills, empathy, and humor was highlighted with this backstory, as were hints of her future adventures in sleuthing. Some light was shed on her love/hate relationship with Javie and her cousin Ramon, which left the reader anxiously waiting for more.

In this short story, we learn more about Veronica (Vero) and her history.

We know Finlay has an idea of what happened previously with Vero but this story opens up to tell us what happened before Vero became Finlay’s nanny.

It’s always fun to her more about the rest of the characters. Vero is a big part of Finlay’s everyday life and we knew there was more than what she told us.

Thank You NetGalley for an advance copy. This is a short story that falls between books 3 and 4 in a strong series about single mom Finlay Donovan, who fumbles her way through mishaps and crime scenes, while always remaining relatable and funny. She is definitely related to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. Vero is one of the best characters in the series, so this short story was good because it gave more backstory about Vero, Finlay’s nanny and best friend. It didn’t reveal a lot, but it was an entertaining story and clearly fit into the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this. This was a fun novella to explain how Vero and Finlay met and kicked off their friendship. It was fun to let Vero have a story!

This was a fun novella that explained some of Vero’s background and how she came to meet Finlay. This was a good companion to the Finlay Donovan series! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is the perfect novella for giving backstory to one of the most beloved characters I’ve read in a series. I truly love that now I know the real backstory behind how Vero and Finlay meet, it puts a ton of context to Vero that I didn’t have before, and a devoted reader of the series, I really enjoyed getting that insight and backstory. I love how Vero’s sassiness that we know and love from the series comes out toward the end of the story and how we see her start to grow from the timid, college runaway dropout to who we meet and love in the first Finlay Donovan novel. This is one of my favorite series and I’d love to see more novellas of the different characters and Vero later!

This short story was a fun look into Vero’s adventure at a local bank before she meets Finlay. I enjoyed it and it was fun, but I wouldn’t call it a must read for Finlay Donovan fans.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for a free copy of this short story.

Not a fan of the Finlay Donovan series (gave up after 2 books) but Vero was always my favourite so I gave this a go.

This was a nice filler and fun fan service, but ultimately doesn't really do anything...? There's none of the spark or wit that made me adore Vero so much. There are also so many loose ends. Loved the 'meet-cute' at the end though!

Overall, enjoyable but also forgettable.

DNF - the formatting makes it very difficult to read. All the words are running together. I’m sure it’s a good read as I enjoyed the others books in the series. #VeronicaRuizBreakstheBank #NetGalley

Before Vero became a nanny for Finlay she had a whole different life. One where she was in a sorority, doing great at university, and hoping to get a job after college. However, that all changes when she is accused of stealing money from the sorority she is in. Now she has left college (told no one) and is kind of on the run to get the money back. Now she is hiding but also not hiding at her cousins, where her ex-boyfriend is also living (but she has no idea about that until it is too late). Now she has to figure out her next steps with both her life and her ex.

Let me start by saying, I absolutely love the world of Finlay Donovan (I have already read the newest installment in the series). This novella was perfect. I loved getting more backstory on Vero and seeing how she met Finlay and got her job. I also liked learning more about her as a person, what does she like? What happened in her life to lead her to Finlay? It was all answered in this absolutely perfect novella. I am hoping to see that in the next installment (after the one that just came out) we get even more Vero and Finlay!

I was so excited to read this one because Vero is one of my favorite characters and it did not disappoint. I loved seeing more of the pieces of her story come together to give the reader a fuller picture of her and her strengths as well as the background of her and Javi. Fans of the series will absolutely love this one and the opportunity to get to know Vero better. Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

We finally find out how Vero and Finlay meet! Not how I expected but I will take it. Vero dropped out of school and gets caught breaking into her cousin's garage. She thought she would spend the night on his office couch for the night while figuring out what to do. She wasn't expecting him to be there and come at her with a baseball bat. Good thing he didn't bean her with it. Instead he took her home and put her up on his couch. Now she has to figure out what to do. Her sorority sisters are framing her for stealing their treasury and she is on the run. She needs a job and she know finance so thinks "bank" and applies for a job at a bank but the only job they have is a janitor job. She finds out they have a problem there with someone stealing and she is going to find out who did it. Love this series! One laugh after another!

Thanks Netgalley, author , St.Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for honest review.

Veronica Ruiz is on the run—hiding from her parents, the police, and possibly even her local barista for all we know. Wrongly accused of a crime she didn’t commit, she’s dodging everyone and everything... except opportunity. Spotting a job opening at a bank dealing with its own little “theft problem,” Veronica swoops in as a cleaning lady. Her plan? Find the thief, clear her name, and maybe, just maybe, get her life together. No pressure.

This little novella has been gathering dust on my TBR for far too long, so when NetGalley threw me a lifeline, I snagged it faster than Veronica could spot a scam. Clocking in at under 100 pages, this is a breezy, snack-sized backstory for fans of the Finlay Donovan series.

Here’s the scoop: It’s all about Veronica, a.k.a. Finlay’s BFF, ride-or-die babysitter, and partner in (sometimes literal) crime. Think of her as the Robin to Finlay’s Batman or the Watson to her Sherlock. While Finlay pops in for a quick cameo, this story focuses on how Veronica hit rock bottom, found her way to Finlay’s orbit, and managed to (mostly) survive her questionable decisions.

There’s a sprinkle of family drama (thanks, Cousin Ramon), a dash of romance (hello, Javier), and plenty of “how did she even survive this?” moments. While the story isn’t mind-blowingly amazing, it does remind us why Veronica is the MVP of the series—witty, resourceful, and always quick on her feet. That said, I did miss the chaotic, laugh-out-loud banter between her and Finlay.
I’m giving this a solid 3.5/5 ⭐.

It’s a fun read for die-hard fans of the series (ahem, like me) or anyone suffering from FOMO and just has to know everything. Is it life-changing? No. Does it add some depth to Veronica’s character? Absolutely. Recommend it for Veronica stans, series newbies, and anyone who just wants a quick, quirky read!