This was a fast and enjoyable read. I loved learning more about Vero and getting to hear more of her perspective. I’m intrigued by Vero and Javi’s history and can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

A fun, hilarious novella set in the Finlay Donovan world about Finlay’s nanny and how she came to be her nanny! Full of the same hilarious shenanigans!

Good, but I think the humor is definitely found in the duo.

Thanks NetGalley and Minotaur books for this advanced copy!

Before there was Finlay and Vero, there was Veronica Ruiz.

In the grand scheme of the Finlay Donovan series, Veronica Ruiz has a mysterious past with a bright future stripped away.

As it turns out, there's warrant out for her arrest for allegedly stealing money from her college sorority. She didn't do it, but she leaves the state to crash on her cousin Ramón's couch and start fresh.

With her background in finance, she decides to try to get a job at her local bank as a teller. The only available job is a cleaning job, so she takes the offer. Soon after, she learns that somebody has been stealing money and decides to take matters into her own hands. She's also tense because her childhood crush Javi is also staying nearby.

Can Vero pinpoint the thief?

This short story/novella was fun. I feel like it covered quite a bit of story in just over 100 pages, though I'm not entirely sure it's a necessary installment to the Finlay Donovan series. Vero is one of my favorite characters in the series, so it's always fun to see what kind of mess she'll end up in! I do feel like something was missing, though, and for that, I can't give it more than three stars.

Our beloved Vero from the Finlay Donovan series is back with a story all her own. When she finds herself framed for stealing money from her sorority, something she absolutely did not do, Veronica sneaks back to her hometown to try to start her life over. The first step for her is getting a job, preferably one in finance, leading her to take a job at a bank. The only problem is it's a janitorial position. However, when Vero overhears the bank manager talking about money going missing from the bank, Vero decides that she can solve two problems at once, finding the perpetrator for the manager and taking their job.

As with the other books in the Finlay Donovan series, this book has heart and humor in spades. I loved getting to dip back into this world through this novella, and hearing the story told from Vero's point of view added quite a bit of fun. If you want a fast mystery with a memorable, independent main character, this is the book for you!

These books always make me laugh. This is good for a quick, short read. I can’t say it added anything to the series, however.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this e-book copy!

I really enjoyed this short story about Vero, her background and more information about how her and Finlay first met. I did find it was not as funny and witty as as the other books in the series, but it was a short story and still kept me wanting to pick up the next book!

4 stars!

The book was a short and sweet story featuring our favourite fearless sidekick, Vero. One of the things we love about Vero is her witty banter and her amazing relationship with Finlay. I felt like this one might have been missing that special spark a bit. We still got a chance to see how Vero came to be the nanny and partner-in-crime for Finlay, and we did see a bit of her one-of-a-kind backstory. Full of action and comedy, it's still a fun read and worth it for fans of the Finlay Donovan series.

A very short backstory about Vero and also Javi, two characters in the Finlay Donovan series and much beloved. The short story was just ok, I still feel like I am missing something from her story and I hope we get more in the next couple books. I would love more Javi backstory also.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank was a fun little detour, but it didn’t quite give me the same chaotic sparkle I love from the full Finlay Donovan series. I liked getting more of Vero’s backstory—she’s always been a scene-stealer—but this short story felt more like a bonus feature than a must-read. The vibes were decent, a few laughs here and there, but it didn’t hit with the same energy or tension as the main books. Honestly, I missed Finlay’s unhinged narration and their wild dynamic. Cute for fans who want all the Vero content, but I wouldn’t say it’s essential.

This was a fun short story and an welcome exploration of Vero's life before we first met her in the full novels. This was great addition to the series, if you are already a fan you will round this up to four stars, but this is not the story to test this series out with. A lot of questions about Vero's past are addressed that fans have been asking for but best of all is the first meeting between her and Finley.

For me, the brief format kept Cosimano from developing the wit and sharpness of writing that always pulls me with that killer frantic pace that defines a Finley Donovan story

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur and the author for the gifted e-copy!

This is a fun and action packed short story that will answer all your questions about Vero!

We learn how she became Finlay’s nanny, accountant, housekeeper and all around partner in shenanigans! Plus we get the scoop on Javi & Vero’s relationship and learn more about their history together!

Even tho it’s a quick read … there’s still a little mystery and sleuthing as Vero sets out to uncover who is stealing from the bank where she works.

It was fun having Vero as the main character and I’m glad that Elle gave us this little peek into Finlay's beloved sidekick character!

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

The backstory of the best nanny sidekick ever! In this short story we get valuable info on Vero's sorority-theft past, her relationship with the delicious Javi, family drama and her first mystery at her bank job. This is a great side quest before starting the fourth book in which Vero and Finlay are off to rescue Javi! Now I feel as invested in Vero's HEA as I am in Finlay's.

I loved that Vero got her very own story! She is one of the best characters in the series, so I was excited to see she got some attention as the star of the show.

Always like reading books that are short and to the point they can be refreshing. This book gives you the background of the characters.

Who doesn't love Veronica Ruiz? Vero is whole heartedly a co-star in the Finlay Donovan series and provides the comic relief in every story.
I loved having the back story as a companion to the main series and it gave so much context to why she behaves the way she does. I love Vero-she can never do anything wrong in my book and having this sassy character's novella only makes me want to read more of her and Finlay's adventures.

Such a great short story providing the missing background to Vero's character in the Finlay Donovan series. Definitely worth picking this quick read up.

Hilarious and typical Viro. We learn about her rushed escape from college, get a peak into her relationship with her cousin, Ramone, and high school boyfriend/childhood friend, Javier.
Less entertaining than typical Finlay Donovan novels, which is why Vero is the sidekick. But funny, nonetheless.

This fun addition to the Finlay Donovan series, helps to better flesh out the story of her nanny/co-investigator. It's a quick read, but no less amusing than the other books in the series.

Vero is on the run, accused of a crime she did not commit. No one would believe her. So off to her cousin's place she goes to lay low and come up with a plan. To make ends me, she heads to the local bank hoping for a teller post and ends up as their cleaning staff. She overhears her boss and a guard talking about tills coming up short. Vero thinks that if she can solve that problem, she'd be in a good position to get that better job. If only Javi wasn't back in the picture, perhaps she could focus. All of the ensuing shenanigans leads up to that first meet with Finlay.

Author Elle Cosimano is brilliant in her writing of this series. The characters are hilarious in their dialogue and cutting remarks. The women are strong and clever while many of the men are rather morally challenged. Finlay Donavan and her nanny, Vero, make for a dubious duo in this series and their antics keep the reader chuckling. It's a wild ride for sure and nowhere near believable, yet oh so fun!

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 7, 2023
Number of Pages: 119
ISBN: 978-1250343314