This was a great tie-in story about Vero. Vero is such a complex secondary character and I loved learning more about her background and motivation.

In Finlay Donovan is Killing It, I was pretty sure Vero was connected to Harris’ murder in some way. I’m so glad this hunch was incorrect and that Vero is as “good” a character as she appears to be. I also love Javi and Ramon and I can’t wait to see Vero’s relationships change and grow with both of them.

While I adore Finlay and relate to her, Vero is just cool and I want to be her friend.

I received a copy of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank” is a prequel novella about the Vero’s past.
We find out what happened after she left college and before she met Finlay. This is a short, fast paced book that I read in one sitting.

The story is hilarious and we get a bit more background about Vero and Javi’s past. For me this was exactly what I expected and got me even more interested in the couple and I also want to find out how Vero and Finn will solve her past problem.

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The origin story behind Vero’s financial acumen and how she ended up working for Findlay. This short story is cute, but the advance reader copy (ebook) I received was a typographical mess! On many pages, thetypeallrantogetherlikethis.Itwasreadablebutcertainly notenjoyable. If it had been more accessible I’m sure it would have taken less time and been given more stars.
The story itself explains her close relationship with her cousin Ramón and his best friend Javier. It doesn’t satisfactorily explain why she left college and is in hiding, but perhaps that will be revealed in a future release.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for access to the short story for review purposes. It is currently available.

A fun little novella that gives us Vero’s backstory! Vero's origin story, complete with her sorority drama and her sassy personality, highlights her accounting and finance skills and sets her up to be Finlay's trusted sidekick.

Fans of the Finlay Donovan series won’t want to miss this entertaining quick read that tells us all about Vero before she met Finlay! If you aren’t already a fan, you might find this one to be just okay, as the story and character development aren’t 100% fleshed out. I wish this was a full-length prequel instead!

3 stars

Cute little side quest to learn more about Veronica and her history. Wasn’t necessary to the overall of the series, but it was fun enough.

Good for back story of Vero! This is a short but sweet little book that lets us see the origins story of Veronica and her man. Also, we get a glimpse of Veronica and Findlay’s meet cute. Is it needed for the flow of the stories? No. But it’s a little lagniappe for the hard core fans.

This was a nice glimpse into Vero’s life before Finlay. I was hoping for more detail on what actually happened with her sorority but Vero solving a crime with her signature sass was still enjoyable.

I am a huge Finlay Donovan fan, which means I’m also a Vera fan! I thought this was such a fun novella that showed us a different side of Vera and why she is the way she is. It was a quick, entertaining read and got me excited for the newest Finlay book!

It was fun for a reader of the Finlay Donovan series to go back and see the history of Vero. Just like the parent series though, it's a little over the top in the things Vero does to solve the mystery around the bank. I guess you can say her personality is consistent and the reckless decisions aren't new to her. It's been a minute since I read the first three books and I don't remember how much of her history we get in those. I know the sorority thing was mentioned but I can't remember if she said anything about the bank or her history with Javi. I feel like I need to revisit that!!

Anyways, this was an interesting short read. While it was silly, it's definitely less morbid/black comedy than the other books which is a nice break. The formatting of this ARC was pretty rough though and I ended up borrowing a copy from the library to be able to read it.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a fun story about one of my favorite characters in the Finlay Donovan series. The story follows Veronica who finds herself navigating a series of unexpected challenges and opportunities that is, just like the Finlay Donovan books, charming, witty, and entertaining! She goes on a journey of self-discovery with twists and turns of her financial escapades. I loved getting to learn more about Veronica and her back story. I really enjoyed reading this one!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a fun, quick novella that dives into Vero’s past before she teams up with Finlay in the Finlay Donovan series. While the mystery of a bank thief is engaging and the audiobook narration is great, the romantic subplot with Vero’s childhood crush, Javi, feels overly dominant for such a short story.
The mystery was the highlight for me—Vero’s investigation into the theft was clever and entertaining. However, the focus on her relationship drama with Javi detracts from the plot. It would’ve been more satisfying with a stronger emphasis on the mystery and less on the romantic tension.
Overall, it’s a good but not great read—fun but lacking depth.
Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for copies of the Finlay books in return for an honest opinion.

Veronia Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a quick book focusing on Vero's past and how she meets Finlay. If you're a fan of the Finlay Donovan series it's a great little addition to get the back story on Vero. But it's pretty short and not as fun as the longer books in the series. I think it works bringing in her back story!

I have enjoyed all of the Finlay Donovan books, and this novella was a fun read and a great chance to learn a little more of Vero’s backstory. It also gives us a little glimpse into Vero and Javi’s past while leaving the reader still wanting to know more - hopefully in the next full novel. I would have liked to have seen a little more of Vero's college/sorority experience. Why would the sorority sisters turn on her? What is that backstory? All in all, it was a lighthearted little mystery, and I look forward to the next installment. To be honest, if half stars were an option, this would probably be a 3.5 star, but I've rounded up.
My digital ARC was provided by NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. This heartfelt and humorous story follows Veronica as she navigates the ups and downs of financial responsibility, friendship, and unexpected life lessons. With relatable characters and a fun, engaging narrative, it’s a perfect blend of humor and heart.

The story’s charm lies in its ability to tackle serious topics with warmth and levity, making it an enjoyable and meaningful read for both teens and adults. If you’re looking for a book that’s as entertaining as it is insightful, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a great pick!

The fans asked and Cosimano delivered! We finally got a peek into Vero's backstory and what a doozy it is! It was fun getting to know Vero better and understand what propels her to make the decisions she does. This short story is a comedy of errors that will keep you entertained.

At only 2.5 hours on audio (and that's at 1x), this book is just a little snack into addition to the full meals of the other books in the series.
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This is a novella and is labeled as #3.5 in the Finlay Donovan series, but is a prequel for Vero's story and can be read as a standalone.

Thank you for the gifted book Macmillan Audio! All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up! I was so excited when Elle Cosimano and Minotaur Books made it possible to read all the books in the Finlay Donovan series including the short story titled, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (Finlay Donovan #3.5). Having had read this series from its inception, I was curious to learn about Vero’s backstory. There had been hints about Vero’s life prior to when she first met Finlay throughout the series but not a conclusive one that satisfied all my questions. It was my hope that Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank would do just that. Some of the gaps were filled in and it did a good job describing the circumstances for how and why Finlay and Vero made their initial introduction to each other. However, as a book in this series, it was a bit disappointing. Vero on her own, without Finlay, was lacking the strengths of their combined chemistries, the wittiness I have come to expect from a Finlay Donovan book and the creative antics prevalent in the prior books. The digital version that I received also strung several words together without spaces making it difficult to read. Overall, I did enjoy Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano. As long as you are not expecting all the bells and whistles from this one I would recommend it. There were some funny moments.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun little background story on how Vero became the nanny for Finlay! Not a ton happens but it is a fun read!

Fun little novella to understand Vero a little more. She is very much a hilarious and smart girl. Tho I still want to know what happened to her to have her leave college so abruptly. I’m sure it’ll come up in the books to come

I like the idea of these books so much that I bought the first one as soon as I read the description. I love Finlay Donovan, but I love Vero even more. Without Vero, Finlay would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much or escape so many bad situations. This is a short, fast-paced story about Vero, and we get a quick look at how Vero learns to solve mysteries on her own. I got to check out the audiobook and the narrator is great, and I wouldn't mind more with just Vero. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a light read that provides some of the backstory for Vero (Veronica), who appears in a mystery series written by Elle Cosimano. This short story takes place before Vero meets Finlay Donovan, a woman she teams up with in those books.

I enjoyed the insight to Vero’s pre-Finlay past. The story is an entertaining and fun excursion. It includes a mystery that Vero is determined to solve as well as insight into her relationship with some family members and friends. Now, I’m much more appreciative of this character and I enjoyed getting to know her better. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.