Thank you Netgalley for this ARC short story in the Finaly Donovan series. As a true fan of the series, I absolutely adored this short story about one of my favorite characters. Vero is hilarious and I really enjoy the banter between her and Javi. A definite read for anyone who loves this series. I can't wait to read the next installment!

Love it it was nice to hear Vera‘s backstory after reading all the books in the Finlay Donovan series! It was a short read, but packed full of humor mystery and romance. Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review.

In the past, I'd never read the Finlay Donovan novels by Elle Cosimano. I missed reading the first, and then the second one caught my eye, but I felt I should read the first before reading it and just didn't. Over and over, the newest one would catch my eye but I would not read it. Recently, the fifth one did the same thing, but I was offered the opportunity to read and review all the preceding ones in one chunk.  That was all the incentive I needed. I was all in once I "got to know" the characters.  These novels are full of funny, laughable moments and memorable characters set in a cozy mystery setting. These reminded me of my younger years and reading Nancy Drew, and more recently, reading Janet Evanovich. Can you read any one of them as a stand-alone? Sure, but why?  I highly recommend you read them in order as a set and plan to pick up the future ones as they come out. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I am absolutely obsessed with all of the Finlay Donovan books and getting more insight on Vero was so much fun! I loved being able to catch these quick glimpses of the story and seeing it become more profound.

This was a very cute short story. I love this character in the series so it was a nice little way of getting to know her story more.

After her sorority accuses her of stealing the sorority’s money, she quits school, packs up, and heads to her cousin Ramon’s house to hide out. Planning to change her name and start over, she heads to a bank to apply for a finance job. Instead she finds herself hired as a janitor. While there, she discovers a mystery she can’t wait to solve. Someone at the bank is stealing money from the bank,. Seeing an opportunity to get promoted to teller if she can solve the mystery, Vero starts investigating. Meanwhile, her childhood crush, Javi is back in her life and she’s finding him hard to resist. Will Vero solve the mystery and get promoted? What will Vero end up deciding about her future?

The plot is well written, engaging, and entertaining. The characters are likable, realistic, and memorable. For fans of the series, it’s fun to see Vero’s origin story and how she first encountered Finlay. Readers who like humor, mystery, and strong female characters will want to pick this one up. It’s not necessary to read the other books in the series, but readers will definitely want to read the rest. Recommended for most library collections.

I loved getting to learn more about Vero in this short story from the Finlay Donovan universe. More please!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was so fun! I loved hearing Vero’s backstory. Definitely a great addition to the series. She is so funny and adventurous and this story fit her character perfectly.

Supremely amusing short story that adds another layer to Vero! I found that Finley not taking main stage nor narrative was a bit jarring but the payoff was worth it!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano is a short story that gives fans of the Finaly Donovan series some background information on the life of Finlay's nanny-turned-sidekick, Vero. When the story begins Veronica Ramirez is a college dropout. She has just been falsely accused of stealing money from her sorority and decides that dropping out and skipping town is the only solution. When she returns to her hometown to start a new life, she discovers she would make an excellent bank employee. The bank happens to be dealing with a thief of its own and Vero is determined to solve the mystery. While this wasn't quite as funny as the other books in this series, it was a quick and entertaining read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

*Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank* by Elle Cosimano is a fresh, fun, and thrilling addition to the *Finlay Donovan* series. Focused on the feisty and sharp-witted Veronica Ruiz, this spin-off delivers a perfect mix of suspense, humor, and heart. Cosimano’s writing is as clever as ever, with witty dialogue and unexpected twists that keep readers on their toes. Veronica’s journey is packed with bold moves, daring decisions, and a cast of lovable characters. If you’re a fan of the *Finlay Donovan* world, this book is a must-read, offering a fresh perspective and plenty of excitement!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a prequel short story to the Finlay Donovan series focusing on Vero's backstory.

I was waitinggggggggg for this ever since I read Finaly Donovan Is Killing It. Vero is a standout character for me in the Finlay Donovan series and I'm glad she finally has a dedicated short story. Hopefully this is just the beginning of more to come.

In Veronica Cruz Breaks the Bank we are introduced to a younger Vero. She recently decided to drop out of college after some allegations from her sorority sisters. Vero sees this as an opportunity to start fresh. In this story we also get to see how Vero and Finley meet.

This short story is over the top just like Elle Cosimano's other books. It was short and sweet. I found myself laughing and chuckling.

If you're a fan of the Finlay Donovan series I recommend you pick this one up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy of Veronica Breaks the Bank.

I have enjoyed all of the Finlay Donovan books, so far, and was not aware that a novella had been released between the 3rd and 4th books. This cute little story delves into a bit of Vero's past, letting readers know when and how Vero and Finlay crossed paths and how Vero ended up back in town.

Like the Finlay novels, there is a humorous side of the story, but I did not find this one incredibly funny. Vero is my favorite character in the books, so I liked that this one focused solely on her, with Ramone and Javier playing significant roles. Truthfully, I didn't learn a whole lot of new information, and things from Vero's past were not resolved, but the story is fun and I would not mind if Ms. Cosimano decided to write a few more Veronica Ruiz books, too.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for the digital copy of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano. The opinions in this review are my own.

I did not expect to have so much fun in such a short book! I absolutely loved getting a peek into Vero's past, and this vignette really solidified her as a favorite in the series. She shows so much spunk, and I love how smart she is. So glad we got a story with her in the lead.

This gives you a good idea about who Vero is and her life before Finlay. Not quite as interesting as her previous books but still enjoyable. I received this e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Rounded up

Elle Cosimano author of the Finlay Donovan series takes the opportunity in Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank to introduce us to Veronica Ramirez. It is tagged as the 3.5 of the Finlay Donovan series but in reality, it really is a prelude to the series.

Veronica Ramirez is on the lam from her sorority and the accusation that she stole money. Veronica quits school, changes her name to Vero Ruiz, solves a mystery at a local back and finally meets up with meets Finlay Donovan to become her nanny and partner in crime.

It was a cute novella but missing the fun banter between Finley and Vero and situations these two seem to get into. With the upcoming release of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, Elle Cosimano, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for granting access to the series; thank you. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When I read the story, I felt drawn into the events, but I kept wondering about the backstory—how everything came to be. The narrative style was engaging, but it occasionally left me searching for more context. While I appreciated the pacing, some parts felt a bit abrupt, as though I had missed a crucial introduction.

The way the characters interacted felt genuine and relatable, but their motivations weren’t always clear. I wanted to understand what drove them to the choices they made, especially given the stakes of the story. The world-building was intriguing, but I think more detail about how everything started would have given the plot greater depth and impact.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it left me with questions about its foundation. Exploring the "before" more thoroughly could make the narrative feel more cohesive.

This was...fine. Nothing special. I really wanted more. It was very straightforward and lacked the usual banter I've come to expect from Vero. It does a fine job of giving some backstory and explaining how Vero and Finlay ended up working together but don't expect much beyond that.

This novella was a fun read filling some gaps between Finlay Donovan and her nanny, Vero. We get some of Vero’s backstory leading up to her meeting Finlay and a little crime mystery while we are at it. I am a Vero fan so I enjoyed getting more context.

Veronica Ruiz arrives at her cousin's house after dropping out of college under suspicious circumstances. She does not know if the police are after her and needs a job. This is a prequel to the Lindsay Donovan series. Veronica changes her name so no one can track her. This gives a reader a little background on the character of Vero in the series.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElleCosimano, and #MinotaurBooks for a copy of this book.
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