I adored getting a glimpse into Vero’s past—it added so much depth to her character and made me want even more of her story! Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank was such a fun listen, and Elle Cosimano did a fantastic job crafting a fast-paced, engaging story that fits perfectly into the Finlay Donovan universe.

That said, I was really disappointed in the choice of narrator for this one. The regular books in the series have such a distinct narration style, and swapping narrators for this novella just didn’t work for me. It took me out of the story at times because it didn’t have the same energy or delivery I’ve come to love.

Still, the story itself was a blast—plenty of humor, tension, and that signature Finlay Donovan chaos. If you’re a fan of the series, this is definitely worth a read (or listen, if you can get past the narration change!). Now I just need more Vero, because this peek into her past wasn’t nearly enough!

This is a fun short story for anyone who has read the Finlay Donovan series - Tim’s takes place just before they meet (they actually meet in the epilogue!). I love this series and this was a fun little story to hold me over until the next book

I loved this short story that gives us a quick background story of our favorite nanny/accountant in the Finlay Donovan series. I am glad Elle Cosimano gave us this story so we can see the meeting of Finlay and Vero from her point of view. It was also great to learn how Veronica became Vero and why! A great book to keep her readers engaged while we impatiently await her next book. I look forward to many more adventures from Finlay and Vero.

This is the backstory of Vero, Findlay’s nanny/partner in crime. I love how this shows how she came to be in Findlay’s world instead of at her college. She is a great detective and deserves so much credit in these books!

She had been really happy--right up until she wasn't. (1:48:00)

To begin with, the audiobook narrator for this one, Stacey Gonzales, was much easier on the ear than the narrator for the rest of the series. I actually thought it was great to spend time with Vero, away from Finlay. Vero's decidedly sexier than Finlay, so I enjoyed the nature of the romance here. I actually thought this installment was fun, the absurd kind that reminds me of how much I enjoyed the first 2 books in the series. I'm looking forward to the 4th book again!
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Thank you to the author Elle Cosimano, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. I found an accessible (audiobook) copy on Libby. All views are mine.
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Book 3.5 of 5

You know when you are reading a series and just know that there is more to a secondary character than meets the eye? That is what I thought of Vero. I knew she had a backstory that I really wanted to know. This book tells that story, it tells why she is who she is, where she got her skills, and how she got into Finlay’s life.

I know that there is more to come of her. Her life is only going to get more complicated, more interesting, and more intriguing.

This was a fun short story and a quick read. For longtime readers of the series, this gives that missing piece of Vero's past and how she ended up as Finlay's nanny. For new readers, it gives a quick peek into the Finlay Donovan series and exposure to just how fun these mysteries are to read. Pick this one up if you haven't already!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the bundle of Finlay Donovan books in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this novella was a quick read. If you haven’t read any of the Finlay Donovan books, this one might not be the best place to start. I think Veronica Ruiz’s story could have been told amongst the other Finlay books but it was fun to see a little glimpse into Veronica’s life.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a short novella by Elle Cosimano. I found this to be an enjoyable read, and it is some of the back story of how Veronica comes to work for Finlay. I would recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank in exchange for my honest review!

It's been a blast to follow all of these convoluted and over-the-top crime shenanigans in the Finlay Donovan series, so it's nice to get this little novella that shows us what led up to her and Vero bumping into each other's lives. These books typically have a charming breeziness to their tone that helps it become easy for me to ride through them, and that's certainly a quality of this novella, too. That being said, I don't think there's as much substance in this book to tether me to it as there has been for the other books. It feels more like this confines itself to a relatively safe route, which is too bad, because we could have spun up more creativity and flair in such prequel territory. Oh well, at least it remains fun to hang around with an endearing and chaotic individual like Vero.

Overall, I'm officially rating Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars. It's definitely the sort of book that appeals primarily to people who are already fans of the series, and if you haven't read the other books yet, I'm not quite sure this novella would be the best place to jump in. But if you've read the other books by now, then you might as well give Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank a shot.

✨The Highlights✨
. Sleuthing 🔎
. Questionable bathroom etiquette 🤭
. Sassy FMC
. Vero’s POV

✨The Feels✨
Ahhh, the meet-cute we were all waiting for—Vero and Finlay, our crime-fighting (or maybe crime-committing?) duo. I love the Finlay Donovan series, and Vero is hands down my favorite “side” character (though I use “side” loosely, because she’s everything). She’s hilarious, blunt, and fiercely loyal. So yes, I’m absolutely here for a short story in her POV! This little read is a perfect cozy escape—nothing too intense, just pure fun from my comfort series. Now, if we could get a few more Javi moments, I’d be forever thankful.

✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨
Veronica Ruiz is on the run after being falsely accused of stealing from her sorority. Seeking a fresh start, she moves in with her cousin Ramón, changes her name, and tries to leave her past behind. When she gets a job as a bank cleaner, she overhears a conversation about a thief on the inside and decides to investigate.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is short story in the Finlay Donovan series. Vero Ruiz is best known for being Finlay Donovan’s babysitter, accountant and accomplice, but who is Vero and how did she get here? After being accused of stealing money from her college sorority Vero drops out and goes to stay with her cousin Ramon. Starting over isn’t easy, but getting the job she wants is harder. She sets her sites on a bank teller position, but to get the position she is going to need to take a job as a cleaner at the bank and solve the mystery of who has been stealing deposits. Will Vero get to the bottom of the case and get the job she’s pining for or will she be stuck as the cleaner instead?

I love this series and have always enjoyed Vero. It was really nice to see her story play out and learn a little bit of background info we had been missing. This is a very quick and funny mystery read that is the perfect compliment to this series as a whole. This short story wasn’t as great and the full books, but it was the perfect afternoon read when I needed a break. You don’t need to have read the rest of the books on this series to enjoy this mystery, but the series is worth checking out.

Cosimano’s signature humor and fast-paced storytelling shine, making this book a delightful mix of mystery, charm, and character depth. Whether you’re a longtime Finlay Donovan fan or new to the series, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a must-read that adds fresh layers to Vero’s character while delivering an engaging standalone mystery.

I wish the author had done Vero’s story within one of her books, instead of a separate novella. It just didn’t have the same intensity and humor as her first three books. The plot was only average and missed the pizazz that are in the prior three books of the series. Having said that, the last 10 minutes of the story made the novella worth reading.

This review is entirely voluntary, and all opinions expressed reflect my personal views.

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Elle Cosimano is the author of the very popular Finlay Donovan Series. Since 2021 she has released five novels centered around the struggling novelist/ single-mother turned reluctant detective/ vigilante.

While all five books have been highly enjoyable, one character has always stood out, Vero aka Veronica Ruiz. Vero started working for Finlay as her nanny. But as time goes on she quickly turns into her partner-in-crime and trusted sidekick.

Vero won my heart with her blind loyalty, tough as nails attitude, and fearless demeanor. Getting a novella centered around the one and only Vero was something I didn’t know I needed.

This story finally places Vero in the main character role she has always deserved. It illustrates just how smart, savvy, and adaptable she is. In addition, it sheds light into vital background information pre Finlay.

As a whole, this is a fun, quick read. My only complaint is that I wish this novella took place during Vero’s sorority life instead of the tail end. I would have loved to start there because I struggle to see her personality fit into that role.

My hope is that we will get several more novellas centered around Vero in the near future!

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books), and Elle Cosimano for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Formatting made this impossible to read. Entire sentences ran together into one giant word, chapters started mid page, it was too distracting to read.

Having read the other books in the Finlay Donovan series, this was a fun prequel. Cosimano has created characters that I just want to keep spending time with - not just Vero and Finlay, but also Javi and Ramón. I’ll definitely keep coming back for more of this series!

Thank you NetGalley ans St. Martins Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.25⭐️

This isn’t a necessary read if your reading the Finlay Donovan series but I recommend it if you can. It’s quick and easy. You get a small amount of back story on Vero who is a main character in the series.

I will say I didn’t expect to see this book play out the way it did. I did expect to get more than we did unfortunately but it is a novella. I wanted more of her and Javi although I know this series isn't a romance. I definitely didn't see the ending coming on who was taking the money.

But I do love Vero’s character and this novella made me love her even more. She is funny, witty, smart, and a bad a**. I love that we get to see how her character meets Finlay.

I am definitely happy I read it.
And I will definitely be continuing the series. I absolutely adore it.

This short story gets into more depth about the relationship between Veronica Ruiz and Finlay Donovan and how they met. I read it in between the 3rd and 4th books of the series and it was just okay, I certainly didn't learn anything critical that I needed to know before beginning book #4. It centers around Veronica's job at a bank after having to leave college before graduating because of a sorority scandal. Someone at the bank is stealing money and, of course, Veronica figures out who it is. Thanks to @netgalley and #minotaurbooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read! I love the Finlay Donovan series, and this was the cutest addition to the books! I loved learning more about Vero's backstory. Can't wait to recommend this to others! Thanks much St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!