Good background into Vero's character. Really wasn't that helpful - kinda got most of it from the books

This half book is the definition of filler. I picked up Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano hoping to learn more about Vero and better tolerate her. Friends, this was not it. I’m not sure it really added anything to the series and definitely didn’t make Vero any more likeable. In fact, all it did was showcase just how much of a chaos magnet she is. Proving she didn’t take the money would’ve been so simple using a forensic accountant and halfway decent investigating. But instead of sticking around to investigate who stole the money, she leaves, takes on a fake identity, lies to her family, then takes a random job where she investigates who is stealing money there instead? Like, girl, be so serious. The positive is that this was a quick read but it honestly didn’t give me any background information needed for any other character in the series. I would absolutely recommend skipping this and simply going on to the next in the Finlay Donovan series.

I was really looking forward to reading the back story on Vero as I have enjoyed the Finlay Donovan series. Unfortunately, the formatting was so bad that I had a very difficult time reading the book. So many words ran together withough spacing that the book was just too hard to read and I wasn't able to finish it. I was very disapointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was a nice insight to Vero's life. It wasn't as in depth, but I liked the pace and backstory.

This was a cute little prequel novella focused on Vero. I loved getting to see more about her and her life before Finlay. While short this story is stilled filled with the author's signature witt and humor. It's a nice addition to this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Pretty good! This series has been so back and forth for me but I enjoyed this short story as a glimpse in Vero’s past

This was a short version from Vero's point of view on the backstory before she met Finlay up to the moment she quit her job and Finlay offered her a babysitting position. It gave some more depth into Vero and her history, both with men and her college education. I enjoyed this deeper look into one of the main characters of the Finlay Donovan series, and I'm glad Elle wrote this to give us some background.

I guess it really said all that needed to be said, gave us a view on the person Vero was before entering Finlay's life, and helped me understand the risky type of behavior that Vero shows throughout the Finlay Donovan books.

I loved this glimpse into Vero’s backstory! I still have so many questions, but this was a fun little mystery culminating with Vero and Finlay’s first meeting. Absolute must read for fans of Finlay’s series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this copy!

Okay, as someone who is a certified Vero hater (sorry, I know she’s a fan favorite, she just bugs me) I loved this little novella. The Finlay Donovan series is silly and fun, and this novella made Vero make more sense to me.

I think this would’ve been better if it had immediately come after the first Finlay. Maybe other non-Veros out there could’ve been converted a little sooner?

Getting to know more about Vero and Javier was delicious and the story was quick, fun, and packed with event after event after event.

Thank you to netgalley for the e-arc of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank in exchange for an honest review.

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.