i have decided to dnf the series so i will not be reading this. i requested it because i previously enjoyed the first book in the series but since the request my reading taste has changed and it no longer interests me.

an okay addition to the finlay donovan series! adds some interesting insight into vero’s history but honestly, not much else.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano is exactly what I hoped it would be—a hilarious, heartwarming peek into Vero’s life before she became Finlay’s partner in chaos. I gave it five stars because I already adore this series, and this novella feels like a love letter to fans.

We finally get Vero’s backstory, from her first real “on the run” moment to her time working at the bank, complete with her signature mix of cleverness, bad luck, and impulsivity. The story is short, but it’s packed with fun moments, including her dynamic with Javi and those little Easter eggs that long-time readers will recognize. And that epilogue? Perfection—it sets up her first meeting with Finlay in a way that feels both funny and sweet.

I can see why some readers felt it was too brief or wanted a bigger plot, but for me, this worked well as a bonus story in the series.

If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan books, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a great side story that delivers exactly what you’ve been craving: more Vero, more mischief, and a little more about why Vero is Vero.

Quick and fun short story showing us how Vero and Finlay met and explaining some of Vero’s back story. It was silly and funny as all these books are.

This is a book I didn’t know I wanted, only to realize that I needed it! I love everything about Finlay Donovan, so getting to learn more about her side kick was amazing!!

After being falsely accused of stealing money from her sorority, Veronica Ruiz is on the run. She winds up at her cousin Ramon's apartment. She is planning to change her name and start her life over. She applies for a job at the local bank but the only job available is a cleaning job. While working, Vera overhears the bosses talking about someone stealing money from the bank. Vera sets out on finding out who that person is. She wants to solve the mystery and get a job as teller at the bank. It doesn't help that her irresistible childhood sweetheart ,Javi, is living in the same town and distracting her. This is a short story and part of the Finlay Donovan series and offers a lot of background information that gives more insight into their story. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is a short story in the Finlay Donovan series. It tells how Vero met Finlay. Consistent with the other books in the series, this one is humorous. I loved the entire series and the sense of humor was just perfect for me! It's a great series to just relax and read for fun any time.

Elle Cosimano is a really entertaining writer. I love her writing style throughout this entire series. She makes me laugh out loud!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy. Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a short novella providing a little bit of background on Vero. Although I enjoyed learning more about Vero and her choices that led to how she met Finlay, I didn’t enjoy this installment as much as the previous three. It was a little predictable. I’m still going to continue with the series, but I was a little disappointed with this one.

Wow such a fun read! I love the concept of this whole series and this book didn’t disappoint.

I love the humorous approach this series and this book has. It really keeps the pace up and makes these characters feel like real people. I loved all the silly antics that they got in to and it was such a great read!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This is a short story that follows Vero, one of the main characters in the finlay donovan series.

This was just ok for me. I don’t think it really offered much to the series and wasn’t really needed. The writing was fine and the story was interesting enough but nothing special.

I hope others enjoy it more than I did.

A friend recommended this series to me.

The books are light-hearted and funny.

Highly recommend.

Read this and a few other Elle Cosimano books while on a trip to unwind and thoroughly enjoy it. I would recommend to others.

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

It was really nice to get a back story on Vero and how she ended up in Finlay's life. This story was short, sweet, and hilarious in typical Vero fashion. She's very spunky but completely loyal to the people she cares about. I could have lived without this short story, we get a gist of her life and history before Finlay from the other books in the series, but it was still nice to see it all laid out.

We get some great background on Vero in this one, but I definitely prefer her when teamed up with Finlay. I'm glad we got to see how they met here.

I have been a Finlay Donovan fan since book one. The friendship between her and Vero was so unexpected but it works. Those two always have me laughing so reading this novella to get to know Vero's background a little better was the icing on the cake. It was also lovely to learn a little more about Vero & Javi’s history. Their chemistry is off the charts. I do wish that this installment was a little longer with more details. It was a cute, fun read/listen.
I listened to the audio while reading this and it really enhanced the experience. Stacy Gonzales did a fantastic job bringing Vero alive.

Elle Cosimano is by and far one of my favorite authors. She exudes wit and humor in her writing, and I am never disappointed in her stories.

Finlay and Vero are very quickly becoming some of my all-time favorite characters, and this short story focuses on Vero as the main character. I absolutely love how quick Vero is, and the way she always seems to be in some sort of trouble fits her personality. This story is no different.

While on the run, Vero lands herself a janitorial job in a bank, where she scrubs toilets instead of counting cash. But when she overhears some co-workers talking about someone stealing from the bank, she can't help but start sticking her nose where it doesn't belong... like the men's restroom.

Another funny, lighthearted, completely ridiculous but can't-stop-reading story, Elle Cosimano is a literary queen. I was just as invested in this short story as I was in the rest of the Finlay Donovan series, and the giggles and eye rolls were just as many. What a wonderful, quick read!

5 stars!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank was wonderful! I loved getting the story of how Vero and Finlay found each other and ended up being partners in crime. It was short (obviously), but necessary! I feel that I understood Vero a lot better after getting to this installment.

4 stars

A short novella - one sitting read. This book actually goes between books three and four of the Finlay Donovan series. I have already read book four - prior to this coming out - so wanted to get it read before going to book five of the series.

This novella gives the back ground on Vero and how she became Finlay's babysitter or right hand man. Actually I think this could be read at any point along the way between any of the books.

It is a quick read and explains how Vero and Finlay met.

As a huge fan of the Finlay Donovan series and anxiously awaiting the sixth installment, I am glad that I waited up until this point to read Veronica's backstory.

For a short story, Cosimano gives her fans what they wanted with enough background on Veronica and how she ended up in Finaly's life along with a fun mystery that shows just how intelligent Veronica truly is. There was an equal balance of additional information regarding Vero's family and complex relationship history with Javi and action as she tries to solve a crime at the bank in order to land herself a stable job and income.

What was missing was a bit of the back and forth humor that I have grown to love between Finlay and Vero, but I think every fan needs to read this one before we dive into the next book which supposedly will center around Vero and her past finally catching up to her.

Fun, sweet, some very mild spice. Could potentially be read as a standalone, but I would not recommend it and would have it read after book 5 as a good bridge and refresher.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle Cosimano, and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

As always, I love all the Finlay Donovan series books and couldn’t get enough of this one too! This was a short but fun dive into Veronica’s backstory where we get to see more of her mirrors to Finlay. And just like Finlay, Veronica is on the run! Getting to know more about Ramon and Javi was an added bonus!