*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.
#VeronicaRuizBreakstheBank

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. Unfortunately. this fell flat for me. I was not interested in the plot at all. It was underwhelming and boring. It was an easy, quick read but definitely not as good as Finlay.

Veronica is an interesting character. The short story retelling what happened just before the Finlay Donovan first book makes her character easier to understand and love. The story loses stars because of the toxic romantic relationship. Female characters don't need to have a male grooming them to make the story interesting. It just detracted from the whole bank crime solving.

This is a light, quick origin story that tells us a little more about the Vero we know and love from the Finlay Donovan series. Vero is so sharp and quick-witted. She's been such a great side-kick character to Finlay. It was great to get a better glimpse at who she really is!

An average amateur detective novella. I just was never very interested in any of the characters or the mystery. I didn't hate it, it was just Meh...

Loved this book! It was just what I needed. Funny, engaging, and well written. It held my attention and gave me a boost after being in the worst book slump ever. I definitely enjoyed it and recommend this one to other readers. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this little snippet into Vero’s background but like most Finlay books, we are left with more questions. I loved seeing how they met. I want answers what happened with Javi! (I think we do get those answers in book 4). This being written between books 3 and 4, I felt like it was a fun story before the series really went off the rails. It doesn’t get too crazy or unbelievable. I really enjoyed it!

"Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank" is a fun and fast-paced glimpse into Vero’s backstory that fans of the Finlay Donovan series won’t want to miss. Set during a chaotic chapter of her life, we see Vero’s resilience shine as she tries to rebuild after being falsely accused and forced to run. Her cleverness and knack for landing in (and out of) trouble make this short story both entertaining and revealing, as she tackles a small-town bank mystery while navigating personal drama. It’s a satisfying dive into what shaped the Vero we know and love!

Fans of Finlay Donovan will love this peek into Vero’s origin story. This is a short story, not a whole novel. But it’s just enough to give readers some deeper context on what makes Vero Vero. It ends with how she meets Finlay, which I thought was fitting and thoroughly enjoyed.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

I took a break from the main series, and I started this short story even if I have a weird dislike of short stories. I loved getting to know Vero’s backstory of both her escapades before Finlay and how she met Finlay, but I really wished we had learned more about her time while she was in school. I’m sure we will eventually, though, since she’s going to have to deal with it at some point. A great addition to the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Vero is such a great character, so I enjoyed finally getting to spend more time with her. This is a great addition to the Finlay Donovan book series.