"Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank" is a short novella that provides some of Vero's backstory. I liked learning more about her past, but I am still not clear on some of the bigger pieces - for example, WHY do her sorority sisters think she stole from them? Regardless, this is an entertaining and super quick read, though I don't think it is necessary for full enjoyment of the rest of the series.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Loved being able to learn more about Vero as she’s my favorite character in this series! The book had just enough details to fill in missing pieces about Vero’s life. I loved that there were little Easter eggs throughout the book too.

I absolutely love the Finlay Donovan series. This book reads like a comedy caper and I always picture a girly Ocean’s Eleven type cast. These would make for super fun movies. I enjoy the Hijinks and the fierce friendships that develop between the women. Love this short addition to the series. It was cool to focus on just this character.

I liked this book giving some back story for Vero. I did not enjoy it as much as the stories with both Vero and Finlay.

Definitely want more Veronica Ruiz!! Such a great prequel of sorts. I had a lot of fun reading this book. I am loving this series so much!!

I receive a copy from Netgalley and the publisher.

(3.5/5 stars)

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano was a fun prequel novella for the long-running Finlay Donovan cozy mystery series.

It follows our favorite nanny-turned-accomplice/accountant Vero prior to the events of the first full-length novel in the series. I borrowed the audiobook from my local library and followed along in my eARC.

I was wondering about which college Vero went to, and it was finally confirmed in this novella that she had completed school up through the first semester of her senior year at my alma mater! I don't think I realized just how close to graduation she actually was before things blew up (figuratively speaking).

This whole series is set in my neck of the woods (across the bridge into NoVa) and I get a kick out of any time there's a mention of somewhere I've been in real life. It's one of the reasons I've been having so much fun reading through this series. I only have one book to go that's already been published, and I also have an ARC for the next book in the series that comes out in 2025.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano
This was a nice story to introduce Vero’s back story.
Veronica leaves school in disgrace after being falsely accused of theft by her sorority sisters. As she attempts to start over, couch surfing at her cousin’s apartment, she gets a job she doesn’t want but needs. Then she meets Finlay and her whole life changes.
This was a nice filler for the back story on Vero. It was missing the personal connection to the story that exists with her partnered antics with Finlay. It does give some insight to the backstory on Vero, however it doesn’t captivate and entertain the reader the way it does when the duo are together. I did enjoy this but not as much as the other books. Overall Vero is an integral part of the story that spans several volumes, so getting to know her character is essential. I would recommend it for the part it plays in telling part of Vero’s story. 3/5⭐️
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this series.

Veronica Ruiz is on the run after being falsely accused of stealing money from her college sorority. She takes a cleaning job at a bank but soon discovers someone there is stealing. Determined to find the thief and prove herself, Vero must navigate the challenges of her past and a complicated relationship with her childhood crush Javi. This humorous short story provides insight into Vero's past and her first meeting with Finlay Donovan.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short novella that delves into Vero's past and sheds light on how she crossed paths with Finlay from her perspective. Understanding Vero's backstory is crucial for maintaining the series' continuity and authenticity.

The undeniable chemistry between Finlay and Vero, as well as their close friendship, is already apparent. However, uncovering the reasons behind Vero's flight and the events that led her to cross paths with Finlay adds depth to their relationship.

I sincerely hope that this series finds its way onto your "to be read" list or becomes a thoughtful addition to a friend's Christmas shopping list. I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to immerse myself in all five books at once!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

BOOK REPORT
I’m gonna cheat just a little here with my Book Reports on the Finlay Donovan series by Ellie Cosimano, which I received complimentary copies of from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley.

Instead of providing a title and description for—as well as a reaction to—each book, I’m doing one review for all and putting a summary of the series here first: ”Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano’s witty, fast-paced adult mystery series follows struggling suspense novelist and single mom turned-amateur-sleuth Finlay Donovan, whose fiction begins to tread dangerously close to the truth.”

The reason for this approach is because I took advantage of the opportunity to download all of the books in the series to date all at once, including the newest one scheduled for publication in March 2025 (Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave), which was the reason NetGalley made everything available—to promote the latest. And then I basically binged my way through it, partly while doing things like folding clothes and watching TV at the same time.

This was a fun little series, as I expected it to be. Nothing very challenging, some predictability, some romance, some silliness. I got a little aggravated that Our Finlay never seems to learn from her mistakes. And the agent character gets to be more and more like a caricature as the series progresses. My favorite installment was the novella about nanny/accountant Veronia Ruiz; it was written a lot tighter and was more believable. Looks like the next book to be written will flesh out her back story even more, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

In short: This is the kind of series you will like, if you like this kind of series.

PS
I realized yesterday during a discussion with some friends at lunch that I’ve been ingesting an awfully not of non-serious fiction here lately. I decided that, you know what? That’s perfectly OK, given not only the state of the world in general right now, but also because at least seven people I know have died this year (two by intentionally self-inflicted gunshot wounds). I’ve been seeking both escape and comfort, and I very much appreciate all the authors who have brought me both.

Elle Cosimano does it again! Fans of the Finlay Donovan series will love this trip back into her world. I couldn't put this down and will be purchasing a physical copy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Elle Cosimano for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a novella based on Veronica’s backstory. I thought it was a good break in the series. She’s an interesting character and had a lot going on, but it didn’t really feel like the same kind of hijinks and shenanigans in the Donovan books. I was thinking there would be a little something more. But I still love the series!

I would recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys mysteries!

This is a short story that gives insight on Vero from before she meets Finlay. I liked the story, but found it unnecessary as part of this series. Also, I am assuming the ebook was an uncorrected version and the formatting was all messed up and I struggled with reading it. I may have liked it better if the spaces between words and sentences were accurate.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank.

A quick little novella that provides some backstory to our favorite nanny, Vero. I love the Finlay Donovan series and was so excited for this one. It was fine as a way to introduce us to Vero but I almost wish it had been a full novel. Bingeable in one sitting and Elle Cosimano writes in a way I find easy to read. If you're a fan of the other books in the series this is worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin;s Press/MInotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano is a delightful short story that delves into the backstory of Finlay Donovan's partner-in-crime, Vero. With its blend of humor, wit, and clever storytelling, I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the dynamic between Vero and Finlay unfold. This series is a must-read for fans of crime fiction. Cosimano's writing is truly enchanting and captivates readers from start to finish.

Novella where Finlay Donovan's side-kick Vero's back story is revealed. Cute story how Vero ended up in the
job where she first met Finlay.
#VeronicaRuisBreakstheBank #StMartinsPress #Minotaur #NetGalley

I’m a little disappointed… Vero is such an awesome character but I just felt like this novella did not do her justice. And I guess it doesn’t make sense for me to feel this way since it is a short novel, but I wanted more! The mystery was the majority of the book for her to land the “dream job” just for her to quit! Did not like the flow of that but as always, I enjoy this series!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to re-read the Finlay series in anticipation for the next book to come out in 2025. If you haven't read the Finlay Donovan series, I highly recommend you pick up these books ASAP!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I didn't love this one. It's sort, thank gosh. And it's worth a read because of that. But it wasn't anything special.

I picked this one up on a whim, and I’m so glad I did! (And now I own it thanks to NetGalley!) Veronica Ruiz is such a relatable and fun character, and her journey of trying to balance ambition, friendships, and a touch of chaos had me hooked from start to finish. It’s a clever, heartwarming story that’s both hilarious and thought-provoking.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.