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!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a decent addition for fans of the Finlay Donovan series, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Elle Cosimano’s full-length novels. It’s fun to get a glimpse into Vero’s backstory—especially her past with Javi—and to see her first meeting with Finlay. That said, it is missing the spark and sharp energy that make the series so compelling. However, I still enjoyed it!

This novella in the Finlay Donovan series was a sneak into Vero’s backstory, which was interesting to see. I enjoyed being able to see Vero's motivations and her character development throughout this quick read!

Funny and witty this is a great read. I laughed out loud more times than I ever had. Great read!

This novella takes us back to the beginning of Vero leaving school, her troubled relationship with Javi, and ultimately meeting Finlay and becoming her baby sitter. It gives us a good idea of Vero's explosive personality and her detecting skills. It is a good short read for those wanting to know more about Vero.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novella from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

It was fun to learn about Vero’s back story. But I need to stop trying to read novellas. They always feel rushed and leave me wanting more.

Wow, what a fun little interlude!!

I really loved this one, probably more than any of the main series so far. With this short story we get a dive into Vero’s past, and boy was it fun! This short story made me excited to pick up the next book in the series. Definitely recommend not skipping this one!

This book was such a fun and refreshing read! Veronica is a smart, determined, and totally relatable lead who gets caught up in a whirlwind of financial chaos, humor, and unexpected twists. The story is fast-paced, witty, and packed with sharp observations about money, ambition, and what really matters. I laughed, I cringed, and I couldn’t put it down! If you love smart, character-driven stories with heart and humor, this one is a must-read.

I really liked this novella. The Finlay Donovan series is one of my favorites, so I liked getting to read more about Vero and her backstory. This book was action packed and so much fun to read. Vero is such a strong and funny character. What a great book!

Elle Cosamino writes a lovely novella giving us more background on Findlay’s best friend/ sidekick / nanny, Veronica Ruiz. Kicking myself for reading them out of order, as this novella gave really great background to Vero’s character.

It was a quick read, which nicely compliments the Finlay Donovan series!

I’m a bit underwhelmed with this one. I really love Vero’s character and was hoping this short story would fill in some of the gaps but it really fell short (literally). It was cool to see some of the back story to how Vero met Finlay but other than that I was bored and seeking more with this.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a fun and fast-paced glimpse into Vero’s backstory, giving readers a deeper look at one of the most beloved characters from the Finlay Donovan series. While she’s been a favorite of mine, this novella peels back the layers of her personality, showing us what shaped her into the fiercely loyal, quick-witted, and resourceful woman we know and love. The story not only adds depth to her character but also lays the groundwork for the relationships we see develop in the main series. It’s a perfect little bonus read for those craving more insight into Vero’s past and the circumstances that led her to become entangled with Finlay’s world.
Though short, this novella packs plenty of humor, heart, and a touch of the chaos that makes the Finlay Donovan books so entertaining. It’s a great companion piece for fans of the series, filling in some gaps while keeping the same engaging tone and energy. If you’ve ever wanted to see more of Vero outside of Finlay’s perspective, this story delivers just that—giving her the spotlight she deserves.

Finally we get more of Vero! Her life before Finlay has been alluded to in the earlier Finlay books, but now we get the actual story in full. This story is short and sweet but a lot of fun. We also get to see more of Javi and find out more about their relationship which I really liked. I also liked how Vero worked to solve the bank thefts while working as a bank custodian. There were lots of funny moments and even a couple mentions of Finlay and other characters we already know, so that was a fun tie-in. Enjoyed!