I have been loving the Finlay Donovan series up til now. Is it a little over the top? Absolutely, but it’s hilarious and ridiculous in all the best ways. It’s the perfect palette cleanser for me when I just need something fun to read. While I have a copy of the upcoming fourth book in the series Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, I have yet to start, I’m glad I read this mini story about Vera first.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank takes place prior to the first Finlay Donovan book and dives into how Vero ends up back at home and running from the cops. As Vero finds herself back home and without a job, she manages to get a job at the local bank. From here she’s determined to help the Bank manager figure out who has been stealing from the bank and takes it upon herself to investigate. Cue the shenanigans.

 This is such a short story and I enjoyed getting to know Vera more, but I found the story underwhelming to say the least. I missed the witty banter between Vero and Finlay, and just felt like something was missing from the story.  While I can certainly appreciate that this is a short story meant to prepare us for book 4, I could have done without. It’s worth the listen though as the narrator was great and it’s only a 2 hour listen, perfect if you’re needing a Finlay Donovan fix before the release of Finlay Donovon Rolls the Dice.


Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillian Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

This short little story gives a bit of the backstory for Vero in the Finlay Donovan series. Fans of the series will appreciate this, but it doesn’t really give much more than surface info though. I was honestly hoping for more.

Highly recommend this fun little novella featuring Vero, great back story for her and helps feel in the gaps in her storyline.

Now I understand!🤔

4-4.5🌟 stars
Brief and fast moving, this deftly-written novella is an entertaining and illuminating addition to the Finlay Donovan universe.

When I recently started reading Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series, I could not for the life of me understand why Veronica/"Vero" went along with Finlay's schemes and skullduggery. This short story from before Vero joined up with Finlay explained it all, going through some of the secrets Vero has racked up in the months before she met Finlay.

The amateur detective plot is fun and the glimpse into Vero's romantic history with Javi will, I believe, prove helpful as I continue with the series.

Thanks to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

(Review shared on Goodreads, Bookbub, kobo, B&N & Google Play)

I liked this way better than the main series. I know it's just supposed to provide a back story for Vero but I would totally read more books just about her as the star character.

Quick little backstory for Vero. I wanted a deep look at Vero & Javi but it was pretty surface level and without much of the fun snark Finlay readers are used to. I don’t feel like it’s a necessary read for the series.

Entertaining, but not what I was expecting from this series. I do acknowledge this is a shorter story, but it was missing the excitement we are used to from Vero. Maybe Finlay brings out her riskier, snarkier side? Still a good little background story for Vero pre-Finlay

This was a fun quick read. I love Veros character and it was fun to get a little more of her and some backstory. I did have a little trouble reading because of the typos. Many words strung together without any spaces really threw me off. But I’m sure that’ll be fixed.

Fun, little novella that gives some of Vero's background. Nice addition if you're a fan of the Finlay Donovan books.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for review.

This is not a standalone read, but a really fun Finlay Donovan universe novella. If you love the Finlay books, this book is for your. Vero takes charge as usual. She's brilliant, flirty, cunning and empathic. The Finlay meet was the best

I enjoyed this. It was nice to get a peck into Veronica's back story.
But this was no where close to the other books whi b I have loved so far.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook to review. All opinions are my own.

I am so very happy that we get a Vero centered book. I loved the insight to her life and personality. It's a perfect companion for the rest of the series. I'm so looking forward to the next book to see what Finlay and Vero get up to next.

I love the Finlay Donovan series, so this quick little book that gives Vero's back story was so fun!

"Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank" is an amusing short story highlighting Vero's accounting and snooping skills, as well as explaining how she becomes the nanny for Finlay's kids. The story involves a short period of employment at a bank, and Vero's coworkers make for a colorful cast of characters.

A captivating short story of Vero Ruiz who finds herself in a pickle and needs to solve a crime in order to regain her place in society. I enjoyed the fast paced movement of this story.

I have been thoroughly enjoying author Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series, so I jumped at the chance to read a novella about Finlay’s sidekick, Vero Ruiz. Here was my opportunity to learn all about the feisty firecracker who brings so much sass to the series!

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a cute novella, but it doesn’t have the same sizzle as the other books in the series. One of the best parts of the series is the banter between Finlay and Vero, and that is precisely what is missing from Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank. While the history of Vero and Javi’s romance is great, and Vero’s backstory is interesting, Vero’s story is lacking the fun, fiery banter that makes the series so much fun.

An interesting read that provides good insight into the Vero character.

Short, easy read. I have enjoyed the Finley Donovan series and this was a cute “filler” book. Vero has always been an interesting character and I enjoyed to short story from her POV. I actually think it could’ve been slightly longer and dug more into the accounting issue and her past with Javi, but I enjoyed it anyway.

This was such a great short story that has added so much depth to Vero's character! I love that this book is the prequel to Finlay Donovan is Killing It and ties in nicely to the whole series! I really wish this book had been longer since I loved how Vero put on her detective hat long before she ever met Finlay in order to get what she wants. This is a must read for everyone who has read the other books in the Finlay Donovan series!

As a big fan of the Finlay Donovan series, I was excited to finally get a glimpse into Vero’s backstory. This short installment offered some fun insights into how she ended up where she is and how she crossed paths with Finlay. It was great to see her navigate her new life, take on a mystery at her job, and deal with her childhood crush, Javi.

The story was enjoyable and easy to follow, with a few moments that made me smile. I loved learning more about Vero’s resourcefulness and the challenges she faced before joining forces with Finlay. However, I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. The signature humor and chemistry that come from Vero and Finlay’s dynamic wasn’t there, and it left a noticeable gap.

While it was fun to get a deeper look into Vero’s world, the story felt a bit rushed and lacked the depth and wow factor of the main books. I wish it had been longer so we could dive further into her backstory and motivations.

Overall, this is a cute, quick read for fans of the series, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the full-length novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ah, this is fun! Getting a look into Vero's life prior to Finlay was great! This book is just as fun and engaging and the Donovan series itself! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read!