I’ve been reading a bunch of short stories so I can reach my good read school for the year. I’m so glad I reached for this one and that I actually read the perfect child first. Make sure you read the perfect child first.

I found this more of an extended epilogue, and I loved it. I loved seeing what happened to the characters many years later and the outcome… I can’t say I didn’t like it.

This one was a dnf for me. I couldn't connect to the characters and the storyline wasn't keeping me involved.

**Book Review: *A Welcome Reunion* by Lucinda Berry**

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Lucinda Berry’s *A Welcome Reunion* is a haunting psychological thriller that delves deep into the emotional complexities of trauma, family secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. Known for her compelling, dark storytelling, Berry doesn't disappoint with this novel, delivering a story that is both emotionally raw and disturbingly unpredictable.

The plot revolves around two sisters, Ava and Margo, who are reunited after years of estrangement. Their reunion is anything but warm, as painful memories resurface and long-buried secrets threaten to shatter their lives once again. Berry masterfully explores the intricacies of sibling relationships, guilt, and trauma in a way that feels authentic and unnervingly real.

Ava is a strong yet deeply flawed character whose inner turmoil makes her both relatable and unsettling. Margo, on the other hand, is shrouded in mystery, and as the story unfolds, readers are left questioning her true intentions. The dynamic between the sisters is the heart of the novel, and Berry skillfully peels back layers of their past, revealing shocking truths that are both heartbreaking and chilling.

What sets *A Welcome Reunion* apart is Berry's ability to build tension slowly, letting the suspense simmer before delivering powerful twists. The pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to fully engage with the psychological depth of the characters. As secrets unravel, the line between victim and villain blurs, making it difficult to know who to trust.

Berry’s background as a trauma psychologist shines through in the way she portrays the emotional and psychological scars of her characters. This adds a unique depth to the novel, making it more than just a thriller but also a profound exploration of how trauma shapes lives.

The only minor drawback is that the plot can feel a bit predictable at times, particularly for seasoned thriller readers, but the strength of the character development and emotional impact more than makes up for it.

Overall, *A Welcome Reunion* is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Lucinda Berry expertly blends suspense with a deeply moving narrative, making it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven dramas.

This was a great short story! Lucinda Berry did not disappoint me! I loved the storyline and wished it was a full book instead of a short story. I will definitely recommend this book and all of Lucinda Berry books! They are that good!

A Welcome Reunion by Lucinda Berry

I had to re read this one!

This time I went step by step and analyzed Hannah’s choices along the story. Having my notes from The Perfect Child helped me going through this process.

There were very tough choices to be made and now I understand better Hannah’s point of view. It was a dead end. That’s how she saw it. It’s highly recommended to have an open mind when reading this novella so as not to fall into the category of judges.

Is it true that no one can be broken for good at 7? God! I don’t know. I do know that it’s a philosophical question many people ask themselves now and again: Is man naturally good or evil?

I’ll keep my answers to myself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I loved The Perfect Child, so when I saw this sequel, I had to read it! This novella was dark and creepy and I loved it!!

A Welcome Reunion is a short story/novella that follows The Perfect Child. I did not realize that going into it.

The author did an excellent job at setting the stage for someone who did not read the first installment. In a short amount of time, the author built complex characters, and a compelling story line.

While I found this short story to be bit underwhelming, I now want to go read The Perfect Child, to be fair, to see if that would perhaps change my perspective.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Reading Between the Wines book review #51/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: A Welcome Reunion
Author: Lucinda Berry
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: When I saw there was a follow up to The Perfect Child, I was so excited to read it. I should have paid more attention to how it was such a short story. I enjoyed seeing what happened to Janie as a grown-up and to see if she was able to overcome her tragic childhood. I was surprised with a few parts of the story but overall happy with the outcome.

Cheers and thank you to @AmazonOriginalStories and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @AWelcomeReunion.

#AWelcomeReunion #LucindaBerry #AmazonOriginalStories #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

This was very good. I actually wish it had been longer, like a full-length novel, so we could have explored the complexities of Janie's release more deeply. Unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver for me as it was.

Love this follow up to The Perfect Child. Lucinda Berry is an auto buy author for me and this one was no different. This is like an extended epilogue and we get to see what happens loved it.

I loved The Perfect Child so I knew I would like this short story. I enjoyed be able to see how the characters lives had progressed even though I guessed the ending pretty early on.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Starting this book I was unaware that it was the sequel to “Perfect Child” and for better understanding I recommend reading “Perfect Child” before this one. I would have liked to read more about the interaction between Janie and t ex Cole. More of the creepy things Janie is and does. I would liked to have a full story leading up to this jaw dropping ending. Now I have to hope for a book 3 to clear this ending up. I liked the story but was left with wanting more.

This was just as disturbing and infuriating as The perfect child. It does a good recap of what happened so in case you read the book and forgot, (I doubt anyone can forget, but just in case) you'll be reminded of it without having to read the book again. Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lucinda Berry is a one-click for me. I love that we got a return to one of our fave characters!

Well I love Lucinda Berry but I don't always like short stories, novellas and such. This one was no different even though I liked a lot about this book. I guess it is just personal preference. This book deals with very hard topics so please keep that in mind.

This novella was exactly I needed after reading The Perfect Child. But it definitely left me wanting more! I have so many more questions.
I really enjoy these Bad Seed style novels and it was fun to see where all the main characters were in life many years later but i feel this was just a tasting! We need more Lucinda!

This is a short story sequel to The Perfect Child, following Janie, the troubled child from the original book out of juvenile detention, promoting her memoir and attempting to reunite with the Bauer family.

I really enjoyed The Perfect Child and was happy to read a follow up and find out what happens with this family. It could easily have been a full length novel but I was satisfied enough with a summary and having closure. While I question the plausibility of a couple of things, knowing the author's background as a psychologist specializing in trauma, I'm sure there are stranger realities out there than I can imagine. I did enjoy how it wrapped up.

3.5/5⭐

This was a GREAT addition to The Perfect Child. I wish it was longer so there was even more to hear about Hannah Bauer and family! This book tied up the story in a neat package, while still making me want more!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an amazing follow up story. Such a quick and suspenseful read I couldn't put it down. Be warned the end is a bit of a cliffhanger and you will want more!!

I absolutely LOVED Janie in The Perfect Child and so I was thrilled to hear A Welcome Reunion was coming out as a follow-up to that novel. I couldn't wait to see how things were going with Janie years later and see what she has been up to, if she has changed at all, etc. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend you read it as well.