The Queen of Trauma, Lucinda Berry, has done it again! Janie has grown up but has she learned anything? I'm not giving away spoilers; I just HIGHLY recommend you read this follow up to The Perfect Child.

thank you netgalley & lucinda berry for the chance to read this arc!
super quick, super intense read. hurt people hurt people but sometimes you’re just a sociopath. 5 ⭐️, for sure

For fans of Lucinda Berry, A Welcome Reunion was a LONG time coming. A short story, told from multiple perspectives, the novella returns to the characters in The Perfect Child. It picks up when Janie is now 18 years old and aged out of the system, released back into the public. Janie has written a novel about her experiences, changed her name and appears charming to many-except by former adopted mother Hannah and Piper-her former social worker. Hannah is concerned Janie is coming after their family again and will do anything to stop this reunion. My only complaint is that it was too short and we are still left with questions but that is part of Berry's magic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

A Welcome Reunion completely captured my attention from beginning to end. The characters were well-developed and I found myself invested. Despite its short length, the story managed to tell a complete and fulfilling tale. I highly recommend this piece to anyone looking for a quick but satisfying read. 5 stars! Thanks for the advance review copy.

Lucinda Berry does it again! We have ALL been waiting for the follow up to Perfect child and this did not disappoint! I love the way Lucinda writes, her mind just works differently!!! Great short story, I wouldn’t mind a third book either!

Do I think this story needed continuation? No. Did I jump into this book as soon as NetGalley put it on my shelf? You bet your butt.

I guess this was a full circle moment? Idk if I have any true thoughts after reading this aside from....dang, Piper's a real one 🤣

If this had been written into a full fledged novel I think it would've been great. More insight into Cole's feelings, more into Janie's release into the normal world, more into just....everything lol. As a short story I was left unimpressed.

I can't get enough of Lucinda Berry's writing. This story was not as creepy as I had wanted it to be but it perfectly continued the story of Hannah and Christopher as they deal with Janie being released from jail. Janie, now Hope, swears she has changed for the better and that she is ready to make amends to those she has hurt. I love that we get to hear from Piper and I was not expecting the ending. I finished this very quickly and make me even more excited to pick up another book of Berry's.

This novella is a great sequel to The Perfect Child. It was a fast, engrossing read and I loved most of it. I wished it would have ended differently but it still was a great story.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

So grateful for being giving the opportunity to read this before it's release!! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Hannah and Christopher...... and I'm still not! What happens next??????

I would give this a ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5.... it's missing 1.5 stars purely because I wanted it to be a full novel. 🤣

The Perfect Child is one of my favorite books and I was dying to know what happened! This short story was a teaser and it did answer some questions! The question it did not answer was....Was Janie always going to go down this road? Or was she a product of her environment?

This is a captivating short story by Lucinda Berry that showcases her exceptional talent for exploring complex human behavior. While it was a shorter story than her usual novels, it was still a great read. The only downside was that I wished it was longer, as I wanted to delve deeper into the characters and their motivations. Some of the characters felt unfinished, which left me wanting more. However, I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a taste of Lucinda Berry's writing style. However, it is important to note that the story involves a child with mental health. If you are not comfortable reading about this topic or are triggered by stories involving kids, this may not be the best choice for you.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A special thanks to Dr. Lucinda Berry, Netgalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you haven't read her book The Perfect Child, stop and read that first. While this book can be read first, having read The Perfect Child before, it made so much more sense. I have been a fan of Lucinda's for a few years now and this one like her others did not disappoint. As a child psychologist by trade, she can give an experienced view into childhood trauma, mental health disorders, and the pain families endure. Don't get me wrong, this is not a true story, but it could be. She continues to write on the topics we all wish were not true and adds the twists and turns you'd expect in a psychological thriller! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While this short story was very gripping and certainly a page-turner, I got to the last few pages, read the end and kept turning the page. It ended extremely abruptly, and I was very unsatisfied.

I read this at the same time as my husband did, and we both thought the same thing. It was such an engaging story, but felt like "I'll take the fall for you" wasn't a sufficient ending to something with such high stakes. You can't just leave a murder scene covered in blood, and have someone else take the fall for you - granted, I know she wiped the fingerprints and added her own, but seriously?

Additionally, there were so many references to Hannah losing her mind herself and not being mentally well, and that was never resolved either - I kept expecting part of the story to be delusional and completely in her head - or Hannah just being a completely unreliable narrator, but nothing along those lines ever came to fruition.

I assume I won't feel like there is closure if I go back and read The Perfect Child since this comes afterwards, years later - but I was left completely unsatisfied and wanting more to the story.

This novella grabs you from the start, taking you on a captivating journey of mystery and wonder. The familiar characters grow emotionally, and you can't help but feel connected to their journey.

The author's words paint a beautiful yet unsettling world. The story flows smoothly, and you don't need to know the first book to enjoy it fully.

Though the tale is engrossing, at times, you wish for more details about certain aspects.

Overall, it's a mesmerizing addition to the series. Both new and returning readers will be drawn in by its allure and eagerly await what's next.

This book was a great sequel to The Perfect Child. The ending was unexpected. I can't wait to read more of Lucinda Berry's books

Thank you #Netgalley

This short story was very disturbing and wanted more with the cliffhanger! When Janie is released from juvenile detention she is out promoting a book she wrote on her childhood trauma which including "accidently" killing someone, foster care, and so much more. But we quickly learn that she is a sociopath playing so many different people around her, what is true? What is not? Then the foster parents...what happened? Why did they have her removed from the home? Who do we believe???

Lucinda berry did it again. She absolutely crushed this short story! It was the perfect ending to the Bauer’s story with Janie, I think! I loved the ending and how justice was served! Lucinda pulls you in from the first few sentences and this one was no different. I wanted to know what life was like for Janie after juvie and she portrayed it perfectly. 5/5 star read!

After years growing up in juvenile detention, Janie is finally free, and she's not done with Christopher and Hannah...

This was a great little follow up to help satisfy the needs of all of us who were left wanting more from The Perfect Child. I think the ending seemed a little questionable, but it was still a fun read, especially considering how short it is.

Thank you NetGalley and Lucinda Berry for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A short story by Lucinda Berry???? Sign me up!!! A quick, thrilling novella, "A Welcome Reunion" will leave you wanting more!