Rating: 4 stars ⭐️

This was an amazing short story that follows up on Lucinda Berry’s other book, “The Perfect Child”. 🎈

You can read this book on its own but it really intrigued me to read more from this author!

You follow multiple POV's from Piper and Hannah years later after what happened..

Thank you to Netgalley, Lucinda Berry and the publisher for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get this short story/novella because I really enjoyed my first Lucinda Berry read and this one didn't disappoint! I went in blind and not realizing that this was a sequel to Berry's novel The Perfect Child. That being said, I was able to pick up the general necessary background while reading and not having read the novel first didn't take away my enjoyment of this story. Twisty, disturbing, with a satisfying end, I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

3.75🌟
After she was found abused and neglected, Hannah and Christopher adopt young Janie. They take her in and give her a safe, welcoming home. It’s not long before Janie’s behaviors become not just disturbing, they’re down-right lethal.

Recently turning eighteen Janie has aged out of the juvenile system, and is about to be on her own. But is she really ready to leave behind what’s left of the family she helped to destroy? Can they protect themselves against a now 'adult' Janie?

This was my first read by Lucinda Berry, I enjoyed her writing and the storyline drew me in right from the start. I had no idea this was a sequel to The Perfect Child or I would have started there. This short story can stand on its own as the author gives plenty of back story. But my experience would have been even better reading these books in order.

I do wish would have been a full-length novel. It all wrapped up a bit too quickly, leaving me without enough resolution. Perhaps I would have felt differently if I had read The Perfect Child?🤷🏼‍♀️

Will I be able ending more of her books? Definitely! I’m off to check her older releases while keeping an eye out for her next (full size) thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories

i enjoyed this book, and i’m glad that The Perfect Child got a proper ending! i would recommend reading that book first (especially because it’s SO GOOD), although you can read this novella as a standalone because it recaps the events of The Perfect Child.

i was interested in what happened to Janie, Piper, Hannah, and Christopher after The Perfect Child ended, and this definitely gave answers. nothing was super shocking or surprising to me, but it was good to see how the rest of The Perfect Child panned out (although, with that ending, i could have done with a little bit more!). the writing is fine, if a little simplistic. i don’t really have much more to say because it was so short, but if you have an hour to spare, it’s an adequate read. not my favorite thing Ms. Berry has written, but not my least favorite either.

thank you to Netgalley for providing this book!

5 thousand stars!!! WOW!! Lucinda Berry does not disappoint!! This is an INTENSE book!! From page one, I was hooked!! I have read “The Perfect Child” and this is set in the future of Janie. She’s older now and is better at destroying what ever is in her path!

I enjoyed this short story. I haven’t read the novel this is based off of. So I was a little bit lost. But overall I still enjoyed. And I will read the other book now.

Full disclosure, I haven’t read The Perfect Child. I got a little excited when I saw this was available and snapped it up without reading the description 😂 That said, I thought it was explained well enough that I could follow it.
I liked the different POVs but didn’t love the ending. I think this would be better as a full book with more explanation, rather than a short story.

What a fantastic read! I loved reading more about the Bauers and Janie. While this is a shorty story, it’s not short on thrills. I devoured it in one sitting and wished for more!!

This was a quick, fast paced, entertaining read. It was the perfect sequel for the Perfect Child. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because the ending was very abrupt.

Thanks netgalley, Publisher and Amazon originals for a chance to read this arc.

I loved the perfect child, though I didn’t love the ending and the fact I had to go on Facebook to see the epilogue but I’m happy this book was written.

I’ve been wondering what Janie has been up to and if she’s still a psychopath.

This book gives us a glimpse into Janie’s life but also her adoptive parents who are still struggling.

I highly recommend reading this book if you liked the perfect child.

I’m actually a huge fan of all berries and some Berrys (and Barrys). But this one was such a dud.
I think the only thing reading this story did was remind me that I am right to stay away from most thrillers populating the market right now. Specifically these estrogen-heavy, mommy thrillers.
This Berry is an expert child psychologist and uses that knowledge to write of aberrant child psychology.
So you get a tale of classic evil kid, but one so trite and so carboardly written and plainly plotted that it does nothing but waste time.
It isn’t thrilling enough for a thriller or mysterious enough for a mystery and it is certainly not literary enough to be literature.
It’s just sort of there. A bland mediocrity. Because people like mediocrity, this Berry has made a career out of peddling them, it seems. One clichéd book after the next. Even the titles and the covers are straight out of genre-casting central.
But anyone with anything like a discerning taste should really make the effort to find something more interesting and original. There are certainly plenty of choices out there. Thanks Netgalley.

Another Amazon short story, coming mid august. Clocking in at just over 80 pages, this one was a great slump buster, and I couldn’t stop reading. The only issue I had with it was like.. What happens next?! That ending! This could have been a full novel and I could have read it. Gets a yes from me.

Hannah and Christopher 'unadopted' Janie.
Now an adult, she has returned, and they don't want anything to do with her. She has written a book about her violent and heartbreaking life, but omits to mention the things she has done.

A truly gripping novella! I did not read "The Perfect Child", but now I intend to get my greedy hands on it! I must say, this novella gives a good idea of what happened in "The Perfect Child", but I would like a full story, not the condensed one. I have read the reviews of it, and believe it ended on a cliff hanger.
I am always surprised when I read books about sociopathic children, surprised by the people taken in by them!!

Definitely need a sequel to this sequel, as in my mind, Hannah and Christopher's son has been damaged by Janie. It could be a good story!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Was so happy to read this and get that closure. I loved the first book but hated the ending. This was such a great ending. I enjoyed the book and read it super fast!

This was so good! I hadn’t read “The Perfect Child” before this, but I felt the author did an amazing job letting me get to know all of the characters and the story!
The different characters and perspectives were so interesting and really added to this story. The ending wasn’t my favorite and I wish there was more, but it is a short story!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Originals, and the publisher for a chance to do an ARC for this! Check it out!

A very quick read (60 pages!). Quite a crazy story about a sociopath. Ending a bit unexpected! I'm Generally a Lucinda Berry fan...but appreciate her longer novels!

The Perfect Child is an amazing book it was the first book I read by Lucinda Berry. A Welcome Reunion was a great follow up I just wish there was one more chapter from Hannah or Piper.

I was hoping for more from this. The writing and dialogue was a bit clunky and I would’ve enjoyed a final POV from Janie. However, it was a little creepy and got my adrenaline up.

This short story provides a satisfying sequel to Lucinda Berry’s novel The Perfect Child. We find out what happens when murderous Janie turns 18 and is released from juvenile detention. Oh what a nasty piece of work she is! Lucinda Berry sure knows how to write a compelling story.

Loved this short story by Lucinda Berry! I have read all of her books and I can’t wait for her next book! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.