A Welcome Reunion is a short novella by Lucinda Berry , that takes place after The Perfect Child. I could not put this down! I absolutely loved it! Definitely adding more books by this author to my TBR stack! I received the ARC for this novella from NetGalley and the Author and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion and opinion.

Listen I love Lucinda Berry’s work and A Welcome Reunion is no different. This story follows Christopher and Hannah who adopted Janie - an abused ward of the state and their social worker Piper 10+ years after Janie was removed from the couples care after tragic events. Janie is back out in society and clearly had not been rehabilitated. While the story has a predictable conclusion Lucinda Berry manages to draw you in at the start and keep you engaged through this quick read!

I still want to yeet this chick across the water. I loved the perfect child and was so interested after the abrupt ending. This was a great closure book and as well all knew she’s still crazy.

I love to read a great, thrilling novella! I have read from this author, so was excited to read her novella. This is like a short sequel to her novel The Perfect Child and I think it’s just the book we all needed to wrap this up! It is to the point, shocking, dark and conclusive! I really enjoyed it!

"Janie is the last person Hannah and Christopher Bauer want to see again, but Janie’s moved back to Clarksville. She’s no longer the frail child Hannah and Christopher adopted over eleven years ago. The child who destroyed their lives. Now Janie is out of juvenile detention and publicly promoting her new tell-all memoir.
At just eighteen, Janie has a violent and tragic story to share, brimming with grisly details. Details the public can’t get enough of and that the Bauers can’t bear to relive. Janie has taken a new name and claims to have reformed her sociopathic ways. She’s ready to make amends. but when the Bauers refuse to meet with her, she takes matters into her own hands. After the social worker formerly assigned to the case makes disturbing revelations about Janie’s behavior, the Bauers brace for Janie’s next move, determined to protect their family at any cost").
What is Janie going to do? Have to read the story to find out. Love the characters, a quick short great sequel. That ending holy heck. I would recommend reading the perfect child first as this is the sequel to it. Love reading Lucinda Berry Books.
I give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories, Netgalley, and the author in exchange for a review.
Published 8-15-2023

In the gripping novella "A Welcome Reunion" by the masterful author Lucinda Berry, readers are plunged into a tense and thrilling narrative that reaffirms Berry's exceptional storytelling prowess. Following the success of her bestselling work "The Perfect Child," Berry once again captivates her audience with a haunting tale of a couple forced to confront their darkest past.
Hannah and Christopher Bauer's world is turned upside down when a figure from their haunting history resurfaces—the once-adopted child, Janie. After over a decade of estrangement, Janie returns to Clarksville as a transformed young adult, far removed from the frail girl that once shattered the Bauers' lives. However, her return isn't marked by reconciliation, but by the public release of a tell-all memoir, recounting a violent and tragic tale brimming with chilling details.
At just eighteen, Janie seeks redemption, claiming to have reformed her ways and offering to make amends for the past. But the Bauers, scarred by their previous experiences, refuse to engage. As Janie's intentions become muddied and the social worker assigned to her case reveals unsettling revelations about her calculated behavior, the Bauers must brace themselves for what comes next, resolute in their determination to protect their family, regardless of the toll it might take.
In this expertly crafted novella, Berry delves into the depths of psychological suspense, deftly weaving a narrative that grips readers from start to finish. Her knack for vivid character development is on full display as she navigates the complexities of relationships strained by trauma and deception. Berry's prose is tight, evocative, and richly atmospheric, immersing readers in a world where past sins and newfound intentions collide in a gripping battle for control.
With "A Welcome Reunion," Lucinda Berry reaffirms her position as a literary force to be reckoned with. Much like her previous works, this short story showcases her ability to plunge readers into the heart of darkness and keep them enthralled until the final page. Her storytelling mastery is undeniable, and "A Welcome Reunion" stands as a compelling testament to her unrivaled skill in crafting addictive and enthralling tales that leave an indelible mark.

I'll be honest I really messed up when I requested this story:

1) I didn't realize it was a short-story. Don't ask me why because I have no good reason, but I have never read a short-story of a novella in my post-university adult life. I shouldn't even say I never read one; I actively avoided reading them.

2). I didn't realize it was a sequel to THE PERFECT CHILD. I think I may be the only person who didn't enjoy that read (two stars....eek don't come at me :o) so that was a mistake or so I thought because....

I actually really liked this one! Are novellas my new favorite? They honestly might be. Stay-tuned because I downloaded a few more! But seriously, I thought this was perfectly crafted sequel: short and to the point, enough refreshers on the main book, and closure (at least in terms of Janie). I could have done with a little more follow-up to the ending, but if there is another short-story continuing the aftermath then I'll read it! Definitely do not read this one first or as a stand-alone if you plan to read THE PERFECT CHILD though!

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*
Summary: Janie is the last person Hannah and Christopher Bauer want to see again.

But Janie’s moved back to Clarksville. She’s no longer the frail child Hannah and Christopher adopted over eleven years ago. The child who destroyed their lives. Now Janie is out of juvenile detention—a beautiful, confident young adult—and publicly promoting her new tell-all memoir.

At just eighteen, Janie has a violent and tragic story to share, brimming with grisly details. Details the public can’t get enough of…and that the Bauers can’t bear to relive. Janie has taken a new name and claims to have reformed her sociopathic ways. She’s ready to make amends. But when the Bauers refuse to meet with her, she takes matters into her own hands.

After the social worker formerly assigned to the case makes disturbing revelations about Janie’s calculated behavior, the Bauers brace for Janie’s next move, determined to protect their family—at any cost.
*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
My thoughts: Happy pub day to this short story which is a sequel to The Perfect Child. I love a book with an evil kid and this one was so fun to revisit ! It was the perfect little add on to an already fantastic novel. But at the end I was left wanting a little more. I think I truly could have read a full length sequel to the book. There was a lot at the end that was left unexplored and I was just wanting a bit more closure at the end. I love a good novella and this was a lot of fun!

While I found this book a page turner I definitely couldn’t keep up with the mixed emotions of the one character Christopher.

Janie was abused as badly as a young child could be and the doctor that took care of her fell in love and took her home to his wife to raise as their own. They very quickly realized that being treated like an animal (dog collars and being fed dog food) turned her into a viscous one.

Newly released from her sentence for committing homicide she has a large following on social media and a new book out painting herself as the victim. Christopher still follows her and believes she was a victim. Hannah never fell for her act.

Not my favorite Lucinda Berry but worth the quick read.

I finished prequel to the book last week. The author provided a lot of details from the prequel to remind the reader of previous incidents. I understand that is bc the prequel came out a years ago. I didn’t think it was necessary to do that so it felt redundant to me. This short story featured a few twists that kept me wondering. However, I didn’t feel like it got exciting until the 50% mark. Overall, I would give it a 3.5

This novella started strong with the fascinating nature vs nurture debate and continues with some good mystery and suspense mixed with lots of drama and chaos. I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

Janie who was a troubled child and sociopath is back in the lives of the people who attempted to save and adopt her into their family. This brings up a lot of unwanted past traumas and experiences for everyone involved.

I found out after I finished this novella that it was a sequel to The Perfect Child. However, having read the novella with absolutely no background, I overall enjoyed it and think it reads fine as a stand alone too. I'm sure it is even better if you've read The Perfect Child though.

I really enjoyed this short story, however it left me wanting more! This story hit the ground running and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The fast paced exciting story unwound at a quick pace but I felt like the end just cut it off.

A great fast paced follow up to The Perfect Child. I absolutely love Lucinda Berry and the way she writes. She makes you question your morality and creates characters that you love to hate!

Lucinda Berry did a great job with this follow up to The Perfect Child.

In A Welcome Reunion, we get to follow along with Janie as she adapts to her new life. She is now 18 years old and has a published memoir to tell her side of the story. Although Janie remains an unlikable character, I still enjoyed this follow up.

What I loved about this novella is that Dr. Berry was able to capture my attention early on and hold it until the very end. I was happy to see how Janie was getting along. She's by far one of the most disturbing characters I've read about.

What I didn't love was that the ending was underwhelming. I expected it and was kind of hoping for something a bit more twisty and sinister. To kind of go along with how disturbed Janie was in The Perfect Child.

Janie isn't reformed, so I think keeping with that would have been a great benefit to this novella. Another thing was that I wish it was a full-blown novel. I would have like to have seen Chris' point of view, as well as their son. How did he get to meet Janie? How was she able to manipulate him into assisting her?

There were so many unanswered questions that I would I have liked resolved. I guess I'll have to keep with my own made-up ending...lol

Overall, I enjoyed this novella and look forward to any and everything Dr. Berry writes. Kudos on a great follow up to one of my favorite books!

A Welcome Reunion grabbed my attention as it is a short novel(la) of 66 pages about a sociopathic woman who causes chaos when she desires to return to live near the family who tried to save her as a child. Infamous child killer Janie Bauer has just published her no holds barred autobiography, Born Again. Now living back in small-town Clarksville, Ohio after release from the juvenile justice system when she turned 18, she attends an interview with Sarah Haines in an attempt to begin showing the public that she is a new person. Hannah and Christopher Bauer, her adoptive parents, had discovered Janie one day when she was brought into the hospital with broken bones and Christopher was her orthopaedic surgeon after she had been discovered in a Walmart parking lot dressed in only a nappy and dog collar and showing signs of abuse; and to this day, it is the worst case of abuse the social services worker, Piper, had ever seen. The Bauers took her in, but due to her always ending up in the emergency room with bodily injuries, the state was under obligation to investigate if child abuse was taking place.

During this time Janie had to be removed from the family home and lived with Allison, Hannah's sister. Then after overhearing Allison on the phone talking about moving her somewhere else, six-year-old Janie did the unthinkable; pushing her down some stairs to her death. She had also managed to somehow slit her biological mother's throat at age five, and she had hurt other people including roommates, too, all with no explanation as to why. Sarah then invites Caleb Ross, whose mother was killed by Janie, onto the stage as a surprise, so Janie can make amends with those she "wronged". Caleb turns out to be Hannah's nephew. Janie, now going by the name Hope Devonshire, has moved back to Clarksville, Ohio, even though she is free to live anywhere. From there, lots of ugly incidents occur and the lives of the Bauers and others become unbearable once again. I absolutely couldn't put this down! It's imperative in a very short story to get to the heart of the matter sooner rather than later and Berry does this with aplomb.

You are launched right in at the deep end, and although I worked out later that this is an addition to a book published in 2019 that follows the family and their exploits, I didn't feel like I had particularly missed out by discovering this novel first. It worked perfectly well as a standalone, although it of course would be ideal to have read The Perfect Child before going into this. That said, I haven't felt the urge to go back and read the preceding book in a series quite as strongly as I have after finishing this for several years, so I immediately acquired it. As soon as I have the time I can dedicate to flying through it in a single sitting, which is the only way when this story is damn addictive, then I'll be super excited to do so. Berry cultivates a tension so rich it's palpable and the suspense, shocks and twists just keep coming. Not to mention the character development being excellent for such a short story. I cannot recommend this highly enough, whether you have read the prior novel or not, for those who enjoy true thrillers with a psychological edge. Just ensure you remember to breathe.

*Not listed on either Waterstones or Barnes & Noble, so I cannot post to either of those sites..

**possible spoiler in review**

I can honestly say that this book freaked me out BIG TIME. I suppose that was the point??? I have not read the previous book, but this was very easy to follow along with since most of Janie’s evilness was re-hashed in this novella. I’m not easily creeped out by books, but this one sat differently than others. The scenes involving the traumatized patient in the care facility with the eyes being glued shut really got to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A Welcome Reunion is a short story detailing a couple's adoption gone wrong. Murder, sinister secrets, and a mom willing to go to any lengths to protect her family. I felt like too many characters and too much info was thrown at us to start, but the middle flowed really well and kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm not sure if the ending is left up to interpretation of the reader or if I just expected some bigger twists, but I felt like it all came to a close too abruptly. I enjoyed the author's writing style and definitely look forward to reading a full length novel by her next. 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw Lucinda Berry had written a novella to follow after “The Perfect Child” I knew I had to read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

Just like The Perfect Child, this one is incredibly disturbing and filled with trigger warning material (both emotional and physical abuse).

As much as I didn’t love this book, I was happy to see Hannah take control and be in a better mental state in this.

Overall, 2 ⭐️ in my opinion. I love Lucinda’s writing and how dark and twisted it is, but this storyline is too much for me.

I saw Lucinda Berry, I saw “Read Now”, and so I did.

It wasn’t her best, but it wasn’t terrible. Mostly, I thought it was just too much story to cram into 82 pages. As a result, it felt very rushed and none of it had a chance to register as anything else but rushed.

That may not be the same for every reader. I can acknowledge this. I read a lot of thrillers, a lot of horror, a lot of really dark romance, and a lot of other dark stuff, and it takes a lot for anything to register shock and awe with me. It takes a lot to freak me out. This story? It hardly registered because all we got is basically an outline. Now, if this were a whole novel it would be a different story. It would probably be a great novel. It just didn’t work for me as a short story.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. Due to personal policy, this review will not appear on any bookseller or social media page because it was rated three stars or less.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this short story in exchange for an honest review.

A Welcome Reunion is essentially an extended epilogue to Berry's The Perfect Child. Looking at the top-rated reviews of The Perfect Child, the main complaint is the ending (or lack of ending) and it looks like this short story was written to provide an ending.

If this had been included in the first novel as an epilogue (or at least the main idea of it), I would have enjoyed it. However, I was one of the readers that didn't mind the ending to The Perfect Child and I don't think all books need to be wrapped up nicely by the end. As a short story/novella, this doesn't really work for me. It's too long for what it is and repetitive. The idea is super interesting: To see Janie/Hope as an adult who has released a best-selling memoir about her childhood with the Bauers and the how Piper, Hannah, and Christopher react after having Janie/Hope out of their lives for so long. But it ended up being too long and rambling to keep my attention apart from the initial idea and I struggle to think of why this needed to be published separately.