Name: BROOKE A's review of When She Returned by Lucinda Berry
Item: When She Returned
Rating: 2.5
Author: BROOKE A

Lucinda Berry

When She Returned

Khushi

One woman's reappearance throws her family into turmoil, exposing dark secrets and the hidden, often devastating truth of family relationships. Kate Bennett vanished from a parking lot eleven years ago, leaving behind her husband and young daughter. When she shows up at a Montana gas station, clutching an infant and screaming for help, investigators believe she may have been abducted by a cult. Kate's return flips her family's world upside down--her husband is remarried, and her daughter barely remembers her. Kate herself doesn't look or act like she did before. While the family tries to help Kate reintegrate into society, they discover truths they've been hiding from each other about their own relationships. But they aren't the only ones with secrets. As the family unravels what happened to Kate, a series of shocking revelations shows that Kate's return is more sinister than any of them could have imagined.

meh. i saw the ending of this coming… i hate it when i can guess the 

 plot twist. i felt like there were some major holes in the plot and a lot of extra “fluff” that wasn’t needed. i felt sorry for kate till about half way through… then her personality completely switched and she became almost the villain of the story… i felt like this story had great potential but completely fell short. no real 

 moments… no crazy plot twist… just left me feeling ver underwhelmed.

BROOKE A

meh. i saw the ending of this coming… i hate it when i can guess the big plot twist. i felt like there were some major holes in the plot and a lot of extra “fluff” that wasn’t needed. i felt sorry for kate till about half way through… then her personality completely switched and she became almost the villain of the story… i felt like this story had great potential but completely fell short. no real shocking moments… no crazy plot twist… just left me feeling ver underwhelmed.

Okay this book got me and then the ending fell flat. It was pretty predictable throughout but an easy read to keep you entertained over a flight.

Mehul Sharma

No complaints. Addicting read all the way up to the last page.

Sasha

los cultos son súper interesantes, así como las personas que se dejan brainwash, pero también es muy triste llegar a caer en mentiras así y dejarse llevar ciegamente por alguien que tiene hablada 

Valeria 

Jenna Pascale 

Let me start by saying that Lucinda Berry is an auto-buy author for me so it didn't take much for me to commit to reading this one. Add in the cult factor and it was a no brainer. 

For the majority of the book, I enjoyed the pacing. I was intrigued and ready for more from cover to cover. HOWEVER! I do feel that the ending was a bit rushed. BUT ONLY A BIT! 

At 90% through, I had no idea where this plot was going and could not fathom how Berry was going to be able to wrap this up. I definitely was not expecting the ending although I can definitely see how some would have predicted the plot twist - but not me. 

Overall, a really great read whether you're a thriller lover or not. Would recommend to pretty much anyone.

Alexis

** spoiler alert **
           I really thought this book was going to be great based off of ratings. But even though the premise is interesting it’s like the beginning and end were the most suspenseful parts. 

The middle was boring, redundant and she stretched it so far that the only part I jumped at was the last 5 pages. 


Who ends a book on goodbye mom? 

After we found out the cult leader was a liar (surprise there) I think the author missed an opportunity by waiting till the very end of the book for a remotely interesting twist.

Caroll-Ann

** spoiler alert **
           This book is so good.
It includes cults, love, mystery and family bonds. I enjoyed it a lot BUT now I want to know how this continues, I have so many questions

McKenzie McWhorter

This book was intense and I couldn't put it down, I had to see where it all lead next. 

I've seem some reviews of people skimming the backstory because they didn't like it but I loved that it was added in, it kept me guessing how it all fit together and I enjoyed the inside look at the cult. 

This book provoked so many complex emotions and I found myself hating a character one minute and feeling for them the next and not knowing how it should all work out in the end.

kendall p

** spoiler alert **
           the cult aspect was interesting & I enjoyed seeing the lead up to how Kate became involved and decided to leave her family, but I wish we could have gotten a modern pov from Kate rather than just flash backs. 
The ending was very abrupt. It definitely could have been longer, or at-least an epilogue. She tried kidnapping her daughter then boom it was over. I would have liked to see more play out in that situation & how Scott & Meredith handled it in more depth.

Christina Rae Lu

when she returned is just exactly like the perfect child:

1. a doting father/husband.... who by the way is both stupid and blind 
2. a 3rd person who's all skeptical and the ONLY person who is reasonable in the whole plot. 
3. the "victim" , the star of the story but is in fact a malicious, shady antagonist. 


get the picture? 
i think lucinda berry needs to step up her game.

Emma Johnson

This book kept me wrapped in, and I figured out what the ending was going to be about half way through, but I do think the ending was good. It’s a typical thriller with very little depth to it, but if that is what you are into, this book is a quick read that keeps you engaged until the last page.

This was the first Lucinda Berry novel I ever read and it was absolutely amazing. She is now one of my favorite authors. This book is so very good and you definitely should check it out.

Amanda Autumn Berrey

Dani Edgin

Speechless 

Hoooooly cannoli! That was a completely unexpected ending and I’m just at a loss for words. Definitely recommend, solid read.

Moon of Pages

Rachel Schommer

3.5/5

Lucinda Berry does it again!

I personally do not love novels with a cult premise as I cannot for the life of me understand how people fall prey. I mean, I can insofar as I have a degree in Psychology, but when I'm reading for fun, I'm not thinking about that, I'm thinking with my own personal emotions and human judgements. 

However, DR. Lucinda Berry with all of her amazing Psych knowledge comes in with a book that, while still difficult for me to personally wrap my head around, explains a bit more about the how while also providing a plot line I couldn't stop reading. 

I felt terrible for Meredith, and rejoiced a bit at the end when (I'm assuming) she got her perfect husband 100%. I did want to shake the crap out of Scott throughout most of the book...part of me was did find him sweet. To love someone that much - almost too much honestly. Lastly, there's badass Abbi who is stronger at 15 than I probably am now. Likeable characters coupled with a mysterious plot line and then an intense ending is a recipe for success in my opinion!

Khushi &
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

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Khushi &When She Returned by Lucinda Berry

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Khushi &
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry