Given the facts; eg., the timing (three years since the last novel, but just before the release of a new series), the first page advertisement hawking the upcoming first book in the new series, the link to a webpage with more information on the new series, and a button to sign up for a mailing list for the new series, I don’t think I’m being overly cynical in believing that this novella was published to drum up business and sell the author’s new series.
It would have been nice to visit old friends, but the novella wasn’t very tightly plotted, loose ends are left dangling, kids are suddenly everywhere, the kids who are everywhere are not acting in a believable manner for their respective ages, and last, the twin daughters are NOT amusing. The non-stop fighting and oneupmanship is annoying and tedious. Plus, being dropped in the middle of all these changes without any softening segues was a bit jarring. I think I am actually glad the story was not a full length novel.
Mostly, I’m annoyed that I let myself be suckered into paying for an advertisement.