Pretty When You Cry

by Ally Avery

My twin and I used to be inseparable, but since college, everything has changed. He’s pulled away from me. Made new friends and pushed me out of his inner circle, as if we aren’t two parts of a whole.
It’s pissing me off. It’s killing me.
Now that we’re back at our parents’ after graduation, he can’t escape me any longer.
No more excuses.
As soon as I have him all to myself, I’ll coax the truth out of him. But when I do, his glittering tears and sweet sobs awaken all my buried desires.
The desire to push him to his limits. To make him tremble in my arms.
He’s my twin. Wanting him like this is wrong. Twisted. But once I’ve had the first taste of him, there’s no turning back.

Pretty When You Cry is an MM erotic novella containing explicit scenes between twins. For adult readers only.

Genres: M M Romance, Novella, Romance

About the author

Ally found her love for reading and writing at a young age. MM romance in particular has been part of her life since her first exposure to late-2000s Shounen Ai.

She likes to write about fierce, damaged boys who need a lot of love, and she doesn’t shy away from dark and taboo topics that some readers might find disturbing.

Reviews

[angie_bookrecs]

I was expecting taboo filth.
What I got was taboo filth wrapped in heartbreak, obsession, codependency, emotional damage, and two idiots who could have saved themselves four years of suffering if they had just TALKED TO EACH OTHER!!

Austin and Teddy are twins who spent their entire childhood inseparable. Then college happened, Teddy pulled away, and Austin spent years wondering what he did wrong while Teddy suffered in silence, convinced his feelings would never be returned.

The angst? Delicious.
The longing? Exquisite.
The emotional devastation? Inject it directly into my veins 😩

Austin is obsessive, possessive, jealous, and more than a little toxic. But underneath all of that is a man who is absolutely terrified of losing the most important person in his life...again.

And Teddy? Sweet, emotional Teddy. My guy spent years torturing himself because he assumed Austin could never feel the same way.

The dacryphilia kink was really well done here. It felt deeply tied to Austin's need for emotional intimacy and vulnerability. Some of my favorite moments were the ones where the kink revealed something about who Austin was beneath all the possessiveness.

Underneath the taboo, what really got me was how deeply these two understood each other. This felt less like a forbidden romance and more like two halves of the same person finally finding their way back to each other.

The only reason this isn't a full-length novel is because the universe enjoys watching me suffer I swear 🙄
I would've happily read another 300 pages of these two figuring out how to function as a couple while Austin learns not to have an existential crisis every time Teddy tries to leave the house.

Give me a sequel.
Give me a novel.
Give me literally anything.
I am not above begging.

[⭐️]

HOT! TABOO!! CRYING!!! oh this one tugged at my heart strings though and I never was expecting that to.. the obsession and possessiveness. Oof.

I hope we get another book with them!!!

[Jessica Swan]

was this toxic and taboo? yes. was it addicting? yes.

[Syd]

I loveee twins, but this was SO toxic 🤣

[K]

Ooooohhhh my goodness! This short little novella has everything I didn't know I needed! Twins ( yes, please) plenty of spice time, turned on by tears and a level of possessiveness that is so toxic it's endearing! Wonderfully done!! ❤️

[ArycaReads]

5 stars for this sexy taboo quick read that made me question myself on multiple levels 😅🥴🔥🥵🖤 This was so good. I would really enjoy a sequel. The characters were very well written.
-DON’T read this if you aren’t into a little bit of messed up stuff with your romance lol read the warnings
-DO read this if you like to indulge in a little guilty pleasure reading that you wouldn’t admit to reading to your family 😅
My grandma asked what I’m currently reading…ummmm…nothing 🤷‍♀️ but the truth is everything Ally Avery drops because it’s always so good! 🔥🔥🔥

[Maggie May]

Exactly what I am looking for when I read twincest. Lots of well written spice, plentiful heart, codependency, and obsession. The characters were well fleshed out for a short book.

[Rosetta Celeste]

Honestly, there’s nothing original about this book, and I don’t think it really offers anything new. It barely even has a plot. The whole book was just repetitive smut with nothing much happening outside of that. I don’t have a problem with smut-heavy books, but if that’s going to be the main focus of the story, I at least want it to be creative, interesting, or give me something worth remembering. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t have that for me.

[Marie:)]

Twins🌶️🥵 Twins guys and it was PERFECT!!

I’ve read every one of Allys taboo books and they are so good every time I’m obsessed!!! The spice is top tier too😏

[Betsy]

˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𝟑/𝟓 ★ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

💧🥹 » an adoring dacryphilia treat with poisonous possessiveness wrapped up in taboo smuttiness « 🔥🫠

this was overall a nice little read, i especially love dacryphilia (crying kink) which was done reallyy well here, it was both hot & sweet too!!❤️‍🔥🫦🥹 it also made sense for both MCs actually, which felt authentic & not just a random trope thrown in, so that really saved this story for me🙂‍↕️

i must add that this was basically just smut, and fair enough, i don't know why i expected a bit more..?🙈😆 once i adjusted my expectations, it became much more enjoyable lol tho i still feel like this had more potential, even for a smutty novella✨

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒕, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒄𝒌, 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒚-𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝐅𝐮𝐜𝐤, 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬.

➥ ᴍᴍ { ɢᴀʏ × ɢғʏ/ᴅᴇᴍɪ ᴠɪʙᴇs }
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
𓄼 ᴛᴀʙᴏᴏ: ᴛᴡɪɴᴄᴇsᴛ
𓄼 ᴍᴜᴛᴜᴀʟ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴘɪɴɪɴɢ
𓄼 ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ/ʀᴇᴄᴏɴᴄɪʟɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
𓄼 ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
𓄼 ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ, ᴊ/ᴘ
𓄼 ᴄᴏᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴄʏ
𓄼 ᴋɪɴᴋs: ᴅᴀᴄʀʏᴘʜɪʟɪᴀ, ʙᴏɴᴅᴀɢᴇ/ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴛs, ᴅᴇɢʀᴀᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ/ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ("sʟᴜᴛ"), ᴇᴅɢɪɴɢ, ᴏᴠᴇʀsᴛɪᴍᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ғʀᴏᴛᴛɪɴɢ
𓄼 ɴᴏᴠᴇʟʟᴀ, ʜᴇᴀ
➽ ᴄᴡ: sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʀᴇᴅ-ғʟᴀɢ ᴍᴄ, ғᴇᴀʀ ᴏғ ᴀʙᴀɴᴅᴏɴᴍᴇɴᴛ

[Ashley Dead.inside_but_reads]

This is a Tab00 story with 🩸 Twins so if that's not your thing then I suggest you skip this one....if it is 😈..

🌶🌶🌶🌶

Teddy and Austin used to be as close as twins could be until one day Teddy started putting distance between him and his brother with ZERO explanation. Austin hated it but figured Teddy would come around. Teddy in fact did not come around and through college the distance and separation only got worse. Now though Teddy and Austin are home from college and Austin is sick of it, he wants answers and his Twin back. When Austin corners Teddy though and the truth comes out, it wasn't what Austin was expecting but it was also more then Austin could ever hope for. These two realize their bond goes further then just a regular Twin bond and now that there is no more running they can have everything...together 🖤
Oof I love me some Codependency and boy did Austin and Teddy just give me everything! These two were literally the other half of each other 🥹 and besides the *slightly* toxic possessiveness these two squished my poor dead heart!

"There’s only him. People spend their whole lives looking for someone who understands them instinctively; I was born with mine."

[Rachel Emily]

Very taboo, so don't read if that's not your thing.

Austin and Teddy reconnect now that they are back to both living under the same room - they can't avoid each other now. They had grown apart during the college years - for reasons that they don't think can be discussed. (If they HAD discussed them then it wouldn't have happened LOL)

Overall I enjoyed this! This revolves a lot around dacryphilia, and this might be the first time I have had this featured so prominently in a book.

I will say....The co-dependency is incredibly unhealthy LOL. I know that's kinda the whole point, and that Austin has a lot to work through over how he and Teddy grew apart over the last several years, but mannnn that was a bit too much for me with how he reacted to Teddy just wanting to see his friends.

[Naulee]

Ughhhh Ally did it again ❤️‍🔥 A short little twin taboo novella 🤭 Austin and Teddy have both been repressing their feelings for each for years. Teddy has been avoiding Austin out of shame and fear and Austin? Well he's a bit of an obsessive brother and put out by all the years Teddy started running from him. Out of college and living back at home together again, their parents are gone for the weekend, now's as good a time as ever to confront each other 🤭
Sweet and spicy, and ugh Austin's obsession with Teddy's tears 😏 Thoroughly enjoyed it

[Jennifer R]

Even knowing it’s a novella which I do enjoy a lot, this one was still overly simple and rushed at the same time. Could have used even 30-40 pages to expound and still keep the story short. There was too much hidden potential here and conflict to dumb it down like it was. It didn’t feel like a story but a 2 day blip in a life already well developed.
I did like the connection they had and the steam between them. The bit of conflict that had to be worked out was nice but again could have been so much more.

[WickedRiverReads]

Teddy and Austin were cute and a little toxic but I love that. It may not be completely healthy to want all your twins time and attention but I don’t care, they were fun! Plus I can see Austin’s reasoning and he was trying…kind of. I don’t think I’ve every read a book with Dacryphilia (crying k!nk) before but I’m now intrigued. I’ve enjoyed all of Alley’s taboo books and have devoured each one. I’m excited to see what’s next!

💙ARC REVIEW 🖤

[Emily]

This is probably a me issue. Novellas usually don't hit for me, and I know that. This one didn't. It was too rushed (I know, I know... that's literally what a novella is) and I just didn't connect with any of it because of that. I liked the idea of the story a lot... I just would've liked it a lot more if there were about 200 more pages and the conflict wasn't already resolved in the first 10 pages.

[nerdybookbabe]

What's up up babes
This is a short novella with codependency, obsession and possessiveness. Umm hell yeah! Throw in twins! I couldn't resist! There are loving moments that just had my heart, sad moments that had me feeling for them and the steamy moments that had me screaming and kicking. It's cute and toxic and I loved every bit of it. I'm obsessed! Pick it up. Attitude TBR. Let me know how it is.

[Ana Silva]

I’m addicted to Ally’s taboo stories! They’re so good and just keep me wanting more🤭

Taboo twins are my favorite. The connection between them is so much deeper and felt at a cellular level than any other familial relationship. These two were pure fire!

I was so scared that their parents would catch them. My anxiety level spiked a bit towards the end😅

Really loving this side of Ally and can’t wait to read more.

[Sara Husser]

😭 He Loves His Twin's Tears 😈

This was a naughty taboo book and I ate every word up. This author always writes great stories whether they're taboo or not. I love everything by Avery. This was smutty but also sweet. I loved the connection between the twins. I love how codependent they were. I loved how they both always wanted one another. The spice and kink were delicious 🔥🔥🔥. I also loved the crying kink in this too 🥵. I can't wait to read more stories from this author!

[Miruru Shouting]

Give me 500 more pages please! I'm not ready to leave Austin and Teddy. There's still so much to explore and I'd love to read more scenes of them after they became a couple. They've both been through so much (as with most tab00 books where the MCs don't believe their feelings would be reciprocated). I need them to have an even more happy HEA and I'd like a front row seat to everything please.

[Court 📚]

I had good expectations for this as I love a forbidden romance but this wasn’t it, maybe it’s the length of the book being too short, but this generally feels like it starts in the middle of a story, none of the characters have any depth to them and the writing is really poor. Generally not worth anybody’s time unfortunately.

[Nate King]

3.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️

I loved the beginning, it really drew me in and had me there and loving it but it got repetitive and a bit boring quick. Strong start though, could’ve definitely read a long version of this but the end fell flat.

[Christina Sturgill]

Rating: 5/5 🌟
Spice: 4/5 🌶️
Heroes: Austin and Teddy

Beta Read - RTC

[Amanda Reeves]

I really enjoyed Pretty When You Cry by Ally Avery. This is a forbidden, steamy, twincest novella about Teddy and Austin. I really enjoyed this, even though it's a novella it has a story to it.

[Pyro Aleksandr]

Oh I loved this! I’m a slut for tears and crying also so this hit the spot. I want and need more of their story.

[end]

ughhhhh this is such a fun, spicy, taboo read. obsessed 🥵

[Ashley H]

4.5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️

What can I say… Twins 😂🥵🫶🏼
Never fails. Ally always delivers on her taboo. Such a good time

[Stephanie]

I was struggling with finishing up a series when this landed in my kindle. I was so excited!!! Exactly what I need to cheer me up 😈🥵 adored Teddy & Austin, and only wish it was longer!!!

[Goodness]

I LOVE THIS BOOK!❤️‍🔥🥰

[ashlee ❤]

Austin + Teddy

-mm taboo 🩸
-twins
-dacryphilia
-bondage
-edging
-“you’re mine”

hehehe nasty taboo read that did the job thats for sure!