Crybaby

Revenge Is Sweet #1

by Monica James, Michelle Lancaster

My name is Rev.

I like long walks on the beach.

A neat scotch.

And I like stealing from rich losers who have no idea the town’s Big Bad Wolf screwed their wives six ways to Sunday.

Such a scandal, indeed.

I have one end goal—to get out of this town.

I’m a loner. And that’s by choice.

People aren’t really my thing. That is…until I meet her. The little firecracker who sets more than my soul on fire.

No one has ever stuck around.

But Darcie is different. She seems to be as broken as me, and when our worlds collide, nothing but trouble looms.

Watch out, baby…down the rabbit hole we go.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, High School, M F Romance, Serial Killer, New Adult

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2022

About the author

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica runs her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing twisted AF stories, hoping to terrify her readers...just a little.
She is a bestselling author in the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her Unicorn, and her three crazy cats. She is slightly obsessed with red lipstick, heels, and crime documentaries, and is that person who always runs late.


Stalk Me:
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BookBub: http://bit.ly/2E3eCIw
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EWZSyS
Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2nUaRyi
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Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

'🅲🆁🆈🅱🅰🅱🆈' Is the first full length dark romance book co written by Monica James & Michelle Lancaster. Written in dual perspectives.

Straight away your thrown into a dark triggering scene, no warning, it's right there in your face, then it mellows out a bit and then we're back to where it all went wrong, so so wrong, it's hard to read, it's not glossed over, it's in your face with nowhere to hide. Then all hell breaks loose and these two wreck havoc onto those who deserve it.

These two authors brought their A game. And us readers are along for the ride.

Down the rabbit hole we go…

This was such a fucked up read, dark, gritty, gory, not real to life because if this shit happened in life I’d be running for the hills, twists and turns, some I saw coming, others I was blindsided. This was sicker than sick! WTF were these two drinking when they wrote this!

I didn’t connect with the characters, like I did feel empathy, but I didn’t get the warm and fuzzies or the need to claim him as mine, girls you can have him just watch out for his rabbit. Though I did root for them! I also think I need therapy after reading this!

If this was a rugby game with the yelling, swearing, rooting for one team over the other this is how I proceeded with this book. With all the crap that came there way, they deserve a HEA..

* Ever watch that movie * 'I spit on your grave' this reminded me of that, revenge, murder..

                  

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya'll…. Listen to me very carefully. What in the deliciously sick tarnation did I just read??? I don't know if I should be in therapy right now because I was cheering on the madness and laughing my butt off at times or saying screw it and embrace the crazy because I freakin loved it!



Rev has one goal and that's getting out of town and starting over somewhere new. Being in a small town and having to deal with entitled pricks on a daily basis is starting to reach its boiling limit with him and he has no reason to stay. That is until one of his classmates shakes up his entire world and leaves a mark that sets off a dangerous attraction and more in it's wake.



We were given a warning for this story and based on the prologue, I knew that this was not going to be an easy read. I felt it immediately and because of that, I went into this with a bit of trepidation which was warranted because my god!! The shit that went down in this book was effed up. I'm not even going to sugar coat this at all because I can't.



These characters didn't cross any lines whatsoever. Do you know what they did? They set them on freakin fire and then walked into that fire and then sat down and smoked a damn cigarette as if nothing happened! I can't even fathom wtf I just read and quite frankly if this is just the first book, you bet your ass I'm coming prepared for book 2. I need snacks, wine, rum, more rum and a therapist on call in that order.




This is not your typical dark read and I'm telling you right now please read the warnings and proceed with liquor. If you're looking for a messed up, twisted, dirty, thrilling revengeful read,this is hands down your book.

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This shit is wild af, y'all! 🤣

It's not going to be everybody's cup of tea, but it was a lot of fun for me.

If a dark, revenge fueled murder spree with unhinged characters sounds like a good time to you, you should definitely give this one a try!

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fueled by their tragic pasts, the duo seek justice for those who have wronged Darcie. Crybaby follows her and Rev as they set about a bIöödy Bonnie and Clyde-esque törtürė spree.

At times heartbreaking, other times satisfying, Crybaby is laced with a dry wit and infused with unapologetic love. Darcie and Rev’s story is dark, gritty, and all-consuming. Sensitive readers should heed the trigger warnings.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😩😭
Ending: 🧗🏻‍♀️ {Cliffy}
POV: 👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻 {Dual}

🗂 Genre: Dark Romance

✨ Tropes: Academy, Alphahole, Antihero, Revenge, Small Town,,Touch-Her-and-💀, Virgin h

💋 Kinks: Blood Play

⚠️ Warning: It’s definitely NSFW or with a kiddo by your side. In fact, I would highly recommend you read this one after dark to avoid side eye or awkward conversations.

🚩 Safety Squad: SėxuäI AssäuIt/Gang Râpe, VïoIencė, OM/OW Drama, and MANY other triggering elements. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Crybaby is part of the Revenge Is Sweet series and ends on a cliffhanger.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens with a huge shock and awe moment and does not stop throwing the reader into a state of “what did I just read!?”
Rev and Darcie are a couple of misfits, so much trauma, tragedy and chaos in their lives but there is an immediate connection, a cosmic calamity that you cannot look away from.
The characters in this story were so well written, some of them being so despicable that you must immediately dislike them, and others you feel deeply sorry for what they endured, but feel is what you must do.
Be very aware of the triggers in this book if you are sensitive, but for me, this story just fell into one of my top five for 2022.
Excellent writing, fabulous storyline, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Angela I. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning of the book, and then it got too much too fast. They went from 2 teenagers in high school to murderers in a few days without bating an eye.... I can't, I'm sorry 😓😞

[💜VGreedyReader🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

★4.40 revengeful stars★

A tale of revenge drenched in blood and well served justice. What happens when the popular boys of the school, who never know what “no” means, push their boundaries too far? Read this story to see how a good girl doesn’t let darkness entrap her but rather she embraces it and sets off to deliver punishment unto those who took what was never theirs to take.

~𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒊𝒏~

Darcie is a sweet caring girl whose guilt over her dead parents won’t let her move on from that pain, in the care of her two bigot unloving aunt and uncle, she deals with life in her own messed up way. Lighting fires the only reprieve to a suffocating life.

~𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌, 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌, 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔, 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈... 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆~

Rev had to become an adult way before it was time, he has always taken care of his addict mother. He lives his life unapologetically, putting his smooth talents into practice by stealing from rich women, for the sake of truth, it cannot be said that any of them has ever complained…

~𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏. 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆~

When Rev and Darcie meet something switches, sparkles ignite, chemistry explodes, however fate has other plans. Their time to get to know each other is cut short by evil insinuating itself in their lives. What destiny doesn’t know is that these two won’t be stopped by a few bumps along the road, they fully embrace their mad darkness to bring havoc to a rotten city and all those inhabitants who wronged them. Let the show begin.

~𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆��𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆~

This was a little tempting taste of what this author duo can deliver, I can’t wait to learn more about the crazy characters they can conjure up, I’m ready to follow these two down the rabbit hole. 🔥

⚠️ 𝙏𝙒 delicate and unpleasant issues are dealt with in this story and the authors don’t gloss over the gritty parts, if you’re sensitive please check full triggers list before proceeding. Also if you’re looking for soft, sweet and pleasing look the other way… if mayhem, chaos and insanity are your vibes look no further 😉

[Lager Lefse Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa!! I have fallen down the rabbit hole and am still shooketh!! From the get-go, there is a scene with ‘trigger warning’ written all over it and yet it somehow pulled me in deeper throughout the pages.

Monica and Michelle certainly did not hold back on their writing. This book is dark, gritty, straight in your face with no chance of hiding, yet there was something internally that I found myself silently rooting and squealing the main characters on. It felt wrong. It made me question myself, but most of all, it made me wonder where Monica has been hiding this side of her writing? (I believe I should thank Michelle for that)!

Crybaby is not an easy read. There are topics discussed and executed creating a strong visceral reaction and despite some topics that are mentioned, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t walk away and wondered what would happen next. I HAD TO keep reading.

I found myself with absolutely zero in common with these protagonists, but I was definitely drinking the Kool-Aid and couldn’t turn my back on them and walk away. Rev and Darcie (aka…Bonnie and Clyde, Ken and Barbie, or the Lonely-Hearts killers) have had unfathomable things happen to them. You realize that you can only push someone so far before they break, well we got to read about that side after the break. All I have to say is, Monica and Michelle MUST keep writing together! Is it too early ladies to ask for more??😉😁

Monica and Michelle are the newest power duo, and their writing style is wicked, dark, imperfect, and not for those faint of heart, but a must-read! (Michelle and Monica do you hear it now? (must have more, Must Have More, MUST HAVE MORE)!!

“I’ll never see her as a victim. Rather, I see her as the victor. She survived, but the ones who broke her won’t.”

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No matter what we’ve done, no matter what we do, we’re just a couple of misfits trying our best to survive.”

Crybaby is a modern day version of Bonnie and Clyde. And it was so fucking good… definitely one of those books that leaves you with a book hangover. I’m still thinking about Darcy and Rev.

“Darcie looks at me, pleading that I don’t surrender. She’d rather this be a Bonnie and Clyde ending than be captured alive.”

This book is NOT for the faint of heart. If you have triggers, stay away. Crybaby is FULL of dark subject matters – assault, crimes galore, murder. This book will seriously take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.

Darcie and Rev are two characters who connect almost immediately, though they don’t always get along. They have somewhat conflicting personalities. However, one thing they’re both sure of – they want revenge on those that tried to ruin Darcie’s life.

With books, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy “road trips” or characters being on the “run/move” and Crybaby is full of that.

I hope one day that Rev and Darcy get their happy ending. No pun intended… or maybe pun intended.

If you’re ready for a crazy read and ready to fall in love with a bad boy and a vengeful, strong girl… then jump down the rabbit hole.

[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a wild ride it was unputdownable I couldn’t put it down I devoured this story! The darkness the emotions and the ending holy hell this book was amazing I am still left speechless I don’t even know what to say I’m not surprised because Monica James is a favorite of mine for a reason and add Michelle Lancaster first time writing there’s no way to tell that this was her debut you have a dark toxic story full of pain emotions and revenge it’s exciting it’s twisted it’s thrilling wow what a story!

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the what? HOLY SAVAGE DARKNESS! I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from Cry Baby, but it certainly wasn’t this. Heed the content warnings carefully, my friends- this is by far the darkest story I’ve read from Monica James. This story has Kill Bill meets Bonnie Clyde type vibes- revenge, horror, graphic violence, and a gleefully macabre brutality. Revenge has never tasted so sweet.

Forget the anti-hero, Michelle and Monica create the anti-heroine. Our lady Darcie has had hardship after hardship- and is barely hanging on by a thread in lots of ways. We’re immediately immersed into this story and it’s darkness right off the bat, and we experience all the trauma Darcie is faced with along the way. But she’s not weeping willow, she transforms into an almost single-minded revenge warrior, ready to set the world on fire (perhaps literally, she does like fire). Her thirst to harm those that have harmed her fixes itself deeply in her even darkening heart. The violence within her is almost kinetic- vibrating off the page, and truthfully making even you the reader a little blood thirsty. Rev has a penchant for an initially Robin-Hood like punishing of the well to do, and he easily slides into the role of partner in her mayhem. Their connection certainly is fascinating, like the darkness within them is magnetic and only amplifies when they are together.

Truly- their the dark and twisted Bonne and Clyde as the lines between self-preservation and revenge blur into a psychotic spree. They seem to thrive in their savage mania. And I mean savage- prepare yourself for many disturbing on page descriptions. But, they are truly captivating- even though I could feel my soul darkening just by reveling in their journey. Not that Darcie’s targets didn’t deserve a little retribution. We have lots of twists and turns, a bit of suspense, and all the intrigue. It all culminates in a bit of cliffhanger that has the HEA in question. Michelle Lancaster and Monica James’ writing styles blend together seamlessly, and the vibes of this certainly reflect an intense and creative collaboration.

**Again, please read the trigger warnings. There is very little tenderness or sweetness here- even I found myself squeamish in places.

.

[Bozena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to think long and hard about how to start this review. So I'll just say what's the first thing that comes to my mind...

What the hell did I just read? 😳
This book is insane!!!

That book definitely is a dark and disturbing romance.
Romance is perhaps the wrong word for this book because, to tell the truth, there is not much real romance in the story.
This story begins with a very traumatic scene and ends with a bloodbath.
What am I saying, the whole book is a traumatic, bloody experience 😬

Rape, mental, physical and sexual abuse, is the main theme in the story.
This book is like a car crash you can't look away from.

I don't know what that says about me, because I found it, in a very strange way, fascinating and exciting.

All the characters are young, high schooler, but the story is definitely not YA.
It's a modern Bonnie and Clyde story that doesn't end with their death, but with a one-of-a-kind final savage revenge that leads to a cliffhanger.

So if you like dark romances and have read my warning, I recommend it to you, of course at your own risk 😉🖤

[Basak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Crybaby was a heavy read. Probably the darkest book I’ve read this year. It started strong and kept the pace throughout the story. Both main characters were hard pills to swallow and what they have been through growing up kind of justifies their overall mentality. There were times I thought I wouldn’t be able to go through another chapter without taking a break but the plot line was way too captivating to let go. My emotions fluctuated like yo-yo and that’s the reason Crybaby will most likely get stuck to my head for years while others I might and do forget about in a matter of days. Readers with certain triggers should use caution but for me, this was an epic journey and definitely worth all the stars.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

“we’re just a couple of misfits trying our best to survive.”

Omg this book! It is a dark read so check your TWs.
Rev and Darcie are definitely made for each other. Neither are your typical high school kids. Both have a lot of trauma and deal with life in unconventional ways. Darcie is feisty and has a don’t take crap attitude so starting a new school let’s you see her personality quickly.
Darcie and Rev’s relationship is dirty, intense and chaotic. They both are intrigued by each other from the first night they saw each other. Both are twisted and set on revenge. ((Make sure again to check the warnings this book gets very dark fast.))

This book will have your emotions all over the place! The way they fall in love is intense but definitely real. Rev knows just how to help Darcie with out pushing her and Darcie knows how to hold her own against Rev. You can just see how well they fit together.
The plot is heavy but the story line into how they both deal with trauma and guilt really makes this story.
The twist at the end had me excited to see how the story enfolds and I can not wait till the next book. I read this book so fast and even now keep thinking about their story.

[samreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOLY WOW! This book is DARK! It was deliciously good and I couldn’t help but devour it!

Rev and Darcie are two people who are extremely fucked up but it just makes their story so interesting!

Rev is broody, intense and oh so naughty! He has a darkness to him that just makes him so delicious. Darcie is a little psychotic and crazy but that just makes her character stand out!

Darcie and Rev are unique, they aren’t the typical boy meets girl and they have this adorable romance and fall in love no their relationship is dark and twisted and trust me when I say that trigger warnings need to be read before starting this book because it is intense and has DARK MATTERS

I honestly love their crazy dynamic. They have a revenge plan and the things they do are DARKKKKK and not for the faint of heart!

"𝙔𝙚𝙨, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩...𝙄'𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙝 𝙮𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙."

I couldn’t believe that plot twist at the end and that ending…..

Bring on book two because HOLY DAMN Monica and Michelle you have written one killer story!

[Taylor - Shesaysgetbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when your prom night turns into the worst night of your life? Do you cower and hide? No. You get full blown messy revenge. That is what Darcie does.

THIS BOOK. Ignore the synopsis. Go in blind, but also check your TWs first. Because this is a very niche book and not for everyone.

Rev and Darcie are the ultimate unhinged, Bonnie & Clyde duo. I could not get enough of their chaos. They are an absolute walking disaster. I love that Darcie doesn't run and hide after she becomes a victim. She becomes a warrior seeking revenge and justice in her own way. With the help of Rev, she goes in a wild ride. Rev is EVERYTHING!!! Think Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard in Scream, but a little of Christian Slater in The Heathers. For such a dark character, he is an absolute golden light in Darcie's story.

I am dying for book 2. This is my favorite read this month. Hands down. give. me. more.

[Book Maniac Forever · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all of Monica James's books, needless to say I jumped on her newest release written in collaboration with Michelle Lancaster. Truthfully, I don't know what to think of Crybaby. It was pure insanity and all over the place. I get the concept of revenge and I love my books dark, but Darcie and Rev's actions were pure violence and so twisted. I'll admit I enjoyed some aspect of their personalities and discovering more about their past, but their thirst for vengeance was too much for me. A lot of things didn't make sense in this story and I thought about DNF, but utimately there were answers I needed so I kept reading. I know a lot of people will enjoy the darkness of this novel, so make your own opinion and jump in the rabbit hole.

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **

[Keeana Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting, unique and raw, Crybaby was that and more this book will have you spellbound this story will rock you to the core. Monica and Michelle have blown me away with this dark and captivating read I couldn’t put it down.

This addictive page-turner kept my head spinning and my heart racing! Check your TW because this book was wow I’m so speechless I loved every last word and can’t wait for the second book.

“5 I’m blown away stars!”

[Kandace Denys (bookish_kayy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MESSED UP. This whole thing. It NEVER got any easier to digest.
Darkness was kind of an abyss here.
I’m not saying it’s bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was A LOT to digest.
I love a ‘take no prisoners’ MC, and they really were.
Darcie and Rev played no games.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two broken misfits have somehow learned to become a little less broken by finding one another.

***Actual Rating: 5/5 blood-thirsty, revenge-seeking, and guts-wrenching stars***

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I felt like I just crawled back from Hell after reading this insanely hot, incredibly sexy, yet gloriously bloody book. How wrong was I to think Monica’s Thy Kingdom Come (Deliver Us from Evil) trilogy was deliciously dark…Rev and Darcie’s story here made it seem like an appetizer.

Crybaby was told in Darcie and Rev’s POVs and they were literally the modern version of Bonnie and Clyde…only much more sadistic. I mean, the graphic scenes were vividly depicted as if I was living through all of the revenges along with both of them. The entire story was so meticulously crafted that it captivated me from the very beginning.

She steals my breath away when she closes the small space between us and presses her chest to mine. "Something very, very bad," she whispers, her sweet scent making me weep.
"And because of that, I'm forced to live with my zealot aunt and uncle."
"Where are your parents?"
The air between us pricks with electricity--I can feel it all the way to my toes. Leaning in close, she presses her lips to mine and whispers, "Dead."

As lovable as the main female character is, don’t ever let Darcie’s sweet personality trick you. She had got to be the most evil & conniving heroine I’d ever seen and I absolutely adored her. Her wicked ideas of murdering and torturing those who deserved them were sickeningly addictive.

Not that violence and vengeance were recommended, but since this book tackled tons of crazy serious issues, it was only fair for Rev and Darcie to take advantage of their emotional outlets. What's more, despite the fact that the vengeance sworn upon those bastards who treated Darcie wrong was brutal and downright merciless, much to my surprise, I didn't feel bad for the recipients at all. They deserved to be paid back tenfold.

Another feature I really appreciated about this book was that in spite of all those slightly disturbing and messy mind-massacre scenes, there were still a few extremely precious, secretively heart-throbbing moments between our dearest Darcie and Rev. Sometimes I forgot they were still teenagers who ought to enjoy their high school lives and puppy love so it was rather nice to be reminded of that.

I've always hated the word love. It gets thrown around so easily, losing its meaning. But luciferin, now that is a unique word. And this right now, this feels something like luciferin.

All in all, I’d HIGHLY RECOMMEND going down the rabbit hole and having a thrilling ride whenever you’re ready. All I wanna say is that Monica and Michelle totally outdid themselves and both ladies are FIRE. Oh, lastly, this book is not for the faint-hearted. Consider yourself warned!

***Massive thanks to the authors for generously providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

[Amanda Anderson (Beauty.and.the.bookies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I knew in the first 5% of this book it was going to be one of my favorites. And it was! The darkness, OH MY I COULD NOT SEE IN FRONT OF MYSELF. What got me was Michelle Lancaster’s authors note about her SA. It really messed me up while reading this book. If I hadn’t read that part first I would have had a totally different experience. I just kept thinking about why she wrote these scenes and my heart kept breaking and I was hoping none was true. I still am thinking about them. They were that rough. That is how you know the writing is good. When a reader hasn’t stopped thinking about it for days.
But regardless, this book was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY SHAPE AND FORM!!!
I loved loved loved Darcie so much. I loved her sass before the thing that happened to her and I loved her even more AFTER. She didn’t let it take over her life. She immediately grabbed it by the horns and got her revenge with her man by her side.
Speaking of my man, I mean her man, Rev was and is and will always be a MASTERPIECE. He was possessive over his Bunny from the second he laid his eyes on her when he seen her in her bunny costume and was not going to let any jock have her. I love that Rev and Darcie played by their own rules. They reminded me of The Joker and Harley Quinn. Just two baddies. I loved that it ended in kind of a cliffy. Because I NEED MORE!!!! I loved this so much!!! The revenge scenes were EVERYTHING!!!! They were so dark and ugly!! But they NEEDED TO BE! Because what those guys did to Darcie was BRUTAL and gave me chills. These ladies did not hold back with this book and I am so excited to see where they go with the next co write!! I think this is going to be a magic duo from now on! 5 flaming hot stars!!!!

[Els † ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕘𝕚𝕣𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕."

This story is insane and I need more! We have Rev and Darcie, Rev steals from the rich while also sleeping with their wives, he's a messed up soul who feels nothing after his father abandons him and his mother and his mother goes down a dark spiral.
Darcie suffered from a tragic accident that took the life of both her parents , now she's damaged and has a thing for fire. Rev and Darcie meet after coming across each other in the street, both recognising the tortured, dark part of each other. I love how Darcie goes toe to toe with Rev , even at times besting him and leaving him even more intrigued by her.
Prom night something happens that leads to Darcie and Rev going on a Bonnie and Clyde style mayhem.
There is a lot of gore, trauma and just messed up stuff happening in this book so please DO read the trigger warnings.

I loved the world that Monica and Michelle built, the mayhem that was described and the character building was incredible. Delving into Rev and Darcie's minds is not pretty and it's no walk in the park, both are dark and due to trauma and the unconventional way they deal with life their minds are a pool of blackness.
Them together is chaotic, dirty and downright wild, never knowing which way either of them will go.
This book was a enjoyable read but also was very heavy in places.


"𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕧... 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖. ℍ𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟. 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤. 𝕀𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖."

[Marie-Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my brain: 🥚
This is my brain after reading Crybaby: 🍳

Any questions?

When I went into this book I was expecting all the darkness. I had read the warnings ( ⚠️ TW need to be read before diving into this book PLEASE) and was ready to be mentally triggered. This ride was WILD and I did not want it to stop ever. The twists and turns kept me on my toes until the end. This tale of revenge consumed my thoughts for the last two days. I'm still speechless.

I wonder if writing this book was therapeutic for the authors? It felt soooo good for me to see Darcie get her revenge so I cannot imagine how it felt to write it.

This book is not like anything I've ever read. It is not swoony and it surely isn't a fairy tale. This story is heavy on the emotions and pure beautiful insanity. The mood was set perfectly these past months with Michelle's photos and videos. I was picturing Rev and Darcie clearly in my mind. The way they freakin fit together like two pieces of a puzzle... took my breath away. Two broken MCs brought together in a twisted tale of lies, trauma and sweet vengence.

I cannot wait for what's next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Anita _booktoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: SA the page.

Welp, this is the perfect release for a Halloween horror and hilarity. The suspenseful build within the first 30% was impressive. But the insanity that follows felt like a version of The Joker and Harley Quinn.
Darcie is already a little unstable from witnessing her parents die in a car accident. She found ways to quiet the demons in her head.
Rev has had a hard life. He’s constantly rescuing his mother from an overdose and treated like he’s the dirt on everyone’s shoe.

‘Two broken misfits have somehow learned to become a little less broken by finding one another.‘

These two accidentally cross paths one night and sparks fly. They continue to run into each other, recognising each other’s damaged soul. When everything goes wrong, these two feed off of each other’s madness and so the games begin.

PS, there is no HEA, I wouldn’t even call it a HFN. It’s a straight up WTF is going to happen in the next book.

[Ga Books LoverX · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read?! This book was absolutely insane with nonstop jaw-dropping moments that will have you wondering what in the world was going to happen next. There are some very sensitive topics mentioned in this book, so if you have triggers, you might want to steer clear of this book. But then on the flip side, if you like things crazy and dark and oh so twisted (like me!), you should check it out ASAP! I don't want to go into details because truthfully, I think you should go into this blind because it just makes it so much better! I give it 4.5 outta 5 stars for sure!

PS: Thank you to Monica James, Michelle Lancaster, and Social Butterfly PR for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly.

[Jasmina bbjbookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Cry Baby, dark romance story about two broken souls, Darcie and Rev, who's young life at some point was so devastating and hard. Monica James in duet with Michelle Lancaster wrote deliciously dark, heartbroken and sometimes brutal story about revenge and finding love in the most unexpected place and time. They'll take you on the wild ride and will gave you all the feels with those heroes. But before you reach for this book, read all the warning triggers from the authors because this story is not for the faint of heart.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’m just going to call it here - Monica James is not an author for me. This is my third book by her and I didn’t enjoy it at all. So she’s now 0/3. It’s just the writing style that doesn’t mesh well with me. It was just cringey. These high schoolers act like they are adults. I didn’t root for any of the characters and skimmed towards the end.

ARC

[Spasticnontastic · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was…something 🫣

[FeFe · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4-4.5/5 (couldn’t make my mind up lol)

Can someone tell me HOW I missed that this was the start of a series before I read it?! Not that it’s a bad thing or anything like that haha just that it completely and totally took me by surprise as I got to the ending assuming it was a standalone. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 So yea heads up if you didn’t know already lol.

However, now I’m dying to know when we get more of this world because holy hell was this a wild ride! Rev is… gah I don’t even know what to say about him. I friggin love his character I’ll tell you that. He’s just so… ugh I feel like nothing I say is good enough to explain him. 😂
His confidence is addicting. His dgaf attitude is intoxicating. His intelligence and the little quirk with his memory are both impressive and adorable. And boy was he dealt a shitty hand in life. But despite all the bad he’s done and continues to do to survive, he’s at his core a broken soul that just wants a place to belong and to be loved.
Darcie mirrors that part of him in a lot of ways. But she’s also broken in ways that are completely opposite. This girl here - what a fighter. The things that happen to her, my heart is bloody and bruised from reading those scenes. And after reading the authors' notes at the beginning of the book, yea it makes that whole situation even more painful. (Which I just read again and noticed it flat-out said there would be a second book. I don’t know how my brain managed to miss that one the first time I read it… 🤔) The inspiration for this book is one that no one should have to experience but so many do. To share a part of that event, a tiny piece, with your readers is incredibly brave and shows just how strong you are. I feel like the bond these two authors clearly have with each other can be felt in the bond that Darcie and Rev share in this book.

As far as revenge goes - way to go ladies! Darcie is a force to be reckoned with and if any character deserves to have their revenge it's this girl. The way she goes about it and the way Rev is there to support her had me clapping, fist-pumping, and cheering them on the entire time. But when Darcie and Rev get swept up in each other that first time 😳😳 wow! It was so disturbing and hot at the same time I damn near screamed haha! For the record envisioning how a lot of this went down in my head as described was way too much fun… but please keep that stuff coming in the next book! 😆
Want to take it a little further? Won’t get any complaints from me!
But holy plot twist the direction this story took a turn in at the end. What a way to shake all that crazy up even more. I had started to figure it out right before it was revealed but I still didn’t see some of what happened coming. That ending had me laughing and wanting to toss my kindle across the room at the same time. (Remember how I thought it was a standalone 😅)
Such a fun and twisted read! I’m already salivating for the next book because I NEED more Darcie and Rev in my life!! 😩

Please fully read the TW before starting this book. They do not sugarcoat anything and don’t skip over details. The dark parts are for sure dark but the book is so worth a read if you can handle it. 🖤

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading at 60%



Dnf at 60%

Very far fetched story. No realness, not even with the sensitive subjects in it.
And there is a lot, so beware of triggers. I don’t them to be written in a way that I not enjoy one bit obviously they aren’t meant to be nice to read but they were written bad.

before I went to sleep last night I was a bit traumatised on of the parts I read. I don’t really have triggers I just have things I don’t like and sometimes I can just over look it or just skip but this part I read was nasty and I really couldn’t sleep. I carried on this morning to see if the story got any better and it didn’t, it got worse.

The darkness to this book made me want to laugh. No realness, no connection to the characters after 20% into the book i kept going then again after the part that traumatised me I kept going to see if the plot got better it didn’t. I think this book will be for some people bur not all. Definitely not for me. It should be on KU so people can try and not pay +£3.00

This book was actually giving me Tillie Cole vibes, the move I read the more I felt like it was like sicko in ways.