Going into this I was really hoping for another Credence type vibes…..which didn’t happen.
There were heartfelt conversations in the most weirdest of times, I also didnt feel much long term compatibility between any of the characters.

Pen Douglas you are forever a fave of mine. Five Brothers is just so quintessentially a perfect Penelope Douglas book. It’s sexy and intriguing. I love the hero and I’m so glad it’s who I guessed it would be! Can’t wait for the next brothers book.

I normally love all Penelope Douglas books. She is an author who pushes the limits but I'm here for it. This one, I don't know.

Krisjen sleeps over at her boyfriends house and ends up sleeping with who she assumed was him, turns out it's one of his brothers. Now she just goes back and forth between all 5 brothers. I wish I was kidding. I don't mind reverse harem stories or even taboo, but this didn't work. I liked Macon the most but girl just goes around the family.

Was there anything else in this book? Honestly no. It had plot but it was more about the relationships than anything. Nothing bad about that but the book could have been shorter. Not a bad book, but needed something more.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. I really liked this book! It can be read as a standalone but fits into the Tryst Venom Six series. It has so many great spicy moments, so make sure you’re prepared for naughty! I love all the dynamics between the brothers and how they really care for their family even when they don’t always get along. I would recommend if you like your romance a little dirty with alpha males galore!

I am a hug fan of Penelope Douglas however this book for me was a solid miss in my opinion. I am not a fan of the why choose trope and wanted to try again, but it just didn't do anything for me. As a lead character, Krisjen comes off as clingy and desperate, and the guys come off as narcissistic and cruel. I really don't get this, and find I'm loosing interest in reading more from this author. I don't mind triggers or taboo, but I do mind normalizing abuse as a happy ending. For those looking to read this author, Birthday Girl is my favorite! I love a good age gap trope :)

I’m just dipping my toe into dark romance! I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve picked up so far, including Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas.

Although I’m not sure this book even qualifies! I think if you’re already a smut reader, none of it will be too surprising. I’ve read novels that are much darker. So maybe this is a “light” dark romance. But for those of you who prefer clean romances with no spice and pretty straightforward relationships, this one likely won’t be for you!

I really liked the overall storyline in Five Brothers. Some of the writing could have used a bit more editing and there are plot holes that needed more explaining, but overall it was a fun, wild ride. And there are some really sweet themes that come out of the messiness, like found family and the importance of community.

This one reads like a new adult novel, which makes sense since some of the characters are late teens/early 20s (but it’s definitely not YA!). All the characters are a little messed up and some of their choices are…questionable. But you’re allowed to be young and dumb in your 20’s. 😅

I am probably one of the few people who didn't finish this book. I just couldn't. I'm all for a good spicy, smutty book with morally gray (or black) characters and only the whiff of propriety and/or morals. And yet, I didn't care about any of the characters in this book. I've read Douglas before and loved her, but this title just did not do it for me...

Penelope Douglas is such a good writer and they writes tension and chemistry so well. This one is definitely going to be polarizing with the mystery of which brother ends up being endgame. I loved returning to the same universe from their book Tryst Six Venom and love the Jaeger family.

Always writing the unexpected storyline, Pen Douglas took as back to the other side of the tracks. And while this is not a why choose romance and has one couple at the end, it does have the FMC having some type of relationship with most of the brothers.

Even though, there is a lot of steam, the author still looks to examine the dynamics of family, loyalty, and mental health.

I couldn't finish Five Brothers, and honestly, I’m pretty shocked by the popularity of this book. The spicy scenes were downright vulgar and, frankly, not romantic at all. The moment the characters started having sex in a cop car, I was completely disgusted. This wasn’t just inappropriate; it felt degrading, and I couldn’t get behind it as any form of romance. I have to seriously question what kind of relationships people are looking for when they enjoy bully romance like this. Is this really what you want in a partner? Someone who treats you like garbage and only sees you as something to use, going from room to room for their pleasure? It’s troubling, and I just couldn’t continue. This book didn’t sit right with me at all.

WOW! Now that is a book that I wasn’t used to reading. So much mysterious play with lots of spice. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be reading it… while also not being able to put down the book to see what happens next! I even looked up some cast suggestions for the book to help keep the five brothers aligned. I didn’t read the first book in the series, but I don’t think it’s needed. Great read!

Sorry it's taken me a long time to get around to a review for this book. I thought since the main character was in Credence that it would have the same type of feel. It didn't. Sometimes I think I'm not broad minded enough for these stories, even though they are consenting adults. It is a long book but I just could not connect.

On a different note, Penelope Douglas is one of my all time favorite authors and I will give any book she writes a read.

Not the type of book I usually read, but it was (dare I say) exciting - a little bit Sons of Anarchy but with the extra spicy hot sauce option.

This book was sexy, engrossing and also really heartwarming. It had spice,, found family and why choose themes. I always enjoy Penelope Douglas writing. She writes the most real and raw characters I've read about. They are always relatable.
I love the Jaeger family and I especially loved Krisjen. There are a couple of pieces that I dont feel were tied up well which is why I gave a four star rating rather than five, but it is also clear that there will be more books in this world coming too. So maybe they will be answered at that time
This book is all parts spicy, messy, chaotic, emotional and yes there are even some sweet moments as well. This book will not be for everyone, so I highly recommend checking the content warnings before starting.

To be honest, I don't know how to feel about this. I don't even know if I can give a full review. It's definitely not like anything I have ever read,

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity for an eARC.

This was soo good! Addicting is the perfect word, I loved then tension of this book. Total must read.

This book was poorly written and was an absolute eyesore. I didn't know what I was getting into and it is a disservice when it is not made clear what type of book this is to the reader.

As soon as I saw this book on my NetGalley shelf, I physically jumped for joy. This was my most anticipated read of 2024, and I am so honored that I was able to read it early. I read this book start to finish in one sitting. I could not put it down no matter how hard I tried, which is usually the case when I'm reading anything written by Penelope Douglas. By the time I finished reading, I felt like I knew these characters personally, and that I had lived an entire life with them, which again, is usually how it goes with Penelope Douglas characters and I. There were several times throughout the book that I paused to giggle, kick my feet, gasp, scream, slap my hand over my mouth, take a cool down lap around my room, and think out loud as I tried to figure out Penelope's next move/who exactly chapter one's mystery man was. I enjoyed every single second of this book. I have once again fallen in love with a group of fictional men within the Penelope Douglas universe, and I'm perfectly content with that.

4/5⭐️ 4/5🌶️

I listened to this book and had the opportunity to ARC read this and LOVED it WAY more than I expected too. I had never read a Penelope Douglas book before (not even Credence), but having heard about Credence specifically, I thought I knew what to expect based on the title and I was pleasantly surprised that it was so much more than that (and a little misleading, but in a GOOD way!)

Tropes:
- Taboo
- Age Gap
- Best Friend’s Brothers
- Found Family
- Mental Health Rep
- Lots of angst
- Multiple MMCs (but she only ends up with one)
- Multiple POV’s

I may have stayed up too late reading this and sitting extra minutes just to listen to it more. I did not want to stop and was sad when it ended! This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was HOT, the next I was crying. The relationship between the guys and each of their relationships with Krisjen will get you!

This one had me guessing if she was going to pick one of them or if she was just going to have them all. That is ALL I'm going to say, because I do not want to give away the BEST parts!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the author Penelope Douglas for the ARC of this book!!

I don’t know why I did this to myself. Every once in awhile I’ll pick a book or author out of my norm and give it a go. I’ve read other PD books that weren’t bad but this was awful. It’s all over the place and the FMC just enters this troubled family of older men and can heal them through sleeping with them all (mostly) and having randomly inserted deep conversations and breakthroughs. I don’t have the suspension of disbelief to believe an 18 year old is playing therapist to everyone but it’s even less believable with how oddly placed the dialogue is.