This why choose romance was the second and last book I read by this author. I have read fantastic reviews about this, but I liked nothing about it. The fact that the FMC is just barely 18 didnt help. It just wasn't for me.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review.

Penelope Douglas has done it AGAIN!

I know that Penelope's writing is not always going to be everyone's favorite. However, when the mood strikes for this type of romance and it hits... IT. HITS!

My opinion on Penelope's books goes from whoa to what the fuck pretty quickly. I feel like if you were someone who enjoyed <i>Credence</i>, you're going to enjoy Krisjen's story. I'll be honest, I did not read the original book that featured the Jaeger brothers, but this one sucked me in. Just like with Credence, it was captivating. Is that even the right word? Or would it be better to say this was a train wreck I couldn't look away from? Penelope is a fantastic writer. She's great at creating stories I find myself unable to stop reading, even though I wear my judgy face the entire time. This book was no different in that regard... because this train wreck had a whole lot of stops (five, to be exact). And it got to a point where I just needed to know where exactly her caboose was going to land.

To sum it up, I'll say this: this book is taboo as hell, and for some, will be highly triggering based on the subject matter / certain events. It's a wild ride about a girl from the rich side of the tracks getting herself tangled up with boys (men) from the wrong side of the tracks, and then testing out each one like a modern day Goldilocks to see which one fits best. I can’t say I loved it, but I also didn’t hate it – obviously, since I was unable to put it down once I started reading. If you’re someone who enjoys young MC’s with multiple—mostly older—partners, with a good background story, a little mystery, and lots of smut, this one will be for you.

Pen Douglas had me hooked on this story from the opening scene. I have been reading so much fantasy lately that this was a fantastic palate cleanser.

From the very beginning of Tryst Six, I was just as intrigued by Olivia's brothers as I was by Clay and Liv, so I was pretty thrilled when I saw that Pen Douglas was giving the Five Brothers their own story. Both are standalones but I think you will get more out of the setting and vibes if you read Tryst first!

I loved this book. It was dirty and steamy and dark with compelling plot stakes that kept the story moving forward quickly. The book opens with Krisjen adrift. At 18, she doesn't want to go to college, but doesn't want to conform to the life that is expected of her on the right side of the tracks. She spends more and more time in the Bay, at the Jaeger brothers' house. Krisjen was sweet and empathetic, and I loved the mystery of which of the Jaeger brothers she was most into.

Highly recommend for fans of:
🔥Credence
🔥Birthday Girl
🔥Forbidden/Taboo Romance

I loved this book and am so excited to read more Pen Douglas. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkeley for the e-arc.

TW/CW (these will contain spoilers): discussions of parental suicide, suicidal ideation, untreated mental health crisis, parental abandonment, physical assaults from a previous partner/others, CNC play

RELEASING July 30th

I was completely captivated by the mystery woven throughout this novel; it had me hooked from the very first page. The author masterfully builds suspense, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly turned each page, desperate to uncover the truth. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the unexpected twist at the end left me stunned and reeling—it was brilliantly executed and completely took me by surprise.

The protagonist's journey was particularly compelling. Watching this young girl navigate through a world where she finds herself desired by numerous men was both intriguing and heartwarming. Despite the challenges she faced, it was incredibly satisfying to see how everything unfolded so beautifully for her in the end. The emotional depth of her character drew me in, and I found myself empathizing with her joys and struggles throughout the story.

Moreover, amidst the mystery and emotional turmoil, there were plenty of swoon-worthy moments that added a delightful touch of romance to the narrative. These moments were tenderly crafted, adding a layer of warmth and charm that balanced perfectly with the overarching plot. Overall, this novel left me with a sense of fulfillment and admiration for its ability to seamlessly blend suspense, emotion, and romance into a truly unforgettable reading experience.

After reading Tryst Six Venom, I was curious about the Jaeger brothers. When I heard they were getting their own book, I knew I wanted to read it. This book had Penelope Douglas’s signature captivating writing and effortless storytelling. This reminded me of Credence in some ways, but so much better (at least for me).

Krisjen is one of Liv and Clay’s friends. It’s her first year out of high school and she isn’t sure what she’s doing with her life. She’s from the ‘right side’ of town but has a boatload of family drama, making her life increasingly difficult. At the start of the book, she has a thing with Trace Jaeger, but that ends rather quickly.

Even still, she finds herself spending lots of time with the Jaegers at the Bay. She feels more herself there then she does at home. There is an encounter with a brother early on in the story and it leaves you questioning and wondering who it was and how things will turn out.

I liked all the brothers in their own way. I was rooting for either Macon or Iron, but Army was great as well. Dallas and Trace weren’t my favorites (at least not for Kristjen) and I was happy with how things turned out. I hope we get many more Jaeger books in the future!

This was one of those books that captivated me from the start. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. The only reason it took me around a week to read is because life was busy and it’s a long one. Otherwise, I would have devoured it quickly! Penelope Douglas fans- grab this one! You’ll love it.

Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

- reverse harem
- taboo
- age gap

Have you ever picked up a book a new right away that you were going to love it well, this was me with the first chapter of five brothers I was hooked I could not put it down.

Late at night, Krisjen is approached by one of the Jaeger brothers and has a very memorable experience but at the end of it, she has no idea which brother it was. That is probably the best hook. I have read in such a long time.

So you’re probably wondering, why didn’t it five stars well there were a few things that I struggled with a little bit I did feel like there was a lot of back-and-forth between her and one of the brothers and I just couldn’t follow what was going on at some points.

I also did get a little lost just because there was a lot going on and a lot of different storylines but overall it was such an amazing read and if you like anything by Penelope Douglas, make sure you pick this book up.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Omg! This is my first book by Penelope Douglas and I think I just found a new favorite author! Loved the characters, the plot and everything about the writing!

If you love reverse harem, found family, spice and all things nice you will enjoy this book! It will consume and captivate you at the same time. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from Penelope Douglas!

I love, love, loved this book!

Five Brothers captivated me from the very first page and reminded me exactly why I LOVE Penelope Douglas’ writing. This story is sexy, deliciously taboo, and filled with so much angst. The further you dive into the story, the more you unravel the secrets and complexities of things. Nothing is what it seems and I promise you, the characters will leave you hooked and utterly consumed.

I was in no way prepared for the emotional ride Five Brothers was about to take me on. I found myself so immersed in this story that I took my time with it and savored it. I never wanted it to end. Five Brothers is a romance that I didn’t know I needed and am so glad I picked up. I truly loved everything about this story from beginning to end and Penelope Douglas does not disappoint. Five Brothers is a definite top read of 2024 for me.

If you’re a fan of Penelope Douglas and love reverse harem and found family romances, you won’t want to miss Five Brothers. I hope you’ll pick up this story and be just as consumed by it as I was.

I don’t know. I really loved Credence and this just felt like another authors’ writing. Gave it three stars because I thought the plot was interesting, but ultimately I wanted to feel what I did for Credence and I never did.

Someone lock me up and throw away the key because.... I loved this. Five Brothers is the fourth novel I have read from Penelope Douglas, and definitely up there with my other favorite taboo romance by her, Credence. Obviously, it makes sense from the title that there are some similarities in the forbidden romance tropes that occur in Credence, so if you liked the dirty nasty that Credence gave- pick up this book immediately.
This novel is a standalone novel from the same universe as Tryst Six Venom, a female-female romance that follows the only sister of the Jaeger family, Olivia, and gives good background on the town of St Carmen and Sanoa Bay. This novel follows Olivia's five (very sexy and very fucked up) brothers and all of their ~interesting~ budding relationships with a girl from the shiny side of the tracks, Krisjen.
This book has heavy themes of suicide throughout the novel, basically inescapable if you read the book, so please keep trigger warnings in mind.
Overall, this book delivered on the forbidden romance tropes (although I am salty that she didn't make her way through ALL five lol) and I am happy with who Krisjen ends up with.
4.5 stars

Normally, I love a Penelope Douglas book. I have read a few of her books and have enjoyed most of them. But I don't think this book was for me.

I blame myself entirely. Had I known that Five Brothers was a direct spin-off of Tryst Six Venom, I think I would have liked it more. But the entire time I was reading, I felt I was missing part of the Jaeger brother's stories. And it wasn't until I was more than halfway through the book, that I realized. It wasn't marketed on GoodReads as a spinoff and nowhere in the book did it say it was. But looking through social media and other reviews, I realized I may have just somehow ignored that aspect. So with that said, I didn't want to publicly rate this book because truthfully, I did not like it. And I cannot say 100% that if I had read Tyrst Six Venom, that I would have the same thoughts.

Now I loved Credence, so when I heard this was going to be a bit like that, I signed right up. It is what captured my interest. And it was a bit like Credence, but it was also not. I loved just about most of the characters in this book, but I can't help but feel like this book was written rather odd. Some things just didn't make sense to me. Felt like there were so many things happening that were either written off or ignored.

Krisjen (that spelling yuck) was frustrating in the worst ways. How was she responsible for her siblings most of the time but was constantly leaving? And only caring about their existence until it fits into the plot. And the brothers were something else. Truth be told, I only liked Macon. He didn't talk much which is probably why I liked him the most. And the idea of Saint Carmen is atrocious. The idea that any kind of town could ever be like that where the rich are that disgusting (buying, assaulting, force breeding, and an array of other awful things) makes my skin crawl.

But its okay because everything turned out alright and everyone important got their karma or happily ever after.

This is a dark romance that centers around five brothers and a childhood friend from the other side of town.

What will happen when secrets surface that could destroy friendships, families, and change the town forever?

One hot night will set Krisjen on a path to uncover the truth, will she survive the emotional hurricane as her relationships with the Jaeger family.

A story filled with tropes, triggers, and scorchin heat in a plot that keeps you turning page after page.

I will be posting a non-spoiler detailed review soon.

I’m not sure why I would expect something different, this book is very similar to PD’s other books. A little too taboo for me but if you enjoyed her other books this would definitely be your cup of tea.

We follow the brothers from Tryst Six Venom in this one, and there is lots of Clay and Liv cameos.

Some of the stuff just didn’t make sense to me, like the arguments just felt so hypocritical lol

Thank you Berkley for the eARC in exchange for a review!

Another freaking masterpiece by Penelope Douglas. A dark and spicy emotional roller coaster ride!
I went in blind cause I trust Douglas to always nail it and I’m so glad I did. I had zero clue what was going to happen. All five brothers are 🥵😍🤤 and Krisjen was a lucky, lucky girl for getting a taste of them!

I spent 75% of the book wondering who the mystery brother was 😅 and I’m so glad it was him!!

****stop now if you don’t want spoilers!



Krisjen was a bada*s rich girl who took care of sh*t 👏🏼 I loved how tough and unapologetic she was!

I loved loved loved Macon. He was a total a-hole 90% of the time but of course that made him that much more attractive! He was the caregiver, the man in charge, the one who gave everything up, and struggled quietly to make sure he could take care of everyone around him. Urgh my heart broke for him so many times. The fact that Krisjen saw him for who he was and took care of him even after he kept pushing her away was everything!!!!

Was I little disappointed one of the brothers didn’t get a round?! Maaaaybe. But I was so happy she ended up with Macon that I didn’t even care about the others! I mean, I want to read their own stories 😂 very badly, but those two totally belonged together.

can Penelope Douglas ever disappoint? Never. She doesn't has the capability to do so.

thankyou netgalley for the arc. all opinions are my own!

I absolutely adored FIVE BROTHERS! I've loved everything that I've read by Pen so no surprise there! FIVE BROTHERS is a Why Choose / RH in the vein of Credence. So if you liked Credence, you will probably like this book.

What appealed to me the most was the actual story! There's just something about MCs from different sides of the track getting together; like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet (well, in this case, Romeos, lol). The forbiddenness and the power struggle; not even between families, but between towns. If you've read Tryst Six Venmo, then you'll recognize the characters, as FIVE BROTHERS is a sequel to that book. FIVE BROTHERS is marketed as a standalone, but I genuinely do think you should read Tryst Six first to get a better understanding of the overall background.

The h in the book is Krisjen. She's from snooty, affluent St. Carmen. What makes her different from the other women in her town is that she's down to earth, chill AF, and super compassionate. We're first introduced to her in the book because she hooks up with one of the notorious Jaeger brothers, Trace, from the other of the tracks, Sanoa Bay, or "the Bay" as they call it.

Krisjen is unique in that, she was fed with a silver spoon, and doesn't know what it's like to struggle. But her homelife is sh*t and her parents are largely absent. They expect her to live and be a certain way, and that's just not her. What's the point of having money when you're lonely and unhappy? She feels most at home in the Bay, when the Jaegers.

The other Jaeger brothers are Macon, the oldest and mercurial, he essentially runs the Bay and takes care of its people; Army, a sweet, gentle father of a son; Iron; also sweet but a troublemaker and ends up in prison; and Dallas. He's just a d*ck, lol. They all have had a rough life, trying to survive because both of their parents died; feeling like they want to leave this sh*thole of a town only that they don't. And they're all fiercely loyal and protective of its people.

I'll leave it at that and say, just read the book! The character development was just fantastic. The book is told in each of their POVs and I loved getting to know them. They're complex, flawed, but most importantly they really care about each other. Loved the mental health rep in the book; there are some dark scenes, so please check TWs before going in. I do hope Pen continues the series, because I'm not ready to leave the Bay yet!

Thanks so much, NetGalley and Berkley Romance, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I finished this book in a day, I enjoyed the relationships between the brothers and the entire community of the Bay. I wish I’d read the first in this series beforehand as I felt a bit lost in the beginning and it took a few chapters before I understood the family dynamics. This can definitely be read as a standalone, but having the history will help. I’ll be checking the first one out and keeping my eyes open for any future titles that include the brothers.

Krisjen Conroy is stuck between her parent’s divorce and taking care of her younger siblings. Coming from the right side of the tracks in Saint Carmen, her life looks easy and privileged to any observer. Yet she keeps wandering over to the Jaegers’ home to hang out, and not just because she’s friends with Liv and Clay (main characters in Tryst Six Venom), but because of the 5 Jaeger brothers: Macon, Army, Iron, Dallas and Trace.

All of these guys have a brotherly bond that keeps them together. They live in the same house and work with one another. It’s chaotic and complicated, but at the end of the day, they all have each other. In Krisjen’s world, that looks like stability to her and she wants to be a part of that, especially with how they also welcome her younger siblings. She had initially been interested in one brother, but now her interest is wandering to the others.

This may not be for everyone. I would not call this reverse harem, but Krisjen is of the loving and giving personality that she spreads her joy to other people and they all want a part of it. As a heroine, I really liked her and think women should absolutely take pleasure when they can if they are making their own choices to do so and should not be judged for it. I had an inkling of which particular brother caught her fancy the most and kept my fingers crossed that he would make his interest known. He did not disappoint. Penelope Douglas likes to explore the more blurred lines with grittier plots and this was no exception. Fans of Credence will likely love this one.

“But I see you. Even when I close my eyes, I see you.”

Penelope Douglas has an absolute grip on writing books that reel you in with the taboo tropes, while stealthily providing that impactful emotional love story mixed with a found family trope that will grip your entire heart and squeeze.. and squeeze.. and then give it a metaphorical forehead kiss to soothe all the aches and angst you just survived while reading. Sigh. There are so many things I expected going into this book with Krisjen and the Jaeger family, and my expectations were met, but they were also blasted into outer space because this book was beyond all expectation.

If you couldn’t tell I’m keeping this vague, but it’s very much intentional. I’m giving you the feelings I felt, but that’s it. Experience the journey of Five Brothers through your own perspective. At its base, it’s about a girl who lives on the “right side” of the tracks essentially finding her place with five brothers on the “wrong side” of the tracks. It’s about home, family (born and found), and love in so many forms.

I know Pen thrives best under low—no pressure, so I’m just going to gently put it out into the universe that I’d read any number of books taking place in this world. You know, just in case they get the wild idea to write more Saint and Swamp “track crossing” or just ANYTHING involving this character set. I volunteer as tribute to be in the Jaeger/Sanoa Bay fan support club.