"Five Brothers" by Penelope Douglas invites readers into a world where darkness and desire collide. In this gripping tale, the Jaeger brothers reign supreme, each with their own demons to battle. Macon, the stoic ex-Marine; Army, the single father searching for identity; Iron, the man teetering on the edge of imprisonment; Dallas, the cruel and selfish sibling; and Trace, the elusive and untamable one. Amidst their tumultuous lives, a young woman finds herself drawn to their chaotic world, only to realize she's in too deep. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, she must confront her own desires and the dangerous allure of the Jaeger brothers. "Five Brothers" is a provocative and intense exploration of passion, power, and the darkness that lurks within us all. Penelope Douglas delivers a raw and compelling narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I had difficulty with this read. I felt that the story was slow moving and felt long. There also wasn't much relationship building, especially between the main couple. I didn't see why they would be so enamored with each other, when there was barely any time together. There were also loose ends with the other characters, that I would have liked to see resolved.

I thought this might finally be the Penelope Douglas book for me, but I personally couldn’t make it past the opening chapter’s sexual assault scene. It feels like her other books, so her fans will be pleased.

Dropping five stars, as I don't have enough context yet to do otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Surprisingly satisfying romance, with more than a few taboos. It ended where I suspected/hoped it would, which is always nice, too. Spicy spicy, as expected.

👎🏼
this was like if outer banks took place in Florida and was turned into a bad porno

Penelope Douglas books are clearly not for me

Once again, of course, the main character was a freshly turned 18 yr old with parental issues. Lots of issues were just glossed over making me feel like there was a book before I should've read even though there wasn't. Then other things were just left unanswered like ??

A dark romance, totally on brand for Penelope Douglas. Krisjen is sort of dating Trace, one of the Jaeggar brothers. There are five of them, and each struggles with their own personal demons. She's working to raise her siblings in the absence of meaningful parents, all while spending most of her time in the Jaeggar house. Over the course of a few months, Krisjen falls for each of the brothers, one by one. The book will keep you guessing until the end - that is, if you can suspend your disbelief long enough to root for Krisjen's romance.

Fans of Penelope Douglas will be salivating over this one, though new readers may be in over their heads.

Five Brothers" by Penelope Douglas is an enthralling romance that delves into the secrets and complexities of the Jaeger brothers. Douglas weaves a captivating tale, drawing readers into the lives of Macon, Army, Iron, Dallas, and Trace, each with their distinct personalities and struggles. The characters are well-developed, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the story. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the dark glades and swamps where the brothers reside, creating a rich and atmospheric setting. The romance between Krisjen and each brother is both passionate and tumultuous, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its engaging plot and compelling characters, "Five Brothers" is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. Penelope Douglas delivers yet another captivating story that will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next book.

You know what you’re getting into with PD so while wild that Krisjen test drove most of the brothers, it was par for the course. Insane? Yes. Enjoyable? Very much so!

In the shadows of Five Brothers, Penelope Douglas paints a mesmerizing portrait of five enigmatic men. Macon, the stoic ex-Marine; Army, the tender-hearted single father; Iron, the gentle soul grappling with his past; Dallas, the cruel and relentless heartbreaker; and Trace, the elusive object of the narrator's desire. As she navigates the treacherous terrain of their world, the narrator unveils a web of secrets, betrayals, and forbidden longings. Douglas masterfully weaves a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of human nature, leaving readers spellbound and eager to unveil the truth that lies hidden beneath the surface.

Krisjen is running from her divorcing parents, the rich older man her mom wants her to marry, the future all planned out for her looking as miserable and unstable as her parent's marriage. She's not mad that her college fund disappeared, or that she has to help with her brother and sister, she just wants to be 18 and have a good time. Hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks with her friend Amy's 5 older brothers who are infamous for drinking, fighting, and causing trouble sounds like a great idea until one night one of the brothers makes her feel like this just might be a better future. She's just not sure which brother it was, but she decides to take her time finding out. As she gets to know the brothers in and out of bed, she finds that they are compassionate, caring and that she wants them to be her family.

This erotic novel came with some trigger warnings, and sex that was plentiful and steamy. The emotions were strong, and the characters had some complexity. I appreciated the story and the growth that Krisjen experiences as an 18 year old. Would recommend for New Adults looking for erotica or fans of Coleen Hoover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

Penelope Douglas books are always an interesting read and for sure specific to a certain type of reader but I enjoyed it! It was spicy and wild but well written and I thought the characters were interesting and complex. As long as someone knows what they are getting into this book is a fun read. Would recommend and will be adding to our library’s spicy section.

I’m not sure what it was about his book but I always felt like I was missing something or their connections between characters were missing. I enjoyed the book and the characters but somethings were just missing. I love Penelope Douglas and her books that I’ve read so far. I think a lot would have made more sense had I read Tryst Six Venom first. Overall, I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it.

If you like spicy books you will like this one. If you like a story with a developed plot and characters you will find it lacking. I found there wasn't enough of an actual storyline to keep me interested. There was little romance and relationship development. I also just couldn't get into the whole sharing a girl between brothers trope.

If I were rating based on whether I enjoyed this book, it would be a one-star. Looking through an objective lens, three stars. The plot was slow, and I'm not really sure what the point of it was except to fill space between the spicy scenes. This felt like a missed opportunity to dig into class and race issues beyond simply pointing out that they exist. By the end there were several subplots that weren't wrapped up, so I'm not sure if a sequel is planned or what.

DNF at 40%

While I acknowledge that there may be a specific audience who would appreciate this book, it didn't resonate with me. Despite enjoying Penelope Douglas' previous works, this particular title only really agitated me. While the writing quality is undoubtedly high and the sex scenes exciting, I found the pacing slow, the cast of characters overwhelming, and the constant ambiguity surrounding Kristjen's romantic interests tiresome. Ultimately, I opted to spoil the ending for myself and felt relieved that I did so.

This is my first Penelope Douglas book and it was a bit of an uneven read for me because of my personal preferences. It was very well crafted and I read it without stopping for a break, but I prefer RH/why choose romances for a reason—when there are competing love interests, I often find the MC ending up with a partner that I don’t prefer, and that was the case here for me. Although it’s a bit obvious who she’ll choose, I was crossing my fingers that it would be anyone else. He was my least favorite of the five options and that was just rough to come to terms with…but I still enjoyed the journey despite the destination.

Douglas managed to draw me into another exciting story! While it was not really a secret to know who Krisjen would end up with, the ride getting to the end was enjoyable.

I have read every Penelope Douglas book and this is by far one of my favorites!! The spice, the tension and banter were all perfect. I want to immediately reread this book and I just finished it. I can’t recommend this book enough, if you want a good romance that will have you questioning which brother is your favorite read this!! 5/5 stars!!

Five Brothers is a classic Penelope Douglas book! If you have enjoyed any other books from Pen then it's highly likely you will enjoy this one as well! The blurb doesn't tell you much about the plot of the book, which I liked because I had no idea what would happen. Its not required, but I would recommend to read Tryst Six Venom before, because we get introduced to characters in that book. I loved this book so much, my full review will be posted on Goodreads as soon as I get my thoughts together.

Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas offers a compelling dive into the lives of the enigmatic Jaeger brothers. The story follows a woman who unravels their secrets, each brother distinct in his complexities and allure. This novel delves into themes of family, love, and self discovery, with a touch of darkness that keeps you engaged through. The author’s writing is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter.