i loved getting to know olivia's brothers. i think penelope douglas does a really good job at making distinctive characters. the plot was so interesting. loved the mystery aspect and the plot between 'the other side of the track' and the rich people.

Penelope Douglas forever has my heart. Five Brothers follows 18 year old Krisjen as she navigates falling for her best friends brothers.

The book is broken up into sections of her exploring her relationship with each of the Jaeger men. I really enjoyed not knowing where this was going and who she would end up with until the last third of the book (bonus points it was the brother I was hoping for)!!

Five Brothers dealt with class inequality, familial issues and a girl finding her way in a rocky world.

For my few pointers of unprofessional critique… The names in this book were… interesting and hard to keep track of at times. I mean Aracely and Army? Iron? Krisjen? Very much giving 2024 Caucasian influencer kid names and was garaging the vibe for me at times!

Overall if you liked her book Credence or Tryst Six Venom (same family as this book) you’ll love Five Brothers.

Thank you Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for the ARC!

This book definitely left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. The last time I read a Penelope Douglas book was birthday Girl and I absolutely devoured it. I honestly had no idea what to expect. Instead of my expectations were kind of lackluster, but I guess that’s what I get for not exactly loving credence which a lot of people have said that if you love it, you’re gonna love this book which I kind of agree. I also wish that I read Tryst 6 venom first That way, I could’ve gotten a better insight of what I was getting myself into.

Every time I open a Penelope Douglas book, I know I’m in for a ride, and this story is no different. Pen grabs you by the throat and holds you utterly at her mercy until the very last word. I simply could not put this down, I read it cover to cover in one sitting forgoing sustenance just to find out what happens next. I lived and breathed this book, every page turned, every occurrence revealed, I was spellbound. The Jaeger family is one that you will never forget.

I had no idea what I was in for when I started this story and I’m glad I didn’t because I got to live the words on the pages. So, I’m going to keep my review short and sweet because you too need to go in blind and live this journey without any outside influence.

Pen rips you apart page by page but then slowly and effortlessly stitches you back together with every new moment and development read until you’re whole once again. By the end of this book, every character will inevitably hold a piece of your soul. Pen created such an intricately woven tale of family, of forgiveness, of sacrifices made and a love that grows from the darkest of places. This book is laced with drama and intrigue, passion and desire, anger, and revenge, all the things that make for an unputdownable romance.

The way she layered every aspect of this book with such precision and elegance it truly shows what an amazing writer she is. If you’ve been sleeping on reading a Pen Douglas book then this is your sign to start, because once you’ve read one of her books, you’ll want to read them all. This is a story I’ll never forget and one I’ll absolutely be rereading time and time again.

First things first, thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc in exchange of my honest review.

I didn’t really know much before going into this and it…was something. I’ve only read two of Penelope’s books and wanted to give another one a try, but this just wasn’t for me. There was so much book with a lot of different plot points and some of them were barely resolved or mentioned again. And at the same time, it felt like there was no plot at all which didn’t help with how the book dragged on.

This is like if Flock and Credence had a baby. It’s spicy and messy and somewhat dark. Obviously this one wasn’t for me, but could be for others.

I absolutely love everything Penelope writes. If you love high intense charcter-driven romance this is for you. Penelope stories are so immersive; it feels like I'm right there with the characters. So many things happen in each chapter that it's like watching a series. Each chapter is like a new episode, and you can't help but eagerly wait for the next one. Each character brings a unique perspective and depth to the story, leaving plenty of room for further exploration and growth. I'm hoping we get more from these characters.

This book is giving Credence meets Falls Boys series. There's rich girl, "poor" boy from the "wrong side of the tracks" but in this case its a swamp lol. But there's also the thing were there are five brothers. And if you;ve ever read a Penelope Douglas book and it's called five brothers then you're gonna assume she f*cks all five brothers haha.

Did this book do anything new for me? No. Was this book her best one ever? No. Did I enjoy myself the entire time? Yes!!

Look, we've never read a PD book for the writing and brand new ideas. But we read them because we know what we're getting and we like it every time.

With all Penelope Douglas books, we're here for a good time, a spicy time, and a taboo time. And this book brought it!

Did I love this book? Did I hate it? Science doesn't know what emotion prompted me to binge read this book, and I guess for me, that's a hallmark of Penelope Douglas. She certainly knows how to draw you in, both in story and writing, but also I kind of hate it? I'm convinced she's some sort of literary sorceress. The names in this one were something else, to be sure, but Krisjen is...such a dumb name, I'm sorry. And this book is loooooong, and the pacing was more off than I have come to expect from Penelope Douglas. But overall, this is dark. This is steamy. This might make you uncomfy, but it IS compulsively readable. And I did JUMP at the chance to get an ARC, so take from that what you will.

This book was like watching a soap opera. At every turn, some other wild thing was happening. This is not relatable to anyone but it is also so juicy that you can't stop reading. You're simultaneously rooting for this girl while she is making her way through an entire group of brothers, who are totally aware and absolutely fine with what's happening. The entire story is just so crazy - I would only recommend this to a certain type of friend because this book is only for a certain type of person.

Those who loved Credence will enjoy this book for the same reasons. It had lots of spice, 4 of 5! But it left me feeling meh by the end. Not bad but ok

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so hard to put down. Once I started I just wanted to keep going . It was so good to be back in this universe and see the Jaeger family again.

I loved Krisjen so much and all the stuff she went through and still came out strong . The interactions she has with the brothers had me screaming!!!

I absolutely loved who she ended up with.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the arc <3

I must admit this book was tough to read... mostly because the content was difficult for me personally. I had a moment where I almost DNF. However, the author weaved a story that really showed humanity at its best and worst. Situations in the book made me cringe and yet I know... I KNOW that some of those cringe-y fictional book moments were very similar to someone else's reality. It made me think about the struggle of those living in poverty, the entitlement of the wealthy, the devotion and love of family, sacrifice and true friendship. So, even though I kind of hated this story, I still rate it as 4.5 stars because I thought about those characters long after I finished the book. For me, that's an undeniable sign the author made me feel emotion for their fictional characters. Well done.

This was a very good taboo romance and had a good amount of spice that was highly enjoyable. I look very forward tot he next book in this series!

A dark, steamy romance born in the swamps of Florida! When Krisjen, a privileged princess from the wealthy side of the tracks sneaks into Sanoa Bay to find solace in the shady darkness of the Jaeger house, she doesn't expect to find herself having the best sex of her life on the living couch. She knows it's one of the Jaeger brothers, but the darkness concealed his identity! Was is Trace, the youngest son, with his immature but fun-loving personality? Iron, destined to spend his last week before a 3-year prison stint with anyone warm and willing? Army, the single father and responsible older brother? Dallas, with his snide comments and penchant for cruelty? Or Macon, the curt and sullen eldest, who never smiles and is slowly drinking himself to death? Krisjen must know, but will the truth destroy her, her family, the Jaegers, or Sanoa Bay?

For fans of dark romance, morally gray relationships, and found family dramas, grab this thrilling romance from Penelope Douglas!
I just reviewed Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas. #FiveBrothers #NetGalley

Not my favorite by Penelope, however the plot was interesting and I liked the characters I just wasn't invested. I also didnt read tryst six venom so maybe ill read that one next. Definitely for the fans of credence.

"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.