Penelope Douglas

Credence

Michael Pauley

Greg Tremblay

Sofia Willingham

Carson Beck

Enna Burton

Yes? no? I don’t even know what I just read lmaoo

Isabela H 

This is one book that for the most part, I enjoyed reading in the moment, but if I stop and think about any aspect of the book for too long, I feel weird about it. 
Granted, I did know to some extent what I was getting into before I started reading, but does that mean I was completely prepared for everything? Not really. 


I recommend this book to anyone peeking into the world of risque and taboo books, because while there are many questionable events in the book, it's still done well enough for it to be enjoyable for the most part. 

** spoilers ahead **

Just as a side note, I cannot lie and say that I understood the book or the character development of literally anyone. I would never have guessed the outcome in a million years, especially in the way in which Tiernan ends up with Kaleb (I don't know if it's just me, but I wouldn't really ever feel safe with a guy who tried to rape me the first time we met....). I'm mad at how there were lines crossed (specifically consent lines) that were crossed - I do understand that a lot of lines were crossed, given that a girl literally had sex with her uncle and both cousins, but the fact that she ended up with the man who treated her the worst out of all three just really sucked, in my opinion.

Alisha Grace Santos

** spoiler alert **
           Oh my mother trucking goodnessss!!! I think this takes place as my top favourite book!! I loved the spice and I loved the storyline. Although the spice is very… interesting, per say. 

But I love the characters, personally I love Uncle Jake!!! Love love loveee him to bits!! Then Noah, I was a bit more like brother and sister types vibes. And then Kaleb… OMG don’t get me started! I loved the poetic vibes he emitted, by the way “his actions spoke louder than word” considering he doesn’t speak but always does things for or to Tiernan that shows he cares.

The ending was a bit unexpected, but we love unexpected. The last 3 chapters I thinking were the most emotionally effecting. 

So before reading read trigger warnings! 👍🏻💖

Salem Owens

** spoiler alert **
           Is this book taboo? 
Yeah.
Is it the most wild taboo novel I've ever read?
Not by a long shot.
I want to give it 5 stars, because I was entranced, and could not put it down from the first word to the last.
But, alas, there are a few things that bring this book down a notch for me.
I don't always read for fantastic writing and detailed plot lines.
If that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere.
The story was intriguing enough to keep my attention, but it does drone on for longer than was probably necessary.

Main Character Tiernan was pretty flat. I didn't really see any development from her. She was pretty much in love the second she arrives in Chapel Peak, and is a moody teenager the rest of the story.

Kaleb is the type of man I'm genuinely afraid of. I spent half the book thinking he had a serial killer den hidden in his attic bedroom. He abuses Tiernan to no end, and openly manipulated her into loving him; talk about Stockholm Syndrome.

Jake was hot and cold for me. I loved the moments where he gave Tiernan what she needed; a sturdy parent who loves her. But then he does this authoritarian shit, bending her over his lap. He absolutely abused the power dynamic between himself and Tiernan to the point I started feeling bad for a fictional girl.

Noah... The only redeeming character for me in Credence. He was sweet, sexy, and genuinely wanted to love Tiernan the way she deserved. She only said about 100 times that she should be with Noah; and she was right. The story would've been so much better had she stayed with Noah... The bit at the end with the two of them on Huntington Beach really had me thinking they were going to get together. Shame on me for being bamboozled..

All in all, this book was captivating from start to finish, if for nothing else, to know how it ended. I'm giving it 4⭐ because there were many moments that had me laughing outloud, and wiping tears from my eyes. Also, the smut. It was good smut (as per usual from Penelope Douglas).

I would only recommend reading this book if you're capable of separating reality from fiction, because this book crosses many lines that I would never condone IRL (dubcon, etc).

Happy Reading!

Cassandra Martin

** spoiler alert **
           Honestly, I gave the book an extra star because some of the consensual and of age smut was okay. But the fact is, there are some lines crossed in this book when it comes to age and consent that I just can’t ignore. I love dark romances, enemies to romance kindof stories, but there is a line when things become just straight up abuse and non consensual and this book crossed the line to me. I also wish there was more likable side characters, more given to the main character than just her relationship with her parents, and even more personality to the main male characters as well. I feel like none of them were that likable overall. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sven Test

4.5 stars! Penelope did it again! I'm so happy the guy I was rooting for ended up being the one! Yes! Ugh, this story will never leave my mind nor my heart. It was dark, it tested the limits, it went beyond those limits, it was emotional, it was cathartic, it was hot and steamy, it was breath-taking, it was more than I expected.



I loved that it kept in suspense for the majority of the book, but if you pay attention, the details were there all along. Still, the suspense kept me on my toes.

Each character is so flawed and that's what made this story stand out so much more to me. The flaws were present through the story and without them, I don't think the story would have been the same, the characters wouldn't have been the same.

Overall, this story was memorable and I loved everything about it.

Roni

Edit: I have updated to 3 stars. It was a good book, but since I’m not sure it should be a 4 based on the others I have rated as 4 stars.

This one gets 4 stars from me. 
The writing was good. This book has definitely solidified me as a Penelope Douglas fan.

However, the story… was different. I was uncomfortable at times. But there were also times I didn’t want to put it down. 

It’s taboo, but the plot is there. I don’t regret reading this one.

Samantha Penland

Please check trigger warnings for this book and don’t go in blind.

Fey Reid

I HONESTLY DID NOT KNOW HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO FEEL ABOUT THIS NOVEL(S*X SCENES ASIDE) 

•TABOO
•FORBIDDEN LOVE
•REVERSE HAREM 

TRIGGERS
•MISOGYNY
•INCEST
•R*PE
•S*XUAL ASSAULT
•DOMESTIC ABUSE & VIOLENCE 
•SUICIDE 
•EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION

JoLee

Credence was a emotional roller coaster for me and was not prepared as I went in blind. Best experience for me. It was unpredictable with cast of characters with different personalities. I had a hate to love back to hate to love and so on and so on with Tiernan , Jake, Noah and my favorite Kaleb. As always Penelope Douglas has the best background settings that I feel like I was there. 5/5 Amazing.

New Adult, Slow Burn, small town, forbidden romance.

Julianna Reynolds 

It’s only getting two stars because there were some good quotes about loneliness that were a little too relatable? But what the fuck did I just read… Why did booktok say that this was good? This was a train wreck from the very first chapter and somehow it only got worse.

Danielle 

Omg 

This book was a read till the end type of book. I had to force my self to stop. Omg this was my first Penelope Douglas book. I will def be reading more.

Credence

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