Crave is expanding its TV portfolio after Heated Rivalry‘s success by adapting Penelope Douglas‘ novel Five Brothers — but why is there backlash already?
Bell Media announced in May 2026 that there are plans to bring Douglas’ book to life.
“Heated Rivalry proved there is global appetite for sexy, sophisticated, and mainstream romance stories,” Carlyn Klebuc, who is the general manager of original programming, said in a statement. “With complex lead characters, a boundary-pushing story, and a built-in audience, we’re excited to develop Crave’s next big swing in the romance genre.”
The news received mixed reactions, with some excited about another book-to-TV adaptation, while others questioned the decision to bring Five Brothers to the small screen. More specifically, readers weren’t thrilled about a book based on a girl exploring her individual connections with five brothers after hooking up with one of them — but not knowing which one — getting so much attention.
Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the drama:
What Is ‘Five Brothers’ About?
According to the synopsis, Five Brothers follows “one woman who learns the secrets of the five Jaeger brothers: Macon, Army, Iron, Dallas, and Trace.” The full break of the book teases how the protagonist — Krisjen — searches for which of the five Jaeger brothers she anonymously hooked up with by exploring a connection with each of them.
Where Will It Be Released?
News broke in May that Crave parent Bell Media planned to develop the book as a multi-season TV series after successfully adapting Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry book into a TV drama that was also sold to HBO Max in the U.S. market.
Why Is There Controversy Surrounding the Adaptation?
Most of the negativity around the potential TV shows has stemmed from the story line, which is centers around an 18-year-old girl hooking up with brothers — five to be exact — to find out which of them is the guy she slept with anonymously.
What Has Penelope Douglas Said About the TV Show?
Douglas released a statement about the adaptation, which read, “Five Brothers was such an immersive writing experience for me with a cast of characters I connected to immediately. I can’t wait to see these men brought to life.”
Has Penelope Douglas Addressed the Backlash?
While Douglas hasn’t sounded off on the reaction to her book being brought to the small screen, she has previously defended the genre, writing via her website, “I write romance. New adult, erotica, a little contemporary… Really whatever is calling me at the moment. I believe a good writer can spin any story in a way with which you’ll connect, and I endeavor to do just that with every book I write. Not many topics are too taboo for me. I love breaking rules, and I love taking myself out of my comfort zone.”
The author also stood by her vision.
“I don’t worry so much anymore, and I don’t let others’ opinions hold me back,” she noted. “Be yourself, and OWN it. You know what that means? Be loud and proud. Nurture who you are and good things will come. Most importantly, your happiness.”
In an interview from 2015, Douglas addressed the varied reactions to her books, saying, “Everyone digests books differently. What one person hated, a hundred others will love. You will NEVER make everyone happy. Don’t take it too much to heart.”
How Is ‘Heated Rivalry ‘ Involved In This?
Based on Reid’s Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry follows rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose animosity on the ice is just a front for a secret — and very passionate — romance. The show made the stars household names and has been renewed for a second season.
The only connection between Heated Rivalry and Five Brothers is that they are both developed by Crave.
