Heated Rivalry Network Is Adapting a Steamy Adult Romance Novel for TV

If you thought the world of swoony adult romance TV adaptations was starting to quiet down, think again. The Canadians are back at it, with Crave – yes, the same lot behind Heated Rivalry – setting their sights on another racy book series… though this one may leave your eyebrow permanently arched.

Crave Goes After Penelope Douglas' Five Brothers

So, Crave (which is Bell Media’s streaming side gig) has officially picked up the rights to Penelope Douglas' Five Brothers. For anyone not in the know: Douglas dropped this novel in 2024, and it’s about – brace yourself – five Jaeger brothers and one woman who apparently gets tangled up in their secrets. You can insert your own wild theory about what 'secrets' means in this context.

Bell Media want to make a proper multi-season series out of the book. They’re not just testing the waters with a pilot – this is meant to be their next big romance flagship. The author herself, Douglas, seems chuffed, saying,

'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.'

Why Is Crave Betting on This?

Bit of context here: the success of Heated Rivalry – Crave’s adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers books – basically forced their hand. Heated Rivalry launched on Crave and HBO Max (same date, 28 November 2025) and did so well, critics were practically throwing bouquets. It’s still hanging on to a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, if you’re the sort who cares about that metric. One reviewer even marvelled,

'The show feels unique. It’s physical and intimate, surprisingly quiet, and it moves strangely, telling its story in lurches and skids.'

(That was Phillip Maciak in The New Republic. Make of that what you will – sounds a bit like my last flat-share.)

The momentum has clearly put a rocket under the programming people over at Crave. Carlyn Klebuc, who runs original programming for Bell Media, all but admitted they’re actively hunting for the next big swoon-worthy smash. Her statement said, in so many words, that Heated Rivalry proved there’s a worldwide appetite for 'sexy, sophisticated, and mainstream romance stories,' especially if they include 'complex lead characters' and stories that are, let’s say, boundary-pushing.

What We Actually Know (and Don’t Know)

• The book: Five Brothers came out in 2024, written by Penelope Douglas.
• The premise: It’s about the Jaeger brothers (all five of them) and the woman who finds out what they’re up to.
• The network: Crave, under Bell Media, is handling the adaptation – same team who made Heated Rivalry.
• Is there a release date? No, not yet. We only know they’re gunning for a multi-season saga.
• The pedigree: Heated Rivalry (their last romance adaptation) debuted on Crave and HBO Max at the end of 2025, and instantly blew up, scoring high with critics and a big enough audience to warrant a season two (coming as early as spring 2027, if the schedule holds).

No word yet on who’s getting cast or when this thing actually drops. But between the proven track record and some pretty melodramatic source material, you can expect more updates – and probably a bit of social media firestorm when those brothers are cast.