Penelope Douglas Books in Order
By the Ember team · Updated July 2026
Penelope Douglas has written more than 20 dark romance and New Adult novels since 2013. Her books feature morally grey antiheroes, bully romance, forbidden dynamics, and high heat. Her main series include Fall Away (9 books starting with Bully), Devil's Night (6 books starting with Corrupt), and Hellbent (a spin-off of Fall Away).
Start with Bully for bully romance or Corrupt for dark romance with revenge and morally grey characters. If you want a standalone to test the waters, try Punk 57, her most popular BookTok recommendation.
Short answer
Penelope Douglas has written 20+ dark romance novels since 2013. Her main series include Fall Away (9 books starting with Bully), Devil's Night (6 books starting with Corrupt), and Hellbent (spin-off series). Start with Bully (2013) for bully romance or Corrupt (2015) for dark mafia-style romance. Popular standalones include Punk 57, Credence, and Birthday Girl.
Where to start with Penelope Douglas books
If you want bully romance with emotional payoff
Bully
This is the book that launched Penelope Douglas. Jared tormented Tate for years, and now she has to survive senior year next to him. The enemies-to-lovers arc is raw, the angst is real, and the resolution feels earned.
If you want dark mafia-style romance with antiheroes
Corrupt
Michael and his crew return from prison, and Erika becomes their target. This book defined the dark romance genre for a generation of readers. The morally grey characters, the revenge plot, and the intensity make it unforgettable.
If you want pen pal romance turned forbidden love
Punk 57
Misha and Ryen were pen pals for seven years. They never met, never shared photos, and had one rule: no personal details. When they finally cross paths, everything changes. This standalone is the most recommended Penelope Douglas book on BookTok.
If you want controversial age gap and forbidden dynamics
Birthday Girl
Jordan is 34 and dating a man her age. His 19-year-old son Pike comes home from college. The tension is immediate, the situation is messy, and the book is polarizing. If you want something that pushes boundaries, this is it.
Devil's Night series in publication order
Four interconnected dark romance novels about men who went to prison and the women connected to them. Read in order for the full experience, as storylines and characters overlap.
Corrupt
Published 2015
Erika grew up next to the Grayson family and their son Michael. Years later, he returns from prison with his crew, and she becomes their target. This is the book that defined Penelope Douglas's dark romance brand.
Hideaway
Published 2017
Kai Mori went to jail. Banks was the girl left behind. Now he's out, and she's about to find out why they call it Devil's Night. This can be read as a standalone, but reading Corrupt first provides context.
Kill Switch
Published 2019
Damon Torrance spent three years in a cell. Winter Ashby sent letters he never answered. Now he's out, and she's going to learn that monsters don't hide under the bed. They hide inside people.
Nightfall
Published 2020
The series finale brings all four couples together. This is the conclusion to the Devil's Night world, wrapping storylines from Corrupt, Hideaway, and Kill Switch. Read the series in order before this one.
Fall Away series in publication order
The series that launched Penelope Douglas. Nine books including three main novels, companion novellas, and the next-generation continuation. Each main book follows a different couple, but they share a connected world.
Bully
Published 2013
Jared and Tate were best friends until he turned on her. Years of torment later, he's back, and she has to survive senior year next to the boy who made her life hell. This is the book that launched Penelope Douglas.
Until You
Published 2013
A companion to Bully. This novella provides additional perspective and closure for the world introduced in the first book.
Rival
Published 2014
Madoc and Fallon have history. She left town. He stayed and built a reputation. Now she's back, and the rivalry that always simmered between them is about to ignite.
Falling Away
Published 2015
K.C. and Jax. She's a mechanic hiding from her past. He's a street racer with his own demons. They collide, and the fallout is messy, raw, and real.
Fall Away companion books
The series includes five additional companion novellas: Until You, Aflame, Adrenaline, The Next Flame, and Next to Never. Read these after the main books for additional perspective and extended world-building.
Falls Boys (2022) brings the next generation of characters to the Fall Away world and serves as the bridge to the Hellbent series.
Hellbent series
A spin-off series continuing the Fall Away world with the next generation. More books are planned. Read the Fall Away series first for the full context.
Falls Boys
Published 2022
The first Hellbent book. This spin-off series continues the Fall Away world with the next generation. Hawke, Dylan, Quinn, Kade, Hunter, A.J., and James take center stage.
Pirate Girls
Published 2022
The second Hellbent book. The series focuses on interconnected characters from the Fall Away universe, each book following a different couple.
Quiet Ones
Published 2026
The third Hellbent book released in February 2026. The series continues with more books planned for the extended Fall Away universe.
Penelope Douglas standalones
Punk 57
Published 2016
Misha and Ryen were pen pals for seven years. They never met, never shared photos, and never broke the rules. Until they did. This standalone became one of the most popular BookTok dark romance recommendations.
Birthday Girl
Published 2018
Jordan is 34. Pike is 19. She's dating his dad. The age gap and forbidden dynamic make this one of Penelope Douglas's most controversial books. It can be polarizing, but fans call it unforgettable.
Credence
Published 2020
Tiernan is sent to live in the mountains with her uncle Jake and his two sons. The isolation, the tension, and the way boundaries dissolve make this a dark, divisive, unforgettable read.
Tryst Six Venom
Published 2022
Clay and Olivia share a history neither of them wants to face. The tension between them is corrosive, and the payoff is explosive. Another standalone that divides readers.
Five Brothers
Published 2024
Krisjen moves in with five brothers after a family crisis. The group dynamic, the tension, and the way she fits into their world make this a recent fan favorite.
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read Penelope Douglas books?
Penelope Douglas has written 20+ dark romance novels since 2013. Her main series include Fall Away (9 books starting with Bully), Devil's Night (6 books starting with Corrupt), and Hellbent (spin-off series). Start with Bully (2013) for bully romance or Corrupt (2015) for dark mafia-style romance. Popular standalones include Punk 57, Credence, and Birthday Girl.
Which Penelope Douglas book should I read first?
Start with Bully (2013) if you want bully romance with emotional depth, or Corrupt (2015) if you want dark mafia-style romance with morally grey characters. Both are the first books in their respective series (Fall Away and Devil's Night). If you want a standalone to test whether Penelope Douglas is for you, try Punk 57 (2016). It's her most popular standalone and a good introduction to her style.
Are Penelope Douglas books connected?
The Fall Away series and Hellbent series are directly connected and share a universe. The Devil's Night series is separate and standalone. Punk 57 loosely shares a world with Devil's Night, and Credence loosely connects to Fall Away, but both can be read independently. Her other standalones (Birthday Girl, Tryst Six Venom, Five Brothers) are not connected to any series.
What is the Devil's Night series about?
The Devil's Night series is a dark romance series about four men who went to prison and the women connected to them. It includes Corrupt (Michael and Erika), Hideaway (Kai and Banks), Kill Switch (Damon and Winter), and Nightfall (the series finale). The books feature morally grey antiheroes, dark themes, and high heat. Read them in order for the full impact.
What is the heat level of Penelope Douglas books?
Penelope Douglas books are high heat with explicit sex scenes. They often include dark themes, morally grey characters, dubious consent scenarios, and emotionally intense situations. Her books are marketed as dark romance or New Adult romance and are intended for adult readers. Content warnings vary by book, so check reviews before reading if you have specific triggers.
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Sources
Bibliography and series order verified as of July 2026.
- Penelope Douglas Official Reading OrderUsed for official series information and reading order guidance.
- Goodreads Devil's Night SeriesUsed for Devil's Night series publication dates and book details.
- Penelope Douglas Hellbent SeriesUsed for Hellbent series information and publication timeline.
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