Credence: First Half Thoughts

First off, I want to fully admit I went into this book having seen MANY mixed reviews.

My first impression of this book being roughly halfway in, I am enjoying it. While I would say, the character growth seems to happen slowly but also suddenly. There also seemed to be a bit of a back track of character progression with Tiernan between her argument with Jake and her parent’s funeral.

Going forward in this book, I hope there is a bit of a background story with Holcomb and CiCi. I also hope to see more consistent growth in not just Tiernan, but Jake, Kaleb, and Noah. I also hope to learn what keeps giving Tiernan nightmares!

Have you read Credence? What are your thoughts on the first half of this book? #Lemon8Diary #booktok #books #credence #fyp

2024/12/27 Edited to

... Read moreAs readers delve into 'Credence,' it's important to note the unique storytelling and character development that Penelope Douglas employs. The novel's ability to portray the emotional struggles of Tiernan, especially her nightmares, creates an engaging narrative that resonates. A blend of slow and sudden character evolution across interacting backstories introduces depth, encouraging readers to ponder character motivations and growth. Mixed reviews reflect diverse opinions, and understanding why some readers have related or found disconnects in the narrative is vital. The upcoming chapters promise further exploration of intriguing figures like Holcomb and CiCi, appealing to those who seek character-driven plots. Readers are invited to articulate their views in discussions across platforms like #Lemon8Diary and #booktok, fostering a community of book enthusiasts eager to dissect every aspect of this enthralling read.

Related posts

A stack of open books with the text overlay '50 SPICY DARK ROMANCE BOOKS TO BINGE' in bold white letters.
Book covers including 'God of Malice' by Rina Kent, 'The Ritual' by Shantel Tessier, 'Her Soul to Take' by Harley Laroux, 'Hooked' by Emily McIntire, and 'Forged in Blood' by Sadie Kincaid.
Book covers including 'Brutal Prince' by Sophie Lark, 'There Are No Saints' by Sophie Lark, 'I Will Break You' by Gigi Styx, 'Haunting Adeline' by H.D. Carlton, and 'Where's Molly' by H.D. Carlton.
50 spicy dark romance books to binge
I love ALL of these books, I personally recommend all these book except credence… credence is my last straw 😭😭 #lemon8challenge #lemon8bookclub #spiciestbooks #booktok #bookrecs
Readers.archive

Readers.archive

3140 likes

🤯 Which Book Should I Read First?
🔑 My Husbands Wife - Eden Fox comes home after a run and finds a woman looking exactly like her claiming to be her husbands wife! 🫠 This book will keep you guessing until the end and a true mind bending marriage thriller! 💍 🕹️ Caraval - Scarlett and Tella are swept up into a mysterious competiti
TyVia

TyVia

62 likes

📖 Because picking the next book is half the fun! 💕
Help me choose my next read! 👀📚 Should I pick Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop, Reel by Kennedy Ryan, or dive into Danielle Allen’s Curvy Girl Summer & Plus Size Player series? Drop your thoughts below! 💬✨ #BookTok #RomanceReads #BlackAuthors #CurvyGirlLit #BookLover
YeahThatsTy

YeahThatsTy

89 likes

A hand holds the book "Credence" by Penelope Douglas, featuring a forest cover. Text overlays read "Annotating credence" and "3 MEN ONE GIRL." The background is a fuzzy blanket with star and moon patterns.
A hand holds the book "Credence" by Penelope Douglas, showing its spine and the colorful, pixelated-patterned page edges. The book cover with a forest scene is partially visible against a fuzzy blanket.
The open book "Credence" displays copyright information on the left page and the title with a pine tree silhouette on the right. Colored tabs on the right page are annotated with handwritten notes like "Sexy" and "Emotional moments."
Annotating credence keys
Credence by Penelope Douglas ✨ please give me a follow and feel free to us my annotations!✨🫶🏻 Rating 10000/10 😩🥵 Spicy level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ plot : love triangle Age gap Taboo 🫢 ✨ would I read it again ??ABSOLUTELY 🫢👀 credence it’s about a 17-year-old, whose parents die and she goes on to
Kaory Sorcia

Kaory Sorcia

80 likes

head empty only caleb thoughts 🍎
i honestly did not anticipate it’d get this bad 🥹 i listened to all of caleb’s tender moments and i’m a mess!! #calebloveanddeepspace #loveanddeepspacecaleb #loveanddeepspacegame #loveanddeepspace #otomegames
shaylaonehalf

shaylaonehalf

67 likes

A person holds a white mug with a beverage, next to the book "The Missing Half" by Ashley Flowers, which rests on a gray blanket. The book cover features the title in orange text and an image of hair, set in a cozy reading environment.
The Missing Half Review✨
Review 📖 Name of the Book: The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers 📄 Plot: Two girls go missing a few weeks a part the same way. They are nowhere to be found. One sister is trying to find answers 💭 My Thoughts: I loved this book & enjoyed it. It's very easy reading and under 300 pages long.
Meg

Meg

25 likes

detox your mind: letting go of negative thoughts
We all have those moments when our minds feel like a never-ending spiral of negativity. Whether it's self-doubt, overthinking, or just plain stress, these thoughts can weigh us down. But just like a physical detox, clearing out mental clutter is essential for a healthier, happier you. Cleari
gabrielleassaf

gabrielleassaf

36 likes

Books That Got My Attention
i can’t be left alone in target’s book section. i was there for maybe 10 min & this employee asked if i need anything (customer service ik lol) but then he just kept walking by for the rest of the time i was there so i think we all know i was there too long lmao i’ve been finding these rando
Marie Drost

Marie Drost

339 likes

Credence
I have so many feelings about this book. It took me getting to this point to have anything to highlight. If you’ve read this book what did you think about it? New York #blackreaders #blackgirlreads #reader #credence
Jeannelle.reads

Jeannelle.reads

8 likes

Viral biker series
“After reading •FiveBrothers• and •Credence•, I craved something similar to cure my hangover. Thanks to Kindle.Unlimited, I discovered my next indulgence.” #hefallsfirstbooks #bookrecommendations #booktok #readers #readersoflemon8
books + bikers

books + bikers

25 likes

📚books i found at half priced books📚
this was my first time EVER at half price books and i was in love! okay i was pretty mad the i only got $4.16 for 6 books, but i think i went in with too high of expectations. but def let me know if you have also been scammed by half price books. so my local half priced books had so many amazin
jarissa 🫶

jarissa 🫶

105 likes

A hand holds two books, 'The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling' and 'You, Again,' in front of a bookshelf filled with various titles. The image is captioned 'Fall Finds at Half-Price Books,' highlighting new book discoveries for the autumn season.
Fall Finds at Half Price Books 🎃📚
What current fall/spooky book are you reading? I found The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling🧙‍♀️ & You, Again by Kate Goldbeck 🍂 -My Fall TBR - Howl by Meg Alivien 🐺 Fall I want by Lyra Parish 🍁 Fall into Temptation by Lucy Score 🎃 Hidden Mate by Jen Grey 🖤 . . . . . . #fallfinds #ha
Ashlyn Rose

Ashlyn Rose

24 likes

A hand holds the book "Credence" by Penelope Douglas, featuring a forest cover. A pink text box overlay reads "Since I finished Credence, my next book is...". Bookshelves are blurred in the background.
Since I finished Credence, my next book is…
Lights Out by Navessa Allen! This book specifically I will be listening to the audio book but I like the physicals as trophies 🥰 I’ve heard so many good things about this book I cannot wait! Credence was disappointing so I hope this one is good 😭 #lightsout #booktok #bookrecommendation #da
Nia🤍

Nia🤍

64 likes

A hand in a red sleeve holds a stack of books against a light background. Overlay text reads: 'BOOKS I WISH I COULD READ FOR THE first time again'.
A hand holds the orange cover of 'A Court of Silver Flames' by Sarah J. Maas. Annotations highlight themes like trauma & healing, romance, fantasy, strength, and hate to love.
A hand holds the dark cover of 'Credence' by Penelope Douglas, featuring a forest scene. Annotations describe themes such as hate & love, spicy, family romance, isolation, and finding herself.
BOOKS I WISH I COULD READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAIN
Books I wish I could read for the first time again I WISH for the life of me, that I could get the same feeling re reading a book. I WISH I could re read these books, and be in total shock/awe at the endings. Here are four of my favorite books that will forever hold a place in my heart. - A C
Jenna

Jenna

14 likes

WALMART BOOKS 📚 That Caught My Eye 👁️
Eight books from good ol Walmart that caught my eye recently! Can we take a moment to appreciate the absolutely STUNNING cover for The Empress?!?!?! Have you read it? I haven’t read any of these but have added them all to my never ending TBR. I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about Five Bro
DeLaney 🌞

DeLaney 🌞

72 likes

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy📖
Here’s my quick little Goodreads review on Half His Age which is my first read of Jennette Mccurdy’s work! Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #read read read #halfhisage #jennettemccurdybook
Bay not Bae

Bay not Bae

3 likes

Annotate for the first time with me!
Hello! I love seeing all the cute annotation posts and finally decided to try it! I went into this not knowing much on how to annotate and actually had a lot of fun with it! I don’t think I’ll be annotating all my books, but I definitely want to do it again. And I learned a whole bunch about it
Hannah

Hannah

48 likes

Rating Booktok Books
Some of these are worth it, some of them are not. All of the books listed are pretty quick read aside from credence. Have any of you read these books, what were your thoughts? #booktok #books #BookReview #bookwormsoflemon8
Jade

Jade

11 likes

Credence review📚
#booktok #kindle #darkromance #romancebooks #embracevulnerability
📚Clo🗝️

📚Clo🗝️

39 likes

⌨️ How I cut essay time in half
📝 Top 4 Tips for Writing Essays Faster ⏳ Read the caption ⬇️ 📑 Outline Before You Write – Plan your intro, body, and conclusion to save time organizing thoughts. ⏱️ Use the Pomodoro Technique – Write in focused 25–30 min intervals with short breaks. ⚡ Don’t Aim for Perfection First – Get your
The College Survival

The College Survival

0 likes

A stack of three books by Penelope Douglas: 'Tryst Six Venom', 'Credence', and 'Punk 57', displayed on a wooden surface. Text overlays ask 'Thoughts on Penelope Douglas?', indicating 'Punk 57' was 'Read and loved', while 'Tryst Six Venom' and 'Credence' are 'Tbr'.
Thoughts on Penelope Douglas?
I read punk 57 and absolutely LOVED it!!! A 5⭐️ read for me, and the spice was so good!! Devoured the book in two days, it was just 🤌🏻 *chefs kiss* My friend recommended Tryst Six venom to me cuz like punk 57 it’s a bully hot romance, and I’ve heard people recommend credence, and to be completely h
Kirsten Hedrick

Kirsten Hedrick

24 likes

Removing Negative Thoughts and Emotions
When I am undergoing major transformation, I begin a personal Navratri. It reminds me of the ways I am connected to Shakti and allows me to heal. Today I asked Chandraghanta to remove my focus on negative thoughts and emotions while meditating on Gobinday Mukunday. Chandraghanta is the Goddess
Minouche

Minouche

2 likes

#Fyp Carousel of Timely Thoughts. 🍋🫶🍋🫶
Michaela Renee Solomon

Michaela Renee Solomon

0 likes

What are your thoughts on this comment?
What are your thoughts on this comment? #grammys2026
Lifestylewithchie TV

Lifestylewithchie TV

2 likes

Credence by Penelope Douglas
Surprised at myself for not having read this yet! Let’s see how it goes😂 #lemon8bookclub #fyp #books #booktok #bookrecommendations
LaurenStowe

LaurenStowe

3 likes

A person in a light knitted sweater and blue jeans holds the book 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey, featuring a colorful planetary cover, in a bookstore setting.
An open page of the book 'Orbital' with highlighted text, overlaid with phrases like 'why it hit so hard,' 'A reminder of how small we are,' and 'what to expect: lyrical prose, perspective shifts.'
An open page of the book 'Orbital' with highlighted text, overlaid with phrases describing 'the premise: six astronauts, one orbit,' and 'a slow, beautiful drift through space, and thought.'
My thoughts on Orbital by Samatha Harvey 🪐
Orbital by Samatha Harvey 🪐 a literary meditation on space, earth, and what it means to be human This book… wow. Orbital by Samantha Harvey is only 136 pages but it feels like it holds the weight of the whole Earth. Set aboard a space station orbiting the planet, this book doesn’t shout
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

24 likes

Run to target girlie pops 🌸
💵 Price: around 14-15$ each!! Random Thoughts 💭What's on my mind: Targets Romance book section always reels me in no matter much I tell myself I don’t need any loll Its a blessing and a curse! Current Mood: considering I ended up purchasing the last book of poems, my favorite. Id say I’m
megalynn💋

megalynn💋

522 likes

Credence by PD
This was easily the spiciest book I’ve read all year, and it had me seriously questioning my morals—if you know, you know. I saw the TikTok hype and had to check it out. It’s about a girl thrown into a very unexpected situation, and let’s just say things get messy and intense in the best way.
Kamala | NYC Esthetician

Kamala | NYC Esthetician

6 likes

✨Author Spotlight ✨
Penelope Douglas 🖤 She is probably the first author that I fell in love with when I started my book journey. I’m actually surprised I continued to read her books. The first book I ever read by PD was Corrupt and I wasn’t a fan. I heard such good things about Birthday Girl I decided to pick it up.
𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪 𝓢𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓼

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪 𝓢𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓼

27 likes

A person wearing glasses, resting their head on their hand, with text overlays "Roll call BOOK SUMMARY Books I've read!" and "OCTOBER", adorned with butterflies and stars.
The book cover for "A Thousand Heartbeats" by Kiera Cass, featuring a woman in a purple gown in stormy water. Overlays indicate "7/10", "Adventure", "Romance", and "Fantasy".
Three book covers from the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series by Brigid Kemmerer, titled "A Curse So Dark and Lonely", "A Vow So Bold and Deadly", and "A Heart So Fierce and Broken". Rated "10/10", categorized as "Fantasy", "Fairy Tale", and "Young adult literature".
Roll call
Let’s get rolling; these are books I’ve read. Some are ones I’ve read a long time ago but still live in my head rent-free, and others are newly added. All are great reads and ones that I have taken something from too. Books are powerful no matter the contents- whether fiction or not I believe books
Delilah.s

Delilah.s

3 likes

A hand holds a Kindle e-reader displaying the cover of the book 'Birthday Girl' by New York Times Bestselling Author Penelope Douglas. The image features text overlays 'Currently Reading' and 'Lemon8 @piperfields21', along with decorative sparkles and a heart.
Drop your KU recs
Please drop your kindle unlimited spicy book recommendations. #Lemon8Diary #shareyourthoughts #lemon8bookclub #penelopedouglas #birthdaygirl #spicy #booktok #currentlyreading #lemon8challenge Penelope Douglas is one of my favorite authors. I have already read Punk 57 and my
Piper Fields

Piper Fields

3 likes

Any thoughts ladies✨🌸
🎀Jasmine✨

🎀Jasmine✨

42 likes

When my thoughts feel fuzzy...
Sometimes writing isn’t about creating something new, it’s about pulling out what’s already there. #writingandcreating #writingstyle #writingprocess
Dream Circuit

Dream Circuit

2 likes

Credence
I been recommended this book so many times and I finally found it at my local Walmart store. #bookrecommendations #books
Mimz

Mimz

23 likes

A hand holds the teal and pink cover of Olivie Blake's book, 'Girl Dinner,' annotated with 'Satirical horror,' '20% About eating *humans,' '40% Darkly Funny,' and '40% Mysterious.'
An open copy of 'Girl Dinner' by Olivie Blake shows the title page and a list of other books by the author, with 'The Atlas Six' highlighted as 'Currently reading.'
The teal and pink cover of 'Girl Dinner' by Olivie Blake, featuring a fork design and a '50% OFF B&N' sticker, rests near a window.
Thoughts on my most recent read
Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake Rating: 3.75 ⭐️ /5 It had its moments. I liked it, not loved! It’s 3.75 is because I’m not sure I will read it again, I got what I wanted from the first read. Plus I have other Olivia Blake books on my tbr but it was fun, would recommend. Commuter scale: 2.5 or 3
Bria

Bria

9 likes

Credence Time!!!
TIME TO START A NEW BOOK!! I know this is probably going to blow me away. I have received warnings about it being a F-ED UP spicy book but I’m new to the community so I don’t know exactly what that means. I am going into this blind. I have not read the back or anything!! HERE WE GO!!! #spi
Kermie

Kermie

45 likes

A hand holds the book 'Credence' by Penelope Douglas, featuring a misty forest cover. Overlays read 'BOOK' and 'REVIEW', with 'Lemon8 @not.so.fast.nia' and an arrow pointing to 'In the caption...'. The book cover mentions 'NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PUNK 57' and 'INCLUDES Bonus MATERIAL'.
Credence Book Review (SPOILERS)
Book Name: Credence Author: Penelope Douglas Genre: Dark Romance My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 Plot: ⭐️⭐️/5 Intro: Tiernan de Haas, a 17-year-old girl, is thrust into an uncertain new life after the sudden death of her famous parents. Used to living in their shadow and feeling invisi
Nia🤍

Nia🤍

11 likes

Positive Motivational Thoughts
#something #that #makesyougo #Hmmm
Jnaie1

Jnaie1

9 likes

Next on the Penelope Douglas train..
I am always going into books blind. I hardly know what I am getting myself into about 90% of the time. This is my second book by this author, (the first one being Credence) so I kinda figured the age gap was going to be a given. LMAO. So far it's good though. #birthdaygirl🎂 #penelopedoug
Brittany McCune

Brittany McCune

16 likes

An open book with a pink rose, various jewelry pieces, and a paper cutout reading "Books I HATED" on a light background, with a "swipe" icon.
The book "Addicted to You" by Krista & Becca Ritchie, featuring a broken red heart on its cover, resting on a light-colored textured surface.
The book "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt, an international bestseller, displayed on a white textured blanket with a white outline drawn around it.
Books I HATED (and why)
Ok… (DISCLAIMER: these are MY opinions, and I am not intentionally trying to insult anyone, I’m just sharing my personal thoughts!) Addicted to you: I was just feeling really uncomfortable with their addictions… iykyk! It was a bit strange and gave me lots of second hand embarrassment! The se
Sofi’s grwm 🌀

Sofi’s grwm 🌀

17 likes

The image features the book "Credence" by Penelope Douglas, highlighted as a New York Times Bestselling Author. Text on the image discusses the book's theme involving step-uncle and step-cousin relationships, emphasizing the absence of a blood relation, under the banner "We Listen And We Dont Judge."
The image displays the book "Little Stranger: The Web of Silence Duet" with a spider and web motif. Text on the image addresses the theme of adoptive/foster sibling relationships, suggesting it for readers who might not prefer such dynamics.
This image presents a grid of nine book covers by J Snow (Jenika Snow), identified as "after dark taboo books." Titles include "Their Dirty Girl," "Spread Wider Uncle," and "Deep Throating My Brother," recommended for readers interested in dark taboo themes.
Taboo and darker taboo books
We Listen and We Don't Judge I have seen a lot of recommendations for taboo books. Credence with step family, Little stranger with adoptive siblings. I have seen people say Birthday Girl ex boyfriends dad and ton more. However searching for taboo I came across these books that are very dark
Amber Laughlin

Amber Laughlin

13 likes

See more