A fun enemies-to-lovers read that mostly works. I liked the parallels drawn with the circumstances of the curse (and would totally read that book) and what plays out in the present day between Clark and Riley. I think I may have connected more if this was written in 1st person, but that's a minor quibble.

Do Your Worst is such a unique and fun romance novel. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down!

As a romantic comedy and Tes Lasso fan, this book was everything! So excited to recommend to my customers!

Riley is a cursebreaker- she learned everything she knows from her grandmother and is trying to make a career of it. Her first big job is a cursed castle in Scotland. (Sidenote: I just finished reading this and really want to go to Scotland now.) Clark is an archeologist hired to see if there's anything of significance at Arden Castle (aka the castle where Riley has been hired to break the curse). Suffice to say, he is a many of logic, science and order and does not believe in curses.

This starts with an immediate connection between the two that rapidly shift to an electric enemies to lovers trope. Riley and Clark have the best banter and the way they flit between enemies to lovers and all out attraction was perfect. I loved it. They also have wonderful character development and it contributes nicely to the story and their connection. I didn't want to leave the world and would absolutely read another book set in this universe.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy of the book with me. All opinions are my own.

This was okay, honestly from chapter one I could tell this wouldn’t be something I would super love and that’s okay! I still wanted to see it through. I had a really hard time buying into the plot, and the third person writing style for a dual pov book just didn’t work for me. It made it nearly impossible to connect to either character. I really didn’t feel much for either of them. Because of that, I really didn’t connect with their romance or feel the chemistry between them. The setting was fun and the banter was great! If this had been in first person dual pov I probably would’ve loved this so much more but the third person made it really hard to get invested.

thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Romance for the arc <3

I don't read a lot of romance so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this story, but I did end up liking it! This was really vibey--very twisty and mysterious. I liked how the story felt really balanced in terms of the romance and the actual plot/mysteries in the story. I liked both of the MCs and I love the idea of an archeologist and a curse breaker! That just added a really fantastical element to the story that was refreshing and well-done. Overall, I really enjoyed it! I would read more in this world (omg please) and more from this author in a heartbeat!

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! Set in the Scottish Highlands, this enemies-to-lovers story will have you laughing and swooning in equal measure. I also love the way Rosie Danan writes her characters with such vulnerability, yet refreshing equality and her steamy scenes are🔥🔥🔥! Such a fun read!

I really enjoyed reading this book and had a lot of fun with it. I always enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers and this was pretty successful. Also enjoyed the curse breaking and witchy vibes.

Rosie Danan's Do Your Worst is a modern day fairytale infused with mystery. An enchanting world teeming with twists and turns awaits in this delightful novel. It's a sweet romance that will keep you turning the pages.

An English archaeologist named Clark is paired with Riley, a charming and spirited curse-breaker, in this atmospheric Scottish tale. They discover that Arden castle's secrets go far beyond just a curse-breaking adventure as their unlikely journey unfolds. There is something magical about this book, and you will not be able to put it down once you start reading.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. I was captivated by Rosie Danan's storytelling!

This was such a fun book! I loved how Riley and Clark interacted and how the setting of Scotland really played a role in the story. I liked watching Riley and Clark grow throughout the story and believed their story.

Super cute, really enjoyed it.

Tropes: enemies with benefits, enemies to lovers, forced proximity

4 ⭐️ This was such a fun read!!!

"It doesn't have to be a battle between us."
"I promise you," she said, "it does."
"Very well then. Enemies it is. Do your worst."

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Scottish Highland setting
✨ curse breaker x archeologist
✨ curvy FMC
✨ instant attraction
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ opposites attract
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ forced proximity
✨ snarky banter
✨ dagger to throat (but not what you think)
✨ paranormal: curses and rituals
✨ mystery plot
✨ 3/5 🌶️
✨ HEA
✨ dual pov / third person


My Thoughts:

This was my first book by Rosie Danan and certainly won't be my last! I had no idea what to expect, but I truly had a wonderful time and only wish I could have stayed longer in this story.

What I liked:

I LOVED the Scotland setting and the overall atmosphere. I'm absolutely obsessed with Scotland, so from the moment I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it. From the moody weather to the creepy castle, the vibes were immaculate and I truly felt like I was there.

The curse/mystery plot was fun. While Arden Castle isn't real (at least after a quick Google search I don't believe it is), there are many castles in Scotland with interesting lore behind them that could easily have been the inspiration for it. Scotland is known for its myths, so it's interesting reading a story that features a castle with a romantic history featuring clans, fae, and curses.

The characters were well developed and had interesting backstories/hangups. Curse breaking has run in Riley's family for years, but so have failed relationships. So it was really interesting seeing Riley break free of this notion that she has to choose between her calling or love. Clark has spent his whole life seeking the approval of his famous archeologist father and was also recently betrayed by someone close to him. So Clark's character arc was relatable (if you're a people pleaser) as he was able to stop seeking validation from others and he also learned to trust again. Both Riley and Clark had the similar issue of not fully being able to open up to people, but against all odds, they were able to do that with each other.

The enemies to lovers romance was steamy. The tension between Clark and Riley was palpable. I legit didn't know half the time if they wanted to fight or f*ck. Honestly, it was a little bit of both. These two knew exactly how to get under each other's skin and hurt the other (their verbal sparring sometimes cut so deep it was painful to witness). But beneath all that hate was undeniable chemistry and lust. Jumping ahead to their love confessions . . . I couldn't help but smile like an idiot. They're so different, but have the same fear of opening up. So when they finally put their guards down and trust, it was lovely.

The spice was HOT. Enemies-to-lovers is the superior trope. I don't make the rules. And from the beginning, there is so much tension between Riley and Clark, you can cut it with a knife. Like I mentioned earlier, you don't know if they want to fight or f*ck. So when these two get together, it's explosive. They just can't help themselves. I knew the sex was going to be steamy, but it was also kinkier than I expected. There's some light choking, biting/marking, edging, a tiny bit of self-deprecation, hate sex, and sex in some public places.

What I didn't like:

While I loved the hate/enemies aspect, sometimes it was hard to believe or it felt like they were forcing themselves to have these negative feelings. Riley and Clark definitely say some hurtful things to each other and use their vulnerabilities as a weakness, which was so not cool and definitely added to the whole enemies vibe. However, there were also a lot of sweet, gentle, and vulnerable moment's between them that would immediately turn spiteful within minutes. I don't think this was even bad. There were just so many moments where they went back and forth in such a short amount of time that I honestly forgot the specifics each time it happened. I think it would have been more memorable if there were fewer small fights and more big ones.

I'm not sure why, but the 3rd person POV made it a little challenging for me to connect with the characters. Both characters have a lot going on internally, so it probably would have translated better if it was 1st person POV. Because it wasn't, I sometimes felt a bit detached while reading.


Overall, if you want an enemies-to-lovers story that takes place in the Scottish Highlands, definitely read this book! It's highly entertaining, very fun, and sexy as hell. You don't want to miss out!



Favorite Quotes:

Sometimes his face made her want to punch his mouth with her mouth.
_______

"I'm not your sweetheart."
"No. But you'll let me wreck you anyways, won't you?"
_______

"An enemies-to-lovers sex ritual with a smoldering Englishman? Why are the requirements of your job so much better than mine?" (I'm wondering the same thing lol)
_______

"You better keep that mouth occupied. If I see one hint of a smirk, I'll . . ."
"You'll what?"
"Fall in love with you."
_______

He'd been happy before. [But] none of it felt quite like Riley Rhodes in his arms, telling him she loved him, whispering it over and over against his lips, his cheek, his jaw.
_______

"You're cursed as long as you believe you're cursed."
_______

As it turns out, sometimes what you needed was someone who brought out the worst in you. There was a gift, she realized, that could only be exchanged between former enemies - permission to forgive yourself. Because if someone could see all your failures and somehow still come around in the end, well, maybe your worst wasn't so bad after all.
_______

Rosie Danan's Do Your Worst was the perfect book to read during spooky season. I gravitated towards this book because of the beautiful cover but stayed for the amazing curse-breaking lore and enemies to lovers romance. Riley and Clark were the epitome of opposites attract, but their story was so perfect and I loved every second of it!

Thank you to Berkley & PRH Audio for the review copies!

If you like:
💖 opposites attract / light enemies to lovers
💖 paranormal / curse breaking
💖 forced proximity
💖 romcoms
💖 historical mysteries

…then you need to get your hands on this book!

The tension sizzled between these two! Riley is a professional curse breaker, hired to break the curse on a Scottish castle. Clark is an archaeologist working on the same site, who cannot afford another scandal.

It is absolutely predictable, but in the best way. I binged it quickly, which is what I look for in a romcom. I want things to be cozy even when there’s tension, and to feel like I’m guaranteed a HEA!

🎧 You absolutely need to listen to this on audio. Shane East is a treat.

I’m not surprised I loved this so much since The Roommate and The Intimacy Experiment are some of my all time favorite smutty romcoms, but what a delight this book was!
By chapter 2 I was already hooked and the narrators!? I mean anything with Shane East (Steve West) is an automatic yes for me!

This book was spicy like all of Rosie’s books and very fun, with tons of tropes really well done and a pace fast enough that you don’t ever want to put it down. Both characters had depth and were well rounded and their chemistry was undeniable from the first interaction. The whole premise of the curse in Scotland was an added bonus for me because who doesn’t love a good paranormal highland setting!?

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I am so glad it met all my expectations!

Rosie Danan’s DO YOUR WORST (Berkley, 334 pp., paperback, $17) has that rarest of tropes: an enemies-to-lovers pairing that is perfectly, lusciously balanced. Clark Edgeware is an archaeologist in disgrace, Riley Rhodes is a curse breaker on the rise, and the infamous Scottish castle they’ve both been hired to investigate is the battleground. Riley is there for the historical artifacts, and it’s truly unfortunate that a man who doesn’t believe in curses is so good at finding ones that just happen to be cursed. This is a very light supernatural, with a sense of the world being wide and wondrous rather than a concrete magical system like Marske’s.

It would be simpler for Riley and Clark to stay enemies if it weren’t for Danan’s signature evocation of horniness — blended here with just a soupçon of pain kink, as a treat. The sexiness is more cutting than her previous two books, with a bright acid pop that brings out the richness.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danon
Narrators: Shane East and Saskia Maarleveld
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 11/14

Set against the backdrop of a haunted Scottish castle, this steamy tale pairs a no-nonsense English archaeologist, Clark, with Riley, a charming and spirited curse breaker with supernatural abilities. They inadvertently team up to break a curse that has been haunting Arden castle for hundreds of years. The sparks fly from the moment they meet, and you won't be able to put this book down.

Danon's writing is clever and engaging, offering a unique twist on the art of professional curse-breaking. The way she weaves the romantic history of the castle into Clark and Riley's love story makes you feel like you're right there with them in the midst of the Scottish Highlands. If you're a fan of anything remotely related to the highlands, mystical standing stones, fae folk, and clan battles, this book is sure to transport you to that enchanting world.

I loved the enemies-to-lovers vibes, the witty banter, and the gorgeous setting.
The story was fast-paced, and the narration by Shane East and Saskia Maarleveld was perfection. It was also a lot steamier than I anticipated, which I’ll never complain about.

While I was hoping for a deeper connection between Clark and Riley, overall, this was a fun, steamy rom-com with enemies-to-lovers vibes and paranormal elements. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook. Grab your copy on 11/14!

Rosie Danan literally never fails at the enemies to lovers trope. I am a huge fan of the Roomate and I knew I would just love this book. I also appreciate that Danans book. This one included always has such. Good lot, the perfect balance of spice and story.

How I loved this! Riley and Clark meet in a bar and have an instant connection until they meet the next day and he finds out she’s a curse breaker. They have such amazing banter as they try to best the other. I alternated between the audiobook and ebook and loved the narration! I’ve been a big Rosie Dana fan for awhile and this was different than her normal books, but it was just a delightful read!

If you enjoy paranormal enemies-to-lovers romances with lots of spice, give this one a try. Riley is an American curse-breaker who travels to Scotland to break the curse on a Scottish castle and quickly gets off on the wrong foot with archeologist Clark, who does not believe in curses. Of course, to break the curse, the two must learn to work together -- and fall in love along the way.

The fun paranormal seasoned romance I didn't realize I was in the mood for. This one is all about enemies to lovers, but in a way that makes you feel good about both characters instead of questioning their life choices. Definitely more on the rivals to lovers side of things, where everyone has good goals but different methods of achieving them. Easy to root for both Riley and Clark the whole way through.