I was super interested in the premise of this book. Enemies to lovers and a curse? It sounded right up my alley. But this book was absolutely not an enemies to lovers. I would call them rivals but even then I’m iffy. They liked each other from chapter one and sure they fought a bit throughout the book but it was insta love not enemies to lovers.

I did have fun reading this book and I did like the two main characters. I definitely see this book being extremely popular on BookTok and I think a lot of people would love it.

Overall this is a fun little romance with a curse-breaking element and if that sounds like something you’d enjoy I would recommend checking this book out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. A charming, lightly paranormal romance set in rural Scotland. Riley is trying to turn her family’s curse-breaking gifts into a viable business, while Clark is a by-the-book archaeologist determined to prove his worth to his own family. When they collide at a cursed Scottish castle, there are immediate sparks, but their goals seem diametrically opposed.

A sweet story of redemption, with some unexpectedly steamy moments. Although I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, given author Rosie Danan’s previous books like the delightfully spicy The Roommate. There’s a bit of instalove here, but mainly it’s a fun adventure love story.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

There was so much to live about this! The Scottish setting, curses, enemies to lovers, steamy scenes in rare book rooms. I do wish there had been more of a transition between the enemies to the lovers.

I liked this one a lot! GrumpyxSunshine although there was a little instalove that is not my favorite, and a little bit of miscommunication. The spicy scenes though!! So good.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

A delightful, spooky season romcom that’s quirky and intelligent and just fun.

Quick Synopsis: Riley is a cursebreaker hired to visit a castle struggling with a curse that just won’t quit. When she arrives, she’s instantly intrigued by Clark until she discovers he’s currently working as an archeologist at the castle and also doesn’t believe in her work. At all. He’s not going to stand in her way, however.

Trigger warnings: Domestic terrorism; assassination; kidnapping; murder; sexism; misogyny; racism;

What I liked:
-This was just funny. I was actually laughing which doesn’t happen with all romcoms. Oftentimes they’re not actually funny, but this one very much was.
-The spicy scenes are spicy and honestly the situations where they occur are hilarious.
-I loved how Clark slowly comes to believe in her, perhaps not in curses, but in her and her capabilities.
-I loved how the ending wasn’t immediately figured out. She didn’t just instantaneously know what to do/how to break the curse and she failed repeatedly, but keeps trying.

What I struggled with:
-There were some slow points where it seemed to drag a bit, but they’re sandwiched between great moments.

Altogether, another smash hit from Rosie Danana. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Can a spooky romance also be incredibly charming? Do Your Worst definitely hits the brief. Clarke and Riley were absolutely adorable together even as they tried valiantly to hate each others’ guts. Rosie Danan knows how to make the warm and fuzzies sneak up on you when you least expect it.

I adored The Roommate by Rosie Danan and have been desperate for anything by her since I finished it. I was nervous Do Your Worst wouldn't live up to The Roommate since I've hailed that as my "practically perfect' spicy romcom for years, but Do Your Worst dethroned The Roommate within the first few chapters. I wouldn't change anything about this book. Often romcoms are only funny in theory, but this book had me laughing out loud. And the enemies to lovers dynamic made the spice even hotter. This is going to be one of my top 10 books of the year.

This was SUCH a fun read. I loved Rosie Danan’s previous book so I was excited for this one, especially the paranormal aspect. Third person writing is never my favorite but the story was so fun I was able to forget it was even written in third person. I can’t wait to read more of this authors work!

I loved this book from top to bottom.

Ancient curses at a Scottish castle and two hotties fighting (and doing other things…) sign me up.

This was so fun and spicy! I want a sequel pleaseeeee

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the digital arc.

✨ Review ✨ Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

I'm obsessed with Rosie's first two books and so I might have screamed a bit when I got an advanced copy of this one!

This one is quite a bit different though -- it mixes some supernatural elements and has some light mystery and adventure pieces to it. It definitely read a lot different to her other books.

Riley, a curse-breaker, and Clark, an archaeologist, are both employed to work on an infamous Scottish castle -- Riley, to remove a curse preventing the castle from being refurbished to attract tourism, and Clark, to try to prove the historical significance of the castle to slow the refurbishment. At odds, the two quickly butt heads in their goals, their processes, and just their general interactions. But will their attraction bring them together despite their enmity?

This book was a lot of fun to read -- definitely will be a hit this fall for spooky season! I had some qualms with some of the historical research the characters were doing (the logistics of the reading room being open to them, the types of sources they were finding), that made me need to suspend some professional disbelief. Also it took some adjustment to the book where it felt almost like a different genre than her previous books.

definitely one to look forward to for the fall!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)
Genre: f/m romance
Setting: a haunted Scottish castle
Reminds me of: The Ex Hex, Lana Harper
Pub Date: November 15, 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ haunted, supernatural, magic-y romances set in the real world
⭕️ enemies to lovers
⭕️ Scottish castles & small towns

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

*** Thanks you to the Publishers and to Netgalley for providing with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
An enemies-to-lovers adventure with an uptight archeologist and a free-spirited occult curse breaker. This was very different from anything I've read lately and I enjoyed it immensely.

An enjoyable romance with plenty of humor and sparks and a compelling plot at its center. Rosie Danan is a great writer and I look forward to her future books.

I loved Rosie Danan's Shameless series for their mix of steam, sex positivity, and super intellectual characters. Do Your Worst has those elements PLUS Scotland, a cursed castle, and a bit of mysticism. Riley and Clark are a well conceived grumpy sunshine but reimagined with a bit of both sides for each of them. Grappling with legacy, partnership, and a love of uncovering history - they share enough meaningful connections that the intimacy feels natural and progresses the plot well.

One of my favorite parts of a good rom com is the supporting characters and Rosie does these so well. The villagers, family members, and the historical characters adding to the plot are all lovely. I also appreciated the nuance of the magic lore. I love the witch town romances trending now, but this Romancing the Stone with some well-researched mystic lore is very welcome!

Rosie, you are a gem and a delight and you knocked it out of the park once again with Do Your Worst. Rosie’s books just speak to me. I loved the roommate, the intimacy project is one of my favorite books of all time as it was just so relatable on a variety of levels to me and Do Your Worst just took so many of my favorite things, action, adventure, curse breaking, enemies to lovers, a 90’s Mummy/X Files Vibe, and made them shine.

Riley and Clark are so much fun! They’re def giving off gender swapped Evie/Rick Scully/Mulder vibes. Curse breaker Riley and archeologist Clark hit it off quickly but when he tries to get her fired because he doesn’t believe in curses things quickly go south. Their banter was hilarious and fantastic. The massage scene had me cracking up.

I can’t say much without getting into the plot but there’s just as much heart as there is fun. The story of the curse was tragic and heartbreaking, but on the flip side we get to see a lot of grace and redemption in the present that was beautiful. What I love most about Rosie’s books is she manages to always give us some laugh out loud moments and some real moments of depth. I will def be buying a physical copy for my shelf on release day!

My goodness gracious what a fun book! I am so grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the arc in exchange for my honest opinion. The character building was absolutely top notch, the romance was sizzling, and the humor (often an after thought when the passion is pinging) was SPOT on! I have read some of the authors other works but this one was top notch! Thank you for bringing the flirt, the fun, and the fu….well you get it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC!

This was SO FUN! A castle (in Scotland!), a curse, a woman who has cursebreaking in her blood, and a man who has archaeology in his. Plus enemies-to-lovers. If this sounds good to you, preorder forthwith, because Rosie Danan made such a charming book out of these ideas. I'm hopeful there will be another book in this world - there are a lot of curses after all!

I love Rosie Danan. Her ability to make you get lost in a book, had me finishing Do Your Worst in one sitting - neglecting all my daily duties. I loved the history and adventure brought into this plot and loved Clark and Rileys relationship even more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- The 1999 cinematic masterpiece, The Mummy
- Must have sex to break the curse and for that reason only

Enemies to lovers in a setting very reminiscent of The Mummy? Yes please!

I'm so glad this was my first Rosie Danan read. I was living for everything about it - the tension, the banter, the curse-breaking. It had everything I love with some added spice!

Do Your Worst takes you on a journey where you will laugh out loud, feel the sexual tension and go through finding a way to break a curse all wrapped up in a hot love story with the guaranteed HEA.

Riley was a badass FMC who stood her ground with the Roy Kent-esque Clark. This opposites attract duo was executed perfectly and the tropes were cranked up to eleven. The forced proximity and enemies to lovers aspects were inventively tackled and had me DYING.

For me, this book needs a re-read because sometimes my mind did wander while reading through the curse history, etc. but that did not take away the excellent love story.

I really enjoyed this new world from Rosie Danan! The characters were likable and the plot was unique and fun!

Thank you for allowing me to read early!

Rosie Danan is the queen of spicy stories with a twist, and fans will love "Do Your Worst". Romance readers will be thrilled!