Excellent enemies to lovers, and perfect for spooky vibes! Loved this curse breaker vs archaeologist dynamic, and the added family drama. Read this is you’re romanticizing ancient castles, you like your women a little witchy, and you like your book men obsessed with their women!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan.

Unfortunately this was a DNF @ 50%...I hated the characters, the conflict felt forced, and there wasn't enough plot to keep me going....I know it will be right for another reader.

I really wanted to love Do Your Worst, as Rosie's The Roommate is easily one of my favorite rom-coms. However, I had a hard time connecting with Riley and Clark as a couple. Their relationship fell into insta-love category for me and therefore I feel like the chemistry was lacking. I'm sad I didn't end up loving this book, but look forward to Rosie's next book!

Posted via goodreads.

DNF'd 16% in -- I may come back to this at some point. This pains me because I enjoyed her other books, but I'm not liking the set up here. The characters are already acting smug and overly rude to each other for very little reason (or, at least, reasons that don't seem like good enough reasons to me), and I'm just not feeling it right now.

I loved the setting for this book and the two narrators. They brought the characters to life and made it interesting. Curse breaking in ancient castles over in Scotland? I’m all in!

Danan writes incredible sex scenes and this was no different--but what her other novels and the end of this one show is that she is really much, much better at writing characters who like one another than the opposite...the enemies section just felt contrived.

This book feels like it tries to be enemies to lovers to the point it makes it a bully romance. The hate also felt one sided making me just dislike the FMC to the point I didn’t want them together in the end. The curse did intrigue me but I wanted to learn about just that without anymore interaction with the main characters. It was hard to believe they had any chemistry. Also it was confusing if there were magical elements or not with the curse business. Some places dragged also and felt it was too many descriptions to the point it confused you and had me lost. Over all I would not read this again and this author missed the mark.

I love an enemies to lovers trope but add history, witty banter, and steam and it becomes even better. I found myself laughing at a bunch of the interactions between the two main characters. The spice was also spicier than I was expecting but also definitely showed that it was still enemies to lovers. I also hope to see maybe more of these characters cause it was so much fun.

Do Your Worst is a recent Adult Romance release from Rosie Danan. In this story we follow Riley Rhodes, a young American woman trying to make a go as a curse breaker, and Clark Edgewater, a disgraced young archaeologist trying to rebuild his tarnished reputation.

The setting is Arden Castle, an infamous Scottish castle known for its centuries-long curse. Riley gets the opportunity to travel there to try her best to break the curse before the new owners turn it into a luxury getaway spot. Meanwhile, Clark is there working for the HES, surveying the site, making sure anything of historical significance is found, documented and handled properly.

There's instant attraction, but also a healthy dose of animosity. This is definitely an opposites attract scenario, with their personalities clashing hard and often. They're both trying to drive each other away, but the chemistry keeps bringing them together. There are some silly moments, where you can hardly believe they're making the choices they are, but as they begin to open up to one another, their personalities truly blossom.

I loved both of these characters. Riley is head strong and determined. She's pushing to try to prove herself and I think she saw a bit of that reflected in Clark's personality. Clark is such a sweetie. He's been hurt, so he has a bit of a wall up, but there's also an innocence about him that is so charming. You can tell how much he is intrigued by Riley. It's cute as heck.

I really loved this set-up and the setting. The story kicks off very quickly. I liked that Danan didn't waste time before getting us to Scotland. The idea of the curse and the history of the castle were both interesting. I would love to get an assignment like Riley had here.

I also really enjoyed how different these two characters were, but how well their personalities played off one another. The banter was great, as were the steamy scenes. I think Danan did a fantastic job building out the relationship dynamics. Their push-and-pull was enticing.

The conclusion to this was very cutesy as well. It got me in my feels, but I was also intrigued by how it left off. Could we be seeing more of Riley and Clark in the future? I definitely think it's a possibility. Whether or not we are getting more with them, or maybe getting some stories with side characters involved, like Clark's brother, whatever it is, I will read it. This was a strong Romance for me. It had just the right mix of humor, steam, and inclusion of work and family issues, for my taste.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had never read from Danan before, so this was a delightful surprise. I am looking forward to picking up more of her work.

"Rosie Danan's 'Do Your Worst' is an enchanting escapade that masterfully weaves together romance, humor, and a dash of the supernatural. From the very beginning, the intricate characterization of the main protagonists draws readers into their complex worlds, where personal histories become integral to the unfolding narrative.

The Scottish castle, shrouded in mystery and burdened by a centuries-old curse, serves as a captivating backdrop. Danan skillfully navigates the transition from a lighthearted hookup to the tension-filled realm of enemies to lovers, fueled by a palpable yearning that stems from the characters' layered pasts.

The setting itself deserves a full five stars, transporting readers to a world where the ancient and the contemporary coexist seamlessly. As Riley and Clark embark on a scavenger hunt amid acts of sabotage, their challenges extend beyond the surface, adding depth to their evolving relationship. The story's multifaceted layers keep readers engaged, from the nuanced exploration of the characters' personal struggles to the suspenseful unraveling of the curse's mysteries. Danan's storytelling prowess shines through as the narrative unfolds against the rich tapestry of the Scottish landscape.

'Do Your Worst' is not merely a romance; it's a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and the triumph of love over adversity. The blend of supernatural elements, witty banter, and genuine emotion ensures that this book will linger in the minds and hearts of readers long after the final page is turned."

This was a spicy romance and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t one of my all time favorites, but it was good. I read this as part of a Berkeley buddy arc group. I think I would enjoy the book a lot more if I had a physical arc copy, rather than ebook

The Facts: Paranormal romance, enemies with benefits, instant attraction, forced proximity, curvy FMC

I adored this. I FREAKING ADORED THIS. Cursebreaker Riley finds herself at the same castle of sceptic and archeologist, Clark. After trying to get her fired, Riley and Clark must battle their heavy attraction towards another while also dodging whatever the curse throws their way.

What does that all mean? Absolute freaking fun for the reader. Endless entertainment. This storyline was so fun and the pacing was excellent. The characters were so well-developed that if there was an award for that kind of thing, this book would get that award. AND THE SPICE. My, oh my. Something about enemies to lovers smut is just superior. I don't make the rules, sorry.

You do not want to miss this one!

Thank you Berkley for the gifted e-copy of Do Your Worst.

Who doesn't love an enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance? Riley is a curse breaker sent to to Scotland to try to remove the curse that has been plaguing Arden Castle for years. Clark is an archaeologist struggling to redeem himself after a controversial last dig - and he wants Riley fired, because curse breaking is a load of crap, right?

They go back and forth trying to work around each other, while battling some sort of attraction. Riley comes up with an idea to break the curse, and Clark agrees, even though it involves facing their attraction (and getting naked).

The steam was fun and their banter was more fun. I did get confused by some of the things involving the castle and curse though, I do think that could have been explained a little better. Overall, a solid romcom.

I thought this was had great potential but I just couldn’t get into the chemistry with the MCs. I did love how atmospheric it was for being a romcom!

I never thought I’d read a romance between a curse breaker and an archaeologist, but here we are. I loved the setting of the cursed Scottish castle in the Highlands and I loved the premise of the novel, but it felt slow at times like the plot wasn’t moving. I did like the backstory to the main characters and how they both happened upon the same jobsite.

Riley comes from a long line of curse breakers. When she gets hired to break a curse in a Scottish castle, she jumps at the opportunity to prove herself. When she arrives at the castle, she is surprised to find there is already someone at the castle - a handsome stranger named Clark who is an archeologist digging in the site. However, Clark can’t be distracted by Riley and tries to get her fired immediately. She’s determined to get even and figures there's no better way than to let the curse scare him off. Instead, the curse keeps bringing them closer together.

I love Rosie Danan’s previous works, but this one didn’t hit the mark for me in the same way her previous two books did. Maybe it’s because I wasn't ready for a supernatural story, but I had a hard time connecting to this story and staying engaged due to the slow pace. That being said, I’m sure many others will love this book. The mythology was a cool and interesting addition to a romance, the Scottish highlands always make for a fabulous setting, and this book had Rosie’s signature steaminess.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy and thank you to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for hosting a buddy read!

This was so much fun! I'm loving the trend of adventure rom-coms and this one was great!

The characters had very interesting backstories and motivations, the curse/supernatural aspect was a fun addition, and, while it was a bit of a slowburn, the spice was there once it started.

I absolutely loved this author's first novel The Roommate, so I was so excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately the romance didn't feel authentic to me.

This story has a bit of a different feel compared to Danan’s previous books but I don’t think that’s a bad thing per se. There are a few things that may be triggering for some readers so be sure to check content warnings and trigger warnings if you have them.

The only real done side for me was how low the tension was for being and enemy to lovers story. I would’ve liked the tension to be a bit more heavy between our enemies but overall it was a fun quick read.

Enemies to lovers
Opposites attract
One night stand
Mystery
Tension
Spice
No 3rd act break up (hallelujah <3)
So much banter
Scottish highlands

Definitely recommend!