While I haven't read Rosie Danan's first book, that everyone loves, I was really intrigued by this different take on a traditional romance.
First of all, I really enjoyed the way that this was written - it was a fun, light read that I sped through.
There were some surprisingly funny moments too.
I also liked the Scottish connection and lore, especially as a Scot myself.
I could have done with more enemies to lovers before they got together, plus the pacing was a bit slower at times, but I still liked it overall.
I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for what Rosie Danan does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rosie Danan is an absolute joy! I loved her previous books and when I saw this I was so intrigued by the premise of this book. If you enjoy light hearted writing that builds characters beautifully, shows the complexities of humans and their flaws with romance thrown in- this is for you. This was fun! What a great book!

Another Danan delight.

I really like Rosie's writing, she manages to submerge you immediately into the story and the level of sass she writes it always right up my street.
I liked the paranormal addition to this storyline as it made it feel a little different to her other works. I loved the characters. I loved that it chucked you straight in with their chemistry sizzling before she put a spanner straight in the works. Clever.

Great plot, great characters, great book!

I loved this book! Such a good fun light read, I genuinely read this book in one sitting! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.

This was a fun book! I enjoyed the originality of the concept, as although there's been a massive surge in magic-centred romances, the curse-breaking element of this made it feel unique enough, especially with the setting of this crumbling castle and an archaeologist male love interest. I enjoyed the curse element, and how it seemed as though the house was literally bringing Riley and Clark together. I believed in the chemistry between these two main characters, and how there wasn't a huge amount of pretending to hate while secretly falling - the pacing of the change from hate to love was pretty quick, however. I also thought the plot was pretty predictable, which isn't necessarily a huge criticism, but I wasn't completely gripped by the story because of this. I'd heard good things about Danan's other novel, The Roommate, but I probably won't go back and pick it up on the basis of Do Your Worst.

"Two things are bound into repetition, Gran had written, history and curses."

GENRE: RomCom with a dash of Fantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc
Would I recommend to others?: Yes, to those who would like a quick but lovely read that they can enjoy in between heavy books!

Review:
Do Your Worst is one of those books you pick up between two heavy books and you get a breather. I honestly quite enjoyed it & while a 3 star may be low to others, that is a book I did enjoy but was not life altering. Sometimes I find myself reaching for a book that I know it would be a three star but it is a comfort read.

I loved how Do Your Worst was a light read but still addressed some deep themes about self discovery and learning how to accept ourselves, even in the midst of a family that makes you feel like the black sheep.

If you've read my previous reviews, you would know that due to losing my grandmother in 2023, any book that mentions a loss related to this always hits so close to home for me. I loved hearing about Riley and her relationship with her grandmother when she was younger and when she says this quote, I relate to it on a whole other level as even though I am older than Riley was when she lost her grandmother, dont we all have questions we wish to ask our loved ones that are no longer around, whether it be for another recipe or about their lives?
“I still wish almost every day that I could ask her a question, get her advice.”

Again, this book was an excellent light breather between heavy books. The story of Riley and Clark developed in a lovely pace and I didnt feel as if the romance was rushed. It also felt like it could happen in real life but had so many coincidence which were a reference to the curse that was going on.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Arc copy for my honest opinion.

I tried a few times to get into this but I just couldn't connect with it. I found myself not paying attention and having to go back and reread the page.

I wouldn't suggest somebody didn't read Do Your Worst because this is most definitely personal taste and I know others would really love this, but I struggled to get invested. (It doesn't help that I picked this up when trying to get out of a reading slump). Perhaps I could give it another chance in the future but, right now, it's a miss.

I think I liked the idea of the story more than the actual book. The chemistry of the characters was a little off and felt a bit rushed, but I do prefer a slow burn romances. I'm also not one for info-dumps, as someone who has a bad attention span, I gloss over them completely.

I did like the concept, the setting, and I am one for banter (which this has), but the rest of it fell flat for me, so unfortunately it's a 1 star.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a very cute enemies to lovers tale with some historical elements sprinkled in. Riley and Clark are a very sweet couple, and although their enemity is very petty and more like rivals, it was still a fun ride to figure out the curse and watch them fall for each other.

The romance was well-written and the characters' backstories were genuinely interesting and brought out a more real dynamic between the two. There are also some really funny moments. like Clark and the onion picking that had me laughing out loud while reading.

All in all, this is a very sweet book, and a good choice if you're looking for a magical-realism, romantic, easy read.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC! This sounded like the perfect wintery read; an old cursed castle in the Scottish Highlands? Sign me up!

This is a romance with a paranormal twist! Riley has faced more than her fair share of skepticism as a curse breaker but with a fresh assignment breaking a curse at the ancient Arden Castle in Scotland, she hopes to legitimise her business and prove herself. Clark has recently suffered a professional scandal and has also taken an assignment at Arden Castle to regain some of his reputation, only he is in archaeologist and is very much a non-believer in curse breaking. So much so, he tries to get Riley kicked offsite…while she’s in earshot. So begins a war between the two enemies and despite finding themselves constantly in close proximity to each other neither of them will break will they? They won’t for example, fall in love?

I really enjoyed the curse breaking/mystery element of this. I thought Riley and Clark worked really well together when working on the curse and I loved that he tried to understand Riley’s job in spite of his skepticism. The setting of the castle in Scotland was very atmospheric and I loved the side characters. The sub plot with Clark and his Dad was really well done and it helped me to understand Clark more as a character.

I just felt like once they had actually confessed their feelings for each other, Riley and Clark’s relationship went from 0 to 100 and I just couldn’t get onboard considering this man didn’t start talking about her personality rather than her body until about 50% of the way through. Some of the forced proximity scenes were kind of…forced by the author and a bit cringe.

Overall I don’t know, this just didn’t do it for me but I can’t entirely put my finger on why if that makes sense? I still recommend it if you like enemies to lovers, forced proximity and maybe paranormal romances. This came out on 14th November so you can read it now.

I didn't like anything about this and if I hear one more 2023 book giving The Mummy vibes again I'm going to scream because it certainly did not.

From the beginning this book threw you into the action and I loved that there wasn't any needless fluff or downtime between chapters. Everything was plot or romance driven.

I loved the dynamic between the two characters from the beginning- seeing how this was a very much situational based enemies to lovers. The spice that Rosie added into their tangled relationship was amazing! I also loved the inclusion of the cyclical curse:history repeating itself with the origin of the curse and then the breaker of it.

The resilience of Riley and the strength of her maternal line was something I really enjoyed. I also loved the quiet strength that Clark had, always looking out for her even when he "hated" her - something I love in an enemies to lovers.

I liked how even with snippets outside of the main romance Rosie made me feel something for these characters: Gran's heartbreak in the mining accident, Malcolm falling for his captor, Phillipa.

Magic meant transformative - I love that he described her that way because that's the basis of enemies to lovers, how love transforms a relationship from one thing into another and why I love the trope so much. This book managed to encapsulate why its such a good love trope: because this person sees the absolute worst in you, and still has the ability to love you, entirely you with all your faults. Most books don't go as meta as this one did but I enjoyed that it did.

The only downfall I would say was the Americanisms that slipped in when it was supposed to be Clark's point of view or the speech from the Scottish characters: a downfall quite a few American authors have when writing British characters.

This book is the perfect one for a quick read with loose ends tied up nicely and a spicy romance to interest you along the way. It's the perfect mix of cosy romance set in the Scottish Highlands and enemies to lovers on a job, with the hint of fantasy and academia.

Do Your Worst, Rosie Danan's latest novel, a captivating blend of romance and the supernatural, delivers an enchanting tale of enemies turned lovers. Riley Rhodes, a charismatic occult expert, and Clark Edgeware, a disgraced archaeologist seeking redemption, collide in a passionate battle of wills as they attempt to break a curse haunting a Scottish castle. The sparks between them are undeniable, and the chemistry leaps off the pages.

The transition from enemies to lovers is skillfully executed, with Clark's initial skepticism transforming into a genuine belief in Riley's abilities. The characters' inner dialogues are witty, and the banter between them is delightful, especially when they find themselves succumbing to their desires. Danan weaves in a touch of the paranormal, adding an unexpected layer to the narrative and pushing the characters into moments of vulnerability and growth.

While the timeline is short, the love story is sweet and heartwarming. The unresolved mystery of the curse leaves readers yearning for more, as the fate of the characters and the castle remains uncertain. Danan's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a darling, unique delight that will resonate with romance enthusiasts. With complex characters and an intriguing plot, this novel stands out as a must-read, showcasing Danan's exceptional ability to craft compelling and magical stories.

This is my first novel by Rosie Danan and I had high expectations for it because I heard many good things about her novels, but I was slightly disappointed. The premise was intriguing, an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a curse and a remote village in Scotland, but, for me, the writing and the plot felt forced and I can’t say I really liked any of the characters, especially the two protagonists. The enemies-to-lovers part felt exaggerated and the paranormal side was a bit ridiculous. Not what I expected!

When I saw that this book was set in Scotland and that it's enemies to lovers, I was immediately hooked! It's the perfect time to read DO YOUR WORST and I enjoyed every second of reading this book!

Enemies to lovers, spicy, lots of banter!
I really enjoyed this dual pov story between a curse breaker and an archaeologist. Did it feel a little instalovey? A little bit but surprisingly it worked and I loved watching Riley and Clark infuriate each other whist also being completely drawn to each at the same time!

REVIEW
When Riley Rhodes is tasked with breaking the centuries-long curse in a Scottish castle, she sees it as an opportunity to turn her family's supernatural legacy into a legitimate business. however, she's unprepared for the handsome stranger she meets there. Archaeologist Clark Edgeware is fresh off a professional scandal, and can't risk his work being vilified again. Despite each trying to get rid of the other, the castle seems to have other ideas.
This is exactly the kind of enemies-to-lovers rom-com that I adore. I loved Riley immediately. She was so feisty and hilarious, and I loved her friendships with Ceilidh and Eilean. The curse-breaking aspects were really interesting, and I loved all of the details and parallels. I also really enjoyed the way her relationship with Clark developed so organically. Clark was such a cinnamon roll, and I absolutely adored how passionate he was about everything (and I really mean EVERYTHING 😏). Their chemistry was apparent from their first meeting, and the banter between them was perfect. I cackled at Riley's terrible attempt at breaking and entering, as well as their tussles in the castle, particularly with the WiFi speakers.
I loved the resolution, and the epilogue was perfect (I'd LOVE more Ceilidh and a certain character in the future, please!)
A gorgeous rom-com that's also a lot of fun.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥.5
Emotional Rating: 😂💓🙈😏😂💓🥰😒💔😂😬😏😍😂💓🙈😏💔👏🏻😏🙈😍😏😂😏💔👏🏻😮🙈😮💓💔🥰🤦🏻‍♀️😬🙈😉😍😒💔💓🙈💔🥰🙈👏🏻😏💓🙈🥰😏😂💓😍😏😍🙈👏🏻🥰😡👏🏻😂🥰😏😍🥰😬😡👏🏻🥰

*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review. Do Your Worst is released on 14th November in the UK*

Favourite Quotes:

Clark could see in her eyes the same heartsickness that he carried, the kind that came from tamping down and tamping down a longing to be accepted. Only unlike him, rather than courting approval, Riley spat in the face of societal norms.

“Let’s see exactly how much of a mess I can make of you.”

No one had ever seen him as clearly as Riley. Frankly, he’d never wanted them to. All the effort he put into controlling his temper, keeping up appearances, hadn’t stopped her from finding his weak spots.

"You’ve faced so much doubt and opposition. Why shouldn’t more people come and see what you can do?”

I was super excited for this one, and was approved at the perfect time for a spooky paranormal romcom! Unfortunately I was hoping for more supernatural elements.
The romance also felt a bit rushed and I felt they lacked real chemistry. I just never truly felt connected to the characters, so unfortunately this one was a miss for me.

I've gone with 4 stars because when I was reading it, I was having a great time, but when I put it down overnight, I wasn't dying to pick it back up.

Riley is a cursebreaker, Clark is an archaeologist, and they don't agree on how to deal with a cursed castle. What could possibly go wrong. The answer? Many things.

If you like rom-coms, this book is for you, I spent a lot of my time laughing. Ceilidh (who is my favourite character and I sense a book coming for her) has some of the best one-liners.

The romance is definitely there, and there's quite a few spicy scenes. As far as enemies to lovers goes it's got everything you'd want. Tension, close encounters, and a little bit of drama. I did find, though, that the feelings aspect came on suddenly. Prior to that, it was all sexual attraction and a slow getting to know each other. But given the plot and what they're meant to be echoing, it kind of makes sense.
I wish we had maybe gotten some chapters from the POV of two certain rival clan members.

Plot wise, I do think it was rather obvious from the start what the curse wanted in order for it to be broken, and we took a long route to get there. I do wish that the climax for that story point had happened at one of the earlier scenes. I think that would have made for a nice moment.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Rosie Danan, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Funny, steamy, sparky rom-com from an auto-buy author. I really enjoyed this latest adventure from Rosie Danan, which was very different from her previous novels, but contained the same thread of humour and swoony romance.

This is the first book I’ve read by Rosie Danan, and it definitely won’t be my last. I really loved the supernatural elements and Scottish castle setting, not to mention the two extremely likeable leading characters in Riley and Clark. It had everything I want in a romance story, and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.

I found Riley’s curse breaking profession very interesting, especially how it tied to the Scottish Fae and clans of long ago. I also enjoyed learning about Clark and his archaeology, and how that fit in with Riley’s search for a curse. These two have such a great chemistry right from the start, and their unfolding feelings for each other do not make for smooth sailing. Talk about opposites attract!

Do Your Worst is well-written, fun, and deeper than I initially thought it would be. It explores many familial issues between Clark and his dad, and it shows that how you perceive yourself isn’t always how other people see you. It’s a great read for any romance fans out there, especially those who like their angst with a little more mysticism, escapism, and a sassy curse breaker who knows exactly what she wants. I hope Rosie Danan writes more like this!