Rosie Danan

I adored this book.

So, I really enjoyed The Roommate and Clara's story was a good intro to these characters. Her's was a fish out of water story. The Intimacy Experiment, however, is a much more mature story. What I mean is Naomi and Ethan are adult that are established in their careers and have overcome different challenges a human can expect to experience by the time you are in your thirties. So, where Clara was uncertain about herself and who she is in the world often asking for permission to take up space. Naomi knows who she is and where she belongs. She takes what belongs to her and does not rely on anyone to give it to her.

ALSO - this book is very Jew-y. I love Jewish representation - especially representation of someone who lives a religious life. There were a few parts of the book that felt authentic and if you are Jewish or a member of a minority group, you can appreciate the author including these scenes (JCC's needing security for instance).

Anyway - I loved this book!… (mais)

This is the paranormal, historical, set-in-Scotland, hate-sex-having romance novel you didn't know you needed. Curse-breaker Riley butts heads with academic archaeologist Clark Scotland over, well, EVERYTHING. Their first meeting at a pub is all chemistry and sweetness, but when Riley overhears Clark dissing her profession the next morning when she shows up on location to start her job, she discovers the hottie from last night is the one insulting her, and the dude the the historical association sent to do some due diligence excavation.

While I do occasionally branch out and read witchy/occult romance, curse-breaking is a new profession for me to see featured in romance (give a listen to the Somewhere In Between episode of Book Riot's When in Romance podcast for a great discussion of occupations they'd like to see in romance novels --oy vey, so many bakeries and bookshops!). Do Your Worst features amazing, researched, and believable details about curse-breaking, and I loved the concept of the curse having a life of it's own. Riley totally employs the scientific method in her work. In addition to the romance, family relationships are complicated and resolutions attempted, demonstrating true, realistic character growth.

Things to love about Rosie Danan's superb writing: feisty, unapologetic heroines; broadly-defined sex; pop culture references; boundary-setting; love for Philadelphia, PA; snarky humor and great banter; addressing vulnerabilities; all the gory details; a 10-page description of the MMC jerking off while thinking about the FMC...

I don't want to give too much away, so will leave you with this: if you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 2 Episode 19 "I Only Have Eyes for You" was in fact directly referenced) or Outlander (book or show) for their particular winning blend of occult, history, methodical and detailed science, and herbalism/magic, this is a great novel for you to pick up. It hard a bit of slow start for me, and I ended up devouring it over two days.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #DoYourWorst from #NetGalley.
https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/2023/07/14/do-your-worst-by-rosie-danan/… (mais)

This is a VERY VERY VERY x-rated book and I did not know that before I got it.

Cute cover and roommates to romance was enough for me to assume that I’d like it. Was NOT counting on the main character to be a porn actor nor did I expect the plot to revolve around creating a new kind of porn website. So yeah, LOTS of sex scenes, lots of talk about sex and sex workers.

The whole message of the book is that sex is not shameful and sex workers are real people and not degenerates. So good message and not typical of a romance novel but not completely my cup of tea either.

(edited to change my first sentence: at first I called it a dirty book but lesson learned: sex is not dirty! Words matter!)



… (mais)