* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. The characters are ok, but I liked the side characters a little more. The writing wasn’t super great. And the romance wasn’t there for me. In general it felt like nothing really happened in the book. I think the best part was the chair prank.

Would not recommend. I think there are much better books out there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

"The Takeover" is a charming and fun enemies-to-lovers story that proves some birthday wishes do come true—just not quite how you expect. The setup starts with a bit of magic when tech founder Nami's 30th birthday wish is for her soulmate. Unfortunately, she instead brings her former high school rival Jae Lee back into her life (and gunning for her company), setting up a satisfying clash of professional ambition and reluctant attraction.

While some elements of the characters' backstories strain credibility for their ages, (doing an undergraduate degree, training for coding, and law school plus starting a tech start up before the age of 30!) the emotional core of the story rings true. What makes this book work is the genuine growth both characters undergo. Their evolution from high school rivals to something more feels earned, with sharp banter giving way to deeper understanding.

The corporate backdrop provides a fresh setting for their second-chance story, and Tanamachi balances the professional and personal stakes well. Watching these former academic competitors learn to appreciate how the other makes them better—and perhaps find even more in the process—makes for an engaging read.

A few narrative bumps aside, this is a warm, witty romance that was hard to put down.

This book was fine but greatly suffered from why too much detail when describing anything. I was barely into the first chapter of the book and the over the top level of description started to be annoying. I like the story but every time the author started describing something I was pulled so far out of the story.

This was super cute and surprising! I got really engrossed in the romance and kept wanting to read. It’s also funny and made me think. Great book.

When you wish upon a star, or er candle, you never know what might happen! Enemies to lovers, capers, family pressure, and more make a delightfully fun story.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Takeover releases January 30, 2024

Nami and Jae were each others nemesis in high school. A decade later, during the week of Nami’s 30th birthday, Jae makes a reappearance in her life in a professional capacity when his company tries to acquire her start-up tech company, which happens to be in dire need of funding.

The healthy workplace that Nami has prioritized for her employees is in jeopardy as Jae’s company is known to be cutthroat in their decisions, not batting an eye when it comes to the disposal of long-standing employees for financial success.
Will they be able to reach a middle ground? Or will they be caught in a stalemate?

The main reason why I enjoyed this so much was because Nami and Jae actually felt like true rivals, which is so hard to come across in an enemies-to-lovers book.
The writing was fast-paced and flowed effortlessly; the way they challenged each other was so lively and refreshing, showcasing just how fine the line is between love and hate.

A pivotal turning point in their dynamic was when they challenged each other in the Carolina Reapers ramen, which was hilarious.

Nami once had everything going for her she was getting married head of her tech startup she founded. It wasn’t until her engagement fell apart and the funding falling through at her tech startup that Nami’s world is tipped upside down. When her mother throws her a surprise birthday party with zero friends that nami gets the idea to wish for her sole mate. We then follow the funny enemies to lovers trope.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was very cute. The banter between the characters was funny and it was a very relatable hate/love combo. I enjoyed reading this book as it was lighthearted but also funny and intriguing to me. I give it a solid 4 stars! Worth taking a look at!

I wanted to love this one so much but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I felt as if the ages of the characters were contradicted by their very immature actions (especially from the mmc). Overall a cute (but frustrating) read.

Thank you so much for the complimentary copy.

The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi. Pub Date: January 30, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. If you like enemies to lovers workplace romance with cultural diversity representation, then this book may be the book for you. Female main character owns her own company that is potentially being bought by a male main character's company to help save her financially. The two characters know each other from high school so the banter is years long in the making. A romance develops between the two and the sexual tension is fierce in this one. I think the forced proximity of the characters added to the tension throughout. If you enjoy work place settings with tension moments, this book is probably for you! Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am obsessed with high school rivals turned into lovers as adult. I like the growth of people from their teenage years and getting to know each other as adults. I screamed. I squealed. I loved this.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cute office romance about two high school rivals who meet again years later and fight over the FMC's company! The cover is so adorable and I liked the story and the couple's chemistry overall. Not anything mind blowing but a nice book to pass the time. :)

I was looking for something to escape into last night and found this gem just waiting for me. All my favorite tropes where there with some unsuspecting twists that turned what I thought would be a typical Romcom into an easy to read funny, touching, and sigh worthy evening. This was my first read by Cara Tanamachi but I know it will not be last. If you are looking for something that will give you the perfect blend of drama and emotion, balanced out with smiles and laughs then you are looking at your next read!

Toggle is the Silicon Valley company of Chicago, the best place to work with the best boss ever (un-ironically), but can Nami persuade her high school nemesis from taking it over?

Nami plays by the rules, always has. Through some personal conflicts, she has tried to find happiness but only ends up people pleasing instead, and then Jae Lee contacts her and brings up the worst competitive feelings she has ever had toward another person.

Jae Lee is the youngest and most successful vice president of acquisitions at his company…. but he’s bored. He feels unchallenged in his life, so he manages to connect with the only person who’s ever made him want to be a better man.

This book’s summary was essentially the driving force to me getting it (including the enemies-to-lovers trope), except it fell short in many aspects. First was the writing style. It was staccato and unemotional which, for a rom-com, is the last thing it should be. Secondly, the high school memories between Nami and Jae were always bubbling near the surface - the animosity for Nami and the intrigue for Jae - but these two characters were living more in the past than in the present. Thirdly, the 3rd act conflict/misunderstanding between the MCs was pretty thin in its execution and, by default, its resolution. Fourthly, the familial conflicts within each character’s family was, at best, attempting to outline how the parents were trying to instil values and morals into their children, but they ended up derailing the message that was being set up.

All in all, this was a frustrating book to listen to (the female narrator spoke with a nasal-sounding voice and paused at every comma splice, and the male narrator used his “sexy” voice for everything, even during work negotiations with clients). The book itself read very juvenile, like the author wanted to get her thoughts down on paper without considering the emotion behind the words.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun sweet read. I ended up reading it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down! I absolutely loved the character growth though out the whole story.

This is an enemies to lovers romance involving a couple who went to high school together. I liked it but unfortunately I could not connect with the characters. I would be willing to try more by the author because I did like the writing style.

The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi had well-developed characters and a plot that was engaging. This book was a great read. I highly recommend!

**Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are voluntary and my own.**

This was such a cute read! Family scrutiny, childhood enemies to lovers, and the realization that Grandma really is so wise… this book doesn’t disappoint.
Thanks to Netgally and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this witty romcom.

This was a cute enemies to lovers. It wasn’t my most favorite but it was nice to see a strong female character and being humbled.