“The Takeover” by Cara Tanamichi is a delightful, two POV, friends-to-enemies romance. Nami and Jae haven’t seen each other since their competitive high school days, but on the day of Nami’s 30th birthday, the same day that the company she helped established, is in danger of being taken over by a giant, evil corporation, Jae messages her. It turns out he works for that company, in charge of acquisitions. Some hilarious moments follow—particularly the aftermath after eating some really, really spicy ramen. Will they continue to fight against each other as they always have done, or will they discover that fighting together, they are a force to reckon with.

This is really a cute story, and I’m grateful to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC. My opinion is my own.

I really enjoyed The Takeover. The story line was well written and flowed nicely. I liked Nami and Jae Lee together. This is a well executed high school revivals to lovers.

As Nami’s milestone birthday approaches she finds herself facing how her personal and professional are not where she wants them to be. The ending of her engagement was difficult enough, but the public embarrassment only made it worse. Her company isn’t thriving and now she is facing a buyout by the man who was the bane of her existence when she was a teenager.

Jae is successful, charming, and representing the company that wants to absorb Nami’s company into his fold. He knew that convincing her would be difficult not only because of her resistance to maintain her independence but the past they shared has been more antagonistic than friendly. Let the battle begin!

Both Nami and Jae are determined to pursue their own agendas however they weren’t prepared for their true feelings to emerge as they take us on journey complete with humor, emotions and realizing what truly matters. I did enjoy the performance of the narrators as it allowed you to understand the characters and what they were going through.

Imagine The Hating Game but set in a tech startup. If you thought that the animosity between the main characters was childish, this book is not for you. If you thought THG was fun, this might be for you.

The first job a book has is to convince the reader that this book is for them. The way The Takeover goes about this is to introduce you to the main character Nami’s startup, Toggle. Toggle is THE BEST place to work and is a genuinely good company, according to Nami. They even made t-shirts “TOGGLE: FUN. NOT EVIL. REALLY. WE MEAN IT.” And I think that sums up the vibe of Chapter 1. If that sort of thing reads as cutesy to you, you are the reader for The Takeover. For me, everything went far past cutesy and into an immature territory that make me really not want to continue on with the story.

I read a little farther and was introduced to the MMC, who was equally as insufferable as the FMC. That’s when I realized the writing style just wasn’t for me. I wish it was, I thought it sounded like a really fun enemies to lovers book.

For me, the characters read as very young and immature, even though they were supposed to be in their 30s. And there is a lot of info-dumping about the business instead of really living in the character’s motivations or moving the plot along.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Tanamachi’s writing develops with her future books.

This fun rom-com was the perfect palate cleanser after several heavier reads. I loved the relationship between Nami and her colleagues. It made me wish that all work environments can be like that so everyone can experience it. Jae Lee was a great character. He clearly was an arrogant business man with the heart of gold underneath. It was fun to see their relationship develop and grow from enemies to more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

This book was fun, I couldn't put it down! I had a great time reading it, and would gladly read another book from this author in the future!

There were a lot of side characters, but it was easy to tell everyone apart. I like how there were a bunch of side plots in addition to the main romance and the main plot, it really made the story less one dimensional. However, it felt like some of them were just added so there was more plot and didn’t really do much

Overall it was a good book, a lighthearted childhood rivals to lovers romance that I enjoyed reading!

Captivating from start to finish! This book exceeded all my expectations. The characters were deeply engaging and the writing was simply superb. 5 stars without a doubt!

This was just okay for me. I enjoyed the tech aspect, but I didn’t feel invested in the main characters or their chemistry. There were a few funny scenes, but overall I was hoping for more banter and tension.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Takeover was a fun, cute workplace romance that was at times both funny and cringe (lots of millenialisms and internet-y type things) but not in a bad way.

The Takeover
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Cara Tanamachi

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martins and RB Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: On Nami's 30th birthday, she’s reminded at every turn that her life isn’t what she planned. She’s always excelled at everything – until now. Her fiancé blew up their engagement. Her pride and joy, the tech company she helped to found, is about to lose funding. And her sister, Sora, is getting married to the man of her dreams, Jack, and instead of being happy for her, as she knows she ought to be, she’s fighting off jealousy.

Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami’s old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. sharp elbows and even sharper banter as the two go head-to-head to see who’ll win this time. But when their rivalry ignites a different kind of passion, Nami starts to realize that it's not just her company that's in danger of being taken over, but her heart as well.

My Thoughts: This was a sweet enemies to lovers romcom that was addictive and hard to put down. Nami realizes that on her milestone birthday, at 30, she is not where she planned to be. Her finance left her. The company she created from the ground up is in jeopardy of losing funding and the possibility of being drowned in corporate sharks. She is also jealous of her sister, who is marrying the man of her dreams, Jack, as they are so happy. Her finance cheated on her with a dancer at his bachelor party, which went viral. She then decided to her energy into her career, which is also slipping away from her. She begins to get cryptic messages on her phone, come to find out, they are from her high school arch nemesis, Jae. The complex events has just drained her. Her one birthday wish is that her soulmate will cross her path. Then as fate would have it, Jae impedes into her life like elephants herding. Will her company survive? Will her relationship with Jae crash and burn, with high school fears creeping in? This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, work rivalry, and child hood relationship. It has references in the tech world and corporate mergers.

This story is a dual narration by both Jae and Nami. The chemistry and banter starts with spicy, like really spicy ramen, then spins with dancing and tennis matches. I loved the diversity of the characters. The story also tackles great social topics, like the effects of company takeovers/mergers to the employees involved. The tension between Nami and Jae is palpable. The characters were developed well with depth, witty banter, chemistry, diversity, and were intriguing. The supporting characters were perfect in this book and really elevated our MCs. The author’s writing style was complex, swoon-perfect, funny, sweet, and heartwarming. My favorite scene was probably the ramen scene, it really set the pace and tone of the story. The author set a very detailed work environment at Toggle and you could really understand Nami’s passion for it.

I had the pleasure of having both the digital and audio versions of the arc. I preferred the audio version. This was such a lighthearted endearing read that made me smile, laugh, and smile some more throughout the story. I highly recommend picking up this book today at the bookstore, or your library.

This debut from Cara Tanamachi is perfect for fans of The Hating Game - another fun enemies to lovers, workplace romance rife with diverse characters and sharp storytelling. I look forward to more from Tanamachi in the future.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The Takeover is my first work romance book. It's also an enemies to lovers which is always fun. Jae & Nami are high school rivals who meet again when the company Jae works for offers to buy the company Nami worked so hard to build. I really enjoyed the banter between the two. I do feel their attraction was a bit quick & it didn't feel like it had a natural progression from hate to love. I did like how it touched on topics of work-life balance. I enjoyed it overall.

"The Takeover" by Cara Tanamachi is a captivating romantic comedy that turns the trope of finding love on its head. Nami, on the cusp of her 30th birthday, finds herself grappling with unexpected twists in life – a failed engagement, impending financial woes for her tech startup, and envy over her sister's seemingly perfect love life. When she jokingly wishes for her soulmate, fate delivers a surprise: her old high school rival, Jae Lee. What follows is a delightful blend of rivalry, wit, and undeniable chemistry as Nami and Jae navigate their past grievances while facing off in a corporate takeover battle. Tanamachi skillfully crafts a story filled with sharp dialogue and endearing characters, keeping readers hooked until the very end. "The Takeover" is a refreshing and entertaining read that proves sometimes love can bloom in the most unexpected places.

This book surpassed my expectations! It was funny, smart, and an immediate attention grabber. As someone who works remotely and lives in Slack for most of my work days, I especially loved the little snippets at the beginning of each chapter. I would read this book again and recommend it to all fans of romance, comedy, and smart writing.

SO CUTE. You know when you watch a romcom and you swoon when you're supposed to?
That was this book for me.
So. Many. Feels!
It felt fresher to me, like nothing groundbreaking, but still truly, truly solid.
I want to read more by her, and I hope she puts out a new book soon. I was OBSESSED with Nami!
Solid 4.7, rounded.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Takeover by Cara Tanamachi follows Nami and her high school nemesis, Jae, and how they meet up again when he is about to buy her company.

The book definitely had some references to our modern day lives in the era of Amazon. It brought up some interesting social issues about the impact of companies on small businesses. Jae was such a fun character and that ramen scene made me cackle at midnight. This book has many positives, but I found the pacing to be too slow and the writing repetitive. We hear how important Nami’s company is to her at least every other page. Nothing truly meaningful happens between our two leads until almost 50% in the book, which made it difficult to root for them by the end.

Rating: 2.5 ⭐️ I think this book had a lot of potential, but needed more editing to create a more cohesive piece.

This was a fun read! I loved Nami and Jae, but I especially loved their family and friends.

This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one.

This book is full of witty banter, which makes it lighthearted, quick and fun. The characters together are enjoyable to read, but individually I'm not crazy about them.

There were many things that Nami expected for her 30th birthday, but being single - having broken up with her cheating fiancee last year - and on the verge of losing her company are not on her list. To top it all off, her high school nemesis Jae Lee works for the big corporation looking to takeover her start-up.

"The Takeover" by Cara Tanamachi presents a lighthearted enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, starring Nami and Jae. Their explosive chemistry and witty banter, notably showcased in the iconic ramen scene, ensure an entertaining read. Immaculate supporting characters enhance the charm, while tech elements contribute depth, despite some readers finding specifics like NFTs unclear.

While successfully exploring romance tropes, the story isn't without its drawbacks, including rushed pacing and convenient conflict resolution. Nonetheless, it offers a refreshing departure from conventional romantic tropes, albeit with moments of predictability. With its flaws acknowledged, it still provides a quick and enjoyable read for fans of charming enemies-to-lovers narratives.

In "The Takeover" by Cara Tanamachi, readers are treated to a delightful enemies-to-lovers tale, featuring captivating banter and a memorable ramen scene. The chemistry between Nami and Jae is explosive, and the supporting characters are immaculately crafted, adding to the story's charm.

Despite the smooth unfolding of the plot and intriguing tech elements, some readers may find Nami's initial repetitiveness and the lack of spark in certain aspects distracting. Pacing issues towards the end impact the flow, yet the narrative maintains its appeal as a cute and fun romantic read, tracing Nami and Jae's journey from high school nemesis to potential soulmates.

Character-wise, Nami's growth brings depth, overcoming initial negativity that may deter some readers, while Jae's confident and charismatic portrayal makes him relatable. The execution of enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance tropes is commendable, even if there are occasional repetitive elements.

Highlighted by engaging banter and a memorable ramen scene, "The Takeover" by Cara Tanamachi offers an entertaining romantic read. The chemistry and banter between the characters shine, with the high school nemesis angle adding an intriguing layer.

Despite concerns about pacing, the novel provides an enjoyable narrative for those seeking a light-hearted story with a touch of workplace romance