Emerald is a flight attendant working for a small airline. Inexperienced in love, she foolishly trusts someone and finds them with someone else, sending her into an uncharacteristic drunken evening where she meets Marco, a hotel owner who she makes a less-than-favorable impression upon. Fast forward to meeting her new boss, a man who buys the small airline where she works, and Marco walks in. These two have to get past first impressions to work together and then fall for each other.

I think the premise is a promising one, but I found myself a bit bored with this novel. The characters are not exactly fleshed out, especially the MMC Marco and Emerald isn’t really the most likable person in the world. I thought that his outright Alpha Male-ness was appropriate for the genre, but he wasn’t appealing in other ways. I felt like the whole thing needed more detail - it seemed a bit two-dimensional overall. The bones are good - which is why I’m giving it 3 stars, but it needs seasoning to be charming.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Takeover had a cute premise and a strong opening but there were two things that kept this from making it a top romance for me.

The first is relatively simple and may be more subjective - Marco. Our hunky Italian main lead went from feeling like a more lighthearted grump in the first part of the book to dreamy overly romance novel male in the second part. Suddenly his smoldering glares were less about his grumpiness and more about heightened encounters where he’s sitting in a chair in a darkened room watching the female main character unbeknownst to her. It felt a bit like whip lash (and creepy and out of character). I could get behind our hero from the first part but the guy he changed into was not my cup of tea.

The second is that Emerald, our female main character who started out a little awkward but a strong lady I could get behind quickly turned into an insecure and whiny one. She would bring up the strong moments from her flawed childhood that belied some sort of backbone and strength having been built up but then have reactions that seemed melodramatic and overly emotional in the context in which her character had otherwise been shaped and defined. Truth be told by the end I was not a fan of hers and actually understood where some guys call women crazy (which I’m not okay with, but if I was in a relationship with Emerald I assure you I’d be telling my best girlfriends she was crazy, and I think they’d wholeheartedly agree).

Again a very cute premise but one that didn’t hold up in the face of characters who seemed to embody different ideas versus a mapped out personality the reader could get to know. Maybe you’ll like the idea of following a story with ever changing main characters, but I was let down to have stuck it through without anything to explain why they were the way they were (or what they ended up becoming in Marco’s case).

It was a weird story I had to dnf at 25% the story felt really dragging she gets cheated on there is so much Italian and random words she talks to this guy Marcus who’s just rude using her trying to have sex with her and then just being mean. The plot was slow a little bit boring.

I liked this one initially and thought the premise was interesting but I struggled to finish it. It felt terribly dragged out and the time periods in between events bothered me. Emerald, for all her independence and tenacity, was being a bit pig headed while Marco was being exceptionally daft. At one point he explains something and says that’s all he has to say even though he left out THE detail. I did want to know what happened in the end though. 3 stars because I finished it and was drawn back enough to want an outcome.

DNF @ 20%

One reason I was unable to continue reading this book is the major plot point that happens in the opening 3 chapters that the rest of the book is seemingly built upon. The FMC gets belligerently drunk (to the point where she cannot stand) and is throwing herself at the MMC when he so clearly doesn't want her advances (literally SA) and then the author further cheapens the moment by making the MMC sexually intrigued by the FMC in her completely drunken state. The whole scene in reference was just a HUGEEEEEE ick and reeked of questionable consent issues. This is not something I want to read in a light fluffy romance novel.

Additionally, the writing and British humor did not resonate with me and I really found it strange how the other managed to both oversexualize the FMC and then make her a slave to purity culture by having her raised by nuns. The book didn't get any better as I read on and I really didn't like the continual referencing that the MMC to her being a prostitute. The book felt icky and really didn't leave me with the warm fuzzies I look for in romance novels.

Thank you Joffe Books for the ARC.

While I finished the book, I found it problematic from the beginning. The characters were not relatable nor could find anyway to connect with them. The premise is workplace romance that got off on the wrong foot. She is a convent-educated airline employee who was abandoned by her parents, has few friends, and is an amazing artist. He is a wealthy business owner who makes tough, snap decisions that can cause personal problems. The relationship seemed forced, problematic, and ultimately unrealistic. There was very little sexual tension and no steamy parts either.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 stars)

*The Takeover* by Jackie Ladbury is a pretty cool book about love, cheating, and figuring out who you are. Emerald finds out her boyfriend Rick is cheating on her 😡, and then she meets Marco, who totally changes her life 🌟. Watching Emerald become stronger and more independent is really interesting 💪.

The writing is decent, and the characters seem real, but sometimes the story drags a bit when Emerald is deep in thought 🧠. Also, some of the side characters could be more developed. Even with that, the mix of emotions and business drama makes it a fun read 📚.

If you like books about personal growth and some business drama, you might enjoy *The Takeover* 😊.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I enjoyed the ride and enjoyed the overall storyline. On the other, I didn’t feel like Marco and Emerald were convincing enough as a couple and the frequent references to being in a convent was becoming too much, I was hoping it would be used as a way to see her transform and grow in her confidence.
Marco and Emerald were too hot and cold with each other and never really communicated well with each other. One minute Marco is telling her he wants her, being gentle, soft and sweet to the next minute he becomes “boss” again and won’t acknowledge that his lack of response to “what are we?” was infuriating. Emerald was no different.
Again, mixed feelings. I liked the overall story. You had all the cliché characters a workplace contemporary romance needed. The author did a great job at adding some tension and pulling back so as a reader you got whiplash. As well as it being closed door/fade to black, I don’t normally like it only because I feel like sometimes with a slightly ajar door book you can glean a bit more information on how the characters are made to be together.
Overall it’s a 3⭐️ read.
Didn’t loooove it but also didn’t hate it, I also didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

"The Takeover" by Jackie Ladbury is my first read by this author. Overall, despite an intriguing premise that promised corporate power and romantic entanglements, the book unfortunately fails to deliver on multiple fronts. One of the most significant shortcomings of the novel is its characters. The protagonists lack depth and fail to evoke any real interest or empathy. Their personalities are flat and unremarkable, making it difficult to connect with or care about their stories. Without compelling or relatable characters, the story struggles to maintain reader engagement. The storyline, much like the characters, is disappointingly bland. The narrative plods along without any significant twists or turns, and the pacing feels sluggish. Key plot points that should have been exciting or suspenseful fall flat, leading to a monotonous reading experience. The lack of intriguing subplots or unexpected developments makes the book feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable escape. A critical element of any romance novel is the chemistry between its leads. Sadly, "The Takeover" lacks the spark necessary to create believable and captivating romantic tension. The interactions between the characters feel forced and devoid of passion, making it hard to root for their relationship. The absence of tension and chemistry results in a love story that feels unrealistic and unconvincing.

Absolutely loved it. Perfect amount of romance, steaminess and heartbreak. If you’re looking for a summer read this is the one! Was hooked from page one.

Totally loved this book! It was super sweet. Never read the original version of this book so I can't comment on the changes. I love Italian MMCs, they just do it for me, and Marco was no different.

As a warning for those who are reading this, there is a bit of the miscommunication trope. I personally don't mind this trope too much as long as it's not taken way too far, so it didn't bother me! Definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves the romance genre.

Perfect for a summer read but I feel it deserved a bit more.. Sometimes the book was a bit boring and sorry really I missed the Uau factor, it did put me into a lot of emotions but I feel it could be a lot better

This book had all the elements of a cracking romance, however, there were a few too many cringe moments that I couldn't get over, no matter how hard I tried. I struggled with the power imbalance between employer and employee and that the lead female character was a virgin and he was portrayed as a stereotypical Italian man. I enjoyed the settings and descriptions of the locations, and it definitely fed into my wish to travel more which was a strong point of this novel.

It was all right, a cute enemies-to-lovers romance set in a workplace. I had never read a flight attendant romance before, and I did like it. There were just some things that could have been better, but overall it was good.

While there are two books before this one, it is technically a complete standalone story. Unfortunately I didn't love it. The characters are not likable at all, Emerald is annoying as hell and Marco had the personality of a cardboard box. I didn't feel any tension or chemistry between them at all so the romance did nothing for me when it eventually happened. It was mostly just that Emerald thought Marco was hot and that apparently meant she was in love? They had zero communication skills so their entire relationship was just one big miscommunication trope. And the end when they finally get together after the third act break up was so anti climactic.
Unfortunately books like this really depend on their characters and these two were just not great

3.5 ⭐️

This was a first by this author for me. It was a fun, easy, quick weekend read. The writing pulled me pretty instantly. I sat down to read the first chapter and suddenly an hour had flown by and I didn’t even notice. Haha
The characters are….likable, but a little annoying at times. The side characters were funny!

The premise of this book will be familiar to those who have read enemies to lovers workplace romances. A woman gets drunk and proceeds to embarrass herself in front of a wealthy man, who unsurprisingly turns out to be her new boss. What follows is a long and arduous journey of them falling in love, only for him to betray her and break her heart. But dont worry, they get back together in the final chapter.

This was honestly a really difficult read, one that I would not have bothered finishing usually. However, I was determined to finish so that I could give my informed opinion on the whole book.

There are several issues I had with this book,
1. Considering their relationship was of an employee/employer, I found several of their interactions to be highly inappropriate. He tenderly touched her hand, then almost caressed her cheek. At one point, hes fallen asleep in just a shirt and his boxer pants infront of her. Considering that all occurs before anything romantic had happened, it just felt unprofessional and not believable.

2. The characters are poorly written to the point where I literally didn't even like them. Emerald is infuriating, with her behaviour bordering on childish. Marco even labelled her actions as that of a 'sulky teenager', which isn't how you want to be described by your boss is it? She's constantly changing her mind, and acted quite immature at times.
Marco, as the MMC, did not appeal to me in the slightest. I get it, hes hot. But there was no sex appeal, no intense brooding, no snarky or funny comments that made me love his character.

3. Now, it's a big moment when the male character finally admits he wants to be with the female lead. It usually takes a while to get there, but the reveal is so rewarding as you've been waiting for it to happen. Wow, did this book stuff it up. Marco professes his desire to be with Emerald, and what does Emerald do? Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Diddly squat. Not one word is even uttered from her lips. Talk about the biggest anticlimactic moment ever.

I think in books of this trope, you need to be able to feel the tension between the two lead characters. You want them to be together, and each interaction they have leaves you excited to keep reading, for when they do finally give in.

This book unfortunately did not have that. There was no intense build up. By the end of chapter 19 she was in love, and I honestly dont know how from their limited meaningful interactions. But hey, I suppose it's easy to fall in love when hes hot.

I found I was not invested in their relationship at all. The constant back and forth drove me insane. Their inability to clearly communicate was beyond frustrating. It seemed they fell in love in a matter of weeks, yet it took them months, MONTHS, to finally resolve their issues. They had chances to talk, but Marco was vague and didnt clearly explain his actions. Emerald, doing her usual thing, would then storm off and we'd be back to square one.

I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately found it to be seriously lacking.
Do I think its poorly written? No, not completely.
Overall, the main issue is how unlikable I found Emerald, and how little I cared about whether they actually got together or not. For a book like this to succeed, it's pretty important that I am actually invested in the main characters being together.

Improvements could definitely be made, but for now, I'm rating it 1/5☆

Cute back and forth romance. Very headstrong main characters leaving plenty of room for misunderstanding between the 2. A great ending is always a plus!

Enemies to lovers with a workplace romance? Hell yes! I ATE THIS BOOK UP! I freaking loved Emerald and Marco so damn much. I’m literally obsessed!

"The Takeover" by Jackie Ladbury follows flight attendant Emerald Montrose's spontaneous trip to surprise her boyfriend in Florence, which turns disastrous when she catches him with another woman. Seeking solace in the hotel bar, she inadvertently embarrasses herself in front of the handsome yet grumpy hotel owner, Marco Cavarelli. Determined to move past the incident, Emerald returns to work only to discover that Marco is now her new boss, following an airline acquisition.

Initially unimpressed by Emerald, Marco is further dismayed to realise she's integral to finalising a crucial business deal. As they're forced to collaborate, Emerald and Marco gradually uncover unexpected connections and shared interests.

This rom-com blends surprises, character growth, and romance. Emerald's journey from heartbreak to navigating her new professional relationship with Marco is filled with humour, charm, and moments of vulnerability. Marco evolves from a cliché grump to a more complex character as he falls in love, adding depth to the narrative.

Emerald emerges as a strong heroine, grappling with her past and striving for self-discovery and confidence. While the storyline occasionally falls into predictable romance tropes, the palpable chemistry between Emerald and Marco is well-developed, set against a unique backdrop of airline industry dynamics.

Overall, "The Takeover" captivates from the start with its engaging premise and delivers a satisfying blend of humour, character development, and romance. Despite some reservations about certain characterisations, the novel offers a refreshing take on the genre, making it a recommended read for fans seeking an enjoyable romantic journey.