Nobody writes better contemporary romance than Christina Lauren. Hard stop. Come fight me about it. I will cut you for them. The power couple of Christina Lauren are so on top of their game, they released two books this year. The are here to play, friends, and their pencils are sharp.

Tangled Up in You is a modern adaptation of Rapunzel/Tangled. Ya know your girl loves a retelling of an old fairy tale- so I was excited for this. While Rapunzel and all her dumb hair and “tower captive” vibe could be rough to modernize, our fearless authors make it look easy and wrote a charming love story that makes sense in 2024.

Ren,a loveable, naïve farm girl, is uber-controlled by her parents who absolutely definitely totally escaped from the Branch Davidian cult-these two weirdos scream “conspiracy theorists on the fringe of society making decisions in the name of Jesus”. Ren somehow talks her parents into allowing her to go to college at age 23, but she already knows everything bc when your parents are psychos you turn to books for company. Ren meets hunky Fritz- a rich lothario with a dark, secretive past. Ren and Fritz end up partaking in a car trip across the country rife with forced proximity and one of my personal faves…ONE BED!!! Per usual, these two fall in love along the way, but their cross country adventures and personal discoveries are as enticing as the very non-smutty romance that ensues. While I love me some dirty dirty smut, Christina Lauren prove that if you write a great romance with interesting characters and a captivating plot it is still a satisfying read. Please ladies- write more fairytale adaptations for your rabid fans!!

Def recommend this one and it would be a great read for a younger romance lover as the smut is low, but the joy is high.

Smut- 1.53 stars
Romance- 4.67 stars
Story- 4.89 stars
Culty parents- neg 45.19 stars

Oh this was so good! I read it in one sitting and saw the secret/reveal/twist coming a mile away but was here for it (although... since it's based on a movie from 14 years ago and a fairy tale from who knows how long ago, I guess it's not really a twist). There was a book series I read a few times as a teen that it reminded me a bit of so there was that nostalgia I enjoyed even during the more serious parts. It was a delight to follow along as Ren gets to experience the world away from her family's homestead for the first time and then ends up on a road trip with Fitz. The references to Tangled were sprinkled throughout, some more obvious (his car is a white Mustang he calls Max) and more brief and subtle (she thinks to herself that she doesn't think she'd be able to replicate the slope of his nose if she drew him). There was no spice (duh, Disney) but Christina Lauren did a good job of this one and I'd read it again. But tomorrow I'm watching Tangled. 
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the ARC. The book is out on June 25/24.

I was immediately drawn to this cover and description as a modern day retelling of Tangled. This book is part of the Meant to Be Collection written for the diverse reimaginings of Disney fairy tales. If you love the story of Rapunzel, I think you'll really enjoy this book.

Ren is Rapunzel, who spent the past 22 years homeschooled and raised to be self sufficient at a homestead without the influence of the internet or pop culture. Fitz & Ren meet in college and go on an unexpected road trip filled with adventure and romance where Ren tries to find the truth about her family.

Some scenes really drew me in (hot tub scene!) but I also had a hard time staying interested throughout the first half, mostly because it was such a YA feel. Ren grew up very sheltered so seeing her and Fitz fall for each other with her very childlike personality was a little off for me. It was fun comparing the book scenes to the movie scenes and things picked up in the second half. Overall, if you like Disney movies or are looking for a sweet read, check this out.

Thank you NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and the authors for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts out amazing about Ren who lives off the grid with her two parents and convinces them to let her go to school for the first time in her life. As the story goes on, Ren starts slowly questioning everything. This was a good spin on Disneys Tangled but there could’ve been some parts that didn’t need to be dragged. All around good book.

Tangled Up In You

Thank you to Hyperion for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Ren has grown up very much off the grid and in isolation. Working the farm with her parents in rural Idaho, she knows her way around a machine, a barnyard, a field, and loses herself in books and in the night sky, dreaming of the outside world she has been raised to fear. Fitz has a goal to graduate first in every class, become a lawyer, and stick it to those who ruined his past. But when their paths cross and they end up on a cross-country road trip together, they may both learn that the dreams they've held so long aren't as good as the ones that could be if they'd only open their eyes and hearts.

This is tied for my favorite book of 2024 (with Percival Everett's James). It was such a vivid retelling, and fans of Disney's Tangled will recognize all sorts of fun Easter eggs scattered throughout. Tangled Up In You hit me on a deep emotional level--these are two people who have gone through some serious trauma. But they are not letting it define them. They may not have the maturity or experience to navigate tricky emotional situations, but they are voluntarily honest and open with each other and are taking slow steps toward trying to be healthy. I've found Christina Lauren to be so good at writing positive mental health--consent and trauma and all kinds of other issues. It is sweet and raw and vulnerable and real, and has such a realistic, gorgeous, love-filled HEA that I couldn't have wished for better.

Triggers: abandonment, abusive grooming, abduction, death

Tangled is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so I was excited to read this retelling (by non other than Christina Lauren) and it’s no surprise that I also loved it! They made Tangled modern but still kept everything that made me love the movie, besides the songs. We still have our grumpy and sunshine pairing going on an adventure through the country. I love Ren and Fitz’s relationship, it had me smiling, giggling, kicking my feet, and getting a little teary eyed. They also had great chemistry and banter. They love each other so much and are soulmates who are meant for each other. If you also love Tangled, you will love this book! You’ll probably still love it even if you never saw the movie

Overall, I love this book and highly recommend.

Tangled is my favourite Disney princess movie and Christina Lauren captured those charming and endearing qualities perfectly in Ren and Fitz.

This entire book was such a delight. I couldn’t help but be swept away by Fitz and Ren and her wide-eyed innocence. Just like the movie, there was Fitz and then he was just Edward. Ren stripped away all his pretend layers until he was completely bared to her.

Some of their travels were maybe a bit slow, but I enjoyed their interactions and their growing friendship. Every step they took served to bring them closer together. The actions and ramping anxiety leading to the culmination of finding Ren and her parents had me at the edge of my seat and my eyes flying across the pages.

There are many parallels between Tangled Up In You and the movie, but enough differences to give this story a unique feel. I enjoyed this excellent Tangled retelling filled with heart, hope, and courage.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Christina Lauren's books and Disney movies, so when I saw this new series of standalone romances based on Disney movies, I had to read Tangled Up in You as soon as possible. This sweet, charming romance was great read for a too hot summer day, and I read it in practically one sitting.

The male protaganist, Fitz, was easy to fall for, and the main female character, Ren, played the part of naive and sheltered very well. If you are a fan of grumpy-sunshine or forced proximity/one bed tropes, you will love this story. The book had a seriously young adult vibe going, however, which being based on a Disney movie is not all that surprising, I guess.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for the digital ARC of Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren. The opinions in this review are my own.

Oh this story was so darn cute! Right away I was engrossed in Ren’s story. Ren has always lived on her family’s farm with no communication to the outside world - living off the grid. Ren is so excited when she gets into Corona College but promises to always go back on wknds and help her family with their farm. In walks Fitz who has his whole life planned out. This story is based on Tangled-never seen it but want to now.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: June 25, 2024!!

Ren is innocent with a brilliant mind and strong work ethic on the family farm. She strikes out to college while we discover her magnetic personality and she learns a family secret. She evasively sets off on a road trip during spring break with another student, Fitz, who has a checkered upbringing he wants to keep secret as he pursues his dream career.

The authors builds their bond but keeps the mystery alive with these secrets. How will it all reveal itself and play out? They turn things up and make it an exciting read!

Thanks to Christina Lauren, Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Thank you Hyperion Avenue for my #gifted copy of Tangled Up In You!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐩 𝐈𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Christina Lauren, you have done it again! I had no clue what to expect with this one and I was so pleasantly surprised! Retellings can be hit or miss for me, but this one was a huge hit and I cannot recommend it enough!

Ren has grown up living a sheltered life, but has finally broken free and has convinced her parents to allow her to go to college. When she learns some information about herself from a sample of her DNA in one of her college classes, she is determined to learn more about her life. She convinces Fitz, the boy she met on her initial college tour, to come with her on a road trip. Ren and Fitz are nothing alike but as they travel together, they start to realize that maybe they have more in common than they realized. This is definitely a clean romance with kissing only. Despite that, there was still loads of chemistry between Red and Fitz and I loved it!

💜A Modern Retelling of Tangled
💜Forced Proximity
💜A Cross Country Road Trip
💜Opposites Attract
💜Grumpy x Sunshine

Posted on Goodreads on June 23, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 24, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 25, 2024
**-will post on designated date

I loved this book! Ren is off to her first year of college at the age of 22. She has never been to school or had any technology exposure growing up off the grid on her family’s farm. She is self taught by her love of reading and can fix anything. She meets a guy at college and blackmails him in taking her on a cross country road trip. This book is funny and you get to see both main characters change and fall in love. There is also a twist to the story.

A reimagining of Disney’s Tangled. I’ve never really been a Tangled girl, but this was very cute!

This book and the characters really had the potential to be super cheesy. While there were some cheesy moments, (I’m looking at you bar scene 👀), overall it didn’t make the story less enjoyable.

I really loved how adorable Ren was. She was very sheltered and sweet, but super likable. And Fitz😍 what can I say? Christina Lauren knows how to write lovable MMCs and he was no exception. I like the journey their characters take and their growth. Cute read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue Books for the ARC.

I love Christina Lauren, they are one (two) of my favorite contemporary romance writers, but after reading 3 of the 4 books in this retelling series, this series just isn't for me. If I didn't know going in that it was a Tangled retelling, I wouldn't have been table to tell. The details are meh and the story, while captivating at moments, felt like it was trying really hard to be both very light and romantic and super serious and dark. It was too much for one lighthearted romcom true crime Disney retelling.

In a departure from their normal books, Christina Lauren does Tangled Up In You, a contemporary riff on Disney's Tangled, a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Here Ren is a 22 year-old going to college for the first time. She's lived off the grid her whole life, her parents always keeping her on the farm and isolated from the big, bad world with its evil influences. But they relucantly allow college when Ren gets a full scholarship and Ren's horizons start expanding. She's brilliant but naive, friendly, outgoing, impulsive- kind of like a golden retriever puppy. She wants to experience all college life has to offer, so when her immunology professor gives the class the option to take a DNA test, she does- even knowing her parents wouldn't approve. When it comes back with a match, she has questions and knows her parents won't answer them. So she convinces Fitz to drive her to Atlanta so she can get the answers she needs.

Fitz took a little warming up to, mostly because you know from nearly the start that he isn't who he pretends to be, but you can't quite figure him out. On the road trip I really started to like him because despite how annoying Ren could be, he really started to get why she was the way she was and he couldn't bring himself to deny her the full road trip experience. It was kind of cute watching him try to figure out how to deal with the changing feelings he had over the course of the trip, and his total confusion.

The book is a slower pace than most of Christina Lauren's books, sometimes almost too slow, until the very end when everythig speeds up to the conclusion. There's almost no spicy scenes in the book, Fitz and Ren fall for each other slowly and sweetly. Readers will probably see the twists for the ending coming even if they haven't seen Tangled (have to admit, I haven't) and I thought it was handled very well.

Regular fans will find this one a change from their normal books, but give it a try. Slow for large parts but I thought the feels at the end paid off. And the grumpy/sunshine vibes through the whole book are delightful

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars rounded up. To be fair, I didn’t read the blurb for this one at all. As soon as I saw Christina Lauren wrote a new book, I jumped at the chance to request it on netgalley. And then when I realized it was inspired by Disney’s Tangled, I was even more intrigued. And boy did Christina Lauren do an incredible job modernizing Tangled. But this isn’t pure fluff… the characters were so layered and both Ren and Fitz showed tremendous growth. I enjoyed Tangled as a Disney movie, but had some doubts about the Flynn Rider/ Fitz character. While he worked for the Disney movie, I wasn’t sure I would fall for someone who’s a con artist/ charmer in a romance book. I should never have doubted Christina Lauren. As I said above, his character was just so layered, and by the end, he was in so damn deep for Ren that it was impossible not to root for him as well. Fans of Tangled should run to read this one. So should fans of Christina Lauren, and quite frankly, fans of romance in general. I absolutely recommend.

Thank you so much to Christina Lauren, Disney publishing, and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heavier than I expected for a fairytale retelling. I didn't necessarily dislike it, but I also wasn't in love.

REN & FITZ FOREVER!

Ren is very sheltered, growing up on a farmstead and hasn’t been in the outside world until college.

Fitz (Edward) is the golden boy but has a past…

They couldn’t be any more different but after a roadtrip together everything changes…

The ending felt very rushed and I wish there was an epilogue!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this earc

This books was cute. Let me start with Tangled is my favorite Disney movie so when I saw this was a modern retelling, I requested it sooo quickly.
And like it said. It was cute. But it could have been so much more. I like the idea of Ren being completely sheltered from the world and going off to college.
Even the road trip was cute. But I felt like something was missing. Maybe this book needed more page so the characters can spend more time together. Maybe they need more of an ending. I don’t know. I just know it wasn’t my favorite.

But I would still tell you to pick it up, if you’re looking for something quick and sweet

Ren is a sheltered, home-schooled daughter of a pair of homesteaders who want to keep Ren away from the evils of the outside world. When she begs to go to college at age 23, they finally relent and let her attend a single semester, though she MUST come home to do her chores every weekend, and keep to herself while on campus. A school project and subsequent stealthy trip inside one of her classrooms after hours lead her to blackmailing the school's most notorious hottie to drive Ren to the other side of the country, looking for answers. Bonding and exposition about their pasts and their home lives lead to lots of romance and angst.

Ren is obviously naive, but still fairly strong willed. I like that she knows multiple languages and is a whiz at math and mechanics. I wish I was a bit more taken with Fitz's character, but I get the draw. The ties to Tangled are cute, sometimes a little too obvious, but pretty good.

Now I get that I got to read this ahead of its release date, so there's things that might change and all that. But of Christina Lauren's books, this is not even in my top 5. I really think they could have fleshed out the ending because there's so much exposition, and not enough seeing them actually going through the things that need to happen at the end of the book. There's (currently) too much telling, and not enough showing at the very end. (BUT only there, and not anywhere else.)

It's cute. It gets the romance job done. It scratches those itches. But it could've been better, especially since I've read their other work and loved them all.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!