I love Meant To Be series. I love Christina Lauren books.

Has to be great, right??

Yes!! It was I loved it! I struggled a bit trying to wrap my head around the time period we were in. I knew they were modern retellings but with having the homestead setting at the begging made it so hard to join today. Once she was at college a bit all was good.

But ugh!! The mother, (I mean obviously I knew but 🤬)!

And I know I was supposed to not like Fitz in the beginning but who couldn’t like him?! Especially as I have casted him as Zachary Levi (was there even any other option?!).

And the screaming eagle scene? So good! Just the whole road trip in general. I adored. Loved.

But WHY?! Why did he leave?! Why? Everyone knows you make sure they make it to the door before leaving! Or is that just a southern thing? or just me? How could he leave though!!

Anyway. So good.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

👱🏻‍♀️Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren OUT JUNE 25th 2024 👱🏻‍♀️

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy!

Two Christina Lauren books in one year? Best summer ever! I loved The Paradise Problem so this one had a lot to live up to! This one is rumored to be based on the movie Tangled, however I have never seen it.

Ren is a 23 year old living on a farm. She’s never been to school, never had a phone, and only knows her parents. She is very smart from being self taught, and she convinced her parents to let her attend college on a full scholarship. When the bad boy is tasked with showing her around campus, she will have to learn all about the real world without falling for his charm.

I loved this concept!! I was shocked by the direction this book took us and was so unexpected. It was such a binge worthy book I read the whole thing by the pool. Not as funny as The Paradise Problem, but still very good and worth the read this summer! 4.5 ✨

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of Tangled Up In You. I will never tire of Christina Lauren's books. The author duo has done it again in this romantic comedy reimagining.

I loved how this followed the rest of the books from the Meant to Be series. Tangled obviously influenced it, but it still had its own unique story plot and message.

I was curious to see how they were going to present Ren and how she was "kept away in her tower" and I loved the Idaho homestead concept. And Fitz had an awesome backstory as well with his upbringing and influences. I did enjoy seeing their relationship grow throughout their road trip and it didn't feel forced or like it was "instalove" at all. I loved Max, by the way!

This was a sweet retelling and I loved Christina Lauren's addition to the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

A delightful coming of age romance from the genre's powerhouse duo that's likely to appeal to both Christina Lauren fans and fans of the Disney film that served as inspiration. Readers who go in without realizing that this is a Tangled retelling may be confused or put off by the brilliant but sheltered Ren and the sweet but sometimes smarmy Fitz. But the pair are a sweet duo that perfectly serve as modern day mirrors to their fairy tale counterparts. Readers prepared to suspend disbelief and fall into a sweet first love story are in for a treat.

In this retelling of Repunzel, Ren has been sheltered on her family's compound her whole life. Now, she is heading off to college. There, she brings her uniquely optimistic view of life, charming all of the residents. Except smooth talking Fitz. When a class DNA test makes Ren rethink her whole life, she blackmails Fitz into taking a road trip with her.

This was a really cute fairy tale inspired romcom. Here's what I loved

Ren. She was adorable. It's hard to believe that any person could be that sheltered but Christina Lauren did a great job with that. She's quirky and light-hearted. Even when bad things were happening, she has this optimism that is contagious.

Fitz. There's more to him than meets the eye. I loved his backstory and how he comes to terms with his feelings for Ren.

The crazy roadtrip. I loved this! There are hijinks and funny situations. Fitz and Ren are so opposite that they work perfectly in this situation.

All in all, this was an adorable romcom.

Thank you to the authors and publisher for the gifted copy!

I went into reading this book thinking it would be a cute little college romance story with all of the sparkle you expect from Disney. However I was surprised by how much this book shines a light on some more serious topics and how they balanced so well with the romance and moments of humor between Ren and Fitz. I’m hesitant to say too much about this book because I think it reads better without context or swaying from reviews, but trust me when I say this may be one of my new favorites by Christina Lauren. The way they build romantic tension in this dual POV, fade-to-black romance is a masterclass in romance writing. I had to put the book down at one point and collect myself because, WOW, it was truly that good (I’m not going to say when though… but if you’ve read it, you know – also, thanks @jsbookishnook for letting me drop some unhinged voice memos while reading!).

You don’t want to miss out on this one. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue & Netgalley for the digital review copy, and for @loveyallfest for sharing the print ARCs with us!

Tangled Up In You is the 4th book in the Meant To Be series, a collection of fairytale retellings by an awesome group of romance authors. I have no Rapunzel/Tangled retellings to compare this too, but I can’t imagine a better way to put a real life twist on one of my favorites.

WHAT I LOVED MOST:
How true this version was to the storyline and ideas of Rapunzel, all while being its own story with insane twists and turns. I never once predicted how this story would move along or end, even though I knew it correlated with a timeless fairytale.

Ren and Fitz. I loved them both so much. Who can rival Flynn Ryder? Welp, Fitz gives him a run for his money for sure. And Ren… so sweet and brilliant. Truly kind, understands she’s naive but just wants to learn, and can handle her own in the sweetest ways.

The Action. Normally I don’t look for action in a book. I don’t long for bar scenes with brawls or cop car lights flashing. Christina Lauren surprised me after Something Wilder with how much action and thrill they can pack into a romance story, but this time I was more prepared and I ate it up!

FAVORITE QUOTES:
“If you took the raw confidence of Florence Pugh, the bone structure of Austin Butler, the charm of Jenna Ortega, and multiplied it by the effortless sensuality of Timothée Chalamet, you’d have Fitz.”

“Fitz couldn’t imagine three class hours and three laboratory hours a week with her beside him, Rensplaining every tiny detail of the course material.”

“Serious as a sleep attack.” Whatever he was going to say next evaporated from his thoughts. “A sleep attack?” “When one gets an uncontrollable urge to sleep. A common symptom of narcolepsy.” “Why not just say ‘serious as a heart attack’?” “Because heart attacks kill people! I don’t want to make light of that!”

“He stared down at her, soaking her in as it seemed every synapse in his brain rewired. She was such a paradox: delicate but unbreakable; modest but intrepid; innocent but electrifying.”

“…it wasn’t only that he didn’t have time for fondness. He didn’t like the powerlessness of it. Didn’t like the feeling that he was just handing over keys to a castle he had protected for so long.”
Thank you Christina Lauren and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I already pre-ordered my physical copy to be signed by two of my favorite creative brains, and look forward to June 25th when it arrives!

ARC REVIEW

Tangled up in You
BY Christina Lauren

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (4 out of 5)

Publishing date: 6/24/25

I went into this one blind. It's a retelling of Disney's Tangled. I do not know the original story, but I really liked this version! This  book is #4 in the "MEANT TO BE" collection.

Ren spends ALL of her time on her remote family farm. After much persuading, her parents agreed to allow her to leave the family compound and attend college. Despite being VERY intelligent, this will be her first time stepping foot in a classroom.

  Rens parents drop her off on campus every Sunday and pick her up every Friday evening so she can return to the farm and complete her chores. While at school, her parents forbid her from leaving campus or using technology. (Even though she is 22 years old)

While at school, Ren meets Fitz - a top of the class student, who is also an extremely good-looking  big man on campus. A shared class assignment between the pair, bring them together on an unexpected road trip, that is bound to change both of their lives.

I REALLY liked this! And I will admit, there was a twist I didn't see coming. I'm not sure if the "twist" is also in Tangled, but if it is...im sure you know what I'm talking about. 🙂

The chemistry between Ren and Fitz was cute, and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. It kept my attention, and I read it in only a few sittings.

I recommend this one! If you don't know the Disney version...don't look it up. Go into it blind like I did and report back what you thought.

Thank you @hyperionavebooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this early! SO fun 🙂

I've thoroughly enjoyed each story in the Meant to Be series, and this was no exception!

I will say that it was odd to read a Young Adult book by Christina Lauren, as I've recently read a couple of their adult stories, so the change in spice level (being that there was none at all in this book, obviously) was an adjustment!

As always, Christina Lauren thrives on characterization. I thought the decision to include POV chapters for both Ren and Fitz was a smart one--given how different their upbringings were and how that affected how they saw the world--really enhanced both of their characterizations! The villains in the story were also very well-developed, though I did hope to get more resolution for them.

On that note, the ending was a bit quick for me. I would've liked more resolution across the board. Ren underwent a literal lifetime of trauma, and I would've liked to see more of her processing and moving forward from that, because the small amount that we did get was very well done.

For the villains, I wanted more resolution on what happened to them, in particular with Gloria. After she was arrested, we didn't see or hear from her again, and I was curious about why she did this, and I think Ren would've had that question as well. In all, I can definitely say I'd read a sequel with just Ren and Fitz moving forward after the events in this book.

I also think Ren's case was solved too quickly and easily, given that they had no leads for 20 years. Ren's father having a brief conversation with Fitz and immediately knowing who took his daughter all those years ago was too much for me to suspend my disbelief for.

In all, I did really enjoy this book! Ren was a precious main character that I couldn't help but root for, and her romance with Fitz was everything. I'd definitely recommend picking this book up!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute story! I loved this book. I love it so much I wasn’t ready for it to end! The author did a fantastic job at bringing a new spin on the Rapunzel story. I could not put it down! The love story was just to cutest!! Thank you! I will be telling everyone in my book club that they need to read this!

This was a super fun and heartfelt story. I had a good time watching the characters evolve and learn lessons... just like we all did with Fariytale/Disney Movies :)

Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren is a clever and deeply romantic modern retelling of Disney's beloved classic, Tangled. I was pulled into the story from the first page and could not put it down.

4 stars!

Christina Lauren does it again! I really enjoyed "Tangled Up In You," which is a modern-day reimagining/retelling of the Disney movie "Tangled," aka the story of Rapunzel. It does take a little bit for the story to get going here, but once it does, I was all in and I was hooked. There were several times I thought I knew where the story was going, only to be surprised when it took a different route. This book is surprisingly heartfelt. It is shocking, suspenseful, and even a tad dark at times. It is teeming with chemistry between the main characters, Ren and Fitz. Their relationship starts out pretty contentious. Fitz doesn't buy into the hype surrounding Ren, her quirky personality, and the odd way she was raised on a homestead, having never attended school until she was 22. He is a massive pessimist, a huge grump, and he has sky-high walls... for a good reason. Ren might be naive about the ways of the modern world and the technology within it, but she is a fighter, she is strong, and she is a quick study. So, they have no choice but to fall head over heels for each other, right?! The fish out of water scenario meets the road trip trope and bam!, you've got a recipe for a hit book. As with all of Christina Lauren's other novels, it is well-written, has a lot of charm, made me laugh quite a bit, and it even a message about breaking away from toxic people to forge your own path. I didn't find it too slowly paced apart from right at the beginning. Be aware that this book is not as spicy as Christina Lauren's other titles. I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Lauren, and Hyperion Avenue for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This felt like a very different rom-com than the traditional Christina Lauren books. I didn't realize it was based on the Disney movie Tangled, which was a retelling of Rapunzel until after I read the book and looked at some of the other reviews. As someone who is NOT a Disney fan, I'm not sure how it compared, but most of the story felt silly and unreal to me. But then the ending? Wow! Really not the fun, happy, warm rom-com I was expecting. It went from sweet romance to a police shoot-out and killing in a flash. That was crazy!?!

Christina Lauren never misses! This isn’t my favorite of theirs but there’s some steep competition. This was a very fun read

Christina Lauren takes on the classic story we all know and love in this retelling of “Tangled” as part of the Meant to Be series.

Ren is fairly sheltered from the outside world - she lives with her parents on a homestead without a phone or internet. She’s never left besides to go into their small town for supplies. Ren’s education is solely based on the numerous books she has read, until she applies to go to college at the age of 22. Her parents reluctantly agree, but set very strict rules for her including no leaving campus.

Fitz is assigned to show Ren around campus, but is quickly bothered by her when he realizes she could beat him for top of the class at school. When the two are put into a class together and have to take DNA tests, their results send them both spiraling for different reasons. As Fitz is about to embark on a roadtrip to Nashville, Ren blackmails him into taking her with in order to get answers about her life. Fitz is determined to ignore her, but slowly Ren starts to crack open the walls around his life and his heart.

I’ve really enjoyed the other books I’ve read in this series and this was no different! Since it’s a retelling of a Disney story, you think you know what you’re going to get but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Christina Lauren did a great job incorporating original details (including an appearance from Pascal!) while also putting their own spin on it! I read this book in 2 days and I would recommend it whether or not you’re a fan of the original story!

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for my honest review!

Twenty-two year old Ren has lived an extraordinarily sheltered and nearly entirely secluded life. Her parents have always warned her about the evils of the world, but they simply could not quell Ren’s wonder and thirst for knowledge.

Reluctantly and with a lot of rules, they have agreed to allow her to attend College when she is awarded a scholarship. Ren has never been to school and everything she encounters feels magical. Fitz is the handsome senior tasked with showing Ren around. Initially he finds her naivety a bit annoying, but he can’t help but be charmed by her.

When Ren accidentally discovers an unknown relation, she blackmails Fitz into taking her along on his road trip home during Spring Break. While in close proximity Ren and Fitz can’t help but be drawn to one another, but both are keeping secrets that make the possibility of a relationship seem nearly impossible.

I loved how protective Fitz was of Ren, while allowing her to experience all the freedom she has been denied all of her life. I loved their road trip shenanigans - especially all the hotels with only one bed (although things stayed strictly PG). I loved the slow burn built up of their sweet romance.

Christina Lauren continues to impress as a writing duo and Tangled Up In You was a delightfully charming retelling of a fairytale classic.

This is a Retelling of Tangled/Romance. This book took me awhile to get into the story, and it also took me awhile to connect to the characters. Once, I was pulled into the story and connected to the characters I enjoyed it. I kindof figured out what was going before it was revealed, but that did not take away from the story. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me.

From what I can tell (I’ve never actually watched Tangled) it seems to be pretty consistent with the movie, so if you’re looking for a fun retelling, this would work perfectly! It’s a quick read, too.

I just don’t care for retellings, so the magic wasn’t there for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.