Definitely not my favourite in this series. I found both Ren and Fitz to be highly annoying and did not feel their connection at all.

It got a little better and cuter as the story was in its last third, but definitely not like the others.

Also little things like how little they drove in a day really bugged me. Just wasn’t feeling it unfortunately.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one. I couldn't get in to the story, only making it through 2 chapters in 2 days. Tangled is my favorite Disney movie so I had really high hopes for this one. Sad that it didn't work but I'll maybe give it another chance in the future.

This is the most unique story and so well written. I admired what Ren had accomplished. To have taught herself so much is impressive. She's amazingly resilient too to not lose her enthusiasm and never become so self-conscious that she starts doubting herself. She very much understands how different she is but just keeps working along. This also makes it a bit hard to believe she isn't more independent from her parents. She's still willing to accept their strict rules including possibly having to leave college for good after working so hard to get in. She is the last thing Fritz wants to have to deal with. He's so close to achieving at least the first part of his life plan. When the two come together it isn't some instant love situation. No, they have to spend time to get to learn and know each other. Their road trip is perfect for this.

I really enjoyed this story, the characters were fascinating and the plot unique. It was gripping watching the story unfold and watching Ren watch the story unfold.

Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Christina Lauren has become an auto-buy author for me, and I am a Disney fanatic, so there was no question that I needed to read this book. As I started the book, I had no idea how Christina Lauren would create a modern twist on the story of Rapunzel, but they delivered in a big way.

I loved how Christina Lauren developed the characters of Ren and Fitz. Both characters had depth and I found myself turning the pages late into the night because I had to know what happened and how their story would turn out.

One of my favorite things about the Meant to Be series is trying to find elements of the Disney tales within the novel. This one was especially fun to read in that compare and contrast sort of way. It was also way more than a fairy tale retelling. It was also a coming-of-age story about becoming autonomous and finding yourself. I recommend this book to fans of Disney, quirky characters, and enemies to friends to more tropes.

Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

📣 a Rapunzel retelling that made me have this feeling: 🥰

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s one of your Thursday numbers? Mine are: 1 bestie celebrating her Birthday today (yay, bestie!!), 1 cup of coffee, 1 meeting with my supervisor this morning, a million library books that need to be returned.

I feel like anything I say about Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren will sound derivative but this book is A D O R A B L E, an utterly charming Rapunzel retelling with so many smile-inducing adventures between the leads.

Ren has had a very restricted upbringing so college is a new world for her. There, she meets golden guy Fitz, & after a less than auspicious beginning (that’s what we could call blackmail, right?) they go on a road trip together to uncover the mystery of Ren’s apparent birth father.

This story follows the movie version pretty closely. One thing that’s bothered me about the movie version is how dark it actually is—I mean, the heartbreak of learning you were kidnapped & have been gaslit for years, etc. & how the movie—which, admittedly, is made for children—really glosses over the darkness even though it’s there in the premise anyway.

This book delves into Ren’s feelings more, showing snippets of what her life would be like after such a shocking discovery.

Tangled Up In You ended up being more swoonworthy than I expected & I was totally crushing on the story & the leads. Shout-out to Ren who holds Fitz accountable, who tells him she can’t conceive of falling in love with someone who doesn’t actually reveal more of himself, & shout-out to Fitz for opening himself up.

Super cute, you all.

4.5 ⭐️, out now.

[CWs: child kidnapping, emotional manipulation, gun violence, death.]

ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a dark blue mural with multicolored flowers, a butterfly, & a dragonfly.]

Thank you Hyperion for the ARC!

I love everything that Christina Lauren writes! They have such a special brand of humor that always has me laughing and smiling. This twist on Rapunzel was a lot of fun and I had a great time with it!

I love Christina Lauren books, especially for the banter. I was in for it all the way with this book. There was banter between Ren (Sunshine) and Edward (Grumpy), especially when they set off on their road trip. Who doesn't love a road trip?! Ren's quirky personality, innocence, and adventure are infectious. I guessed the plot twist ahead of time but wasn't disappointed in that.
Thank you, Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

Love love love. There was so much I loved about this retelling, but the ending felt a little dramatic.

From the very beginning the story felt effortless and lighthearted and even whimsical. I could immediately tell it was a Rapunzel retelling. Bonus for me, it somehow ended up in Spokane, WA which you NEVER read about in books. I LOVED that.

I absolutely loved the way the relationship unfolded between Ren and Fitz. Fitz was so well developed and you can’t help but love Ren. Being a big Disney fan, I could see the inspiration from the Rapunzel played by Mandy Moore we’ve all come to love.

My only complaint was the ending. Once you find out the twist, the story went from lighthearted and fun to dark and shocking. Understandable, given the original story, but I would have loved the same energy until the end. A must read though!!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC.

I've never seen the movie "Tangled," but Christina Lauren's latest release, “Tangled Up In You,” is a retelling of it. Published by Disney, this YA romance is as charming and youthful as you'd expect.

Ren, 22, attends Corona College. Despite her sheltered life, she's discovering the "real world" for the first time. Although she's highly skilled, even building a working wind power system from scratch, she's unprepared for what—and who—she encounters.

Enter Fitz. He's top of the class, about to graduate, and ready to clear his criminal record. He has a life plan with every step mapped out. However, when Ren accidentally disrupts his plans with a discovery during their immunology seminar, Fitz must step in to help her navigate this new challenge.

This challenge leads to a road trip where all the cuteness oozes off the pages. I always enjoy seeing a grumpy-sunshine duo in close proximity, and watching Fitz gradually lower his walls and become more protective of Ren was delightful. As Ren navigates both the simplicities and complexities of life, she also discovers what genuine love and affection are, thanks to Fitz.

While it’s not my favorite Christina Lauren book, as I prefer their earlier work, fans of young adult, cute, closed-door romances with a mix of comedy, adventure, witty banter and so many angsty kisses will definitely enjoy this one. Thanks to Hyperion for an advanced copy.

I loved the Tangled-inspired romance with a contemporary feel. It had all the typical Christina Lauren charm and fun, lighthearted vibes, and the nods to the original movie were so great. This was a fun, different type of book for them and I hope they continue to do these types of books!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Ren Gylden has been living off the grid with her homesteading parents for 22 years, but finally, her dreams are coming true - she's going to go to college! And even though her parents have put some strict rules to her attending college (like she can never leave campus and must come home every weekend to do her chores), she feels like her life is finally beginning.

Fitz is about to graduate college, which is only step one of his plan to pull himself out of the ditch he's been living in.

But an assignment in their immunology class sends them off together on a wild goose chase that has the potential to change both of their lives forever. Maybe their dreams aren't as far off as they once thought.

Another great installment in the Meant To Be collection by author duo Christina Lauren that will not disappoint!

Tangled is my all time favorite Disney story- I'm obsessed, so I was so excited to dive into this modern take on a story I adore. Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren is a fun journey- reminiscent of all the things I adore about the Disney charmer but with it's own zest and charm.

Ren and Fitz, two vastly different individuals whose unexpected connection sparks a transformative road trip that turns into more of an existential journey. Like our Rapunzel up in the tower is a young girl who has lived her life pretty much off the grid, under the helicoptering of her family. With her first taste of freedom, she's finally venturing into the real world she's only read about. Meanwhile, Fitz is focused on achieving his dreams....academic success, clearing his criminal record, and keeping his carefully curated facade of a carefree playboy. Their paths cross in college, resulting in an unlikely friendship that results in a shared adventure in the open road.

Christina Lauren always has such memorable and big characters, each with their own quirks and vulnerabilities. While seeming opposites, Ren's secluded curiosity and determination make a perfect match for Fitz's charm and subtle layers. Ren is super naive, it's a unique dynamic, but they are really quite adorable together. And their trip is the perfect backdrop for a more intimate friendship that evolves into more, in a narrative that has plenty of heart, humor, and a heartfelt romance.

But like the original Tangled, the heart is really about a discovery of self. Characters discovering their dreams, their needs, and most of all, who they are and want to be. It captures the themes that I love so much about the inspiration- that life is all about taking changes and opening your eyes to the big beautiful world around you.

I saw this here on netgalley and immediately requested it because I am such a huge Christina Lauren fan!! I've never seen the disney movie Tangled, but after reading this one I have GOT to see it! Loved the story, Christina and Lauren always do such an amazing job. Forever autobuy authors!

This was such a sweet romance. I love Tangled, and this version of the story was so much fun. I always enjoy Christina Lauren books, and this one was no exception.

This book was absolutely amazing! The way the Tangled story was incorporated in this one was genius! The twist at the end was a great play on the story!. This whole series has been a dream come true and this one just is litteray the cherry on top!

I loved the Tangled-inspired romance (my favorite Disney movie!) with a contemporary feel. It had all the Christina Lauren charm and fun, lighthearted vibes, and all the nods to the original movie made my heart so happy!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Tangled Up in You
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Christina Lauren

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: She has a dream. He has a plan. Together they’ll take a leap of faith.

Ren has never held an iPhone, googled the answer to a question, or followed a crush on social media. What she has done: Read a book or two, or three (okay, hundreds). Taught herself to paint. Built a working wind power system from scratch. But for all the books she’s read, Ren has never found one that’s taught a woman raised on a homestead and off the grid for most of her twenty-two years how to live in the real world. So when she finally achieves her lifelong dream of attending Corona College, it feels like her life is finally beginning.

Fitz has the rest of his life mapped out: Graduate from Corona at the top of his class, get his criminal record wiped clean, and pass himself off as the rich, handsome player everyone thinks he is. He’s a few short months from checking off step one of his plans when Ren Gylden, with her cascading blonde hair and encyclopedic brain, crashes into his life, and for the first time Fitz’s plan is in jeopardy.

But a simple assignment in their immunology seminar changes the course of both their lives, and suddenly they’re thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire on a road trip that will lead them in the most unexpected directions. Out on the open road, the world somehow shifts, and the unlikely pair realize that, maybe, the key to the dreams they've both been chasing have been sitting next to them the whole time.

My Thoughts: This is the fourth book in the Meant to Be series. The series share a theme and each are standalone reads. Fun fact, is each of the books are written by a different author, I have followed the series and have enjoyed all of them, including this one. I have seen some Disney princess movies, but I have not seen “Tangled,” so, I went into this with “fresh” eyes, so to speak. This is a modern spin on the Disney classic movie. Ren has lived very off the grid for her whole life, 22 now, and she is finally getting to attend Corona College, her dream. Fitz is a few months short of graduating, his goals are simple, graduate the top of his class and get his criminal record erased. Then a seminar in immunology changes the direction of both of their lives. They are now on a road trip that will lead them in unexpected directions, including being each other’s dream partner. This follows the tropes of insta-love, grumpy/sunshine, and forced proximity.

Ren is has lived a very sheltered life with no technology, no smartphone. She has never been to school and has been educated solely by her love of reading. She is brilliant beyond measure, was very endearing. Fitz puts off a tough grumpy exterior, but once you break through, he is gentle and caring. This was really iconic of the Rapunzel and Flynn chemistry. The characters were developed well with depth, some banter (I would like to have seen more), chemistry, intriguing, and creative. The character growth for Ren and Fritz was amazing, both separately and together. The author’s writing style was complex, closed door, clean, magical, endearing, engaging, and brilliant. The author really does a fantastic job at balancing the inner monologue with the character development keeping the reader engaged and absolutely invested from cover to cover. This is not a typical romance, while we definitely have the romance element, there is also a suspense element with adventure, it really makes for an enjoyable read. The story flowed very well and the pace was impeccable, while being a slow burn, the plot still develops well with a beautiful Happily Ever After.

This one did have YA vibes. This turned out to be more than a modern spin on a Disney movie, it was a reimagined tale of what a fairytale would look like today, it was innocent, brilliant, magical, and just touches your heart. Christina Lauren will warm your heart with this tale, this duo does not disappoint with this latest installment in the Meant to Be series. I would absolutely recommend this book, as well as all of the books in the Meant to Be series. They are all endearing, touching, heartwarming reads with HEAs.

Dynamic Rom Com duo Christina Lauren spin a new tale on Disney's Tangled. A sweet tale that ends in a happily ever after! If you have been following these Disney Roms you will not be disappointed.

3.5 rounded up 💫 and my 17th?! CLO in the books🤯

✨Tangled retelling
✨grumpy / sunshine
✨road trip!! / forced proximity
✨one bed! 🤭 but it’s a clean romance! reads almost YA since she’s so new to the world
✨lovable characters
✨4th in a series but they’re all standalone retellings

To be honest this one took me a whiiiile to get into, maybe because it came off YA? BUT the hijinks were fun, the banter flirty, and once it took off it really TOOK OFF! It went in a direction I didn’t see coming even though it’s a retelling? 😮 I do still recommend!

RATING: 4/5 STARS

Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies, so I was very excited for this retelling. I'm happy that this book fulfilled my expectations and delivered a sweet story that maintained the charm and adventure of the movie! The translation of the story to the modern setting was done very creatively. Ren and Fitz captured the liveliness of Rapunzel and Flynn's characters - this book showed exactly what I think they would be like as college students. In summary this is a lovely book that I recommend for all Tangled fans.