Great fast read. I enjoyed the formatting of this book a lot. Would definitely recommend this to readers. I don’t think you would have to know the rapunzel story to enjoy it.

The second I saw this cover I knew I just had to read it! And I am so so grateful that I did! Plumbs writing was absolutely magical and I flew through this in just a few hours. The sass and realness of it all made it that much better. I loved Zella and Ryder so so much, they were both raw and real characters going through their own things. I loved seeing the similarities to the original Rapunzel story. especially because tangled is my all-time favorite movie. Overall this was such a blast and I will be recommending this to literally anybody and everybody!

A modern day, YA retelling of Rapunzel. Zella grew up in the Lighthouse - both literally a lighthouse but also an organization run by her mother. She has never been outside and for a long time has not really questioned her life. Ryder is a foster kid who finally has a family he likes. However, he has to be careful since he knows he can get in trouble easier than other kids. After a party goes wrong, he seeks refuge from the cops in a lighthouse. There he meets Zella, who begs him to take her with him when he leaves. As she sees the outside world, she starts to realize maybe her past is more sinister than she realized.

This was an easy read and lots of nods to what is imo the best version of Rapunzel, Tangled. There were a couple twists I didn't see coming as well.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be publishing this on Friday on my Instagram blog:

Lightkeepers is a modern take on the movie Tangled written by Kennedy Plumb. Tangled is my favorite Disney movie, and this book is a beautifully written tale that draws familiar elements from the film without being a carbon copy. I went into this book as a cautiously optimistic fan of the original, and I was not disappointed in the slightest.

The book centers around Zella who has lived her entire life in isolation in a New England lighthouse, and Ryder who has found himself in a new foster home as he is about to age out of the foster care system. Their core personality traits will be familiar if you have seen Tangled. Zella is brave, clever, and upbeat and yet she struggles with guilt of letting down her mother by leaving the safety of the lighthouse. Ryder is flirtatious and sarcastic, usually overcompensating for his insecurities. As they spend a night exploring the world outside of Zella’s tower, you can’t help but be charmed by their innocent chemistry.

One of my favorite things about this book is how it was about so much more than a retelling of Rapunzel. Under the surface of a sweet and adorable teen romance is a beautifully written story of a teen who is struggling in the foster care system. Ryder’s life and his story are explored in the chapters when he serves as the story’s narrator, and the audience gets a look at his emotional baggage that leads him down the path he is on when he meets Zella. His story arc is what drew me in on an emotional level, and the author did an amazing job making his journey and past so realistic. It made the book as a whole that much more touching and memorable.

Overall, this is a fantastic read. The plot, writing, and characters are all incredibly well done and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet YA romance or is a fan of the movie Tangled. This book is a 5 out of 5 for me and on my all time favorites list.

With thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for allowing me fo review this book.

dly I couldn't get into this book, it just didn't hold my attention.

Very interesting read , this is a great introduction to heavier topics for young adults. The story brought both humor and trauma. The storyline was interesting and kept me reading it all night.

Zella has lived her who life in isolation at the top of a lighthouse located in New England. One night, a foster kid named Ryder stumbles through Zella's window and discovers she is part of a cult that is not everything it claims to be. The premise of the book caught my attention, and then I fell headfirst into the story, much like how Ryder fell in through Zella's window. There was enough mystery of the cult mixed in with romantic humor between Zella and Ryder to keep me reading all night long. Although the book contains themes of darker topics, such as trauma, and abuse, it is offset with wit and humor to make it a great introduction to these themes for young adults. For a teen reader looking for a good thriller, this is the book I would recommend.

'Tangled' is my absolute favourite film of all-time, so when I saw this, I knew I would have to read it! And I really enjoyed it!
I've loved similar books in the past--this one really reminded me of 'Everything Everything'--and I loved Zella's narrative and journey she takes throughout the novel. I thought the 'Tangled' elements were woven in really well without overshadowing the plot, and still managing to remain its own individual thing.
My only issue with the writing came in Ryder's chapters, as I found a lot of the dialogue, especially within the school, to be rather unrealistic and cliche--very much like a tween movie. I also thought his arc was slightly rushed with the ending, though I did enjoy the message of it, and the awareness his character raises.
All in all, if you enjoy 'Tangled', you'll enjoy this!!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!)