Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren is a brilliant reimagination of the story of Rapunzel. Ren, our main character, was homeschooled, so when she was finally able to go to college, she met Fitz, who she ends up having to go on an unexpected road trip with for their immunology seminar. The adventure that awaits them was funny and sweet, making me laugh out loud a couple of times. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored this book, it’s such an engaging read with a very unique heroine. Ren is completely unfamiliar with most aspects of modern life. When she inadvertently finds information about her earliest years, it sends her on a road trip with Fitz, an unexpected white knight. I don’t want to say anything that might ruin your reading experience, but I highly recommend you read this book! 5 stars.

From the Publisher:

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.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the digital advance reader's copy.

This is the fourth book in the Meant to Be series, "inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary rom-coms."

These are stand-alone reads, each based on a Disney animated movie, which is the only reason I keep reading them, as romance is not my normal cup of tea. They are the lightest of light frothy reads, perfect for escaping real life.

Quick summary: Ren has lived her entire life on her parent's homestead near a tiny town in Idaho. She's self-taught, curious, open-hearted, and loves learning about anything and everything. Her parents have allowed her to go to college, and she's excited. However, in her science class, a DNA class reveals some surprising results, leading to a secret cross-country road trip with her academic rival, Fitz.

I enjoyed all of the cute references to Disney's <i>Tangled</i>. Some are obvious, and some are more subtle, but these Easter eggs added to the fun.

Lauren does a good job developing the characters of Ren and Fitz, as we learn more about both of their lives. I found myself rooting for their happy ending, even though I knew it was inevitable. Lauren made the emotional roadblocks they faced along the way believable, despite the wild plotline.

All in all, a quick, escapist read for fans of Disney.

*very rare language, sexual situations

This book was so compulsive. I haven't read an entire book in a day in a long time, so props to C Lo once again! They can ALWAYS write a solid page-turner. I thought the Tangled retelling was so fun, and Ren/Fitz definitely embodied their characters. As it is a fairy tale retelling, it definitely leans cheesy and caricature-like. This book is one to pick up if you want a very light, fun read for summer, but I wouldn't expect too much. It does have some heavier elements in a couple of spots, mostly the ending, but honestly, I don't think it meshed well with the rest.

I'm going to give it 4⭐ for the fun summer vibes.

Tangled Up in You is the fourth novel in the Meant to Be series which has each novel written by a new author and does a fairy tale retelling. I love the movie Tangled, so I was nervous how this novel would do the story justice. There are some great nods to the material while still making it unique. In this tale Ren has been raised off the grid and is now stepping foot into the busy world of Corona College. On the other side is the love interest, Fitz, who is determined to graduate with top honors and get his criminal record wiped clean. Their story takes them on a road trip from Washington to Georgia where there a lot of adventures and growth as Ren tries to discover the truth behind a DNA test she takes in her biology class.

The road trip was interesting as the characters begin at their college in Spokane, Washington and go across the US to Atlanta, Georgia, including Ren’s farm in Idaho. It does rely on the reader to either know the general path the characters journey or for them not to engage as much as if you were unfamiliar with the layout of the US, I could see how it could be confusing. Since I have been to many of these places, it was easy enough to picture in my mind. Based on past reads by Christina Lauren, I could sense the urge for them to write the romance a certain way; however, their exact style doesn’t fit to the parameters of this series, so I felt the struggle in the writing. There is a tone that their other novels have where this novel would make suggestions, but then would backtrack to be tamer to fit the series. The romance that develops between the two characters was sweet and I enjoyed the two learning about the other. Their journey was enjoyable, and I loved the fairy tale elements. I can’t wait to see what fairy tale is used for the next story in this series.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I really enjoyed this Tangled remake. I wasn't sure how it would work out as it started from a cartoon, but the authors did a great job making it a modern book romance. I enjoyed Ren and Fitz and their road trip. Their relationship evolved organically albeit quickly. Ren was so sweet and such a good person. I loved how she related to everyone she came in contact with. It was easy to fall in love with her. I loved the way it ended as well. Another great one from Christina Lauren. If you are a Tangled fan, I think you'll love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for my copy of this ARC which published 6/25/24.

A modern day retake on Tangled?! I am all in (and it was so cute!!). Ren is a girl who has been homeschooled her entire life and kept away from people, technology, and everything in between ... but now she is finally getting her chance to be in the real world and starting her first class at Corona College. Fitz has spent his life playing the part, pretending to be the most charming, wealthy, and attractive guy around, his entire life has been mapped out and he's determined to keep it that way... or he was until a certain ball of sunshine completely takes him off his tracks. Ren and Fitz end up in the same class and when Ren discovers that her family isn't really her family and that her DNA matches someone else, she is determined to go meet him, and when she catches Fitz cheating she makes a deal: she wont tell on him if he takes her to meet her biological father. Fitz hopes that he can just take her on the trip and get her out of his hair as fast as possible... but the more time they spend together the more he's beginning to realize that he is very much tangled up in her. Ren is everything Fitz's isnt, she's so true to herself, so kind and honest, and unjaded... and if he wants to make a relationship with her it means he'll have to take off his persona and truly let her in to know him or risk losing the only girl who has actually ever seen him. Oh I had an absolute blast with this book!! I love Tangled so much so hearing that it got a modern day romance remake I couldn't wait to pick it up! It's absolutely such a fun read and and I think the authors did a fantastic job of keeping the elements of the original story while adding their own take on it. The romance was really well done and I just fell in love with both characters! I would highly HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the movie!

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

If you haven’t seen the movie Tangled, do yourself a favor and watch it now. You don’t need to have seen it to enjoy Tangled Up in You, but if you have, the enjoyment will be so much greater. This book brings those characters to new life, here in the forms of Ren and Fitz, and puts them into an all-new scenario that works perfectly with the original story arc.

Ren Goldwyn (our modern-day Rapunzel) has spent her entire life living on a remote homestead in Idaho, largely isolated from society. At 22, she’s extremely smart and knowledgeable, even though she’s never been to school. She’s finally starting college in Spokane, WA, despite her parents’ extreme reservations and strict rules, and her naive innocence and irresistible personality make a big impression on her fellow classmates. But when she takes a DNA test as part of a class, the paternal match she makes is a shock. Could this man way out in Atlanta be her real dad? What about the man she’s known as Dad all her life? What about her mom? Ren blackmails her classmate Fitz into driving her across the country, without her parents’ knowledge. Guarded as he is, the two are catching feelings for each other… but Ren’s world may be about to be turned upside down.

At first what I loved most about Tangled Up in You is simply all the ways it felt true to the film Tangled. Christina Lauren did a fabulous job of capturing Rapunzel and Flynn’s personalities and adapting them to the modern world. Ren is just as enthusiastic, likable, naive, and determined, and I could easily envision her. Likewise, Fitz has the same charming front hiding a secret past and is a man who is very guarded. There are also so many little references that fans of the movie will immediately catch. For example, Fitz’s vehicle is a white Ford Mustang that he’s named Max.

But beyond the obvious movie tie-in, Tangled Up in You fully stands on its own. It unfolds into a beautiful story that is at once engaging, sweet, heartbreaking, and believable (even with its bombshell revelations). I fell in love with these characters not simply for their movie counterparts, but for their own individuality that shines throughout this book.

Tangled Up in You is a fabulous story for Disney fans and non-fans alike. It will appeal to people who’ve seen Tangled as well as those who haven’t—it stands on its own, even while fully paying homage to the film. It’s part coming-of-age story, part slow burn romance, with a healthy dose of shocking action by the end. I found this novel utterly charming, and it’s probably my favorite in the Meant to Be series so far. This is my first time reading Christina Lauren, and I am excited to read more from them soon!

This was a very fun and engaging romance. There were lots of callbacks to the Tangled movie (even certain lines!), and the romance was very sweet. I liked the update to this fairy tale.

I enjoyed Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing the ARC.

I love the Meant to Be series, and I love Tangled, and I love Christina Lauren. This book was meant for me.

It's a wonderful retelling of the Disney movie with just enough difference to make the story feel different. Ren is sunshine personified and Fitz is just as charming and smarmy as Flynn Ryder. And there is everything that you would expect from Christina Lauren - excellent prose, evocative dialogue, and a tender sweetness that you can't help but love.

Loved this book!

This book was just fine to me and I love Christina Lauren. The tangled plots just didn’t work for me seeing it in a real 22 year old

This is a charming retelling of "Tangled." Ren, who was raised off-grid, experiences modern life for the first time when she goes to college. Her curiosity and intelligence shine as she navigates this new world. Fitz, the popular yet secretive college star, has his life all planned out until Ren comes into the picture. Their partnership in an immunology class leads to an unexpected road trip, where they discover their true selves and dreams. The chemistry between Ren and Fitz is palpable, filled with humor and heart. This sweet, closed-door romance is a beautifully crafted tale of self-discovery and unexpected love. Christina Lauren's writing is enchanting, making this a must-read for fans of modern fairy tales.

Honestly, I didn't love the first two books that were a part of these Disney-optioned fairy tale retellings by contemporary romance writers. But I love Christina Lauren so I decided to read TANGLED UP IN YOU anyway. I'm so glad I did!

Ren and Fitz are college students, competing for the best grades, and the stakes are high. But a forced roadtrip makes these opposites come together and the chemistry, people. The CHEMISTRY.

I was hooked on this modern take on Rapunzel (Tangled) from page one until I turned the final page with a happy sigh.

I took off a half a star from my rating because were a few loose ends in the story and "why didn't they just...?" moments that didn't quite add up. But that's really not too much of a distraction from this sweet and swoony tale.

TANGLED UP IN YOU is a delightful read that I absolutely recommend, even for readers who usually prefer more spice. I loved this book so much! Okay, more like obsessed. Just read it!

RATING: 4.5 stars
SPICE LEVEL: Rated G / Kissing only.
CONTENT WARNING: controlling parents, foster care, child abduction
FEELS: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.

I only have a vague memory of the movie Tangled, so I was approaching this book without preconceived notions. Tangled up in You was a delight to delve into. From the very beginning, I found the awe and innocence of the FMC Ren to be so endearing. And the MMC Fitzgerald was a perfect balance of hard, bad boy with a tender center. The characters are complex and lovable. I have been fully enchanted by this book and now want to watch the movie again!

Christina Lauren is the most incredible author duo! They have mastered the art of ribboning gorgeous descriptions and dialogue through simple story-telling. Their books are the ones I highlight the most and this was no exception!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!

I have loved everything by the duo. They knock it out of the park with each novel. I loved the deep characters and clever dialogue between the love interests. The only complaint is that it could be longer!!! While I won’t recommend to students, I highly recommend to any adults. Loved it

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren
Meant to Be You series #4 by multiple authors. Fairytale modern day retelling. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Ren Gylden has grown up on a farm, isolated from most modern conveniences, and schooled herself by the books she was able to get from the local library. She has daily chores of feeding the pigs, working the farm and repairing what mechanicals that she can. At 22, she has finally convinced her parents to attend Corona College in person. She makes a deal with them that she will never go off campus, she will never use the internet or computers for anything other than her coursework, and she will be home every weekend to catch up on chores at home.
Fitz has his life mapped out. Graduate top of his class so his criminal record is wiped clean, and become a lawyer and get a bit of revenge for a past event. When Ren starts school during his last semester, he’s as smitten as everyone else, especially of her long golden hair and aura of innocence and niceness. Her scores and knowledge threaten his standing and he’s in real danger of no longer being top of his class.
A simple DNA assignment for an immunology seminar changes everything for them. Ren gets results that has her leaving campus with Fitz and driving cross country to find answers.

Delightful twist on a romantic fairytale in modern times. Charming and fun. Absolutely recommend for a light read.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Rating: 1.5 stars

I love modern-day retellings and Tangled, so I requested an ARC of Tangled Up in You with all the overeager excitement of a lost princess blackmailing the first stranger she sees in her tower into taking her outside for the first time in seventeen years. That is--impulsively and full of naiveté.

I didn't give much thought to what adapting Rapunzel, let alone Tangled, into a contemporary romance would until I actually started reading Tangled Up in You, and that was when I realized I might have made a big mistake. I mean, the original story is literally about a girl with magic hair that glows when she sings who's trapped in a tower by a creepy old woman. It doesn't exactly scream "contemporary."

I have to give it to Christina Lauren. They really tried. Maximus becomes a white mustang, the glowing lanterns are replaced by fireworks, and The Snuggly Duckling scene is transported to the Screaming Eagle biker saloon in a surprisingly creative reimagining of "I Have a Dream." There are even a handful of Easter eggs that run the gambit from from frying pans (who knew?) to birthday paint to Flynn's inimitable nose that'll leave hardcore fans giddy and ready for more. Unfortunately, it's not enough to keep the story afloat.

This is my first time reading anything by the BFF duo, so I don't know how much of this didn't work because of the premise and how much of it was because of, well, them, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they got one of the harder assignments in the Meant to Be line-up. My biggest issue with the story is how one-dimensional, and frankly, underdeveloped both Ren and Fitz are. One of the reasons I love Tangled is because the depth of development Rapunzel and Flynn have compared to many of their princess movie counterparts. That's not the case here. If anything, Rapunzel and Flynn might have more personality than they do in this book. Ren and Fitz are so bland they're boring.

This was cute, but not my favorite from Christina Lauren. I liked the idea, but overall, I just like more original ideas from them.

4 -⭐⭐⭐⭐

"One day on the road, Sweden, and you've already got a mouth on you."

Tangled Up in You is a cute romantic comedy that is essentially Tangled but as a contemporary college romance. We follow Ren, a brilliant (though somewhat naive) young woman who has spent her life isolated from the world, finally trying her hand at college where she meets Fitz, a charismatic and charming senior. When she learns something shocking in her immunology seminar (that Fitz is also taking) she yearns to go on a road trip...then a surprising string of events leads her to crashing Fitz's trip. Yet neither expected that during their journey they would find a connection...so what happens when their road trip reaches the end of the road?

This was an adorable read. If you ever wanted to read Tangled , this is probably the closest and truest way to do so because I had so much fun. It gave the same vibes the entire time.

Ren may be someone who has lived on a homestead all her life but she is smart (not street smart) and quick thinking. She is empathetic, sincere, and does not always see sarcasm. I loved seeing how much she won people over just by being herself. I also loved seeing people feeling affronted with her bright personality before being won over.

Fitz has secrets. He is determined to be top of his class and his inability to keep his eyes on Ren is putting that in jeopardy but when Ren blackmails him he is forced to work with her. He cannot believe how she has managed to get this far but his resigned fate is adorable because every time he tries to get her to change her mind...and ultimately he, too, is won over.

While these characters are in their early twenties this book does not contain spice. There is a kissing scene or two but the romance is still strong as we get to enjoy the banter and connection Ren and Fitz build together.

"It's smaller than I expected."
"Some will say that it's not the size that matters, but what you do with it."
Ren slid her eyes to him, frowning. "I think you're making a dirty joke."
He laughed. "I might be."

The story itself focuses more on a road trip than the college campus. I enjoyed seeing how the author approached rejigging the different key moments in the movie to these books and the nods to the classic - there are so many and I loved catching the easter eggs! We get one bed trope, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine and more! The banter here was amazing and I felt getting both POVs really worked to draw out the romance. I was smiling and giggling the entire time. Now, the twist at the end needed a bit more explanation but overall I felt this was a fun read!

Thank you so much Hyperion for this arc!