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.

This was a really sweet story, and a nice adaptation of Disney's "Tangled". Ren and Fitz were great together, and I love that she is the bookish, whip-smart character and Fitz is the playboy. I enjoyed their chemistry and thought that the storyline was done well, but it wasn't really anything that hasn't been done before. Overall a fun read.

This book was not at all what I was expecting but it was so much better. Ren and Fitz were absolutely perfect. Ren was such an unconventional romance character and I really loved the energy she brought to the story. The story unfolded so beautifully on their road trip. The part I wasn't expecting was the suspense and how Ren's story would play out. I couldn't put it down as I got to the end. I will recommend this to my friends and high school students.

I have read very little by Christina Lauren as it is not the kind of book I usually read. However, thanks to @Netgalley, I was able to get an eArc of this book. I completely enjoyed it! Ren was such a delight! Away at school for the first time, and I mean the first time ever going to school, Ren discovers the world around her. Enter in Fitz…

Quick, delightful beach read.

In a modern day retelling of Tangled, Christina Lauren created Ren, a sheltered 22 year old girl who is leaving her home to go to school for the first time. She has always been at her parent's farm, with no official education or access to any technology. Ren has taught herself everything from Calculus to Mandarin, and was admitted to college with a full scholarship. There, she meets Fitz - the charming guide appointed to show her around campus, who has a few secrets of his own. When a DNA test in one of their classes shows Ren something unexpected, they go on a journey that leads to a discovery of some secrets and a discovery of themselves.

This is the first book from the Meant to Be series that I read and I am definitely going to be adding the others to my list! I was not sure what to expect with a modern day fairy tale retelling, but this was so enjoyable! Ren was sheltered but never gave the impression of being a damsel in distress. She was tough, brave, smart, charming, and curious. Fitz had no option but to fall for her This was such a cute modern take on Rapunzel/Tangled. Christina Lauren perfectly translated Rapunzel’s sunshine-y optimism and naïveté to Ren, as well as the cynicism and sarcasm of Flynn Rider, aka Fitz. There’s also the bit of a mystery surrounding Ren’s parents, their origins and true intentions. I loved picking up on all of the references from the movie, both small and large, like the cat named Pascal or Fitz’s white Ford Mustang named Max. As Ren and Fitz journey across the country, their relationship goes on a journey as well, from enemies to friends to lovers. In keeping with the theme, it's light on spice, but you can definitely "feel" the chemistry between Ren and Fitz. I also really enjoyed that this book was a dual POV. It was great to be able to get both MC’s perspectives and to be able to read their thoughts and feelings. I wish we could have gotten just a bit more about Ren and Fitz’s happy ever after. It had everything I love from a Christina Lauren book including lovable characters and snappy dialogue. The novel balances witty banter with moments of introspection perfectly, creating a story that is not only entertaining but also emotionally sound. I would recommend it - especially if you’re a Tangled fan! Thanks to Christina Lauren, Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I am looking forward to reading Christina Lauren’s next book.

This was a cute, fun retelling of Tangled! It was well paced in my opinion, and very clever on how the author handled the storyline.

Also-- if you're ever wanting a romance that's clean but with a little burn, this is a great option!

Tangled Up in You will definitely become a best seller when it is published on June 25th of 2024! Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of it!

As you all know, I am not a huge fan of contemporary romance. But, when I got an ARC for this novel, I thought since it is based on some fantasy and magic, I would give it a go. As far as contemporary romance goes, this might be one of my favorites. Somehow, Christina Lauren managed to modernize almost every single key component from the original movie, including some plot points that I did not even imagine could be in there. This led me to actually be surprised at some of the events, even though I seemingly knew the story. This was a lovely surprise and I found myself eager to see how it all would end.

The main characters, Ren and Fitz, are very true to the personalities of our original Rapunzel and Flynn. Her unwavering optimism, and his pessimism masked by charm, created tension and banter throughout the entire novel. Both of their character developments throughout the story were also very heartwarming and realistic and made their subsequent growing fondness for one another even more fun.

There was an added plot point to Fitz’s character that I do not think necessarily needed to be there, but nevertheless helped add to the concept of the “mask” he wore around everyone (except for Ren). While there were definitely no smutty scenes in this novel, the few kissing scenes shared between Fitz and Ren were still beautifully written and made me want to root for their relationship even more.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to both contemporary and fantasy romance readers. It was easy and fun, while also diving into some deeper emotional characterizations and growth.

Ahhh this was such an adorable book to read. I’m a huge fan of Disney and Christina Lauren so that was a hit for me. The book is a retelling of the fairytale Tangled. Ren is a naive, sheltered 22 year old young lady who is attending college for the first time. Fitz has a troubled past but is determined to graduate at the top of his class. When Ren finds out something surprising about her family, she tags along with Fitz on a roadtrip across the county. The storyline has a bit of suspense, romance, self-discovery, and adventure. This book had a different feel than other CLo books but it was really fun to read and I definitely enjoyed it!

Read if you like:
🚘grumpy x sunshine
🚘forced proximity
🚘one bed
🚘dual POV

Ren has lived on a homestead her entire life with her parents.  They have no internet or phone and have lived a very sheltered life.  Ren convinces her parents to let her attend college, and they reluctantly agree.  It's here she meets a charming Fitz and convinces him to take her with him on a road trip.

Thoughts 💭
This book is the fourth book in Disney's Meant To Be series of modern fairy tale retellings.  This book focuses on the movie Tangled (rapunzel), and Christina Lauren adds a fun twist to the story.  Ren is adorable and lovable.  Her take on the world is charming and refreshing.  It's easy to see why Fitz becomes enamored by her.  Fitz is a guarded bad boy who is trying to find his place in the world.  Ren brings out the best in him and helps him open up.  For fans of Tangled, there were a lot of familiar names and circumstances that are similar to the movie.  They did a great job of staying true to the original but also adding a new flare.  It's a sweet and easy read without any spice, and I think fans of the movie will be really happy with this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not for me. I can't put my finger one it, but I couldn't after the first few chapters. I wasn't connecting with the characters and I think they were a little one dimensional