Tangled Up in You tells the story of Ren, a 22-year old sheltered woman who finally talks her parents into allowing her to attend college. Her parents live off-the-grid, on a homestead in Idaho where they have no phones, no internet, and few if any friends. On her very first day at college, Ren meets Fitz and the two have a connection. I kept waiting for something to happen with these two to encourage me to continue reading and not bag it, maybe for Ren to stand up to her parents and become her own person. About half way through, the novel became interesting and I figured I'd continue reading. I usually love Christina Lauren novels but this one was just lacking for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Somehow I missed the memo that some of the most popular romance authors were rewriting the stories of Disney Princesses. This new book by Christina Lauren is a classic retelling of Rapunzel and I was here for it!! I LOVED the naive ways of Ren and her heart was classic princess, I really felt that the essence was captured in these pages.

I enjoyed the development of her relationship with Fitz and his own unraveling since his backstory isn’t as prominently known, it was fun to see where it came from.

I do wish the last 3/4 of the book was even longer I enjoyed it that much! I felt like it wrapped up too fast for my love but that could’ve been that I didn’t want it to end. It was a very PG romance department book, which is understandable given the nature of the story, but that’s a disclaimer if you go into it expecting traditional Christina Lauren spice.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to go back and read the others in this series now!

Christina Lauren presents Tangled Up in You, a contemporary retelling of the classic Rapunzel story, weaving together elements of romance, adventure, and self-discovery. Ren Gylden, raised off the grid, embarks on her first adventure into the bustling world of Corona College, where she encounters Fitz, a meticulously planned-out student whose life is turned upside down by Ren's arrival. As they navigate their unexpected connection, they embark on a spontaneous road trip that leads to revelations both personal and profound. With humor, tenderness, and genuine emotion, Christina Lauren crafts a captivating narrative that captures the magic of falling in love and embarking on a journey of self-discovery, making Tangled Up in You a delightful read for fans of romance and fairy tales alike.

Prepare to be enchanted by a delightful retelling of the classic tale of Tangled! For aficionados of modern fairytale reinterpretations, Tangled Up In You is an absolute must-read. Drawing inspiration from Disney's beloved animated masterpiece, Tangled, which holds a cherished spot in my heart as one of the most captivating films, this novel expertly weaves a narrative that pays homage to its source material while adding its own unique twist. And how ingenious is the inclusion of Fitz's white Mustang, Max, on the cover? It's a subtle nod that true fans will surely appreciate.

In Christina Lauren's skillful hands, Ren emerges as a character who embodies the essence of Rapunzel from Tangled: kind-hearted, innocent, and yet imbued with a quiet strength. However, Christina Lauren elevates Ren beyond mere imitation, infusing her with a newfound sense of independence, intellect, and resilience. It's a testament to the author's talent that I found myself drawn even more to Christina Lauren's rendition of these characters than to their Disney counterparts.

But perhaps where Tangled Up In You truly shines is in its portrayal of Fitz. Unlike his animated counterpart, Fitz is given ample room to grow and evolve throughout the story. While I initially found his character somewhat unlikable, his journey of self-discovery and redemption quickly won me over. Learning about his past mistakes and witnessing his present struggles and motivations made him a deeply relatable and ultimately endearing character. The chemistry between Ren and Fitz crackles with intensity, underscoring the undeniable connection between them and ensuring that their romance feels both authentic and heartfelt.

Tangled Up In You offers a nuanced and compelling narrative that transcends age boundaries. With its emphasis on tender moments and emotional depth, this is a novel that appeals to readers of all ages. In a genre often characterized by its steamier offerings, Tangled Up In You stands out as a refreshing and wholesome alternative that doesn't sacrifice depth or emotional resonance.

In conclusion, Tangled Up In You is a captivating journey that breathes new life into a beloved fairytale. With its richly drawn characters, heartfelt romance, and expertly crafted narrative, it's a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether you're a fan of Tangled, a lover romance, or simply in search of a heartwarming story to brighten your day, Tangled Up In You is sure to captivate and delight.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of “Tangled Up In You” by Christina Lauren in exchange for a review.

I wasn’t familiar with the ‘Meant to Be’ series when I requested this title, but I’m a big Christina Lauren fan so I was very interested.

Is this of the same caliber as say, “Love and Other Words” or “The Soulmate Equation”? Not even close…but I enjoyed it. The similarities to Disney’s Tangled are evident, and it was full of sweet moments. It had nearly no spice, which felt appropriate considering the subject inspiration. The ending felt a bit abrupt, though, and I felt some questions could have been answered more thoroughly.

But hey, who doesn’t love a good Disney inspired happily ever after?

This was a fun, modern interpretation of Rapunzel! It is always interesting to see how fairy tales can be retold in new ways, and this was a refreshing take on a classic.

Another great read from Christina Lauren!
A sweet hopeful story about finding yourself, trusting others, and firsts! But don't forget the drama, the excitement, and the chaos!
Thank you netgalley and hyperion avenue for the e arc.

I don’t usually LOVE fairytale retelling because it just feels so boring to me. THIS WAS NOT THAT! I loved this retelling! Also, if you’re familiar with the middle grade novel The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Ren reminds me a lot of a grown up Coyote if they’d stayed on the bus!

I've been obsessed with the "Meant to Be" series since the very beginning and Christina Lauren's attachment just grew that exponentially. Yes, it is based on Rapunzel (and a fairly accurate adaptation with a modern-day setting) but it is also such a delightful and fun romance with tropes including opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity. It's told in dual points of view and has such witty banter. Like, omg I couldn't help but literally laugh in parts. Super cute, fits right in with the rest of "Meant to Be."

This was a fun adaptation to Tangled. At first, I wasn't sure how the fairy tale would transfer to a contemporary romance novel, even after the first few chapters (which gave me Educated by Tara Westover vibes, and I wasn't sure I wanted to see her in a leading romantic role). However, once I adjusted my focus to this unique fairy tale, the adaptation began to make sense, and I enjoyed it so much. I did find the ending a bit unmatched in tone and style to the fluffy sort of plot throughout most of the book, yet I'll admit I was very invested and couldn't put the book down! I think many readers will love this adaptation, especially my high school students. There aren't any graphic or inappropriate scenes for YA readers, and they'll love the familiarity and suspenseful ending. On a personal level, it wasn't my favorite of all contemporary romance novels, but I did enjoy it, and I think it's a fun, creative idea.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Incredible! I absolutely loved this one. Such a great book to curl up with. It was hard to pull myself away to do things, but I always looked forward to diving back in. Highly recommend!

Christina Lauren did it again!!! I love all their books. When I started reading this book I didn't realize it was based on the movie Tangled. I thought it was a sweet romance between two college-aged students. There were many times I was trying to guess what would happen next. I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy a happily ever after.

Thank you to ARC And NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love Christina Lauren books and this one was no exception! I don't even normally like "modern retellings" but this one was great! The references to Tangled are subtle, but very cute when you spot them. The pace was great, the characters were likable, and the plot was decent as well. I especially liked that there were only clean scenes in this story. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes romcoms that still have plots!

This was a really sweet read. I have a particular fondness for Tangled so I went in expecting I would, at the very least, enjoy the plot. I wasn't wrong! But the writing was lovely, too, and the characters handled very well. There is something very soul warming about a young woman moving beyond the expectations on her life and living the life she wants for herself.

Definitely my favorite of the "Meant to Be" series so far! I just love Christina Lauren and I was afraid the writing was going to be limited by the restrictions of this type of Disney-branded series but as always these characters sparkled. I was grinning so hard reading about this unlikely duo taking on a cross-country road trip and the parallels to Tangled were done so well.

Babe in the woods, Ren Glyden, has grown up in rural Idaho off the gird with near Luddite parents who only allowed her to learn subsistence farming as well as what it takes to keep all the farm equipment running. Ren’s few saving graces involved inhaling books and painting wildly colorful pictures, not just barns. At age 22, Ren has finally convinced her parents to let her go to college in Spokane if she dutifully comes home each weekend and stays out of the rest of college life. Golden boy and senior, Fitz, is assigned to give Ren a tour of the school. He is surprised by this beautiful young woman, who on one hand, has zero skills with any kind of modern tech, but on the other seems to be very intelligent.

Ren’s thirst for knowledge outside of book learning and memory for seemingly minute details are off putting to Fitz at first, and then intimidating because he needs to retain stellar grades to overcome some bad choices as a juvenile to achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer and exacting revenge on his foster father. While working on a class assignment, Ren discovers some information that is possibly life changing. She essentially blackmails Fitz into taking her on a Spring Break road trip to find out whether what she suspects is true.

While visiting some of the sights along the way giving Ren more new experiences of life away from the seclusion of the farm, their relationship begins to change from competitors to something more. Ren has never had a boyfriend and Fitz only has casual hookups so neither knows how to trust someone with their vulnerable places. This book is the retelling of Disney’s Tangled which is the re-imagined version of the fairy tale, Rapunzel, and is part of the Meant to Be collection. It is much more YA in nature than the other stories from the writing team of Christina Lauren. Whether readers have seen the Disney movie or not will probably affect their enjoyment of this tale.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Christina Lauren has always been a guaranteed good time and this book was no exception. I have to admit that I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis for this book before requesting an ARC as I have never not enjoyed a book by Christina Lauren and the story that followed surprised and delighted me. Tangled is a great movie and the adaptation was fun as well. There were several direct nods to the movie (while Vladimir does not sing about collecting ceramic unicorns, the Snuggly Duckling does make an appearance as the Screaming Eagle instead), which I greatly enjoyed seeing.

My one issue with the book was Fitz’s backstory. I just didn’t buy it at all and didn’t think it made sense within the story as well. Unfortunately, that brought down the rating for me to a 3.5 (rounded up to 4 on websites where I need to). Overall still an enjoyable book that I would recommend for a fun read.

Per usual these authors nailed it.

A modern retelling of Tangled. It was a sweet story with fun, witty banter. Quick, easy read.

Oh CLo you have done it again! For those of you who are Disney fans, this remix of Tangled is sure to be one you will love! This adorable rom-com felt a little YAish to me, but it sure was delightful and fun to read.

Read this if you enjoy:
Grumpy to sunshine
Modern fairytale
Fast-paced
College vibes
Adventure in love

The perfect summer beach read!

Many thanks to Hyperion Avenue, authors Christina Lauren, and NetGalley for providing me the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This title will be released on June 25, 2024.

4 STARS

If you want to read a feel-good book that will make you smile, Tangled Up in You is that book. FMC Ren has lived an extremely sheltered life with only her parents and the farm animals for company. Now, she’s starting college and runs into Fitz, campus golden boy. Some unusual events wind up with them taking a road trip together. As Ren explores America and all the good things that life has to offer, she also learns there’s more to Fitz than his reputation suggests.

The Characters are the highlight of the story. It took some time for them to grow on me. Although the book is dual POV, Ren dominates the story. She’s an extreme, vivid, almost cartoonish character. (If you’ve seen The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, then you’ve got the idea.) She initially overshadows Fitz, who comes off as a kid trying to get by. He has some walls up, and this certainly includes grumpy behavior toward his unwanted travel companion tagalong. I eventually loved Ren for how she appreciates life and the world around. She brings out the best in Fitz, so I love him most!

The Romance: Very sweet. Slow burn. This is a first love for both and the first romantic interactions fmc Ren has ever had. There’s a building attraction and kisses—no sex. Between the ages of the characters, the naïveté of the female protagonist, and the “clean” romance, TUIY feels kind of like a YA contemporary.

Genre: Although there is romance, the story even more heavily focuses on the individual characters’ and their personal journeys. It’s more general fiction than typical genre romance.

The plot gives you laugh-out-loud moments, warm feelings, sweet romance, and a little crazy drama. The roadtrip even made me nostalgic for all the family roadtrips I’ve taken in my life. Even if the characters aren’t for you, I think there’s something in this book any reader might enjoy.