*I was given a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to start by saying that I have loved pretty much everything I've read so far by Christina Lauren. I don't even normally like contemporary romance but I love their signature witty humor and they are basically the only contemporary authors I actively seek out. Which is why this particular book fell flat for me. It was very different from their other books.

First of all, I would categorize it as YA. NA at the most. It feels very young and didn't have the normal spice level that I'm used to with this author duo. By normal spice level, I mean there is zero in this one. Not that spice is essential, but I just wasn't expecting it to feel so... teen.

I was missing the humor as well. There were a couple of funny moments. But, overall, it has a much darker tone than their other books.

I know it is a Tangled retelling and that's why I went for it, but some parts seemed a little too "on the nose" for my taste. With retellings, I like for them to be close enough to the original for you to know its a retelling, but not glaringly obvious. I like to have to think and make connections to the original instead of them being thrown in your face. The biker bar scene in this was one example. I just thought it was a little cheesy because it was too close to the scene in Tangled. This is another thing that made it seem like it was geared to a younger audience. As an adult, I don't want to be thinking of the Disney version when I'm reading a romance book and expecting some spice (which doesn't happen, unfortunately).

I thought some of the dialogue was a little cheesy as well. All the "baby" and "baby girl" and stuff was a little cringe. That could just be my pet peeve though because I hate nicknames/pet names.

Fitz/Edward (yes I thought it was super ironic that his real name ends up being Edward and he's from Washington) missed the mark for me too. He was sort of just... there. He served to move the plot along and get her where she needed to go, but I felt like there was very little character development with him and I never really understood him. I also thought their relationship progressed a little too fast. Falling in love in a few days is not really my style. Especially when they had barely talked and knew very little about each other. He kept hiding stuff and that annoys me. There was no reason for him to hide his past. It was made out to seem like he was a bad-boy delinquent but really he was just an unfortunate victim of a (very realistic) messed up foster care system.

I did like Ren. She's quirky, unique, and refreshing. Not your typical FMC. I was very invested in her journey and was rooting for her. I felt like her story was resolved too quickly though and the story ended very abruptly. I could have used a little more information at the end.

It does have the one bed/force proximity trope that I am a sucker for. However, I found it a little lacking. The usual awkwardness that I enjoy with that trope was missing. They just went to sleep, woke up, went about their business like nothing happened. I definitely wanted more.

Overall, its a cute book if you're just looking for a Tangled retelling with one bed, miscommunication, and insta-love tropes. However, if you expected a typical Christina Lauren romance with a unique plot, tons of humor and banter, and a nice scoop of spice, you might be disappointed.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Tangled Up In You was a true disappointment, especially after how great Christina Lauren's most recent books were.

I was really interested in this when I read that it’s a modern retelling of Tangled. Ren is 22 and has never left home before. She’s grown up on a farm with her parents and been very sheltered. She manages to convince them to let her attend college where she meets Fitz, a charming playboy who has an agenda post-graduation.

In one of her classes, Ren takes a DNA test and receives a parental match to a man in Atlanta that makes no sense to her. Knowing Fitz plans to go to Nashville, she blackmails him into taking her along with him so she can meet this man. Along the way, the two have fun adventures and start to fall for each other. Twists and turns follow that, and it all wraps up.

I greatly liked this book, and I hope Christina Lauren plan on doing more retellings like this in the future.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Who doesn’t like a fairytale retelling? I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Christina Lauren. When you’re looking for the perfect rom-com the duo always delivers. The chemistry between the two MC was present and the wit and banter was great! I would recommend this for more of a YA read.

I received this ARC via NetGalley and Hypervision Avenue in exchange for an honest review.

really really cute romance that's a remake of tangled? sign me up, with a lot og happiness. and this one def deserves it!

Ren, aged 22, is finally attending college. She’s been sequestered on her family’s farm for as long as she can remember. She loves her life on the homestead, but she's eager to learn more about everything in the open world. Fritz is the jaded campus golden boy and Ren is warned by her roommate to stay far away from him.

Christina Lauren rank among my favorite romantic authors. This retelling of a beloved fairy tale is a departure from their usual novels. I truly enjoyed it. I am a fan of a road trip romance, and this was one of the best I've read. You won’t be disappointed with this captivating story of firsts. 4.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the Disney retelling of ALL retellings and has me reinvested in reading romances :’) This Tangled inspired story follows Ren, a 22 year old who grew up sheltered on a farm with no internet, phone, or friends, as she navigates going off to college. She meets Fitz, the wealthy school player, and quickly strikes up a deal with him to take her on a cross country road trip. This had the sweetest grumpy/sunshine romance I’ve ever read, some mystery, and family drama! Christina Lauren never fail to woo me with their writing but this one might just take the cake.
^ Thank you Hyperion Avenue Books via Netgalley for the ARC!

Well plotted story line, well developed characters, and a perfectly designed denouement for the story. That said, the first two-thirds or so of the story feels heavy with description and expansion of the characters' thinking processes. Towards the end, however, the action is tighter, additional details are revealed about the MCs and their attraction to each other, and the ending is action-packed and well-handled.

One exceptionally well done part: The book doesn't end with the heroine's rescue. Instead, the resolution of the crisis point with its attendant trauma is told with a slower extended ending, a nicely explained and realistic account of how the MCs continued on, how they received support to overcome the trauma, and how their immediate and long-range future concluded. All the threads tied up satisfactorily!

Another aspect that I found exceptionally apt: This is a story about new adults (college age), and while it's a romance, the authors wrote the developing relationship with delicacy and insight. I appreciated the authentic representation of both the naïve-sheltered heroine and the troubled-childhood, isolated male protagonist.

This book may not be typical of the Christina Lauren author duo, but it is unquestionably an excellent addition to their growing bibliography of much-loved fiction.

Scheduled to publish June 25, 2024, this is a must-read for both CL fans, and for those new to their writing. Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the chance to read and broadcast the excellence of this novel.

📚✨Book Review✨📚

Tangled Up in You
Author: Christina Lauren

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Note: I received a copy of this book to review via NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🎇 Ren is literally a modern day Rapunzel. I was astonished how they were able to give her the whimsy, naivety and innocence of Rapunzel
while living, presumably, in 2024. She is so full of life and happiness every time she is on the page. I want to be her friend!

🎇Fitz is just as suave and mysterious as our beloved Flynn Rider. I pictured him smoldering around campus constantly. All he needed was a horse named Maximus!

🎇Their road trip was actually so precious. I loved their stop at the Screaming Eagle Saloon which of course is their version of the Snuggly Duckling! I think that was my favorite scene in the entire book!

What I Didn’t Like:
🎇 This book was a little bit heavier than what I usually read. I thought it would be more of a straight rom-com, but it’s not at all. I think if you are a reader who likes some mystery or some more real-to-life stories then you would definitely enjoy this one!

Final Thoughts:
🎇 This retelling was surprisingly faithful to the Disney Tangled movie. It was clever how Christina Lauren was able to hit all the same story notes throughout in a modern setting!


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Road trip romance! Sign me up! Isolated by her parents on a homestead in Idaho, Ren has a brilliant mind and can't wait to go to college even though she's been kept from technology and her parents have given her crazy strict rules to follow if she's going to be educated. Fitz is Corona College's handsome rogue with a plan to get out and get on with his life. But when Ren discovers her life on the homestead might not be what she thought, she finds a way to hitch a ride with Fitz on his spring break road trip. There are first times, bold confessions, and high jinx on the way to their ultimate destination - true love.

FUN and all-out enjoyable, Christina Lauren's take on Disney's Tangled is perfection.

Once again Christina Lauren has written one of my favorite books! Everything they write is 5 stars for me. The story was great, the characters were written so well, it was just amazing. Nose deep into it, & couldn’t put it down! It was the perfect Disney movie read!

Ren was so charming, & fitz amazing! The grumpy sunshine trope was portrayed perfectly. In the end over the HEA, was perfect for this book!

This book was a refreshing modern take on a classic fairytale. 𝓣𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓤𝓹 𝓲𝓷 𝓨𝓸𝓾 is for the Disney girlies. More specifically the ones that loved Tangled. It’s a total reimagining of Rapunzel, and it’s absolutely adorable. This is a very quick, easy, clean read. There is zero spice, my friends. It closely follows the plot of Tangled with a few twists. The authors did a great job keeping you engaged and guessing till the end. I do wish we could’ve gotten an epilogue or a bit more closure. Overall, I did enjoy it and I loved all the Disney tie-ins (Max, the fireworks, etc.) A very cute, and simple read ✨💜

Huge thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

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Contemporary romance retellings of Disney movies?! Sign me up! Although I haven’t seen Tangled so I can’t speak to how it compares to the movie, but I absolutely loved this book and will absolutely be watching Tangled soon! I will always read anything CLo writes. I loved Ren and Fitz so much and loved their connection and banter throughout the book. I also enjoyed their character development. There was also a touch of suspense which kept me on my toes but of course ended with a happily ever after which is of course my favorite. I have honestly no complaints whatsoever about this book and enjoyed every minute!

Thank you so much to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for my early digital copy for my honest thoughts and review!

Tangled Up in You is the third book in this series of modernized Disney adaptations. After Cinderella and The Little Mermaid we are now treated to a sweet and clever rewrite of Tangled, featuring a lovable pair of college kids on an epic road trip.

Ren Gylden grew up on her parents farm. They have everything they need, and what they can't produce themselves thy get in the nearby small town. Ren has never been to school or gone on a trip. All of her education has been through books and hands on experience. Her overprotective parents have kept her so isolated that she doesn't even have a real understanding of how strange her circumstances are. However, Ren is almost twenty now, and she's decided that she wants to go to college. Even more shocking, she has somehow persuaded her parents to let her try. Once she arrives on campus she quickly begins to realize how little she knows about the world, and a class assignment leads her to question everything she knows about herself. Obviously the only thing to do is blackmail fellow student Fitz into driving her across the country so that she can finally learn the truth.

If you've seen Tangled then you'll be delighted at the way that the various story beats are adapted to modern America. Christina Lauren manages to update the story while still having it feel somewhat plausible (really, being a sheltered homesteader is a perfect update to "trapped in a tower"). If you've enjoyed the previous Disney updates in this series then you'll be happy to know that this is another great addition. If you like Tangled, you're bound to enjoy this clever update, and even if you aren't familiar with the movie this is still a delightful romance.

Ren is an amazing character. Being raised off the grid was a new one for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every time seen experienced something new to her but normal for me it was eye opening. Fitz was just as much fun. He’s a good mix of bad boy and good guy. Their adventure across country basically was entertaining. Fitz trying so hard to keep his distance and Ren trying so hard to stay true to her upbringing brought on lots of turmoil. The twist that I didn’t see coming had me not putting the book down until I finished the last word.

Tangled is one of my very favorite Disney movies, and certainly my favorite princess movie, so I was both incredibly excited and deeply cautious when time came to read Christina Lauren's retelling for the Meant to Be series. My excitement was justified; my fear was not. Though I had no idea how they would manage to transpose the original story to a more modern setting, it's clear to me that the writing duo knows and loves Tangled as much as I do.

They managed to mark all the major plot points beat for beat in a way that was both surprising and satisfying - even with a story I knew, I didn't quite know what would come next. Ren and Fitz's chemistry and banter is spot on, but more importantly, their emotional growth over the course of their time together is something to behold. I found myself cackling and tearing up in equal measure, gripping my seat as the book came to its inevitable climax.

While harder topics are absolutely discussed (cw: kidnapping, emotional abuse), it is done with a deft and gentle hand.

All in all, consider me impressed - will certainly be rushing to my indie and pushing friends to do the same.

Christina Lauren is an author whose books I go to regularly and enjoy very much. This story was no exception. At first, it appears to be a romance between a young woman, Ren and Fitz, the handsome college senior. But the characters and the story are much more complicated. Ren has lived all her life on a homestead, home-schooled and isolated from modern life. You can't help but enjoy her with every page that passes. Ren's character exhibits such joy with everything she encounters. She's what you want to feel as go thru new experiences (even if it's via a book). How she interacts with people should remind us of how we should interact with one another. Then there's Fitz, the handsome young man that she's warned about on her first day on campus. He assumes the persona of what everyone expects but is unable to maintain it around Ren.
There are several stories within this story. There is Ren finding the big world outside of her home where she's been secluded all her life. She and Fitz end up a road trip of first experiences (you'll have to read the book to find out the exact reasons each of them have for the road trip). They learn so much about each other which makes their growing fond of one another much more reasonable.
Then there's the issue with Ren's parents. Can't say more because it'll ruin the story. But these parents are something else. Fitz's dad is a "winner" too. Reading about them both was good background for the story.
Finally is the last part of the book, what a finale. I was very pleased with the way the book wrapped itself up. To sum it all up, the book was not the romance I expected but an interesting story nonetheless. Enjoy!

Charming, contemporary retelling of Rapunzel. If you liked DIsney's Tangled they you will very likely enjoy this.

It's funny with a great pace. I personally would put this more in YA territory but since the characters are college age it's New Adult. It's probably best to know that going in, especially my romance friends who might be expecting, or hoping for a little more spice than what's here.

That aside, it's a super quick, genuinely enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley and Hyperion for this e arc.

For me this was not a typical Christina Lauren booked. I would definitely consider this YA/NA which is not an issue for me at all, just something to keep in mind.

Ren is a girl from a secluded homestead who ventures off to college much to her parents chagrin. She has no knowledge of modern technologies etc. so college is a whirlwind for her - everyone wants to know about this girl.

I think Christina Lauren hit the nail on the head with a Tangled retelling - if you liked Tangled you will definitely like this.

This you will find in this book?
- cross country roadtrip adventure
- forced proximity
- a little bit of suspense
- a girl who can fix a car, feed animals and take every part of life in stride.
- grumpy x sunshine

Thank you Hyperion Avenue and Christina Lauren for the ARC in return for an honest review.