Tangled Up in You: A Meant to Be Novel

Meant to Be #4

by Christina Lauren

Tytöllä on unelma. Pojalla on suunnitelma. Mutta elämä heittääkin heidät kaksin karkuteille.

Hurmaava versio rakastetusta sadusta saa uskomaan yllättäviin kohtaamisiin ja elämän odottamattomiin kiemuroihin.

Ren ei ole koskaan pitänyt iPhonea kädessään, googlannut vastauksia netistä tai seurannut ihastuksensa elämää somesta. Hän on vain lukenut muutaman kirjan (okei, satoja jos totta puhutaan), opetellut maalaamaan, rakentanut tuulivoimalajärjestelmän tyhjästä ja elänyt 22-vuotiaaksi kotitilalla kaukana muusta maailmasta. Viimein Renin unelma toteutuu: hän pääsee opiskelemaan kaupunkiin ja uusi jännittävä elämä avautuu. Hän tapaa koulussa Fitzin, jonka suunnitelmana on valmistua huippuarvosanoin, saada rikosrekisterinsä vihdoin pyyhittyä puhtaaksi ja esittää rikasta ja menestyvää. Kohtalo kuitenkin puuttuu peliin, ja yhtäkkiä edessä on automatka Yhdysvaltojen halki ja vieressä odottamaton matkakumppani. Tien päällä kaksikko saa huomata, että joskus avain onneen löytyykin ihan läheltä.

Nimimerkki Christina Laurenin takana on amerikkalainen kirjailijakaksikko Christina Hobbs ja Lauren Billings. Yhdessä he ovat kirjoittaneet 19 The New York Timesin bestseller-romaania. Neurotieteistä väitellyt Hobbs ja poikabändejä rakastava Billings ovat paitsi moneen otteeseen kruunattuja romcom-kuningattaria (heillä on useita Amazon- ja Audible Romance of the Year -palkintoja) myös vanhoja ystäviä, jotka rakastavat koiria, glitteriä ja maastopyöräileviä tiedemiehiä.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Retellings, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Chick Lit

Library Binding

First published June 25, 2024

About the author

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced twenty New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)


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Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Hyperion Avenue for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

writing: good | plot: tangled remake so who am I to judge? (yet here I am) | ending: very disney-esque

my opinion

I have a confession: I HAVE NEVER SEEN A DISNEY PRINCESS MOVIE. No, I didn't grow up in a cult. No, I didn't grow up off the grid. No, I'm not lying. My mom just didn't fk with Disney princesses and then when I had the freedom to watch them myself, I just wasn't interested. I haven't seen Tangled, but I did aggressively skim the movie's Wikipedia page so I knew what to expect. With all that being said—don't put any stock in this review if you've actually seen the movie because I would assume you'd have a TOTALLY different experience.

Knowing this was a 'modern' spin on Tangled made the insta-love and whirlwind HEA less cringey. This did kind of brush nips with the romantic suspense genre I guess? But a VERY light brush. Like there was a whole ass who's my daddy? storyline complete with villains and a big show down, but it wasn't giving Sandra Brown or Christina Dodds.

The one thing I was nervous about was if there was going to be spice between Ren and Fitz. Not because I'm scared of spice (anymore), but because it would be UNCOMFY if she gave it all up to a random she's on a road trip with after her extremely sheltered childhood. Thankfully, no explicit spice.

Overall, I thought this was okay. I liked Ren's character and I eventually warmed up to Fitz. It was slow-going at the beginning and I wanted more lols but nothing really irked tf outta me. However, nothing made me kick my feet and giggle like an idiot either so therefore... 3 stars.

pros and cons

pros: felt like I was watching a Disney movie even though I've never seen one but this is what I imagine it to be like ok bye

cons: need. more. bants.

___

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[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale as Enchanting as the Golden Locks!

Get ready to dive into a contemporary fairy tale that’s a brilliant reimagination of Disney’s Tangled - Christina Lauren’s Tangled Up in You is an absolute gem, and the magic it weaves is utterly irresistible.

Ren, our charming protagonist, brings a breath of fresh air to the classic Rapunzel tale. Raised off the grid, she's a bookish, wind-power-system-building wonder, stepping into the bustling world of Corona College for the first time. On the other side of this story is Fitz, a guy with a meticulously planned life, finding his world thrown into delightful chaos when Ren, with her encyclopedic brain and cascading blonde hair, enters his life.

What follows is a riveting adventure sparked by a simple assignment in their immunology seminar. Suddenly, Ren and Fitz find themselves on an unexpected road trip, navigating through a journey that takes unexpected turns. The chemistry between them is not only palpable but also beautifully woven into a slow-burning, heartwarming romance.

Christina Lauren brilliantly captures the essence of a grumpy/sunshine dynamic during this forced proximity road trip, reminiscent of the iconic Rapunzel and Flynn Rider chemistry. Ren's innocence and brilliance make her an endearing character, and Fitz's grumpy exterior hides a warmth that unfolds beautifully.

The narrative is paced to perfection, allowing the story to unfold organically while maintaining a suspenseful edge. The clever twist on the Rapunzel storyline adds a contemporary flavor, making it uniquely Christina Lauren. For those familiar with their work, Tangled Up in You offers a delightful departure while retaining the duo's signature charm.

The authors strike an impeccable balance between a fast-paced narrative and rich inner monologues, keeping readers engaged and invested in every twist and turn. The book not only charms with its romantic elements but also offers a dash of adventure and suspense, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read from beginning to end.

Tangled Up in You is more than just a retelling; it’s a modern fairy tale that captures hearts with its innocence, brilliance, and a touch of magic. Christina Lauren’s artful storytelling has once again created a masterpiece that will leave you enchanted and eagerly recommending this book to anyone who loves a blend of romance and adventure.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the chance to experience this enchanting journey in exchange for an honest review. Tangled Up in You is a golden thread in the tapestry of modern fairy tales, shining with brilliance and warmth.

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[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy publication day!
3⭐
Genre ~ fairy tale fantasy
Series ~ Meant to Be #4
Others in the series ~ are unrelated and share a theme only
Setting ~ road trip from Washington to Georgia
Publication date ~ June 25, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 320 (38 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 56 minutes
Narrators ~ Patti Murin, Eunice Wong, Andrew Gibson
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, no steamage

I've watched the movie Tangled a gazillion times and it's one of my favorites, so I had to see what this retelling had to offer.

Ren (22) is our Rapunzel. She's been living on a homestead with her parents for 20 years, never once attending school. Now she has an opportunity to go to Corona College, where she meets Fitz (22), our Flynn Ryder, AKA Eugene Fitzherbert.

An assignment has her submitting her DNA and the results were shocking. She hitches a ride with Fitz to Georgia to get some answers.

I must say that the authors did an excellent job of making this resonate with the movie. I love that Fitz's mustang is named Max to go along with the horse in the movie, Maximus. Ren is as naively depicted as you'd expect, however it gives the story YA vibes. She did tell some good jokes, though.

There were some cute moments, like the detours they took on the road trip, but overall, this was so slow moving and I was quite bored for a good portion of it. I didn't feel the ending on the farm was authentic to the story, but I suppose it's just their spin on things.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.

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[Ri ♡]

Romantic modern retelling of disney's Tangled!?!?!?!?! Can you hear me screaming!?!????? I NEED THIS RN 😭

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩ 4 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Grumpy x Sunshine
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Road Trip
➼ He Falls First (and hard)
➼ He calls Her “Sunshine” ☀️
➼ Sheltered FMC x Jaded MMC
➼ Only One Bed
➼ College Setting
➼ Tangled Retelling
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual Third Person POV

As retellings go, this one was pretty much perfection. I could never have imagined how seamlessly the plot of Tangled could be adapted to our modern world, but luckily these authors are much more creative than me. The FMC, Ren, grew up very sheltered on a homestead where she was homeschooled all her life and had very few interactions with outsiders. Her parents claimed they wanted to protect her from the outside world, but much like in the movie, things are not quite what they seem…

When she is 22, Ren convinces her parents to let her attend college which is where she meets the MMC. Initially, he is annoyed by Ren who asks an endless amount of questions since almost everything she experiences is new and exciting for her. Her inner and outer beauty as well as her zest for life eventually win him over, but it takes time and proximity for his feelings to grow.

Both Ren and Fitz’s personalities aligned perfectly with their Tangled counterparts. Fitz grew up in foster care in a world that was not always kind to him which led him to make some poor choices and earned him a very jaded outlook on life. He called her “Sunshine” which is forever my favorite nickname and was so fitting for her. I loved watching his character soften as his dislike for her slowly morphed into love. The subject matter of this story was actually pretty heavy at times, but it was still a sweet story with a very hopeful ending. This is definitely one of my favorite CLo reads and a solid addition to this series. 💖

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Just realized there are still Christina Lauren books I haven’t read. Better fix that!

This will be my 14th. 🤗

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Tangled Up in You was a cute and sweet 'Tangled' retelling. Ren is an innocent 22 year old getting her first taste of freedom as a college student and Fitz is the popular guy on campus, but there is more to him. They end up on a road trip together that is quite the adventure. I had fun reading this and some of the moments on their trip had me laughing and smiling big. I enjoyed this one lots!

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M SO SURPRISED.

This was adorable. A Tangled movie retelling perfect to the T.

Ren and Fitz's dynamic was exactly like Rapunzel and Flynn Rider and I LOVED it.
Their relationship was adorable. The slow build to Fitz falling for her was perfectly executed.
The mystery that unfolded was exciting. Overall, I loved it!

There is mild language with the heaviest word being S*iT .
NO SPICE!!! 1 steamy makeout. Several references to physical attraction and sex.

Recommend!!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ren has lived off the grid with her parents on their farm/homestead for most of her life. Ren has been homeschooled and kept mainly at home working on the farm. Ren longs for more, she wants to go to college, to learn, and to experience new things. Her parents eventually allow her to attend college but with conditions....

Fitz is an intelligent and driven college heartthrob. He has an image of a rich ladies man but has a record and works to pay his way. When he is assigned to show Ren around and introduce her to college life, he can't help but be impressed by her intelligence and lovely cascading long hair.

A college assignment will change everything....

This is a retelling of Tangled and had a strong YA vibe. While I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I usually adore Christina Lauren books and this one was missing the mark a little bit for me. What I did enjoy was the modern take on Tangled, Ren's ability to adapt, the tension, and the depth of the characters. I especially liked that there was more to Fitz than meets the eye.

If you have watched Disney's Tangled, then you know somewhat what is going to happen, which made this book predictable to a degree. I enjoyed the journey of Ren and Fitz together and of them separately.

I put this in the liked but didn't love category. The authors did a great job being true to the story and making it modern. I am sure that a lot of time and thought went into the writing of this book. I wonder how many times they had to watch the movie to nail everything. I must give them mad props for that. It was just lacking that little bit of something to push my rating higher.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Vivian Diaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️ I didn’t really like Fitz at all in the beginning. He was a bit of a jerk to Ren when she didn’t deserve it (I know he’s supposed to be grumpy but sill.) His hot and cold behavior towards her got on my nerves. It made it worse because she was the sweetest! I adored her so much. This had its cute moments but the road trip aspect bored me 😭.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I have a soft spot for fairy tale retellings so I was excited for this one. I have enjoyed several of the other Meant to Be series all done by different authors and I like Christina Lauren. I thought this sweet story was funny and entertaining. I will admit I couldn’t have imagined how someone could put Rapunzel into our modern world, there aren’t a lot of girls living in towers these days, but this was perfect. And seeing Ren experience the world for the first time with her endless enthusiasm was wonderful. I also liked the motivations behind Fitz for being a jerk for the first part of the book. Ren grew up on her parents’ homestead being homeschooled and pretty isolated from the world. She is 22 and applied to college and received a full scholarship so her parents reluctantly agree to let her go as long as she follows a lot of rules meant to keep her away from society and the internet. Fitz is a senior at that same college who is charming but distant from people. They are determined to hate each other, but not strong enough to make it happen.

[María · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rapunzel y Flynn en una era moderna ¿que más puedo pedirle a la vida? Es que fue PERFECTO de inicio a fin. Enredados es mi casita, mi película favorita de todos los tiempos, y esta era una de mis lecturas más anticipadas del año y DEVORÓ 💋. Gracias por tanto y perdón por tan poco.

[Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely delightful. I loved every page.

[Iris Bicho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito fofinho e engraçado.
Adorei todas as referencias ao filme e estou muito curiosa para ler os outros da série.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

A modern day Tangled retelling that really makes you realize how truly messed up the Rapunzel plot is!

The romance between sheltered college freshman Ren and popular college senior Fitz. When Ren discovers something shocking about her past, she teams up with Fitz to go on a road trip across the country to get answers.

I had a lot of fun with this book. Like I mentioned before, if you really break down the story of Tangled it is super messed up, but Christina Lauren did a great job modernizing it and keeping it as light as possible. Love this Disney Meant to Be series!

2025 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo categories hit: Road Trip, Fireworks, Animal with a job (if you stretch it)

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny little read. It had me laughing so much. Ren and Edward were so cute together. Even thought I saw the twist coming,!I was still shocked(don’t ask me how, I don’t know).
My only complaint here is, I wished we had on paper scenes with Ren and Chris. I would have loved to see how they interacted and also aRen’s interaction with his family.

[Rose :) ♡⋆ (semi-hiatus)]

As a Tangled lover this looks SO CUTE (Please don't disappoint me🥲).

[Meags · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

My preferred of the Christina Lauren 2024 releases, this Tangled retelling was an absolute delight to read.

New adult in genre, Tangled Up in You follows sheltered but whip-smart and world-curious Ren, as she leaves her remote, self-sustaining family farm at 22 years of age to try her hand as a college freshman, much to her controlling parents chagrin.

There, she quickly becomes infamous on campus, charming the socks off every one she meets, with the exception of world-weary Fitz, a senior whose tough early life has made him build impenetrable walls around his heart and taught him how to use his looks, his charisma, and his smarts to shape the future he thinks he wants.

When a science test (involving DNA bloodwork) goes wrong for Ren and Fitz gets caught almost-fubbing his grades, the two strike up a deal, wherein Fitz lets Ren tag along on his cross-country road trip, during spring break, with the hopes Ren can find some answers to her suddenly unclear origins.

Ren and Fitz made such a lovely opposites-attract couple, once the story kicked into gear and their forced proximity led to deeper understandings and growing feelings. They were the quintessential sunshine x grumpy pairing, and in the best ways, their unconventional backgrounds and world-views led them to learn and grow in each other’s company, as they spent more time together and slowly fell in love in the process.

I was worried Ren's character would annoy me with her sheltered naivety, but she was just so damn lovable, full of charm and wonder. She made for a fantastic and unique heroine, matched nicely with Fitz’s more grounded and cynical-grumpy self, who’s harsh exterior crumbled under the force of Ren’s light and goodness, quickly becoming her dearest confidante and fiercest protector.

As a HUGE Disnerd and fan of the Tangled film, I was excited to see how CLo would reshape this story and its characters to deliver something new and equally lovely. Ren was the perfect rendition of Rapunzel, and although hard to beat, I was pretty damn satisfied with the way the iconic Flynn Rider was remodelled and delivered as Fitz.

I may be predisposed to be bias, already loving the bones of this story, but overall, I really enjoyed this fresh and fun take on this delightful tale and these wonderful characters.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Going to college was a dream come true for Ren. She and her parents live off the grid in Idaho, sustained by farm produce and livestock, selling the excess at local farmer’s markets, and it took a long time and many promises before her controlling, restrictive parents would allow her to attend classes Monday thru Friday, with them collecting her each weekend to do her chores on the homestead. Ren had taught herself everything from chemistry to Mandarin from library books, and scored off-the-charts on the college’s placement tests. While her fresh naïveté and outgoing personality quickly wins over most of her college classmates, big-man-on-campus Fitz views her as a major obstacle to his goal of graduating at the head of his class. Ren is not intimidated by him.

Maybe that was what made him so uncomfortable in her presence—that feeling that she might be the first person on this campus who could see straight through him right to his rotten, unending bullshit.

He’s stirring a big pot of bullshit, and Ren catches him cheating at it. When Ren blackmails him into taking her to Nashville on spring break, his disdain breaks over into open hostility as his unwelcome passenger threatens his future plans. As the miles and minutes pass, though, Fitz finds himself seeing the world through less jaded eyes, reluctantly finds himself treating Ren to new experiences, and feels his boon companions, anger and resentment, start to fade in favor of a new interest.

“You’re not her boyfriend,” he said to the man in the mirror. His jaw tensed, and the worst truths slipped out unimpeded. “She’s too naive to know how to handle herself. She’s work you don’t have time for.” Fitz stared at his own reflection, expression hardening. “And more importantly, she’s way too good for you, so don’t even bother.”

I love a sunshine-grumpy road trip, and as unbelievable as the plot is, and as inconsistent as Ren’s reactions are to the outside world (she can teach herself Mandarin from library books but doesn’t know what a burrito is?), there are more beautiful observations and poignant moments than silly, forced situations. The big plot twist was foreseeable but still played out with a great deal of tense suspense, and Fitz’s and Ren’s handling of the aftermath felt authentic.

This ain’t rocket science (although I’m sure Ren could have built one if needed), but it’s a credible fairy tale retelling and I enjoyed it.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun modern retelling of Tangled, which was a really cute Disney adaptation of Rapunzel by the Brothers (Jakob and Wilhelm) Grimm.

Let me start by saying you can not take this book too seriously as it is based off of an adaptation of a fairytale. With that being said, I think it was incredibly well done.

I enjoyed getting to know our main characters. I have to admit that I did not initially love Fitz, but as all good Prince Charmings do, he came around and wormed his way into my good graces. You couldn't help but feel for him and root for him once he made the decision to take a different path. It was fun to watch Ren come of age as a late bloomer experiencing everything for the first time and their relationship was just so sweet.

I found this book to be easy to read. I enjoyed the writing style and thought the pacing was pretty consistent throughout. I was able to lose myself in the story and the time passed quickly. If you enjoy fairytales and your romances on the clean side, go ahead an give this one a try.

#TangledUpInYou #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this quite a bit, but I wish these retellings would at least try for some originality. This was just Tangled set in university. Which was fine, but also a bit boring.

Ren and Fitz worked nicely as Rapunzel and Flynn. Especially Ren was so lovable and endearing; she definitely carried this story. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for everything were fun to read, and she was the main reason I still had a good time with this book. Fitz was an okay hero, but next to Ren he remained somewhat bland, which was disappointing. Their adventures on the road trip were really fun, though.

Their romance however didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and too dramatic, but also just a bit off.
Ren lived a very sheltered life until she went to university, where for the first time in her life she lived on her own away from her parents and their secluded farm, experiencing so many new things. She was only at university for some weeks before Fitz and her went on this road trip together. And obviously she was completely inexperienced in every way. Her naive and almost childlike behaviour just didn’t really mesh well with the romance for me, idk. There wasn’t really anything wrong with it, Fitz was very sweet and considerate, but it just felt off to me somehow.


___
I never leave the library empty-handed ✨ 🤸‍♀️

[Jaime Fok · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
I love Christina Lauren but this was not for me 😭

[Kelly • Kell of a Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This was so stinking cute! I am not typically a fan of retellings and honestly I’m not a big Disney girl, but when Christina Lauren say “jump” I say “how high?” (Aka I immediately read the ARC of their newest book which just so happens to be a retelling of the Disney hit, Tangled!)

Tangled Up in You was swoony and so sweet. It has been ages since I’ve seen the movie but let’s be honest, a girl does NOT forget Flynn Rider!!!

Happy to report that Tangled Up in You’s hero, Fitz, has all the charm and charisma of the animated dream boat. Also, the little parts of the book that aligned with what I did remember from the movie had me chuckling a lot.

As far as a romance, this reads pretty YA which was fine with me. I wasn’t expecting a truly naughty story with a Disney princess involved and this one doesn't go past smoochin. I love my spicy CLo books, but I was actually more than content with the PG-rated action here considering 22-year-old Ren (Rapunzel) has never been kissed (and has barely left her home).

I think if you love Tangled you will adore this book. If you’ve never seen (or care to see) the movie this might not be your favorite CLo romance, but it is very cute and fun. A quick read that I guarantee will be a huge hit with the right crowd.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 ⭐️ Christina Lauren just know how to write romance book, whether they are writing whirlwind adventures, angsty spice, or in this case a Tangled retelling made for the movies.

I always know going in that I will connect with one or maybe all of the characters because of how multidimensional they are, and that stayed consistent here. I found both of our MCs wholly relatable - flaws and imperfections making them feel so real. And from start to finish I had zero idea how things would be resolved (other than the obvious HEA) which kept me engaged throughout.

If you are like me and love a good rom-com with emotional depth and even a little suspense, or just adore Disney retellings, this one is for you.

Read if you like:
-Disney retellings
-forced proximity
-round trip fun
-romance with a suspense subplot
-charming MCs
-young adult novels

Thank you Hyperion Avenue for the gifted copy.

[Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never seen Tangled, so I cannot comment on any comparisons to the movie, but this book lived up to all the expectations I have for this writing duo!

Synopsis: Ren grew up sheltered, living on a self-sufficient homestead with no technology, friends, or experience in the modern world. At age 22, she finally convinces her parents to let her go to college as long as she follows their strict set of rules. However, when she gets a DNA sample back from her biology class and questions everything she once knew, she has no choice but to follow the clues. She asks Fitz, the boy she met on her initial tour, to let her ride with him across country for break, and despite his hesitation, he agrees.

When I first met Ren I quickly compared her to Kimmy Schmidt. While naive and inexperienced, she was loved by all and believed in the best of everyone. The quirky humor had me laughing out loud, and the road trip adventures, from the hotel stays (one bed), the car ride talks and all the exploring, made this story so much fun! There was a bit of suspense with both characters weaved throughout the story, which was unique for their writing but it 100% worked and led to such a special HEA.

What to expect
-An amazing cross country road trip
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy/sunshine pairing
-A clean read with kissing only
-Laugh out loud humor
-All the chemistry
-A bit of suspense

pub: 6/25!

[Ashley Shea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want so badly to make that my entire review and I think even my reader updates shed enough light but I feel compelled because I have loved so many Christina Lauren books to say I will continue to read everything they write but I want my time back. I want to go back in time and never even know this exists.

For anyone who is a shameless adult, who has come to expect a certain something something from Christina Lauren books, and who happens to also love Disney and feel no shame in wanting a grown-up version of Tangled, TURN AROUND AND DON'T LOOK BACK!!! This is just a modern version; in every other way, it's written for children. GO READ SOMETHING ELSE!!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. Innocent.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise & road trip adventures.

The Not-So-Good: The lack of steam. I get why it didn't have it, but I think it could've helped with the chemistry.

The Bad: The ending was too abrupt and I wanted more closure.

Overall: This was a Disney movie. Not that this is bad! I just didn't think it was going to be so tame and fluffy. I have read retellings before and didn't seem to have this struggle, so I was kind of disappointed overall. Great for a recommendation for a reader new to the genre and is still scandalized by sex scenes, but also was kinda too fluffy for an old veteran like me 🙃

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ren and Fitz's story. Ren is new to school when Fitz is the rich, popular soccer player. Ren has been raised off the grid and is completely naive to all things in modern society, so she rubs Fitz wrong right away especially when she poses a problem to his need to make the top of every class. When a class project causes Ren to break all the rules and blackmail Fitz into taking her in nationwide road trip, they start to see each other in a new way. There are some cute and funny moments, some big secrets revealed, and some sweet scenes...and they get a HFN a ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Ren and Fitz's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It did feel slow at times but I never skimmed.

Instalove: No, more like instant friends for the h and hate-to-love for the H.

H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Fitz. He was a good portrayal of Flynn but I would've liked to delve deeper into his past/revenge scheme.

h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Ren. You can't help but like her because she is a genius Disney princess, but I also wanted to shake her at times.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes they both push away and also pursue the relationship at times

Heat level: PG, only kisses

Descriptive sex: No

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes They are separated very shortly (days?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Child abduction/foster care upbringing/criminal behavior (off page)

Closure: This ends kind of abruptly with what I would call a HFN ending they've shared "ILYs" and the h's past has been revealed and (kinda) dealt with.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a very short separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse by mc
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you not want to read a book that has a 1965 Mustang on the cover? I learned to drive in that car. This story is a retelling of the Disney movie "Tangled" and I tried very hard not to let that influence me. I loved seeing the world through Ren's sheltered eyes and how she reacted to everything that was beyond her experience growing up on an isolated homestead in Idaho. The girl had a lot of grit. From the beginning I found her relationship with her parents to be very strange and didn't like the one-dimensional portrayal they were given, but after all they were the villains in this fairy tale story. Fitz was a great character who has tremendous growth during the story. I wasn't found of his long introspection sections, I'm a more action-oriented reader. The climax of the story was a surprise and full of the action I love.

Ren Gylden is crazy smart. Living on an isolated homestead in Idaho, she and her parents had to be self-sufficient, and Ren devoured every book in the county library system. She was self-taught and quite the mechanical wiz. Her dream was to go to college, which at 22, was a desire her parents firmly disapproved of. They wanted to keep her down on the farm with them, only them. That wasn't Ren's desire at all. She was ready to see that the world beyond her homestead was really like.

A full ride scholarship to Corona College in Spokane, Washington is Ren's entry to that world. Meeting Fitz Fitzsimmons was her first experience with a handsome, smug, rich jerk. Fitz had a carefully constructed facade to mask his past, but Ren managed to sneak underneath it with her exuberant personality and beautiful long, long blond hair. And her crazy smart brain. During an immunology seminar a test sends them both careening in a direction neither expected to go. A road trip leads them both to discoveries about themselves and each other and new directions and relationships. 3 1/2-Stars

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangled Up in You is quite the read! While I haven’t watched the movie TANGLED which this one is loosely based on, I can say that this one charmed me to pieces. Whenever I read a Chrstina Lauren book, I immediately think it’s going to be hilarious, silly, and sexy. And while this one does have the author's trademark humor, I felt this one was tame compared to their other books. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it because I DID, but it isn’t a replica of what I’ve read from them previously.


𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦

✨ Modern Retelling of Tangled
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ Opposites
✨ Road Trip

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

[bookandachai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of Rapunzel except Ren has lived on a homestead in Idaho her entire life. She finally convinces her overprotective parents to let her go to college where she meets the ONE GUY who doesn’t fall for her doe-eyed wonder, rich entitled hottie Fitz. One thing leads to another and these two wind up on a road trip for the ages.

All that hair can certainly get a girl into a lot of trouble ….