“Tangled Up in You” by Christina Lauren (4 stars)
A modernized Rapunzel story? Yes, please. Ren & Fitz are a perfect match, if they can overcome their pasts, Ren’s domineering parents, and their wacky road-trip.
I have to start off by admitting that I was a Belle girl, but Rapunzel was a close second. So growing up to read a reimagined, modernized version of Rapunzel was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. If you love romantic, Disney vibes then this is the book for you.
Ren is finally able to escape the isolated farm where her domineering parents have kept her trapped for her whole life by convincing them she wants to go to college to study agriculture. Once there, she meets wild child Fitz who wants to get her out of her shell. From there, the age-old tale comes into play. The shy, introverted woman and the brash, daring young man have a tumultuous relationship as they push each other out of their comfort zones.
It’s an opposites attract romance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. There’s intrigue, lying, and all the other trauma that comes with life. But will it be a happily ever after for Ren and Fitz?
The twisted ending is one you won’t see coming, as Ren and Fitz take off on a road trip together. Where are they headed? What will happen along the way? What happens when they get there?
Ultimately, I found this book to be cute, engaging, and a good enough read to keep me coming back day after day. It’s a palette-cleanser romance that was nice in between more mature romances. Perfect for young adult readers or those just dipping their toes into the romance genre. Plus, it’s Disney-themed and who doesn’t love that?
I do have to say that the ending gets a bit convoluted and I wasn’t quite sure where it was going at some points. Ren has her overbearing family that she’s trying to escape by finding a new family and spending her time being watched incessantly by Fitz. It’s going from one problem situation to another. However, in the end readers see Ren and Fitz get their Happily Ever After (even if it’s in the most traumatic way possible).
Is it true to the original Tangled tale, no. But is it a new, unique take on the classic, yes! So if you’re a Disney princess girl who's looking to continue your obsession into your later years, this one's for you.
About the Creator
Kristen Barenthaler
Curious adventurer. Crazed reader. Librarian. Archery instructor. True crime addict.
Instagram: @kristenbarenthaler
Facebook: @kbarenthaler
Keep reading
More stories from Kristen Barenthaler and writers in BookClub and other communities.
"Murder Among Friends" by Candace Fleming - Book Club Discussion
About the Book: How did two teenagers brutally murder an innocent child...and why? And how did their brilliant lawyer save them from the death penalty in 1920s Chicago? Written by a prolific master of narrative nonfiction, this is a compulsively readable true-crime story based on an event dubbed the "crime of the century." In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision- they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error- as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan's eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket. Multi-award-winning author Candace Fleming depicts every twist and turn of this harrowing case--how two wealthy, brilliant young men planned and committed what became known as the crime of the century, how they were caught, why they confessed, and how the renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow enabled them to avoid the death penalty. Following on the success of such books as The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov, the acclaimed nonfiction writer, Candace Fleming, brings to heart-stopping life one of the most notorious crimes in our country's history.
By Kristen Barenthaler9 months ago in BookClub
My New Book is Finally Here
My poetry collection Beautiful and Brutal Things is done. It's actually done and finally published over 270 pages. Over a year of my life went into this book. More than a year, really. Long days at my computer, sometimes seven days a week because I couldn't stop even when I probably should have. Then two months of editing that felt harder than the writing itself. But it's finished, and I'm still standing, and the book is real.
By Tim Carmichael5 days ago in BookClub
Artists of the Arcane: Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite
The Visionaries Behind the Rider‑Waite Tarot Few artistic and mystical collaborations in history have left a mark as profound as the partnership between Pamela Colman Smith and Arthur Edward Waite. The Rider‑Waite Tarot deck, first published in 1909, has become a cornerstone of modern tarot, its imagery instantly recognizable and widely studied. Unlike earlier decks, which often relied heavily on abstract symbolism or esoteric shorthand, this deck transformed tarot into a narrative and visual experience accessible to both practitioners and casual observers. Every card is infused with intentional symbolism, storytelling, and emotional resonance, reflecting a fusion of artistic skill and mystical scholarship rarely achieved in a single work.
By Marcus Hedare2 days ago in BookClub
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.