Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.
Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean.
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for di... read full description
reviews
Aug 07, 2011
Nomes
rated it: 
Tangled tells the story of four different teenagers over four months.
The book is broken into 4 main sections, each one narrated by a different character. It was like reading four short stories in one volume ~ each character had a distinct "voice" (Mackler did a great job with making them all unique) and own set of problems.
The four stories are in succession over four months, each character narrating one month. There was no doubling over (or retelling of events) More...
The book is broken into 4 main sections, each one narrated by a different character. It was like reading four short stories in one volume ~ each character had a distinct "voice" (Mackler did a great job with making them all unique) and own set of problems.
The four stories are in succession over four months, each character narrating one month. There was no doubling over (or retelling of events) More...
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Mar 28, 2011
TheBookVixen
rated it: 
Tangled is about four teenagers, who couldn't be any more different, whose lives come together while vacationing in Paradise.
First, we have Jena who is the average teenager. She likes reading. She's goes through some self esteem issues; she's not stick-thin and finally decides that she is "luscious". She's the one I can relate to, her and Owen. Jena has this "everything book" where she jots down quotes and favorite sayings, anywhere from a book to a movie to somet More...
First, we have Jena who is the average teenager. She likes reading. She's goes through some self esteem issues; she's not stick-thin and finally decides that she is "luscious". She's the one I can relate to, her and Owen. Jena has this "everything book" where she jots down quotes and favorite sayings, anywhere from a book to a movie to somet More...
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May 03, 2011
Riv
rated it: 
I didn't like it, overall. It starts out with the POV of one character, on Paradise (Jena). You're introduced to all of the characters through Jena, even though she doesn't talk to all of them.
The next POV is Dakota, who you meet through Jena, obviously. I don't think that his stay at Paradise affected him at all. He didn't think about Paradise, much, and I don't think what he did there affected his actions much, and definitely not on his overall actions.
Then you have Skye. I think she More...
The next POV is Dakota, who you meet through Jena, obviously. I don't think that his stay at Paradise affected him at all. He didn't think about Paradise, much, and I don't think what he did there affected his actions much, and definitely not on his overall actions.
Then you have Skye. I think she More...
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Jun 10, 2010
Noemi claudine
rated it: 
this book is split up into 4 parts. A girl named Jenna a quirky, quote collector girl who wants a more interesting life. A boy named Dakota who's girlfriend just died and decides to leave his player self for a new person. Also a actress/model named Skye who is playing a role so her mom doesn't know she is depressed, and Owen who must take a leap from living life on his computer to reality. When they are all intertwined through "Paradise" a resort in the Caribbean, each of them chan
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Jul 31, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it:
I still remember the day I spontaneously bought my first Carolyn Mackler: I browsed through the musty shelves of a second-hand shop on Charing Cross Road, London, somewhat disappointed that most of what they had to offer were Penguin Classics (I had read a lot of those in an earlier reading phase of my life), coffee-table-sized volumes about gardening stuff and sticky, fly-poop-infested psycho-thrillers. In pre-internet times a trip to an English second-hand-shop used to be like Christmas Eve, b
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 13, 2012
This book was a very good and entertaining book to read. It was about four teens that all had some form of relationship with each other without the others knowing. The characters Jena the girl that doesn't really do much but blog on her laptop, and Skye the beautiful model that is involved with everything, were on a vacation with each other because their moms were friends. They both got involved with this guy they met there named Dakota. Dakota was the jock type. Dakota and his brother Owen who
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Dec 02, 2011
I really enjoyed reading the book, called Tangled by Carolyn Mackler I loved it at first this wasn’t the book I was suppose to read I was actually reading another book but once I started reading this one I instantly feel for it. I found it to be a really well written book it was funny, heart- warming, filled with tragedy but also filled with love. It really highlights the effect of small things on a persons life and builds suspense till the end of it. Every page I read kept me wanting to know mo
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Jan 12, 2011
Jan
rated it: 
Summary: Four teens visit Paradise, a resort in the Caribbean, and their lives become tangled together after they meet. Jena is a shy girl hungry for romance, Skye is a sophisticated model and aspiring actress, Dakota is a handsome and popular screw-up who acts like he’s God’s gift to women, and Owen is his sensitive brother who lives through his online blog. As their lives intersect, they learn to look beyond their superficial impressions of each other and discover that each is much more com
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Sep 18, 2010
Smart_chic
rated it:
Tangled begins with four teenagers at a Caribbean resort. At first only tangentially interconnected, this novel reveals how actions we consider inconsequential can impact others. Told from four different viewpoints and taking place in four consecutive months, YA readers will enjoy the varying characters and how each one grows.
It can be argued that the four main characters are simply stereotypical shells of common YA literature personalities. Jena is the shy girl who would do anythin More...
It can be argued that the four main characters are simply stereotypical shells of common YA literature personalities. Jena is the shy girl who would do anythin More...
Sep 11, 2010
YA Reads
rated it:
Jena is one of those girls that talks way too much when she’s nervous. Babble, babble, babble. At least that’s how she sees herself, anyway. When her mom announces that she and Jena are accompanying her friend Luce and her daughter Skye on vacation to the Caribbean, Jena’s nerves hit boiling point. Spend an entire week with Skye, prancing around in a bathing suit? Please god, no! Skye is beautiful, popular, and a successful teen actor. Her life is oh-so-glamorous compared to Jena’s, and Jena can
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Jul 03, 2010
Emma
rated it:
4 parts, 4 reviews:
Jena: 4/5. Funny, interesting, and set in the Caribbean, (that sucker place where, if a book is set, I will read it, because of a series of movies with Pirates in the title). I read all of it eagerly, even though it wasn't super exciting, it was just a good set up. I liked how she got (for a little while) the guy who she thought was the guy of her dreams. Unexpected and good
Except for Part II:
Dakota: 1/5. When he's not cussing people out or More...
Jena: 4/5. Funny, interesting, and set in the Caribbean, (that sucker place where, if a book is set, I will read it, because of a series of movies with Pirates in the title). I read all of it eagerly, even though it wasn't super exciting, it was just a good set up. I liked how she got (for a little while) the guy who she thought was the guy of her dreams. Unexpected and good
Except for Part II:
Dakota: 1/5. When he's not cussing people out or More...
Jul 02, 2010
McKenzie
rated it:
Tangled was not at all what I expected it to be, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise.
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen all take a vacation to Paradise. Jena with Skye and Dakota with Owen. Jena has self-image issues, and isn't happy with herself. Skye's the perfect girl and has it all together, or so it seems. Dakota's your average male player, but he's not sure if that's what he wants. And Owen's stuck in a virtual world, blogging about his life instead of living it. Essentiall More...
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen all take a vacation to Paradise. Jena with Skye and Dakota with Owen. Jena has self-image issues, and isn't happy with herself. Skye's the perfect girl and has it all together, or so it seems. Dakota's your average male player, but he's not sure if that's what he wants. And Owen's stuck in a virtual world, blogging about his life instead of living it. Essentiall More...
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May 17, 2010
Courtney
rated it:
I always expect great things from the author of Vegan, Virgin, Valentine and The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, and she never disappoints me. Two girls (who have nothing in common other than their mothers are friends) are forced to go on a Caribbean trip where two brothers are also vacationing with their Mom. Their lives become tangled, overlapping in various ways during the vacation and after.
I admired that while Mackler decided to write this book in four distinct voic More...
I admired that while Mackler decided to write this book in four distinct voic More...
May 06, 2010
Meredith
rated it:
Tangled follows the lives of four teenagers over a four-month period. Jena, Skye, Dakota, and Owen each narrate one month, starting with the month when their lives collided at a beach resort. It’s difficult to summarize this book, because I don’t want to give too much away, but each of the teens is dealing with some sort of insecurity or depression. Jena is concerned about her body, especially in comparison with skinny and beautiful Skye, who’s hiding some secrets about her perfect life. Dak
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Apr 20, 2010
Angie
rated it:
It's been a couple of years since I picked up a Carolyn Mackler novel. I started with the wonderful Vegan Virgin Valentine and enjoyed it so much I followed it up with her Printz Honor-winning The Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things, which I also thought was an entertaining and thought-provoking read. And while Mara from Vegan Virgin Valentine is my favorite of her protagonists, I particularly enjoyed Virginia's journey to self-possession in The Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things, wit
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Apr 04, 2010
Adriana
rated it:
Tangled by Carolyn Mackler is a well-written book. It highlights the effect of small things on a persons life. It is the story of four teens who spend a few days at Caribbean resort called Paradise. They all are going through something deep, personal, and kind of painful in their lives. Jena is an insecure 16 year-old girl who religiously follows the acting career of her mother's best friend's daughter. A small fling with a really cute boy at Paradise leaves her heartbroken but stronger than eve
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Mar 30, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Tangled by Carolyn Mackler is a story about the interweaving of the lives of four teens. Set on a resort island called Paradise, the beginning introduces us to four troubled characters: Jena the over-talking, over-eating girl with no life, Skye the beautiful actress who can't find a reason to be happy, Dakota the model of a jerk, and Owen the loser with a laptop. As each characters finds their way into each others' lives Jena will collide with a romance comparable to the life quotes she uses in
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Mar 05, 2010
Nian
rated it:
I think it's hard to expect too much with a book that's told from four different perspectives. Granted, Mackler does a good job with voice, and trying to differentiate her characters mostly by the manner they spoke in, but she gave so little time for each person that I felt cheated. Skye's story was especially abrupt, and I braced myself for the worst (which would hit another climax in the story), but everything turned out to be peachy-keen (I still don't know if this is a good or bad thing). Je
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Jan 17, 2010
AnnaBnana
rated it:
As expected, I loved this book. I just think Carolyn Mackler is super, and would recommend this book to any reader that has plowed through Sarah Dessen and is looking for something else.
This book is told from the perspective of four different characters over the span for four months. Their lives intersect very briefly on a Caribbean vacation over Spring Break. Each character's section reveals more about more not just about that particular character, but also about the other thre More...
This book is told from the perspective of four different characters over the span for four months. Their lives intersect very briefly on a Caribbean vacation over Spring Break. Each character's section reveals more about more not just about that particular character, but also about the other thre More...
May 17, 2010
Kari
rated it:
Spring has sprung and in just 4 short months, 4 teenage lives will change.
Jena is the bubbly Jewish girl with lots of curves. She loves quotes and will learn a lot on a spring break trip to Paradise. Skye is an actress, curly dark hair, body of a goddess and a lot more problems than is willing to tell everyone. That is until she learns a little about her father and everything starts to make sense.
Now to the boys. Dakota is having some major teen drama. He may look like a More...
Jena is the bubbly Jewish girl with lots of curves. She loves quotes and will learn a lot on a spring break trip to Paradise. Skye is an actress, curly dark hair, body of a goddess and a lot more problems than is willing to tell everyone. That is until she learns a little about her father and everything starts to make sense.
Now to the boys. Dakota is having some major teen drama. He may look like a More...
Jul 21, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
As someone who really enjoyed all of Carolyn Mackler's books so far, i was looking forward to reading Tangled. However, the book was a disappointment for me.
First of all, none of the characters had a spark for me that made me feel like I wanted to know more about them. Jena had potential, but still didn't interest me at all for some reason. Dakota was kind of an a-hole, but "changed his ways" by choosing to... Not sleep with an older, single mother. Skye was just kind of flat More...
First of all, none of the characters had a spark for me that made me feel like I wanted to know more about them. Jena had potential, but still didn't interest me at all for some reason. Dakota was kind of an a-hole, but "changed his ways" by choosing to... Not sleep with an older, single mother. Skye was just kind of flat More...
Feb 11, 2011
Jerrica
rated it:
I really wanted to like this book, because I loved "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" when I read it in fifth grade. I haven't read a single Mackler book since.
"Tangled" is about four typical teenagers (Obsessive Shy Girl Archetype, Beautiful Screwed Up Girl Archetype, Jock Archetype, Computer Nerd Archetype) who meet briefly in Paradise and then live the rest of their lives, as we see how that meeting plays out in their lives. It sounds like an inte More...
"Tangled" is about four typical teenagers (Obsessive Shy Girl Archetype, Beautiful Screwed Up Girl Archetype, Jock Archetype, Computer Nerd Archetype) who meet briefly in Paradise and then live the rest of their lives, as we see how that meeting plays out in their lives. It sounds like an inte More...
Nov 24, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Tangled is a quick, yet intensely great standalone novel. It tells the story of how the lives of four strangers intersect and affect one another after spending some time in a place called Paradise.
Normally, a book with that many POVs is pretty much just setting itself up for trouble but here, it works well. Mackler has a distinctive "voice" for each character so you'd automatically know which POV you're in and of course, it helps that it doesn't switch back and forth.
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Normally, a book with that many POVs is pretty much just setting itself up for trouble but here, it works well. Mackler has a distinctive "voice" for each character so you'd automatically know which POV you're in and of course, it helps that it doesn't switch back and forth.
More...
May 07, 2011
Alan
rated it:
ATOS Book Level: 4.9
Interest Level: Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
AR Points: 8.0
Lexile: HL750L
Word Count: 56629
This book follows four teens as they meet on vacation, then goes on to develop the characters, after vacation ends. Early on in the book four teens find themselves on vacation in Paradise, a five star resort in the Carribbean. Dakota and Owen are two brothers as different as could be, ones a jock the other a computer geek, their parents are divorced, Dakota th More...
Interest Level: Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
AR Points: 8.0
Lexile: HL750L
Word Count: 56629
This book follows four teens as they meet on vacation, then goes on to develop the characters, after vacation ends. Early on in the book four teens find themselves on vacation in Paradise, a five star resort in the Carribbean. Dakota and Owen are two brothers as different as could be, ones a jock the other a computer geek, their parents are divorced, Dakota th More...
Dec 24, 2011
Emily
rated it:
2.5 stars; it was OK.
I really liked the idea of having multiple perspectives throughout the book! It held my interest, and I liked a few of the characters! There were a couple I wasn't a fan of, but when there's so many main characters I can see that being the case.
Not the best book in the whole entire world, but certainly not the worst. I definitely want to read more of Carolyn's books though!
I really liked the idea of having multiple perspectives throughout the book! It held my interest, and I liked a few of the characters! There were a couple I wasn't a fan of, but when there's so many main characters I can see that being the case.
Not the best book in the whole entire world, but certainly not the worst. I definitely want to read more of Carolyn's books though!
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Mar 09, 2010
Sara
rated it:
Before reading Tangled, I had no idea a book could be so light and funny while being so intense and heartbreaking at the same time. I never thought I would actually love a book told from four different views/story, but surprisingly it was great. Each character's story was so relatable and touching. The way the stories each intersect is fascinating and will leave you smiling at the end. You become absorbed in each story, that you end up looking up at the time and realizing a couple of hours have
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Jan 25, 2012
Bree
rated it:
I was very excited to read this book. Would you like to know why?
Let me tell you a secret, Internet.
I'm a huge drama whore.
Whew. It feels good to get that off my chest. I mean, come on. Did you read that summary? Doesn't that just seem to ooze drama as if from the infected and festering gash constantly reopened by the serrated blade that is teenagerdom? Wow, that's actually a lot more dramatic that the summary.
But can't you just see the cat fights, More...
Let me tell you a secret, Internet.
I'm a huge drama whore.
Whew. It feels good to get that off my chest. I mean, come on. Did you read that summary? Doesn't that just seem to ooze drama as if from the infected and festering gash constantly reopened by the serrated blade that is teenagerdom? Wow, that's actually a lot more dramatic that the summary.
But can't you just see the cat fights, More...
Jun 27, 2010
Erica
rated it:
In theory, this is the kind of book I dream about. It explores the connections between people that they aren’t fully aware of, and I love that idea. However, this book fell a little bit short of my expectations for it. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but it definitely didn’t captivate me like I thought it would.
Let me first say that it was so refreshing to read a book in which some of the main characters were average. Jena and Owen weren’t knockout gorgeous, but neither were they grot More...
Let me first say that it was so refreshing to read a book in which some of the main characters were average. Jena and Owen weren’t knockout gorgeous, but neither were they grot More...
Apr 02, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
I found this book in the library and I decided to read it since I love reading books with both girl and boy point-of-views. My friend advised me not to read it, but being the stubborn person that I am I didn't take her advise. If I would have I wouldn't have wasted 3 weeks of my life. I know I exaggerate alot, but the whole time I was reading this book I kept staring at the page numbers, wondering how many I had left to read before I reached the end. I wouldn't have finished it but I already sta
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Jan 29, 2012
Emily
rated it:
Why I picked it up: I’ve been a big fan of other books by the author and I was interested by the description of 4 teens with interwoven tales.
Each of the four main characters tells one "chapter" of this novel from his or her perspective, and each teen's section takes place over one month. The stories do connect and overlap to a certain extent, so you do learn about the characters from both their own stories and the stories of the other characters, and you see some events thr More...
Each of the four main characters tells one "chapter" of this novel from his or her perspective, and each teen's section takes place over one month. The stories do connect and overlap to a certain extent, so you do learn about the characters from both their own stories and the stories of the other characters, and you see some events thr More...
