You know that feeling when you're watching a classic Disney movie and you think, "Okay, but what would this look like if they were actual adults with real-world problems?" Not the sanitized, G-rated version where a kiss fixes everything, but the messy, complicated, sometimes-frustrating reality of modern dating. That’s basically the pitch for the meant to be book series. It’s Disney’s Hyperion Avenue imprint taking their crown jewels—the princesses—and handing them over to heavy-hitting romance authors to see what happens when the magic is stripped away and replaced with career goals and social media drama.
It's a weird concept on paper.
Most people hear "Disney book" and think of middle-grade paperbacks or those "Twisted Tale" YA novels that ask what would happen if the villain won. But the meant to be book series is firmly for the grown-ups. We’re talking spicy scenes, cocktails, and characters who swear when they’re stressed. If you grew up with the movies but now spend your time scrolling through BookTok, these were basically engineered in a lab for you.
The Idea Behind the Meant to Be Book Series
Disney Publishing didn't just want to rewrite the movies. They wanted "reimaginings." The goal was to take the core "DNA" of a classic fairy tale and transplant it into a contemporary setting. No talking teacups. No literal sea witches. Instead, you get a high-stakes corporate environment or a chaotic political campaign.
The series kicked off with If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. She’s the powerhouse behind Dumplin’, so she was the perfect choice to tackle a Cinderella story centered on a plus-size protagonist. The "glass slipper" in this version isn't a shoe at all; it's a reality dating show called Before Midnight. It’s meta, it’s funny, and it sets the tone for the whole project. Honestly, it’s probably the most "Disney" of the bunch because it keeps that sugary, hopeful optimism even while dealing with the toxicity of reality TV.
Then things got a bit more grounded with By the Book by Jasmine Guillory. She took on Beauty and the Beast, but instead of a cursed castle, we get a grumpy, reclusive author named Beau and a frustrated editorial assistant named Isabelle. If you’ve ever worked in publishing or just love the "forced proximity" trope, this one hits. It’s less about a physical transformation and more about the emotional walls people build to protect themselves.
Why This Isn't Just "Cinderella in the City"
There is a specific nuance to the meant to be book series that sets it apart from the thousand other fairy tale retellings on the market. These authors—Julie Murphy, Jasmine Guillory, Zoraida Córdova, and Christina Lauren—aren't just filling in a template. They’re deconstructing the original tropes.
👉 See also: Nothing to Lose: Why the Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins Movie is Still a 90s Classic
Take Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova. It’s a reimagining of The Little Mermaid. Now, how do you do Ariel without the tail? You make her a pop star. Ariel is part of a girl group called Siren 5, managed by her overbearing father (King Triton vibes, obviously). The "losing her voice" element becomes a literal struggle for creative agency in the music industry. It’s clever. It’s not just a gimmick; it’s a commentary on how young women are silenced in professional spaces.
And then there's the heavy hitter: The Tangled Knot by Christina Lauren. If you know romance, you know CLo. They took Rapunzel and turned it into a story about a woman who has been essentially "hidden" by her parents' fame and a restrictive legal conservatorship. It’s darker than the others. It feels more "2026" in its sensibilities, reflecting real-world conversations about celebrity autonomy.
Breaking Down the Major Releases
- If the Shoe Fits (Julie Murphy): Cindy is a shoe designer. The prince is a guy named Henry. The stepmother isn't "evil" in a cartoonish way; she's a high-powered producer who is complicated and ambitious.
- By the Book (Jasmine Guillory): Isabelle is one of the few Black women in her publishing house. Beau is a "beast" because he’s stuck in a cycle of grief and writer's block. It deals heavily with microaggressions in the workplace.
- Kiss the Girl (Zoraida Córdova): Ariel meets Eric, who is a rugged, "normal" guy on a boat (classic). The conflict is the clash between her massive fame and his desire for a quiet life.
- The Tangled Knot (Christina Lauren): A high-concept take on Rapunzel that leans into the psychological effects of isolation.
The Controversy of "Disney for Adults"
Not everyone is on board with the meant to be book series. A common critique is that by removing the magic, you’re just left with... a regular romance novel. If there’s no dragon and no fairy godmother, is it really Sleeping Beauty?
The counter-argument, and the one I tend to lean toward, is that these stories have always been about the characters' internal journeys. Cinderella was always about the desire for a better life and the courage to take a risk. The meant to be book series just swaps the magical pumpkin for a ride-share app.
Some readers find the branding a little confusing. You see the Disney logo and you expect something you can read to your eight-year-old. You cannot read these to an eight-year-old. Unless you want to explain some very adult themes and bedroom scenes way earlier than planned. Disney is clearly trying to keep the "Disney Adults" demographic engaged, and honestly, it’s working. They’re tapping into a generation that has a massive amount of nostalgia but also wants stories that reflect their actual lives.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Books
A lot of critics dismiss the meant to be book series as "fan fiction." That’s a lazy take. These are traditionally published, highly edited novels by some of the most successful romance writers in the business.
✨ Don't miss: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
The structure is actually quite rigorous. You can see the scaffolding of the original fairy tales if you look closely. In By the Book, the "rose" is a metaphor for a deadline. In Kiss the Girl, the "Ursula" figure is a predatory record executive. It’s a puzzle for the reader. Part of the fun is seeing how the author manages to translate a magical plot point into a mundane one.
The Nuance of E-E-A-T in Romance
When we talk about "expertise" in this genre, we’re talking about the authors. Disney didn't pick random ghostwriters. Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestseller for a reason. Her ability to write food and cozy-yet-tense romance is legendary. When she writes Isabelle’s frustration with the lack of diversity in her office, that comes from a place of lived experience and deep understanding of the industry.
The meant to be book series succeeds because it respects the source material while having the guts to change it. It’s not a carbon copy. It’s a conversation between the past and the present.
How to Approach the Series
If you’re looking to dive in, don’t feel like you have to read them in order. They aren't a continuous story. They’re an anthology.
- Start with your favorite princess. If you love The Little Mermaid, go for Kiss the Girl.
- Choose your "spice" level. Julie Murphy’s entry is a bit more "sweet" and rom-com-y, while the later entries tend to lean a bit more into the "steam."
- Look for the Easter eggs. Each book is littered with tiny nods to the original movies—names of side characters, specific colors of dresses, or even lines of dialogue.
Practical Advice for Readers
Don't go into these expecting a literal 1:1 retelling. You’ll be disappointed. Go into them expecting a contemporary romance that uses a fairy tale as a North Star.
If you're a library user, these titles usually have long waitlists on Libby, especially when a new one is announced. It’s worth putting a hold on the entire meant to be book series at once so they trickle in over a few months.
🔗 Read more: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
Also, keep an eye on the covers. They’re designed to look like "preppy" contemporary fiction, which makes them perfect for "discreet" reading if you're someone who feels weird about carrying a book with a giant Disney castle on it. They blend right in with the latest Emily Henry or Tessa Bailey release.
Final Insights on the Collection
The meant to be book series represents a shift in how legacy brands handle their intellectual property. Instead of just re-releasing the same stories, they are allowing creators to poke at the edges of these "perfect" tales.
It’s about making the inaccessible accessible. We can’t all marry a prince or find a magic lamp, but we can all relate to a bad boss, a complicated family, or the fear of putting ourselves out there in a new relationship. That’s the "meant to be" part. It’s not about fate or magic; it’s about the choices we make when we finally decide we deserve a happy ending.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check the Author's Backlist: If you loved If the Shoe Fits, go read Dumplin’ or Puddin’ by Julie Murphy.
- Follow Hyperion Avenue: This is the specific imprint for these books, and they often announce the next "princess" via their social media channels first.
- Compare the Themes: Read the book and then re-watch the original Disney movie. It’s a fascinating exercise to see which parts of the character the author chose to keep and which they threw away to make the story work in 2026.
The series is still growing, and there are plenty of princesses left in the vault. Whether we get a high-stakes Mulan corporate thriller or a Sleeping Beauty medical drama remains to be seen, but the formula is clearly here to stay.