Better than expected, as expected, worse?

It's been about 2 weeks since we've removed a side of the crib and put up crib rails, and the transition has been as challenging as expected. Our LO (2.5 years) has always fought bedtime, but now it's just awful - she cries, bangs on the doors, yells, etc.

Our typical bedtime routine is: wash up (bath, teeth), change into PJs, read at least 5-6 books (I give her warnings after each book about how many more are remaining so that she doesn't freak out when it's the "last book" all of a sudden), and sing 5 songs. Whole process takes at least 45 minutes. She's fine and happy throughout the process, BUT as soon as I say, "OK, last song," that's when the tears/screaming begins.

I don't know what to do anymore. I've tried holding her until she falls asleep - she's pretty tired so she will fall asleep within 5-10 minutes of me holding her, but she will wake up and cry as soon as I try to put her down in bed. If I leave, she'll run to the door and start crying.

UGH. I'm dreading bedtime so much now. I thought it was bad when she was a baby, but now I'm realizing that it's so much worse since she can run/talk/communicate

Any advice?

ETA: She *does* fall asleep in her bed after I leave. It usually only takes her about 5 minutes to stop crying, crawl into bed, and fall sleep. I just hate the 5 minutes while she's crying...