renharms's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
sfbookgirl's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a lot of fun reading the sequel of TOKYO EVER AFTER. While I found this super cute, I enjoyed TOKYO EVER AFTER just ever so slightly more. Without giving away any spoilers, I loved the love triangle and the further development of Izumi’s relationship with her parents.
If you haven’t read TOKYO EVER AFTER yet, I highly recommend it! It’s an excellent, slightly more modern retelling of The Princess Diaries with current teenage challenges set in Japan. If you are a fan of all things royal, you will definitely enjoy it. And Netflix, where is the show? This book needs one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Classism
Moderate: Sexism and Bullying
sarahmarie094's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Classism
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you like anything royalty related, you are abolustely sure to love this. Especially if you love the early 2000 movies The Princess Diaries or What a Girl Wants. It's like the perfect read-a-like for those. While I'm not a huge fan of love triangles (which is why this isn't getting 5 stars), I do understand why it was introduced into this story. It added to the drama and the conflict and made for a more interesting read! It also paralleled Izumi's own journey really well.
I also enjoyed all of the Japanese culture infused into this book. There's a lot I learned while reading it, and it made the book feel more realistic and more engaging. I will definitely read anything Emiko Jean writes after the success of this duology!
I also enjoyed all of the Japanese culture infused into this book. There's a lot I learned while reading it, and it made the book feel more realistic and more engaging. I will definitely read anything Emiko Jean writes after the success of this duology!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content
theespressoedition's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
WHAT. HAPPENED.
I loved Tokyo Ever After so, so much and had the highest hopes for Tokyo Dreaming. But A LOVE TRIANGLE?! What on earth possessed the sweet author to make us suffer through that turmoil?
Give me Akio! Give me sweet "Radish" references and stolen kisses!
I listened to almost this entire book within the span of 24 hours and I couldn't have been more disappointed with the majority of the story. However, there were a few redeeming factors:
- Izumi became friends with "The Shining Twins" and they were actually decent humans... hurray!
- Izumi's mom's story was actually really meaningful and the anxiety aspect was handled well
Okay, yeah, that's about it. If I'd gone into this one with no previous knowledge of the first book, maybe I would've liked it? If there had never been Akio, there's a chance the romance in this would've been cute and I would've liked how Izumi learned from it and found a good friend in Eriku. Normally, I love fake dating and would've been all about that story... but... you guessed it: AKIO.
Sorry, this one just missed the mark almost entirely for me.
I loved Tokyo Ever After so, so much and had the highest hopes for Tokyo Dreaming. But A LOVE TRIANGLE?! What on earth possessed the sweet author to make us suffer through that turmoil?
Give me Akio! Give me sweet "Radish" references and stolen kisses!
I listened to almost this entire book within the span of 24 hours and I couldn't have been more disappointed with the majority of the story. However, there were a few redeeming factors:
- Izumi became friends with "The Shining Twins" and they were actually decent humans... hurray!
- Izumi's mom's story was actually really meaningful and the anxiety aspect was handled well
Okay, yeah, that's about it. If I'd gone into this one with no previous knowledge of the first book, maybe I would've liked it? If there had never been Akio, there's a chance the romance in this would've been cute and I would've liked how Izumi learned from it and found a good friend in Eriku. Normally, I love fake dating and would've been all about that story... but... you guessed it: AKIO.
Sorry, this one just missed the mark almost entirely for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
melaniereadsbooks's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book.
Izumi is back in this adorable sequel to Tokyo Ever After. This was so cute and I really enjoyed seeing more about Izumi. Reader beware: there is a "love triangle" in this book. I thought it was cute and well done so I didn't really mind, but I know some don't like that plot.
There was some really good character development and cute relationships in this! I especially liked the focus between Izumi and her parents and the growth to that relationship! Super cute.
Izumi is back in this adorable sequel to Tokyo Ever After. This was so cute and I really enjoyed seeing more about Izumi. Reader beware: there is a "love triangle" in this book. I thought it was cute and well done so I didn't really mind, but I know some don't like that plot.
There was some really good character development and cute relationships in this! I especially liked the focus between Izumi and her parents and the growth to that relationship! Super cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Classism
Moderate: Sexism and Bullying
bookswithsoumi's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
See full review on my website Tokyo Dreaming
TEA was the first book I read in 2022, and I was jumping up and down when I received the advanced reader copy! The general premise of the story is that Izumi, a Japanese-American teenager in California, finds out her dad is the Crown Prince of Japan, Princess Diaries-style. Princess Izumi navigates royal life, her conniving cousins, and forbidden romance with her bodyguard. Book 2 deals with the same themes, but Izumi continues to grow as a person. She basically tries to get her sh*t together as the Imperial House Council blocks her parents’ marriage, as Izumi’s mom is 1/ American 2/ not royal 3/ isn’t rich.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, because even listing the tropes could be a spoiler, but I was blown away by this book. TD was a little more fluffy than TEA, and the conflict didn’t seem as dramatic as book 1, but I think that’s a good thing. In book 1, our princess deals more with inner conflict regarding her ethnic identity and romantic feelings for her bodyguard. In book 2, Izumi’s conflict is more external, regarding the public opinion of her parents’ marriage and her social standing as a student trying to get into an elite college she is academically unqualified for. Izumi doesn’t run away from her problems this time and instead tries to support people who feel like they have to. We also get to explore a few more ~unlikely~ friendships in this book, and we get to see new sides of Izumi. She studies hard with her new tutor, Eriku, to get into the University of Tokyo, all to impress the Imperial House Council to allow her parents to get married.
Since the whole book is set in Japan and not in USA, I think Izumi has fewer opportunities to explore her identity as a “third culture kid” in America. I missed that discussion of cultural identity from the 1st book when
I really want a third book, but at the same time, I can tell the author tied up everything nicely and I don’t want to ruin the happily ever after. It must be named Tokyo Ever After for a reason! Why do good things have to end?
Thank you for Flatiron Books and Emiko Jean for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers for book 2: (the tropes)
Spoiler
1. Fake dating. I loved forced intimacy because it always turns into real vulnerability!2. Love triangle. I was actually SO unhappy when I heard there was going to be a love triangle in this book. I feel that sequels rely on this trope too often (i.e. New Moon in the Twilight series, The Elite in the Selection series) This was the first and only time I’ve ever thought a love triangle was done well where there was an actual choice and it wasn’t obvious.
Tl;dr: A must read (completed) duology of the “I-Just-Found-Out-I’m-A-Princess” Trope!
Who might enjoy this book?: readers of royal romances, books about Asian/ Japanese Americans,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
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