Tokyo Dreaming

Since reading Tokyo Ever After a few months ago, I've been eager to read this sequel. And it did not disappoint!

This is such a cute, sweet story. I loved jumping back into this world and finding out what happened next with Izumi, her family, and Akio. It picked right up with Izumi still learning what it took to be a "proper" princess, but it also added in a new potential love interest to show how much her life is changing, not to mention the stress and decisions her mother had to make as well.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics in this book. Though it's technically a romance, that didn't truly feel like the main focus, which I liked. It was more about Izumi and her mother adjusting to their new lives and figuring out how much of themselves to give up to become what others wanted them to be. I also loved that we got to see her cousins more and understand their behavior.

The romance was really good, though a tiny bit predictable. I had a feeling I knew how it'd end, and I was pleased with it. However, it kind of felt abrupt. I don't want to spoil things, so I won't go into details, but the romance part of the ending felt very rushed, and how it pivoted to that point felt almost random. Again, I still very much enjoyed the book, and this didn't take away from the overall story.

I highly recommend this duology! It's a cute story with a lot of heart. This second book actually made me cry. Despite its fairytale-esque story, it also feels very real. Izumi's emotions and struggles are realistic and relatable. It isn't just becoming a princess she's dealing with but finding herself, preparing for college, and growing up in general.

It was a great read, and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store next!

What I loved:
If you love Princess Diaries, you love this fantastic series that follows the same themes but enriches Japan countryside and royalty. I loved how the teen couple in the story is portrayed—plucked from the United States of America, adapting to Japanese royalty expectations, trying to be true to herself, and getting to know her father. She is easy to love, easy to care for, and easy to feel her heartache. Then the mom and dad are so sweet, so raw, and this book will hit all the emotional points.
Final Verdict:
Tokyo Dreaming is just as good as the first, and the immersive feel of being in Japan as we follow the love birds to what we hope is happily ever after is so heartbreaking and sweet. I'm not a huge romance fan, but this one was just the right amount of quirky and endearing.

What worked: I loved this sequel to TOKYO EVER AFTER. Izumi is endearing, hilarious, and someone I would love to be my BFF.

In TOKYO DREAMING readers find that HIH Princess Izumi is still trying to fit in with royal life. Her 'Shining Twin' cousins still are a thorn at her side; she struggles on whether or not to take a gap year or go straight to college, and then there's the whole frowned upon romance with former bodyguard Akio.

Add her scheme to get her parents back together and you have one hilarious, engaging story!

Great pacing throughout. I love the descriptions of the royal court and what's expected of someone who is a Princess. There's also a love triangle which isn't the stereotypical one.

There's new characters such as Eriku Nakamura, heir to the Nakamura shipping dynasty, who tutors her to get into the University of Tokyo; Reina her every diligent bodyguard; and Mom-chan, an adorable Saint Bernard dog. Plus, readers get a glimpse of the behind scenes of what's involved in being a part of Japanese royalty.

Throughout, Izumi goes on a journey to find her true self with more than a few hilarious bumps along the way.

Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians, Izumi's life in the Japanese Imperial Court is one filled with discoveries, joy, and is sure to bring a smile to readers' faces.