What a fun little rom com! Definitely had Princess Diaries and Crazy Rich Asian vibes. Izumi is a fun and relatable character for sure. Things felt a little far fetched, or maybe just too predictable for me, but overall I really enjoyed this one and I'm positive if you're a fan of rom coms and/or YA that you'd like this one too.

Cover Story: Paper-tastic

YES, OBVIOUSLY; this is ENTIRELY EVERYTHING. This paper cutting design by artist John Ed De Vera is breathtakingly exquisite. (As is the rest of his portfolio!) If ever there existed a series that NEEDED matching covers, this would be it.

The Deal:

Japanese American Izumi Tanaka — or Izzy, if you’re going to butcher her real name — lives with her single mom in a predominantly white small town, aka not exactly a hotspot for glitz and glamour. Even though Izumi’s always been curious about her father, she’s never known anything about him. But then she discovers that he’s the freaking Crown Prince of Japan?!? Which makes her a literal PRINCESS?!??!

Soon afterwards, Izumi is whisked off to Japan to get acquainted with her family and everything that goes along with being mothercussing ROYALTY. Obvi, there are perks, but OOF, there are pitfalls. Back home, Izumi wasn’t “American enough”, but now she also has to deal with not being “Japanese enough” in Japan. When expectations are so high, so too is the pressure — and not falling apart under it is definitely not covered in Izumi’s royal training.

BFF Charm: Yay!

Yay BFF Charm
If you’re used to living in place with mostly people who look like you, it’s hard to describe how novel it is to suddenly be somewhere like that for the first time. But you’re not quite like them either, because of that different experience. Which is a pretty common feeling for a person of any kind of diaspora going to a place where they suddenly become part of the visible majority.

Izumi also has the added difficulty of needing to learn a whole language and all the etiquette rules that come with being ROYALTY. Yes, hers might be a charmed life, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy one. Although NO WAY IN HELL would I ever pass up potential sleepovers at an IMPERIAL PALACE. Even if it means joining Izumi’s group of friends who call themselves the Asian Girl Gang, a moniker so cringey that it might circle back around to being endearing.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

Look, Akio might be a hot bodyguard who’s age appropriate for Izumi, she’s kind of still, like… his boss? Or, at the very least, she’s his charge. There might be plenty of IRL references throughout history for this kind of dynamic, but I’m still apprehensive about the power imbalance because I’m a buzzkill.

However, Izumi and Akio as two attractive young adults who are into each other? The lingering glances, the verbal foreplay sparring, the obvious YEARNING? Much like a life-saving vaccine, JUST HOOK IT INTO MY VEINS.

Talky Talk: Blast from the Past

Once I got into this book, I was INTO IT: a classic fish-out-of-water, middle-class-to-riches story that explores complicated family dynamics and culture shock within, ostensibly, your own culture. But getting to that point of voracious reading certainly didn’t come easy.

I’m totally fine with real-world pop culture references; I don’t care if they get dated. What I do care about is references that make sense for its time, and most of the ones made here felt way too old for a 2020s teen. (To make matters worse, the book also seemed to be front-loaded with them in quick succession.) I mean, do The Teens These Days (or anyone, honestly) care that much about Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel? If you’re name-dropping a celeb couple, at least give me Hailey if you’re shouting out a Justin.

Bonus Factor: Long Lost Royalty

Princess Mia (The Princess Diaries) in a tiara, ballgown, and gloves
I don’t have much appetite for real monarchy these days, but I do love a story about a long lost royal. Asia actually has more monarchies than any other continent, so statistically speaking, there should probably be more WAY more Asian royals in fiction.

Of course, being royalty comes with a lot of baggage and complications. There are paparazzi hounding your every move, your life really isn’t your own, and you never know who you can trust — even within your own family. (Lol at discovering that Emiko Jean is a parent to twins when the ones she included in this novel are, uh, kind of nightmares.)

Bonus Factor: Japan

Fujisan shrine with Mount Fuji in the background, at sunset
For a country that I enjoy visiting as well as partaking in its tasty business, I only have a vague understanding of Japan’s culture and history. But as Izumi demonstrates by reconnecting with her roots, it’s never too late to learn — whether it’s about where you come from or the world around you.

Relationship Status: Royal Courtship

Upon first sight, I knew I had to read this book because HELLO, THAT COVER. It took me a little longer to warm up to the story, but once I did, I definitely got swept up in this modern day fairytale. I’m still not sure if I’m in it for the long haul — after all, royals tend to date FOR KEEPS — but I’ll at least come back to see how the next installment plays out.

It's hard being an outsider, no one knows this better than Izumi Tanaka. She feels an outsider due to her Japanese lineage. In a Princess Diaries turn of events, she finds out she is actually roalty. Now emersed in a culture she never knew, can she fill the shoes of a princess? Tokyo Ever After is the Japanese romance I was waiting for. I loved the inter complexities of the family dynamics and the hidden romance. It gave me all the teen who becomes a princess and has secret love affair vibes! Yes, this wasn't the most deep and earth-shattering plot but it was warm and fuzzy in all the right places. Jean knows how to pull at the heartstrings and immerse the reader in a foreign culture. without feeling overwhelmed.

I reviewed this book for the Asian Review of Books and found it to be somewhat true to the workings of the real royal family in Japan, although there is no American relative in real life. It was kind of hard for me as a reviewer to separate what I know of the royal family with what the author creates in this book, but I’m guessing most readers won’t have a background of the hardships faced by Queen Masako.

It’s her senior year of high school, and Izumi finds out that the father she never knew is crown prince of Japan. Now she has a chance to meet her father and find out what’s it’s like to truly be a princess. She wants to fit in. She wants to succeed. But there are challenges every step of the way. Family, friends, culture, and romance – such a fun story!

Rating 4

This book was better than I could have imagined! I absolutely loved it. The cover is beautiful and the story matched it, The plot and characters were all very charming. One thing I didn't care for was the insta-love but that is more of a me thing and not necessarily an everybody thing! This book kept my attention the whole way through and really reminded me of the movie "Princess Diaries" which I loved as a kid! I would definitely recommend this book and am lucky to have read it.

*Received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. In no way does this affect my opinion. *

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this!

I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This book instantly drew me in, I got to explore through the eyes of our main character and this is always my favorite way to discover these details of the story and, it was done very well in this book. I really enjoyed this book and the plot. This author did amazing. I loved the writing style.

I picked this book up because I wanted something light and fun (compared to my usual dark or murder-y reads), and it was just what I needed!

I loved this book! Imagine finding out you are a princess! It sounds great, but when you are the princess of a country you've never been to, there's a lot to learn. I saw a lot of readers comparing this to The Princess Diaries, and I see why!

The story was funny and sweet and romantic, but it also showed the pressure Izumi was under as someone newly in the spotlight and with a lot of expectations on her because of who her father was.

I really enjoyed Izumi's relationship with her mother, and her developing relationship with her father. I cannot wait for the sequel, Tokyo Dreaming!

While I didn't think it would be possible, I believe that Tokyo Ever After definitely lived up to its premise of being The Princess Diaries for the next generation!

For one, the character diversity was excellent. It's not too often that we find YA books with #ownvoices Japanese rep, and Tokyo Ever After definitely serves to fill that much needed gap.

The romance was very cute as well. My only critique would be that it felt like the author was trying a *little* too hard to make Izumi ordinary (it could just be because I attended private school, but I didn't know anyone who consistently only got mostly C's) but I can definitely see where teens that do fall into the somewhat "ordinary" category will find solace in her.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars and am lookin forward to reading more books by Emiko Jean!

I pleasantly enjoyed this book. I am growing out of the young adult genre but a princess diaries-esque novel will always hold a special place in my heart.

This was such a cute and fast read. It was pretty much just a fluffy book with an excellent setting, which made it unique. Definitely feels like the Princess Diaries but in Japan. I didn't find the main character all that interesting or likable - she feels more like a vessel in which the reader can imagine themselves, which is totally valid too. I really enjoyed reading about her relationship with her dad, it was sweet and refreshing. I felt there was instalove, but honestly, my own relationship with my husband probably qualifies as instalove too, so hey it happens in real life. A very enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone who likes princesses and/or romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd hoped that this would be a more realistic approach to the plot from The Princess Diaries. I was not disappointed. Izumi finds out her dad is royalty and has to figure out how to fit into his world. As an American who grew up middle class in a small town, her life experience doesn't prepare her for the expectations and pressures of palace life. But it's more than just that standard fish out of water story. It's a tale of a girl between cultures. In the US she is visually different. Japan she stands out in habits and personality. She's also used to a more liberal life and the culture she encounters in Japan is fairly traditional. While the plot is fairly predictable the characters are pleasant and dynamic. A fun listen well worth your time.

Loved this book! Such a nice mix of Princess Diaries and Crazy Rich Asians. The book makes you fall in love with Japan along with the character. Loved the relationships in this book and not just the romantic ones. Her friendships and the relationship with her parents are so well written.

Oh my gosh!!! Do you know how happy I am that I was able to read this?! Do you know how disappointed I am that it took me this long to read it? Ugh I still blame myself for not picking this up much, much, MUCH earlier in the year. Either way though, this was such an amazing book that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
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This story has been compared to The Princess Diaries, and while I understand why, I believe this book and Izumi are on a whole different level. Izumi was an amazing main character, making mistakes in a way that was kind of endearing when I think about it, and I loved when she was herself. That's the huge thing to me, especially when a character is faced with having to change for the public. The AGG was my favorite girl gang ever. Team Noora for the win (I love all of them equally). Japanese food, history, and sights... wow it made me miss Japan all over again.
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I adore books that explore familial relationships, and having Izumi and her father Mak learn about one another in such a huge way was really great. I understand the awkwardness in the beginning, and I understand the masks that the royal family has to show to the public, so those moments where it was just Izumi and Mak were great to see.
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This book made me love being Japanese even more than I already do. This book made me proud of my heritage even more. I finished this book feeling like I was at home, surrounded by my family and supported by my loved ones. It was such a peaceful feeling, and I'm so glad that it came from this book. I wish I could put into words why else this book touched my heart and why I would forever cherish it, but alas I just can't give it justice.

When I was a tween, I was *obsessed* with The Princess Diaries. Mia Thermopolis was my everything and Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse was (in my mind) the coolest grandmother on earth.

All of this to say that I had some very high hopes for Tokyo Ever After, and let me tell you - IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

I loved so much about Tokyo Ever After, but Emiko Jean’s characters really stole my heart.

Izumi is such a wonderful protagonist. She has so much heart, you can’t help but cheer for her in every aspect of her journey. Izumi’s support system is equally endearing - her mother is brilliant and loving, her best friends are steadfast and endearingly funny… and Akio is such a swoon-worthy romantic lead!

Izumi’s father is such a quiet but kind presence in the book. I was really touched by the way their father-daughter relationship developed throughout the story, and NGL I am 100% rooting for a Parent Trap style mom-and-dad love story in the sequel!

There are also some really wonderful themes of identity and belonging in this book. As a Japanese-American teen, Izumi doesn’t feel like she truly fits in her small town in California. But when she travels to Japan, she finds that she doesn’t quite fit in there either. So much of Izumi’s growth in this book is about her finding herself and making a space for herself where she not only belongs, but also thrives.

I had the absolute pleasure of joining in on the @reesesbookclub virtual chat for Tokyo Ever After a few weeks ago. I loved listening to @EmikoJeanBooks discuss her book and learning about how her own life experiences inspired her characters… and Ally and Kara from @AsianAmericanGirlClub were wonderful hosts too!

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for the perfect feel-good read full of love and hope this summer - you won’t be disappointed!

This book was so cute! I REALLY enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more of these characters in future books. Such a sweet and entertaining YA read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s a fun YA with lots to love. I especially loved the characters. Izumi was one of the best YA leads! The storyline was heartwarming, fun and heartbreaking at times. The writing was amazing! I’m really looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an entertaining Princess Diaries retelling! The story follows Izumi Tanaka, a Japanese-American teen who accidentally discovers when looking through her mom's books, that she's the daughter of the crown prince of Japan.

Izumi is a fun, exuberant character, whose humour at times made me cringe and at others made me snort out loud (basically a perfect replica of the humour in the Princess Diaries). The bodyguard/princess romance was one the main things that made me want to pick up this book and despite a few moments where I really had to suspend my disbelief (hard), it was a sweet, satisfying romance.

The plot is pretty simple (Izumi travels to Japan to meet her family there and has to decide how much she wants to be involved in their lives) and the pacing was hit or miss at times, but I loved all the nods to Japanese culture. There are also some wonderfully tropey moments (grumpy/sunshine fans, this one's for you) and I really enjoyed the nuanced discussions of how complex and uncertain family ties can be at times. Izumi also goes into depth on her feelings about her mixed-race identity and how she assumed travelling to Japan would make her feel like she'd come home, but she still doesn't feel like she fits in.

This is an energetic, highly entertaining read, which brilliantly captures the vibes of the Princess Diaries and gives readers some light-hearted fun.

Content warnings for betrayal/invasion of privacy, alcohol consumption, feelings of familial abandonment, mentions of family illnesses.

This was a great YA read, that I would definitely recommend trying!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher of the book.

Oh, what I would give for my 16-year-old self to read this book. This book is everything that I needed for my younger self to feel seen and heard. It touched on topics beyond just a lost princess or a romance with the bodyguard, but finding yourself in a world where you necessarily “belong”. Izumi is a Japanese American. She doesn’t quite feel like she belongs in American and when she comes to Japan, she realizes that she also doesn’t quite belong in Japan. This is the dual identity or sense of belonging is something that I have felt deeply in my teens & often now. I loved seeing that represented well in a book!!

Also, I loved the subplot of romances with the bodyguard. I love their banter and chemistry. A grumpy stoic bodyguard who writes her a HAIKU. Izumi is one of my favorite heroines. She is witty, sarcastic & compassionate. Even tho she felt insecure about not knowing the customs, I loved how unconventional she acted. She made me laugh. All in all, I loved Emiko Jean’s writing and will be picking up the next book by her!