This series! I normally hate rom-com type stories, but this one is so utterly charming that I fell in love with it. I will definitely be reading the next book, along with anything else from Emiko Jean.

I LOVED Tokyo Ever After, but honestly, Tokyo Dreaming was just okay. I think the novelty of the story just kind of...wore off. It was predictable and didn't pull on my heartstrings in the way that the first book did. Still listened to the whole thing and got enjoyment from it, but it lost a little magic for me and that's ok. Still will recommend to folks though!

This book was a really nice change from the normal thrillers that I read. I really love the first book in the series and how it took a cliché storyline and made it unique. So I was very excited when this book come out.

The story is easy to follow and it’s a great book to get lost into. There is the trope of a love triangle which I actually like in this book. Up to the very end I had no idea who she was going to pick and I was torn. I like both guys.

This book follows her as she tries to make decisions not for herself but for her parents, because of the laws put on the royal family. This creates an internal and external struggle in the book that really gets the readers involved in caring about what happens.

I like the first book a little bit more but I also enjoy this one a lot too it was easy to read and I finished it fairly quickly. It may be a little slow at points but I listen to it as an audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrator that helped bring the story to life.

Everything I could want in the sequel to the first book! I enjoyed being back with these characters.

It was sweet, and I loved seeing Izumi navigating royal life with her mom now being in the spotlight as well.

What I Liked:
-the twins redemption arc
-Izumi and her parents
-Nora

What I Didn’t Like:
-the love triangle, it just wasn’t fleshed out well

Narration: amazing!

This was a very cute book that did a pretty decent job including issues that were relatable for YA readers, even though the Princess Diaries-esque situation isn't exactly relatable. While the book wasn't anywhere near bad, it felt a like the sequel was forced because the author wanted to keep riding the wave of her last book...

I had such a great time reading this book! I loved the first book, and I was excited to see how Izumi's story would continue! Things were left at at good spot at the first book, which meant that something not great had to happen for conflict to develop, and to have a plot, which sucked for them but was entertaining for me to read!

Her parents want to get married, but it has to be approved, and she's seen as a black mark on that approval, since she was raised by her mom. And oh, the pain this causes, because both her and Akio overheard that, and his actions to help her, well, not so great!

And part of all that was her plans for her future, if she was going to college right away, or if she was taking a gap year, what college, what major. Adding into the complications, is Eriku, who would be the perfect match for her, his standing was a great place, and it would help him out too. I loved their fake dating turned something real! Loved watching it all play out!

The way things developed with her cousins, I really enjoyed that journey. I mean, they were cruel to her, but they were raised as princesses, their mom was hounded by the media and their dad didn't do much to protect her, so it's understandable that they'd act like that. I really enjoyed how close they got!

This was a fantastic read, and I really enjoyed reading it, and if we get a 3rd book, I'll definitely be reading it!

I wanted to really love this one. I thought Tokyo Ever After was an adorable read but this one fell really flat for me. I will definitely continue to read Emiko Jean’s work. However this one was a let down from the first in the series

I found this one more engaging that the first book in this series. Where the first one was a series of of issues followed by Izumi finding her feet, this one felt more like her learning and growing. I must admit I didn't really see the romance in the first one so although I'm not a fan of love triangles it was fun to see a different love interest. Mostly I love this series for the knowledge it brings about Japanese culture and it did not disappoint.

This was such a disappointment. It felt like there were some unnecessary conflicts introduced just so we could get a story line where Izumi’s parents get back together. The way that the MC’s love life was handled in this book especially didn’t make sense.

Narration: Ali Ahn does a great job with both the Izumi’s POV and the media pieces.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the copy to review.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tokyo Dreaming picks up right where Tokyo Ever After ends. In this edition, Izumi is making some big life decisions: College, Hobbies and Love. Her parents have rekindled their college romance and decide to get married. None of these decisions are without their own issues.

The Imperial Household Council is refusing the marriage and this is all due to their concerns on the direction of Izumi’s life choices. Having overheard them, Izumi sets out to make changes in her life so that her parents can get married.

This story was engaging and held my interest. was a cute and fun but also addresses important questions on belonging. I definitely recommend it.

4 stars

📚Book Review: Tokyo Dreaming 👑

By: Emiko Jean
Published: May 31, 2022

In Tokyo Ever After, Izumi Tanaka learned her father was the crown prince of Japan and she became a princess overnight. After a hard transition into Royal life, Izumi is back in Tokyo Dreaming and has finally found the place she belongs. Her dog is with her in Tokyo, her mother and father have rekindled their romance, and she’s dating her former bodyguard. Well, the Imperial Household Council shakes her world to its core by refusing to approve her parents marriage, citing concerns over Izumi and her mother’s pedigree…oh, and her boyfriend ends their relationship. Distraught, Izumi vows to do everything she can do win over the council so at least one of the women in her family can be happy. But at what cost?

Just as fun as the first book in the series, Tokyo Ever After! This series really brings me back to The Princess Diaries movies in the best of ways.

Like many others, I love stories of ordinary folks falling into the glitz and glam of royalty. This book offers a very modern take on that and the main plot line of this sequel is around sacrifices and if they are worth it. We also get some fake dating (justice for Eriku!) and so moments of the beauty of Tokyo/Japan.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A sequel for a love story on multiple levels as well as so much more. A woman falls in love with her bodyguard when visiting her father who is royalty in another country. Then things start to get way more complicated and trying to fit in and keep her life as somewhat normal is turning out to be way harder than she thought it would be. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall, I loved this book (and I love this series). I love seeing how Izumi (Zoom Zoom) has grown, especially in this book. I absolutely loved Eriko, and I admit I was a little disappointed she didn't end up with him. It was a little difficult to cheer for her and Akio when he was barely part of this book, and Eriko was so much more personable than him. I was, however, glad that her parents finally got there happily ever after.

This was definitely a cute book, but I still think I prefer the first!

I’m usually a huge fan of romances but this one didn’t click with me. I remember enjoying the bodyguard/princess relationship in the first, but I didn’t like the love triangle setup (although it’s a personal preference—I’ve never like love triangles in YA).

I know Izumi is just barely college-age, but she almost felt younger in the sequel. She felt a little whiny at times, and Eriku deserves better from her.

I enjoyed the first novel Tokyo Ever After, so I anticipated liking Tokyo Dreaming. Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. I have a hard time becoming invested in this novel. I'm also not a huge fan of love triangles. The narrator, Ali Ahn, did a good job and was the reason I kept listening.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a smash hit to the first book, and I know Emiko Jean will be a must buy author for me from now on. I didn’t get a chance to finish this ARC, but loved the first half. The return to the world and characters was excellent, and I look forward to fully reviewing the copy I buy.

This is the sequel to Tokyo Ever After and I actually liked it better!

Another cute love story but this time she is also trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life aside from being a princess. She ends up in a love triangle with having to decide who she really wants to be with!

Her parents also get engaged in the sequel but at first the Imperial Council doesn’t agree!

The narrator was on point!

Emiko Jean's Tokyo Dreaming is a treat! I had loved Tokyo Ever After with Izumi Tanaka. Izumi is a regular Japanese American high schooler in California until she discovers that her biological father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Her father and the Imperial Family invited Izumi to Japan for a visit.

Tokyo Dreaming is the continuation of Izumi's new life as an Imperial Princess. Izumi learns that while good intentions and charm help open doors, public opinion and expectations can turn on a dime. Izumi wants her family united, but the press and the Old Guard consider Izumi's mother unfit to marry the Crown Prince.

Izumi undertakes her own makeover to change public opinion. She applies to colleges in Japan, begins to date the heir to a Japanese fortune, and learns to present a different public image. But as Izumi sacrifices different aspects of her life, we hope that she doesn't lose her equilibrium. Will the Izumi that we love and root for disappear entirely?

Emiko Jean delivers a satisfying escape!

I listened to the audiobook of Tokyo Dreaming.
This was a predictable but enjoyable continuation of the first book. What I enjoyed about this book was the character growth of Izumi and the shining twins. In true YA fashion, there’s a love triangle but I feel like Akio wasn’t present enough in the story for me to be on board with him being a contender for Izumi’s attention. I enjoyed learning more about the Japanese culture through this story.
The narrator did a good job of pronouncing the Japanese words - a perk to listening to the audiobook because.. I struggled with that when I read the first one.
All around a light and easy book.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advanced electronic version of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Super cute. I didn't read the first book, so I definitely think I want to go back and do that, but even not know a lot going into this one...I enjoyed it.