Tokyo Ever After was one of my favorite 2021 YA Contemporary Romances I read last year so when I got the chance to read and review Tokyo Dreaming I jumped on the chance! I love the characters, family dynamics, romance, and royalty in these books.

Izumi’s life forever changed when she found out she was a princess. Not only did she have to adjust to the restrictions of her new life but she also fought for the unconventional love she had for her bodyguard. Now life is changing again as she tries to figure out what she wants to do with the next part of her life. With her parents wedding approaching she’s made unlikely allies with her cousins, met a new boy who just gets her, and is working on strengthening her reputation among the royal family.

The path to finding yourself is never as straight-forward as you think. Tokyo Dreaming takes us deeper into Izumi’s struggles to finding her place. She can feel the changes between her family, friends back home, and her relationship with her boyfriend. She just doesn’t know if the weight of all that’s changing will cause her to forget who she was before she became a princess.

I love Izumi’s story and am so glad I had the opportunity to review these books. I can’t wait to read more of Emiko Jean’s books!

I loved the audio book. I thought the narration was well done and would definitely recommend the audio format!

Tokyo Dreaming delivers the perfect look-behind-the-curtain sequel to it's classic surprise-princess drama. This was a charming and engaging sequel to Tokyo Ever After, following along a similar but arc to the second Princess Diaries story, but with enough of a different focus so as not to feel derivative. A fast-paced, finding-yourself follow-up, the growth and development of the central characters of this world really shine in this new installment. With the introduction of only a couple new faces, that development was made clearer and more considered. Tokyo Dreaming kept up a fairly consistent pace and kept me consistently engaged, unlike it's predecessor whose story I found to be a bit drawn out, and whose drama lost me in places. And, of course, a classic love conundrum at the end (do we have a new word for the love-triangle-that-isn't-a-love-triangle yet?). Though I whole-heartedly disagree with the conclusion of that arc, this installment charmed me from start to finish.

Loved this book so much! While it is predictable and follows the "romantic comedy recipe," it is just so charming and sweet. I usually feel like sequels aren't as good, but I don't feel that way about this book at all. The pace flows well and I enjoyed the character development. I liked seeing how relationships changed and I also liked the way Izumi learns a valuable life lesson.

While this is a young adult novel, I do find it to be relatable and a nice change of pace from the books I usually read. If you like the To All the Boys movies on Netflix, this duology is for you (I can't compare it to the books because I haven't read them yet). I especially recommend it as an audiobook because #AliAhn makes the books come to life in all the best ways.

Great sequel to Tokyo Ever After! It wraps up the story of Izumi as she continues to grow into her role as the as princess and how to navigate through Japanese imperial life. The scandals and intrigue continue in this story. Some get pretty "juicy." The characters develop realistically and the relationships do too. Overall it's an easy read with likeable characters. This is a great addition to a YA collection!!! I'm waiting for Netflix to pick it up!!

I love this coming-of-age, newly minted American princess. Izumi's happily-ever-after gets a shake-up when her bodyguard-turned-boyfriend and her parents throw wrenches into her accepted life. What results brings her surprising alliances and maybe the unexpectedly best of outcomes.
The best part of this book is how Izumi navigates the strife surrounding her. She constantly thinks of how her actions will impact others and does her best to ensure their needs are met. The family dynamics continue to provide the perfect fodder for Izumi's growth and ultimate pursuit of her own joy.
Ali Ahn returns to narrate from book one into Tokyo Dreaming. Her performance is one reason I had to listen to this on audiobook as she perfectly suits how I imagine Izumi to be.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I loved returning to Tokyo with Princess Izumi. The description of life in Tokyo, especially for a princess (who grew up in America) was amazing. I was very easily transported to Tokyo (and now would love to travel there!) It was fascinating to watch (or read) about the growth the Izumi makes as a young woman and especially as a Japanese-American. The love story weaved into the book only added to the book - a sweet, fascinating story!

Izumi Tanaka is faced with making difficult decisions about her life when her parents' engagement is poorly judged. Izumi wants to win over the council, meaning that she has to act more princess-like. How many changes and compromises will she have to make to give her parents a happy ending? Will she find herself giving too much up and suffering the consequences?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Sometimes sequels fall short, but that was not the case here! Oftentimes I feel that there is one particular storyline or plot point when another book is added to a series. But there was so much in this novel. I really enjoyed all the the character growth and development. The theme of being true ti yourself, and discovering who you are, was thoughtfully completed, and I appreciated how that looked different for various characters, rather than being a “one size fits all” type of storyline. There was so much attention to detail with the representation. I also appreciate that the content grew with the our characters, as this felt it was entering that “new adult” genre, even though it is still a YA read. This is a wonderful sequel that really celebrates the writing of Emiko Jean. Izumi is a character I will always want to visit again.

This is a solid YA series that addresses so many great topics from a very realistic teen perspective (meaning the teens make stupid mistakes as they discover themselves, but they learn and grow from those mistakes as well). I love the diversity and the girl power. I always enjoy reading about different royal family structures and traditions. The audio narrator was excellent! I'm not sure if the author has more planned in this series, but I am on board to read anything else she writes!

In this follow up to Tokyo Ever After, all is well for Princess Izumi, her parents are reunited, her boyfriend is amazing and she is learning how to be a princess. Until everything falls apart and Izumi must focus on becoming the perfect princess in order to save the fate of her parent's marriage. But what is the cost for Izumi? The book was a great follow up to the first, with a few surprising twists. A definite pick for romance fans.

Where 'Tokyo Ever After' was about finding your family, 'Tokyo Dreaming' is about finding yourself amidst social and familial pressure. It was such a treat to visit with Izumi again and I loved the new characters and the fake dating trope, though I could have done with a different end game...

With its glimpse into traditional Japanese Imperial life and its fusion of Crazy Rich Asians and What a Girl Wants, this intriguing, fast-paced story follows Izumi’s struggles to ensure that her parents’ happily ever after stays on track. Subterfuge ensues, which I quite liked watching play out because Izumi will do whatever it takes to achieve the family that she’s always dreamed of. But after so much pretend, Izumi must ask herself how much of it was actually real and how much of her heart’s desires she is willing to sacrifice. Charming characters, fun banter, and a captivating culture make this an enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan for an advanced audiobook. All opinions are solely my own.

I felt this was a great conclusion to Tokyo Ever After. In book one we are introduced to Izumi when she finds out that her dad is actually a Crowned Prince and tries to navigate through a whole new world with her new royal family in Japan. In Tokyo Dreaming Izumi is officially living in Japan and figuring out what that means for her future.

I love the narration Ali Ahn brings to the story it really helps Izumi and the rest of the characters come to life. She has just the right amount of sass in her voice especially when Izumi is talking with her friends. Seeing the bond between Izumi and her mom was great and I loved that her dad made her a part of the engagement. However I felt like I wouldn't mind seeing more interactions with her father. We get some sweet little moments of their growing relationship, but I found myself wanting more.

While so many might see the surface that can read as a typical YA hidden princess trope it's so much more for those who struggle with cultural identity.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy of Tokyo Dreaming in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Rounded Up

Tokyo Dreaming was such a whirlwind! It was nice to be back with Izumi after she shook up things at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Ever After. I listened to the audio of book 1 and really enjoyed Ali Ahn’s narration. She did not disappoint this time either!

At the beginning of Tokyo Dreaming we find Princess Izumi on Cloud 9 because things finally feel like they are going her way. She got the guy of her dreams and her parents have rekindled their college romance! She soon realizes that everything that glitters is not gold though. The Tokyo press is still being relentless, her bodyguard turned boyfriend is leaving for flight school and to make matters worse her parents relationship is being thwarted by the Imperial Household Council.

Izumi has always dreamed of her family being together so she sets her plan in motion to become the “perfect princess”. This includes applying to college, choosing an acceptable major, a fake dating scheme, rebranding her image and going from enemies to frenemies with “The Shining Twins” aka her cousins 😱

Emiko Jean is such a descriptive writer that it makes the reader feel as though they are there with Izumi! The Tokyo Tattler segments were just as amazing in Book 2. You gotta love some shady gossip no matter it’s validity.

Through Izumi, Jean teaches a valuable lesson: you can’t live your life trying to please other people. You have to make your own choices and do the things that fulfill you in order to live a truly happy and authentic life. Readers who loved TEA will definitely enjoy this one! I highly recommend the audio.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flatiron Books / MacMillan Audio for advanced access to the audiobook of Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean!

CW: panic/anxiety disorder, sexism, classism, bullying

In this second installment of the Tokyo Ever After series, we continue to follow the life of Izumi Tanaka, who recently discovered that she is the daughter of the Crown Prince of Japan. She is now facing challenges in her love life, difficult decisions about her future, and as always, weighing the duty of family and royalty against her expectations for what her life would be.

I absolutely love this series! It just gives me such fun Princess Diaries vibes, and I loved this second book. I love how Izumi's story focuses so much on her love for her parents and how she must balance her own personality with the boundaries and expectations placed upon her as a public figure. Exploring these themes of identity within the context of royal family drama is just so enjoyable and accessible. I loved that we got to see Izumi get closer with her cousins in this second book and that she seems to be finding more solid footing in her new life in Japan.

Unfortunately, I don't feel that I am able to give this book a full five stars because the romance element in this book seems overdone. I didn't love the romance in the first book either, as romance seemed to be so tangential and unnecessary to the central conflict of the book, which is Izumi's adapting to her new role as a member of the Japanese royal family. There was enough intrigue without the romance. The same holds true for this second book. Throw in the fact that there is a breakup, a new fake dating relationship, and a wholly unbelievable resolution to Izumi's romantic conundrums, I think this series would just be better off as a teen contemporary that explores identity and duty over romance.

I don't know how long the author intends for this series to be, but I can't wait to see what happens next!

4.5/5

I absolutely loved Tokyo Ever After. I had super high expectations for Tokyo Dreaming so I feel a bit let down with this as a sequel. I wanted to fall right back into Izumi and Akio. This story was more about Izumi finding herself and growing up. She has to navigate court politics, her parents, school, and changing friendships and figuring out how to please people possibly at the expense of her happiness. Izumi is such a great character overall and I find her so relatable. I also really enjoyed learning more about her parents and seeing their relationship blossom. The dynamics between her parents is so heartwarming and sweet and I wanted that for Izumi. I just wasn't that big of a fan of the drama. Personally I am Akio biased and I tend to dislike love triangle tropes. The ending wrapped up nicely and overall this was still a great story. if you enjoyed book 1 I definitely recommend reading this sequel. Hoping there will maybe be a book 3! I listened to the audiobook version and I really enjoyed the narrator. I felt that it really helped bring Izumi and the other characters to life.

Thank you to FlatironBooks and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars
“Tokyo Dreaming” had big shoes to feel because “Tokyo Ever After” is one of my favorite YA books I’ve read in the last few years! And while I did like TEA better, "Tokyo Dreaming" did not disappoint. This book follows Izumi as she navigates the scrutiny surrounding her parents’ royal engagement as well as growing up in the public eye.
This book definitely felt more mature and emotional. While the first book was about Izumi finding her dad and falling in love for the first time, this book was all about her finding herself and carving her own path. She really had to separate what the palace expected of her from what she needed to do to be happy. I felt such a mix of emotions throughout this book, and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about some of the secondary characters, like Izumi’s mom and The Shining twins. This book definitely had a similar feel to "Tokyo Ever After" and Izumi was still just as funny and charming, I was gifted the audiobook version, and I couldn't recommend it enough! Ali Ahn did a great job and really captured Izumi's emotions to a tee! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed TEA! Emiko Jean really came through with a mature, coming-of-age story that felt impactful and focused on a lot of personal issues that even normal teens feel. I would love to see a third book in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Emiko Jean, and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC!

🔊Song Pairing: First Love - Utada Hikaru

💭What I thought would happen:

Carrying on with the beautiful Japanese adventure that Izumi is on (I adored Tokyo Ever After)

📖What actually happens:

Izumi is back along with her bad ass Asian Girl Gang! Zoom zoom is back in Japan and taking etiquette lessons, history of Japan lessons, Japanese culture lessons all while attempting (poorly) to avoid the paparazzi and dismantle her Shining Twin cousins

While Izumi’s mother and father rekindle their love (the press is Meghan Markle-ing her for not being royalty material, rude!) Not to mention basking in the love with her hottie hot bodyguard!

🗯Thoughts:

I SHRIEKED when I got this advanced copy! I loved it just as much as the first! Can someone take me to Japan ASAP please?! It’s been a bucket list travel destination since I was in the fourth grade.

This book has the perfect combination of cuteness, clever writing, drama and romance. Part that make you go awe and just overall a feel good book!

It is API Heritage month and I think anyone and everyone should start with Tokyo Ever After and keep carrying on! Can’t wait to hear people’s thoughts!

I adored this book from start to finish! The narration captures both the heart and spunk of Izumi so perfectly. I have now listened to both books in the series as audiobooks and can’t recommend them highly enough.
When reading, I often have to remind myself that these are meant to be YA. Though the majority of the main characters are freshman in university, there is such a maturity in the story telling. However the humor and pop culture references are so refreshing. The discussion of mental health felt so timely and were handled with such care.
I laughed. I cried. I learned so much about Japanese culture. Most importantly, I was thoroughly wowed from start to finish!

Tokyo Dreaming picks up right where Tokyo Ever After left off. I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook from Net Galley and the publishers and the narration of this book was fantastic.
The book begins with Izumi detailing her life since deciding to stay in Japan with her father the crown prince. The author gives more insight into her romantic relationship as well as the relationship between her parents. Throughout the book, Izumi grows by demonstrating more empathy towards members of her family and making choices that benefit the greater good, not just herself. This was a fun read, and again the narration was fantastic.

It was a treat to return to Tokyo and check in on Izumi. I thought the first book in this series was amazing, so the sequel had huge shoes to fill. Listening to this one on audio was definitely the right choice. Ali Ahn strikes just the right notes as a narrator. For Izumi, her highest priority is to have her mom and dad together so they can be an intact family. As the powers that be let their expectations be known, she finds herself make more and more compromises. Is she making these decisions for the right reasons? Or will she lose herself in the process? This was a delightful second chapter in the Tokyo Ever After series. A fantastic read for AAPI Heritage Month and a marvelous way to get a royal fix.

A big thank you to MacMillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.