If you have been eagerly awaiting a third Princess Diaries movie, then Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean is definitely for you! Izumi (or Izzy) is an ordinary Japanese American teenager being raised by a single mother in a small town. That is, until Izumi discovers that her biological father, whom her mother has always been super secretive about, is the Crown Prince of Japan. Upon discovering that he has a daughter, he invites Izumi to spend a few weeks in Japan to meet himself and the rest of the royal family; Izumi is super excited at the prospect of finally fitting in. But being a Princess isn’t all glitz and glamour…Princesses must follow strict schedules, rules, and dress codes as well as be knowledgeable about the Japanese customs, traditions, and language. On top of that, Izzy must deal with the invasive paparazzi, manipulative cousins, and a serious yet handsome bodyguard named Akio who might just be Izumi’s soulmate. Princesses are totally allowed to date their bodyguards…right?
Tokyo Ever After is a teenage coming-of-age story full of romance, royalty, and dramedy. It deals with themes such as love and heartbreak, identity and family, race and culture, tradition, fame and royalty, female roles, growing up, and social hierarchy. The moral of the story is that, in Akio’s words, sometimes, “you’re not meant to fit in. Maybe you’re meant to stand out”. This book would be absolutely perfect for fans of movies like Chasing Liberty, What a Girl Wants, The Prince & Me, and Crazy Rich Asians. I would also recommend Tokyo Ever After to teens and adults who still love all things Disney Princess.
First off, the cover is gorgeous and definitely captured my interest right from the get-go. The unique and modern twist that Emiko Jean took on the classic rags to royalty trope was enjoyable and it was great seeing a focus on Izumi’s relationships and identity as opposed to her Princess lessons and royal events. I particularly enjoyed reading about Izumi and Akio the bodyguard’s budding romance and I loved that Izumi’s story had a happily ever after! Reading about the awesome adventures Izumi has while exploring Japan with her cousin Yoshi, such as extravagant restaurants and karaoke, was immensely fun to read as well.
Whilst great to see in mainstream YA literature, one thing that I personally found challenging about this book was the inclusion of Japanese dialogue, which wasn’t always translated into English; I found that this interrupted my reading experience and left me guessing as to what the characters said based on the context. Some aspects of the plot were unrealistic; for example, in the age of social media, how did the royal family never find out that the Crown Prince fathered a child? How come Izumi’s mother let her travel to Japan from America all by herself? Why did the royal family wait to do the paternity test until after Izumi had already travelled to Japan and met her father? And why wasn’t anyone concerned that a high schooler was romantically involved with a 20-year-old?
My nitpicking questions about the book aside, overall Tokyo Ever After was quite enjoyable and definitely worth reading; it totally fulfilled all my childhood Princess fantasies!
Tokyo Ever After is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 18th 2021.
Will you be picking up Tokyo Ever After? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
The Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians in Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After, a “refreshing, spot-on” (Booklist, starred review) story of an ordinary Japanese-American girl who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan.
Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in―it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi―or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”―and her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity…and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.
In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.
Izumi soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself―back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairy tale, happily ever after?
