Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

When Japanese-American Izumi Tanaka learned her father was the Crown Prince of Japan, she became a princess overnight. Now, she’s overcome conniving cousins, salacious press, and an imperial scandal to finally find a place she belongs. She has a perfect bodyguard turned boyfriend. Her stinky dog, Tamagotchi, is living with her in Tokyo. Her parents have even rekindled their college romance and are engaged. A royal wedding is on the horizon! Izumi’s life is a Tokyo dream come true.

Only...

Her parents’ engagement hits a brick wall. The Imperial Household Council refuses to approve the marriage citing concerns about Izumi and her mother’s lack of pedigree. And on top of it all, her bodyguard turned boyfriend makes a shocking decision about their relationship. At the threat of everything falling apart, Izumi vows to do whatever it takes to help win over the council. Which means upping her newly acquired princess game.

But at what cost? Izumi will do anything to help her parents achieve their happily ever after, but what if playing the perfect princess means sacrificing her own? Will she find a way to forge her own path and follow her heart?

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Like with the first book, I prefer the US (top) cover. It's cartoony, but the UK image shows Izzy as an airhead, and that's just not true.

This is the second in a series that has been described as the Japanese Princess Diaries. (Amusingly, that series gets a name check in this volume.) The first volume was fluffy and light; this one goes a bit deeper, ruminating on whether it's better to subsume oneself in duty and love for your country, or whether you should puch for personal happiness: whether it's better to have a partner who compliments you in every way or one who pushes and challenges you. There's plenty to chew on here.

Either there's less cultural stuff in this volume, or I've become more familiar with it since the last book. That might be reflective of Izzy's growing comfort with Japanese culture and customs.

I did think the resolution to the Shining Twins plotline was a little obvious, but there's nothing wrong with obvious, and it suited the tone of the story well.

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series when the next volume comes out.

Tokyo Dreaming publishes on the 31st May, 2022 in the UK (first image) and on the 9th June, 2022 in the UK (second image.) I was sent a free copy and I'm reviewing honestly.