In her follow-up to last year's Tokyo Ever After, Emiko Jean continues the adventures and misadventures of Izumi 'Izzy' Tanaka after she is thrown head-first into the royal life. In Tokyo Dreaming, she is joined at the palace by her mother, as it seems her parents have picked up where they left off all those years ago.
The Situation: It is late August, and the Asian Girl Gang is holding their annual meeting, except this time, three of them are scattered across the U.S, while Izzy is in Tokyo in her father's palace. After discovering she was the son of the Crown Prince of Japan, Izzy's life changed pretty much overnight. Now, not only does she have her own room in the palace, a lady-in-waiting, and a complete security detail, her former security guard is now her boyfriend, she is receiving pressure to make decisions about her future, and her mother has joined her in Japan. Becoming a princess is fantastic and all, but Izzy's mother and father rekindling their past romance is a true dream come true.
The Problem: When Izzy's parents become engaged, things could not be more perfect, except that Japan's Imperial Household Council may not approve the marriage, noting Izzy mother's lack of pedigree, and Izzy's lack of accomplishments, both things the Tokyo gossip column is all too eager to point out. And when Akio, Izzy's former security guard-turned boyfriend, decides to make a shocking and sudden decision regarding their relationship, Izzy cannot help but feel like things are falling apart, right when they were supposed to be coming together. To ensure her mother's happiness, Izzy decides the play the part of the perfect princess. But does sacrificing for her parents mean giving up what she wants for herself? Can Izzy be the perfect princess, and also follow her own dreams?
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel, and the second and last in the Tokyo Ever After series. Izumi 'Izzy' Tanaka remains the focus, and the narrator of the story, and the reader once again gets to see the occasional article from the Tokyo Tattler, a gossip column that delights on reporting on the royal family, even if that information comes from dubious sources and is not necessarily true. Beginning in late August and continuing through the new year and into the spring, Izzy does her best to be what she needs to be if it means making sure her parent's marriage is approved by the Imperial Household Council. Izzy must make decisions she may not have seen herself making, become friends with people she previously loathed, and accept advice she would normally ignore. There is the expected conflict between who is Izzy is and what people think a princess should be, as well as complicated relationships, and hard to perfect royal customs.
My Verdict: Let's get the obvious out of the way: The story is a bit silly; there are plenty of cliches, and many readers will be able to see the ending coming before they have even reached the halfway point in the book. However, the book is well-written; the characters are fun, dynamic, and intriguing; the locations feel real; and the stiffness and formality of some of the royal events made me feel uncomfortable as I read about them. If I had one issue it would be believing any of Izzy's romantic relationships. The chemistry simply did not feel real to me, and more like the author was throwing in the romantic relationships simply because there needed to be additional struggles and tension. Ultimately, readers of the first book will get their definitive conclusion to the story, though some may not much care for the bow that it is wrapped in.
Favorite Moment: Izzy and her cousins are forced to spend time together in order to overcome their rivalry, and the process that is thought up for them is as brilliant as it is brutal.
Favorite Character: Izzy's mother, Hanako, is a lovely addition to the cast of regular characters for this second book. It was nice having her with her daughter in Japan as they both attempt to move and live in their new roles as royals.
Favorite Quote: "It is so much easier to be led than to blaze your own trail. Actually, 'blazing' sounds too easy. It is more rigorous than that. Pulling up weeds. Unearthing trees. Laying down gravel. It's hard work becoming who you are. Is there really a right way to be a princess? A woman?"
Recommended Reading: I recommend the young adult fantasy novel A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin. A completely different kind of book, it features a young girl attempting to live up to impossible standards, while everything seems to be working against her.
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