REALLY REALLY enjoyed this Japanese American take on the Princess diaries. Izumi "Izzy" discovers the father she never knew is actually a crown prince of Japan and takes a trip there to get to know him. While there she has an enemies to lovers romance with her Royal bodyguard (which I was all about -it was such a charming journey). This book also does a great job exploring the difficulties involved with fitting in as a biracial person. Izzy always felt she was never "American" enough and then has a lot of culture shock adjusting to life in Japan and feeling like she's not "Japanese" enough. From what I've heard there is going to be a sequel and I'm so there for that! Highly recommend this book - the writing is very engaging and entertaining - Emiko's descriptions of Japan were transporting! Also that COVER - soooo gorgeous!! This one is out May/18/21 - much thanks to NetGalley for my advance listening copy.

This book is a beautiful combination of What A Girl Wants and The Princess Diaries that pulls at my 90's baby heartstrings. I loved watching Izumi grow into a princess without ceding her personality. And the Tokyo Tattler was HILARIOUS! Plus the romance was palpable through the narration (though I don't want to spoil it too much), leaving me to quickly plug in my headphones because I was listening to it on speaker. And don't get me started on the Shining Twins... Overall just amazing.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*

A delight. I've seen this book described as Crazy Rich Asians meets The Princess Diaries, and I'd say that description pretty much nails it. This book is so fun, with just the right amount of teenage angst. Izumi finds out her long-lost father is actually the Crown Prince of Japan and all sorts of glamour and fun ensues as she visits her family in Japan for the first time. I also loved the themes of belonging here, and how Izumi often feels like she is straddling two worlds and doesn't fit perfectly into either. Izumi feels real and true and I love her and her plucky group of friends, the AGG. The subject matter is a bit too young adult for me to add a copy to my school's library, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to the right readers, for sure. The best way to describe this book is just plain FUN!

All I needed to hear was The Princess Diaries+Crazy Rich Asians and I wanted it.

The Plot:
This was a combination of The Princess Diaries and Crazy Rich Asians - and it was about a girl named Izumi who has spent her whole life in America believing there was nothing all that special about her, apart from the fact that Japan is where her parents come from. She lives in a mostly white community and has always felt like an outsider. Izumi has never met her dad and lives with her mom in North California so when she finds a secret letter in her mom's closet from her dad - she accepts the challenge to find her biological father. Which she does then finds out her father is royalty - Not only that but he is the Crown Prince of Japan The Crown Prince did not know he had a daughter so he calls her to come to Japan and visit for 2 weeks. Now her two different worlds have collided and all she wants to do is fit in! Will she find comfort in any of the countries /places or will she forever be an outsider?

Before I continue on, can I just say how BEAUTIFUL this cover is?? It's STUNNING 🤩

Writing:
The writing was pretty good. Based on all the other books I've read before the writing was standard, I think it could have been better. There are also a lot of undeveloped scenes and dialogues in this book that left me confused. For someone who knows almost nothing about Japan and the culture, I loved the way this book explained everything clearly to me but it was still lacking some insight in some places. But overall the writing made me ✨feel✨ things.

Izumi:
Izumi was just a fun, kind, and charming character to follow. I really appreciate her respect towards people! I love a character who knows the word ✨boundaries ✨ I also love how she knew nothing about Japan because I got to learn things with her but it was kind of unrealistic when she learned how to paint Kanji in like a few days... On that note, Izumi was really fast to adapt to Japan and the language AND BEING ROYALTY when she knew nothing about it at first which was kind of surprising and not realistic.

Izumi's Mom:
I love how Izumi's Mom is so freaking patient and understanding! I would really want to meet her in real life because she feels like a character that I would instantly bond with. Although I didn't understand how Izumi's Mom would just let Izumi go to freaking Japan without a heart-to-heart conversation... I mean Izumi was just like "I want to go to Japan" and her mom was like "I understand you can go!" Although there was definitely more talking than that - they should have had a more detailed conversation.

Akio
Akio is Izumi's love interest. And I was not a big fan. From the moment I met him something just did not click. Maybe it was his grumpiness 24/7 or maybe it was how annoyingly obvious it is that he likes her but acts like he doesn't. But to be honest, I'm not all against their romance, Akio brings Izumi joy which is good. I guess we just didn't bond but he is a very well-written character. In the end, I ACTUALLY connected with him because he's so thoughtful of Izumi's feelings. Maybe I didn't like him because he reminds me of Jace for some reason. They are both annoying.

Izumi's Friends:
Izumi's gal pals were a little too much. Ok..maybe not that much BUT they were a little confusing 🤏 it was really annoying that I had to go to that one page where all of them were first described when one of them is mentioned. But in the book, I did get used to them and knew their names by heart. Her friends kind of grew on me in the sense that I regularly think of them now. Ummm What Would Gloria and Noora think of my messy bun today? Too bad, she's a fictional character.

Crown Prince Daddy-o
He's kind, he's sweet, he's respectful, he's handsome 👀 But he DOES have his flaws! And I love that. Since he had no idea Izumi was even alive you can imagine how awkward things were at first💀 but they left off at a good start to get to know each other more. Also, I would have loved to know more about him so hopefully, that's in the sequel.

Overall:
Overall I really enjoyed this book! Hopefully Emiko Jean will change the dates and HOPEFULLY, fingers crossed we get the sequel this year! I know that's too good to happen though...
~Till Next Time!
📚 Ꮢҽαԃ σ⨍⨍ ɾҽαԃҽɾട! 📚

This was a delightful story. Very charming and heartwarming.

Izumi wants to find her place. She lives in a small Californian town and feels like it doesn't belong there, in a place full of American names and blond hair, she feels like she doesn't fit. For Americans she is Japanese, but was born and raised in America, does not speak Japanese, doesn't know the country and its customs.

Was raised by her unmarried mother, his father's identity is anonymous, until one day looking through the college yearbook, she discovers a photo of him... He is the prince of Japan!

Izumi wants to contact him, writes him a letter, that unfortunately was leaked in the media. She will travel to Japan to meet her father and try to find a place where she belongs and feels identified.
But it will not be an easy trip, the media is after her and not all of her family welcomes her.

I enjoy the travel, not only knowing Japan, but her personal journey, Izumi will learn to make her own place. She does not belong to California nor to Japan, she needs to create her own path.

Traveling to Japan was wonderful, the people, the food, the beautiful places, all was incredible. Already in my bucket list.

I loved all the characters. Izumi is very likeable, she is humble, kind and witty, above all, she wants to fit somewhere. Her mom is not a regular mom; is a cool mom, and her friends in California are so fun, together they form the AGG. (Asian Girl Gang). Hurray the sisterhood!

There is romance too, very sweet, Akio is his bodyguard, they start a little like enemies to lovers and advance to become a forbidden romance. Very enchanting, little dramatic

In resume it was a fun, it's a light story, perfect for spring or summer that will make you smile and laugh

4.5/5 Stars

Izumi, a Japanese-American, has never felt that she fits in her community in California. She was raised by her single mother, but has always felt loved by her. She soon gets the news of her lifetime when she discovers that she is the sole daughter of the Crown Prince of Japan. Izzy travels to Japan to meet her father and gets swept up into the life of royalty, which is overwhelming and scary. Not to mention she may be falling for her moody bodyguard.

First off, I am in love with this cover.... This gave me so many Princess Diaries vibes and I was LIVING for it. I really loved this cast of characters and Izumi's journey to self discovery. She was such a fun-loving relatable character, and I like how although she was trying to learn about her Japanese background, she stayed true to herself along the way. I also loved how quick-witted she was, she had me laughing a few times at things she'd say. Akio was also wonderful, I liked him instantly. I didn't know this was an enemies to lovers going into it, but I'm a sucker for the trope so I was on board right from the get go. The love story was a bit insta-lovey, and is definitely trope-heavy... they were cute, I won't lie... but it was a bit off if that makes any sense. I think the story is quite relatable, obviously not finding out that you're a princess, but the aspect of feeling lost and not enough sometimes. I think a lot of people will be able to see themselves in Izumi and her journey. She was a bit annoying at times with her constant crying, at literally EVERYTHING, but I'll let it slide. I listened to this on audio, and I think the narrator did a really great job with Izumi's character. It was definitely a really fun read and I recommend it if you want something fun, cute and light!

Pure Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians, this story is full of culture-clash, backstabbing cousins, opulence, and secret royalty perfection.

Izumi has never known who her dad is. Told by her mother he was a one-night stand with a foreign exchange student whose name she didn't get, Izumi is shocked to find out her father is actually the crown prince of Japan. And he wants to meet her! Izumi soon travels to Japan, where she is thrown head-first into the deep-end of the society scene, with the paparazzi and annoyingly handsome protection officer always on her tail.

This book was a cute, fast read. It's fun and fluffy while also addressing those important questions like what it means to belong somewhere. Everyone dreams of being a princess, and Izumi gets to (fictionally) live that dream and maybe have a clandestine romance to go along with it. This book was just so much fun, and I definitely recommend it.

I enjoyed this story in a combination of audiobook and print, and I thought both were great mediums. The narrator did a great job!

Thank you to Flatiron books for my ARC and Macmillan Audio for my ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Rating: 7/10
Steam: 🔥/4
Narrator: 🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
Publisher: Macmillan Audio / Flatiron Books

This was a magical modern story with a mix of The Princess Diaries and Crazy Rich Asians. Izumi “Izzy” Tanaka is a Japenese American high schooler who never really feels like she “fits in.” Izzy lives with her mother but doesn’t know her father and wants to know. Izzy soon discovers her father is the Crown Prince of Japan and travels there to meet him. Quickly she finds herself in a whirlwind of learning about her new family, responsibilities expected of her as a Princess, and forbidden love with her bodyguard.

This was a creative story, and I kept rooting for Izzy. I was happy to learn the authors have a sequel in the works because I want to know what happens next in the story for Izzy and her family. If you are a sucker for royalty stories this one is delightful. I was suppose to travel to Japan in March 2019 but the pandemic prevents that trip from happening. This book makes me want to travel there even more now!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this gifted copy in exchage for my honest review.

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

Izumi is a Japanese American who was raised by a single mom. She never met her father, but that doesn't mean she isn't curious about him. Upon finding out that her father is Japanese royalty, Izumi is swept far away from home into a lavish life with an extreme schedule, a ton of traditions, and sneering family members. Can Izumi get the hang of being a princess, or will she give that all up for a shot at a normal life?

While this story follows alot of cliches with a predictable storyline it was a fun quick read that never pretended to be anything but what it is. In today's world where there is so much unknown, it was quite a comfort to have a light and fun read that still addresses some social issues in today's society. Being a White American, I don't fell the uncomfort that Izumi does being a minority. I don't have to feel like my race or gender is not represented in mass media. It was a different view into that world for minority Americans as she didn't feel like she fit in when she was in Japan either. There was some light fluffy romance as well as family scandal and self discovery. Izumi's blossoming relationship with her father was great as well as her friendships back home.

Overall, I would recommend this read to anyone 10+ looking for a fun quick read. It has a little bit for everyone, just be prepared to get massive Princess Diaries/Parent Trap vibes. Izumi gets 4 bright and shining stars from this reviewer. I will wait on baited breath to see if the author will grace us with a sequel, even though this was wrapped up quite nicely.

This was so much fun! The romance had me swooning from the start. I also really loved Izumi's journey to figure out where home really is. I related deeply to her feeling divided between two worlds and trying to figure out which one version was her real self. I also loved the beautiful depictions of Japan. As the blurb said if you loved The Princess Diaries this one is perfect for you.

Well, wasn't this just a bucket of sunshine and lovely warm feelings in the middle of December. From start to finish this Japanese twist on The Princess Diaries and Crazy, Rich Asians had me absolutely captivated!

Living in small-town California, Izumi has never believed herself to be anything more than a completely normal Japanese-American girl. Dog who won't accept her love? Check. Single mom? Check. Great gang of girl friends? Check. A weird sense of not quite belonging? Check check. So imagine how she feels when her world is flipped completely on its head when she learns her mysterious father is none other than the crown prince of Japan. Suddenly she is trading in her quiet life of sneakers and sweats for the over-the-top, opulent one of a princess, and it's not as easy as anyone might hope.

Izumi was a great character! She is very light-hearted and snarky on the surface, but deep down she is grappling with some serious issues. Emiko Jean has written a very interesting thread throughout this book of Izumi trying to figure out where she belongs. Growing up in a town where confederate flags equal rainbow flags, she's already at a disadvantage with her Japanese heritage. When she arrives in Japan and sees people who look like her, it means the world to her, but even that can't last. Not when she doesn't feel Japanese. Sadly, her grandparents felt the need to Americanize themselves as much as possible when they immigrated, and Izumi understands that cultural loss immensely when she is with her Imperial family and cannot even speak the language.

Of course, part of her being so out of touch is what makes some of this book such a delight! As is expected with a story of a young woman suddenly trying to blend in with royalty, hijinks ensue. Clothing faux-pas, language slip-ups, protocol ignoring—Izumi's handlers and the media aren't fans, but all I see is an overwhelmed girl doing her damn best. After all, no one can learn an entire lifetime of Imperial etiquette in two weeks. Another fabulous facet of this book was Izumi's AGG. Asian Girl Gang. In her small town, her and three other Asian girls banded together to form a friendship that I wish I had growing up. All four of them are sister-tight, and the conversations between them are hilarious!

And of course, this wouldn't be a proper contemporary novel without the spark of romance. In this case, we're leaning into the bodyguard trope! Akio really was great. A very stoic but dedicated young man with the biggest heart under all that seriousness. Their romance tried to start as an enemies-to-lovers adventure, but I didn't think that was done too well. It never really struck me as dislike between them, especially while being in Izumi's head.

I would like to echo some comments made in other reviews that kept this from being a five star. The Japanese Imperial family is made out as a very image-aware, tradition-firm and above reproach type of monarchy. Knowing that, it was a little difficult for me to believe they would just accept Izumi as a princess and jump her to the top of the food chain. Not only because she knows nothing about being a princess, but that she was born out of wedlock and hidden away. Which leads me to Izumi herself. As I said, no one can learn an entire lifetime of etiquette in two weeks, let alone the few months this book covers. But Izumi didn't even try in the beginning. I was a little appalled that she would be so nervous to make a good impression when meeting her father, yet make no effort to take the opportunities that would help do just that. As someone who needed to be fully prepared for every unknown situation as a teen, it didn't sit right with me.

This was a really fun contemporary novel that feels very different from what I tend to pick up. It is terribly heart-warming and speaks so much to the importance of family and knowing where you belong.

The audio quality is so poor on Netgalley, I couldn’t listen to this without a weird, echo-y sound. Will wait for the real thing.