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thelibrarian390's review against another edition
4.0
It's a classic Princess Diaries-like American is a Princess but doesn't know it and has to American-bumble her way through learning to be royalty and someone has it out for her and the royals are scandalized because she's an illegitimate child/American/did something that's a royal no-no.
This was still a good read though. I didn't like the ending but... I already know there's a book 2 coming so, I can let it go. -potential spoilers ahead-
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Izumi finds out late in her senior year that her father is one of Japan's crown princes. She contacts him in a very roundabout way that is never really flushed out or mentioned again. She takes time off of school (REALLY! SHE JUST GOES TO JAPAN FOR LIKE, 2 MONTHS WHEN SHE SHOULD BE ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL!) and fumbles her way through learning to be a royal. It's very glossed over, because the important thing is that she's American, she's not great at a lot of things, her twin-cousins hate her and don't want her around, her lady-in-waiting is exasperated by her but actually wants to be her friend and her body guard is a gruff man that's annoyed by her lateness and her Americanness. They, of course, grow closer, fall in love and someone outs them to the media and it is SCANDAL. Izzy thinks it was her twin cousins because they're constantly telling her she doesn't belong. She leaves Japan without telling her dad (But he's the prince. How could he not find out?) to wallow in self-pity at home when she thinks she's been rejected by her body guard turned lover. Her dad follows her back home. Reconnects (sort of) with her mom, invites them both back to Japan. They both say no. They both change their minds. Izzy's BFF4L (who is a terrible and crazy driver) gets them to the motorcade in time to tell the Prince they made a mistake. Izumi addresses the rumors and what happened when she returns to Japan, starts living life as a princess and finds out it wasn't the twins that ratted her out. She reconnects with her lover and that's where it ends. Just him telling her he'll some day make more money (read, can provide for her and their children) and that he loves her. I thought the ending was barftastic, but... we'll see where Emiko takes book 2.
This was still a good read though. I didn't like the ending but... I already know there's a book 2 coming so, I can let it go. -potential spoilers ahead-
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Izumi finds out late in her senior year that her father is one of Japan's crown princes. She contacts him in a very roundabout way that is never really flushed out or mentioned again. She takes time off of school (REALLY! SHE JUST GOES TO JAPAN FOR LIKE, 2 MONTHS WHEN SHE SHOULD BE ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL!) and fumbles her way through learning to be a royal. It's very glossed over, because the important thing is that she's American, she's not great at a lot of things, her twin-cousins hate her and don't want her around, her lady-in-waiting is exasperated by her but actually wants to be her friend and her body guard is a gruff man that's annoyed by her lateness and her Americanness. They, of course, grow closer, fall in love and someone outs them to the media and it is SCANDAL. Izzy thinks it was her twin cousins because they're constantly telling her she doesn't belong. She leaves Japan without telling her dad (But he's the prince. How could he not find out?) to wallow in self-pity at home when she thinks she's been rejected by her body guard turned lover. Her dad follows her back home. Reconnects (sort of) with her mom, invites them both back to Japan. They both say no. They both change their minds. Izzy's BFF4L (who is a terrible and crazy driver) gets them to the motorcade in time to tell the Prince they made a mistake. Izumi addresses the rumors and what happened when she returns to Japan, starts living life as a princess and finds out it wasn't the twins that ratted her out. She reconnects with her lover and that's where it ends. Just him telling her he'll some day make more money (read, can provide for her and their children) and that he loves her. I thought the ending was barftastic, but... we'll see where Emiko takes book 2.
ckkurata529's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
roseangel2's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Very similar to The Princess Diaries in a good way, this was a cute little quick read. A little too comfortable with the military for my tastes. I'd recommend it to people who tend to enjoy YA romance more than me.
sugaringhoney's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carleesu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
asev's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
feliciasrose's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
The first half of this was really enjoyable. The romance was lackluster for me so the second half felt frustrating for me. I also think it's outlandish that this grown man has been pining after a woman he met in college 18 years later. That really felt unrealistic to me. The two of them hadn't even spoken it seems in the entire time they were apart. Also I would be angry that this woman kept me from my child. I just had several issues with that relationship and the mother's willingness to just let her daughter up and leave in the middle of school. Every part of the trying to fit in was great. Every part of her learning about her Japanese heritage was great. I wanted more relationship building between her and her dad and less of the silly romance that isn't going to last long term.
yukarin's review against another edition
1.0
Ah a light, fluffy asian romance? Sign me in. Did it meet my expectation? Nope.
Izumi is annoying and does only improve for a few sentences for then to go back to stupid behavior. The romance wad very flat and the cultural references where sadly very basic (I hoped for more out there references or more discourse about tradional vs modern japan).
Even for a fast language learner, Kanji is not the way to start.
Izumi is annoying and does only improve for a few sentences for then to go back to stupid behavior. The romance wad very flat and the cultural references where sadly very basic (I hoped for more out there references or more discourse about tradional vs modern japan).
Even for a fast language learner, Kanji is not the way to start.
kaulhilo's review against another edition
dnf @ 40%
i was really looking forward to reading this? but i cannot for the life of me make myself go through it anymore, so.. maybe another time
i was really looking forward to reading this? but i cannot for the life of me make myself go through it anymore, so.. maybe another time