Man, this is my first dropped book since January. I do not know if I am impressed or just disappointed that my streak is over lol.

To begin, there was a bit too much cussing and crude comments in my opinion, with several f-bombs included. It also felt like this book was trying a bit too hard to be politically ‘woke’, with odd mentions of social issues and certain political figures. It all felt disingenuous to me.

I disliked most of the characters. Izumi in particular. She was full of contradictions and a childish outlook on life. She is going through an identity crisis throughout the whole book. While this could have been written in a way to spark sympathy from the reader, her near constant complaining came off as whiny to me. She goes into these rants throughout the story about how she feels spited by a particular individual (her mom, her dad, her bodyguard, etc.), then makes a decision contrary to the rant she just wasted breath on.

As far as being set in Japan, the potential was wasted as far as I am concerned. She barely explores Tokyo, with only one night of sneaking around, getting drunk and almost getting assaulted in a back alley. All of which, has no consequence even with her being royalty at this point. All the culture of Japan we do experience feels superficial, to the point I questioned if the author herself has ever been there.

The romance felt weak as well. It truly seemed appearance was the primary factor to the attraction. There was little to no set up, they had only known each other a little over a week at this point and I just could not spare a care for their situation-ship or whatever you would call it.

All in all, comparing this book to the story of The Princess Diaries, felt like a jab to one of my favorite stories of all time. While Mia Thermopolis took her new role with dignity and stride, Izumi is constantly putting her foot in her mouth and barely doing her due diligence to acclimate to her new title and responsibilities.

Synopsis

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 Izzy 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, Izzy 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.

Izzy 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 fairytale, happily ever after?