Book Review: Tokyo Dreaming (Tokyo Ever After #2) by Emiko Jean

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Emiko Jean
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: May 31st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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?

Return to Tokyo for a royal wedding in Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Dreaming, the sequel to the Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Tokyo Ever After

THE FIRST WAS BEST.

This was cute, don’t get me wrong. But I wish that the first was maybe a touch longer and that this book was nixed.

I didn’t love the drama between Izumi and her love interest. It basically created a filler point to add in a LOVE TRIANGLE that wasn’t necessary and let me feeling eh about the whole thing. Though I admit, I’m a sucker for a good grand gesture and this one was really sweet. Izumi nailed it and I am smitten all over again.

The story was filled with a lot of great coming of age discussions. Growing up and finding the right path. Not getting lost in the shuffle of a life someone else wants for you, etc. I adored all of these conversations and they felt very appropriate for the YA audience (even though we were dealing with royals). There’s good friendship learning moments, tough topics with parents and more. All things I really enjoy about the genre.

A solid read, and a great audiobook. I just think I was particular to the first book (of which I gave five stars). But I’m happy in the end with this duo and look forward to what Emiko Jean writes next!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexism, classism, panic disorders and panic attacks, bullying

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Book Review: Finding Gene Kelly by Torie Jean

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 406 pages
Author: Torie Jean
Publisher: Sunset and Camden Creative
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When five-year-old Evie O’Shea married her next-door neighbor in the wedding of the century, she had no idea she was swearing an oath to love the man who would grow into the bane of her existence until the end of time. Or that in ten years time, she’d start a long and winding journey to an eventual endometriosis diagnosis.

Now, aged twenty-six, Evie O’Shea lives in Paris, balancing precariously close to her Charlotte Lucas birthday. A burden to her parents, with no prospects and no money, Evie’s humdrum life needs a shake-up.

Enter Liam Kelly, the man Evie married at the age of five and promptly divorced at seven when he had the audacity to throw a muddy football at her while she was reading Eloise in Paris. Clad in a Henley and equipped with toned forearms and eye crinkles that rival Gene Kelly himself, Evie is determined to keep her ultimate temptation at a distance while she flails wildly navigating life, love, and endometriosis on the banks of the Seine.

But when a family announcement shakes up Evie’s world weeks before her brother’s wedding, Evie seeks Liam’s help to get through the wedding with some semblance of sanity intact.

Her request? Fake date.

Making a deal with the Devil always comes with a cost, though, and when Liam’s conditions which include elaborate backstories and practice dates, reignite passions her disease smothered long ago, Evie has to learn to fight for her dreams and break free from her life measured in ibuprofen pills and heating pad settings. Or else risk being alive but never truly living.

DON’T SLEEP ON THIS.

Like I almost did!? Definitely should have picked this up sooner because I enjoyed the heck out of it. This was a unique romance that had things I don’t regularly see and I felt the impact of that and all of the emotions.

I adored Evie. She is doing her best and you continually see that. I also loved seeing how good a friend she is to those close to her and her overall growth. I understood her initial gruffness with Liam and the thoughts surrounding that situation. BUT, the best part was that (before it was stretched on too long) you could see Evie have some productive thoughts about change. About seeing Liam’s side of the story and finally letting some of the past go.

Liam and Evie were gosh dang sweet and the childhood friends to lovers, second chance scenario had me clutching my chest. THE FEELS. Liam has clearly loved Evie for so long and I loooooooved him. The way he handled things, the charm her provided and how cute he was doing things for Evie. They are without a doubt a match. Even with the third act, I thought it made sense for the characters and story and, even better, not intensely drama filled. Add a little grand gesture at the end and I was smitten from start to finish.

I loved the way chronic illness and pain was discussed and approached. I loved the real way everything felt and the sentiments that hit so many of us. Such a beautiful read and I can’t wait for more now!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: a few almost scenes
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: endometriosis, toxic Mom, ableism, anxiety and panic attacks, fatphobia

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ARC Book Review: Love Unseen by Rachel Kelley Stones

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 248 pages
Author: Rachel Kelley Stones
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: July 5th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hannah Hadley is a permanent fixture in London Society and well on her way to becoming a spinster. Despite her beauty and kind disposition, Hannah has accepted the harsh reality of her situation: she will never marry. Continually affected by an illness from her youth, Hannah acknowledges her chances of entertaining potential suitors, at least respectable ones, is slim.

To members of the ton, Jonathan Carter is undeniably unsuitable. Though he is in possession of a massive fortune and is handsome as well, there remains an insurmountable black mark against him: his is new money. Even so, he’s caught off guard when his enchanting neighbor, Miss Hadley, flatly rejects his offer to dance. Despite their rocky introduction, however, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But when circumstances force Hannah from her home, the couple’s warm association comes to an abrupt end. Now, Jonathan must find a way to rescue the woman he just might love or risk losing her forever.

Thank you to the author and Covenant Communications for the ARC.

GREAT DEBUT.

I enjoyed this one a lot! Hannah was such a wonderful FMC and her resilient strength shown throughout the whole book. She doesn’t let her disability define her and I loved seeing her define her self-worth and place in society.

There was even DUAL POV with Jonathan too. I adored him as well. I liked seeing his self reflection and growth as he acknowledged mistakes, made apologies and pursued Hannah. They were a sweet pairing and I liked all of their interactions.

A charming story that gets some intense scenes towards the end. I liked the pick-up in action and the rush I felt flying through pages wondering if Jonathan and Hannah were going to make it back to each other. Filled with redemptive characters (and some villains that in no way deserve redemption), a nice level of drama and a satisfying romance, I thought this was a great debut and I look forward to more books by this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, loss of sight, loss of a father (recounted), brief assault, physical injuries

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Book Review: Doing Time (Wayfair Witches #12) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Cozy Paranormal Mystery
Length: 250 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 9th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Wanda kills Baldrick Berry, there’s only one place for her to go: Witchfield Prison.

Being an inmate isn’t much fun – not when Wanda’s the one who arrested a lot of of the prisoners in the first place. And not when two prisoners have died in mysterious ways. Even Witchfield itself has some secrets to be solved.

But when an angry little dog comes to haunt her, Wanda begins to realise that Baldrick’s death wasn’t quite as simple as it seemed.

Wanda must navigate prison life, deal with an angry ghost, and find out the truth. At the same time, she’s discovering new and frightening aspects to her power, and trying to understand her confusing feelings for Will.

WE’RE BACK.

I love this series. It is light, it is an escape, and it fun to enjoy Wanda’s journey.

This is another quick read that left me with enough mystery to keep the pages turning. I am very particular to one side of this love triangle and while I don’t mind the other, I am waiting with baited breath to know if I will be on the right side of this in the end.

I like that there seems to be another bigger arc for the characters and I can’t wait to see how things shake out.

Easy recommend if you’re looking for something new and that has great writing and wonderful dynamics.

Overall audience notes:

  • Cozy Paranormal Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, false imprisonment

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