Where to Start Reading Emiko Jean
Because Emiko Jean writes across multiple genres—spanning young adult contemporary rom-coms, adult thrillers, speculative YA romance, and folklore-inspired fantasy—your perfect starting point depends entirely on what you enjoy reading most:
- For Royal Rom-Com Lovers: Start with Tokyo Ever After (2021). This New York Times bestseller is a fun, heartwarming modern-day princess diary that is perfect for fans of witty dialogue and cultural identity journeys.
- For Crime and Thriller Fans: Start with The Return of Ellie Black (2024). It is her debut adult thriller, introducing detective Chelsey Calhoun in a gripping, twisty investigation that tackles trauma and sisterhood. If you prefer young adult psychological suspense, start with her debut novel, We'll Never Be Apart (2015).
- For Contemporary Adult Fiction Seekers: Start with Mika in Real Life (2022). This book features a messy, lovable late-thirties protagonist trying to navigate motherhood, fake lives, and second chances.
- For Fantasy Lovers: Start with Empress of All Seasons (2018), a standalone feminist young adult fantasy heavily inspired by Japanese mythology and folklore.
The Tokyo Ever After Duology
This duology is Emiko Jean's most famous work. It follows Izumi Tanaka, a Japanese American teenager raised by a single mother in northern California, who discovers that her quiet father is actually the Crown Prince of Japan. The books should be read in order of publication to follow Izumi's character arc and relationships.
- Tokyo Ever After (2021) – Izumi travels to Japan to meet her father, navigating strict imperial customs, media scrutiny, and a handsome royal bodyguard.
- Tokyo Dreaming (2022) – After the events of the first book, Izumi's parents reconcile, but Izumi must decide if she is willing to make the ultimate sacrifices to fit into the royal court.
The Chelsey Calhoun Series (Adult Thriller)
In 2024, Emiko Jean transitioned into adult thrillers with the introduction of Detective Chelsey Calhoun. This series deals with heavy themes, including abduction and family trauma. Readers should start with the first book, as the overarching mystery of Chelsey's sister's disappearance spans multiple books.
- The Return of Ellie Black (2024) – Detective Chelsey Calhoun investigates the case of a teenager who is found alive in the woods after missing for two years, but who refuses to reveal who took her. Note: This book is published under the title The Next Girl in some international territories, including the United Kingdom and Australia.
- Before You Were Anne (Expected Fall 2026) – The second book in the series. Now pregnant and married, Detective Calhoun tackles a complex case involving a murdered woman and her missing teenage daughter, Naomi, leading her from Washington state to Tokyo.
The Love Me Tomorrow Series (Speculative YA Romance)
This young adult series blends contemporary romance with light magical realism and speculative elements. It features letters sent across time and must be read in chronological order.
- Love Me Tomorrow (2026) – Emma Nakamura-Thatcher, a high schooler cynical about romance, begins receiving letters from her future self's soulmate, launching a search to identify the sender among three potential matches.
- Love Me Always (Expected 2027) – The planned sequel continuing the speculative romantic storyline.
Emiko Jean's Standalone Novels
These books are completely self-contained and can be read in any order. They showcase Jean's versatility as an author:
- We'll Never Be Apart (2015) – Jean's debut novel is a dark, young adult psychological thriller set in a mental institution, focusing on twin sisters, revenge, and a devastating fire.
- Empress of All Seasons (2018) – A young adult fantasy about Mari, a yōkai girl trained to conquer the seasonal rooms of the imperial palace to win the hand of the prince—even though her true mission is to overthrow the empire.
- Mika in Real Life (2022) – An adult contemporary novel following Mika Suzuki, a woman in her late thirties who embellishes her life to impress the daughter she placed for adoption sixteen years ago, only for the lies to catch up with her.
Anthology Contributions
- Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities (2023) – A young adult anthology edited by Ismée Williams and Rebecca Balcárcel, featuring a short story contribution by Emiko Jean alongside nineteen other authors.
Master Publication & Chronological Checklist
Because none of Emiko Jean's separate series cross over, there is no single "correct" chronological order. However, if you want to read her entire bibliography in the order she wrote and published them, follow this list:
- We'll Never Be Apart (2015) — Standalone YA Thriller
- Empress of All Seasons (2018) — Standalone YA Fantasy
- Tokyo Ever After (2021) — Tokyo Ever After Book 1
- Tokyo Dreaming (2022) — Tokyo Ever After Book 2
- Mika in Real Life (2022) — Standalone Adult Fiction
- Boundless: Twenty Voices... (2023) — YA Anthology Contributor
- The Return of Ellie Black / The Next Girl (2024) — Chelsey Calhoun Book 1
- Love Me Tomorrow (2026) — Love Me Tomorrow Book 1
- Before You Were Anne (Late 2026) — Chelsey Calhoun Book 2