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Alter Ego #2
Alter Ego 2: Noel & June
The long-awaited sequel to Spanish artist Ana C. Sánchez's heart-pounding lesbian romance, Alter Ego .
212 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2025
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Ana C. Sánchez
45 books58 followersAna Cristina "Anakris" Sánchez es una historietista y editora española de estética manga.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 4, 2025
It was worth the wait.
I thoroughly enjoyed Alter Ego when I read it. It was a very enjoyable lesbian romance that ended up bringing together two very different people who seemingly had only one thing in common: the girl they loved.
Noel was a sharp tongued pain in the butt and I loved her eventual development in the original. She and June made for a really cute pair and I was very content with them falling in love by the end of the book.
Apparently there was more story to tell and, well, this comes through with most everything that you’d want. There’s no getting around that Noel is still prickly at times (albeit toned way down from the first volume) and June is still a mess who can’t face her own problems.
The romance works a bit better than the narrative, which takes a couple swings that are a little too much for me, but the romance works so darn well that I don’t mind. I could not put this down when I was reading it; it’s great stuff. Ana Sanchez has gotten better in the intervening years and it shows.
I would argue that this has always been Noel’s story. Her growth from somebody who had a self-destructive fixation to an actual partner was really well done and she still has rough edges because of it. Even here she can hardly keep from saying things, but she’s much more likely to hate herself when it can’t be held back.
Which is where June comes in, the one who sees her for what she is and also helps to keep her (mostly) from going overboard. They both still make mistakes - June’s romantic history lurches into frame this time and Noel has real issues with it that June’s dismissal only makes worse.
They are really well defined as people and watching them figure out their future is so satisfying. Two people who are very different will either force one another apart or eventually learn how to complement one another. There’s a volatility here that they’re both aware of and it makes a unique conflict.
It’s amazing how much ground gets covered in a mere 240-ish pages and nothing feels rushed, minus the other big narrative bit that I’ll get to shortly. You get the strong emotions, the flirting, the sex, everything. It’s so well done.
Much like the characters, this story is really trying. After a potential meet-cute that leads to one of the most on the nose meta conversations between our leads, well, you’d be forgiven for just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It seems too clever by half, though it turns out to be a smidgen more clever than that.
What actually happens? Well, it is not what you’re expecting, but this one part does feel like an imperfect swerve away from cliche. It nearly pulls it off, it would be an all-timer if it had, but it needed just a little more time to seed that notion. It’s so close, though, and I appreciated the attempt.
But I still loved it anyway, overall. June and Noel are a mess, but they’re a mess in love and they really do make one another better when they get over themselves. There’s more romance here than some yuri titles will ever achieve in an entire run and this is a single volume. You can see their affection all over the page.
And it doesn’t completely sideline Elena and Hiro, whose relationship caused Noel to lash out so hard the first volume. They don’t get a ton to do, but they get enough. I’m not sure this needs or could sustain a third volume, but I would read it in a heartbeat.
(Bonus points for ending the story at a ski resort, which, intentionally or not, is one hilariously direct shot fired against endless beach scenes in manga.)
4.5 stars - 4 stars for most, it’s not perfect, but I was really taken with this and even its faults just became part of its many charms. It’s trying very hard and I appreciate that, especially given how often it succeeds.
I thoroughly enjoyed Alter Ego when I read it. It was a very enjoyable lesbian romance that ended up bringing together two very different people who seemingly had only one thing in common: the girl they loved.
Noel was a sharp tongued pain in the butt and I loved her eventual development in the original. She and June made for a really cute pair and I was very content with them falling in love by the end of the book.
Apparently there was more story to tell and, well, this comes through with most everything that you’d want. There’s no getting around that Noel is still prickly at times (albeit toned way down from the first volume) and June is still a mess who can’t face her own problems.
The romance works a bit better than the narrative, which takes a couple swings that are a little too much for me, but the romance works so darn well that I don’t mind. I could not put this down when I was reading it; it’s great stuff. Ana Sanchez has gotten better in the intervening years and it shows.
I would argue that this has always been Noel’s story. Her growth from somebody who had a self-destructive fixation to an actual partner was really well done and she still has rough edges because of it. Even here she can hardly keep from saying things, but she’s much more likely to hate herself when it can’t be held back.
Which is where June comes in, the one who sees her for what she is and also helps to keep her (mostly) from going overboard. They both still make mistakes - June’s romantic history lurches into frame this time and Noel has real issues with it that June’s dismissal only makes worse.
They are really well defined as people and watching them figure out their future is so satisfying. Two people who are very different will either force one another apart or eventually learn how to complement one another. There’s a volatility here that they’re both aware of and it makes a unique conflict.
It’s amazing how much ground gets covered in a mere 240-ish pages and nothing feels rushed, minus the other big narrative bit that I’ll get to shortly. You get the strong emotions, the flirting, the sex, everything. It’s so well done.
Much like the characters, this story is really trying. After a potential meet-cute that leads to one of the most on the nose meta conversations between our leads, well, you’d be forgiven for just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It seems too clever by half, though it turns out to be a smidgen more clever than that.
What actually happens? Well, it is not what you’re expecting, but this one part does feel like an imperfect swerve away from cliche. It nearly pulls it off, it would be an all-timer if it had, but it needed just a little more time to seed that notion. It’s so close, though, and I appreciated the attempt.
But I still loved it anyway, overall. June and Noel are a mess, but they’re a mess in love and they really do make one another better when they get over themselves. There’s more romance here than some yuri titles will ever achieve in an entire run and this is a single volume. You can see their affection all over the page.
And it doesn’t completely sideline Elena and Hiro, whose relationship caused Noel to lash out so hard the first volume. They don’t get a ton to do, but they get enough. I’m not sure this needs or could sustain a third volume, but I would read it in a heartbeat.
(Bonus points for ending the story at a ski resort, which, intentionally or not, is one hilariously direct shot fired against endless beach scenes in manga.)
4.5 stars - 4 stars for most, it’s not perfect, but I was really taken with this and even its faults just became part of its many charms. It’s trying very hard and I appreciate that, especially given how often it succeeds.
January 2, 2026
Very sweet! Just as good as the first one!
January 20, 2026
Definitivamente es una historia mucho mejor elaborada y contada que su primera entrega. También se nota bastante la evolución en el dibujo de la autora, que se ve bastante más trabajado y pulido que antes, aunque al final del libro todas las lineas se vuelven más gruesas de repente, cosa que me parece extraña porque afecta también a los bocadillos de texto.
Como sea. La historia está muy bien llevada y se aleja de algunos tópicos que tenía la primera parte para darle más personalidad y profundidad a sus personajes. Sobre todo a Elena, que en la primera parte no tenía personalidad directamente y solo era "una buena chica de la que están enamoradas las protagonistas". Aquí no. Tanto ella como Hiro ahora tienen más personalidad, y las dos protagonistas tampoco se quedan atrás.
Como esto es una nueva historia, necesitan un nuevo conflicto. Lo han manejado de una manera natural, sin recurrir a clichés o a volver a usar los mismos conflictos del pasado. Además, se nota una evolución de los personajes y como estos aprenden de sus errores. Yo me veía venir que iba a a ocurrir una cosa, y no solo no ha pasado, sino que la autora ha jugado con mi mente.
En definitiva, es un buen manga. De lo mejor de la autora. Si te gustó el primero, este te va a encantar, y si no te gustó, tal vez este sí que lo haga.
Como sea. La historia está muy bien llevada y se aleja de algunos tópicos que tenía la primera parte para darle más personalidad y profundidad a sus personajes. Sobre todo a Elena, que en la primera parte no tenía personalidad directamente y solo era "una buena chica de la que están enamoradas las protagonistas". Aquí no. Tanto ella como Hiro ahora tienen más personalidad, y las dos protagonistas tampoco se quedan atrás.
Como esto es una nueva historia, necesitan un nuevo conflicto. Lo han manejado de una manera natural, sin recurrir a clichés o a volver a usar los mismos conflictos del pasado. Además, se nota una evolución de los personajes y como estos aprenden de sus errores. Yo me veía venir que iba a a ocurrir una cosa, y no solo no ha pasado, sino que la autora ha jugado con mi mente.
En definitiva, es un buen manga. De lo mejor de la autora. Si te gustó el primero, este te va a encantar, y si no te gustó, tal vez este sí que lo haga.
July 10, 2025
Ana C. Sánchez no decepciona con la secuela de Alter Ego.
La típica pregunta cuando se hace una secuela es "¿Hacía falta?", pero creo que más bien es "¿Aporta algo?". Y este segundo volumen, indudablemente, lo hace. Ya conociendo a nuestras protagonistas, había que conocer el desarrollo natural de su relación, y se consigue en una historia que no queda forzada, sino que se siente como parte de la original.
Por supuesto, el desarrollo de la relación entre Noel y June sigue siendo el punto central de la historia, el cual la autora aborda inteligentemente en los primeros compases de la obra, relegando un poco a los personajes de su alrededor, pero al final, esta no es su historia.
Y el giro final queda interesante y bien llevado, especialmente porque no me esperaba que el "nuevo personaje en discordia"… digamos que la autora supo jugar con mi cabeza y pensé otra cosa
Si algún día podemos disfrutar de una tercera parte, ahí estaré para leerla.
La típica pregunta cuando se hace una secuela es "¿Hacía falta?", pero creo que más bien es "¿Aporta algo?". Y este segundo volumen, indudablemente, lo hace. Ya conociendo a nuestras protagonistas, había que conocer el desarrollo natural de su relación, y se consigue en una historia que no queda forzada, sino que se siente como parte de la original.
Por supuesto, el desarrollo de la relación entre Noel y June sigue siendo el punto central de la historia, el cual la autora aborda inteligentemente en los primeros compases de la obra, relegando un poco a los personajes de su alrededor, pero al final, esta no es su historia.
Y el giro final queda interesante y bien llevado, especialmente porque no me esperaba que el "nuevo personaje en discordia"… digamos que la autora supo jugar con mi cabeza y pensé otra cosa
Si algún día podemos disfrutar de una tercera parte, ahí estaré para leerla.
May 5, 2025
A wonderful sequel to the first book!
The relationship aspect of the story was favorite part of this one, with a few bonus points awarded (just enough to warrant a rounded-up 5-star rating) for the ending of the 'background plot' tying things back to the ending of the first book, and the title of the series.
Good stuff, and well worth the read if you even *kinda* liked the first volume!
...And if you haven't read that one yet for some reason, go check it out!
The relationship aspect of the story was favorite part of this one, with a few bonus points awarded (just enough to warrant a rounded-up 5-star rating) for the ending of the 'background plot' tying things back to the ending of the first book, and the title of the series.
Good stuff, and well worth the read if you even *kinda* liked the first volume!
...And if you haven't read that one yet for some reason, go check it out!
June 6, 2025
the rare—in present day—book where i saw it was out in print and just bought it right away because i trusted the mangaka to deliver. a very worthy followup that fleshes things out from the original story in a satisfactory way, both in character depth and loose plot ends, and also gets a little meta about writing sequels. found some annoying typos, but that's on the publisher; the characters' personalities otherwise came across well in translation.
January 11, 2026
Wow this was even better than the first one (and I loved the first one!)
Their discussions and troubles are more mature about relationships, making it very relatable in many aspects. Also, the missing solutions from the first volume are finally reached.
The Brazilian edition comes with a postcard and a bookmark, I love both! Ana's art is so pretty 🥹 I've just finished reading and I already want to re-read lol
Their discussions and troubles are more mature about relationships, making it very relatable in many aspects. Also, the missing solutions from the first volume are finally reached.
The Brazilian edition comes with a postcard and a bookmark, I love both! Ana's art is so pretty 🥹 I've just finished reading and I already want to re-read lol
March 11, 2025
Me ha gustado, pero he de reconocer que me ha decepcionado un poco, creo que los diálogos son un poco intensos y que el desarrollo de la historia no esta tan bien conseguido como en otras obras de la autora. Aún así me ha gustado mucho ver como crece la relación entre Noel y June y he disfrutado mucho de la calidad del dibujo.
July 2, 2025
je pense que j'ai moins aimé que le 1er tome. Peut-être que les engueulades drama étaient normales dans le 1er tome mais m'ont semblées inutiles maintenant... je suis pas fan des difficultés de communications et j'ai trouvé Noel péniblé... au final tout est bien qui finis bien. et l'histoire était chouette. mais est-ce qu'il y aura un 3e tome avec de nouvelles engueulades pour rien ?
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December 15, 20254.5 out of 5 stars
This book was sooo good!
I loved the "i love you" at the end and the heartbreak that both characters have to deal with when finding who they are. This definiftly gives me love and so much love to the people I have loved and who have loved me back.
I think this is a great story for mature teenagers.
This book was sooo good!
I loved the "i love you" at the end and the heartbreak that both characters have to deal with when finding who they are. This definiftly gives me love and so much love to the people I have loved and who have loved me back.
I think this is a great story for mature teenagers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2025
2025 reads: 182/300
in the second volume of alter ego, noel and june are taking things one day at a time: their first real date, spending the night, sharing secrets, and more. not everything between them is so lighthearted, though. their personalities sometimes clash, leading to a blowup that has noel wondering whether they’ll ever actually work together.
this was such a great sequel (and possibly conclusion?). there was a pretty big piece in book one that was further addressed in this book, which i loved to see. i also loved seeing how noel and june worked through their differences, from those in their pasts to the present moment. despite their differences, they are such a good couple. i highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first volume!
in the second volume of alter ego, noel and june are taking things one day at a time: their first real date, spending the night, sharing secrets, and more. not everything between them is so lighthearted, though. their personalities sometimes clash, leading to a blowup that has noel wondering whether they’ll ever actually work together.
this was such a great sequel (and possibly conclusion?). there was a pretty big piece in book one that was further addressed in this book, which i loved to see. i also loved seeing how noel and june worked through their differences, from those in their pasts to the present moment. despite their differences, they are such a good couple. i highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first volume!
August 27, 2025
Même si le tome 1 peut se lire tout seul, je suis trop contente que le tome 2 soit sorti ! On voit bien les difficultés qu’elles ont eu pour s’accepter l’une l’autre, et j’adore l’évolution de leur relation !!
Bref, vive les lesbiennes.
Bref, vive les lesbiennes.
February 16, 2025
Soy Elena leyendo este manga. Que bonitas son, estoy dando volteretas.
March 28, 2025
life changing.
December 25, 2025
me encanto, siento que termino abruptamente pero me encanto.
January 27, 2026
I would even say it’s a 3.5
Biiiig improvement in this one imo, tho the plot line with the brother was a bit obvious, they were really cute throughout the story
Biiiig improvement in this one imo, tho the plot line with the brother was a bit obvious, they were really cute throughout the story
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews