Goodbye, My Rosegarden, Vol. 2

さよならローズガーデン / Goodbye, My Rose Garden #2

by Dr. Pepperco

1900, Inghilterra. Un’epoca in cui l’amore, la famiglia e la società erano spine. Lady Alice, una giovane aristocratica, racconta del sentimento che ha provato per la sua governante, Eliza, e degli eventi che ne seguirono. Nel frattempo, Hanako non riesce a dire ad Alice che la persona che ama è la sua ex insegnante, e si rende conto dei sentimenti che le si agitano nel cuore. Un amore il cui nome non può essere pronunciato.

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Yuri, Historical, Queer

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2019

About the author

毒田ペパ子 Dr. Pepperco is a versatile Japanese manga artist who's worked across a number of genres, best known for Goodbye, My Rose Garden and the art of the Please Teacher!/Twins! manga spin-off Waiting in the Summer

Reviews

[literarylesbian · Rating 4 out of 5]

end my suffering

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up because Dr. Pepperco not only mentions Sarah Orne Jewett, a 19th century Maine author who, while not precisely obscure, is definitely not on most people's radar and I recognized the edition of The Queen’s Twin that she drew and in fact own The Country of the Pointed Firs in the same set.

And also, you know, this is a truly beautiful story about two women who are told that they're wrong to be falling in love with each other, set in a richly realized world. Stuff like that.


Full review eventually appearing on ANN.

[Joce (squibblesreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

god this volume. THIS VOLUME.

“when accompanied with action, fantasy is a belief we can be proud of.”

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

We're into the thick of the romance now with some outside forces conspiring against our Hanako and Alice, but they are mostly the victims of their own fretting over the secrets they are keeping from each other, including their growing feelings. So much fretting! It's all overwrought and very pedestrian.

There's a six-page intermission story with a couple of side characters that is far more romantic than all the wallowing happening in the main story.

I would stop reading this series now, but I've just discovered that the next volume is the conclusion and my library has it, so I'm going to see how it ends. And hope there is a sequel to the intermission story.

[lux · Rating 5 out of 5]

omfg....,,, i fear this is everything to me

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my heart!!!

Lady Alice and Hanako are just so beautiful.

[Zoë! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Even more slow burn sapphic yearning in this volume, loved it.

[alix flora 🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was by far my FAVORITE I flipped through this bitch, it had tragic love histories, spicy secret, and so much ANGST UGH

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

SCREAMS KISS ALREADY

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

En este segundo tomo seguimos conociendo mejor a Alice, una noble que se esconde bajo el pseudónimo de un escritor victoriano para publicar sus obras, y Hanako, su doncella japonesa que admira fervientemente a ese autor, tanto como para viajar desde Japón a Inglaterra en la época victoriana, sin saber que en realidad es la propia Alice.

Me encantan sobre todo los guiños a la literatura victoriana, de finales del siglo XIX, con menciones a autores y a autoras diversos que me hace ilusión reencontrarme por aquí. La obra está tan empapada de literatura que es frecuente ver a sus protagonistas en bibliotecas particulares, librerías de segunda mano (me encanta la historia extra con la librera entusiasta de protagonista) o editoriales.

Y por otro lado tenemos la evolución de Alice y Hanako, la importancia que le dan a sus secretos y los intentos de los demás por separarlas al descubrir que su relación puede llegar a ir más allá de la amistad.

[Ash(eaux) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent the better part of pride month obsessing over hetslop which is honestly really embarrassing so back to yuri manga and manhwa i go

[Asvini · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was only fair I gave this book 5 stars 💀, the story progressed more, as we figured out more of Hanako’s and Eliza’s secrets. We also saw them pine for eachother, without really knowing they like each other LIKE UGH pls kiss already- but looking at the cover for vol.3, things prolly turn out good

Edward cullen ass trying to separate them too? like let my best girls BE WHO THEY ARE FOR THEEIRRE PRIIIIDE 😩‼️- anyways, the art, ill never stop talking about it. it sure is a sight for sore eyes.

and the chapter n a m e s b r u v. Chapter 10: The Sea Breeze Draws the Sun’s Radiance, Chapter 11: The Sunlight Between Clouds and The Opening Bud- the chapter names alone should tell u the vibe of the story.

also the new characters; Marie and Susie are adorable, hope to see their relationship blossom too in the 3rd vol.

anyways, the only problem i have w this manga is that its TOO SHORT, i need more >:(

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 Read #506

I really do enjoy this series ever so much; there’s just so much care put into the art, the characters, and the setting. I just find it to be a really great manga outlining the potential blurred lines of female friendship and romance between women, especially given the time period and its mores.

[natsuki jam #1 fan • wari · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely hated edward throughout this and the 3rd volume. i know he wanted to “protect” alice, but threatening to out her as a lesbian knowing what the reaction would be? nope. the rest of the vol was great though!

[Nela · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Love is free.”

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це так чуттєво і гарно

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a bit slow--the plot felt a little drawn out to make the series warrant 3 volumes. But I did enjoy it.

[Emma-Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

yup, immediately bought this after finishing volume 1 yesterday :) didn’t regret it!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounding up because the more I ruminate on this the better I like it.

This book is wonderful. A near perfect breath of fresh air that was the best thing I read this week. Alice and Hanako continue to feel one another out and the slow dance of their emotions makes perfect sense in the time period, coupled by how difficult it would make it to discuss their feelings out loud (although resolving communication issues by discussing them after they have occurred is an idea more would-be couples should employ).

As a result, you really come to appreciate every stolen glance and accidental touch (at least one of which was also ‘stole’ ah ha ha), to say nothing of their conversations. Alice and Hanako nerding out over books is always an absolute treat (and I can’t help but wonder if their shared love for Conan Doyle and discussion of ‘The Final Problem’ and its new follow-up isn’t foreshadowing how the final volume is going to go).

Meanwhile, reality conspires against the two at every turn. We learn the full story about Alice’s first love (though it reads, intentionally I suspect, as a fairly one-sided infatuation) and see that Hanako is not as strong as she outwardly appears.

The two make such a fascinating pair - Hanako has the freedom to go where she wants but no means, while Alice is very upper crust but is kept firmly under the heel of her family (this book’s a masterclass in suspicious glances at Alice’s unspoken sexual orientation).

There’s even a particularly good section at the end where Alice, responding to a scheme between her mother and fiancé, goes into full on Victorian detective mode for a little bit and I would read the hell out of that series.

Looking over the parts that don’t work - as fun as her sections are, the used bookseller and her cat (whose drawing is so off kilter with the rest of the book that it’s distracting whenever it shows up) are tonally out of place with everything around it. It also cannot be denied that this plot has all been set in motion by some serious geographical contrivances.

Finally, with all the literary references flying around it dawned on me this volume to wonder if Alice’s pen name is an oblique reference to Frankenstein, a story about unintentionally creating a (perceived) monster that could not fit into society and was denied its chance for a love like himself, ultimately choosing to die.

The fact that I’m even wondering about that is a testament to the layers this story has. Hard recommend.

[˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚HIATUS˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

God damn these lesbians hit hard.

I'm a bit of an emotional wreck today so the entire volume I felt like I'm on the verge of tearing up.

[Eyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
This volume was sweet but didn't quite catch me as much as the first. More focused on the secrets they'd been hiding from each other. I liked the new characters, Suzanne and Marie (I think?), they were very sweet and I know the author mentioned liking the idea of a spin off for them and I would really love to see that! I continue to like the references to books from the time, I also really love the art. Every panel is just stunning and I keep catching myself pausing reading just to stare for a minute. I still really like the story and I'm sure after volume 3, this series will remain one I have a lot of affection for.

[Delfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride Month reading #3: two lesbian mcs, lesbian couple ; historical fiction

OHHH MY GOD THE ENDING ?!?!!!!!!! This manga is so good. I usually hate miscommunications tropes yet this one trapped me a lot! I was so sad all the way through the volume, but their reunion was beautiful.

I don't want this to end, but I can't wait to see them happy together~

Will be reading Volume 3 soon :)

4.75/5

[Gemma Masramon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Segueixo pensat el mateix que he pensat amb el primer volum.
L’història enganxa molt, està molt ben enviantada, te un aire a Jane Austen i Òscar Wild, l’amor que senten les protagonistes per la literatura li aporta un aire més romàntic. Realment tinc ganes de llegir el tercer volum per saber con s’acaba de desenvolupar aquesta trama i saber que passarà amb les protagonistes que a cada pàgina et van conquistant més.

[Mpia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little more interesting than the first one, but the time period it takes place isn't really my favorite to read about. I must say though, the art style is magnificent. I really hope this story will have a happy ending.

[cae 𑣿 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga trilogy is just sooooo beautiful. The art… the story itself…everything! I am in love. Alice is me, I am her, we are the same. Also, I hope Edward gets shipped off.. FAR AWAY…. That plotting little freak..

[Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was really sweet!!

For detailed info, check out this video!
https://youtu.be/KXXO9ze-nB8

[Rereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm still not invested in Alice's and Hanako's relationship, this was still a good volume. Marie was adorable, best part of the whole volume!

[Las Lecturas de Pandora (Sabor a Tinta) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notal real: 4.5*

[deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the main characters but also I’m a Marie x Susie fan now :3

[bow down to our ace king victor vale · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.65!

similar feelings from the last volume but i did like this one better!! and time to check out the book recommendations marie gave :P