Volume 1 introduced us to Hanako, a Japanese woman who has traveled to England from far-off Japan to meet her favorite author, during Victoria’s reign. To support herself, Hanako has taken up being a maid, and she is hired to be the personal maid for the daughter of a Duke, Alice. Alice is not sickly at all, but there is something melancholy about her. Alice promises to introduce Hanako to Victor Franks, Hanako’s favorite author.  We learn that Alice has previously fallen in love with her governess. As Volume 1 closes, it is apparent to Alice’s fiance, Edward, that Alice’s feelings for Hanako are heading in the same direction.

In Volume 2 of Sayonara Rose Garden (さよならローズガーデン), Alice is struggling to keep it together and Hanako is struggling to understand her. When she learns of Alice’s love affair with her old governess, Hanako is completely accepting…only now she has a secret she is keeping from Alice! When Hanako takes ill, Alice discovers her secret and is, frankly, shocked, They have something unexpected in common, but what does it mean for them? Alice, moved to try and figure out what they are to one another gives up her last secret, and introduces Hanako to Victor Franks, at last.

As I said, in Volume 1, this book feels at times like it was originally intended to be a penny dreadful or horror set in Victorian England. It’s not. It is a bit melodramatic, several of the “secrets” were either hinted at broadly or plainly given away to us, so only Alice or Hanako who feel surprise. That aside, there’s any number of times where the conversations around Hanako and Alice feel as if they might become darker…they certainly could do…but they don’t. Instead we’re allowed to focus entirely on the drama between Alice and Hanako and the even more dramatic struggles Alice is having with herself.

Dr. Pepperco’s art is solid, a little lightly melodramatic or over-decorated as needed to give this “Victorian England” color. Clothing is carefully rendered, faces are less so. But the story is solid and I’m still enjoying it.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Service – 3
Yuri – 6

Overall – 7

Luckily you too will be able to enjoy this series very soon, as Seven Seas has licensed it! Goodbye, My Rose Garden Volume1 is heading our way in spring. I’ll look forward to your reactions.