Manga Review | Stepping on Roses, Vol. 1

[theliteraryadventures]

BY: Rinko Ueda
SERIES: 裸足でバラを踏め [Hadashi de Bara wo Fume] (#1)
RELEASES: April 6, 2010 by VIZ Media LLC
GENRE: Romance, Domestic Fiction, Manga
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 1 out 5
SYNOPSIS: A rags-to-riches romance from the creator of Tail of the Moon!

Poor Sumi Kitamura… Her irresponsible older brother Eisuke keeps bringing home orphans for her to take care of even though they can barely afford their own basic needs! Just when Sumi's financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre proposition: he'll provide her with the money she so desperately needs if she agrees to marry him. But can Sumi fool high society into thinking she's a proper lady? Moreover, is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?



REVIEW: Honestly, I have no idea why I read this manga. Like, I hate Rinko Ueda's Tail of the Moon series, and I'm sure I won't like her other books. I guess, I want to give her another chance. Unfortunately, I regret it.

The manga tells the story of a girl who decides to marry to pay off her brother's debt. There is a twist to the story: she fell in love with a kind friend of her husband. You already know her jerk husband will win. The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and societal expectations, as Sumi navigates her complicated feelings and the challenges of her arranged marriage.

I don't mean that in a pleasant way. The fact that Sumi basically sells herself is not apparent to her because she is naive and does not see the obvious. There's no point in complaining about her husband controlling her life, since he's the one in charge. There is no doubt that she will try to change his tune with her kindness.

Sumi's naivety stems from her lack of awareness about the true nature of her situation. She believes she is making a selfless sacrifice for her brother's sake, but she fails to recognize that her actions amount to selling herself into a marriage where she has little agency. Her kindness and optimism blind her to the harsh realities of her husband's control, leaving her to hope she can change him through her gentle nature, despite the power imbalance in their relationship.

When he falls in love with her, her husband will "change" his tune. But he's still acting like a jerk because he's the main lead. Sumi's husband may soften his demeanor over time, but his controlling nature and entitlement will likely persist, reinforcing the unequal dynamic. His transformation, if any, will be superficial, driven more by his feelings for her than by a genuine recognition of her autonomy.

Ultimately, I can't stand a full-on bully situation with a timid, meek protagonist. Love stories don't start like that. Sumi's story highlights the dangers of unequal power dynamics in relationships, where one partner's control undermines the other's autonomy.