In January, the first part of How I Met My Soulmate was reviewed, introducing us to Yuuki, who is looking for her soulmate with the help of her new friend Iori. With volumes 2 and 3 now available, let’s dive into the story further.
Volume 2 begins with Yuuki being asked out by her first crush, Jin. She is taken aback and struggles to respond because, despite her younger self’s excitement, she realizes she has feelings for Iori. After turning down Jin, Yuuki faces new challenges, including rumors about Iori being a playboy with a girlfriend, making her question his feelings for her.
Moving on to Volume 3, Yuuki confesses her feelings to Iori but remains worried about the rumored girlfriend. With the support of Jin and Natsuki, who has become closer to Yuuki, she tries to uncover the truth. The story unfolds with twists and turns as Yuuki navigates her emotions and fears of getting hurt once again.
While the characters are in college, the emotional turmoil they experience reflects a high school setting. Yuuki’s sheltered upbringing justifies her behavior, and Iori’s Tokyo upbringing adds complexity to their relationship. Despite some reservations about Yuuki’s character, the focus on closing off Jin’s storyline and developing Iori’s character is commendable.
The volumes, translated by Sawa Matsueda Savage and lettered by Lys Blakeslee, provide a smooth reading experience with added translation notes and color pages. With the Japanese release up to Volume 5 and the English release catching up, fans can expect more developments in the future.
Overall, How I Met My Soulmate offers a refreshing take on shojo tropes, with well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists. While not entirely original, the series proves to be a worthwhile investment for genre enthusiasts. Special thanks to Diamond Book Distributors UK for providing review copies of the volumes.
