Pupposites Attract Volume 2 Review
Back in September, I reviewed the first volume of Pupposites Attract, a new romance manga from Kodansha that seemed like a perfect read for dog lovers everywhere – despite some minor issues. Now the second volume is out and it’s time to revisit the series to find out how it’s developing.
As we reunite with Kiyotaka, Chiharu and their dogs Monjuro and Tsubu we find little has changed. They still regularly meet up for walks together and spend time in the local park, sometimes helping lost children or getting involved in other small everyday occurrences. It’s on one of their regular walks that they run into a glamorous young woman (whom we later learn is called Chako) and her Shiba Inu, Aniki.
And as it happens they don’t just run into Chako once, but Kiyotaka and Tsubu also meet her one rainy afternoon when they seek shelter from the downpour. Having a spare umbrella to hand, Chako offers it to Kiyotaka and when he later searches for her to return it, he discovers that she runs a dog-friendly inn. This seems like the perfect place to take Monjuro and Tsubu for a local retreat, but Kiyotaka can’t help but wonder if it would be strange to invite Chiharu when they’re just friends…?
While Volume 1 of Pupposites Attract was relatively episodic, Volume 2 has a clear throughline and works hard to advance the overarching storyline chapter by chapter. It has been clear since the first instalment that Kiyotaka and Chiharu are attracted to one another, they just need an excuse to take the next step – and this trip could be just the thing. However, we don’t quite get there in this volume as poor Monjuro falls unwell which delays their plans.
His illness allows Kiyotaka and his younger brother Takaya to reminisce about how Monjuro came into their care originally. Due to being under the weather as a puppy, he was the last of his litter to find a home. He just so happened to still be available when Kiyotaka was visiting his family to collect Takaya (who was moving in with him). It was love at first sight for Kiyotaka, who begged Takaya to let him bring the puppy into their new home, promising to take total responsibility. And as we know, both brothers now adore the small dog.
I appreciated getting the backstory for Monjuro here after we saw how Chiharu and Tsuba came together at the end of Volume 1. It feels like we can move forward with more understanding of the whole cast now we’ve seen their individual reasons for getting their canine companions. The new characters Chako and Aniki seem like they will make for good additions to the cast, too. Chako even goes to the same college as Takaya and seems to have a crush on him, but has no idea he’s related to Kiyotaka. It will be interesting to see how their romance develops if at all.
It seems mangaka Hono Natsuna has managed to craft a better balance here with more for the reader to become invested in that isn’t just watching Tsubu and Monjuro playing together (as cute as that is!). So, unlike with Volume 1 where I had concerns about the longevity of the series, I feel much more confident in this running for another volume or two at least.
Pupposites Attract Volume 2 comes to the West thanks to Kodansha and continues to be translated by Matt Treyvaud with lettering by Sara Linsley. The release reads well like the first release and also includes some colour pages, bonus chapters and translation notes so despite the slim size (164 pages) it’s a nice addition to the collection. Volume 3 of the series is currently scheduled for a release in August, which will get us caught up to Japan.
Overall, Pupposites Attract remains full of charm for dog fans everywhere, and now that its story has strengthened, I feel optimistic about following it for the long term. If you weren’t a big fan of Volume 1 then this is unlikely to change your mind, but if you were on the fence about continuing, I think there’s enough here to tip you over the edge and into coming along for the ride.
Our review copy from Kodansha was supplied by Diamond Book Distributors UK.
