This includes Volumes 1 & 2.

I quite liked reading this book, as in it was cute. I liked the short stories and the humour shown. There were times when I was a little confused and couldn't understand what what going, as I don't think I'm much of an otaku..! I thought that there wasn't much of a relationship between Narumi and Hirotaka, there wasn't much to it, but I could see that the next volumes will probably be good!

I would recommend this book to those who are into Japanese culture.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was adorable and incredibly entertaining. I love learning about different cultures and there was so much culture throughout this! It was lovely to see!

Also, this group of individuals are all what a lot of people refer to as nerds. They love anime, cosplaying, manga, video games, etc. Frequently, they would make references in their conversations to something like this and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

The characters are also wonderful! All four of them are so different yet they get along well and are there supporting one another. I honestly can't wait to see more of this.

Great read. The art was well done and the characters were cute. Absolutely enjoyed the story and really liked the humour. I'm really excited for the series and would recommend to manga readers

I absolutely adored this volume! I can see this being a title that both teen and adult library patrons will love. I particularly liked that though all four of the main characters were nerdy, they were all nerdy in their own ways and were still able to sympathize with each other's struggles.

Although I wasn't sure what to think of this manga when I started it, as it went on I began to fall in love with it. This follows Narumi and Hirotaka, two mega nerds who used to know each other as kids and reconnect as adults, and are the only two who know the extent of the other's love for their respective obsessions. As a result, they struggle to maintain relationships, and decide to begin dating each other- after all, nobody knows them better than the other.

Despite the fact that the characters begin dating about 50 pages into this, it still feels like a slow burn as they grow more comfortable with each other in a more romantic sense after being friends for so many years. As far as I can remember, they only kiss once, and their reactions are so adorable when they do. It's almost like you're watching them fall in like before any love is involved, and I cannot express how satisfying it is watching them grow closer, being all awkward and cute. There's no rush to their relationship, they go at their own pace, and that's really refreshing!

I also really like that there's a very small cast of characters, so certain relationships can be examined closely. I loved every interaction between Narumi and Hanako, who she works with closely and is also a popular cosplayer, it really felt like Hanako brought her out of her comfort zone and was just a good friend. I also enjoyed the parallel between Narumi and Hirotaka's relationship and the one Hanako has with Tarō (Tarō works with Hirotaka, and him and Hanako grew up as rivals throughout school and are in a secret relationship). All in all the friendships and romantic relationships were great, and I loved seeing them! I can't wait to see more of Naoya in future volumes as well, I've heard that he has a really cute romance with a character yet to be introduced, and he has such a lovely dynamic with the rest of the characters.

There were definitely parts of this that went over my head, and the quickness of them starting to date may bother people, but I feel the speed of it becomes a lot clearer once you read on and begin to see how close they were growing up. This is very slice of life and fun, and there are so many moments I was actually laughing out loud at these characters. It's nice to take a break from the more serious manga I read (if you enjoy Ore Monogatari/My Love Story, I think you would enjoy this!) I just felt really gushy and happy reading this, and I will definitely be buying physical versions once I have a bit more money behind me.

Sometimes you come across a manga that just speaks to you. This is true with Watokoi, a manga that has more than a couple of scenes that seem as if they were pulled straight out of my own life. Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita is an extremely relevant slice of life manga about two otaku who start dating, and a must read for anyone is or has been in a relationship with another otaku.


Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is about Narumi and Hirotaka, childhood friends who wind up working for the same company and dating. Narumi is an otaku and fujoshi, something she hides from all of her previous boyfriends. Hirotaka is different. He’s also an otaku, someone she knows she gets along with, and shares the same likes and hobbies. But will that really make dating any easier.

There is a lot to love about Watokoi, especially if you are even a little bit into video games, manga, or anime.

This is, in many ways, a slice of life manga. Many of the scenes are short. Only one or two pages are spent on any one scene or joke for much of the volume. Towards the end of the manga certain sections are longer. We spend more time with Kabakura, Hanako, and Hirotaka’s younger brother. The narrative becomes more linear while still maintaining shorter scenes, which keep the pacing rather fast for a slice of life manga.

While this is a story about otaku, otaku culture, and how it’s seen by others, it’s also a story about love and friendship. As laugh out loud funny as most of the manga is, and as much as it really touches home in regards to my own relationship with my husband, it really speaks on relationships as a whole. When Narumi starts her relationship with Hirotaka, she’s nervous and doesn’t always know how to act. There is discussion on complacency and settling vs comfort and shared likes and dislikes between partners. We see characters struggle with being open about their hobbies versus keeping their hobbies close to their chest. We also see Narumi and Hirotaka’s brand new relationship in comparison to their friends who have been dating since high school.

If you are an otaku, you will find a character who you can identify with in this manga. Out of the four main characters, each approaches their love of manga, anime, and video games differently. Hirotaka is open with hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Narumi hides the fact that she’s an otaku and a fujoshi from everyone, to the point of being a bit unhealthy. Hanako is also pretty open about her cosplaying and other hobbies, while Kabakura doesn’t actually consider himself an otaku despite clearly being one when compared to his girlfriend and friends.

I did quite like the art style used here. Certain panels don’t have particularly detailed backgrounds, but not only does that make sense regarding genre, it also makes sense regarding setting. Much of the manga takes place in Narumi and Hirotaka’s office building, a space which is usually blank and boring. Where this manga shines is in its use of otaku culture to tell the story. For example, certain questions from Hirotaka initiate a battle sequence jrpg popup on the bottom of the panel with the standard ‘fight, run,’ ect. options. These were incredibly well used and always funny. I loved this.

The translation was also really well done. Acronyms, terms, and words that aren’t always translated in common usage weren’t left out or altered for clarification. They were left as-is, trusting the reader to know what they were talking about while adding in notes for clarification on terms everyone may not be familiar with where needed. A few things were outlines in notes that, perhaps, didn’t need to be, but overall the notes were used very well, making the manga very accessible to everyone and not just those who are familiar with video games and manga.

That said, I do think otaku, or those with at least passing interest in manga, anime, or video games will get the most out of Watokoi. However, each character has different likes and dislikes. This means that the manga switches between talking about different genres and aspects of nerd culture as it goes along, sometimes within the same scene. While the characters understand one another as a whole, they are still their own person.

This manga is actually two volumes in one, making it a bit more expensive than normal. Keep in mind that Watokoi can also be purchased in digital format, which is a few dollars cheaper than the physical copy.

I am absolutely continuing with this series. Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita is a manga that really touches home in a lot of ways. If you are a fan of manga, anime, and video games who has ever had a relationship with a like-minded individual you will find something to love about this manga. Also, if you like josei manga, also check this out.

Even though slice-of-life and meta shows, are among my absolute favorite genre, personal experience has taught me that I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to be a real-life otaku. Not only did I refuse to spend the truckload of money necessary to obtain even the smallest of merchandise, but a lot of the more popular shows eluded my interests.

Additionally, I'm not much of a manga fan. Sure I'll consider the odd yaoi manga or two (...hundred), but as far as the more 'regular' stuff goes, it needs a hyped-up anime series to even make me consider it. Which is how I ended up picking up Wotakoi, inspite of all my misgivings.

And boy was it a ride! If you're a die-hard Japanese pop-culture fan, this series is right up your alley: from famous manga/anime shows, to popular Asian game contests, this one has it all. It's incredibly fast-paced, funny, cringe-worthy, with the odd heart-thumping at just the right moment.

If you're not a die-hard anime/manga/gaming otaku however, following all the pop-culture references can be a daunting task. Sure, the volume provides footnotes, and you can flip to the end of the book to check them. If however, you're reading the e-book version, you probably won't do that. Or if you will, it'll be long after you've finished reading about the reference. To its credit, the editor does provide the panel along with the explanation, rightly assuming that not everyone is likely to have store each and every panel in their long term memory.

I often felt like the anime fan translation did a much better job at avoiding confusion. While I can imagine that some readers might be interested in the exact name of the show, sometimes it pays to just "keep the spirit" of the translation, and provide a more comprehensive analysis in the footnotes. Not the other way 'round.

I liked it. A lot! And all the fujoshi-tropes had truly resonated with me. Despite it being also hella' confusing to constantly have to check the footnotes for one reference or another.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this volume! Our main characters are childhood friends who both struggle to find love because they're both otaku's. Narumi loves manga and BL, while Hirotaka loves playing video games. They soon begin dating and volume 1 consists of their hilarious antics with their two friends, who are also otaku's and in a relationship.

I really loved Hirotaka in this! He is stoic and doesn't mind being alone, but is also very sweet and in love with Narumi. The relationship between the two is very slow and easy, and at some points it just feels as if they're just friends and not dating. However, at the end of the volume, we are left at a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the next volume!

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you are familiar with my blog than you know that I'm just recently slowly making my way to reading manga and I'm eager to explore more.

I really liked the characters in this manga. They are very relatable and cute. Their hobbies kind of take over their lives and that's sometimes how I feel about reading or watching movies/TV shows, especially during my teenage years.

I believe this manga is two volumes in one and that probably explains why I thought it was too drawn out in places. I liked the second half best but the plot itself is quite slow. This is something that I have noticed in other romance manga's as well and I'm not sure if it's just me that wishes everything would develop faster.

All in all, I quite enjoyed Wotakoi: Love is Hard of Otaku and I hope I'll get the chance to read more! I gave this manga 3,5 stars! Fun, cute romance manga with great characters!

"Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku" is a great manga about what happens when two socially awkward gamers decide to become boyfriend and girlfriend. While there isn't anything inappropriate in these first two volumes (collected into one book), I would say that this is definitely aimed at more of an adult audience because of the adult characters and situations. For librarians/booksellers out there who love classification, I might go so far as to call this a "new adult manga." At any rate, I loved this manga and can't wait for more! 5/5 stars.

This book was quite cute, though definitely for older teens and adults. I appreciated the glimpse into the life of those who live on the other side of the planet from me. I admit to being just a tad bit enamored with Japanese culture, so to read a manga that showed a bit of what normal people in Japan do was very interesting.

The artwork was not fantastical (except for Hana-chan), but true to life and I have to say, the H MC was rather scrumptious and the h MC was quite cute, which is to be expected, but not a negative.

The only thing I didn't get at all was the BL. I'm used to cosplay being about "smexing" it up, but thought it was all cute girls dressing up all sexy. I didn't realize that males cosplay as sexy females, females cosplay as sexy males and that there are those who are into seeing that. Yes, I live in a cave. I occasionally come out to see the sun too.

So this did open my eyes to the wider world of humanity, which is never a bad thing. I may not understand it, but I now know it exists and I respect that there are those who are into it.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this. 4, I learned something new, stars. Recommended if you are into Japanese culture and manga.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

I got an ARC of this book.

I have been on a manga and graphic novel binge lately. So this was just the latest victim. The book follows two couples. The couples are made up of people who are considered otaku. Otaku are people that are so into video games, manga, or anime that they have issues interacting with people. Think of them as super nerds. These are the people who get made fun of by the chess club. They all work for the same company now and are working together to  be happy. Narumi hides the fact that she is an otaku or more specifically a fujoshi (someone super into BL or M/M). 

Throughout the book are tons of references to popular series, but even if you aren't an otaku there are notes either on the side of the page or in the back to help you. I didn't catch half the references because I have never been big into the popular series. I was more into BL romances and ecchi, which aren't really referenced a whole bunch in this book. There are some mild fan service for the M/M crowd though. Hirotaka's attempts to cheer up Narumi include some poses that would make her happy through her love of BL, which I thought was super touching and weird. There was a pretty funny scene where Hirotaka is explaining that he would be the seme, despite the emotional strain it would put him under. It was so casual. A great tip of the hat to BL fans. 

The video game references are pretty basic, which is helpful. There was references to Mario Kart which is a game that most people know of if they know any games outside of Pokemon. The video game plots were used to bring the characters together and show how great they were (or how awkward, depending on the scene). 

The romance is very mild and pure. There is no real angst. The closest to angst is a scene where Narumi is panicking about her underwear color. The author includes little notes under most pages that have little jokes or titles for the page. Between those notes and Narumi, I was laughing a great deal about the pink vs beige issues. 

Overall, the comic was goofy and pretty easy to read. There is a feel good book more than anything else. So enjoy the simple read and give your mind and heart a break.

Are you obsessed with aspects of popular culture (video games, anime, manga, etc.) to the point you are socially awkward? Congrats, you are an otaku. How does this affect your love life?

"Wotakoi" main point is to show how love is hard for otaku, especially considering they feel misunderstood or, better yet, not understood by the rest of society at all. Chances to find your soulmate would increase exponentially if you'd date another otaku, don't you think? And if the right one is very close to you, then you should definitely give love a shot. This is an extra-long book that includes two Japanese volumes—YES!—and while I like the concept a lot and I think the artwork is well executed, I had some issues with the layout. In my opinion, the panels were confusing and following the sequences/making actual sense of them was tricky... However, this improved a bit in the second volume, where the bonus scenes were quite funny, and I developed some sort of fascination for Koyanagi and Kabakura—they are truly something else! I wish I could say the same about the main couple, but I'm afraid I'm not much into it because I couldn't see the chemistry, since there's not a proper relationship development.

Overall, I liked it and I particularly loved how Fujita framed things in terms of video-games, and the references to various manga and anime, some of which are impossible to not know—at least by name—even for those not particularly into them. Guess what? Now I wanna watch the anime!

A very funny and enjoyable manga about two people struggling to find romance. The art is gorgeous and some of the bonus comics are perfect and hilarious.

Although cute and something that seemed right up my street I just couldn’t get into it. I like thstcthe characters were older and had jobs etc but I just found them so annoying and very stereotypical otaku that it felt a bit cringey at times.

Funny, cute as can be and highly entertaining!

Now I will be honest and say that a few times I felt very lost with some things they referenced but I still was able to understand what was going on with the story so don't worry there. I loved how when they would make certain choices bars like a video game would appear. It's something I've not seen done in manga before. The characters are what this manga of course. Overall, a wonderful manga, pick it up!


Will go live on my blog: 4/30/2018

A cute story of how even otakus want a normal relationship and hiding who you are and what you love is never the answer. Narumi is trying to find a normal relationship but every time she lets her otaku side slip but when she runs into Hirotaka he proposes that they enter a relationship since they won't have to hide their true selves from each other.

A very sweet story that I can't wait to continue and see how their relationship develops. Their personalities are very original and refreshing. Their best friends have a great dynamic as well and the four of them make for a great story.

I thought this was a fun manga! Two cosplay nerds start dating, just because it's easier to date someone who understands what it's like to be obsessed with manga and video games, and won't judge you by your interests. They wonder if it's worth it to settle for someone just because it's easy, but then they actually start to have deeper feelings for one another.

I liked the characters, and the funny office friendships they have. They have some good dialogue, and interesting situations, misunderstandings, and hilarious scenes when everyone is fighting.
I love that there are many references to cosplay, manga, anime, and video games, and it makes my little nerdy heart glow to see them obsessing over their favorite fictional characters.

I'm still wondering what they actually DO at their office though. I mean, what exactly are their jobs? They sit at a desk and shuffle some papers around, and click on their computers, but what company are they working at? It's a mystery. They're constantly on their lunch break, so I guess it doesn't matter! haha!

The artwork is really beautiful, and I love that some of panels are in color! Each character has such a classic look, but still keeps an original style that makes them stand out.


The second volume is just as cute as the first! Nerds falling in love, what could be more adorable?! In this one, the ladies pressure their boyfriends into trying cosplay, with mixed results. There are a few flashbacks to when they knew each other as children, and the friends all grow closer as they reminisce and share their deeper feelings, fears, and dreams with each other.

Even though our two main nerd characters love to hang out, playing arcade games, and watching anime together, they've never been on a real date. They will have to seriously change their perspective in order to deepen their relationship. These two are so awkward and silly, and I love their dynamic!

A new mysterious character is introduced! Is he an old ex-boyfriend? A kindly young student? Or is he here to steal away our favorite nerdy girl from the arms of her boyfriend? I loved that whole story line, and it added some real interest and fun to the manga!

This manga is definitely NOT for kids, since there are some more adult themes in it, like smoking, drinking, and some sexual innuendo.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

-Netgalley Review-
9.5/10

This is a sharp and clear read; I have never read anything by Fujita before, but I was interested in the overall premise of this book because of the fact that slice-of-life comedic romance is a genre that I don't mind reading. This manga was well-illustrated and filled with realistic characters and witty dialogue.

It is entertaining, fun, and easy-to-read even without the necessary cultural context of modern-day Japan because romance, connecting with other people from the perspective of the 'nerds', and office life is something that is easy to resonate with regardless of geographic location.

Would recommend to readers interested in reading romance slice-of-life mangas that are subtly humorous. This is an easy read with simple and often humorous language that is bound to fascinate.

'Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Vol. 1' by Fujita was a really fun manga to read, and I learned a bit about Japanese geek culture along the way.

Narumi Momose is a secret gamer, or otaku. She reconnects with a childhood friend named Hirotaka Nifuji at work, and finds out he is also into gaming. They awkwardly have a fun relationship where she thinks it's a date, but to him, it's just hanging out at his house playing Mario Kart.

It's more like a comedy of manners than a story with a definite plot. There are other characters in the mix that add to the humor. I was looking terms up, then found out that the two volumes included here include a nice glossary of terms for some of the odd bits of nerddom I was unfamiliar with. At first, I felt like the jokes were kind of inside, but this glossary made it feel inclusive, and I really appreciate that the author included them.

I really liked the art and the story. There are bonus comics that are more like short gags. I didn't like them as much, but they do round out the characters.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.