This book was cute/funny but difficult to follow. I couldn't tell at times when I was reading the main plot and when I wasn't. It's cut up with several small comics but I wanted more story without the breaks. I thought the idea for the story was fantastic but not executed as it could have been.
The illustrations were great just all in all too spliced with the stories.

This is about four working class otakus hiding their passion from the rest of the world and fangirling with each other. One couple is commited and they fight in public but are caring in private and the other couple is shy and awkward in a cute nerdy way.

This was such a fun and cute romantic comedy! I really enjoyed seeing the couples interact with each other. I also really liked the art, it is really beautiful.

I've already been recommending this to everyone I know! It has such a light and warm tone, I can't help but feel good when I read it. This is definitely one to pick up.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

I am a big fan of books that are about characters I can really relate to, such as Genshiken or Lucky Star which feature manga/video game nerds. Wotakoi seemed like a perfect addition to this list because not only does it have characters that are interested in various aspects of otaku culture, but they're older than the usual cast (in their 20's as opposed to teens).

Wotakoi started off pretty well with the introductions and the revelation of what kind of things the main characters Narumi and Hirotaka liked. Their best friends/co-workers are also introduced (Hanako and Taro) and it looks like they're not as alone at the office as it seemed in regards to their interests.

There's a lot more energy in the first volume, but as things progressed, it felt like the focus was not as much on the otaku aspect so much as the office and personal relationships of the cast. I was expecting a lot more emphasis on the characters playing video games or reading manga, but aside from one trip to Comiket and topical references I didn't feel like there was the joy of any of these things.

I've read slice of life manga and otherwise traditional manga; Wotakoi felt like a strange blend between the two and it affected the streamlined feel I'd expect from a manga book. A longer story it was not; it felt disjointed. A slice of life manga it almost was, but it didn't have the same individual strip/larger story synchronicity.

As for reading farther in the series, I might pick this up from the library or if offered for review, but I didn't enjoy it enough or find any characters that hooked me enough to want to purchase any volumes of the series.

Wotakoi is a fun, light-hearted manga about nerd romance and relationships. It's interesting to see a depiction of how otaku basically have to hide their interests like it's a controversial alternative lifestyle, compared to how nerds are very much out in the United States. The translation notes might seem tedious for people not used to Japanese references, but they are easy to skip and overall you won't miss out on the bigger picture if you don't read them.

I am currently watching the anime for this series so I was delighted that the manga was also found on here. Sadly, I am going to have to give up on this one. Whereas the anime feels really natural, we see our MC start her first day at a new job, we see all the characters, and then we see them slowly get to know each other, and with that comes hilarity, and the episode ends with our MC and glasses guy started dating.
Whereas the manga is just Oh, hey, new job, gets outed as otaku, let's date, and everyone knows everyone's secrets (at least that is how it feels to me), and that is only as far as I read. It just didn't flow right and I was confused out of my mind with how everything connected. Such a shame.

The art was fabulous though, and I love the style. Also I like those little pages with questions and the cast answering them (or practically going into battle).

This was an enjoyable book. Anyone who's had a hobby they're embarrassed about will easily connect with these caracters.

I requested this book through NetGalley because I wanted to read something light-hearted and fluffy in between the dull novel I'm currently trying to plow through.

Welp, the plan may need to be revised because I ended up reading this all in one night. #noregrets

Narumi is an otaku - she's obsessed with aspects of popular culture (specifically anime and manga) to the point that it may impair her functioning. Every relationship she's been in has failed because her partners can't seem to grasp the extent of her interest in particular fandoms. Speaking as someone whose own nerdiness has led to cockblocking herself on more than one occasion, I totally understand where Narumi is coming from.

Luckily, Nifuji - a video game otaku - exists and is conveniently located at her new place of employment. He gets it, and even better? He used to be her best friend in elementary school. Not that Narumi remembers because, hello, we need that drama factor.

Anywayyyyyyys, things I enjoyed:

1. When Nifuji asks Narumi the obvious - why not just date a fellow otaku? Narumi states something along the lines that 'other' fandom obsessed people tend not to be her aesthetic. She's clearly hinting at the stereotypical image of otaku males and Nifuji shuts that down immediately and tells her she's placing herself on a pedestal (i.e. I'm not like 'other' otaku's - I'm cute). I loved this specifically because, and I hate to admit it, I used to have this mentality in middle school and it's not okay. We shouldn't be trying to better ourselves in the community and I feel it's something that consistently happens in any fandom.

2. Nifuji is the chillest homeboy in the universe. He is confident and unashamed about his interests and is willing to go along with anything that brings him or people close to him joy, heteronormative culture be damned. Need help with a BL manga? I gotchu. Want me to cosplay as a woman? Sure, why not. At first, I thought I was going to have issues with his character primarily due to the fact that he's loved Narumi since they were children and talks her into a relationship with him because it'd be mutually beneficial. Although it initially rang 'friendzone-bullshit-manipulation' alarms, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. Nifuji makes it very clear that he's willing to be whatever Narumi wants and needs him to be at the moment. He doesn't test boundaries and the relationship starts off with them doing the same thing they did as friends with the added perk of calling each other boyfriend/girlfriend. I found it cute and realistic. A+++ work Nifuji.

3. The references - this manga is filled with tiny references to other mangas and animes (i.e. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and there's even a rose border frame like in Ouran High School Host Club lol). If you're a dork like me, you'll love these easter egg-like features.

Things I disliked:

1. Every scene where Hanako & Kabakura are together. I found them to be incredibly interruptive to the pace of the story and their constant fighting to be annoying af. Individually, they were fine. Moments that showcased Kabakura paternal instincts toward Narumi were great, but literally, all their side relationship scenes left me grrr-ing and skimming the page until Narumi or Nifuji came back on. Unfortunately, this pairing took up a large chunk of the manga and is the sole reason I did not rate it at least 4 stars out of 5. If you love couples that are constantly faking at hating each other - you may enjoy this manga more than me.

2. Lack of Plot - I just didn't see much progression in the story until the very end. The majority of the novel felt stagnate in terms of character development and relationship milestones. I'm happy the couple is taking their time getting comfortable in a relationship, especially one Narumi can get to be her herself in, but as a reader, scenes like that can get a bit repetitive.

3. All the flat-chested and other boob comments. UGH. Can we stop with this already? Thanks.

That's it! I'll definitely be watching the anime for this manga but I'm unsure of whether or not I'll continue reading on as a priority.

*I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

So, this review will be for the 1st and 2nd volume since that is what I received from Netgalley and may I say that was surprising. I thought I only had one volume, but having two just made me so happy.

I absolutely loved this manga. It is so cute. This story is about Otaku in love, so it is dorky and fun with some awkward moments included.
It is more of a slice of life manga, so there isn't exactly a plot. This is just about their fun, nerdy lives and how they figure out how to be in a relationship together-- from childhood friends to being a couple.
They are adorable and so is the other couple in the office, who also are otaku.

The art style is also super cute.

I will say there is mention of BL, crossdressing, and some things which people might not like, especially since it is talked about by straight people. Those were the only weird moments.

I'm not sure what else to say besides I do plan on reading more of this as it comes out. I love this couple and I want to see them grow together and be awesome.

This a boy-meets-girl type of story, only that the boy and the girl are closeted geeks, and are childhood friends that have reconnected. The main story takes place within a few pages - Narumi and Hirotaka meeting and him exposing her as a fellow otaku to her friend, followed by him then later on suggesting they both date since finding significant others who understand their obsessions - while the rest of the manga volume is mostly slices of little stories about them living up their otaku power couple life, and double dating with their friends (who incidentally have also suddenly begun dating sometime).

Hirotaka is a gamer, Narumi is a manga/anime nerd, Narumi's friend Koyonagi is a cosplayer, and Hirotaka's friend (and Koyonagi's boyfriend) Kabakura is a garden variety anime/manga fan. Their friends are the bickering type, and these two are the best friends turned lovers type, and between the four of them we see a lot of love and understanding, and no judgement for their own personal geek stuff. At times it is hinted that Narumi would be better suited to Kabakura, but it is let go without much drama. But if you're expecting a coherent storyline, this does not provide that - it is most sitcom-ish scenes and little moments that can be hilarious or heartwarming.

Overall, it is entertaining and cute, but because we do not see any story or character development, it doesn't feel like a story being played out, which is why it can get tiresome and aimless.

I was initially interested in this manga, since I am watching the anime, which is currently ongoing.
The anime is a delight to watch, the manga turned out to be even better.

The mange is hilarious. It efficiently delivers comedy to it's audience.
It uses 'otaku' jargon a lot, but it includes a glossary, so even if you aren't 'getting it' you can come around understanding the undertones of the topic.

The art is good and the typography makes the verbal cues evident. I love the anime, and would like to continue the manga.

Overall rating 4 out of 5.

**I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I really enjoyed this first volume. The story was easy to follow and I found the characters to be likeable. I was hoping that this would help me get back into manga and it was the perfect title to help me. It isn't a very fast paced manga, and is very character driven, but I find this with lots of manga and found the romance and relationships between the characters to be sweet. I appreciated the addition of the footnotes when they were talking about Japanese pop culture, and I'm just generally a fan of pop culture references, especially in anime and manga. I'm interested to see where the manga goes from here.

For a story that's so character-driven, I really didn't care for the characters. I found myself warming to them as I read, but for the most part I found Wotakoi to be pretty generic and not all that engaging or funny. It's decently enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but I doubt I'll remember it or have a desire to read any of the other volumes.

So far, I’ve mostly read sports manga (Haikyuu!!, Kuroko’s Basketball), which of course has been primarily focused on high school students. It’s nice to read manga that’s about adults with regular lives. The manga focuses more on their hobbies than their jobs, but they are often pictured at the office, or going out for drinks. I like the balance (or sometimes lack thereof) between their hobbies and their day-to-day lives, and a lot of the struggle is relatable. I’m sure at some point in our lives, we’ve all been Narumi, wondering how much – if any – of our hobbies we should reveal to people. I’ve never really been ashamed of my interests – especially now, because I’m an adult, dammit – but I have had friends who kept that part of their lives secret even from family members.

In between each episode are a few short bonus comics, most of them not more than a page or two. These bonus scenes really help flesh out their personalities, even though the main episodes do a pretty good job of developing the characters. Aside from Hirotaka and Narumi, the other office otaku couple are cosplayer Hanako and casual gamer and manga reader Taro, who have been dating since high school. They are all quirky and endearing, each with their own particular charm, but I’m kind of madly in love with Hirotaka.

I’m not sure how common this format is in manga, but one great thing about Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku is that it isn’t one overarching plot. Mostly it just seems to be little vignettes about Hirotaka and Narumi’s relationship – like him manning her booth at a convention so she can go visit her favorite artist, or him inviting her to his place but neglecting to mention that he also invited their friends to play video games. There’s also some really great contrast between the two relationships. Hanako and Taro are volatile, always fighting, but peppered with moments of genuine affection and sweetness. Hirotaka and Narumi’s relationship is not traditionally romantic. So far (the first English volumes contains the first two Japanese volumes), they have only kissed once. And Narumi punched him. But they do seem devoted to each other, even if it isn’t always visible.

I zipped right through this manga and can’t wait for the next volume. I’m absolutely in love with these characters. It’s usually hard for me to get used to a new art style when I switch between manga (and honestly the way their noses are drawn still kind of bothers me for reasons I haven’t quite figured out), but I actually like the art. Not to mention, the first episode of each volume is in full color, and there are translation notes at the end for anybody like me who’s not yet that familiar with Japanese culture.

Oh, this was a cute and kind of dorky adventure. Though I was expecting something else from the description!

The main characters remind me a bit of my husband and myself. Total nerds. Can't deal with regular people, because we're just that lame. ;) They're cute together, if a bit awkward. But isn't that just geek life right in a nutshell?

I love that they have friends who are like them, and love to do the same things as them. Would be a nice world if we could all just geek out together, no?

Going to show this to my nerdy husband sooner or later, I figure he'll get a kick out of it.

Only wish there was more backstory included. I feel like their childhoods could be better fleshed out. And where are all the judgmental co-workers?

Originally, I requested to read this manga in hopes I could add it to my middle school library. Complete misjudgment on my part. This manga is about a small group of 20 something's who work together and is for an older audience.

This is a cute story about two otakus who start dating. An otaku is a super fan of gaming or manga or anime or pop culture to a degree that the fandom overwhelms their life.

It is a very character driven manga. The overarching story is slow moving but flows well. The chapters feel like little one-shots with lots of Japanese pop culture references (explained in notations to the English reader). Light hearted jokes are peppered throughout. The topics can be more mature but they make sense with the audience. I really liked the four characters as individuals and am interested in where this manga is heading!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

I have a like and dislike relationship with this manga. On one hand I love the characters and how funny they can be, but I don't dislike how the story feels off pace. It feels like everything moves too fast and the back story is bit choppy. Once I got past that first awkward stage I started to like the story. Despite the emphasis on being an otaku and how being that leads to all these other dramatic problems, I think it's a great and simple read. I would recommend it to readers looking for a different type of manga plot.

I think I'm losing my touch here. Every lover of the Japanese culture were at one point, in their young age, an Otaku. But how is it when these otakus are two full grown adults? The relationship between Narumi & Hirotaka is pretty hard to understand. They are both games and manga lovers, one of them tries to hide their otaku side (keeps getting dumped for being an otaku), the other one has no problem in showing it in public (stays on game console most of the time,everywhere!). No emotions or chemistry between these two, only their passion connects them.
The plot was...what was it about again? It was incoherent and to be fair I didn't understood much from it. Would I recommend it to someone? Yes, maybe to an avid manga lover/gamer.

I had heard about this manga at the start of the year so when I saw this as a read now book on Netgalley, I knew I had to snap it up. What I didn’t realised Kodansha had done was make these into bind up volumes, so the English translated volumes contain 2 of the original Japanese volumes each. This was an absolute delight while reading, to know I still had a load more I could read! Seriously, bind up volumes are my favourite.

Moving onto the actual manga itself. You get the first couple of pages in colour which look a lot cleaner and sharper than the rest of the manga style but I actually really like the concept and how it all fits together. I love the character’s passions for what they love, be it games, manga, yaoi, BL(Boy Love) etc. It reminded me a lot of my teenage years with friends who were into what I was into and also a bit of me now. I still feel the need to hide the more weeb part of myself. I hope with these characters being more my age I will be able to laugh a long side them and also appreciate that I have a husband who has become a fan of manga/anime in the last few years. (I mean, he is also a gamer so there is that haha)

I love how different the characters are, especially Naru and Hirotaka. You can see all sorts of sides to the characters and it isn’t overly romantic, it just sorts of deals with life and how people work. I really enjoyed the fact they were older characters and they were referencing things I knew such as Sailor Moon and Neon Genesis Evangelion from my teenage years. There were a few gaming references I didn’t get but as with most manga that is a translation section at the end of each volume which explains references to things as well as japanese terms used such as -san/-chan etc. It was really helpful in this series for sure.

My only negatives for this was that it does start in a bit of rush! You are suddenly just thrown in but it kind of suits how this is a busy adult world. Maybe I’m just used to reading too much laid back High School set contemporaries. I would certainly recommend this series to other manga/anime/gaming nerds out there but maybe not to people who are looking to start out in reading manga for the first time.

Overall I really enjoyed this bind up. My husband even commented on how much I was laughing while I was reading it. If you are looking for a bit more of a grown up manga with a good laugh thrown in, then this is certainly one to check out.