I am obsessed and now I need to read Sweat and Soap (which I heard about from Gabbyreads on YouTube).

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kintetsu Yamada, and Kodansha Comics for a copy of an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I had a fabulous time.

I was desperate for a palette cleanser and since I've been a bit under the weather, I wanted something feel-good that will make me laugh. Home Office Romance was just the thing I needed to get me through my afternoon.

This manga is under two hundred pages and a complete story, so it's perfect to read in a single sitting with a cup of coffee (or two). Simply put, it's about two neighbors falling for each other and it's adorable (and closed door).

Nokoru is a software engineer and started working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and Natsu is an archeology grad student. I really connected with Nokoru's character since we're both analytical and straightforward. I laughed several times at his quirks because I see the same ones in myself.

What really impressed me was the third act conflict because it was external and pushed character development. I don't want to spoil anything, but I usually have a problem with third act conflicts because they diminish the characterization and/or involve internal relationship issues (cheating, an ex...). Home Office Romance didn't do that.

I would 100% order this book when it comes out and pick it up for a quick read that will leave you smiling.

A super cute, easy read. I enjoyed the characters and watching their story unfold. It was also weird to feel thrown back into "early" pandemic times with lock down, etc. Well done graphics.

4 Stars!

A charmingly simple romance manga, and I adored it. It focused on two everyday people connecting, which might seem dull to some, but I found it wonderfully comforting. The art-style was adorable to look at as well.

These kinds of stories are my favorites. I cannot wait for the second volume!

Super cute, great illustrations. Ending was a little rushed, but the author mentions that this is their first work that is complete in only a single volume so I'm willing to forgive it. I loved that the setting really stayed focused on home, their apartments, and that any occurrences where they leave are usually just not shown at all. It helps center the aspect that makes this cute romance stand out from the rest.

4.75/5 stars

This was an adorable one-shot!

Home Office Romance is the perfect manga if you enjoy opposites attract, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine romance. Nokoru and Natsu had such great chemistry and bounced off of each other perfectly.

They also brought out the absolute best in one another and by the end, I wanted to read more of their shenanigans and adventures together.

For Yamada’s first one-shot, this delivered. The panels were beautifully detailed, the characters were enjoyable, and it was the nice, sweet romance that I needed.

Such a great story! Loved the moment when or MC is actually reading Sweat and Soap! This was a great love story.

3.5 stars

So there wasn't anything particularly wrong with this manga. It was just rather boring. There wasn't much spark between the MCs and their whole romance seemed dull.

The art was fine, except the MMC looked pretty rough a lot of the time (huge dark circles/bags under his eyes constantly) which detracted from his looks immensely.

I loved how well this represented anxiety and first romance in such a organic way.
They were so cute and lowkey together! The art style was great, especially experiencing it in black and white and every chapter picked right up where it was before.

Loved that the whole story is told in one volume, thought the ending seemed to come really fast.
Recommend for a fast sweet read!

This was so cute, I loved the look of this as soon as I saw the cover and I was not disappointed. The online messaging reminded me of when me n my first serious bf (now hubby) used to chat away for hours on msn after school.

Definitely reccomend if you're in the mood a quick read that's cute and cosy.

Screaming, crying, giggling, kicking my feet.

I've never related to a character more than I can relate to the MMC in this book my entire life. He's an introvert, who worked from home when pandemic hits in a tech company? I love that. I really love how he's so awkward and how his mind worked because that's the same thing for me. I love the dynamic in their relationship and how everything worked well for them!

Love how cute this story is! This sure does bring back memories of the lockdown and finding your life partner in it, super cute. The art style is amazing. Loved the humor in it, as well as the characterization of the two MCs, Would love a sequel, actually!

This was a wonderful slice-of-life romance set during a 'social-distancing' pandemic lockdown when face=to-face interactions could be dangerous. The story follows Nokoru whose is now teleworking during a pandemic lockdown, which has given him a chance to rediscover old hobbies, interest, and create a balcony garden. While enjoying his balcony garden one morning, he meets his cute neighbor, Natsu, who is a graduate student studying archeology. Despite awkward stilted social interactions, borrowing each others books/manga (nice cameo of Sweat & Soap), chatting online, and running into each other at the super-market a romance develops.

The formatting of the manga was a bit odd in the beginning, but I think that is because it was formatted for a western reader, instead of the traditional manga (right to left). However, it did not take away from the story or the enjoyment of it. I love the story and really wish that it wasn't over.

This one-volume romance manga is a delightful, heartwarming read. It's a compact and satisfying story that feels like a cozy gift, neatly wrapped up with a happy ending.

Set during the work-from-home era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plot centers on two ordinary people who find love amidst the challenges of lockdown life. The realistic setting adds authenticity to their romance, which unfolds in a slow and steady way, without the usual drama seen in many manga. Instead, small, everyday interactions gradually change their lives, showing how even minor influences can lead to something deeper.

The pandemic isn't just a backdrop; it shapes the story. The challenges and adjustments of lockdown are gently integrated, capturing that universal experience of finding joy during isolation.

I'm not really a romance reader at all but this one spoke to me with its story. This was short and sweet story that made me smile. I found the characters and relationship believable and realistic. The pacing was quite fast and never overstayed its welcome.

Nokoru is a logically-minded computer programmer acclimating to working from home during the pandemic. Organizing his home office reminds him of favorite hobbies, like his love of a certain fantasy manga. It also gives him occasion to meet Natsu, his next-door neighbor. The two initially only talk on their balconies, but soon Nokoru develops something of a friendship with the archaeology grad student.

As they trade books and share snacks, a sort of relationship begins to grow between the two. But the world is unpredictable. Travel (when available) is sketchy at best, and someone going silent for prolonged periods is scary when there’s a virus spreading across the world. Together throughout Home Office Romance, Nokoru and Natsu navigate work-from-home life, love, and their (for now) “new normal.”

Home Office Romance follows an “odd-couple” relationship. Nokoru is logically minded and introverted, while Natsu is adventurous and outgoing. She has no trouble telling Nokoru she finds him handsome, for example. But those comments send him running for answers. Is that how women normally talk to men? Does “handsome” mean “cute”? Does she like him like him, or just normal like him?

Of course, the two have plenty in common. Natsu develops an appreciation for video games, and Nokoru learns to embrace her love of travel and archaeology. By the time the manga ends, he finally understands what these strange feelings are. But there’s more to the story than that.

Understandably, we’ve had a bumper crop of “COVID stories” in the last few years. Whether they take the form of zombie plagues, post-apocalyptic narratives, or political intrigue, they do start to get a bit samey. Home Office Romance is much more personal. Rather than trying to address the muchness of the pandemic, it zooms in on the human condition. How does one adapt to this life? What needs and desires float to the surface when isolation is the way of things? And how do we find joy for ourselves amidst the uncertainty?

Despite its setting during the pandemic—perhaps because of that setting—this is a sweet and hopeful story. Many of us felt our priorities shift during lockdown because it was so inescapable. We were forced to contemplate who and what really mattered to us, and what we would do about those priorities once we could all see each other again. Home Office Romance initially seems like nothing more than a quirky rom-com, but it really captures the hopes and fears of that time in a way that very few other stories yet have.

Charming and Quirky Office Romance with Heartfelt Depth

Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada is a delightful and unconventional take on the office romance topic. The story stands out for its refreshing focus on personal scent as a key element in the relationship between Asako and Akiyoshi, which feels both unique and endearing.

Asako, the main character, is instantly relatable with her insecurities about body odor—a surprisingly unusual theme for a romance manga. The way Yamada handles Asako’s vulnerability is both humorous and sensitive, making her a character readers can root for. Akiyoshi, the male lead, is not just intrigued by Asako’s scent in a professional sense but also drawn to her personality, which deepens the romantic connection. The story's humor adds a lightness that balances the characters' emotional growth. The slow-burn romance is built on mutual respect, understanding, and genuine affection, avoiding overly dramatic conflicts. Te relationship develops naturally, making their romance feel realistic and heartfelt.

The Manga offers a fun and heartwarming story with a charming premise, engaging characters, and a romance that feels refreshingly honest. It’s a great pick for anyone looking for a unique, feel-good read.

Read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. Loved the main characters and the calmness this manga brought and I definitely can see myself reading this again when I need to slow down. It was such a cute story with comedic elements that made me laugh out loud which only made it better. Loved it!

3.5-3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this delightful E-Arc.

This was the cutest standalone romance manga I have read in a while, I think the theme of feeling stifled and restricted were emphasised with the story taking place during the pandemic, Nokoru's job draining him to the point where he has forgotten his old hobbies like reading fantasy manga and his desires to travel. So when our main character transitions to working from home, this story really drives home its benefits; more time for your hobbies, better sleep, better breakfasts and discovering love along the balcony.

So much of what made this enjoyable to me was the mc Nokoru, his personality really jumped out from the pages. He is a serious overthinker, loves to read romance manga in secret, likes to know all the details and is meticulous when answering questions. He rehearses conversations, always doesn't want to jump to conclusions, doesn't pick up flirting cues, explains things with reference to his work, is a bit jumpy and looks like a deer in headlights for most of the novel. He was just so endearing. So when he starts saying he understands kissing as an act performed in romantic or romantic adjacent relationships and what Natsu's view on that topic was, I really just fell in love idk. It reminded me of something I would do, and loving a character that reminds me of myself is conceited yes, but also the greatest form of self-love a reader can express.

And Natsu complimented him so well. Whilst I would say her characterization was the weaker of the two, she had a distinct character; she was forward, bright and outspoken, had a desire to seek out new hobbies and experiences which works well with her being an archaeology grad student and feels lost in her path for a time in the story. The progress of their romance was very sweet to read, I only wish the manga was longer and expanded the cast of characters so we could see their families and any friends they had so I could see how they would begin to fit into each other's lives in the long term, post-pandemic. As a result the love confessions did come a little too early for my liking but that's not because it was too early for them at that point in their relationship but for me as a reader as it had only been an hour since I'd gotten acquainted with them. I do appreciate the lack of a third act breakup, the conflict in the third act only highlighted the affection the characters had for each other, as opposed to calling it into question, which is what a lot of other messy third act break ups in books tend to unfortunately do. Home office romance couldn't relate though, their reunion was sweet and I only wish we got to see more, as the ending did feel a little rushed.

Overall, this was so fun, so cute, Nokoru is officially one of my favourite romance manga characters and I would recommend it to everyone I know.

This was so cute! My first rom com manga and I enjoyed it! Loved the neighbor meet cute, such a good trope!

This was such a simple, fun, & sweet read! It was truly what I needed for now.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for the chance to have early access to read this.