*Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

This was stunning and adorable. Really really excellent one-shot manga. I’m not the biggest fan of one volume stories, as evident by past reviews, both of ARCs and manga that I’ve picked up every now and then. But I really liked this one. It’s definitely a product of the time: characters who shift to work from home was very in line with pandemic era life changes, I particularly liked that this story was told from the introverts POV. I’ve read ones like it before and I usually like them, probably on account of the fact that I relate to them, haha! Def recommend this one if you want a soft adult romance, it was very sweet,

Home Office Romance is a short and sweet manga about finding love during a global pandemic. Natsu and Mitsu's perspectives are displayed, making it a very enjoyable read.

So, so cute! Everything about this is pure fluffy goodness. If you are looking for a sweet, not complicated romance, check it out. I like how it was set during quarantine times and had brief mentions of it, but it was not too much to make you sad. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick, cute read.

I knew I was going to love this manga and I was not disappointed!

The story follows Nokoru, an engineer who works a brutal and demanding job, as he adjusts to remote life during the pandemic. He meets Natsu, his neighbor and archeology graduate student, who is his complete opposite. Together they start to build a relationship at a social distance all the while the lockdown is providing Nokoru the opportunity to rediscover himself and what makes him happy.

I love any kind of romance manga, so when I was approved for the ARC I absolutely jumped at it. Its incredibly wholesome and hilarious at the same time. It took a timeframe that was universally pretty depressing (the Pandemic) and put a cute love story at the center of it. The sad aspects of the time were definitely addressed but the love story put a resilient spin on finding love in your home office. The author is the same one who did Sweat and Soap, so I knew I was going to love it. The art style is great, the dialogue is superb, and the themes behind the story were incredibly inspiring.

If you are new to romance manga, this is definitely for you! It's a one-shot that will make you cackle and it'll warm your heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC!

This is a very sweet manga following a man who has begun working from home and is learning the benefits may include a pretty neighbor. The connection between the main character and the love interest was warm and it was sweet to see the main character come out of his shell. A quick self contained read.

A sweet slice-of-life story set during the pandemic. I was rooting for the couple. It's a quiet story with a nice ending, and it has all the feel-good vibes. The ending is especially satisfying. That said, there wasn't as much "shutdown during the pandemic" or "home office" vibes as I thought there would be.

Cute and short, this one volume manga takes place in the apartments of two single apartment residents who work from home. Lovely art and an easy read!

He's autistic coded to me and I won't accept criticism on that.

This was so freaking cute I was screaming and giggling the whole time.

I loved everything about this. The story is adorable and wholesome, with gorgeous artwork to illustrate the love story. I'll be buying a physical copy of this to add to my shelf.

Kintetsu Yamada has never let me down at all! She is one of the best contemporary romance manga writers out there. I love her art work, her characters are so realistic, likeable and relatable and I just get the BUTTERFLIES when I read her books. I would highly recommend anything she has written.

This cute manga follows the lives of two neighbours as they work from home during the lockdown. Nokoru works a demanding job while Natsu is a grad student in archeology. I loved seeing these two transition from balcony conversations to bumping into each other at the store to exchanging reading materials / snacks -- all while slowly developing a connection. I was worried the c0vid aspect would be overdone but the main focus was on each character’s personalities and growing affection. Overall, this is a sweet, light read!

Thanks NetGalley and Kodansha Manga for the arc!

Home Office Romance was a cute standalone rom com manga about a romance during the height of lockdown. The story follows Nokoru who recently went to working from home during the lockdown. As he begins to enjoy a remote job he begins to set-up his place to function and explore his interests.

He begins to chat with his next door neighbor, Natsu, who is a graduate student. As they become closer, they begin to develop a romantic relationship and try to maneuver around how a relationship looks during lockdown.

This story was full of some adorable moments as Natsu and Nokoru begin to develop feelings for each other. Nokoru is quiet but begins to come out of his shell with Natsu. Natsu always seems to be full of joy and is confident. She doesn't mind taking the first step to initiate their relationship. I loved that she was such a sweet but confident female character. The story was perfect for a nice cozy romance read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comic publishing for this arc💗

Omg this was so cute!

This is a standalone romcom manga that follows two neighbors who unexpectedly finds love during the Covid lockdown.

Nokoru (our mmc) has to start working from home due to the pandemic which leads him to have more free time. He falls back into his old favorite hobby-reading.

“I had a great fondness for fantasy manga. Mystical powers and supernatural battles had their appeal of course…but I was more fascinated by the cultures and histories unique to those imagined lands.”

While Nokoru is out on his balcony his neighbor introduces herself and the story unfolds from there.

“Ridiculous as it may seem…This was how my wife and i first met”

i have to say it again OMG THIS WAS SO CUTE!!
I absolutely adore both their personalities and how well they go together🥹
Natsu is so straightforward with Nokoru that he tries to gaslight himself into thinking she meant nothing by the things she says, AND I ATE IT UP!
I have to read more from this mangaka like right now…


“The rest of this book is an account of my struggles to comprehend the woman who’d introduced herself as Natsu Izumi”

(Sex is talked about but not shown on page)

This book is a super sweet romance between two adults during the Covid-19 pandemic. The characters were lovable and relatable, especially as someone who has been in an online-only long distance relationship before. It wasn't quite what I expected, as I expected more of an online-only love story with them meeting after the pandemic slowed down, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. I loved the dynamic between the two characters, the more serious and stoic Nokoru softened by the confident and fiery Natsu. Kintetsu Yamada continues to make wonderful love stories, and I can't wait to read what's next!

What a fun one shot manga and sweet story! The illustrations were beautifully detailed and i loved the characters. I laughed aloud a lot, and read it all in one night. I will definitely recommend this for purchase at our library, I think it will have a lot of appeal for our readers. Thank you very much for the review copy!

I really liked this, it's cute and I liked the communication between the characters. the art was sooo pretty and just seeing the rooms made me feel so cozy. the narration at the start confused me for a bit but then it all fell into place. I had fun reading it and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a fan of Sweat and Soap, so when I noticed the blurb mentioned this had the same author, I picked it up and was happy to see it had the same sort of adult sweetness I enjoy and S&S.

One touch I liked was that, until the ending climax and grand gesture of love, a lot of the dates these two go on are pretty low key. Shopping at the supermarket together, making dinner together, playing video games together... As a bit of a homebody, the dates being so casual was relatable.

These two were really quite a cute couple overall, and Kintetsu Yamada does a good job showing how two people balance each other out and grow forward together.

Overall, it's a very chill and relaxing sort of read with well defined characters.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Kodansha Publishing for the ARC of Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada. As the first manga I’ve read digitally, this was a delightful experience that surpassed my expectations.

This manga is highly relatable from the outset, capturing the everyday struggles of adulthood, work-from-home life, and quarantine in a way that feels both humorous and heartwarming. The narrative voice is sharp, and the characters’ awkwardness is utterly endearing. I especially loved the interplay between Nokoru’s clueless, introverted demeanor and Natsu’s intentional and bubbly personality. Their contrasting traits complement each other perfectly, creating a dynamic that keeps the story engaging.

Yamada’s sense of humor shines throughout the manga, with moments like the thank-you gift exchange and the “Excel sheet” scene being comedic highlights. The awkward, fumbling nature of their relationship is what makes it so relatable and enjoyable, especially in chapter 11 and the hilarious online ordering mishap in chapter 17.

Beyond the humor, this manga also captures the fear, uncertainty, and loneliness of the pandemic era beautifully. The depiction of how quarantine reshaped daily life feels authentic, making the blossoming romance even more rewarding to watch unfold. The author does a great job showing how love, even in unexpected circumstances, can inspire personal growth and change.

The romantic grand gesture of Nokoru going to Peru for Natsu was an unexpected but heartwarming twist that sealed their connection. It was the perfect payoff for the emotional journey.

With its intentional humor, charming characters, and relatable pandemic-era storytelling, Home Office Romance is a must-read for manga fans. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a light, funny, and sweet love story!

Rating: 4-4.5⭐

Review:
✨Generally, this manga is an easy read although I rarely read romances. It also helps that this manga is a standalone, hence I know the ending fast.
✨I like the drawing style of this manga, thinking it suits the story.
✨In terms of storyline, the progress is believable in their situation but not too detailed. However, it is understandable because it is only one volume.
✨I did see some parts of myself in Nokoru and I do understand his way of thinking (I have some tech background too).
✨Meanwhile, I envied Natsu a little bit because being an archeologist is one of my childhood ambitions.
✨Because this is an adult romance, there are some indications of sexy times between them.
✨In my opinion, this manga is suitable for crushing reading slump due to its storyline and readers getting to know the ending of the story in the same volume.
✨I would say this is a cozy, sweet romance. I’m not familiar with the romance genre but these are vibes I’m getting from the story.
✨Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.

This was a wonderful one-shot adult romance with the time period of the pandemic. I'm familiar with Yamada's series Sweat & Soap and Yamada did not disappoint. The story is very accurate with working from home. The romance was so sweet. This was such a well rounded story. There were multiple scenes that made me smile. I can definitely see myself reading this manga again. Loved the art style.