"Home Office Romance" is sweet and cute but somehow manages to be mature and realistic. The work from home setting was on point. I currently work from home fulltime so it was interesting to see how someone in Japan might experience this lifestyle. I related a lot to Nokoru and his work-life balance (or sometimes lack thereof). Nokoru's personality is adorable to me even though he has a mean resting face. I enjoyed seeing Nokuro and Natsu's relationship thrive during the pandemic. Actually, I don't like reading books set during that time period. However, in this manga, Yamada creates a love story about two lonely people during the pandemic without letting the setting overshadow the story. Love, love, love this.

Also, seeing the Resident Evil game look alike in the panels made me so happy. lol

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was such a cute story about two neighbors getting to know each other more and seeing their relationship evolve over time. I love how they communicate very honestly
I appreciated that the characters comforted each other in times of doubt. That they could count on each other.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one is absolutely delightful.
From the same author as Sweat and Soap, we get another lovely story about two adults falling in love and gently communicating their wants and needs and building a good and healthy relationship.
This is so cute and heartwarming, I loved how these two grew closer and how Nokoru sound the courage to really go for his dreams.

Absolutely recommend it!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

This was such a cute, simple romance manga! I’m not really big on stories that are set during covid, but I liked this one. I liked seeing our two main characters find a connection and fall in love. I thought the art style was cute. I also appreciated that the story was able to be told in one volume.

*warning: contains spoilers *

Home Office Romance is a simple manga that captures the essence of love blossoming amidst pandemic. The narrative follows Natsu Izumi and Nokoru Mitsuhashi, two characters whose paths intertwine in unexpected ways. Natsu, navigating graduate school, and Nokoru, working from home as systems engineer, illustrate that love doesn’t require a traditional office set up to bloom. Their relationship feels relatable, perfectly showing modern romance.

Kintetsu Yamada's storytelling shines through in the dynamics between Natsu and Nokoru. Natsu's ability to encourage Nokoru to open up adds depth to their connection. The pacing is just right; the plot progresses smoothly, making it an engaging read.

One of the standout scenes that made me laughed was at page 193 on Nokoru's panel when Natsu said : “We’re going to be up all night.” HAHAHAHAH! It shows both the humor and the tenderness that define their relationship. Natsu's proactive nature in pursuing Nokoru creates a lovely balance, leading to satisfying moments of tension and sweetness. Not to mention, Nokoru was able to explore more about his work life balance because of Natsu.

This standalone story emerges from a one-shot featured in another manga, Day to Day, and offers a refreshing take on romance that readers can relate to. Overall, Home Office Romance is a charming, lighthearted manga that combines humor with a cutesy love story. It’s perfect for anyone looking for page turner and enjoyable read that reflects the realities of love in our modern world. I received an ARC of this manga, read it and finished within the day. Thank you, Kodansha Comics and Kintetsu Yamada!

I saw this cover on NetGalley and I couldn't pass it up! Only disappointed that this wasn't full color
- only a few pages in the beginning.
This was my first Manga and I am hooked! This is the perfect one to pick up if you've never read one before. Story is sweet and wholesome.
Characters are lovable!
I WILL be reading Sweat and Soap!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Reader's Copy.

This was such a cute story, I read it in one sitting on a train journey. I enjoyed their relationship development, very organic!

Very cute, heartwarming manga about the pamdemic. With a grumpy and sunshine couple and a slow burn.

At an age where over-the-top relationship drama feels exhausting, Home Office Romance was exactly the kind of cosy, slow-burn romance I needed. Mangaka’s portrayal of love in the every day—through shy glances on video calls and small gestures that feel monumental—was refreshingly realistic. It reminded me that sometimes, it’s not the grand gestures but those quiet, intimate moments that make us fall in love. This story beautifully captures the calmness of a genuine connection and shows how romance can be found in the most ordinary spaces. A delightful, comforting read!

Okay this was very cute. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started this, but it was a nice palette cleanser, lighthearted and fun.

I enjoyed the pandemic setting. I think we all understand the loneliness that was felt during that time. It definitely let me dive back into old hobbies too. This story was a cute moment in a sad time of a lot of our lives. It'll always be hard for me to think of this time in society, but this still made me chuckle and smile a few times.

Short and sweet story about two absolutely lovable characters. It made me giggle how cute both of the main characters were and I enjoyed how straightforward Natsu san was.

Thank you #NetGalley, author, and publishers for allowing me to read and review this eARC.

“Home Office Romance” by Kintetsu Yamada is a light-hearted romance between an introvert and extrovert who are neighbors. It takes you into the entertaining, yet emotional, world of working remotely at home and finding romance in an unexpected place. Through the daily Zoom calls and home offices, the characters’ quirkiness and the unfolding of romance shows the beauty of office dynamics in a technological age. Yamada’s graphic art creates depth in the light-hearted moments and deeper emotions with such skill that it made this manga a captivating read. It has a perfect blend of humor, romance, and relatable situations.

I liked this manga very much! This is the first manga I have read and I can’t wait to read more. I really enjoyed #HomeOfficeRomance. I enjoyed the romance and quirky elements that transpired between the characters.

Disfruté del arte y fue un buen respiro detoda la poesia que venia leyendo, pero no sucedió mucho. Me gustaría que el romance se hubiera destacado un poco más.

As soon as I saw this arc on NetGalley I knew I had to request it! I love Sweat and Soap and was extremely excited for another story by the same mangaka! This story is soft and sweet, low-drama, and just lovely all around. If you like stories that focus a lot more on internal feelings than external drama, I would absolutely recommend this one (and Yamada's work in general, but I would also say this is typical of a lot of romance manga as well!). Yamada's art is gorgeous, as always!! And I loved getting a whole story in one volume!!! Overall, I just loved all of this!!

This was so funny and really, especially after the pandemic. Lovely artwork and a great story that was so relatable.

This was such a cute bite-sized romance! I've never read a Manga before and Home Office Romance was a great introduction. The story was really cute and I love that the author tied in current events without making them the main plot. I thought it was adorable that both characters bonded over their desire to travel and explore the world. The illustrations were also really great! I can't wait to read more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this eARC!

I liked Yamada's previous work ("Sweat & Soap") so I wondered what the hook would be for Home Office Romance, outside of its descriptive title. I was also unsure how having a romance set during lockdown would work, obviously without breaking lockdown rules but you're told right off the bat that they get married, so I guess that's what gets you invested in this one-volume story. I like how they met each other as working adults (yes, grad students count as working adults); they did not need anyone to "complete" each other. Nokoru in particular put in the effort to improve his own living situation (therefore working on himself) before meeting Natsu, furnishing and decorating his apartment now that he actually had to spend time in it during lockdown since his work hours were only conducive to using your home as a place to crash. He just happened into a relationship, initiated by Natsu, instead of seeking one out. The two characters, outside of just living next to each other, actually put in the effort for a relationship (shoutout to spreadsheet-aided scheduling). Their own lives were good but they knew it could be better. Perhaps this sounds like a boring love story to some people but I think it's absolutely lovely.

-- 5/5 Stars -- ★★★★★​

Trigger Warnings for Home Office Romance: Mild Sexual Content, Miscommunication, Mild Harassment

Home Office Romance is a stand-alone manga by Kintetsu Yamada. In this manga, we follow Natsu Izumi and Nokoru Mitsuhashi discovering one another as neighbors during the pandemic. By the end of the first chapter, Mitsuhashi introduces this story as "how my wife and I first met."

Adorable, adorable, adorable! I absolutely loved this manga. This is a unique and realistic twist on the grumpy-sunshine trope with Izumi not always being a sunshine and Mitsuhashi not always being a grump. I really loved seeing their romance develop through both the anxious and the loving moments. Their love truly started out as neighbors trying to be... well... neighborly. Mitsuhashi even takes time to recognize that they may not have every truly met without them both needing to go to school and work respectively from home.

All in all, read this. It's so cute and such an easy read. If you're looking for a realistic, sweet romance manga, Home Office Romance is for you! Thank you to Kintetsu Yamada, Yodansha Comics, and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

First Manga, and this was so cute! Love the small inner conflicts and how the characters were written!

This story really hits home with the feelings we all experienced during the early pandemic, focusing on themes of loneliness and finding little bits of happiness. The artwork is fantastic, adding so much to the emotional vibe of the story. Even though it tackles some heavy topics, the manga keeps a cheerful and positive tone, making it a heartfelt read. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!