This was soooo cute! I wish it was a full series and I don't normally like romance manga but this was adorable ♥

I think anyone who likes friends to lovers or grumpy sunshine will like this! So cute

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy

This story masterfully captures the emotions of isolation and unexpected love during the pandemic. The illustrations are simply impeccable, bringing the characters' emotions to life in a way that makes them deeply relatable. Every expression, every scene is beautifully crafted, adding depth to the storytelling.

The narrative itself resonates strongly with the reality many faced during confinement—especially those who lived alone. It explores the emotional challenges of isolation while weaving in a heartfelt romance between two intriguing characters from different professional backgrounds. Their connection feels authentic, almost as if it could have happened in real life.

A touching and visually stunning work that reminds us of the power of human connection even in the most difficult times.

This is such a cute story.
I love how you can really see how little changes in life can really change everything.

The characters are so relatable. You can tell this was based off of our Covid lockdown. This story shows how even in dark or uneasy times , good things can still happen.

The story starts off with him calling her his wife, but this is very much a how I met your mother format where it’s how they got together.

This is a stand alone and there is no cliffhanger or abrupt ending. I was left with a smile on my face and a giddy hear.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

#HomeOfficeRomance #NetGalley

Thank you to netgalley for sending me a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this manga was everything I was hoping for, it's a standalone which is amazing because it means no cliffhangers but it also didn't feel rushed or incomplete.
It was a very drama-free manga which is a refreshing change, it was a thrill to read and I didn't look up from my screen once.
I love a grumpy sunshine and this definitely achieved that, from the drawing to the dialogue I felt fully immersed and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Wow this was really freaking adorable. For a single volume the story was really flushed out and well rounded. I was smiling the whole time and it also had me giggling. Opposites attract here and his expressions were gold. The art was also very detailed and I felt like the artist put a lot of thought into the setting and little details in the background.

There was just something about this that gave such cozy comfort vibes.

Nokoru and Natsu’s relationship in this standalone manga was so sweet and wholesome! It’s a drama-free romance that flows effortlessly, making for a really comforting read. The grumpy IT-guy and the quirky, outgoing archeologist really complimented each other, in a golden retriver-black cat kinda way.
While the story doesn’t have many big events, there was something so enjoyable about its simplicity. having 20 chapters in 192 pages made the story feel like a breeze, even though there weren't that many big events. Sometimes, a soft and easy love story is exactly what you need. The art style was also absolutely beautiful, which made the experience even better.

Highly recommend this manga for anyone looking for a light, heartwarming read! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of the manga in exchange for an honest review.

This was SO CUTE! I loved the little interactions they had which lead to a friendship which led to love. It was fun to see the inner thoughts of the male protagonist as he interacted with his neighbor who eventually became his wife too. And I liked the art.

Am I to the point that I can read romances involving COVID19? No. Did I read this and still love it despite that being the plot? Yes! This is a cute all-in-one manga. Two neighbors who work from home during the pandemic fall in love and I was obsessed! It was so cute, even though it was quick, I still enjoyed the progression of the story. I'm totally ordering this for collection. It's definitely a recommendation for all the noncommittal girlies that are scared of long manga series!

This was so cute! I loved the dynamic between the characters. The translation was easy to follow for anyone interested in manga. It was humorous and fun. Will definitely be picking up the volumes that follow. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This manga is about two neighbors falling in love during the COVID lock downs.

IT worker Nokoru finds unexpected relief in the fact that he no longer has to commute to work daily, which leaves him extra time in the mornings to sleep in or read manga. He also takes up gardening as a hobby and builds himself a cozy garden -inspired by his favorite manga - on the balcony. One day, he meets his neighbor, perky archeology student Natsu, who compliments his balcony garden. The two slowly go from awkward neighbors to awkward lovers in this oneshot.

It was nice to see how the relationship progressed and how Natsu's enjoyment of travelling inspired Nokoru to try new things and to improve his life. It would have been nice to read a few volumes of their romance with a more gradual build up, but I did enjoy this oneshot form of the story as well. The art is great and Nokoru has some really relatable moments whether it comes to the awkwardness of meeting new people or to the changes COVID presented us with.

*Thank you to Net Galley and Kodansha Comics for a copy of this*

What a sweet one-shot from the creator of a series I loved so much! Nokoru and Izumi's romance was adorable and had me rooting for them. This story was told in very short chapters (there was 20 in a 198 page manga) which usually bothers me, but instead I could feel the passing of time better.

Something I really liked is the fact that love or a person is not what originally made Nokoru's life better. Nokoru's life was truly changed by lockdown. Before he didn't have furniture and most of his belongings was still packed up. He never got to meet his neighbor, Natsu Izumi, if lockdown hadn't happened.

The dynamic of the couple was really satisfying. By appearance you would assume grumpy/ sunshine, but it's more than that. Nokoru isn't truly grumpy. He's very logic brained and thinks in terms of programing most time. He is also very introverted and bashful at times, but has a desire to see the world that is shared by Izumi's studies in archaeology. Izumi also isn't sunshine incarnate. She is a woman who knows what she wants and isn't bashful or shy about it.

In terms of rating:
-For art and enjoyment a 5. I loved their romance and was excited when the got together.
-For Characters- a 5. I loved their dynamic!
For plot-5 considering this was a one-shot it really delivered. I was impressed that the author got so invested in their love story!

This was really cute! I liked the pacing of this story. My favourite part was the translation notes at the end! Super cool. I had no idea that Christmas in Japan is a romantic holiday!

This was so delightful! Exactly what it says on the tin - a sloe, cozy little romance set in lockdown. I loved the home office touches, and finding what (and who) truly brings you joy.

I loved the art, and the way it protrayed the characters during covid but it was not a read for me, i felt a bit bored and was wondering it says how they both were working from home yet she was never home.

This was such a cute story! I love how they met and got to know each other first as neighbors. It’s been a while since I’ve read a manga, but I’m so glad I was able to read this! Thank you so much, NetGalley!

Nokoru is a software engineer who begins to work from home during the COVID lockdown. He begins by finally personalizing his apartment, including his balcony ... which leads him to meeting his neighbor, cute archaeology grad student Natsu. They get to know each other and eventually fall in love.

I REALLY enjoyed reading a romance that was exclusively from the MMC's POV. Nokoru is socially awkward and constantly second guesse his reactions, planning out conversations with Natsu and panicking when they don't go exactly as envisioned. It's a good thing Natsu eventually makes the first move, because Nokoru probably never would have gotten there on his own!

This is a sweet romance with gentle humor and I honestly am so glad I picked it up. If you want action, sexytimes, angst, etc., this isn't the place to come. Butif you just want to read about neighbors progressing through the stages of a modern relationship (Say hi on the balcony! Lend each other books! Meet at the grocery store! Exchange social media handles! Go on a real date?!?) this is perfection.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the manga.

I love this manga! It was a sweet love story that didn't feel rushed even though it is a one-shot. The artwork is amazing and matches the tone of the story perfectly.

I'll add links to my YouTube video once it is posted.

Heat Factor: The lead up and the aftermath, but not the in-between

Character Chemistry: A little awkward, but mostly because Nokoru overthinks everything

Plot: Neighbors connect over a little pandemic romance

Overall: A really cute slow burn

This manga is set during the height of the pandemic, when non-essential activities were curtailed. Nokoru meets his neighbor Natsu over their balconies, and over the course of their brief interactions develops a crush. The whole story is told in a past tense with this delightful bone tossed in right at the beginning. (Don’t forget, it’s manga, so start on the top right and read left.)
[Screen cap of the cels when Natsu and Nokoru introduce themselves over the balcony and Nokoru says, "This is how my wife and I first met."]

I’ll admit I don’t have a ton of experience, but I feel like it’s a bit of a manga thing to have a slow burn with a meandering journey because we’re processing all of the aspects of storytelling through the sequential art, so there’s some content for setting and character development that’s not directly contributing to the romance narrative. In this case, that makes the oomph of the story slow to start (and there were definitely a few moments I was like, “What even?”), but Nokoru is an adorable dork and Natsu is really the one making this relationship happen because Nokoru is just really uptight.

Once things get moving, it’s just time after time of really cute interactions where Nokoru is like, “Uuuuuuuuuuh,” and Natsu is like, “This guy is cute and I’m going to let him know I like him.” I love her. She’s delightful.
[Screen cap of cels "This might work?!" after their first kiss]

But of course, he completely overthinks everything, so she teases him a little, too. He needs the playful from her.
[Screen cap of cels "I can't decide if I should ravish you or not."]

Anyway, after many adorable interactions (Nokoru sends Natsu an excel spreadsheet to fill out her schedule so he doesn’t impose on her study time when suggesting dates, for example), Natsu ends up going on a dig for an extended period (she’s an archaeology graduate student). Now, at the very beginning of the story, Nokoru finally unpacks all his stuff and makes his apartment nice because he needs it to be set up better to work from home, and while he’s doing that, he finds his fantasy manga series that inspired his balcony jungle garden (that initially piques Natsu’s interest) and made him want to travel the world. But he’s been living in the “real world” being a computer science worker bee, and that dream had faded away. Ultimately Natsu’s work helps him reconnect with that dream (and off they go into the sunset).

I really liked Yamada’s art, and my normal disconnect with romance in sequential art didn’t really come into play because this story was focused on the slow burn elements that keep tension up. “Am I reading this right?” “Does she actually like me?” “Who was that guy she was talking to?” “Am I doing the right thing?” “How do I not ruin this?” It’s like the romantic comedy that ends with a kiss (FINALLY) rather than a marriage proposal.

Anyway, it was cute, and I had a great time reading it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was a delightful surprise—something cozy to read and swoon over. It’s a story that perfectly captures the feeling of falling in love in just 200 pages. I’m sad there’s no more to read; I would love to see new chapters in the characters' lives (though I kinda love that it’s a standalone)

I don’t have much to say except that this story made me feel and I love when a story makes me feel all the things. I genuinely enjoyed this one and I’m gonna add it to my list to add to my physical library because this will be one I reread. Very cute and enjoyable.