Book Review
Title: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku 
Author: Fujita
Genre: Manga
Rating: *****
Review: So, it isn’t often that manga appears on NetGalley but as soon as it does I request it without hesitation as I am a huge otaku myself (my OTP now is a three-way tie between Victor and Yuuri from YOI or Aoba and Koujaku or Aoba and Noiz from DRAMAtical Murder). So, we are introduced to Hirotaka and Narumi who were friends back in elementary school and are both hardcore otakus. If you don’t know what an otaku it, it is a young person who is obsessed with computers or aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills or basically a hardcore gamer. Narumi is also a fujoshi - a self-mockingly pejorative Japanese term for female fans of manga and novels that feature romantic relationships between men. While Narumi decides to hide the fact, she is an otaku from everyone except Hirotaka because her boyfriends kept dumping her because of it, Hirotaka is out and proud about being an otaku. 
As this manga series centres around romance I am almost 100% sure that at some point Hirotaka and Narumi will become a couple. And they do quite quickly although they disguise it as helping each other out with their individual otaku clicks and I was actually really excited to see where this relationship was going. Normally, I am not a fan of romance with the major exception of being a fujoshi myself (sigh!) However, their best friends are also in a relationship making double dates super easy but this manga while using some obscure references that only otaku will understand also makes references to very mainstream anime/manga series like neon genesis evangelion.
Narumi and Hirotaka’s relationship develops a little strangely at first because the transition from friends to couple is a little weird for them but they begin to work with instead of against their own unique quirks. One of my favourite parts so far is when Narumi sells her own BL comic and Comiket which is a bit like Comic Con and Hirotaka helps her finish her story and then travels to the event with her as a dedicated boyfriend would and it was just a completely cute and adorable scene. I already know that I will most definitely be continuing with this series. 
Despite the hardships their relationship faces we see Narumi and Hirotaka develop a relationship that neither has ever had before and I also love seeing the relationship between Hanako and Kabakura. The first five episode make up the first volume and all of them were amazing and it has a realistic vibe, what I mean by that is the characters and the situations they find themselves in could happen anywhere in everyday life they don’t seem really out there and unrealistic like other (romance) manga. I also really loved the bonus comic strips that follow some of the episode they are funny and the references they make are just hysterical. 
In the second volume we re-join the couple’s in the everyday lives and as all four of them are otakus they get along quite well although they have their differences for example, Hanako is really into cosplay and wants Kabakura to cosplay with her but he refuses because it would be embarrassing however, he is the only one of the group that hasn’t actually done any cosplay even Hirotaka has done a gender swap cosplay and damn he looked good. 
We are also introduced to a new character Naoya also known as Nao who is Hirotaka’s younger brother by seven years who was also great friends with Narumi. I really loved the scene where Kabakura is sure that Nao is hitting on Narumi but then he thanks her for dating his older brother because he hasn’t found anyone he has connected with before, she is the only person. There was also a funny scene where Hanako bribes Kabakura into getting into a gender swap cosplay and I just found myself laughing out loud. I also liked the types of games played within this series they don’t stick to one type or genre. They play a range of games from solo handheld games to multi player MMORPG games. However, Nao is the odd one out as he is a non-otaku and is awful at games so is often left by the side-lines when everyone else is playing but isn’t salty about it he even enjoys watching other people be happy. 
We also learn more about our characters like the fact that both Hirotaka and Narumi fear thunder and the first heartbreak Hirotaka had was when Narumi started dating other guys and not him although he never expressed his feelings. However, the heartbreaking thing was he went and got his ear pierced because her boyfriend at the time had piercing and she still didn’t notice him in that way making him feel terrible and she still isn’t aware of this, poor Hirotaka. 
In the final section of this volume, we begin to see Hirotaka questioning whether he and Narumi are actually dating or whether they are friends who say they are dating so he formally invites Narumi on a date and she accepts. I can’t wait to read Volume 3 of this series, it is seriously funny with amazing artwork and compelling characters. If you want a funny, realistic manga then I highly recommend Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

My brain says three stars, but my heart says four. I think you need to trust your heart when it comes to humour and geeky references. We have two otaku couples. Our main couple, Narumi Momose (The all-round geek who loves her anime and manga and cries at character deaths) and Hirotaka Nifuji (A hardcore gamer with a cool demeanour).

Our second comic is Tarō Kabakura (The less-intense, grumpy otaku) and Hanako Koyanagi (Who loves cosplaying as male characters and reading yaoi)

The premise
Wotakoi centres around these two otaku couples and their antics in the workplace, on MMORPGs, gaming conventions or just when they chill together at home. This comic had me laughing from my belly several times. I really enjoy how the comic breaks through the stereotype of an otaku being a reclusive and anti-social person. 

The plot
There is none, and I love it.

The Romance
Okay, I really loved the romance in this one. Momose and Hirotaka are a newly-formed couple trying to establish their routines, interactions and understanding of each other. I really enjoyed Momose and Hirotaka's relationship because they have been friends since childhood, and the way they reconnect based on their past is great.

While Taro and Hanako have been dating for years:   I love Taro and Hanako because of just how much they tease and shout at each other.

The References
My inner geek was made so happy by these Neon Genesis Evangelion references:

Conclusion
Wotakoi is an enjoyable slice-of-life manga that I'd recommend to anyone who loves this genre of anime. It's sweet, reference-fueled and really, really funny.

I became vaguely aware of Wotakoi through my friends’ enthusiastic reviews of the ongoing anime series. While I haven’t had the chance to check out the anime itself, it seemed hilarious and interesting based on the screenshots they’ve posted of it. As it so happens, the English translation was available on NetGalley, and I was eager enough to read it for myself.

Wotakoi is a romantic, comedy manga very reminiscent of Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (GSNK for short) – but instead of the characters being high school students, those in Wotakoi are working “OL” (office ladies) and salarymen. Every page is a bit and has a punchline, with a particular “event” tying them together per chapter. One chapter, for example, deals with Narumi preparing for Comiket, and all the comedy sketches would revolve around it.

All of the main characters are otaku, in one way or another, and neatly paired off with one another. There’s an interesting contrast between Narumi and Hirotaka, slowly working through their developing relationship, and their friends Koyanagi and Kabakura’s long-term, more stable one. However, the recurring gag about the latter’s constant bickering and arguments can be a bit tiring.

As someone who tables at conventions herself, the most fascinating part for me was the Comiket chapter. Narumi’s struggles in finishing her book and manning the booth – very relatable. Unfortunately, I’ve been there myself – cramming days before a con, barely sleeping, panicking about buying from other artists. It wasn’t fun while it was happening but it certainly was when looking back! I’m definitely excited to read the sequels, and maybe watch the anime too! ♦️

*I received an eARC from the publisher, Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

https://librarynthines.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/wotakoi-love-is-hard-for-otaku-1-otakoi-otaku-cant-fall-in-love-1-fujita-%e2%80%a2-review/
http://librarynthine.tumblr.com/post/173706722687/wotakoi-love-is-hard-for-otaku-1-otakoi-otaku
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2385656192

This manga is excellent! Super adorable, funny, and well-drawn.  It's a little mature in some spots, and is more suited to the Josei age range than teens.  That said, it will still catch the attention of teens who like reading about otaku (a story element which is rising in popularity). Great for fans of Himouto! Umaru-chan and other such stories.

When childhood friends Narumi and Hirotaka run into each other as adults, it soon becomes evident that since they're both adult otaku that they would make a good couple.

The Story
So the story was quite promising for me. I thought it would be really cute to see two awkward characters navigate their relationship. Unfortunately, there wasn't much about their actual romantic relationship that made me keep reading to see how they cope. Now it has been a few years since I was an avid manga reader/anime watcher. But I would have to say that I definitely focused on a lot of shoujo, slife-of-life, romance. So it makes me a little sad to say that this doesn't have a lot of romance to it, and ends up really being shoujo, slice of life. Which in all honesty means it's just little tid bits here and there but no real continuous story. 

This first installment is mainly just about how the characters get together and the initial start to their relationship. All in all, not a lot really happens. However, so far, there are a lot of manga tropes happening that are sure to make readers happy. Some of these include BL/fujoshi, cosplay, and many old school anime references. 

My question is, is it really enough to keep people interested? Where is the conflict that keeps the reader going from one volume to the next? Obviously so, since they're making an anime out of it. 

The Characters
Aside from our stoic main male character and closet-otaku female character we are given two goofy side characters who are also in a relationship. While their relationship stems mostly of violence and arguing, it does add a little flavor to the manga itself. 

The Art
I think the real shining star for this manga is the art. With the larger bubbly eyes on the main female and the sleek slimmer features of the male characters, this manga is sure to draw attention to those in a post 2000 era. My favorite part might have been the clever in between chapter visuals that were provided, yes even the chibi versions. I am a sucker for chibi characters, they are just so darn cute. 

For those not wildly as informed on Japanese culture as someone like me (studied Japanes, spent several months in Japan doing culture studies, as well as have been previously a minor otaku) they provide visual explanations at the end of the chapters explaining the references that go far more in depth than just the *foot notes that are included in scantalations.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this series, but it's ADORABLE. The art is really well done (some of the bonus panels are in a more "sketched" style but they're still really good, just less polished-looking) and the characters are so endearing. I don't know how much a reader who wasn't at least peripherally involved in otaku culture would get out of it, but as a member of the target audience, I found this manga hilarious. I would definitely recommend Wotakoi to fans of Princess Jellyfish -- the humor has a similar tone. I'm very much looking forward to reading more!

This story is about Narumi and Hirotaka, childhood friends that lost contact with each other and meet again in a professional setting. Hirotaka is a video game nerd who is very introverted and Narumi who is a bit of a ditz with work but is hiding the fact that she is also a huge nerd. Their obsessions have made romantic relationships a struggle, and decide to try dating since they are both nerds and are comfortable around each other. The pacing of the relationship then slows down as they are innocently unsure about taking it to the next level and their feelings continue to grow. They have two other coworkers, Hanako and Taro, that are also a bit nerdy and in a relationship and are very volatile towards one another at work but very loving when they are alone.  I really feel as though this was a glimpse at real life struggles and the light jokes made me feel as though I was reading about friends. I came to care about the characters very much and  I cannot wait to read more!

3 stars

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  

In this adorable romantic story we follow two geeks falling in love, their best friends arguing every second & backstories which are exposing many significant moments...

Soooo.... I’ve never read manga before. At the beginning I had a problem figuring out how to even read this thing.  (I was pretty confused)... but okay, I figured, so let’s move on to.... CHARACTERS

Narumi - this girl was pretty annoying at first, but then I somehow adjusted to her annoyance & adorableness

Hirotaka - AWWH booooy, he was sooooo CUTE... introverted as hell, nerdy &, I repeat ... SO CUTE. 

Kabakura - lol, this guy was hot as hell, but I just didn’t really get his behaviour against Koyanagi

Koyanagi - she was the same as her boyfriend Kabakura, just didn’t get them... but they were kind of funny, tho

Sooo, I REALLY DID ENJOY THIS. ( the art was just wow ) But, the cliffhanger at the end? Srsly? I need more. K, bye.

Oh My Gosh!! How cute is this manga? I think I'm ruined with real life guys. Nifuji is such a great guy which I wish there was a real life him!!
Love the art, love the stories! Such cute couples!
I wish there was more.

This manga is so relatable that It was like reading my memoir. It was light, funny and the drawing is so cute! I love bth mais characters and the two side characters are enjoyable too. Their dynamics are realistic and fun, even while dealing with insecurities and life.
A great start of a series and I intend to read the rest for sure!!!

I chose this book hoping to read a cute love story, and that's what I got. The first few chapters were slightly frustrating since I had never heard several of the terms mentioned there, but at the end of the volume, there were explanations for all of them, so that's not a big issue.

I expected to see a little more of the main character's relationship, They had a few cute moments, but I thought the book would have more romance than what it had, Also, sometimes their friends got more exposure than the actual main characters.

The story was fun and engaging, I just wish it focused more on the main characters. Other than that, I don't have any big complaints. I think it's a good read for people who enjoy this genre, especially if they're also fans of gaming and anime.

This excluded the people who aren't hardcore gamers. A lot of the references, jokes, puns and language they used was hard for me to understand. Which is a little sad since I do enjoy reading manga and watching anime. However, it didn't ruin my overall experience or ability to get what was happening. This is just clearly targeting a specific type of audience. 

The author did include an explanation of some of the things that were referenced at the end of each volume. Which was great but I was too lazy to go back and forth to read and compare. 

The overall flow of the story was sweet, bubbly and intriguing. Dubbed as the springs cutest rom com, its only natural that I kept finding myself interested to see what happens next. The comics were cute but sometimes it was hard to follow what was part of the plot and what was just a bonus or something cute on the side. 

What I really love about this author is the fact that he/she started out on wattpad I think or a site similar to it. Then their work became incredibly popular that it got turned into an actual anime! Which now got turned into an officially published manga! GUYS! Dreams do come true if you work hard enough!

This includes Volumes 1 & 2. 

I quite liked reading this book, as in it was cute. I liked the short stories and the humour shown. There were times when I was a little confused and couldn't understand what what going, as I don't think I'm much of an otaku..! I thought that there wasn't much of a relationship between Narumi and Hirotaka, there wasn't much to it, but I could see that the next volumes will probably be good! 

I would recommend this book to those who are into Japanese culture. 

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

This was adorable and incredibly entertaining. I love learning about different cultures and there was so much culture throughout this! It was lovely to see!

Also, this group of individuals are all what a lot of people refer to as nerds. They love anime, cosplaying, manga, video games, etc. Frequently, they would make references in their conversations to something like this and it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

The characters are also wonderful! All four of them are so different yet they get along well and are there supporting one another. I honestly can't wait to see more of this.

Great read. The art was well done and the characters were cute. Absolutely enjoyed the story and really liked the humour. I'm really excited for the series and would recommend to manga readers

I absolutely adored this volume! I can see this being a title that both teen and adult library patrons will love. I particularly liked that though all four of the main characters were nerdy, they were all nerdy in their own ways and were still able to sympathize with each other's struggles.

Although I wasn't sure what to think of this manga when I started it, as it went on I began to fall in love with it. This follows Narumi and Hirotaka, two mega nerds who used to know each other as kids and reconnect as adults, and are the only two who know the extent of the other's love for their respective obsessions. As a result, they struggle to maintain relationships, and decide to begin dating each other- after all, nobody knows them better than the other.

Despite the fact that the characters begin dating about 50 pages into this, it still feels like a slow burn as they grow more comfortable with each other in a more romantic sense after being friends for so many years. As far as I can remember, they only kiss once, and their reactions are so adorable when they do. It's almost like you're watching them fall in like before any love is involved, and I cannot express how satisfying it is watching them grow closer, being all awkward and cute. There's no rush to their relationship, they go at their own pace, and that's really refreshing!

I also really like that there's a very small cast of characters, so certain relationships can be examined closely. I loved every interaction between Narumi and Hanako, who she works with closely and is also a popular cosplayer, it really felt like Hanako brought her out of her comfort zone and was just a good friend. I also enjoyed the parallel between Narumi and Hirotaka's relationship and the one Hanako has with Tarō (Tarō works with Hirotaka, and him and Hanako grew up as rivals throughout school and are in a secret relationship). All in all the friendships and romantic relationships were great, and I loved seeing them! I can't wait to see more of Naoya in future volumes as well, I've heard that he has a really cute romance with a character yet to be introduced, and he has such a lovely dynamic with the rest of the characters.

There were definitely parts of this that went over my head, and the quickness of them starting to date may bother people, but I feel the speed of it becomes a lot clearer once you read on and begin to see how close they were growing up. This is very slice of life and fun, and there are so many moments I was actually laughing out loud at these characters. It's nice to take a break from the more serious manga I read (if you enjoy Ore Monogatari/My Love Story, I think you would enjoy this!) I just felt really gushy and happy reading this, and I will definitely be buying physical versions once I have a bit more money behind me.

Sometimes you come across a manga that just speaks to you. This is true with Watokoi, a manga that has more than a couple of scenes that seem as if they were pulled straight out of my own life. Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita is an extremely relevant slice of life manga about two otaku who start dating, and a must read for anyone is or has been in a relationship with another otaku.


Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is about Narumi and Hirotaka, childhood friends who wind up working for the same company and dating. Narumi is an otaku and fujoshi, something she hides from all of her previous boyfriends. Hirotaka is different. He’s also an otaku, someone she knows she gets along with, and shares the same likes and hobbies. But will that really make dating any easier.

There is a lot to love about Watokoi, especially if you are even a little bit into video games, manga, or anime.

This is, in many ways, a slice of life manga. Many of the scenes are short. Only one or two pages are spent on any one scene or joke for much of the volume. Towards the end of the manga certain sections are longer. We spend more time with Kabakura, Hanako, and Hirotaka’s younger brother. The narrative becomes more linear while still maintaining shorter scenes, which keep the pacing rather fast for a slice of life manga.

While this is a story about otaku, otaku culture, and how it’s seen by others, it’s also a story about love and friendship. As laugh out loud funny as most of the manga is, and as much as it really touches home in regards to my own relationship with my husband, it really speaks on relationships as a whole. When Narumi starts her relationship with Hirotaka, she’s nervous and doesn’t always know how to act. There is discussion on complacency and settling vs comfort and shared likes and dislikes between partners. We see characters struggle with being open about their hobbies versus keeping their hobbies close to their chest. We also see Narumi and Hirotaka’s brand new relationship in comparison to their friends who have been dating since high school.

If you are an otaku, you will find a character who you can identify with in this manga. Out of the four main characters, each approaches their love of manga, anime, and video games differently. Hirotaka is open with hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Narumi hides the fact that she’s an otaku and a fujoshi from everyone, to the point of being a bit unhealthy. Hanako is also pretty open about her cosplaying and other hobbies, while Kabakura doesn’t actually consider himself an otaku despite clearly being one when compared to his girlfriend and friends.

I did quite like the art style used here. Certain panels don’t have particularly detailed backgrounds, but not only does that make sense regarding genre, it also makes sense regarding setting. Much of the manga takes place in Narumi and Hirotaka’s office building, a space which is usually blank and boring. Where this manga shines is in its use of otaku culture to tell the story. For example, certain questions from Hirotaka initiate a battle sequence jrpg popup on the bottom of the panel with the standard ‘fight, run,’ ect. options. These were incredibly well used and always funny. I loved this.

The translation was also really well done. Acronyms, terms, and words that aren’t always translated in common usage weren’t left out or altered for clarification. They were left as-is, trusting the reader to know what they were talking about while adding in notes for clarification on terms everyone may not be familiar with where needed. A few things were outlines in notes that, perhaps, didn’t need to be, but overall the notes were used very well, making the manga very accessible to everyone and not just those who are familiar with video games and manga.

That said, I do think otaku, or those with at least passing interest in manga, anime, or video games will get the most out of Watokoi. However, each character has different likes and dislikes. This means that the manga switches between talking about different genres and aspects of nerd culture as it goes along, sometimes within the same scene. While the characters understand one another as a whole, they are still their own person.

This manga is actually two volumes in one, making it a bit more expensive than normal. Keep in mind that Watokoi can also be purchased in digital format, which is a few dollars cheaper than the physical copy.

I am absolutely continuing with this series. Watokoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita is a manga that really touches home in a lot of ways. If you are a fan of manga, anime, and video games who has ever had a relationship with a like-minded individual you will find something to love about this manga. Also, if you like josei manga, also check this out.

Even though slice-of-life and meta shows, are among my absolute favorite genre, personal experience has taught me that I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to be a real-life otaku. Not only did I refuse to spend the truckload of money necessary to obtain even the smallest of merchandise, but a lot of the more popular shows eluded my interests. 

Additionally, I'm not much of a manga fan. Sure I'll consider the odd yaoi manga or two (...hundred), but as far as the more 'regular' stuff goes, it needs a hyped-up anime series to even make me consider it. Which is how I ended up picking up Wotakoi, inspite of all my misgivings.

And boy was it a ride! If you're a die-hard Japanese pop-culture fan, this series is right up your alley: from famous manga/anime shows, to popular Asian game contests, this one has it all. It's incredibly fast-paced, funny, cringe-worthy, with the odd heart-thumping at just the right moment.

If you're not a die-hard anime/manga/gaming otaku however, following all the pop-culture references can be a daunting task. Sure, the volume provides footnotes, and you can flip to the end of the book to check them. If however, you're reading the e-book version, you probably won't do that. Or if you will, it'll be long after you've finished reading about the reference. To its credit, the editor does provide the panel along with the explanation, rightly assuming that not everyone is likely to have store each and every panel in their long term memory.

I often felt like the anime fan translation did a much better job at avoiding confusion. While I can imagine that some readers might be interested in the exact name of the show, sometimes it pays to just "keep the spirit" of the translation, and provide a more comprehensive analysis in the footnotes. Not the other way 'round.

I liked it. A lot! And all the fujoshi-tropes had truly resonated with me. Despite it being also hella' confusing to constantly have to check the footnotes for one reference or another.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this volume! Our main characters are childhood friends who both struggle to find love because they're both otaku's. Narumi loves manga and BL, while Hirotaka loves playing video games. They soon begin dating and volume 1 consists of their hilarious antics with their two friends, who are also otaku's and in a relationship. 

I really loved Hirotaka in this! He is stoic and doesn't mind being alone, but is also very sweet and in love with Narumi. The relationship between the two is very slow and easy, and at some points it just feels as if they're just friends and not dating. However, at the end of the volume, we are left at a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the next volume!