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

If you are familiar with my blog than you know that I'm just recently slowly making my way to reading manga and I'm eager to explore more.

I really liked the characters in this manga. They are very relatable and cute. Their hobbies kind of take over their lives and that's sometimes how I feel about reading or watching movies/TV shows, especially during my teenage years.

I believe this manga is two volumes in one and that probably explains why I thought it was too drawn out in places. I liked the second half best but the plot itself is quite slow. This is something that I have noticed in other romance manga's as well and I'm not sure if it's just me that wishes everything would develop faster.

All in all, I quite enjoyed Wotakoi: Love is Hard of Otaku and I hope I'll get the chance to read more! I gave this manga 3,5 stars! Fun, cute romance manga with great characters!

This was a really cute read, I know how hard it is to hide you being an addict to something people find it weird. and finding someone who you can share this addiction with is the best thing. as I was myself a manga addict sometimes I read at work and people would give me the weird stare so I stopped reading during work.
i really enjoyed reading it

Hey!! As a lover of manga, I could say that this would usually be in the shoujo genre, one of the rarest genre I would ever read, unless I want something sweet and cute. I have seen the first episode of this anime because of my boyfriend, and he said the Female MC is just like me, I just could not say no once I see it, so I was excited to find the book here!

The story revolves around the MC, who always heartbroken because she doesn’t want to tell everyone that she’s OTAKU and Fujoshi (a term for girl who loves BL). In her new office, she met her childhood friend and her story went from there.

It may be just typical romance story, but it’s so cute and so many Aww moment for me. The male character are handsomely portrayed (according to me) and so cute! Even though he doesn’t say much, but it’s clearly shown how he loves her. Another thing I like is the side couple in the story. They also deserve their own story!

I am just so happy to read this and I hope you would do so! Highly recommend it if you want to read something light and cheesy but sweet cheesy ;)

"Wotakoi:  Love is Hard for Otaku" is a great manga about what happens when two socially awkward gamers decide to become boyfriend and girlfriend.  While there isn't anything inappropriate in these first two volumes (collected into one book), I would say that this is definitely aimed at more of an adult audience because of the adult characters and situations.  For librarians/booksellers out there who love classification, I might go so far as to call this a "new adult manga."  At any rate, I loved this manga and can't wait for more!  5/5 stars.

This book was quite cute, though definitely for older teens and adults.  I appreciated the glimpse into the life of those who live on the other side of the planet from me.  I admit to being just a tad bit enamored with Japanese culture, so to read a manga that showed a bit of what normal people in Japan do was very interesting.  

The artwork was not fantastical (except for Hana-chan), but true to life and I have to say, the H MC was rather scrumptious and the h MC was quite cute, which is to be expected, but not a negative.  

The only thing I didn't get at all was the BL.  I'm used to cosplay being about "smexing" it up, but thought it was all cute girls dressing up all sexy.  I didn't realize that males cosplay as sexy females, females cosplay as sexy males and that there are those who are into seeing that.  Yes, I live in a cave.  I occasionally come out to see the sun too.  

So this did open my eyes to the wider world of humanity, which is never a bad thing.  I may not understand it, but I now know it exists and I respect that there are those who are into it.  

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this.  4, I learned something new, stars.  Recommended if you are into Japanese culture and manga. 

My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Loved it. Was a fast read, the art was perfect. Loved the characters so much. Will post more detailed review once I process more.

I got an ARC of this book.

I have been on a manga and graphic novel binge lately. So this was just the latest victim. The book follows two couples. The couples are made up of people who are considered otaku. Otaku are people that are so into video games, manga, or anime that they have issues interacting with people. Think of them as super nerds. These are the people who get made fun of by the chess club. They all work for the same company now and are working together to  be happy. Narumi hides the fact that she is an otaku or more specifically a fujoshi (someone super into BL or M/M). 

Throughout the book are tons of references to popular series, but even if you aren't an otaku there are notes either on the side of the page or in the back to help you. I didn't catch half the references because I have never been big into the popular series. I was more into BL romances and ecchi, which aren't really referenced a whole bunch in this book. There are some mild fan service for the M/M crowd though. Hirotaka's attempts to cheer up Narumi include some poses that would make her happy through her love of BL, which I thought was super touching and weird. There was a pretty funny scene where Hirotaka is explaining that he would be the seme, despite the emotional strain it would put him under. It was so casual. A great tip of the hat to BL fans. 

The video game references are pretty basic, which is helpful. There was references to Mario Kart which is a game that most people know of if they know any games outside of Pokemon. The video game plots were used to bring the characters together and show how great they were (or how awkward, depending on the scene). 

The romance is very mild and pure. There is no real angst. The closest to angst is a scene where Narumi is panicking about her underwear color. The author includes little notes under most pages that have little jokes or titles for the page. Between those notes and Narumi, I was laughing a great deal about the pink vs beige issues. 

Overall, the comic was goofy and pretty easy to read. There is a feel good book more than anything else. So enjoy the simple read and give your mind and heart a break.

Are you obsessed with aspects of popular culture (video games, anime, manga, etc.) to the point you are socially awkward? Congrats, you are an otaku. How does this affect your love life?

"Wotakoi" main point is to show how love is hard for otaku, especially considering they feel misunderstood or, better yet, not understood by the rest of society at all. Chances to find your soulmate would increase exponentially if you'd date another otaku, don't you think? And if the right one is very close to you, then you should definitely give love a shot. This is an extra-long book that includes two Japanese volumes—YES!—and while I like the concept a lot and I think the artwork is well executed, I had some issues with the layout. In my opinion, the panels were confusing and following the sequences/making actual sense of them was tricky... However, this improved a bit in the second volume, where the bonus scenes were quite funny, and I developed some sort of fascination for Koyanagi and Kabakura—they are truly something else! I wish I could say the same about the main couple, but I'm afraid I'm not much into it because I couldn't see the chemistry, since there's not a proper relationship development.

Overall, I liked it and I particularly loved how Fujita framed things in terms of video-games, and the references to various manga and anime, some of which are impossible to not know—at least by name—even for those not particularly into them. Guess what? Now I wanna watch the anime!

A very funny and enjoyable manga about two people struggling to find romance. The art is gorgeous and some of the bonus comics are perfect and hilarious.

Although cute and something that seemed right up my street I just couldn’t get into it. I like thstcthe characters were older and had jobs etc but I just found them so annoying and very stereotypical otaku that it felt a bit cringey at times.

Funny, cute as can be and highly entertaining! 

Now I will be honest and say that a few times I felt very lost with some things they referenced but I still was able to understand what was going on with the story so don't worry there. I loved how when they would make certain choices bars like a video game would appear. It's something I've not seen done in manga before. The characters are what this manga of course. Overall, a wonderful manga, pick it up!


Will go live on my blog: 4/30/2018

I really enjoyed this title. Maybe because I'm a fujoshi myself. The artwork is very nice, the characters were easy to relate to and although the cultural extremes of hiding your otaku-ness at work might not be as well understood by US readers, I thought it was very funny.

ive completed a two parted review on both the volumes comparing them the online scanned versions ive already read since way before. the only thing that is atrocious is the translation the first volume has so many mistakes that it is discouraging to read it in its "official" form. I really love the series so i was hyped to read it and it was such a let down that all in all the translation got a westernized undertone and many things were not as detailed and explained as the scanlation group did online. I would suggest hiring a crew why does manga translations for the fun of it and not for the monetary profits. if you dont believe me please go see the examples i rowed in on my posts.

I haven't read manga in at least a couple of years and rarely do I find myself enjoying them really since the last time. I remember picking up manga at the age of 12 after a year of Sailor Moon and DN.Angel being the first series I ever watched. I remember crying over Gakuen Alice, Absolute Boyfriend and Kitchen Princess to be completely honest. And I feel nostalgic seeing all these new series and manga coming out that I'm super jealous of the people who still have a passion for it.

Anyway, I went into this with the fact that Ive heard of this manga but didn't really think I'd enjoy it. However, I cried and laughed so many times I'm pretty sure I've gained some muscle. I found the characters not only realistic and relatable but quirky in a really cute way. There's drama but it's not that heavy or "deep" and I like that there's a serious tone under the fluff and that friendship is a key aspect in the main couple. I really love all the characters and backstory we are introduced to and this is definitely something that brings back my love for manga. I will definitely support the author and read the series after this amazing introduction!

A cute story of how even otakus want a normal relationship and hiding who you are and what you love is never the answer.  Narumi is trying to find a normal relationship but every time she lets her otaku side slip but when she runs into Hirotaka he proposes that they enter a relationship since they won't have to hide their true selves from each other.  

A very sweet story that I can't wait to continue and see how their relationship develops.  Their personalities are very original and refreshing.  Their best friends have a great dynamic as well and the four of them make for a great story.

I thought this was a fun manga! Two cosplay nerds start dating, just because it's easier to date someone who understands what it's like to be obsessed with manga and video games, and won't judge you by your interests. They wonder if it's worth it to settle for someone just because it's easy, but then they actually start to have deeper feelings for one another.

I liked the characters, and the funny office friendships they have. They have some good dialogue, and interesting situations, misunderstandings, and hilarious scenes when everyone is fighting.
I love that there are many references to cosplay, manga, anime, and video games, and it makes my little nerdy heart glow to see them obsessing over their favorite fictional characters.

I'm still wondering what they actually DO at their office though. I mean, what exactly are their jobs? They sit at a desk and shuffle some papers around, and click on their computers, but what company are they working at? It's a mystery. They're constantly on their lunch break, so I guess it doesn't matter! haha!

The artwork is really beautiful, and I love that some of panels are in color! Each character has such a classic look, but still keeps an original style that makes them stand out.


The second volume is just as cute as the first! Nerds falling in love, what could be more adorable?! In this one, the ladies pressure their boyfriends into trying cosplay, with mixed results. There are a few flashbacks to when they knew each other as children, and the friends all grow closer as they reminisce and share their deeper feelings, fears, and dreams with each other.

Even though our two main nerd characters love to hang out, playing arcade games, and watching anime together, they've never been on a real date. They will have to seriously change their perspective in order to deepen their relationship. These two are so awkward and silly, and I love their dynamic!

A new mysterious character is introduced! Is he an old ex-boyfriend? A kindly young student? Or is he here to steal away our favorite nerdy girl from the arms of her boyfriend? I loved that whole story line, and it added some real interest and fun to the manga!

This manga is definitely NOT for kids, since there are some more adult themes in it, like smoking, drinking, and some sexual innuendo.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

-Netgalley Review-
9.5/10

This is a sharp and clear read; I have never read anything by Fujita before, but I was interested in the overall premise of this book because of the fact that slice-of-life comedic romance is a genre that I don't mind reading. This manga was well-illustrated and filled with realistic characters and witty dialogue.

It is entertaining, fun, and easy-to-read even without the necessary cultural context of modern-day Japan because romance, connecting with other people from the perspective of the 'nerds', and office life is something that is easy to resonate with regardless of geographic location.

Would recommend to readers interested in reading romance slice-of-life mangas that are subtly humorous. This is an easy read with simple and often humorous language that is bound to fascinate.

'Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Vol. 1' by Fujita was a really fun manga to read, and I learned a bit about Japanese geek culture along the way.

Narumi Momose is a secret gamer, or otaku.  She reconnects with a childhood friend named Hirotaka Nifuji at work, and finds out he is also into gaming.  They awkwardly have a fun relationship where she thinks it's a date, but to him, it's just hanging out at his house playing Mario Kart.  

It's more like a comedy of manners than a story with a definite plot.  There are other characters in the mix that add to the humor.  I was looking terms up, then found out that the two volumes included here include a nice glossary of terms for some of the odd bits of nerddom I was unfamiliar with.  At first, I felt like the jokes were kind of inside, but this glossary made it feel inclusive, and I really appreciate that the author included them. 

I really liked the art and the story.  There are bonus comics that are more like short gags.  I didn't like them as much, but they do round out the characters.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

This book was cute/funny but difficult to follow. I couldn't tell at times when I was reading the main plot and when I wasn't.  It's cut up with several small comics but I wanted more story without the breaks. I thought the idea for the story was fantastic but not executed as it could have been. 
The illustrations were great just all in all too spliced with the stories. 

This is about four working class otakus hiding their passion from the rest of the world and fangirling with each other. One couple is commited and they fight in public but are caring in private and the other couple is shy and awkward in a cute nerdy way.

This was such a fun and cute romantic comedy! I really enjoyed seeing the couples interact with each other. I also really liked the art, it is really beautiful.