Incredibly cute! For fans of "Sweat & Soap", this one-shot is an absolute must-read! Especially if you as a reader want to be reminded a little of how life has suddenly changed during the 2020 pandemic. At times, it's almost nostalgic to look back, because it's not just Nokoru who rediscovers new hobbies and old passions, but probably most of those who also spent the lockdown within their own four walls. Of course, a sweet little age-gap romance with the student neighbor is not to be missed.
Their interactions and experiences, as well as their "dating" life during the lockdown, are really cute and well written. Overall, the one-shot is pleasantly entertaining and ideal if you want to shift down a gear or two - like during the pandemic.
I had a lot of fun! Especially thanks to the usual beautiful and clear drawings by Kintetsu Yamada.

This was an intreasting romance about people who live next to eachother and there relationship with eachother and how tey formed a relationship through gaming and the ending of this was stunning!

In the midst of lockdown, systems engineer Nokoru settles into remote work, transforming his apartment and cultivating a vibrant balcony garden. From this little green sanctuary, he strikes up casual chats with Natsu, his neighboring archaeology grad student. Slowly, those light conversations bloom into a sweet, tender romance.

If you’re in the mood for a gentle, slice of life romance featuring grown‑up characters, and long for that quiet, heartfelt vibe of pandemic‑era connection—this compact one‑volume story hits all the right notes. It moves with emotional sincerity without ever feeling heavy, grounded in real feelings yet ultimately uplifting.

Home Office Romance is a short and sweet romance manga about a neighbours who meet and fall in love while working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s pretty much it and it was honestly nice to read a drama-free little story where the angstiest thing that happens is a character going away on a work trip.

Nokoru and Natsu were both very loveable protagonists. I enjoyed Nokoru as the socially awkward (maybe autistic-coded?) lead. As an overthinker, I appreciated his detailed inner monologues, agonising over every interaction and decision. His grumbling over an annoying colleague was very relatable and I loved his strategy for setting up a date with Natsu. It was adorable! I also loved Natsu being an aspiring archaeologist, she’s really living the dream by having an exciting and unusual job and we get to see wonderful illustrations of ancient artefacts, which I loved. Their dynamic is very much grumpy/sunshine (though he’s more aloof?), which is maybe getting a bit cliché in general, but was endearing here, where we really get to see Natsu draw Nokoru out of his shell in a way that feels natural and believable.

I’m also a fan of working from home in real life and workplace romances in fiction, so it’s good to know they’re not necessarily mutually exclusive! I also liked the irony of this supposedly ‘lonely’ mode of working bringing the couple together and actually making them happier and less isolated, especially in Nokoru’s case. Romance aside, there’s something very satisfying about watching our protagonist get some time to just rest and exist in his living space and make home improvements etc., given the intense work culture in Japan.

The art was also beautiful with lots of lovely little details, like Nokoru’s garden balcony and its little sculptures, and a couple of gorgeous double page spreads. I would definitely read more from Kintetsu Yamada!

An introvert meets an extrovert because they're neighbors and both are working from home. The sweetest antics and most relatable doubting begin and lead to a sweet, yet awkward, romance. It's the perfect adult slow-burn relationship. You have enough time to freak out with Nokoru about his doubts when it comes to what Natsu is thinking, without it feeling like things get dragged out for the drama. They talk things through rationally and express their doubts or confusion when they have them. It was frankly quite refreshing.

The art is okay. Nothing special, but it does get emotions across really well.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the sweet read!

This was a sweet neighbours to lovers manga, but that ultimately ended up taking too long to get going. It was refreshing to see a female character with an aspiration for a job that males usually prefer. The anticipation of the story was lost however, when we find out that they end up getting married. This means that a lot of the story was technically wasted. There could've been other outcomes that the readers may have thought, but this was taken away.

It was a nice read!I like the cover as well.

It's great if you enjoy slice of life and office romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc copy!

This was such a cute and wholesome read! Home Office Romance brings a lighthearted, slow burn sweetness to the workplace romance trope, but with the cosy twist of working from home. The characters are easy to root for, and the everyday moments really shine with charm.

While it didn’t blow me away plot wise, it had a gentle warmth that made it super comforting to read. Perfect if you’re looking for something soft, sweet, and low-stress to unwind with.

I would definitely carry on with this as I’d love to see how their relationship progresses!

"Home Office Romance" by Kintetsu Yamada is a sweet and simple manga set during the COVID-19 lockdown. It follows Nokoru, a tired computer programmer who starts working from home and unexpectedly finds time to enjoy life again. He picks up gardening on his apartment balcony, which leads to friendly chats with his next-door neighbour, Natsu—a cheerful archaeology student. Their daily balcony interactions soon became the highlight of his day.

What makes this story special is how it shows two people getting close during a time when meeting face-to-face wasn’t easy. At first, Nokoru and Natsu only talk from their balconies, exchanging snacks and books. But slowly, their friendship grows into something more. The contrast between Nokoru’s quiet, awkward personality and Natsu’s lively, outgoing nature adds a fun and realistic charm to their relationship.

Instead of focusing on drama, the manga celebrates everyday moments. There are no big twists—just two people learning about each other through simple acts of kindness. The story is warm and calm, with soft illustrations that match its gentle mood. It reminds us that even in difficult times, small joys and new beginnings are possible.

Fans of cozy, character-focused romances will enjoy this heartfelt story. The manga skips the usual “will they, won’t they” guessing and makes it clear from the start that this is how Nokoru meets his future wife. That lets the story focus on their bond and personal growth. Natsu is more than just a quirky character—she’s thoughtful and has her own goals. Overall, "Home Office Romance" is a feel-good read about connection, hope, and finding love in unexpected ways.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I was so excited to read this because I am a fan of the mangaka’s other work Sweat and Soap. This was so good and very cute!!

I expected this to be a really sweet, cozy story but it was kind of a letdown. I felt the beginning was super slow with not much really happening for a while. I did want to like this one especially with the amount of positive reviews it had already but it just wasn't happening.
That being said, the art is very cute and the fact it's a standalone is appealing.
Overall, I wouldn't say it was a bad story, just not quite to my taste.



Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

that was fun! I enjoyed it more than I initially expected. love how it focuses on the characters and their relationship from being neighbors to friends to lovers, how it also tackles the effects of the pandemic especially to working adults, and how realistic the portrayal was of how it was like to be an adult working from home. the dynamics of the characters were fun to witness. guy was nerdy and introverted while girl is also nerdy but kinda more on the extroverted side. the end was better than expected too. overall, a quick entertaining fun read.

This was just the cutest thing every ans u lovw both of main character. The author is really good at writing.

What a fun and quick read it was! I absolutely loved each bit of it as the characters were interesting and penned very beautifully. Plus the plotline was nicely packed with an amazing storyline which kept me hooked till the end of the book. Also, the illustrations are so gorgeous, I adore it.

When I heard the writer of Sweat and Soap had a new manga coming out I had to jump in it!

This was cute and cozy, and not the same level of spice as S&S.

Would recommend for so newbies to the romance genre!

A charming and lightly romantic story about two people finding each other during pandemic.

Nokoru has been working in his home, alone during lockdown and has a set routine. Maybe he’s lonely, he doesn’t think he is. That is until his neighbor, Natsu enters the picture. And now he can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s friendly and kind and yeah of course she wants to get to know the cute, quiet boy. It’s a slow romance, set during a time when it was hard to have physical contact with anyone, but especially strangers!
I loved the art. It was perfect, moving the story along thoughtfully. You really get a sense of Nokoru’s life before Natsu. And how much, through facial expressions alone!, Natsu livens up Nokoru’s world. I also love it that it’s during pandemic, but it’s not a HUGE part of the story. Sure, it plays into why the characters are mostly separated, but it’s not a pandemic story. It’s light and focuses on two similar souls looking for something during a strange time in history. Just happens to be the pandemic.
It’s also a standalone, which I appreciate. A cute, contained romance, perfect for someone to read on their commute or on vacation. I don’t normally read anime, so this was a great introduction.

Thank you so much for granting me early access.
I requested this book because all I wanted was a light hearted read and that is exactly what I got. I really enjoyed the simple plot following the daily life of two characters who happen to fall in love. A realistic story including all of life’s day to day boring routines and the struggles that normal people face each day.
This was such a refreshing read and I will definitely be looking to pick up more from this author!

Oh my stars this manga was so wholesome and fun, it was a perfect palette cleanser to read between books. Home Office Romance is a one volume manga about a reserved IT guy who meets and forms a flirtatious friendship with his more outgoing next door neighbor. It’s a she pursues him type of story and seeing the main male lead, Nokoru, spiral and become flustered over his neighbor Natsu’s passes had me giggling and kicking my feet.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Nokoru to start working from home and the story does a good job of illustrating some of the unexpected benefits that came from this shift in work-life balance. After cutting out his commute, Nokoru finds himself getting better rest and having the opportunity to sleep in and take his time eating breakfast. He now has the time to put his home together and to enjoy long forgotten hobbies. With virtual meetings he can remain in comfortable clothes and mute his mic to avoid conflict. All of these little advantages were unexpected boons during the pandemic, as I could personally relate to this as an office worker that transitioned to remote work for a while during the pandemic.

This has definitely been one of my favorite COVID-19 stories and adult romance manga, I didn’t want to stop reading, sacrificing sleep to race to the end. An easy recommendation for folks that enjoy sweet slice of life romances.

A lovely story. The connection between the characters and small snippets of real life were nice to read and the artwork was delighful!

I already read work of this author and was exited to read more from them.they wrote sweet and soap which I read long time ago and need to read more as the last time I check it still ongoing series. Unlike sweet and soup, this manga is One volume and it fits. Its cute as hell and this is manga for people who doesn't love by series but love cute adult romance manga.