Thank you Kodansha Comics for a copy of Home Office Romance!

"A rom-com manga about two neighbors who find unexpected love during lockdown and learn that working from home doesn't mean an office romance can't still blossom."

Ran to request this when I saw that it's from the same creator of Sweat and Soap! An enjoyable one-shot manga about some of the positive that came out of the pandemic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Kinetsu Yamada for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.

Home Office Romance is a wholesome stand-alone taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Noroku must work from home most days. and while his coding job is rather grueling no matter where he works, he finds solace in his little balcony garden and unpacking some long-forgotten fantasy and romance manga. His next-door-neighbor, Natsu, is a grad student majoring in archeology.

Their first encounter involves her admiration of Noroku's garden. What's really cute about this manga is that it's told from Noroku's perspective and he explains early on that this is the story about how he met his wife. The reader gets to join him on his journey getting to know his neighbor and how everything leads up.

This manga has great pacing, simple art that adds a quaint element of realism, and a story that feels like it could certainly happen. This manga is great for adults or new adults, given the age of the characters, and really has a wholesome feels for the 20's and 30's age range audience. Us older folk need more of this magic!

A cute romance that takes place during the pandemic.

I loved the artwork and found that the romance developed in a realistic way. It was very fast-paced but it didn't feel rushed.

It's a fun, light read and would totally recommend if you're looking for a cozy romance.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

A light hearted, cozy and funny quick read about two people who form an unexpected connection during times of social isolation. The chemistry between the two main characters developed so seamlessly, and their interactions had me giggling with anticipation. This was really good, and I just couldn't put it down!

<i>Thank you NetGalley for sharing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!</i>

Read this at 2 AM and highly recommend it if you're looking for a cozy, comfort read!

Set during the pandemic, our two protagonists are looking to find their space inside their houses as the world changes around them.

I think the romance in this is cute and light and I really enjoyed seeing the contrasting personalities between Nokoru and Natsu. If anyone were to fall in love during the lockdowns of the pandemic, this story would be the most believable of the lot. Their discussions and interactions felt fluid and organic, slowly developing over some time with their emotions catching them unaware.

The art style is clean and concise and the translation was done well!

It's a good manga if you want to read about a gentle love with none of the pretense of uncertainty and <I>will-he-won't-he</i> for certain Japanese romance mangas.

It was a solid fun read with interesting main characters. The way these two get to know each other is kinda funny because they start out as neighbours and how their relationship kinda excels from there on is something which seems hardly plausible for Nokoru at first but slowly he believes things could really work out.
It is just entertaining to see how everything grows from something so small into something bigger.

In the midst of global pandemic Nokoru set ups a outdoor oasis on this balcony which prompts his heighbour Natsu to talk to him and the relationship ensues. It was a cute start and I enjoyed the growth of their relationship from friendship to romantic, and it was sweet how shy Nokoru seemed to be at first and then he slowly comes out of his shell as he keeps talking to Natsu. While I enjoyed the first half, the second half felt like more of the same to me and I did struggle to finish it.

This story is adorable and you will find yourself wanting to wring your hands with Nokoru as he stresses about his budding relationship with Natsu. The illustrations bring this story to life while providing a glimpse into a unique pandemic love story.

This manga was super cute and sweet. I loved the relationship development between the two characters. The way they both traded books to read was so cute. It felt very real and was realistic, like it could happen to anyone.

aw this was cute.

i really liked seeing how nokoru kept growing as a person as he got closer with natsu. she really brought him out of his shell & showed him how great the world could be.

i liked how simple the story was & how it really focused on nokoru & natsu's connection.

a short simple & great read!!

I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this manga. I did wish for more, in regards to the female leads thoughts and feelings, but regardless I love a good romance especially when we get to view the world from the male leads eyes.

Home Office Romance is a single volume romance manga set during the pandemic. Nokoru and Natsu are neighbors who are settling into their new normal of at home work and schooling. The two begin spending time together and the novel follows Nokoru, an overthinker by nature, as he timidly tries to sort out if Natsu has feelings for him or not. Yamada does an excellent job mixing the rights amount of humor, tender moments, and romantic tension- and the artwork beautifully conveys the emotions and subtle affection of the pair. I could not put it down, and finished it in one sitting!

A lovely short read about a growing relationship between two neighbours during the pandemic. So cute and adorable!

*Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

This was stunning and adorable. Really really excellent one-shot manga. I’m not the biggest fan of one volume stories, as evident by past reviews, both of ARCs and manga that I’ve picked up every now and then. But I really liked this one. It’s definitely a product of the time: characters who shift to work from home was very in line with pandemic era life changes, I particularly liked that this story was told from the introverts POV. I’ve read ones like it before and I usually like them, probably on account of the fact that I relate to them, haha! Def recommend this one if you want a soft adult romance, it was very sweet,

Home Office Romance is a short and sweet manga about finding love during a global pandemic. Natsu and Mitsu's perspectives are displayed, making it a very enjoyable read.

So, so cute! Everything about this is pure fluffy goodness. If you are looking for a sweet, not complicated romance, check it out. I like how it was set during quarantine times and had brief mentions of it, but it was not too much to make you sad. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick, cute read.

I knew I was going to love this manga and I was not disappointed!

The story follows Nokoru, an engineer who works a brutal and demanding job, as he adjusts to remote life during the pandemic. He meets Natsu, his neighbor and archeology graduate student, who is his complete opposite. Together they start to build a relationship at a social distance all the while the lockdown is providing Nokoru the opportunity to rediscover himself and what makes him happy.

I love any kind of romance manga, so when I was approved for the ARC I absolutely jumped at it. Its incredibly wholesome and hilarious at the same time. It took a timeframe that was universally pretty depressing (the Pandemic) and put a cute love story at the center of it. The sad aspects of the time were definitely addressed but the love story put a resilient spin on finding love in your home office. The author is the same one who did Sweat and Soap, so I knew I was going to love it. The art style is great, the dialogue is superb, and the themes behind the story were incredibly inspiring.

If you are new to romance manga, this is definitely for you! It's a one-shot that will make you cackle and it'll warm your heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC!

This is a very sweet manga following a man who has begun working from home and is learning the benefits may include a pretty neighbor. The connection between the main character and the love interest was warm and it was sweet to see the main character come out of his shell. A quick self contained read.

A sweet slice-of-life story set during the pandemic. I was rooting for the couple. It's a quiet story with a nice ending, and it has all the feel-good vibes. The ending is especially satisfying. That said, there wasn't as much "shutdown during the pandemic" or "home office" vibes as I thought there would be.

Cute and short, this one volume manga takes place in the apartments of two single apartment residents who work from home. Lovely art and an easy read!