Home Office Romance is an absolute gem of a manga. The story follows a charming, unconventional romance between a grad student and an office worker who connect during COVID while stuck at home, meeting on their balconies. I usually avoid reading stories set in COVID times because it feels too close to reality, but this one broke through that barrier for me in the best way. The warmth of their connection was undeniable, with the outgoing female lead perfectly balancing the male lead's endearing awkwardness. Watching their relationship grow felt so genuine, and I couldn't help but wish it was a multi-part series rather than a standalone.

This is also a perfect manga for those new to the genre. It’s incredibly approachable and avoids some of the awkwardness that can arise from cultural differences in other mangas. The story is easy to connect with, making it an enjoyable read for anyone, even if it’s their first manga.

I give mangas more grace in my ratings because they’re usually quicker and easier to read, but this one drew me in almost immediately—and that says a lot. 5 out of 5 stars for this sweet, heartwarming story!

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, what a cute read. The way the romance started out was so realistic and precious. I love how they had such different personalities but together it created such a magical connection. This was very easy, light and fun to read, I’m so happy I was able to read it.

5/5 ⭐️

This is such a lovely refreshing book 😊 The love story is believable and relatable. I've been left felt warm and fuzzy and I definitely want to check out more of Yamada's work!

I really enjoyed this comic. It was slow to start, but heart warming and showed that super geeky love really well. It was a sweet story about two neighbors who started talking as pandemic lockdowns hit. It doesn’t refer to Covid but that is the reference. Part of what i enjoyed so much is that i found it very relatable., especially with experiences of working from home, the covid lockdowns and being separated by the pandemic. The love story was sweet and felt real. It was a nice cozy read, for anyone who wants a sweet geeky love story.

The love story was easy and low key, with little internal conflict. It was just a lovely relaxing read.

Thank you kodansha comics and NetGalley for the digital arc.

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Kodansha. I loved this! It’s a romcom graphic novel, and it’s everything a romantic comedy should be. It follows the story of Nokoru, an introverted systems engineer, and Natsu, a not-introverted-at-all archaeology grad student, who live in flats next to each other, and how they meet during lockdown. (Yes, she’s a cheery soul, and yes, he’s very reserved and so very awkward. “I never had to fill out an Excel sheet to date someone before!” she says when they awkwardly, tentatively start to date. So, so adorable.) Since this is a graphic novel, part of the charm is the illustration, depicting him with what seems like dead, wary eyes but her with bright, cheery ones. Watching their expressions as they slowly start to date (including shopping at the supermarket and picking up a twenty-pack of American-style corn dogs!) was irresistible. Love romcoms? You’ll love this.
#HomeOfficeRomance #NetGalley

Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada is a really sweet storie of 2 neighbors finding common interests and becoming attached to one another. The story is set during the Covid-19 Pandemic when stay at home mandates and home office were prevalent. It is frankly both disquieting and exciting to see such a recent large scale event being picked up by popular media, and to be depicted in a positive light. The protagonists were fun and relateable and the story progressed naturally without boring me at any point.

The drawing style was refreshing and easy on the eye. There were many detailed panels that enriched the story without being overbearing.

I had an excellent time reading it!

A super cute, easy read. I enjoyed the characters and watching their story unfold. It was also weird to feel thrown back into "early" pandemic times with lock down, etc. Well done graphics.

4 Stars!

A charmingly simple romance manga, and I adored it. It focused on two everyday people connecting, which might seem dull to some, but I found it wonderfully comforting. The art-style was adorable to look at as well.

These kinds of stories are my favorites. I cannot wait for the second volume!

Super cute, great illustrations. Ending was a little rushed, but the author mentions that this is their first work that is complete in only a single volume so I'm willing to forgive it. I loved that the setting really stayed focused on home, their apartments, and that any occurrences where they leave are usually just not shown at all. It helps center the aspect that makes this cute romance stand out from the rest.

4.75/5 stars

This was an adorable one-shot!

Home Office Romance is the perfect manga if you enjoy opposites attract, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine romance. Nokoru and Natsu had such great chemistry and bounced off of each other perfectly.

They also brought out the absolute best in one another and by the end, I wanted to read more of their shenanigans and adventures together.

For Yamada’s first one-shot, this delivered. The panels were beautifully detailed, the characters were enjoyable, and it was the nice, sweet romance that I needed.

Such a great story! Loved the moment when or MC is actually reading Sweat and Soap! This was a great love story.

3.5 stars

So there wasn't anything particularly wrong with this manga. It was just rather boring. There wasn't much spark between the MCs and their whole romance seemed dull.

The art was fine, except the MMC looked pretty rough a lot of the time (huge dark circles/bags under his eyes constantly) which detracted from his looks immensely.

I loved how well this represented anxiety and first romance in such a organic way.
They were so cute and lowkey together! The art style was great, especially experiencing it in black and white and every chapter picked right up where it was before.

Loved that the whole story is told in one volume, thought the ending seemed to come really fast.
Recommend for a fast sweet read!

This was so cute, I loved the look of this as soon as I saw the cover and I was not disappointed. The online messaging reminded me of when me n my first serious bf (now hubby) used to chat away for hours on msn after school.

Definitely reccomend if you're in the mood a quick read that's cute and cosy.

Screaming, crying, giggling, kicking my feet.

I've never related to a character more than I can relate to the MMC in this book my entire life. He's an introvert, who worked from home when pandemic hits in a tech company? I love that. I really love how he's so awkward and how his mind worked because that's the same thing for me. I love the dynamic in their relationship and how everything worked well for them!

Love how cute this story is! This sure does bring back memories of the lockdown and finding your life partner in it, super cute. The art style is amazing. Loved the humor in it, as well as the characterization of the two MCs, Would love a sequel, actually!

This was a wonderful slice-of-life romance set during a 'social-distancing' pandemic lockdown when face=to-face interactions could be dangerous. The story follows Nokoru whose is now teleworking during a pandemic lockdown, which has given him a chance to rediscover old hobbies, interest, and create a balcony garden. While enjoying his balcony garden one morning, he meets his cute neighbor, Natsu, who is a graduate student studying archeology. Despite awkward stilted social interactions, borrowing each others books/manga (nice cameo of Sweat & Soap), chatting online, and running into each other at the super-market a romance develops.

The formatting of the manga was a bit odd in the beginning, but I think that is because it was formatted for a western reader, instead of the traditional manga (right to left). However, it did not take away from the story or the enjoyment of it. I love the story and really wish that it wasn't over.

This one-volume romance manga is a delightful, heartwarming read. It's a compact and satisfying story that feels like a cozy gift, neatly wrapped up with a happy ending.

Set during the work-from-home era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plot centers on two ordinary people who find love amidst the challenges of lockdown life. The realistic setting adds authenticity to their romance, which unfolds in a slow and steady way, without the usual drama seen in many manga. Instead, small, everyday interactions gradually change their lives, showing how even minor influences can lead to something deeper.

The pandemic isn't just a backdrop; it shapes the story. The challenges and adjustments of lockdown are gently integrated, capturing that universal experience of finding joy during isolation.

I'm not really a romance reader at all but this one spoke to me with its story. This was short and sweet story that made me smile. I found the characters and relationship believable and realistic. The pacing was quite fast and never overstayed its welcome.

Nokoru is a logically-minded computer programmer acclimating to working from home during the pandemic. Organizing his home office reminds him of favorite hobbies, like his love of a certain fantasy manga. It also gives him occasion to meet Natsu, his next-door neighbor. The two initially only talk on their balconies, but soon Nokoru develops something of a friendship with the archaeology grad student.

As they trade books and share snacks, a sort of relationship begins to grow between the two. But the world is unpredictable. Travel (when available) is sketchy at best, and someone going silent for prolonged periods is scary when there’s a virus spreading across the world. Together throughout Home Office Romance, Nokoru and Natsu navigate work-from-home life, love, and their (for now) “new normal.”

Home Office Romance follows an “odd-couple” relationship. Nokoru is logically minded and introverted, while Natsu is adventurous and outgoing. She has no trouble telling Nokoru she finds him handsome, for example. But those comments send him running for answers. Is that how women normally talk to men? Does “handsome” mean “cute”? Does she like him like him, or just normal like him?

Of course, the two have plenty in common. Natsu develops an appreciation for video games, and Nokoru learns to embrace her love of travel and archaeology. By the time the manga ends, he finally understands what these strange feelings are. But there’s more to the story than that.

Understandably, we’ve had a bumper crop of “COVID stories” in the last few years. Whether they take the form of zombie plagues, post-apocalyptic narratives, or political intrigue, they do start to get a bit samey. Home Office Romance is much more personal. Rather than trying to address the muchness of the pandemic, it zooms in on the human condition. How does one adapt to this life? What needs and desires float to the surface when isolation is the way of things? And how do we find joy for ourselves amidst the uncertainty?

Despite its setting during the pandemic—perhaps because of that setting—this is a sweet and hopeful story. Many of us felt our priorities shift during lockdown because it was so inescapable. We were forced to contemplate who and what really mattered to us, and what we would do about those priorities once we could all see each other again. Home Office Romance initially seems like nothing more than a quirky rom-com, but it really captures the hopes and fears of that time in a way that very few other stories yet have.