What a fun one shot manga and sweet story! The illustrations were beautifully detailed and i loved the characters. I laughed aloud a lot, and read it all in one night. I will definitely recommend this for purchase at our library, I think it will have a lot of appeal for our readers. Thank you very much for the review copy!

I really liked this, it's cute and I liked the communication between the characters. the art was sooo pretty and just seeing the rooms made me feel so cozy. the narration at the start confused me for a bit but then it all fell into place. I had fun reading it and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a fan of Sweat and Soap, so when I noticed the blurb mentioned this had the same author, I picked it up and was happy to see it had the same sort of adult sweetness I enjoy and S&S.

One touch I liked was that, until the ending climax and grand gesture of love, a lot of the dates these two go on are pretty low key. Shopping at the supermarket together, making dinner together, playing video games together... As a bit of a homebody, the dates being so casual was relatable.

These two were really quite a cute couple overall, and Kintetsu Yamada does a good job showing how two people balance each other out and grow forward together.

Overall, it's a very chill and relaxing sort of read with well defined characters.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Kodansha Publishing for the ARC of Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada. As the first manga I’ve read digitally, this was a delightful experience that surpassed my expectations.

This manga is highly relatable from the outset, capturing the everyday struggles of adulthood, work-from-home life, and quarantine in a way that feels both humorous and heartwarming. The narrative voice is sharp, and the characters’ awkwardness is utterly endearing. I especially loved the interplay between Nokoru’s clueless, introverted demeanor and Natsu’s intentional and bubbly personality. Their contrasting traits complement each other perfectly, creating a dynamic that keeps the story engaging.

Yamada’s sense of humor shines throughout the manga, with moments like the thank-you gift exchange and the “Excel sheet” scene being comedic highlights. The awkward, fumbling nature of their relationship is what makes it so relatable and enjoyable, especially in chapter 11 and the hilarious online ordering mishap in chapter 17.

Beyond the humor, this manga also captures the fear, uncertainty, and loneliness of the pandemic era beautifully. The depiction of how quarantine reshaped daily life feels authentic, making the blossoming romance even more rewarding to watch unfold. The author does a great job showing how love, even in unexpected circumstances, can inspire personal growth and change.

The romantic grand gesture of Nokoru going to Peru for Natsu was an unexpected but heartwarming twist that sealed their connection. It was the perfect payoff for the emotional journey.

With its intentional humor, charming characters, and relatable pandemic-era storytelling, Home Office Romance is a must-read for manga fans. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a light, funny, and sweet love story!

Rating: 4-4.5⭐

Review:
✨Generally, this manga is an easy read although I rarely read romances. It also helps that this manga is a standalone, hence I know the ending fast.
✨I like the drawing style of this manga, thinking it suits the story.
✨In terms of storyline, the progress is believable in their situation but not too detailed. However, it is understandable because it is only one volume.
✨I did see some parts of myself in Nokoru and I do understand his way of thinking (I have some tech background too).
✨Meanwhile, I envied Natsu a little bit because being an archeologist is one of my childhood ambitions.
✨Because this is an adult romance, there are some indications of sexy times between them.
✨In my opinion, this manga is suitable for crushing reading slump due to its storyline and readers getting to know the ending of the story in the same volume.
✨I would say this is a cozy, sweet romance. I’m not familiar with the romance genre but these are vibes I’m getting from the story.
✨Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.

This was a wonderful one-shot adult romance with the time period of the pandemic. I'm familiar with Yamada's series Sweat & Soap and Yamada did not disappoint. The story is very accurate with working from home. The romance was so sweet. This was such a well rounded story. There were multiple scenes that made me smile. I can definitely see myself reading this manga again. Loved the art style.

This is a very sweet one-shot by the author of the manga series Sweat & Soap. There's even a panel of our male protagonist reading it on the train on his phone which I thought was super cute. It's a tiny bit slow in the beginning but once our two characters formally get together, which isn't a surprise as your told they will right at the start, the story really hits its stride.
I liked the premise behind it-to write a COVID-19 inspired tale & I loved the happy ending & how it was achieved. I very much enjoy seeing smaller projects from people whose series I read as it gives them a chance to showcase their talents away from a long term project.
If you're reading Sweat & Soap check this one out as I'm sure you'll enjoy it too!

Thanks to netgalley & Kodansha Comics for the review copy

Very cute story with interesting art and lovely characters! I loved the focus on food/books in the art and how detailed all of the small items were. It really added a lot to the story to have all of the little things be equally important. The characters interactions were really sweet (tense in some areas) and I found myself rooting for them very easily as the story progressed.

The style flipping from really cute to realistic was also really nice and I loved the similarities and differences highlighted between the characters.

This one just wasn't a good fit for me. I didn't feel connected to either character and still feel like we don't really know much about them to like them. The pandemic working from home aspect was realistic but I didn't feel that their romance was, or at least they didn't seem to have much chemistry. But these are just my own opinions so if you are interested in this one after reading the description, you should still check it out as I'm sure others will find much to like.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I will not be reviewing this on other sites as it is below 3 stars for me.

This was such a good read!

I love reading a good manga in between my other reads, especially a cute and funny one.
The characters were fun. Usually, the female main character is shy, but in this one, she is extremely outgoing, which I loved.
I enjoyed this so much that I will be trying out Sweat and Soap next.

Every now and then, I like to pick up a manga to unwind, and Home Office Romance turned out to be the perfect choice for the occasion. This manga stands out for its lightness and its ability to keep readers engaged without feeling heavy or overwhelming.

One of its most commendable features is the art style: the simple and understated drawings seamlessly blend with the narrative. This stylistic choice allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the story without visual distractions, creating a harmonious and well-balanced experience.

Home Office Romance is worth considering if you’re looking for an enjoyable read to relax with, perhaps by the fireplace on a quiet evening. It’s perfect for anyone who appreciates a light yet captivating story.

This manga was so cute, The pacing was really good and the art style had a great balance to go between emphasising the characters to detailing their environment. I was excepting a cute rom com but it went to much more beyond that, showcasing the intricacies of building a bond and how it deepens. I can't say more without spoiling anything, I recommend this if you like a one shot rom comes and slice of life stories.

Unfortunately this couldn't convince me. The story itself seems realistic, especially to those who had been working at home during the pandemic and who can relate. However, somehow there was no spark and so I had no real interest in finishing this book. Therefore I broke off and didn't finish it. As to the drawings I partly like it, except his eyes. Hers are nicely drawn but his are a bit looking like he's a lunatic. So this is unfortunately no manga for me.

Absolutely assured this sweet one shot! Their dynamic was new and very nice to read about. I wish there was more!

*4.5 stars rounded up

This was exactly the type of shorter, lighter read I needed. And a standalone! Home Office Romance follows the love story between Nokoru (a software engineer) and Natsu (an archeology grad student), next-door neighbours who grow closer during lockdown restrictions.
*I do wanna note that although lockdown is a significant setting, it/pandemic is not discussed in detail

This was such a wholesome, grinning-like-a-moron manga; with an attractive art style and lovely conclusion. There were a few parts that maybe could have benefitted from a longer volume, or as a duology, but that's mostly because I loved the characters and wanted more time with them lol.

Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys:
🌸 wholesome slice-of-life
🌸 introverted MMC x bubbly FMC
🌸 rom-com storytelling from the MMC's POV
🌸 cute dates and a hint of closed-door spice
🌸 no third act break-ups
🌸 standalones

— Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5★
Finally managed to read this and I loved it sooo much!!!

It was really fun to see a mature but simple romance blossom, how they slowly learned more about each other and their personal ways of showing their affection for one another. And the art is gorgeous too!!

And when I say simple I mean that they both understand what they want and there's no drama, etc. Of course, there's the natural insecurities and worries that come with loving someone, but they only helped make this feel more sweet, to me.

One thing I particularly loved was seeing the main character's eye bags gradually disappear the more his work-life balance improved and also after the female lead entered his life. I'm really happy with the outcome by the end too. It's never too late to change your surroundings and find places that make you feel happier, even if that might be a luxury to most people.

I'm a little sad this is a standalone volume as I would've loved to see more of the characters, both on their own and as a couple, but it still works perfectly as a single volume. I'm definitely buying this later in paperback!!

Home Office Romance 
-Release November 12 
- oneshot volume
-slice of life, romance, josei, romcom
*Opportunity to read this ARC thanks to @netgalley
and @kodanshamanga

Did you enjoy reading Sweat and Soap? Looking for a one volume rom-com? Well if so, the creator has this new manga. 

The art style is similar to Sweat and Soap and you can tell right from the start- there are no 18+ scenes you have to worry about. It does move along in the story quickly, but you don’t feel like you are missing anything really. I thought the pace was good for this series and still saw some character development of Nokoru.

Unlike Sweat and Soap, Home Office Romance, the female lead was the character who came on stronger versus the male lead. I liked seeing the swap in the gender personalities between the two series. The creators did add a Sweat and Soap easter egg, which was fun to see. There was also mention of another manga series as well (I won't spoil and see if you notice it).

The world is set in the time of a pandemic and we can all connect with that to some extent with covid- especially the lockdown. Office worker Nokoru starts to telework due to a pandemic, which allows him some freedom/more “free time” and the chance to meet his neighbor Natsu. We follow Nokoru on how he met his wife, it all starts with greetings and leads to exchanging of manga/snacks. This exchange starts to change Nokoru’s life and they grow closer to one another.

This was such a cute and romantic read! I finished this in less than a day, and I was kicking my feet and giggling throughout it.

It was refreshing to see a romance manga from the perspective of the MMC, and to see how he reacted to all the FMC hints and comments about her crush on him was funny, adorable and well done all at once!

The art style did a great job of reflecting the characters feelings throughout the story, and even though as a reader we are told that the FMC is the "one", it was still amazing to see how their relationship blossomed in a more calm way since they started off as neighbours, with little to no chemistry, to then falling in love over time.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-arc in exchange for a free, honest review.

Nice easy read. I pretty much finished it in one sitting during lunch. I hope this is one of the many COVID romances coming out soon(I guess it's been almost 4 years since COVID).

The most important thing to me in a manga is the artwork. The simple lines perfectly complement this slice of life. This translation also captures the MMC's deadpan attitude, which is not easy to do.

As most romances are from the FMC's point of view, it is refreshing to see things from the MMC's point of view. I thought only girls go home and think and rethink their interactions with their crush. Apparently, guys do it too. The fact that you know early on that this woman is "the one" does not detract from the story as we concentrate on the two's interactions.

Posted on Goodreads and Amazon

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing me with an ARC for review.

Chef's Kiss. 4.5. The perfect little standalone romance.
Home Office Romance was the most wholesome and cozy pandemic romance. Neighbors Nokoru (software engineer) and Natsu (anthro/archeology grad student) gradually fall in love while being a bit in each others bubble during the lockdowns of the covid=19 pandemic.
Their relationship grows, blossoms and continues as restrictions lift and they get to know each other better and ultimately fall in love. There's even a culmination with a Big Romantic Gesture.
Honestly, this was the slice-of-life palate cleanser that I needed. The art was wonderful and I enjoyed that it was a manga with relatively little drama, just smooth sailing and some panicked introspection from Nokuro.