I really liked the way human relationships were treated in this book, and that the romance was done so well! There was a bit of a slow build, but once it gets going it's incredibly sweet. I really enjoyed Kintetsu Yamada's previous works, as he always does human relationships so tenderly. If you want a cozy romance that is refreshing, give it a go!

I am not usually someone who likes the romance genre, but always have been a sucker for the rom-com genre. Mostly in movies so far but now I can also say that it works for me in Manga too. This was honestly a very refreshing and fun read and I wish there was more of it. It's the kind of read that just gives you a warm good feeling that makes you.long for such a romance yourself.

I would totally recommend this to everyone, even if they are not used to reading Manga or Romance.

Nokoru is a systems engineer that has been sent to work from home due to COVID. Since he had previously only rarely been at his apartment, he had no idea that the charming and fun Natsu lived next door. She gradually pries him out of his shell and the whole thing is just adorable. I love this so much. I don't know if this is the first of a series or if it is a collection of shorts, but what a cute and fun experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an advanced copy of this manga. This is a cute and realistic story about two people falling in love during the COVID pandemic from the creator of Sweat and Soap. While this isn’t Sweat and Soap, it is still as entertaining as anything Yamada has written before. It’s not often that we get a stand-alone romance manga, but this was such a pleasure to read, and I hope more creators turn out projects like this. The art is good as always, but Yamada really manages to capture the magic and tension of finding and experiencing new love in one volume. I think that’s that real accomplishment here, Yamada manages to tell a lovely story without filler, and it doesn’t feel rushed or incomplete. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romance manga or looking for a love story during a very interesting period. This will have you cheesy smiling and really, is there anything better than that?

Cute manga. I loved the art style and the neighbours to lovers trope!!
Quick read, recommend to anyone who loves a palate cleanser and cute romance.

This was such a cute manga! I loved that it told the whole story in a single volume, it's really perfect for someone who is looking to pick up a quick read. This felt very self contained and complete. The characters were very sweet with each other. They were both really good at communicating their feels, and being open with one another. It captured a time that was stressful for a lot of people and turned it into a sweet love story. There was also little drama in this story that made it a really pleasant read for one sitting.

I also really enjoyed the artwork!

I loved Sweat & Soap, so I was very happy to be able to read this! It's a sweet romance, cute, funny, and highly relatable. I wish it could have been a longer story, but it was also nice to read a one-off manga.

This was so cute. I loved the art style and the characters. The story was fun to follow and a really cute romance for anyone looking for one

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics US for making this available to read for Netgalley members. All opinions are my own.

I have read this mangakas series "Sweat and Soap", so I was very happy to see this one shot by them as well. It's hard to find Working Adult Romances in the mainstream manga sphere so I am so happy it turned out as wonderfully as it did. The illustrations were amazing and on par with the Sweat and Soap Series, however, I liked this story line so much more. As someone who started working from home during the pandemic I related with a lot of the work issues Nokoru is going through in the beginning. Just the weird work life balance that went on when I switched toi fulyl remote. I will say I am happy that Covid wasn't mentioned constantly through the book as in all honesty it would have bummed me out. It played key roles in the plot and led to a sweet ending that I am satisfied with.
There is "gentle spice", but nothing more than innuendos and fade to black. Which I also appreciate as I sometimes just wanna enjoy the fluff of romance in manga. It's a good read to get done in an evening or to savor over a weekend. Would highly recommend to anyone who needs working adult character romances.

I thought this was super cute!! A quick easy read that I enjoyed. I related a lot to the MMC being an introvert and over-thinking small things, but I also loved the FMC and her energy. I thought they were a good balance for one another. The artwork was amazing!!

So cute and so accurate for the glee of WFH and the challenges that come with it. Rewriting the pandemic in a nicer light to show that it wasn't all death and destruction was a nice touch as well.

This manga was just so cute and so cozy. I had to force myself to stop binge-reading it and go back to my work.
Home office romance is a beautiful cozy slice of life manga which feels so relatable. The guy Nokoru is a system engineer working at a company whereas his next door neighbor Izumi is a grad student majoring in archaeology. Due to the pandemic situation, they are told to adopt social distancing and work from home, so Nokoru, made some arrangements in his gardens inspired from his mangas and lack of actual travel and that catches the eye of Izumi. Though this unconventional garden they found themselves in a Rhythm that matches each other footsteps though awkward at first. And it is just so cute though it does get quite intimate later on.
Overall, I love the short chapters and the pacing of the story. I love how the characters merge with each other. I’ll give 4.5 ⭐️ stars. Thanks to #netgalley for an opportunity to review this manga. I would definitely gift this to my friends.

During the height of lockdown, two neighbors find an unexpected love while working from home.

This was an adorably mundane romance, and I loved it. There was nothing dramatic or overly exciting about this - it was just about two perfectly ordinary people finding each other. To some, this might sound like a bad thing, but I found it so cozy. This is the type of romance I love most.

The art style was also great, although I did find the male lead to have the smallest pupils in existence.

If you're looking for a cozy, sweet romance with zero angst, this is for you!

I liked it, although I’m definitely not a fan of slow-burn romance, so I found the last part of the story more enjoyable. The connection between the characters became more intense, which made me feel more invested in their journey. Overall, it was a good experience.

This is such a cute, fluffy graphic novel! I quickly fell in love with the characters and the relationship they developed throughout the story. It was funny, adorable, and an overall amazing story. The writing is enjoyable and I loved the simplicity, yet captivating art style.

I’d love to find more graphic novels similar to this one!

I want to thank Kodansha and NetGalley for this eARC. This is my honest opinion.

ENG: I love Kintetsu Yamada!
Sweat&Soap is one of my favorite series, and I have been waiting for a long time for some of her other works to be published in English or Italian.

Home Office Romance or love in the time of Covid: it all begins when our MMC, Nokoru, starts smartworking. Until then, his bare apartment had only been the place to go back to sleep after an exhausting day. Looking around, he understands that it is time to make it more welcoming, both inside and outside, and on the balcony he creates a lush garden. That’s what attracts the attention of her neighbor, Natsu, an archeology graduate...
Kintetsu Yamada's stories are as simple as they are engaging: her characters are ordinary people, with whom it is very easy to identify; there are no dramas, and everything is extremely "easy"; there are tender, funny moments, others more touching, and, why not, there can also be a bit of spice (not in this case). In short, they are everyday stories which always manage to hit the mark. Adorable!




ITA: Adoro Kintetsu Yamada! Sweat&Soap è una delle mie serie preferite, e aspettavo da tempo la pubblicazione in inglese o in italiano di altre sue opere.

Home Office Romance ovvero l’amore ai tempi del Covid: tutto inizia quando il nostro protagonista, Nokoru, comincia a lavorare in smartworking. Fino ad allora, il suo spoglio appartamento era stato solo ed unicamente il posto in cui tornare a dormire dopo una giornata estenuante. Guardandosi attorno, capisce che è il caso di renderlo più accogliente, sia all’interno sia all’esterno, e sul balcone crea un rigoglioso giardino. È proprio questo ad attirare l’attenzione della sua vicina, Natsu, una laureata in archeologia…

Le storie di Kintetsu Yamada sono tanto semplici quanto coinvolgenti: i suoi protagonisti sono persone comuni, con cui è facilissimo identificarsi; non ci sono drammi, e tutto è estremamente “easy”; ci sono momenti teneri, divertenti, altri più toccanti, e, perché no, può esserci anche un po’ di spice (non in questo caso). Insomma, sono storie di tutti i giorni, che riescono sempre a fare centro.
Adorabile!

Kintetsu Yamada does such a good job writing romance manga for an older audience. I find it interesting that the language of the translation is also aimed at more advanced readers.

The character progression was lovely, and it's just so nice to see characters who are so forward with their affection. There were no long periods of miscommunication or awkwardness. It's very refreshing to read, i like that Natsu is usually the one to take the first step, but Mitsu always reciprocates.

It did get slightly idle at some points. However, I guess that's to be expected from any slice of life.

Your Honor, I love them. <3

5 STARS EVERY DAY, FOREVER. I was absolutely beside myself when I seen my favorite mangaka in the read now section. Kintetsu's "Sweat and Soap" has been ingrained into my soul since I first read it in 2021 (in love with the sneak peaks at these panels when it shows him reading manga). The story was so well executed as a one-shot manga that it didn't feel like we were missing anything. All of the sweetness, love, tension, personality, and growth that I crave in my reads was perfectly balanced here with Nokoru and Natsu. Nokoru, while reserved and awkward, didn't fight the pull that naturally seems to gravitate from Natsu. Natsu knew what she wanted, and she could clearly see that she needed to take the reins so that her sweet boy could thrive. Works like this is what keeps me knee deep in manga.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this wonderful opportunity at an ARC.

There are not a lot of hetero romance mangas with the male love interest's point of view as the singular view, like this one, and it was honestly so refreshing. It was also nice to see the woman make the first move but they're both pursuing each other equally. The way the romance progress was just very sweet and smooth, the two encouraging and delving into each other's interests and passions. I also liked how the pandemic was handled in this, very in passing.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS! I can't wait to own it and read it a million more times. I loved the pacing of this and the romance so much. The art is stunning, the story the cutest. I wanted more!!!!