Publishing date: 12.11.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Features:
Covid setting
Both are crushing but neither knows about it
Slight adult themes
Both are geeks and nerds
Literal next door neighbors

This was so sweet. That is really all I want to say about it. Nice artstyle, nice story, a little banter between the two. Not really chemistry, but more so "fitting together" in a calm and belonging kind of sense.

The covid setting might catch a few people off guard. So a little warning for those of you who have a sensitive spot for that. It doesn't really take a front seat part in the story, but it has some relevance.

Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, A tier. This is just a sweet little manga that works perfectly as a palette cleanser. Just the right amount of longing, the right amount of sickly sweet, and a little hint of spicy.
I think this could be a good introduction too for romance mangas.

Will recommend :--)

Home Office Romance is an adorable story of how two awkward people--an archeology grad student and a software engineer forced to work from home due to Covid--gradually go from friendly neighbors to husband and wife. From borrowing books to staying over for Christmas, I found myself so endeared to both Izumi and Nokoru and their budding romance.

When an overseas dig takes Izumi away for over a month, we truly see how deeply the bond between Izumi and Nokoru truly is. I don't want to spoil the ending, but the final chapter was my favorite. 😊

This was such a cute manga!! I loved the art style, and the story was simple but sweet in a way that I just adored.

This was so adorable! This little romance manga put the biggest smile on my face. It’s two sweet nerds who are career oriented, massive readers, and who hold infinite curiosity for the world around them coming together and falling in love. It’s both the sweet awkwardness of a first meeting and the tender ease of a relationship simply falling into place the way it was meant to. It’s the quirks of two people with different passions who are open to learning about each other and exploring those passions together.

This manga is what a healthy loving relationship looks like. Start to end. I loved this so much. When you want a cosy little romance manga to enjoy, pick up ‘Home Office Romance’. It’ll warm your heart and make you feel giddy inside.

I really enjoyed this story. It's cute, funny, and pretty relatable. It would probably be a five-star read if the length had been a bit longer.

This manga follows our main character as he is working from home during the pandemic. He meets his next door neighbour and a romance ensues. This was so cute and a fun time. I enjoyed it and would recommend for something light, fun and quick to read.

This is a very quick read. As someone who read the other work of Kintetsu Yamada, this genre is really not new for me. It always made me giggle a lot when reading the manga. This manga is very charming and reminds me of the lockdown days due to the pandemic. This is very relatable as well specially on the part that I need to invest good quality of office stuffs and equipment to start working from home.

The manga is all about the protagonist, Nokoru, finds himself teleworking from home, which allows him to rediscover old passions and hobbies. His newfound time leads him to create a lush garden on his apartment balcony, where he meets Natsu, a graduate student in archaeology.

I enjoyed the story as it also captures the essence of building a relationship despite of the pandemic and social distancing. And it will always be relatable to readers with the same circumstance during those days. This manga is also easy to follow and is a delightful read that keeps you turning pages into the late night.

So, if you enjoy heartfelt, slice of life romances with a touch of reality, then this is definitely worth checking out! <3

Excited for the physical copy soon!

Summary:

Nokoru has gotten used to living a hectic life thanks to his demanding job. So it’s a bit jarring when he suddenly has to start working from home, courtesy of the lockdown. The time saved from his commute is…more than anticipated.

So, he finally puts time and energy into his apartment. In doing so, he gets to know his neighbor, Natsu. They bond over their time together, enjoying their patio space and extra time.

Review:

Home Office Romance is a relatable and sweet story; I can’t recommend it enough. This romance is pretty much the epitome of pandemic romances, and despite the lighter content, it’ll hit hard for a lot of readers.

The story follows two characters with very different lives. They have only two things in common - living next door and dealing with pandemic lockdowns. However, it’s a timely meet-cute concept that I can’t get over.

I loved the down-to-earn nature of Home Office Romance; it felt wholesome and so real at the same time, providing the perfect break from reality. While this volume contains the full story, I would continue reading if given the chance.

Highlights:
Slice-of-Life
Manga
Romance
Working from Home
Sweet & Endearing

This was such a sweet read. I loved that our main characters, Nokoru and Natsu were so down-to-earth. Even though the story takes place during Covid, it doesn't feel like the main plot, which is amazing.

There is no conflict or crazy drama going on throughout the story, it is just a sweet and romantic story of how the two fall in love.

I highly recommend this if you are looking for a cute standalone manga with a happily ever after!

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I picked up a manga, but when I saw this on the “Read Now” section on NetGalley, I decided to give it a shot. I’ve been feeling super overwhelmed lately, and the idea of something light and fun to read really appealed to me. (Plus, I’ve been avoiding requests because deadlines = anxiety for me right now.) This manga turned out to be exactly what I needed—a total breath of fresh air.

It’s funny, but it also digs a little deeper into pandemic life, working from home, and living alone. I related so much to Nokuro—his anxious personality and constant overthinking really hit home for me. Watching the romance slowly evolve was honestly so heartwarming. It wasn’t over-the-top or too fast; it just felt real and comforting.

Huge thanks to Kodansha Comics, Kintetsu Yamada, and NetGalley for this gem. It gave me a much-needed escape and reminded me why I should pick up manga more often! (less)

Home office romance was a cute story. I felt at times it was kind of choppy in the flow from one chapter to another but I liked the personality the artist was able to give the characters. The ending felt cut short and I expected the story to be more conclusive. I felt the art was very well done and I found myself laughing out loud at the MMC’s humor and formality.

Home Office Romance was exactly the kind of sweet and lighthearted manga I look for. I liked how Yamada took the COVID pandemic lockdown and showed ways that the extended time at home had some positive side effects, like helping Nokoru discover old and new passions. The romance between Nokoru and Natsu is delightfully sweet and awkward. I especially liked the way it was their shared existing interests that made them spend more time together. This was a delightful, quick read that I'd highly recommend for a quick mood-booster.

This manga made me laugh a few times. I like that it touches on the topic of the pandemic, what we experienced when we were isolated and also the bond that is formed between two completely different people.

A fun, romantic story worth reading.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this e-book.

This book was exactly what I needed. It was a very cozy and adorable experience!

The manga takes place during the Covid-19 lockdown, but doesn't focus on it at all. We are thrown into Nokoru and Natsu's world, witnessing their little interactions starting as neighbors.

The book is very relatable and is told in a slice of life fashion.
The interactions are realistic and cute. Nokoru is nervous and awkward, making him quite endearing, while Natsu is more forward and sunshine-like. It was nice being in Nokoru's head when he was overthinking the simplest things hahaha

I appreciate it being a standalone, but I definitely finished it wanting to read more about the two!

3⭐️

Very cute close proximity manga inspired by the pandemic! The two characters get to know each other as they are neighbors and both of their lives get derailed by having to stay home more, but after getting to know one another, they spark a romance.

It was an easy and quick read and I related to the FMC alot because pandemic or not, my idea of a date is staying in, reading and playing video games 😂 I loved how relatable it was, even down to when the MMC was dressed formal above the waist and only pjs below when he was in his zoom meeting 😂

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is such a cute and quick read and is drama free focusing on two people finding each other and reigniting their own passions for life. It just flowed perfectly even without something much going on.

Home Office Romance is a heartwarming tale of love and connection during the unpredictable pandemic.

The main characters, Natsuo & Nokoru feel real and grounded in reality. Their relationship has a slow but steady build up, giving the reader plenty of time to learn about them as individuals and as a couple. As we read the story from Nokoru's perspective, we also experience the fostering of their romance and queasiness of "are they flirting with me or just being kind?"

The pacing makes it an easy and enjoyable read, the romance is believable and sweet! I finished it in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it!

Thank you netgalley and kodansha comics for for the opportunity to read this early copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!

This👏was👏incredible!!! So unbelievably wholesome and sweet in truly the sweetest way possible. I loved the communication and how the story developed over the course of the manga!!!This was just incredible all around and I desperately want to see more of these two!!!!

GET YOU A MAN WHO WOULD FLY ALL THE WAY TO PERU TO SEE YOU!!!!!!!

*Home Office Romance* is a refreshing, standalone contemporary romance manga that tells the heartfelt story of Nokoru, an overworked computer scientist, and Natsu, a graduate student in archaeology. Set during the pandemic, the two neighbors meet by chance on their balconies—Natsu airing her bedsheets and Nokoru enjoying a rare moment of fresh air. Their relationship blossoms through small, meaningful moments, gradually building into a beautifully crafted love story.

What sets this manga apart is the couple's mature and direct approach to their relationship, a rarity in Japanese romance stories. Their open communication feels authentic to reality, and the author does a stellar job relaying this sentiment in the book's few pages. This manga is an absolute 10/10, and I’m eagerly looking forward to exploring more works by the author!

🏢 Home Office Romance 🏢

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Finished: 11/14/24


It should be noted that I will read anything by Kintetsu Yamada! I loved their Sweat and Soap series and I'm very happy to read their newest work.

Nokoru was a fun MMC with his tired facial expressions and seeing him fall for his sweet next door neighbor. I loved seeing their relationship grow and Nokoru trying to keep their interactions going.

I like how the mangaka kept the story to only one volume due to covid reasons and not knowing how this pandemic would pan out. But I bet I would have loved Nokoru and Natsu as much as Asako and Kotaro.

A definite must read for the office worker romance readers and who wants a well done one shot!