This standalone romance was super cute! It was drama free and very sweet! I loved this story so much.

Home Office Romance is a charming and cozy read that captures the subtle beauty of connection during a time of social distancing. Kintetsu Yamada brings us a delightful story of two neighbors, Nokoru and Natsu, who navigate the strange new world of remote work and online classes—a reality many of us can relate to. Their relationship evolves from a gentle friendship into something deeper, all set against the backdrop of quiet, personal rediscovery.

Nokoru is a surprisingly sensitive character beneath his gruff exterior. His journey of turning his previously neglected space into a true home feels refreshingly relatable. His budding friendship with Natsu, a cheerful archaeology student, is built on respect and understanding, blossoming naturally despite the physical distance between them. The contrast between Nokoru’s introspective nature and Natsu’s lightheartedness makes for a sweetly complementary pairing that draws you in.

What stands out is how Yamada turns a potentially heavy topic into a light and enjoyable narrative. The pacing feels just right, and the simple, accessible language makes it an easy read. There's an understated warmth in how Nokoru and Natsu’s friendship and romance develop, avoiding any intense drama or toxic dynamics—just a genuine connection.

The artwork itself is beautifully done, with soft, rounded lines that match the gentle tone of the story. Overall, Home Office Romance is a quick but memorable read, balancing romance and realism with a touch of humor. For anyone looking for an original, tender romance set in a unique context, this is a lovely choice.

This was a great book and loved the art, very easy read. I haven't read many books that had the pandemic and social distancing involved, so that was fun! Thank you for letting me review your book for an honest review.

This was such a super cute little romance. I enjoyed the art a lot and the premise. I would have liked it more as a two volume maybe with more buildup of their relationship. It went extremely fast and had very little drama. Read it in one evening. I’d recommend if you want a little romance.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an earc for review.

A very light, joyful read with a (closed door) sexy scene. I really liked following this lovely couple’s romance develop and liked the slow way in which they got to know each other and fall in love. The author portrayed well the budding relationship and I was fully wrapped up in it and rooting for the couple. A very enjoyable light read.

It's a charming romance to read and discover! I really enjoyed reading it, and its English version didn't pose any issues for me. The vocabulary used is fairly simple to understand if you want to give it a try yourself.

As for the plot, we follow Nokutru and Natsu, who are neighbors going through a period of social distancing, something we all experienced. Far from being oppressive, I found the story to be well-paced and light, despite the context, which never feels heavy within these pages. We follow a young man who reconnects with himself and rediscovered passions, as well as his own personal space, which he finally arranges in his neglected apartment. He then meets an archaeology student, who, like him, has to take her classes from home when she's not at the lab. A friendship slowly develops between them, built on respect and compassion. It’s a kind of long-distance relationship that simply brings them closer together. I found Nokoru to be a sensitive and endearing character. Beneath his somewhat rough exterior, he is revealed to be a lovable young man who finds a beautiful complementarity with Natsu, who is more cheerful and lighthearted. It’s a duo that might seem familiar, but it works nonetheless.

It's a quick read, well-paced, and turns a complicated health context into a sweet romance. This setting allows for a story that evolves beautifully over the pages, far from toxic passion or anything that feels unbelievable. It’s just gentle...

The artwork is very pleasant, and I really enjoy the rounded lines.

In short, it's an original romance with touching characters and a relationship that blossoms.

I absolutely loved Sweat and Soap, so when I saw the mangaka had another book I grabbed it right away.

To start, I love the art style. I really liked how much thought was put into the backgrounds and apartments, especially considering the limited settings in this story.

I normally don’t read too many single volume mangas, but I felt like this one was the perfect length for the story. Since it was set during the pandemic, it worked really well as a stand alone volume. The story was sweet and fun, without dragging on.

I really love this mangaka and can’t wait to see what’s they do next.

This was a lovely read. I enjoy finding good one-volume manga because sometimes I just don't have the patience for longer ones, and this was a great little short story. I liked how the characters clearly wouldn't have met if it wasn't for being neighbors during the pandemic, and how that made for a fun dynamic. I also liked how their relationship grew slowly from friendship to romance. Great art, great story, and a great way to spend a little bit of time.


Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for the ARC.

A solid choice for fans of the author's previous work, and an enjoyable look at a romance that started during the lockdowns of the pandemic. Quirky read I would also recommend to adults who are new to the genre.

Lovely illustrations, and a relatable story for many of us that found ways to connect, despite being isolated during the pandemic. I found the characters to be delightful, and the male lead character reminded me of myself and how I am often in my own head too much. Overall a fun, quick read.

This was a cute fade to black romance. I loved how the main characters met and got to know each other. The ending was so sweet. I recommend this manga for 16 and up.

Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced Copy!

Let me preface this by saying I have a bias towards Kintetsu Yamada because I loved Sweat and Soap so much, so I went into this excited... and was not disappointed at all! A nice adult romance with decent communication and communicated expectations, and although of course it's a little jarring to see something set during the COVID-19 pandemic (the afterward explains this story originally started in an anthology for that timeline!) it's MORE jarring to see it not named... but that's also sort of more common I guess? Weird.

Anyway, good characters who are really into each other, who communicate about their schedules (the Excel trade cracked me up) and fell in love over mutual interests and on a personal note, taking advantage of one of my big takeaways over the last few years -- that sometimes a Leap is really worth it.

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

although i really liked this story - I wish it was longer and went a bit deeper into how they grew closer and eventually ended up falling in love. This felt more rushed and a little scattered, but even then I was still rooting for them as a couple.

This is a short and sweet love story about finding love right next door when the world closed down in quarantine. A software engineer and archaeology grad student discover that they have more in common with each other. Through a series of gestures and exchanges their feelings grow until while Natsu is on a dig in another country Nokoru realizes just how important their relationship is and what it means to him. A great standalone manga that has the same cozy-comfy vibes as Sweat & Soap but with closed door spice and filled with real life experience we all are familiar with from when we were seeking connection when the world was closed down.

"Home Office Romance" by Kintetsu Yamada is a heartwarming manga that explores the unexpected connection between two neighbors during a pandemic lockdown. Nokoru, an introverted software engineer, finds solace in working from home, while Natsu, his extroverted neighbor and an archaeology graduate student, brings a burst of energy into his life. Their evolving relationship is depicted with a light and sweet tone, avoiding the heavier themes often associated with pandemic narratives. The art style is charming and effectively brings the characters to life, making their interactions delightful to follow. I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time—definitely a feel-good read! Perfect for readers seeking a wholesome romantic story.

This was a such a cute story. I really enjoyed the characters and the romance. It was a simple plot, and the romance was pretty ordinary, but that is what I liked so much about it. It felt real.

Home Office Romance is about a corporate worker who begins working from home during lock down. He continues to have run-ins with his archeology student neighbor and from this instances a friendship forms. The two have seemingly little in common, except a love for manga and travel, but they continue to grow closer and eventually develop a romantic relationship.

I liked how uncomplicated this story was, but it was still heart-warming and an overall enjoyable read!

I really enjoyed this one-shot manga! This is a very realistic and cute romance between two adult characters. This is one of the few Covid-19 related stories that doesn't feel completely hopeless, but has a way of comforting the reader.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to Kintetsu Yamada, Netgalley, and Kodansha for an opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now that enough time has passed since the end of the COVID pandemic, it was only a matter of time before stories that took place during this era were released. Home Office Romance took a contemporary romance approach that managed to capture the semblance of a realistic relationship developing between two working adults.

The one-shot manga follows the story between engineer Nokoru and and archeology student Natsu. The pair, who become unexpected neighbors in their apartment building, get to know each other through the limitations of physical communication. From small conversations through their respective balconies, to messages exchanged online, to occasional visits to one another’s living spaces, Nokoru and Natsu grow from casual acquaintances to eventual lovers.

I really wished that this was a limited series over a one-shot manga. All the little moments that developed between the main couple were both adorable and offered a solid pacing that executed the friends-to-lovers dynamic perfectly. It was also satisfying to see Nokoru go from an introvert who enjoyed the seclusion that the pandemic brought to a man who found comfort and joy with every interaction he had with Natsu, as well as see Natsu emotionally open up to Nokoru despite her extroverted personality.

I highly recommend giving this manga a read and hope to see more wholesome COVID-centric settings for stories come out in the future.

Me gustó mucho, me costó un poco entender el orden de lectura pero la historia es muy bonita y entretenida, me encantó!

Not something I would normally read. But I did enjoyed it. I would read the next one.
I found it interesting how they met and what happened between them.