Well, to be honest, I didn't have many expectations toward this stand-alone manga. But I was curious about how they incorporated pandemic life into the story.

Nokoru is an IT professional and a workaholic who commutes an hour to his office daily. When the pandemic hits, and the work-from-home policy kicks in, his life changes.

At first, Nokoru only used his room as a place to sleep and rest—nothing more. But working from home forces him to rethink his space. While adjusting to this new routine, he realizes something surprising: he has a neighbor.

Her name is Natsu, a cheerful doctoral student in archaeology. Natsu’s bubbly and curious personality makes her interested in everything, including Nokoru’s seemingly boring life. Long story short, they get to know each other, and a sweet relationship blossoms.

What I loved most about this manga is how adorable Nokoru and Natsu are together. I couldn’t get enough of how Natsu’s open, sunny personality complements Nokoru’s grumpiness—it creates the perfect dynamic. The best part? Nokoru is so considerate of Natsu’s schedule that he even does a survey to figure out the best time for their dates. How could you not fall for someone like that?

Overall, this short story is a delightful read—light, enjoyable, and heartwarming. I’d rate it a 4 out of 5, and I’m already wondering if there are other stories out there with a similar vibe.

This was such a comforting read for me! I enjoyed both characters so much and it just had very cozy vibes. I want to read more but it wrapped up so beautifully it would be selfish to ask for more!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a sweet story and fans of Manga will enjoy this story! There were so many relatable moments that reminded me of the loneliness and joys found when working from home ❤️

Looooove. This was such a sweet story about finding love with a neighbor during the pandemic. Topical, current, funny, and adorable. Highly recommend!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eBook.

Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada was the first standalone manga that I have read in a very long time. I was delightfully surprised by the whole premise. Yes, it begins during the pandemic lockdown, but the whole story is very... hopeful. The romance was drama-free, which I appreciated. Not all love stories have to be filled with miscommunications. There is strength in quieter/ more mature relationships. I would recommend this book to every manga/graphic novel reader out there.

Book Name: Home Office Romance
Author Name: Kintetsu Yamada
Myrating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Description:
Nokoru, a man who has been working brutal overtime, finally gets the chance to telework from home due to the pandemic lockdown. With the extra time saved from his commute, he discovers old passions and hobbies, including creating a lush garden on his apartment balcony. This brings him closer to his cute neighbor, Natsu, a graduate student in archaeology. As social distancing makes face-to-face interactions risky, Nokoru and Natsu navigate how to build a relationship in these strange times. The story is a cozy, funny, and heartwarming office romance that unfolds at home during an unusual time.

My Thoughts:
This manga is a delightful and refreshing read. It's funny, lighthearted, and perfect for fans of cozy romances. I loved how the story unfolded, with both characters growing closer despite the challenges of social distancing. The balance between humor, romance, and the unique circumstances made it a wonderful experience. I found the character development to be charming and felt the manga really captured the spirit of adapting to new situations.

I Recommend:
If you're a fan of heartwarming romances, quirky situations, and a bit of humor, I highly recommend Home Office Romance. It's the perfect escape into a light, feel-good story.

Thanks to @netgalley and publisher @kodansha_en for providing me with an ARC. Home Office Romance is available on Amazon, so go grab your copy today

this was such a cute, slice of life manga. full of adorable and wholesome everyday moments between neighbours who meet via their balconies during the pandemic.

Set during covid where two neighbors begin to work from home and bond over shared reading and food. Eventually falling in love and gaining new hobbies that their careers previously didn't allow them to. An interesting pandemic perspective that I really enjoyed in its manga format

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 is such a cute story! It has a calm vibe, and there were some really funny moments. I also really like the artwork. I'll definitely be checking out more of the author's work!

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!