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!

I really enjoyed when this book takes place. It was beautiful to see their romance grow even during a time where it felt so hard to stay connected.

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.

Here's an excerpt from my full review on my blog https://allthefujoshiunite.com/.

"I found the characters here absolutely charming. Nokoru is an analytical thinker through and through. As a systems engineer, he thinks in pie charts and algorithms in his daily life as well. Izumi’s forwardness leaves him dumbfounded a lot of the time and this kind of intimacy is a new experience for him, but he’s never the stereotypical, obnoxious, ohemgee-I’m-such-a-virgin, nerdy guy. You can tell a lot of thought went into his character. I think it also helps that we read the story through Nokoru’s viewpoint and get to hear his inner thoughts."

4.5 stars

A charming manga with likeable characters. I used to read ten mangas a month but got into a manga slump a year ago and this just cured it! Very quick and straight to the point. I found the characters so interesting and fun, it was cute and wholesome and got sexy at some point which i really enjoyed. Quite surprised at the easiness i flew through this!

A lovely slice of life of two neighbours who might never have connected if the pandemic hadn’t forced them to stay home.

Nokoru is an overworked software programmer who welcomes the chance to stay at home more. He can finally rest properly and do something about his home that’s mostly decorated with carboard boxes. He’s especially proud of his balcony that looks like an ancient jungle temple. It draws the attention of his neighbour, Natsu. She’s a grad-student in archaeology and she admires the atmosphere. They start talking, which leads to neighbourghly help and to shared meals and holidays, and finally to a romance.

The two are very different. She’s extroverted and he’s an introvert who agonises over every step he takes. Luckily for him, she takes the initiative in many steps of their romance. Little by little, they fall in love, until Nokoru is ready for an extravagant display of his emotions.

This was a good, calm read told from Nokoru’s point of view. Nothing much happens, and there’s no high drama. Both characters are nice and their romance is believable. And I like how it helps Nokoru to turn his life into something he enjoys more. It’s a stand-alone story, and good as is. Art is good, although I didn’t catch that he’s supposed to be a bit older.

I loved this so much! Natsu and Mitsu are both so adorable as characters and together! I love the reversal of the usual portrayal of gender roles; and it’s Mitsu who’s the awkward and overthinking type, and Natsu who’s very confident and outgoing. I found myself rooting for both of them the entire time.

I totally recommend this as a chill, romantic read.

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely, quick read. An easy 5 stars for me, thanks to the good art and realistic, down to earth plot.

I loved how human the plot was and the way the main characters didn't have to become someone different to be together. They complemented each other and grew together, supported each other and shared their happiness.

It was a stress-free read and really refreshing.

This was so cute and what I hope for from a fluffy josei. It is adult but still very light-hearted and that it is kind of told by the now husband as a flashback to the beginnings of their relationship just makes it very wholesome. I also very much enjoy the artstyle.

Highly recommend! 4.5/5

Who knew remote work could spark an office romance next door? A Home Office Romance is my first dive into manga, and it did not disappoint! Set during the pandemic, this charming story of neighbors finding love while WFH is just what the doctor ordered. The pacing is spot-on, and the chemistry between these two is filled with just the right mix of sparks and shyness. From side-glances through Zoom meetings to coffee runs that feel like first dates, these characters bring all the pandemic-era romance vibes with humor and a touch of sweetness.
Their awkward yet adorable connection is so relatable—especially for anyone who’s tried to flirt from behind a screen! It’s a feel-good read that keeps you rooting for them all the way through, and it makes you wonder if love really does find a way, even in the weirdest of times. A fun, breezy story that’s perfect for unwinding after a day of WFH!

You can find the detailed review on the blog: https://kohleyedme.com/2024/11/11/home-office-romance-by-kintetsu-yamada-bookreview/

I really loved sweat and soap! Yamada has a talent for very sweet and endearing romance and it was so amazing to see this again. I really appreciate pandemic fiction because it's a thing that happened and it's cathartic to read about other experiences and fiction within that ephemeral time. Highly recommend!

Divertido, leve e que trás uma sensação de pertencimento. Os personagens são pessoas comuns, que passando por momentos de solidão e incertezas em meio a pandemia (assim como nós) encontraram novos propósitos, auto descobertas e um amor bem fofo. Gostei muito da leitura, 4/5.

EN: Fun, light, and brings a sense of belonging. The characters are ordinary people who, while going through moments of loneliness and uncertainty during the pandemic (just like us), found new purposes, self-discoveries, and a really cute love story. I really enjoyed the reading, 4/5.