As someone else who is socially awkward I loved this one. The romance was so cute and I loved the art as well.

What a wonderful spin on the workplace romance sub-genre! I love cozy and relaxing reads where the main characters are adults with lives outside of each other. So often in romance the characters can become enmeshed or co-dependent, but in this story we have two adults awkwardly but warmly coming together to share in their passions together.

"Home Office Romance" nos presenta la historia de dos vecinos que se conocen en plena pandemia. A medida que transcurre la historia, los personajes van adaptándose a su nueva rutina diaria. El protagonista, que empieza a trabajar desde casa, decide transformar su espacio de trabajo en un lugar que no solo sea funcional, sino que también refleje su personalidad. La protagonista me pareció bastante directa, pero en el buen sentido, lo que le da un toque genuino a su carácter. La química entre ambos personajes es excelente, y aunque deseaba que se besaran en muchos momentos, al mismo tiempo sentía que su espera hacía que ese momento, cuando finalmente llegara, fuera aún más emocionante. Una historia encantadora que logra mantener el suspenso en los momentos clave.

ARC Review: Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada

I absolutely adored Home Office Romance. It's a simple yet original love story that feels both heartwarming and refreshing. The manga captures the quiet joys of everyday life, making even the smallest interactions between the characters feel special.

Nokoru, a meticulous and introverted IT engineer, thrives in his routine, especially when the pandemic allows him to work from home. His world shifts when he meets Natsu, his lively and spontaneous next-door neighbor, an archaeology graduate student. Their growing connection—built through balcony chats, hobby exchanges, and unexpected moments—feels organic and genuine.

💛 What I Loved
- Adorable Art – Natsu’s expressive eyes? Nokoru’s awkward charm? Chef’s kiss!
- Unique Concept – A slice-of-life romance that naturally unfolds during a pandemic, with less focusing on its hardships.
- Opposites Attract – The dynamic between Nokoru’s overthinking and Natsu’s carefree nature is beautifully executed. A meticulous, overthinking introvert + a free-spirited, sunshine-like extrovert = the best combo.
- Simple Yet Impactful – No dramatic twists, just a wholesome love story that leaves you smiling.

✨ Tiny Drawbacks
- Slow Start – The pacing is deliberate, which may take time to get into (but once it picks up, it really picks up!)
-Flashback Narration – Knowing they end up together might take away some tension, but honestly? I don't mind. It’s totally worth it.

🎨 Final Thoughts
This manga is the perfect cozy romance for anyone who loves slice-of-life stories with natural chemistry and lovable characters. It’s simple, sweet, and absolutely delightful. If you need a pick-me-up read, Home Office Romance is it!

✨ Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! My heart is so full after reading this. 💕

Super cute! I loved the story and the romance, I enjoyed a good socially awkward king opening up to the world and the perfect woman story

"Home Office Romance" is a charming and lighthearted manga that blends office comedy with sweet romance. The art is adorable, with expressive character designs that perfectly capture the awkward yet endearing moments between the protagonists. The workplace setting adds a fresh twist to the romance genre, and the interactions between the characters are both amusing and heartwarming. Fans of slow-burn romances with a good dose of humor will enjoy this delightful read. I especially appreciated how the story balances professional and personal dynamics in a relatable way. Definitely a fun and cozy read!

Full review on website: https://animecorner.me/manga-review-home-office-romance-will-leave-you-wanting-more/

This was a cute story about a love story that happened during the pandemic. I enjoyed the art, the premise, and the characters. There isn't much more to say about it, but the story is aware it's short and doesn't drag it out, so it's a good short read.

cute and short manga, I had a nice time reading this!

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc.

This mangaka always know how to write great nuanced love stories, no matter the concept. Even though I did drop her Sweat & Soap, since that was a bit too much lol, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this pandemic romance. It was just so cute and simple in all the best ways: their interactions, slow-burn, chemistry. I like seeing people become their better selves with the aid of another.

Thank you to Kodansha for providing me this E-Arc thru Netgalley!

Acknowledgements and grateful thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics publishing for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC: 'Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada'. All opinions are my own and are not a reflection of the publishers and/or author, of which I have no association with.

Three out of five stars (3/5 stars).

This was super cute for a straight romance manga/anime. I really enjoyed the characters and the main character's growth throughout the book.

"Nokoru has been working brutal overtime at a demanding job when the pandemic lockdown finally gives him the chance to telework from home. This new situation (and the time he saves on his commute) lets him rediscover old passions and new hobbies. The lush garden he creates on his apartment balcony provides a chance to get to know his cute neighbor, Natsu, a graduate student in archeology." — the blurb from NetGalley's official website.

It wasn't at all hard to read this and I usually struggle remembering to read the opposite way of graphic novels and my usual comic books.

I did put off finishing this due to other responsibilities and preferences, but I do wish I hadn't put it off as long as I did as I quite enjoyed this

Not a lot really happens which isn't my usual taste and outside of NetGalley I don't think I would have ever picked this up and that would have been a shame.

This was a very cute and short manga. The couple was interesting with their interactions and story while the art fight the general atmosphere of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc!

5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this one shot manga. It was really sweet and romantic. It was also a nice change reading a romance between adults, I don't read a lot of those for some reason lol. These characters were very well rounded, and I love how they helped each other grow and become happy together. This was lovely, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for other works by Kintetsu Yamada!

Nokoru and Natsu are next-door neighbors working from home in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a time of masks, social distancing and limited human interaction - will they become friends? Or perhaps something more?

We follow Nokoru who is a logical, specific man working a demanding IT Job. He’s very anti-social with a very dry humour and thrives on routine. We watch him slowly fall in love with Natsu, the next door neighbor who is a bubbly and quirky archeology student.
Nokoru narrates the story, but due to his structured personality, I didn’t find it super engaging. I wish we got alternating chapters between him and Natsu, as I loved her quirky and fun personality, and think it would have been a great addition to the storytelling.

Both characters are very neurodivergent coded (this isn’t specified in the story at all, just a personal observation / opinion) and are ultimately an interesting match! This is a quick read, and it’s very interesting to see how lockdown affected different people - especially in other countries from my own.

Disclaimer: this book was read as an ARC for Netgalley. That does not mean this review isn't honest. I would never lie about the books I do or do not like.


I did like the storyline but the format was utterly confusing. I kept being uncertain if I should read from left to right or from right to left.

The storyline is worth a 3 or so stars. But the format wasn't my thing. If you like this format I do suggest it!

Although I didn't manage to get to this one before the publish date, I ended up really enjoying it. I loved the art and the sweet wholesome relatable story

I was 5 pages in when I had to stop reading and ask my local comic shop to order me a copy. I haven't read Sweat and Soap, but my husband really enjoyed it, so I was excited to read this. It is so sweet. I was instantly hooked and rooting for them.

5 stars

This is the type of romance that just gives me exactly what it says it’s gonna give you and nothing more. There’s literally nothing wrong with that, and I actually did enjoy this manga. It’s a simple cozy romance with likeable MCs. I would recommend if you want a quick read and just need a slice of life romance to bring you back to life. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

This was super cute, I really liked it! The chemistry between the leads made it a fun read, and I have to admit I do love the workplace romance trope. I always find it tricky to rate standalone manga since they're so short, but this one was definitely enjoyable!

During a pandemic lock-down Nokoru is advised to work from home. He eventually meets his neighbour Natsu out on their adjacent balconies and they strike up a limited friendship (to begin with).

A light-hearted, wholesome, cutesy romance that will leave you with happy vibes.