Book Title: Home Office Romance
Author: Kintetsu Yamada
Published by: Kondansha Comics
Published on: November 12, 2024
Genre: Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, Romance
**This is an ARC from Netgalley. There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating.
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.
How do two adults build a relationship amid “social distancing,” when face-to-face interaction is frown upon, even dangerous? It feels like a tall tale to find an office romance at home, but these are strange times…
Who could have guessed that remote work would be the spark for a romance? This manga is my first-ever, and I have to say, it made a fantastic debut! Read on for the detailed review.
Set in the throes of the pandemic, A Home Office Romance by Kintetsu Yamada explores just that, bringing a unique twist to the classic office romance by moving it right next door! I didn’t know what to expect—was it going to be a slow burn? Too “cutesy”? Would I connect with the format? But A Home Office Romance quickly swept me off my feet with its charm and relatable story.
Here, the thrill of an office romance unfolds in a time when we’re all adjusting to work-from-home, Zoom meetings, and socially-distanced coffee breaks. The twist? The love interests are neighbors who find themselves crossing paths in a whole new way when lockdown begins.
The pacing in this manga is spot-on! From their slightly awkward “meet-cute” moments through shared walls to Zoom mishaps that reveal more than intended, every scene carries an undercurrent of chemistry that keeps you turning the pages. The characters are both endearing and real, and I loved the sparks between them that teetered on shyness and tension. You can just feel the awkward excitement that’s so familiar from real-life crushes—especially when you’re seeing the person every day (literally, in this case).
It’s light-hearted and funny in a way that truly reflects the weirdness of those pandemic days. This book made me smile, laugh, and think about how relationships (and awkward flirting!) can find their way into even the strangest of times. The setup is incredibly relatable—who among us didn’t feel a little isolated and in need of human connection during lockdown? And this story nails that feeling of closeness from afar, making it a unique, feel-good pandemic love story that feels perfect for our times.
🌟If you want to get the Book, you can find it here:
In a gist, here’s what you can expect from this book.
💫Heartfelt💫Quirky💫Healing
Whether you’re a seasoned manga reader or a first-timer like me, A Home Office Romance will have you hooked with its sweet storyline, fun illustrations, and characters you’ll find yourself rooting for. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for those who need a reminder that love can happen in unexpected places—even next door!
Have you read Home Office Romance? I’d love to know your thoughts.
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This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
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COVID had created many unusual situations. Home Office Romance is one such a thing. The story of Kintetsu Yamada has been reviewed by the author of bolgpost. The review is lucid and details to readers what to expect from the book, well.
I haven’t read a manga too, and this one is romance. My favourite stress buster genre. Checking our Net Galley.
I’ve been meaning to get my hands on manga for sometime now. This book and your heartwarming review leads me to believe this book is going to be my first!
What a beautiful story the writer has thought of. While everyone could only talk of the depressing social distancing amidst lockdown, here’s one who talks of romance next door. This is such a positive thinking in gloomy times. Thanks for the review Shalini.
I have never read a manga series. I love romance. So all in all, a great suggestion for me to pick this one up. Your excitement is palpable!
Manga series is still not in my read list and I think I must give it a try as it seems something interesting to read. Thanks for the recommendation.
Your review beautifully captures the charm and relatability of A Home Office Romance! I love how you highlighted its heartwarming humor and realistic pandemic dynamics—makes me want to read it immediately!
Haven’t read manga. Maybe as you said in the review, this would a be good debut for me too. The “Zoom mishaps that reveal more than intended” bit definitely piqued my curiosity and I can never say no to a good romcom. Thanks for the recommendation
Manali recently posted…A Child’s View
In my opinion, pandemic days were tiring and yet filled with better family conversations that uplifted the importance of family time. This must be a sweet and heartwarming story is what I understand from your review.
I’ve never read a manga series before, but I’m a big fan of romance. This seems like the perfect recommendation for me, and I think it’s the ideal one to start with.
This sounds like a sweet story 🙂 Manga is on my tbr wishlist too. I recognise that the pandemic while created a mayhem also created a lot more for many people, and i am happy to read more stories – both fiction and non-fiction from those years.
I love mangas. This plot is just amazing..thanks for the honest review I’m gonna check this out soooner
The title is so freaking intriguing! And the way you penned the review, I am definitely getting my hands on this!
Honestly, I thought that Manga was for kids and never even attempted to try it out. Seeing that you enjoyed it I guess I should give a read. Does seem like a cute story.
This sounds like such a heartwarming read! I love the idea of a romance blossoming in the midst of a pandemic. Definitely adding this to my TBR list!