Manga Review: Home Office Romance
We don’t see many stories (yet) set during the COVID pandemic. Home Office Romance puts this world event front and center. This manga really excels at showcasing those earlier days of lockdown when everyone had to readjust to working from home. From rearranging a home office to enjoying an extra hour of sleep without having to deal with a commute, I think everyone who lived through this experience will appreciate all the slice-of-life details shown in this manga. This background paired with a sweet romance piqued my interest.
Official Summary
From the creator of Sweat and Soap comes a standalone rom-com manga about two neighbors who find unexpected love during lockdown and learn that working from home doesn’t mean an office romance can’t still blossom.
Quick Information
Story and Art: Kintetsu Yamada
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Published: November 12, 2024
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Rating: 16+
Series Status: Complete
Review
Home Office Romance was based off a oneshot by Kintetsu Yamada for Kodansha’s Manga Day to Day project which showcased life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the author’s note for this series, Kintetsu Yamada explains how they got the idea for a one volume story featuring these same characters.
Like Sweat and Soap, Home Office Romance offers a sweet slice-of-life romance between two people who meet through an unexpected encounter. We watch as neighbors Nokoru and Natsu awkwardly navigate a relationship which deepens over time and to me it feels very natural. Dealing with the awkwardness of trying to find time to actually “date” with busy schedules and the troubles of the pandemic makes for an interesting story!
The characters develop a very healthy and caring relationship despite being in two very different fields of work. They find common ground with their love of the world. They both start slowly letting down their walls to talk about things people would normally hold back, especially with those they don’t know well.
Kintetsu’s art style really accentuates the warm feeling carried throughout this volume. From deadpan tired expressions to flirtatious ones, the art style just evelates it. I also had a good chuckle seeing our main character Nokoru reading a copy of the Sweat and Soap manga on his tablet.
While this isn’t a long oneshot (it’s only twenty chapters long), this manga still tells a meaningful story for its characters. It’s warm and cozy in all the right ways. Combined with a story that takes place during the stress of the pandemic, this standalone volume showcases two adults building a relationship when most human-to-human interaction was halted, even if it feels like a tall tale to find romance at home. The characters are charming and extremely relatable.
If you’re like me and are a fan of Sweat and Soap, I think you’ll be right at home with this story. I highly recommend taking a moment to relax and read the newest one-shot from Kintetsu Yamada.