Kodansha Comics; $17.99
Narumi and Hirotaka, on the surface, are a couple of everyday, 20-something office workers – nothing special about either of them! But both of them, deep down, have a hidden secret: they’re huge nerds. Narumi’s a big otaku, and loves to cosplay and game as well, while Hirotaka is a big-time gamer who also enjoys a good manga once in a while.
The pair has known each other since elementary school, and now work in the same office. Both of them have struggled in the dating scene, as their geeky hobbies have driven away potential significant others. They make the obvious choice to start dating each other, though it begins pretty platonically, with Hirotaka simply offering to help out Narumi at an upcoming convention. But can real feelings develop for these two otaku?
Wotakoi is a super cute series that manages to capture the struggle of dating in your mid-20s while also being extremely funny. There’s plenty of genuinely heartfelt moments with the unlikely pair, as well as with their two coworkers who round out the main cast here. I’m usually not a huge fan of rom-coms but, maybe because I can personally relate pretty seriously to these characters, Wotakoi might be one of my favorite new manga. The art is great, the writing is clever, and nerds of all ages can probably sympathize with the characters’ struggle. Plus, the Kodansha edition actually includes the first two volumes of the Japanese release, so you’re getting a good bang for your buck here. With the anime series also getting underway, it’s a good time to start reading Wotakoi.
-Carrie Wood