Manga: Wotakoi 3

Wotakoi: Love is Hard For Otaku Vol 3 
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Narumi and Hirotaka are, by all appearances, a power couple. They're young, good-looking professionals. But they have secrets from everyone but each other: They're serious geeks! Narumi is a fujoshi, and Hirotaka's a hardcore gamer. Their sweet, awkward love story started life as a webcomic before becoming a full-blown manga series by popular demand, and is about to become a major anime series!

Volume 3, in case you weren't aware, is actually volumes 5 and 6 and with that many volumes it was about time our characters started to change right? I really loved that this volume let us see the subtle changes in Hirotaka in particular, since he started his relationship with Narumi. He willingly goes to a movie with her, even though he doesn't like them. He puts on a Yukata and goes to a festival with her on a double date with Koyanagi and Kabakura. He also proves how well he knows her more than once too, and expertly reflects inquiries about whether he and Narumi are dating. He's basically on point in every way, and I think it's safe to say we ship the correct OTP. Hirotaka even got his own little heroic moment too thanks to the gross dude who wouldn't take a hint. 

There are a few ominous mentions of Naoya not acting himself that piqued my interest and had me a little bit worried for the poor kid. But...it finally happens. He finds out about Ko, and it's so cute. I really am rooting for the two of them okay, this series is one giant ship fest for me. I did really like getting to see he and Ko and everyone hanging out together too, it's something I've been excited for and this volume delivers! 

I also particularly liked how the second half of the volume was done, switching between the cute little scenes and the company vacation! It kept it fresh and kept me intrigued by switching things up! 

Volume 3 is another nicely paced volume with the usual humour and relatable content! I liked seeing Narumi branch out in to cosplay, and I liked that the focus was on Hirotaka a bit more in this volume, and showing how he's grown as a character. Plus this volume showed us that they seem to be more comfortable as a couple now! 

Manga: Wotakoi 2

Wotakoi Volume 2
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Frustrated at the slow pace of their relationship, Hirotaka asks Narumi on a real date, with one critical stipulation: They can't show their otaku sides at all! Can the two find something to bond over in the absence of games, manga, and anime? Meanwhile, Hanako and Taro revisit the origins of their own tempestuous relationship back when they were in high school, and even Naoya seems to be spending more time with a new friend! 

And the award for extra AF previously goes to......NARUMIIIIIII! Honestly it cracked me up with how extra it was. We get some beautiful colour pages to kick off the volume, and we're straight back in with The Date. 

The first half of this volume gives us some fun little chapters getting to know the characters a bit more, and then alongside that we dip in and out of Narumi and Hirotaka's date. For the second half we do much the same but we dip in and out of Koyonagi and Kabakura's history in place of the date! I really liked the mix of humour and cute, fluffy moments throughout and the contrast between the ongoing story, mixed in with other chapters. 

The comedic timing and humour are spot on, in this series and I find myself chuckling along as I'm reading! Naoya is hilariously oblivious to Narumi and Koyonagi's BL talk, bless him. I'm really loving his character and I'm on the lookout for a romantic interest for him! Luckily this volume introduces us to Sakuragi, who looks set to be his new BFF! Her "Solo performance review skill" is liiiiiteraaaallly me. Seriously. Honestly, I already ship them, except Naoya thinks she...is a he. 

Wotakoi is accurate AF. It's entertaining, hilarious, and so freaking relatable! Not even just because of the Otakuness of it all! The art is cute, particularly when it comes to the game the group plays, and then brilliantly well drawn for the real world! 

Honestly, whenever I read this, it gets me so "Aaaaaahhh I really do love anime, once I've finished reading this I'm gonna watch AAALL THE ANIME AND BUY ALL THE MERCH!". It reminds me what I love so much about anime and manga, basically! 

This volume lets us get to know the characters a bit more, see other sides to the, and gives us some history on how Hanako and Kabakura got together! All with the usual doses of accuracy, relatability and humour! 

Manga: Wotakoi - Love Is Hard For Otaku

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku Vol 1 
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Narumi Momose has had it rough: Every boyfriend she's had dumped her once they found out she was an otaku, so she's gone to great lengths to hide it. When a chance meeting at her new job with childhood friend, fellow otaku, and now coworker Hirotaka Nifuji almost gets her secret outed at work, she comes up with a plan to make sure he never speaks up. But he comes up with a counter-proposal: Why doesn't she just date him instead? 

This volume is surprisingly chunky....but it's actually two volumes in one! There's a lot of brilliant colour pages at the beginning of each volume too which was fun! Plus there's a tonne of information on the characters throughout, so we really get to know them this volume! Plus it helps to flesh them out a bit and fill in some blanks without bogging down the story! 

I have to say, Wotakoi is funny from the start, and Narumi is so freaking relatable! I think she might be one of my favourite characters ever. She is literally all of us and I love her so much, I'm rooting for her! AS for Hirotaka...I love how he seems really expressionless, but then when he texts he's all about those cute emojis. I also love how he words/frames everything like a game. It makes the gaming nerd in me happy! 

Hirotaka's little brother Naoya is hilariously opposite to him and he fully ships Narumi and Hirotaka! I'm really hoping we get to see more of him in the coming volumes and he gets some romance of his own! 

Kabakura seems like a protective brother of Narumi's...or a fanboy. I'm still undecided on which. He and Koyanagi are freaking hilarious together...but also kind of cute when they want to be. But their arguments are priceless, like the insults really fly! 

I love how the volumes are laid out, it really brings the nerdiness. There's little text boxes that pop up like in a game! Think Pokemon, like "A wild Kabakura has appeared" and then there's options etc sometimes too. Not only is it fun, but it also makes it so obvious what's going on in Narumi's head...which is pretty much what some of us would do a lot of the time too! There's also a tonne of bonus chapters along with the actual content, which is a lot of fun and provides some quick and entertaining scenes. Plus it provides more insight in to the characters and their relationships! 

Wotakoi is an entertaining and hilarious first volume, introducing us to the characters and the start of their relationship. We have two couples, a veteran couple, if you will, and a newer one in the form of Narumi and Hirotaka. They're kind of navigating things and each other and learning how to date a fellow Otaku, instead of hiding their Otaku tendencies. I have to say, the nerdiness is strong with this new series, and I lived for it, plus there's a tonne of relatable moments too! The volume hits us with a cliffhanger as our new favourite couple are about to go on a *dun dun duuuuuunnn* date! I'm definitely going to be looking forward to each volume of this, for a dose of fun!