What do you think?
Rate this book
Resistance #1
Our Funny Love Story
A Tokyo MM Bibliomystery with hidden identities and a vanished manuscript
A comedy of errors, until fate reveals its twisted sense of humor.
Kamada Eizo is a web novelist with a breezy front and a desperate core. After landing a flagship fantasy serial with a Tokyo publisher, he's finally within reach of the life he craves, a life built on a foundation that could crumble at any moment.
Miyamoto Ran detests liars. A brusque, uncompromising editor, Ran is obsessed with a single prize: unearthing the lost work of an author who vanished eight years ago. Securing Eizo's success is merely the means to an end.
They are polar opposites, bound by a misdelivered package and a mutual talent for barbed one-upmanship that borders on playground tactics, until a high-stakes deadline forces an uneasy truce. Yet as they draw closer, Ran begins to see through Eizo's mask, sensing that their fragile connection is built on carefully wrought artifice. But for two men who have had their life story stolen once, how far will one go to win it back, even if it means silencing the other's voice?
Note: This is Book 1 of a trilogy. While the banter is sharp (sometimes crude) and the tension is high, this volume focuses on the mystery and the slow-burn psychological connection. A HEA concludes the series (planned: Spring 2027).
A comedy of errors, until fate reveals its twisted sense of humor.
Kamada Eizo is a web novelist with a breezy front and a desperate core. After landing a flagship fantasy serial with a Tokyo publisher, he's finally within reach of the life he craves, a life built on a foundation that could crumble at any moment.
Miyamoto Ran detests liars. A brusque, uncompromising editor, Ran is obsessed with a single prize: unearthing the lost work of an author who vanished eight years ago. Securing Eizo's success is merely the means to an end.
They are polar opposites, bound by a misdelivered package and a mutual talent for barbed one-upmanship that borders on playground tactics, until a high-stakes deadline forces an uneasy truce. Yet as they draw closer, Ran begins to see through Eizo's mask, sensing that their fragile connection is built on carefully wrought artifice. But for two men who have had their life story stolen once, how far will one go to win it back, even if it means silencing the other's voice?
Note: This is Book 1 of a trilogy. While the banter is sharp (sometimes crude) and the tension is high, this volume focuses on the mystery and the slow-burn psychological connection. A HEA concludes the series (planned: Spring 2027).
396 pages, ebook
Published March 2, 2026
About the author
Byrd Koto
4 books31 followersByrd Koto has a particular fondness for tsunderes and the unexplainable.
Her queer mysteries refuse easy categorization—spanning Tokyo publishing houses, alternative Chinese kingdoms, worlds that haven't yet been named—and keep returning to one question: what people do when the truth costs too much?
Her debut novel, Our Funny Love Story, is out now. Or So We Say continues as part two of the BL publishing mystery trilogy in December 2026.
Stay updated on new releases at byrdkoto.com.
@byrdkotoauthor on socials.
Her queer mysteries refuse easy categorization—spanning Tokyo publishing houses, alternative Chinese kingdoms, worlds that haven't yet been named—and keep returning to one question: what people do when the truth costs too much?
Her debut novel, Our Funny Love Story, is out now. Or So We Say continues as part two of the BL publishing mystery trilogy in December 2026.
Stay updated on new releases at byrdkoto.com.
@byrdkotoauthor on socials.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm not sure about the title being the right one, but I enjoyed this rollercoaster 💫
Our Funny Love Story is one of those books that promises something (a rom-com, ridiculous enemies to lovers mm romance) and ends up giving you something completely different (a queer literary fiction book with an amazing writing style that talks about the publishing industry while being an ode to readers and writers).
It’s funny because the book started as a rom-com, with the enemies to lovers that I couldn’t stand because one of them was extremely rude and the other was walking on the limit of sexual harassment at work-yet I think a lot of readers would enjoy the beginning because I tend to take rom-coms too seriously.
Then the MCs decided they could be civil while enjoying their banter and be kind of friends, which I liked more. Yet as the story progresses, the author decides to slow down the romance, put it on the background and focus on the characters the way someone would do in a literary fiction story. I loved that part even more, which is crazy because I picked this up for the romance and ended up staying for Ran’s commentary about books and publishing.
This story has three big strengths:
💫 The writing style is really good.
💫 If you love reading about books, you’re going to adore listen to Ran talk about them.
💫 The storyline is pretty unique, because this book changes genres in the middle. I ended up loving the mixture of literary fiction with a dose of slow burn romance.
This is also the reason why this book is a rollercoaster. It feels unique because it’s a blend of genres, but it’s also a nightmare to market and recommend. I saw the author’s website and they were having trouble because they marketed this a funny rom-com, which in reality is more a queer literary fiction that starts like an enemies to lovers rom-com.
This means that you can’t recommend this one to people only looking for a rom-com, but if you enjoy queer fiction about books (which is the majority of the book), you have to get through the beginning with the unrealistic enemies to lovers and two MCs behaving like kids.
The switch of genres is important, because it affects your expectations. For example, as I said before, I couldn’t stand the MCs at the beginning, but I enjoyed following them once they started to be civil with each other and the romance became a subplot. I hated them as love interests, but I ADORED Ran when he wasn’t someone I was supposed to fall for. He literally gave up being an engineer because he fell in love with a book he read for a book competition that was never published, so he became an editor to find this book😭😭
I also loved that this is set in Japan, and you can see you are in Japan, because the way they behave and how society works is so different from here. And the little mystery was beautiful💛
Overall, if you love queer fiction and a slow burn romance between a writer and his editor sounds great, you may enjoy this one. If you are only looking for a funny romance, or you don’t like rom-coms, I wouldn’t recommend trying this one. Also, it’s a duology, so if you love the slowest slow burn romances, you are in for a ride :)
*Rating: 3.5/5 stars
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our Funny Love Story is one of those books that promises something (a rom-com, ridiculous enemies to lovers mm romance) and ends up giving you something completely different (a queer literary fiction book with an amazing writing style that talks about the publishing industry while being an ode to readers and writers).
It’s funny because the book started as a rom-com, with the enemies to lovers that I couldn’t stand because one of them was extremely rude and the other was walking on the limit of sexual harassment at work-yet I think a lot of readers would enjoy the beginning because I tend to take rom-coms too seriously.
Then the MCs decided they could be civil while enjoying their banter and be kind of friends, which I liked more. Yet as the story progresses, the author decides to slow down the romance, put it on the background and focus on the characters the way someone would do in a literary fiction story. I loved that part even more, which is crazy because I picked this up for the romance and ended up staying for Ran’s commentary about books and publishing.
This story has three big strengths:
💫 The writing style is really good.
💫 If you love reading about books, you’re going to adore listen to Ran talk about them.
💫 The storyline is pretty unique, because this book changes genres in the middle. I ended up loving the mixture of literary fiction with a dose of slow burn romance.
This is also the reason why this book is a rollercoaster. It feels unique because it’s a blend of genres, but it’s also a nightmare to market and recommend. I saw the author’s website and they were having trouble because they marketed this a funny rom-com, which in reality is more a queer literary fiction that starts like an enemies to lovers rom-com.
This means that you can’t recommend this one to people only looking for a rom-com, but if you enjoy queer fiction about books (which is the majority of the book), you have to get through the beginning with the unrealistic enemies to lovers and two MCs behaving like kids.
The switch of genres is important, because it affects your expectations. For example, as I said before, I couldn’t stand the MCs at the beginning, but I enjoyed following them once they started to be civil with each other and the romance became a subplot. I hated them as love interests, but I ADORED Ran when he wasn’t someone I was supposed to fall for. He literally gave up being an engineer because he fell in love with a book he read for a book competition that was never published, so he became an editor to find this book😭😭
I also loved that this is set in Japan, and you can see you are in Japan, because the way they behave and how society works is so different from here. And the little mystery was beautiful💛
Overall, if you love queer fiction and a slow burn romance between a writer and his editor sounds great, you may enjoy this one. If you are only looking for a funny romance, or you don’t like rom-coms, I wouldn’t recommend trying this one. Also, it’s a duology, so if you love the slowest slow burn romances, you are in for a ride :)
*Rating: 3.5/5 stars
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 6, 2026
Time of death: Chapter 5, approximately 10%.
Cause of death? The sentence: “Defecating is Ran’s coping mechanism.”
Let me explain.
Our Funny Love Story markets itself as “a darkly ironic Achillean literary mystery set in Tokyo,” promising the psychological depth of Murakami, the emotional complexity of Rooney, and the witty friction of Alexis Hall.
Which is a bold set of comparisons—and you can do that. But people are going to expect you to deliver.
If I had to isolate a single issue with Our Funny Love Story, it would be exactly this—what the book wants to be vs. what the book actually is. And what the book actually is, is a badly written contemporary romance that reads like a fanfiction that belongs on Wattpad, had its names changed, and was published.
There's little to no internal consistency in the text itself—not in its characters nor in its setting. Here are some of the worst offenders I've come across:
1) In the first few pages we get Eizo's POV where he thinks:
“Besides, romance was the last thing on his mind. Romance was always the last thing on his mind.”
And then shortly afterward:
“He had never fallen in love before, but if love were a flavor, all it took was the first sip for him to fall hard.”
Which one is it? Either romance is something he never thinks about, or he is the kind of person who would instantly fall headfirst into it the moment he encounters it. He can’t be both at once.
2) This story is set in Tokyo. All of its characters are Japanese. So it's very immersion-breaking when Ran suddenly explains Eizo's pen name Baka Nori (Stupid Seaweed) mid-conversation in a meeting. This might make sense if the characters were speaking to someone unfamiliar with Japanese, but they are not. So the scene reads less like natural dialogue and more like the author suddenly remembering that the audience might not understand the translation and awkwardly forcing a character to explain their own language to… other native speakers.
3) And finally we arrive at Ran. Ran is an editor at a publishing house. Eizo is a new writer joining that publishing house. When they are in their first onboarding meeting with the CEO and several other people, Ran proceeds to behave like the world’s most petulant middle schooler.
He is openly rude to Eizo. Dismissive. Antagonistic. Borderline hostile. All of that in front of the CEO. In an actual workplace, this would trigger approximately three seconds of stunned silence followed by someone saying, “Ran, can we speak outside for a moment?”
Instead, the supervisor just waves it off with:
“That’s Ran for you.”
Excuse me?
No.
That is not “Ran for you.” That is Ran being escorted out of the building by HR.
Which brings us back to the sentence that ended it all.
“Defecating is Ran’s coping mechanism.”
Maybe somewhere beyond the 10% mark the book transforms into the profound literary mystery it promises to be.
But at the moment my ARC flatlined, it was still trying very hard to convince me that a poop joke was the foundation of a Murakami-esque psychological narrative.
And unfortunately, that is where I had to call time of death. 💀📚
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the ARC.
Cause of death? The sentence: “Defecating is Ran’s coping mechanism.”
Let me explain.
Our Funny Love Story markets itself as “a darkly ironic Achillean literary mystery set in Tokyo,” promising the psychological depth of Murakami, the emotional complexity of Rooney, and the witty friction of Alexis Hall.
Which is a bold set of comparisons—and you can do that. But people are going to expect you to deliver.
If I had to isolate a single issue with Our Funny Love Story, it would be exactly this—what the book wants to be vs. what the book actually is. And what the book actually is, is a badly written contemporary romance that reads like a fanfiction that belongs on Wattpad, had its names changed, and was published.
There's little to no internal consistency in the text itself—not in its characters nor in its setting. Here are some of the worst offenders I've come across:
1) In the first few pages we get Eizo's POV where he thinks:
“Besides, romance was the last thing on his mind. Romance was always the last thing on his mind.”
And then shortly afterward:
“He had never fallen in love before, but if love were a flavor, all it took was the first sip for him to fall hard.”
Which one is it? Either romance is something he never thinks about, or he is the kind of person who would instantly fall headfirst into it the moment he encounters it. He can’t be both at once.
2) This story is set in Tokyo. All of its characters are Japanese. So it's very immersion-breaking when Ran suddenly explains Eizo's pen name Baka Nori (Stupid Seaweed) mid-conversation in a meeting. This might make sense if the characters were speaking to someone unfamiliar with Japanese, but they are not. So the scene reads less like natural dialogue and more like the author suddenly remembering that the audience might not understand the translation and awkwardly forcing a character to explain their own language to… other native speakers.
3) And finally we arrive at Ran. Ran is an editor at a publishing house. Eizo is a new writer joining that publishing house. When they are in their first onboarding meeting with the CEO and several other people, Ran proceeds to behave like the world’s most petulant middle schooler.
He is openly rude to Eizo. Dismissive. Antagonistic. Borderline hostile. All of that in front of the CEO. In an actual workplace, this would trigger approximately three seconds of stunned silence followed by someone saying, “Ran, can we speak outside for a moment?”
Instead, the supervisor just waves it off with:
“That’s Ran for you.”
Excuse me?
No.
That is not “Ran for you.” That is Ran being escorted out of the building by HR.
Which brings us back to the sentence that ended it all.
“Defecating is Ran’s coping mechanism.”
Maybe somewhere beyond the 10% mark the book transforms into the profound literary mystery it promises to be.
But at the moment my ARC flatlined, it was still trying very hard to convince me that a poop joke was the foundation of a Murakami-esque psychological narrative.
And unfortunately, that is where I had to call time of death. 💀📚
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley and author Byrd Koto for accepting me as arc reader🫧💗
To be honest, I didn’t like it at the start. The pace of the story was very slow, often switching from Ran’s point of view to Eizo’s. And very often, even though the individual stories co-relate with each other, the MM wasn’t spending as much time together I had hoped. And I didn’t like Ran at all at first. In my eyes he was ill-tempered, immature for his age and I just couldn’t get the reason why he and Eizo became enemies in the first place. But as I continued reading, I started to enjoy the story and grew to like Ran (maybe because there are more interactions between the MM afterwards). I could feel the MM are falling for each other towards the end, but again, I hope the author could have showed how and why they started falling in love. It felt a bit abrupt, like suddenly their hearts started racing when they see each other. I would also prefer if there are more dialogues. But still, it was an excellent read from a debut author. I’m looking forward to read Book 2 this year.
- 7 years age gap
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Grumpy, cunning, short editor 🫶🏻Secretive, friendly, tall writer
- Both are handsome and never dated (which I love it)
To be honest, I didn’t like it at the start. The pace of the story was very slow, often switching from Ran’s point of view to Eizo’s. And very often, even though the individual stories co-relate with each other, the MM wasn’t spending as much time together I had hoped. And I didn’t like Ran at all at first. In my eyes he was ill-tempered, immature for his age and I just couldn’t get the reason why he and Eizo became enemies in the first place. But as I continued reading, I started to enjoy the story and grew to like Ran (maybe because there are more interactions between the MM afterwards). I could feel the MM are falling for each other towards the end, but again, I hope the author could have showed how and why they started falling in love. It felt a bit abrupt, like suddenly their hearts started racing when they see each other. I would also prefer if there are more dialogues. But still, it was an excellent read from a debut author. I’m looking forward to read Book 2 this year.
- 7 years age gap
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Grumpy, cunning, short editor 🫶🏻Secretive, friendly, tall writer
- Both are handsome and never dated (which I love it)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy wow. I read pretty fast, but I inhaled this book as soon as I got the ARC copy. I was absolutely hooked!
This book definitely reminded me of danmei, and is an incredible debut novel. Ran and Eizo's interactions drew me in and had me both laughing and groaning. My one criticism is that now I'm stuck hanging on until the next book comes out!
Fantastic book. If you enjoy indie novels, danmei, misunderstandings, and enemies to lovers, this book is for you!
This book definitely reminded me of danmei, and is an incredible debut novel. Ran and Eizo's interactions drew me in and had me both laughing and groaning. My one criticism is that now I'm stuck hanging on until the next book comes out!
Fantastic book. If you enjoy indie novels, danmei, misunderstandings, and enemies to lovers, this book is for you!
January 8, 2026
full review to come asap
funny? check. story? check. love? check. the genre is called a slow burn for a reason, isn’t it?
this had me hooked for three days to the point that i put off my drifting off time even when i was exhausted merely because it quickly became a short tradition of mine to continue this story in the evenings.
I have received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, therefore I would like to sincerely thank the platform as well as the publisher, Victory Editing, and the author, Byrd Koto, to whom I wish a successful publication and a wonderful writing career.
funny? check. story? check. love? check. the genre is called a slow burn for a reason, isn’t it?
this had me hooked for three days to the point that i put off my drifting off time even when i was exhausted merely because it quickly became a short tradition of mine to continue this story in the evenings.
I have received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, therefore I would like to sincerely thank the platform as well as the publisher, Victory Editing, and the author, Byrd Koto, to whom I wish a successful publication and a wonderful writing career.
March 6, 2026
It took me a bit to get into this story. I wasn't sure if it was me or the book until, more than halfway through it, I finally realized that I was expecting a romance, while I'd say this falls more into the general fiction category. It's obviously clear that the author is setting up a love story between the main characters for a sequel but, in this first chapter, we mostly follow their journey in the literary industry. And what a intersting journey it was!
The author really goes into detail about how that world works. You can tell a lot of research went into it. As a person that already read non-fiction books about it and who always wants to know more about it, it made the reading experience even more captivating.
As I said, the love story isn't really the main focus. I'd say it's a slow burn, but I felt like the author only really turned on the gas towards 80% of the story.
What we got instead was a deep dive into the two main characters' psyches. In the afterword, the author said that this is what she mostly enjoys writing, and for me, it was enjoyable to read. I thought she did such an excellent job describing us both Ran and Eizo.
Maybe I'll sound blasphemous to some, but reading this book, I had the same vibes I had while reading La noia by Alberto Moravia (Horst Bouchholz somewhat mentioned <3). Again, it's that type of book. A character study with a very introspective style of writing.
Seriously, this book is so well written. The author has such an elegant but vivid writing style. I was surprised when I saw that this is her debut novel. I'm telling you, this is an author to keep our eyes on.
It's more than a solid debut; it's a great one. It's definitely worth a read. However, it's important to me to underline that this isn't really a rom-com. In fact, I genuinely believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had known that before starting to read it. It's Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi saw through the eyes of a general fiction author.
I'm wishing the best to both the author and this book!
Review of an advance copy received from the Author
The author really goes into detail about how that world works. You can tell a lot of research went into it. As a person that already read non-fiction books about it and who always wants to know more about it, it made the reading experience even more captivating.
As I said, the love story isn't really the main focus. I'd say it's a slow burn, but I felt like the author only really turned on the gas towards 80% of the story.
What we got instead was a deep dive into the two main characters' psyches. In the afterword, the author said that this is what she mostly enjoys writing, and for me, it was enjoyable to read. I thought she did such an excellent job describing us both Ran and Eizo.
Maybe I'll sound blasphemous to some, but reading this book, I had the same vibes I had while reading La noia by Alberto Moravia (Horst Bouchholz somewhat mentioned <3). Again, it's that type of book. A character study with a very introspective style of writing.
Seriously, this book is so well written. The author has such an elegant but vivid writing style. I was surprised when I saw that this is her debut novel. I'm telling you, this is an author to keep our eyes on.
It's more than a solid debut; it's a great one. It's definitely worth a read. However, it's important to me to underline that this isn't really a rom-com. In fact, I genuinely believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had known that before starting to read it. It's Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi saw through the eyes of a general fiction author.
I'm wishing the best to both the author and this book!
Review of an advance copy received from the Author
March 2, 2026
This was a really enjoyable read. I am always on the lookout for danmei-esque or danmei-adjacent reads in English, and I can definitely say that this one truly delivered the vibes and the core elements one can expect in a modern danmei novel. There is a hilarious misunderstanding that really hooks you into the story with crazy (sexual) tension, a brooding black-cat MC (here, I am referring to Ran), and a golden retriever ML (referring to Eizo).
Apart from the banter and that one slightly spicy scene, I wished there were more romantic elements in the sense of sort of forbidden yearning, if I’m making sense? The banter was hilarious, although I thought the misunderstanding felt a little too drawn out as it could’ve been resolved easily if one of them just opened their mouth to clarify things. I’m looking at you Ran. There were times I was like “omg Ran please act your age, you’re a grown man and you’re being extremely petty right now”, but I suppose that is part of his prickly, arrogant (?) characterisation.
I really enjoyed Byrd Koto’s writing style; really strong for a debut novel. The dual POV was well-structured and I really appreciated how it allowed me to learn more about each character. While there is also a delicious slow-burn that’ll have a reader begging for more, I found the overall pacing to be a tad too slow-moving and bogged down by details which, though interesting, were too technical. Given that the plot is already rather low-stakes, I thought the pacing should have been faster and capitalised more on the tension, banter, and dynamics between the two MCs for readers to be extra-invested! It needed slightly more ooh-aaahhh swoony moments, I feel.
Overall, I had a wonderful time with this first instalment of the Resistance series. I am seated for Book 2 and I cannot wait to see where it takes me. I am rooting for Eizo x Ran!!
Apart from the banter and that one slightly spicy scene, I wished there were more romantic elements in the sense of sort of forbidden yearning, if I’m making sense? The banter was hilarious, although I thought the misunderstanding felt a little too drawn out as it could’ve been resolved easily if one of them just opened their mouth to clarify things. I’m looking at you Ran. There were times I was like “omg Ran please act your age, you’re a grown man and you’re being extremely petty right now”, but I suppose that is part of his prickly, arrogant (?) characterisation.
I really enjoyed Byrd Koto’s writing style; really strong for a debut novel. The dual POV was well-structured and I really appreciated how it allowed me to learn more about each character. While there is also a delicious slow-burn that’ll have a reader begging for more, I found the overall pacing to be a tad too slow-moving and bogged down by details which, though interesting, were too technical. Given that the plot is already rather low-stakes, I thought the pacing should have been faster and capitalised more on the tension, banter, and dynamics between the two MCs for readers to be extra-invested! It needed slightly more ooh-aaahhh swoony moments, I feel.
Overall, I had a wonderful time with this first instalment of the Resistance series. I am seated for Book 2 and I cannot wait to see where it takes me. I am rooting for Eizo x Ran!!
March 4, 2026
Book, it's not you, it's me. Our humor just does not mesh well, and I'm sorry!
September 4, 2026
4.5 ☆
This novel popped up on instagram and the cover artwork looked beautiful, so I purchased it straight away, i'm glad I did.
I really enjoyed this novel and I'm super excited for the next one to come out. I enjoyed reading the authors writing style, it was nice and lovely to read.
I really enjoy reading a slow burn, enemies to lovers sort of novel and this is right up there, the slow burn is really slooooooowwww and I love it! Perfect! It is a story about Ran who is a senior editor at the publishing firm and Eizo who has landed a deal with that publishing firm. I love the banter between Ran and Eizo and very slowly growing friendship/relationship throughout the novel.
This novel popped up on instagram and the cover artwork looked beautiful, so I purchased it straight away, i'm glad I did.
I really enjoyed this novel and I'm super excited for the next one to come out. I enjoyed reading the authors writing style, it was nice and lovely to read.
I really enjoy reading a slow burn, enemies to lovers sort of novel and this is right up there, the slow burn is really slooooooowwww and I love it! Perfect! It is a story about Ran who is a senior editor at the publishing firm and Eizo who has landed a deal with that publishing firm. I love the banter between Ran and Eizo and very slowly growing friendship/relationship throughout the novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
disclaimer: i received a e-copy of this through netgally. i am reviewing only the story and not the product. although i have read this in ARC format, these thoughts are my own and left of my own volition.
wolf and fox, grumpy and kinda sunshine, editor/writer, sloooowwwww burn 🤍 the word play, the push and pull, the getting to see where the line is for each other. us learning more about each characters background while they’re also uncovering the mysteries about one another *giggling and kicking my mf feet*
listen, the slow but not usually my jam? true. this may have turned me into a lover. i mean their whole thingg?? come onnn. i didn’t get tired of it once. the characters were tragic and funny and it was impossible not to want to know every little thing about them 🤍
the first couple of pages (maybe 20) were a little hard to get into? not all that positive why that was because after that as a whole the way the was written was so addicting 🤍 i cannot wait for the second one to come out, it’s gonna be an auto buy 🤍🤍
tldr: enemies to lovers; bl; slow burn; comedy vibes
wolf and fox, grumpy and kinda sunshine, editor/writer, sloooowwwww burn 🤍 the word play, the push and pull, the getting to see where the line is for each other. us learning more about each characters background while they’re also uncovering the mysteries about one another *giggling and kicking my mf feet*
listen, the slow but not usually my jam? true. this may have turned me into a lover. i mean their whole thingg?? come onnn. i didn’t get tired of it once. the characters were tragic and funny and it was impossible not to want to know every little thing about them 🤍
the first couple of pages (maybe 20) were a little hard to get into? not all that positive why that was because after that as a whole the way the was written was so addicting 🤍 i cannot wait for the second one to come out, it’s gonna be an auto buy 🤍🤍
tldr: enemies to lovers; bl; slow burn; comedy vibes
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sure to be one of the wittiest stories to grace your bookshelf, OFLS is a tale full of heart, a dash of mystery, and banter so lively it's like spectating a duel (with popcorn!) The relationship between Eizo and Ran is both hilarious and heartwarming as they learn that maybe, in fact, they don't hate each other's company :P
(Received ARC in exchange for honest review!)
(Received ARC in exchange for honest review!)
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
How did Our Funny Love Story end up on my radar? Of course it was art that lured me to @byrdkotoauthor 's profile and when I saw that it's a comedic story with a promise of good banter I knew I had come to the right place.
But to be honest: These two don't banter, they tear into each other and I snickered my way through all of their encounters.
Eizo is a college graduate and web novelist who just landed a phenomenal deal with a publisher.
Ran is an editor with a temper who searches for the mystery author of his One Book. Is Eizo the key to finding out who it is?
It started with a misdelivered package and turns into a serious of gloriously funny meetings. But the characters come with more than great dialogues - Little details here and there hint at a deeper backstory and secrets. Always when I thought I was one step closer to finding out who the mystery author is the book came at me with a "No, you're not".
I was blazing through the story and can't wait to find out more about these two. Naturally the book left me with a "Wait, I need answers" ending.
But to be honest: These two don't banter, they tear into each other and I snickered my way through all of their encounters.
Eizo is a college graduate and web novelist who just landed a phenomenal deal with a publisher.
Ran is an editor with a temper who searches for the mystery author of his One Book. Is Eizo the key to finding out who it is?
It started with a misdelivered package and turns into a serious of gloriously funny meetings. But the characters come with more than great dialogues - Little details here and there hint at a deeper backstory and secrets. Always when I thought I was one step closer to finding out who the mystery author is the book came at me with a "No, you're not".
I was blazing through the story and can't wait to find out more about these two. Naturally the book left me with a "Wait, I need answers" ending.
September 7, 2026
Sometimes you don’t vibe with a book, and that’s ok.
This one is such a book.. I like the banter.. but not much else..
This one is such a book.. I like the banter.. but not much else..
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Maybe it was best to see Eizo as a large, slobbering dog. But dogs were loyal, Eizo, with his penchant for deception, certainly wasn’t.”
I was a beta reader for Our Funny Love Story, and also received an ARC, but the following review is left of my own will and all thoughts and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
To begin, as someone who was privileged enough to get to read OFLS before it was in its final form, I would be remiss to not mention up front just how much I enjoyed it during the first read, and how much that enjoyment skyrocketed even higher after reading my ARC copy.
Byrd writes with witty and sharp precision, while allowing descriptive paragraphs to breathe and flow with full essence. Each line of the prose has its purpose, and her style of writing is one I personally find myself drawn to. Her characters—both main and side—feel lived in and real, and no one person is mentioned flippantly.
Kamada Eizo and Miyamoto Ran are both explicitly ridiculous in their initial disdain for one another, but the smoldering burn of hostile feelings turned into hesitant curiosity into towing the line of unspoken attraction is so, so good. Their comedic banter and inner monologues while facing off with the other had me giggling aloud several times, even reading through it a second time.
Ran’s constant snark but honest-to-a-fault attitude made his poor first impression (something we learn is a common attribute of his) a distant memory as the story rides on, his particularity and no-nonsenseness endearing me to him. Eizo’s flux between someone who both knows what he wants and has the will to achieve it and an insecure spinner of yarns still chained by familial duty—while even ignoring the personal relatability—made my heart clench every time he chose not to tell the truth.
The titular love story, while currently only a glow of embers and brief flash of flame, is well worth the wait. The chemistry bubbles beneath the surface of the ongoing tensions of Ran’s editorial ambitions, Eizo’s relational pressures, and the mystery at the heart of it all (that I can’t share here. You’ll have to find out for yourself).
To say I’m looking forward to Or So We Say is a massive understatement.
If you enjoy heart-pangs from the mere brushing of fingers, tasty foreshadowing and engaging prose, and imperfect characters facing their faults, fears, and feelings, you will love Our Funny Love Story. This is a fantastic debut, and I already know Byrd will deliver a fantastic conclusion in the next one.
I was a beta reader for Our Funny Love Story, and also received an ARC, but the following review is left of my own will and all thoughts and opinions expressed are wholly my own.
To begin, as someone who was privileged enough to get to read OFLS before it was in its final form, I would be remiss to not mention up front just how much I enjoyed it during the first read, and how much that enjoyment skyrocketed even higher after reading my ARC copy.
Byrd writes with witty and sharp precision, while allowing descriptive paragraphs to breathe and flow with full essence. Each line of the prose has its purpose, and her style of writing is one I personally find myself drawn to. Her characters—both main and side—feel lived in and real, and no one person is mentioned flippantly.
Kamada Eizo and Miyamoto Ran are both explicitly ridiculous in their initial disdain for one another, but the smoldering burn of hostile feelings turned into hesitant curiosity into towing the line of unspoken attraction is so, so good. Their comedic banter and inner monologues while facing off with the other had me giggling aloud several times, even reading through it a second time.
Ran’s constant snark but honest-to-a-fault attitude made his poor first impression (something we learn is a common attribute of his) a distant memory as the story rides on, his particularity and no-nonsenseness endearing me to him. Eizo’s flux between someone who both knows what he wants and has the will to achieve it and an insecure spinner of yarns still chained by familial duty—while even ignoring the personal relatability—made my heart clench every time he chose not to tell the truth.
The titular love story, while currently only a glow of embers and brief flash of flame, is well worth the wait. The chemistry bubbles beneath the surface of the ongoing tensions of Ran’s editorial ambitions, Eizo’s relational pressures, and the mystery at the heart of it all (that I can’t share here. You’ll have to find out for yourself).
To say I’m looking forward to Or So We Say is a massive understatement.
If you enjoy heart-pangs from the mere brushing of fingers, tasty foreshadowing and engaging prose, and imperfect characters facing their faults, fears, and feelings, you will love Our Funny Love Story. This is a fantastic debut, and I already know Byrd will deliver a fantastic conclusion in the next one.
Review of advance copy
BRO. I had my speculations on The Big Mystery (I won’t say it specifically in case it’s considered a spoiler) since about 47% and I am FUMING that I have to wait until the next book to find out if I’m right or wrong!
Oh, also, as full disclosure I am an ARC reader of this book and my opinions are my own etc etc.
I walked into Our Funny Love Story expecting a comedic dislike-to-lovers achillean romance, and what I didn’t expect was that it would also be steeped in one big mystery that ties grumpy boi Ran and sunny-but-secretly-sad boi Eizo (or someone Eizo-adjacent? 👀) to the plot. As Eizo is a writer and Ran is an editor, there were snippets of the stories Eizo has written and Ran has edited interspersed throughout the book and I was HOOKED on dissecting the hidden meaning behind each snippet. Although I’m someone who is Not That Great at figuring out mysteries or catching onto secrets before they’re revealed, I still have tonnes of fun trying my best, and this book was PERFECT for that <3
And of course, the romance threaded throughout the book was super funny and cute. As another reviewer mentioned, it IS a slow-burn in the truest sense in that Ran and Eizo don't get together in this book. But the intrigue is absolutely there, and hell, that's what book 2 is for <3 Anyway, we all love a grumpy and sunshine pair, and (for me, anyway) ESPECIALLY when the sunshine one is secretly traumatised and hiding behind a smile~ Although their initial animosity was from a misunderstanding that at one point had me going “Will y’all just TALK about this??”, watching them bicker and one-up each other was enjoyable enough for me to let that slide.
I will say I was worried at one point, quite early on, when Eizo tries to piss Ran off by writing a saucy short story about two men with similar names to theirs, BUT, my worries were allayed when Eizo was soon after chastised and told what a creepy move that was, and imo he felt sufficiently guilty and tried to make up for it.
As someone who felt some similarities between Eizo’s childhood home life and my own, I was hooked on his interactions (or lack thereof, until nearer to the end of the book) with his cold and unavailable mother. And to add another note on the relationship between Eizo and Ran, I really appreciated that their animosity didn’t begin to wane because they were simply attracted to each other, but because they both became intrigued in each other’s mysterious lives/pasts. I love characters who can’t resist a puzzle <3
Anyway TL;DR: I can’t wait for the next book and I’m pissed that it’s not out now XD
(edited to spell Eizo's name right (I kept writing "Ezio" ajdhkjfh) because I'm a DISASTER <3 )
Oh, also, as full disclosure I am an ARC reader of this book and my opinions are my own etc etc.
I walked into Our Funny Love Story expecting a comedic dislike-to-lovers achillean romance, and what I didn’t expect was that it would also be steeped in one big mystery that ties grumpy boi Ran and sunny-but-secretly-sad boi Eizo (or someone Eizo-adjacent? 👀) to the plot. As Eizo is a writer and Ran is an editor, there were snippets of the stories Eizo has written and Ran has edited interspersed throughout the book and I was HOOKED on dissecting the hidden meaning behind each snippet. Although I’m someone who is Not That Great at figuring out mysteries or catching onto secrets before they’re revealed, I still have tonnes of fun trying my best, and this book was PERFECT for that <3
And of course, the romance threaded throughout the book was super funny and cute. As another reviewer mentioned, it IS a slow-burn in the truest sense in that Ran and Eizo don't get together in this book. But the intrigue is absolutely there, and hell, that's what book 2 is for <3 Anyway, we all love a grumpy and sunshine pair, and (for me, anyway) ESPECIALLY when the sunshine one is secretly traumatised and hiding behind a smile~ Although their initial animosity was from a misunderstanding that at one point had me going “Will y’all just TALK about this??”, watching them bicker and one-up each other was enjoyable enough for me to let that slide.
I will say I was worried at one point, quite early on, when Eizo tries to piss Ran off by writing a saucy short story about two men with similar names to theirs, BUT, my worries were allayed when Eizo was soon after chastised and told what a creepy move that was, and imo he felt sufficiently guilty and tried to make up for it.
As someone who felt some similarities between Eizo’s childhood home life and my own, I was hooked on his interactions (or lack thereof, until nearer to the end of the book) with his cold and unavailable mother. And to add another note on the relationship between Eizo and Ran, I really appreciated that their animosity didn’t begin to wane because they were simply attracted to each other, but because they both became intrigued in each other’s mysterious lives/pasts. I love characters who can’t resist a puzzle <3
Anyway TL;DR: I can’t wait for the next book and I’m pissed that it’s not out now XD
(edited to spell Eizo's name right (I kept writing "Ezio" ajdhkjfh) because I'm a DISASTER <3 )
Review of advance copy
Our Funny Story is the best character-driven novel I’ve read so far this year. Byrd Koto delivers beyond the metrics I use to rate debut novels, earning 5 stars.
The story is about web serial author Kamada Eizo and editor Miyamoto Ran being assigned to one another after Eizo is recruited by the CEO of a publishing company. The two start off on the wrong foot, with Ran reacting in an unhinged manner due to workplace burnout and just being a rough human. As he and Eizo learn to work together and develop Eizo’s prodigal talents, they begin to see more in the other.
My typical read is plot based, action novels. One reason I chose Koto’s novel because of the cover art because I’m such a sucker for great art. The other is that Koto is an international author, specifically an East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) author.
Her writing style took some adjustment because the first few chapters have a contemplative style. As the story develops, the style evolves into an immersive, world building one. The characters pop off the page due to the styles; however, the gender and class layers stand out for me the most. I’m impressed with the polish in each page and there’s a lot, 50 chapters worth. Because there’s a lot of content, Koto’s style offers informative descriptions help learning about Japan, especially publishing work culture. There’s also a glimpse–in comparison–of the challenges Eizo’s mother has as a C-suite executive in an investment corporation.
The characters themselves have quite the dynamic. Since Eizo is a writer and Ran is an editor, Ran’s interiority focuses a lot on writing knowledge and tips, when he’s not throwing unhinged flavour towards Eizo. I enjoy how intense and routine based he is. The narrative does take a while to get to the more direct romance, about 25 chapters in. When it begins, it’s oddly normative. It certainly is Eizo and Ran’s personal lives in equal parts to romantic lives, demonstrating the book blurb’s warning of an ultra slow burn, queer romance.
One of the iffy parts for me, but not enough to knock down a rating, is the blind date between Ran and Eizo. That just came out of nowhere, with the narrative trying to make it work via friend-of-friend situation for losing a bet. I certainly appreciate the romantic moments that followed, as those scenes come across more organic.
This doesn’t factor into the rating: the framework of the whole ebook was fantastic. Professional from front to back. It gave me a sense of polish before I began reading. I’m very glad I chose this novel. The only one in a long time that took me almost three months to read, but worth each moment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is about web serial author Kamada Eizo and editor Miyamoto Ran being assigned to one another after Eizo is recruited by the CEO of a publishing company. The two start off on the wrong foot, with Ran reacting in an unhinged manner due to workplace burnout and just being a rough human. As he and Eizo learn to work together and develop Eizo’s prodigal talents, they begin to see more in the other.
My typical read is plot based, action novels. One reason I chose Koto’s novel because of the cover art because I’m such a sucker for great art. The other is that Koto is an international author, specifically an East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) author.
Her writing style took some adjustment because the first few chapters have a contemplative style. As the story develops, the style evolves into an immersive, world building one. The characters pop off the page due to the styles; however, the gender and class layers stand out for me the most. I’m impressed with the polish in each page and there’s a lot, 50 chapters worth. Because there’s a lot of content, Koto’s style offers informative descriptions help learning about Japan, especially publishing work culture. There’s also a glimpse–in comparison–of the challenges Eizo’s mother has as a C-suite executive in an investment corporation.
The characters themselves have quite the dynamic. Since Eizo is a writer and Ran is an editor, Ran’s interiority focuses a lot on writing knowledge and tips, when he’s not throwing unhinged flavour towards Eizo. I enjoy how intense and routine based he is. The narrative does take a while to get to the more direct romance, about 25 chapters in. When it begins, it’s oddly normative. It certainly is Eizo and Ran’s personal lives in equal parts to romantic lives, demonstrating the book blurb’s warning of an ultra slow burn, queer romance.
One of the iffy parts for me, but not enough to knock down a rating, is the blind date between Ran and Eizo. That just came out of nowhere, with the narrative trying to make it work via friend-of-friend situation for losing a bet. I certainly appreciate the romantic moments that followed, as those scenes come across more organic.
This doesn’t factor into the rating: the framework of the whole ebook was fantastic. Professional from front to back. It gave me a sense of polish before I began reading. I’m very glad I chose this novel. The only one in a long time that took me almost three months to read, but worth each moment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review | Release Date: 2 Mar, 2026
An ultra slow burn Achillean literary mystery that's set against the backdrop of the LitRPG publishing industry in Tokyo? Um, yes please!
We've got Ran - accomplished, whip smart editor, extremely grumpy and all around just a bit of an asshole if we're honest. Then we've got Eizo, a young up and coming writer trying to resist becoming the nepo baby his wealthy mother wants him to be with a promising future in LitRPG who's just been assigned Ran as an editor. Only issue? They kind of loathe each other. And thus the chaos ensues.
From the first page of Ran's extreme discontent at the disruption of his routine, I was rubbing my hands together in glee. It's an understatement to say that the dynamic between the two leads becomes a battle of one-upmanship. All the while, Koto is cleverly weaving through the threads of a mystery that has plagued Ran throughout his career: finding the real identity of the author who wrote a brilliant story and walked away from award-winning success.
When I tell you this novel had me glued to the page trying to figure out where we were going and how long our leading men could keep up the immature mind games. Turns out, quite a while! These two really throw some out of pocket stuff at each other...and sometimes literal ass kickings. But that really gave me an insight into their characters and why Eizo and particularly Ran opt for such playground tactics as they try to challenge each other. It's so blatantly obvious that they don't know what to do with their complex feelings.
I truly appreciated an ACTUAL slow burn which meant that any small bits of warmth just feel so tender and significant. The little moments of care and consideration so real, raw, and vulnerable. It's going to be a joy to see them smooth out the creases of their budding relationship in Book 2.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for the ARC! 🙌
An ultra slow burn Achillean literary mystery that's set against the backdrop of the LitRPG publishing industry in Tokyo? Um, yes please!
We've got Ran - accomplished, whip smart editor, extremely grumpy and all around just a bit of an asshole if we're honest. Then we've got Eizo, a young up and coming writer trying to resist becoming the nepo baby his wealthy mother wants him to be with a promising future in LitRPG who's just been assigned Ran as an editor. Only issue? They kind of loathe each other. And thus the chaos ensues.
From the first page of Ran's extreme discontent at the disruption of his routine, I was rubbing my hands together in glee. It's an understatement to say that the dynamic between the two leads becomes a battle of one-upmanship. All the while, Koto is cleverly weaving through the threads of a mystery that has plagued Ran throughout his career: finding the real identity of the author who wrote a brilliant story and walked away from award-winning success.
When I tell you this novel had me glued to the page trying to figure out where we were going and how long our leading men could keep up the immature mind games. Turns out, quite a while! These two really throw some out of pocket stuff at each other...and sometimes literal ass kickings. But that really gave me an insight into their characters and why Eizo and particularly Ran opt for such playground tactics as they try to challenge each other. It's so blatantly obvious that they don't know what to do with their complex feelings.
I truly appreciated an ACTUAL slow burn which meant that any small bits of warmth just feel so tender and significant. The little moments of care and consideration so real, raw, and vulnerable. It's going to be a joy to see them smooth out the creases of their budding relationship in Book 2.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for the ARC! 🙌
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I’d like to thank tales and teacups as well as Byrd Koto for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This is my first read by Byrd Koto and I went into this story not knowing what to expect. Knowing that this is part one of a duet, I feel like this book definitely took its time building up which isn’t a bad thing. Since it is the first part of a duet, I felt like this author was setting the stage for what this duet is going to be about.
I love that this book dealt with a bookish trope such as editor x author, like this book was about! Our two characters are completely different people that have complicated pasts and I like how this author brought both of their perspectives to life in this story. We, as readers, get to learn a lot about our two characters and the lives they lived which leads into what I said prior about the author taking the time to lay out all the groundwork in this first book. Expect a really slow, slow burn in this first installment which was just enough to make me curious about the second part to this duet series!
I think overall the author did a good job at making the whodunit aspects capture my attention long enough to want to know what happens in the second part of this story. The romance wasn’t much in this story but I also want to see how our MCs wrap up their story together. If you are interested in MM romances, especially in a Tokyo setting with a little bit of mystery, then this book could very much be for you!
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
This is my first read by Byrd Koto and I went into this story not knowing what to expect. Knowing that this is part one of a duet, I feel like this book definitely took its time building up which isn’t a bad thing. Since it is the first part of a duet, I felt like this author was setting the stage for what this duet is going to be about.
I love that this book dealt with a bookish trope such as editor x author, like this book was about! Our two characters are completely different people that have complicated pasts and I like how this author brought both of their perspectives to life in this story. We, as readers, get to learn a lot about our two characters and the lives they lived which leads into what I said prior about the author taking the time to lay out all the groundwork in this first book. Expect a really slow, slow burn in this first installment which was just enough to make me curious about the second part to this duet series!
I think overall the author did a good job at making the whodunit aspects capture my attention long enough to want to know what happens in the second part of this story. The romance wasn’t much in this story but I also want to see how our MCs wrap up their story together. If you are interested in MM romances, especially in a Tokyo setting with a little bit of mystery, then this book could very much be for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got a free arc for an honest review, thank you!
I really love the writing style, it's very engaging and intelligent, witty, meaningful and clever, drawing me in. I also love the creativity, the surprises and all kinds of cultural references, and it's a truly unique plot that had me interested, trying to figure out what was happening throughout. It very much worked for me imagining it like an anime I would definitely watch.
I mostly enjoyed the banter and animosity between the main characters, some of the humour wasn't for me and sometimes their behaviour confused me in the first half and I couldn't fully understand them which I wished would become clearer. A few plot pints now and then confused me too, but didn't take away the enjoyment on a whole.
Chemistry between them was a little lacking for me until maybe the last third, but then it got much better, and I have high hopes for the sequel in this regard!
I liked Eizo's complicated relationship with his mother a lot, the tension between them, and him suffocating because of her was so well done. And the few glimpses we got of Ran's past, as well. Hoping for more of that and proper relationship development between them.
But the last third or so really picked up for me and got more exciting and mysterious in every way, and that end?! Whaaaaaat??!! I have many, questions! Looking forward to finding out the rest! Overall a really unique, good debut novel.
I really love the writing style, it's very engaging and intelligent, witty, meaningful and clever, drawing me in. I also love the creativity, the surprises and all kinds of cultural references, and it's a truly unique plot that had me interested, trying to figure out what was happening throughout. It very much worked for me imagining it like an anime I would definitely watch.
I mostly enjoyed the banter and animosity between the main characters, some of the humour wasn't for me and sometimes their behaviour confused me in the first half and I couldn't fully understand them which I wished would become clearer. A few plot pints now and then confused me too, but didn't take away the enjoyment on a whole.
Chemistry between them was a little lacking for me until maybe the last third, but then it got much better, and I have high hopes for the sequel in this regard!
I liked Eizo's complicated relationship with his mother a lot, the tension between them, and him suffocating because of her was so well done. And the few glimpses we got of Ran's past, as well. Hoping for more of that and proper relationship development between them.
But the last third or so really picked up for me and got more exciting and mysterious in every way, and that end?! Whaaaaaat??!! I have many, questions! Looking forward to finding out the rest! Overall a really unique, good debut novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
I don’t like cliffhangers, I’m not a fan of them at all, but this one… it wasn’t a cliffhangers as much as it is meant to be this way, it’s meant to be continued at a later time. It couldn’t have finished any other way, and yes, book 2 is coming, but this ending was perfect. I’m not a fan of bittersweet endings because they feel forced, they feel like the author wants to manipulate the reader’s feelings, but this one… it just had to be this way. Their relationship, how it began, developed, evolved, it just had to be this way, and it’s beautiful. I love how they can be who they are meant to be, even without being together. And it isn’t one of those “just talk to each other” situations, no, it just is. I have no idea how to explain it any better, but it all fits, it all makes sense, and it stays with you. I’ve read it a while back, and when I saw it still on my TBR list, I thought, I’ll read it this long weekend, and then… it all came back to me. It sticks that much with you, it marks you in small, subtle ways, nothing life changing, but it becomes part of you in a way, and when you try to explain why, or how, all that you can say: it simply is. And I love it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 19, 2025
3,5 stars
This book was interesting but not what I was expecting.
I really liked the writing style, the whole plot of the book publishing business was very nice too. I really liked when the author put Japanese words and then explained what the Kanji meant.
The characters are interesting and I like their grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
Why did I just rate it 3,5 stars? There is barely any romance, the title literally says "our funny love story" and there was barely any love in it. I know there is a second book coming but still,this book needed some more romance for the title to make sense in my opinion.
Also the way Ran was always talking about shit and toilets was weird af.
I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
This book was interesting but not what I was expecting.
I really liked the writing style, the whole plot of the book publishing business was very nice too. I really liked when the author put Japanese words and then explained what the Kanji meant.
The characters are interesting and I like their grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
Why did I just rate it 3,5 stars? There is barely any romance, the title literally says "our funny love story" and there was barely any love in it. I know there is a second book coming but still,this book needed some more romance for the title to make sense in my opinion.
Also the way Ran was always talking about shit and toilets was weird af.
I want to thank the author for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the first book in the series, and I loved how confidently it sets everything up while clearly promising more romance to come.
The writing pulled me in right away, it’s sharp and flows so easily that I kept reading without noticing the pages adding up. The plot is smart and engaging, with enough mystery and tension to keep you curious the whole time.
What really stood out to me was the banter between the two leads. It’s witty, charged, and feels natural rather than forced, which made their dynamic a joy to read. Even as a slow burn, it never felt dull just intentional.
I read this as an ARC and honestly can’t wait to see where the story goes next, because this was a strong, compelling start.
The writing pulled me in right away, it’s sharp and flows so easily that I kept reading without noticing the pages adding up. The plot is smart and engaging, with enough mystery and tension to keep you curious the whole time.
What really stood out to me was the banter between the two leads. It’s witty, charged, and feels natural rather than forced, which made their dynamic a joy to read. Even as a slow burn, it never felt dull just intentional.
I read this as an ARC and honestly can’t wait to see where the story goes next, because this was a strong, compelling start.
Review of advance copy
Starts as a hilarious enemies-to-lovers romcom and slowly reveals itself to be something much deeper.
Their dynamic is electric. The banter is sharp, the slow-burn tension is exquisite, and beneath all the witty insults lies a genuine emotional core. This is a story about identity, hiding, and the terrifying freedom of letting someone see who you really are. The Tokyo setting is beautifully rendered, and the mystery of a lost manuscript adds a compelling layer.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Their dynamic is electric. The banter is sharp, the slow-burn tension is exquisite, and beneath all the witty insults lies a genuine emotional core. This is a story about identity, hiding, and the terrifying freedom of letting someone see who you really are. The Tokyo setting is beautifully rendered, and the mystery of a lost manuscript adds a compelling layer.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
February 15, 2026𓏲࣪◜ 3 stars ♡ᵎ
“Not for long, though. When one journey ends, another begins.”
It was completely different than expected. I think because it was completely different than expected i couldn't adjust to the change very well. I know there will be a second book, but i wish we'd gotten a few more glimpses into their relationship to make me want to read the rest. The writing style however was great.
- a huge thank you to the author for sending me the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. -
“Not for long, though. When one journey ends, another begins.”
It was completely different than expected. I think because it was completely different than expected i couldn't adjust to the change very well. I know there will be a second book, but i wish we'd gotten a few more glimpses into their relationship to make me want to read the rest. The writing style however was great.
- a huge thank you to the author for sending me the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. -
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5 stars rounded up)
*eARC Review*
Sexual Tension, Emphasis on the Tension
Byrd Koto has truly mastered antagonistic sexual tension, a sentence I never thought I would type with my own two hands. Our protagonists, Eizo and Ran, are absolutely at each other’s throats for a good chunk of the book, and somehow, Koto manages to make it sexy. I really enjoyed the ridiculous near-rivalry between the two, as well as seeing it fade away into something else.
The book is slightly heavy-handed on discussions of bowel movements, which did leave me laughing out loud at one point. There is also a lot of very crude and foul language, which I don’t normally mind, but it did strike me as odd in a professional setting. The premise for these characters’ dislike of each other is a little shallow, but I think the writing compensated for it. The writing itself was a pleasant surprise. Koto is certainly a skilled author and her education in the creative arts shines through here.
The main reason I dropped my rating below four stars is the lack of actual romance. There are cute moments, and of course the low-key sexual harassment, but these characters don’t seem anywhere near entering a relationship by the time this book ended. It felt like we were left with only a vague hint at attraction, and I wanted a little more relationship progression by the end of the book.
Would I reccommend?
Yes, especially for those who read and enjoy danmei.
In conclusion:
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style and premise of the book. The mysteries scattered throughout the story keep you reading, and with so little romance, you can bet I’ll be picking up book two to see what happens next.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ejbookblog
March 20, 2026
Sadly, this book is not for me... I have tried hard to like it, but the toilet humor of Ran (a grown man, btw) is not for me.
Also, some points in the story are too easy to guess, like the fact that they are living next to each other, for example.
Ran is too mean and extremely unprofessional, especially towards his author (Eizo). Like, you're not supposed to talk like that to your author even if they're annoying. The same goes for his behavior with his boss; Ran is too casual about doing shit jokes at work and DURING a meeting. I was literally losing it everytime Ran mentioned shit/toilet in this book (my updates on Goodreads were not positive at all.)
On a much more personal note, I had trouble figuring out who's who since they all have Japanese names (which is cool, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's hard to follow, especially if you have troubles liking the story like me).
Eizo is also quite childish, so in the end none of the main characters are loveable for me, at least.
The only part I truly enjoyed was the idea of Eizo's manuscript, but it's not very developed.
Also, I get it's a slow burn (this is one of the reasons I asked for this book), but judging by the way they're both acting, there's no logical way that they end up together ??
The mystery part for me is quite forgetable I had no interest in learning more about it.
The whole "stories within the story" was also quite confusing for me; it might have been because I was really into the story, though.
Chapter 39 was great, truly the chapter I enjoyed the most, and unfortunately it was at the end of the book.
I'm pretty sure some people will like it, but sadly I'm not one of them. I still want to thank Netgalley and the author for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Also, some points in the story are too easy to guess, like the fact that they are living next to each other, for example.
Ran is too mean and extremely unprofessional, especially towards his author (Eizo). Like, you're not supposed to talk like that to your author even if they're annoying. The same goes for his behavior with his boss; Ran is too casual about doing shit jokes at work and DURING a meeting. I was literally losing it everytime Ran mentioned shit/toilet in this book (my updates on Goodreads were not positive at all.)
On a much more personal note, I had trouble figuring out who's who since they all have Japanese names (which is cool, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's hard to follow, especially if you have troubles liking the story like me).
Eizo is also quite childish, so in the end none of the main characters are loveable for me, at least.
The only part I truly enjoyed was the idea of Eizo's manuscript, but it's not very developed.
Also, I get it's a slow burn (this is one of the reasons I asked for this book), but judging by the way they're both acting, there's no logical way that they end up together ??
The mystery part for me is quite forgetable I had no interest in learning more about it.
The whole "stories within the story" was also quite confusing for me; it might have been because I was really into the story, though.
Chapter 39 was great, truly the chapter I enjoyed the most, and unfortunately it was at the end of the book.
I'm pretty sure some people will like it, but sadly I'm not one of them. I still want to thank Netgalley and the author for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was disappointing. The premise sounded fine, but the execution wasn't my taste at all.
Ran and Eizo don't feel like characters that are fully fleshed out in a way that makes sense to me as the reader. Honestly, it feels like I should know more about them than I actually do. Their personalities are dripped to us, but the way we start out gives me the sense that I should know them a lot longer.
The entire story feels like fanfiction. There's nothing wrong with fanfiction by any means, but it feels like this universe and setting and characters exist already and I have no idea what that IP is. It would definitely work better if these characters were already established to some degree. I don't find them believable because I'm having a hard time grasping who they are in the first place. They lack overall.
The banter between the two also caught me really off guard. I don't mind the cursing or abrasive speak we get from Ran right off the bat, but it makes it really hard for me to take it seriously. I think it also draws back to not knowing who they really are when we're launched into the story, because there's no gradual build up. We're just plopped into it, and it doesn't really work.
I know this is a slow-burn romance, but the plot doesn't have to be exactly. The plot doesn't feel like it's going anywhere, if I can even spot a plot. There's not enough of a ticking clock on the plot.
I did like some of the intimate moments the characters shared, even if I was half believing them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twig and Hwyl Books for the eARC!
Ran and Eizo don't feel like characters that are fully fleshed out in a way that makes sense to me as the reader. Honestly, it feels like I should know more about them than I actually do. Their personalities are dripped to us, but the way we start out gives me the sense that I should know them a lot longer.
The entire story feels like fanfiction. There's nothing wrong with fanfiction by any means, but it feels like this universe and setting and characters exist already and I have no idea what that IP is. It would definitely work better if these characters were already established to some degree. I don't find them believable because I'm having a hard time grasping who they are in the first place. They lack overall.
The banter between the two also caught me really off guard. I don't mind the cursing or abrasive speak we get from Ran right off the bat, but it makes it really hard for me to take it seriously. I think it also draws back to not knowing who they really are when we're launched into the story, because there's no gradual build up. We're just plopped into it, and it doesn't really work.
I know this is a slow-burn romance, but the plot doesn't have to be exactly. The plot doesn't feel like it's going anywhere, if I can even spot a plot. There's not enough of a ticking clock on the plot.
I did like some of the intimate moments the characters shared, even if I was half believing them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twig and Hwyl Books for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I really struggled to get in the story and almost stopped reading it a few times, maybe I should have because sadly I did not really enjoy this story.
I did not like the characters and I feel like I don’t know much about them. This is also supposed to be a slow burn romance but I did not like the characters together and the way they acted towards each other made me not want them to be together. I really did not feel any chemistry.
The pacing was also a bit weird in the beginning it was slow and then the last few chapters went so fast that it felt a bit unnatural. I understand that the end of a book usually goes a bit faster but the process in the relationship in the last 5-6 chapters did not match the rest of the book.
Besides the romance I also struggled to follow the plot and where the story was going. I feel like I read a whole lot but could not give you an answer if you would ask me what the story was really about. It felt a bit messy with a lot of plot points that should have been explored in more depth.
I did enjoy the writing style and I would want to try something else from Byrd Koto in the future, but sadly this was not the story for me.
I really struggled to get in the story and almost stopped reading it a few times, maybe I should have because sadly I did not really enjoy this story.
I did not like the characters and I feel like I don’t know much about them. This is also supposed to be a slow burn romance but I did not like the characters together and the way they acted towards each other made me not want them to be together. I really did not feel any chemistry.
The pacing was also a bit weird in the beginning it was slow and then the last few chapters went so fast that it felt a bit unnatural. I understand that the end of a book usually goes a bit faster but the process in the relationship in the last 5-6 chapters did not match the rest of the book.
Besides the romance I also struggled to follow the plot and where the story was going. I feel like I read a whole lot but could not give you an answer if you would ask me what the story was really about. It felt a bit messy with a lot of plot points that should have been explored in more depth.
I did enjoy the writing style and I would want to try something else from Byrd Koto in the future, but sadly this was not the story for me.
February 16, 2026
This is an interesting story, a romance set between a web serial novelist and his editor at his newly signed firm, but it’s also more than that. The romance is a slow burn, culminating in bickering like an old married couple but both holding secrets from the other, seeking leverage that would make one stay while he’s gearing up for an escape, and they haven’t even kissed yet.
On my hands and knees begging the author to make Ran a smoker instead of the immersion shattering inclusion of him needing to shit instead. My count ended at 6 with 4 of those all being within the first third of the book. The first third was a slog to get through, the characters taking cheap shots at each other and I couldn’t see how they would manage a civil conversation let alone a romance. And then, the plot picked up and the characters relaxed into their roles and we were away.
In comparison, the last two thirds held my attention well and I was intrigued by not only the new novel detailed, but the previous story and what it meant to the characters. The focus is on the main pair, but there’s handful of side characters that are introduced naturally as the plot moves. I’m intrigued what happens next despite the bumpy start.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy.
On my hands and knees begging the author to make Ran a smoker instead of the immersion shattering inclusion of him needing to shit instead. My count ended at 6 with 4 of those all being within the first third of the book. The first third was a slog to get through, the characters taking cheap shots at each other and I couldn’t see how they would manage a civil conversation let alone a romance. And then, the plot picked up and the characters relaxed into their roles and we were away.
In comparison, the last two thirds held my attention well and I was intrigued by not only the new novel detailed, but the previous story and what it meant to the characters. The focus is on the main pair, but there’s handful of side characters that are introduced naturally as the plot moves. I’m intrigued what happens next despite the bumpy start.
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy.
March 15, 2026
I DNF this one at 32%. It's hard to get into the whole are they going to connect or are they not.
One parcel created alot of angst between two neighbors. One is editor of an Indie publishing house who put alot of stock in this new writer. This writer, turns out to be a young rich kid, needless to say his problems are 1st world problems.
This is very much an enemies to lovers trope with a hint of let's follow the rabbit hole and track down the very important manuscript. But at the same time, it's atypical to see Japanese people depicted as super aggressive and mean. Now, I know that in truth, there are aggressive and mean people regardless of race. It's just that in books, TV, movies, they don't typically have a full lash out. There are hints and subtly to it, or if they're yakuza, everyone seems to have an understanding of that behavior. So it's weird to see it in a book.
My issue is the pacing of the book. There's lulls in the middle and it lost me when it bursts in bits like that. Also, the emotion is not there for me to enjoy the characters either. I do know the ending is in book 2, but it wasn't interesting enough for me to keep on.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.
One parcel created alot of angst between two neighbors. One is editor of an Indie publishing house who put alot of stock in this new writer. This writer, turns out to be a young rich kid, needless to say his problems are 1st world problems.
This is very much an enemies to lovers trope with a hint of let's follow the rabbit hole and track down the very important manuscript. But at the same time, it's atypical to see Japanese people depicted as super aggressive and mean. Now, I know that in truth, there are aggressive and mean people regardless of race. It's just that in books, TV, movies, they don't typically have a full lash out. There are hints and subtly to it, or if they're yakuza, everyone seems to have an understanding of that behavior. So it's weird to see it in a book.
My issue is the pacing of the book. There's lulls in the middle and it lost me when it bursts in bits like that. Also, the emotion is not there for me to enjoy the characters either. I do know the ending is in book 2, but it wasn't interesting enough for me to keep on.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews