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Resistance #1
Our Funny Love Story
An Achillean Literary Mystery Set in Japan's Publishing World
An Achillean literary mystery set within the cutthroat world of Tokyo publishing, featuring exclusive illustrations and a sharp, danmei-esque edge.
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. Having landed 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 together by a misdelivered package and a mutual talent for barbed one-upmanship bordering 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 the fragile connection they share is built on carefully wrought artifice. But for two men who have had the story of their lives once stolen, 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 duet. 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 duet in Book 2, Or So We Say (Winter 2026).
An Achillean literary mystery set within the cutthroat world of Tokyo publishing, featuring exclusive illustrations and a sharp, danmei-esque edge.
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. Having landed 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 together by a misdelivered package and a mutual talent for barbed one-upmanship bordering 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 the fragile connection they share is built on carefully wrought artifice. But for two men who have had the story of their lives once stolen, 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 duet. 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 duet in Book 2, Or So We Say (Winter 2026).
396 pages, ebook
Published March 2, 2026
About the author
Byrd Koto
3 books26 followersByrd Koto is an ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) author of genre-blending mysteries with queer yearning and snappy lines. She writes about complicated people trying to find themselves and become better for each other, but they don't always know the answer (or do the right thing) in the end.
Our Funny Love Story is her debut novel, with Or So We Say set to complete the duet in December 2026.
Stay updated on new releases at byrdkoto.com.
@byrdkotoauthor on socials.
Our Funny Love Story is her debut novel, with Or So We Say set to complete the duet in December 2026.
Stay updated on new releases at byrdkoto.com.
@byrdkotoauthor on socials.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
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 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 11, 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 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 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 4, 2026
Book, it's not you, it's me. Our humor just does not mesh well, and I'm sorry!
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
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.
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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.
March 8, 2026
Was able to snag this on BookSprout and finally got it read! Definitely need the second book pronto! The tension is there, the family drama is there, and a budding friendship/relationship is occurring. Loved it!
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.
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February 28, 2026**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
Sometimes you don’t vibe with a book, and that’s ok, Sometimes it’s because you’re not in the mood or something is going on. Other times it’s because you went with some assumptions and then the book throws you into a loop and your mind is so confused you really don’t know what to think.
Writing reviews can be really easy, you either enjoy a book or not and explain why. But what happens when you enjoy part of the book, but other parts left you so confused that you have no idea what to say.
“My Funny Love Story” is one of those books.
I feel like it’s trying too much being too many things.
“MM Romcom Meets Queer Lit Fic”
“OUR FUNNY LOVE STORY is an Achillean literary mystery perfect for fans of slow-burn queer romances with psychological depth, banter that runs hot (…)”
This is too many words to describe a single book. Is it a literary mystery or a romance? It’s funny, but with psychological depth? It’s too much. The book tries to be too many things, and it ends up falling short because it’s trying to be all the tropes that really some of them don’t go together.
It is, however, a cute dive into the world of editors and book publishing, and it has a lot of surrealism moments that are pretty good. I'm really a sucker for books with editors and the editing process. If you are expecting something light-hearted, a lot of dialogue with jokes, you might not find it here.
The two main characters don’t really like each other for at least 90% of the book, they spend their entire time either arguing or Ran insulting Eizo. I am not joking, he calls him “little f*cker” and “little sh!t” WHILE Eizo works with him. Ran is the most unprofessional editor I have ever found. You do NOT insult your authors, people! And he’s the love interest! Eizo is supposed to love him.
He also mentions taking a dump way too much to his boss, and if that’s the humour part, I fail to see it as such, I’m sorry. There’s no real banter, it all really seems mean-spirited, and we never know why Ran dislikes Eizo. I don’t really know why they’re enemies, because again they work together, Eizo’s success is Ran’s success. It makes no sense that they hate each other. Ran is just a real huge a*hole until almost the very end of the book and by then, I don't know why he changed his mind.
That’s also another thing. I’m not sure what the plot is, I don’t even know if there’s one, because again there’s so many things happen, I keep forgetting where I should focus on.
I loved Eizo’s book ideas: the mage that possibly had no powers, but no one knew? That was amazing! I wanted more of that!
I wanted more surreal scenes where it seemed like something completely magical was happening, where Eizo is running and then the scene shifts to a fox hunting, that’s great! Those scenes are really cool. I feel like this should be marketed just as literary fiction, so the author should not feel so “tied” to the concept of the characters being together, because I find that if the characters weren’t so bound on "falling in love” this would have been different.
I will still read the second book, although I will go with a different mindset.
This book caught me off guard because again I was trying to vibe with a lot of different things/themes/styles and now that I am more familiar with the author's style, I think I can safely go with clearer expectations.
And hey that happens with debuts. It's only the first book in a sea of, hopefully, a lot more. The author will have plenty of time and opportunities to explore her style and her voice.
Sometimes you don’t vibe with a book, and that’s ok, Sometimes it’s because you’re not in the mood or something is going on. Other times it’s because you went with some assumptions and then the book throws you into a loop and your mind is so confused you really don’t know what to think.
Writing reviews can be really easy, you either enjoy a book or not and explain why. But what happens when you enjoy part of the book, but other parts left you so confused that you have no idea what to say.
“My Funny Love Story” is one of those books.
I feel like it’s trying too much being too many things.
“MM Romcom Meets Queer Lit Fic”
“OUR FUNNY LOVE STORY is an Achillean literary mystery perfect for fans of slow-burn queer romances with psychological depth, banter that runs hot (…)”
This is too many words to describe a single book. Is it a literary mystery or a romance? It’s funny, but with psychological depth? It’s too much. The book tries to be too many things, and it ends up falling short because it’s trying to be all the tropes that really some of them don’t go together.
It is, however, a cute dive into the world of editors and book publishing, and it has a lot of surrealism moments that are pretty good. I'm really a sucker for books with editors and the editing process. If you are expecting something light-hearted, a lot of dialogue with jokes, you might not find it here.
The two main characters don’t really like each other for at least 90% of the book, they spend their entire time either arguing or Ran insulting Eizo. I am not joking, he calls him “little f*cker” and “little sh!t” WHILE Eizo works with him. Ran is the most unprofessional editor I have ever found. You do NOT insult your authors, people! And he’s the love interest! Eizo is supposed to love him.
He also mentions taking a dump way too much to his boss, and if that’s the humour part, I fail to see it as such, I’m sorry. There’s no real banter, it all really seems mean-spirited, and we never know why Ran dislikes Eizo. I don’t really know why they’re enemies, because again they work together, Eizo’s success is Ran’s success. It makes no sense that they hate each other. Ran is just a real huge a*hole until almost the very end of the book and by then, I don't know why he changed his mind.
That’s also another thing. I’m not sure what the plot is, I don’t even know if there’s one, because again there’s so many things happen, I keep forgetting where I should focus on.
I loved Eizo’s book ideas: the mage that possibly had no powers, but no one knew? That was amazing! I wanted more of that!
I wanted more surreal scenes where it seemed like something completely magical was happening, where Eizo is running and then the scene shifts to a fox hunting, that’s great! Those scenes are really cool. I feel like this should be marketed just as literary fiction, so the author should not feel so “tied” to the concept of the characters being together, because I find that if the characters weren’t so bound on "falling in love” this would have been different.
I will still read the second book, although I will go with a different mindset.
This book caught me off guard because again I was trying to vibe with a lot of different things/themes/styles and now that I am more familiar with the author's style, I think I can safely go with clearer expectations.
And hey that happens with debuts. It's only the first book in a sea of, hopefully, a lot more. The author will have plenty of time and opportunities to explore her style and her voice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book made me wanting more! I have so many questions! And I need answers, pronto!
Ran and Eizo have quite a fun relationship. I enjoyed their endless banters, and it was nice seeing them develop. I love a good slow burn! And the sequel has me really excited!
The interior artwork was also a very nice treat! I could tell the artist and the writer worked really well together to bring those scenes to life! I also loved the prose. This was so well-written, and I'll be there for when this story ends.
Ran and Eizo have quite a fun relationship. I enjoyed their endless banters, and it was nice seeing them develop. I love a good slow burn! And the sequel has me really excited!
The interior artwork was also a very nice treat! I could tell the artist and the writer worked really well together to bring those scenes to life! I also loved the prose. This was so well-written, and I'll be there for when this story ends.
March 19, 2026
3.5 ✨
‘Some write to be seen. Some write to be found. And there are those who write to hide. To be forgotten. To be buried underneath a sea of words.’
Firstly I’d love to say thank you to Byrd Koto and MTMC Tours for the eARC and this is my honest review! I wasn’t too sure what to expect from a romantic lit fic as it is the first book I’ve read like it, but I can say I was pleasantly surprised! It felt very authentic for a novel, based in a culture and place I’m not entirely familiar with, but it felt smooth and easy to pick up what was happening contextually. The romance I will say is incredibly slow burn, so much so that it felt perhaps too sudden when the revelations came about, but the tension was definitely there throughout Ran and Eizo’s interactions. I really enjoyed the mystery element to the plot, and hope that book 2 will build on this, and I’m excited to see their relationship bloom!
‘Some write to be seen. Some write to be found. And there are those who write to hide. To be forgotten. To be buried underneath a sea of words.’
Firstly I’d love to say thank you to Byrd Koto and MTMC Tours for the eARC and this is my honest review! I wasn’t too sure what to expect from a romantic lit fic as it is the first book I’ve read like it, but I can say I was pleasantly surprised! It felt very authentic for a novel, based in a culture and place I’m not entirely familiar with, but it felt smooth and easy to pick up what was happening contextually. The romance I will say is incredibly slow burn, so much so that it felt perhaps too sudden when the revelations came about, but the tension was definitely there throughout Ran and Eizo’s interactions. I really enjoyed the mystery element to the plot, and hope that book 2 will build on this, and I’m excited to see their relationship bloom!
March 11, 2026
3/5 ⭐
I recently had the chance to dive into Our Funny Love Story, and while I didn’t quite connect with it the way I had hoped, it was still a nice read overall.
For me, the writing felt a little bit flat at times, and I struggled to connect with the characters. They seemed to have potential, but I didn’t really feel their chemistry or see much growth, which made it kind of hard to stay engaged with their journey. The plot, though not without charm, tended to stall quite often, leaving me wishing for more momentum and energy.
As for the humour… While it’s described as a funny RomCon, I found myself waiting for the laughs that never really came. Nothing quite landed in a way that made me laugh out loud, which was a bit disappointing considering how strongly the humour is highlighted in the promotion.
In conclusion, Our Funny Love Story didn’t quite meet the high expectation set by its promo, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Big thanks to the author and BookFunnel for providing me with an ARC copy of the book in exchange with my honest opinion.
Quotes that I found nice follow
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Quotes:
“This is how you create a story, right?”
“Why should the taste of a few decide what we should read, and then peddle the same books to our faces and say this is what the market wants?"
"Venture as far as you can. Dive in as deeply as you want. I'll hold on to you."
I recently had the chance to dive into Our Funny Love Story, and while I didn’t quite connect with it the way I had hoped, it was still a nice read overall.
For me, the writing felt a little bit flat at times, and I struggled to connect with the characters. They seemed to have potential, but I didn’t really feel their chemistry or see much growth, which made it kind of hard to stay engaged with their journey. The plot, though not without charm, tended to stall quite often, leaving me wishing for more momentum and energy.
As for the humour… While it’s described as a funny RomCon, I found myself waiting for the laughs that never really came. Nothing quite landed in a way that made me laugh out loud, which was a bit disappointing considering how strongly the humour is highlighted in the promotion.
In conclusion, Our Funny Love Story didn’t quite meet the high expectation set by its promo, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Big thanks to the author and BookFunnel for providing me with an ARC copy of the book in exchange with my honest opinion.
Quotes that I found nice follow
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Quotes:
“This is how you create a story, right?”
“Why should the taste of a few decide what we should read, and then peddle the same books to our faces and say this is what the market wants?"
"Venture as far as you can. Dive in as deeply as you want. I'll hold on to you."
February 5, 2026
This is the quintessential Japanese BL. An incredibly low stakes plot made increasingly tense and dramatic with stunning prose and building hyperbole. Two MCs that create drama and arguments based on nothing, aggressively flirting while simultaneously denying any form of attraction or respect for one another. A few random scenes of overly-sexualised confrontations and fixations... It was fun, it was dramatic, the romance has yet to go anywhere and the background tension is building as stories are left unfinished, family drama unresolved and mysteries unsolved.
I loved that the setting was a publishers, the editor/author relationship fully analysed and the thought processes behind publishing and the expectations of the industry explored. With snippets of novels scattered throughout, stories and drafts woven through the narrative, reflecting the author, changing the editor's view of him, drawing the audience further in to the stories that are yet to be written. Then there was the editors obsession with a manuscript never published despite winning awards, and the potential connection to the author, or his family. His family life was another element all together, difficult and strained, necessitating the secrecy he maintains and the double life he leads. I liked that baseball was a randomly large part of the backstory and plot of the side-story, drawn into the main narrative from time to time, adding another dimension to an already mildly chaotic plot. The two of them being neighbours, unaware at first, then deliberately antagonistic, then strangely domestic, was another brilliant addition to the building tension, conflicts and relationship between the two characters.
I had fun reading this! Enjoyed every second, it was random, chaotic, mysterious and wholly dramatic.
I loved that the setting was a publishers, the editor/author relationship fully analysed and the thought processes behind publishing and the expectations of the industry explored. With snippets of novels scattered throughout, stories and drafts woven through the narrative, reflecting the author, changing the editor's view of him, drawing the audience further in to the stories that are yet to be written. Then there was the editors obsession with a manuscript never published despite winning awards, and the potential connection to the author, or his family. His family life was another element all together, difficult and strained, necessitating the secrecy he maintains and the double life he leads. I liked that baseball was a randomly large part of the backstory and plot of the side-story, drawn into the main narrative from time to time, adding another dimension to an already mildly chaotic plot. The two of them being neighbours, unaware at first, then deliberately antagonistic, then strangely domestic, was another brilliant addition to the building tension, conflicts and relationship between the two characters.
I had fun reading this! Enjoyed every second, it was random, chaotic, mysterious and wholly dramatic.
Review of advance copy
Our Funny Love Story leans wholeheartedly into the slow burn read literally and figuratively.
The characters are driven by fascinating motivations and grow in ways that kept me rooting for them at every turn. I was especially drawn to the way art, literature, and publishing are highlighted into the narrative, not as background noise but as meaningful themes that enrich the story.
These elements excites me in from the very start, though I did pause for a while when the pace lagged. Fittingly, this is a slow-burn romance, and once I returned, I was glad I stuck with it. The supporting cast sparkles with personality, and I loved seeing how Ran and Eizo interpret the world and people around them. Their perspectives add real depth, and their interactions with Kiko, Misaki, Kisuki, Goro, Reika, and Takeru reveal layers of the story I didn’t expect. The evolution of Ran and Eizo’s relationship took me by surprise in the best way. Their connection is intricate, compelling, and ultimately left me satisfied.
These are some of the highlighted lines/ quotes that I love upon reading it:
"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."
"Some write to be seen,. Some write to be found. Then there are those who write to hide. To be forgotten. To be buried under a sea of words."
"Only people who had no choice wound up in unmarked ditches."
"Like a house, a story needed to be filled with light and air to thrive. That was where the likes of him entered, offering suggestions for hammering in windows and doors in way that let in the most light."
Overall, it was a nice read.
Actual Star Rating: 3.8/ 5 stars
Thank you, Byrd and congratulations in advance to your book launch.
The characters are driven by fascinating motivations and grow in ways that kept me rooting for them at every turn. I was especially drawn to the way art, literature, and publishing are highlighted into the narrative, not as background noise but as meaningful themes that enrich the story.
These elements excites me in from the very start, though I did pause for a while when the pace lagged. Fittingly, this is a slow-burn romance, and once I returned, I was glad I stuck with it. The supporting cast sparkles with personality, and I loved seeing how Ran and Eizo interpret the world and people around them. Their perspectives add real depth, and their interactions with Kiko, Misaki, Kisuki, Goro, Reika, and Takeru reveal layers of the story I didn’t expect. The evolution of Ran and Eizo’s relationship took me by surprise in the best way. Their connection is intricate, compelling, and ultimately left me satisfied.
These are some of the highlighted lines/ quotes that I love upon reading it:
"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."
"Some write to be seen,. Some write to be found. Then there are those who write to hide. To be forgotten. To be buried under a sea of words."
"Only people who had no choice wound up in unmarked ditches."
"Like a house, a story needed to be filled with light and air to thrive. That was where the likes of him entered, offering suggestions for hammering in windows and doors in way that let in the most light."
Overall, it was a nice read.
Actual Star Rating: 3.8/ 5 stars
Thank you, Byrd and congratulations in advance to your book launch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2026
"What would you say if no one were watching? Something funny, so the night becomes less lonely?"
arc review!
an m/m enemies to lovers literary and genre bending mystery-romance... the writing is lucid and the imagery and semiotics are striking... its so beautifully layered i want to pore over every detail again! i love the characters and how they were introduced, they have very particular personalities refined into the smallest of details and every choice felt so natural... i heavily related to them in lots of respects lol
this has got to be one of my favorite depictions of enemies to lovers. like. they hate eachother and cant stop thinking about each other and the tension theyre so unhinged omg like help i love this
Ran
Tea
"Miyamoto Ran wasn’t someone you could mess with."
Eizo
Coffee
"Besides, romance was the last thing on his mind. Romance was always the last thing on his mind."
some of these lines are so rawly hilarious
"Time to pluck those feathers off the stem, Little Motherfucker."
and the enemies to lovers tension...
"Eizo felt like he was prey."
every twist and every detail landed... the layers to the narrative and the characters had me hooked... THE TENSIONN I CANT STOP SMILING I NEED TO STARE AT THE ART OF THEM
i had my theories and suspicions... the craft, the layers, im still thinking ab it...
the ending... WHAT???? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ???!!! I NEED BOOK 2!!!!
arc review!
an m/m enemies to lovers literary and genre bending mystery-romance... the writing is lucid and the imagery and semiotics are striking... its so beautifully layered i want to pore over every detail again! i love the characters and how they were introduced, they have very particular personalities refined into the smallest of details and every choice felt so natural... i heavily related to them in lots of respects lol
this has got to be one of my favorite depictions of enemies to lovers. like. they hate eachother and cant stop thinking about each other and the tension theyre so unhinged omg like help i love this
Ran
Tea
"Miyamoto Ran wasn’t someone you could mess with."
Eizo
Coffee
"Besides, romance was the last thing on his mind. Romance was always the last thing on his mind."
some of these lines are so rawly hilarious
"Time to pluck those feathers off the stem, Little Motherfucker."
and the enemies to lovers tension...
"Eizo felt like he was prey."
every twist and every detail landed... the layers to the narrative and the characters had me hooked... THE TENSIONN I CANT STOP SMILING I NEED TO STARE AT THE ART OF THEM
i had my theories and suspicions... the craft, the layers, im still thinking ab it...
the ending... WHAT???? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ???!!! I NEED BOOK 2!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I finished OUR FUNNY LOVE STORY and think the characters had interesting motivations and solid character development. The themes surrounding art, literature, and publishing were done well.
I appreciated the side characters and how Ran and Eizo perceive them. There's depth to Ran and Eizo's perspectives, and the way they speak with other characters reflects the deeper meaning of the themes. For example, the discussion(s) with Misaki were excellent and cerebral.
I didn't expect Ran and Eizo's relationship to go the way it did, and I was pleasantly surprised. They definitely had a dynamic that felt complicated and compelling.
My favourite quote is in the last chapter, and I would like to wait until the book publishes before sharing that here!
My initial statement, as seen below, still stands. I think there can be effort to not reinforce the gender binary.
I have highlighted quotes, and since this is an ARC, I'll just share this one:
"An escape artist with words. A young man whose smile ended below his eyes."
Initial thoughts posted in December 2025:
"If he were a man, perhaps someone in his forties or fifties who tended to plants on the weekends. If she were a woman, maybe someone in her late twenties or thirties who took great care of her belongings."
I don't really like the gender binary shown in this quote. I appreciate the characterisation of Ran and Eizo in the first few chapters, however, I think this book isn't for me.
Thank you Byrd Koto for the ARC.
I appreciated the side characters and how Ran and Eizo perceive them. There's depth to Ran and Eizo's perspectives, and the way they speak with other characters reflects the deeper meaning of the themes. For example, the discussion(s) with Misaki were excellent and cerebral.
I didn't expect Ran and Eizo's relationship to go the way it did, and I was pleasantly surprised. They definitely had a dynamic that felt complicated and compelling.
My favourite quote is in the last chapter, and I would like to wait until the book publishes before sharing that here!
My initial statement, as seen below, still stands. I think there can be effort to not reinforce the gender binary.
I have highlighted quotes, and since this is an ARC, I'll just share this one:
"An escape artist with words. A young man whose smile ended below his eyes."
Initial thoughts posted in December 2025:
"If he were a man, perhaps someone in his forties or fifties who tended to plants on the weekends. If she were a woman, maybe someone in her late twenties or thirties who took great care of her belongings."
I don't really like the gender binary shown in this quote. I appreciate the characterisation of Ran and Eizo in the first few chapters, however, I think this book isn't for me.
Thank you Byrd Koto for the ARC.
March 2, 2026
Couldn't Get Into It . . .
This is one of those rare cases where I just could not get into this story. It didn't match my expectations, and I didn't connect with the characters to cheer for them, which is what invests me into the story. Their relationship was not making sense to me and I finally just gave up on it. I am not saying other readers won't enjoy it. This just wasn't my style of book and was more irritating to me than intriguing.
This is one of those rare cases where I just could not get into this story. It didn't match my expectations, and I didn't connect with the characters to cheer for them, which is what invests me into the story. Their relationship was not making sense to me and I finally just gave up on it. I am not saying other readers won't enjoy it. This just wasn't my style of book and was more irritating to me than intriguing.
January 8, 2026
“Some write to be seen. Some write to be found. Then there are those who write to hide. To be forgotten. To be buried under a sea of words.”
What a book! This was the perfect book for me to start 2026 off with.
Slow burn? ✅
Enemies to lovers? ✅
A story about a writer and an editor? ✅
Set in Tokyo? ✅
What else could I ask for? 😅
I showed up for a humorous enemies to lovers story set in Japan, and I’m staying for the characters, the slow burn, the mystery...well, everything!
I hadn’t turned the first page of chapter one and I was relating so hard with Ran. I felt so seen! And then Eizo is introduced, I just wish I could sit and talk with him about books over coffee. The slow burn is perfect. I was not expecting to be so invested in the mystery that hovers over this story. Byrd Koto did a wonderful job, and I can’t wait to read more from her.
What a book! This was the perfect book for me to start 2026 off with.
Slow burn? ✅
Enemies to lovers? ✅
A story about a writer and an editor? ✅
Set in Tokyo? ✅
What else could I ask for? 😅
I showed up for a humorous enemies to lovers story set in Japan, and I’m staying for the characters, the slow burn, the mystery...well, everything!
I hadn’t turned the first page of chapter one and I was relating so hard with Ran. I felt so seen! And then Eizo is introduced, I just wish I could sit and talk with him about books over coffee. The slow burn is perfect. I was not expecting to be so invested in the mystery that hovers over this story. Byrd Koto did a wonderful job, and I can’t wait to read more from her.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
It’s safe to say I’m starting this year with some fantastic reads. I’m usually not one for a good laugh, something a certain someone loves to remind me of (you know who you are). But this one? I was absolutely cracking up and completely fell in love with it.
I’ll admit, all the writing, editing, and publishing-related details were a bit hard for me to follow at times, but I did my best... promise. And the slow burn? Chef’s kiss. Their story is genuinely beautiful, and I cannot wait for the sequel to see what happens next.
This is also the moment I realised that Byrd is a fantastic writer,
'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.'
It’s safe to say I’m starting this year with some fantastic reads. I’m usually not one for a good laugh, something a certain someone loves to remind me of (you know who you are). But this one? I was absolutely cracking up and completely fell in love with it.
I’ll admit, all the writing, editing, and publishing-related details were a bit hard for me to follow at times, but I did my best... promise. And the slow burn? Chef’s kiss. Their story is genuinely beautiful, and I cannot wait for the sequel to see what happens next.
This is also the moment I realised that Byrd is a fantastic writer,
'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.'
February 22, 2026
Our funny love story was funny alright with a little love but damn that was something
The character of Ran is so interesting to me. Foul mouthed, methodical, very autistic imo, but also very touching. I believe you have the same journey as Eizo when it comes to Ran. At first he’s scary, annoying, revolting even. And by the end you’re totally in love with his character
The book was so well written, not a typical romance at all. It reminded me a lot of the way R.F Kuang writes!
I laughed out loud at some of the dialogues between Ran and Eizo. Their banter was something else hahaha
I can’t wait for book 2 and for the mystery to unfold !! I believe that when they are completely honest with each other, we will get the best love story
The character of Ran is so interesting to me. Foul mouthed, methodical, very autistic imo, but also very touching. I believe you have the same journey as Eizo when it comes to Ran. At first he’s scary, annoying, revolting even. And by the end you’re totally in love with his character
The book was so well written, not a typical romance at all. It reminded me a lot of the way R.F Kuang writes!
I laughed out loud at some of the dialogues between Ran and Eizo. Their banter was something else hahaha
I can’t wait for book 2 and for the mystery to unfold !! I believe that when they are completely honest with each other, we will get the best love story
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5
Starting my arc read for the year with a bang. When I was approved for this book I went into blind and had no idea what to expect. The cover gives the idea that their are two men involved with each other but rest I was leaving on time.
And was I surprised by the way this story was written? yes!
If you're someone who loves genre blending this one is for you. If you like slow burn mm romance where the first book is about banter, teasing, pissing each other of and the accidental hand brushes that makes the mmc feel things, you are at the right place.
I already have a couple of theories about the next book of this duet and can't wait to know more about it.
Starting my arc read for the year with a bang. When I was approved for this book I went into blind and had no idea what to expect. The cover gives the idea that their are two men involved with each other but rest I was leaving on time.
And was I surprised by the way this story was written? yes!
If you're someone who loves genre blending this one is for you. If you like slow burn mm romance where the first book is about banter, teasing, pissing each other of and the accidental hand brushes that makes the mmc feel things, you are at the right place.
I already have a couple of theories about the next book of this duet and can't wait to know more about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So this one is a little hard to review. There's no rhyme or reason for them to like each other. Miyamoto Ran, is the editor for a book company, Kamada Eizo wrote the "book" Ran needs to help edit & market. They start out as enemies but then it leads us into wondering through Ran's brain trying to figure out how Eizo mind works when he writes. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed this story, but it wasn't exactly as promised. The whole thing about both parties working to achieve their dreams and the effort they're putting in to that is fun. But I really just don't understand their relationship at all. It's like the author decided on the milestones their relationship was going to hit, but forgot to put in all the parts in between.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Our Funny Love Story is book one in the Resistance series. If I'm being really honest I don't love this book. I feel like romance was lacking, slow burn that didn't burn, romance that was barely mentioned. That said the book is written well, just didn't feel like a romance IMO.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was certainly different than my usual reads, but I think I needed a little more actual romance, for an M/M love story. (Maybe I'm just more of a medium-burn girly?) I DID enjoy the banter and the grumpy/sunshine type of vibes!
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.
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.
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