Cat-Life Balance 1

黒根さんはニャーと鳴かない [Kurone-san wa Nyaa to Nakanai] #1

by Akari Otokawa

In this office romance manga with a feline twist, a people-pleaser flirting with burnout discovers his antisocial coworker's secret: She only smiles when she's playing with stray cats! Now he's got a choice: Keep up the facade and keep saying "yes" to every extra task and happy hour, or risk his perfect work image to sneak off for some simple, frisky fun?

Fans of Sweat & Soap and Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You will love this new series from the creator of Cells at Work! Lady.

Everyone at work loves Mamoru, because Mamoru never says no. Replacing lightbulbs, carrying boxes, taking over an impossible client from a retiring colleague… He'll do it all, and it's earned him the nickname "Prince of the Office." This glittering extrovert's opposite at work is Kurone, a quiet woman in another department who soaks up her boss's senseless mood swings with a blank stoicism. After one particularly long day, Mamoru is thrilled to be walking home alone, sipping a beer (because all his colleagues went drinking and left him to work overtime), when he encounters something strange: The usually glum Kurone is in the park, gleefully playing with stray cats. This secret seems silly, but it brings Kurone joy. It's the start of an unlikely relationship that will lead Mamoru to start reflecting on his life and who he really wants to share it with. Is work really all there is, or can he strike a balance with the help of these fluffy new friends--and a human who might become something more?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Slice Of Life, Contemporary

208 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked it up for the cat cover (of course) without expecting it to be an office romance, but it was very cute either way. It's about a man and a woman who work at the same place but are complete opposites in personalities there. Kitaohji is well-liked by everyone and always lends a helping hand when asked while Kurone basically never speaks to anyone and is more of an outsider. But as it turns out, Kitaohji just can't say no and isn't happy with his good nature being exploited like that and Kurone simply prefers the cats in the park to any human interaction. Both characters have their own issues when talking to other people and I loved that they were both much more than what they seemed to be at first glance. They unexpectedly see each other outside of work being their true selves and from that point on they indirectly are a positive influence on each other. They also connect over Kurone's work caring for stray cats in a park, and everything about that was just so nice. I'm sure that the mangaka is a certified cat lover and I had the feeling that the care of strays is important to them. There were funny parts, like when Kurone is appreciating a cat's bowel movements, but the characters also seriously reflect upon their personalities and about the way they are perceived by others. The art style was lovely too and I especially liked the soft character design. And the kitties, of course. Overall, this was a wonderful first volume. But considering that I'm actually terrible at continuing romance manga that I decently liked, it remains to be seen if I pick up the rest of the series when it's out.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a cute and wholesome first volume. anything to do with cats and i’m immediately interested, and i could tell this was written by someone similar. this was definitely written by a cat lover themselves and made it even more enjoyable. looking forward to the next instalments.
thank you netgalley for providing me with this arc.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an unbiased review.]

A very charming tale of two people who are very different, yet suffer mightily from an oppressive work environment. They quietly bond, sort of, over a trio of adorable felines who lend themselves to the title.

Mamoru is the prince of his company; he excels at being incredibly helpful, but won’t say no to anything that’s asked of him. Rather than being the typical male lead, his story is one of being so subsumed by his corporate culture he forgets who he really is.

Conversely, Kurone has an awful time at work, being ignored by her coworkers and dressed down by her employers for their mistakes. She chooses to avoid these problems and seeks solace with the park cats she helps care for.

A random encounter at said park brings Mamoru and Kurone together, but not quite in the way you’re thinking. Not yet, anyway. And that’s kind of important; this takes its time to develop the two characters and give them personality.

Mamoru really makes a great impression - beneath his good looks and willingness to please lies somebody who does far more than he has the mental fortitude to endure. When he can just be himself around Kurone and the cats you can tell the relief. I also really liked his love of rakugo, which was a nice random touch.

Kurone loves her cats and is very protective of them and she’s the more wounded of the two characters. She’s got aspects of being a little neurodivergent to her, given how she can’t parse social cues at work very well.

She’s slow to let her walls down, especially when it comes to the possibility of somebody muscling in on her time with the cats, not that Mamoru wins them over quickly either. Yet you get why she has a problem with somebody entering her safe space.

There’s a sadness to her story that runs deeper than Mamoru’s, although her issues are far less the result of her own actions. She just is how she is and nobody seems to know how to deal with that.

Plus we get this trio of cats, but more interestingly we get a rundown of how these sorts of park cats are cared for in Japan. I found this super interesting and I’m not one for this sort of info dump normally. I also appreciated that Kurone demonstrated the eye blinking method for showing some love to a feline.

There is admittedly a lot of set-up here, with minimal progress on the expected romance until the very end. That may feel slow for some people, but I appreciate the depth afforded to our leads and it’s never boring.

Basically, this gives me a reason to care about these two and it now can make the case for caring about them both coming together. It looks pretty good and deals with adult problems rather than dressing up high school romance in an adult wrapper.

4 stars - very good start and I am really excited to see where it goes next. Definitely worth a look if you want a more mature type of romance.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Kodansha for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review & rating to be adjusted once series complete.



I had this series on my radar because cats! I was really glad to get the chance to read an early copy and it actually ended up exceeding my expectations.


Mamoru and Kurone work in the same office but are otherwise far apart. Where Mamoru is well liked and known as reliable and helpful, Kurone has virtually no relationship to any of her coworkers and is a known loner. Yet both of them are unhappy - Mamoru struggles to constantly live up to expectations and Kurone is more socially awkward than truly against being around other people. Per a chance meeting after work in a park, Mamoru finds Kurone looking after stray cats and discovers a new side to her that makes him want to get to know her better as well as experience her fascination with cats for himself.

This is a very realistic and thoughtful take on work life balance - the roles we play or get made to play and just how work can really burn us out. As a big cat lover, I fully believe in cats having a calming presence and it's just beautifully depicted here. It's also thoughtful and informative around stray cats. It's just a really well-paced start to a series with complex and interesting characters and just the cutest cat characters along with it. The art is pretty cute, especially the cats - I'm very much looking forward to reading more.

[maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for approving my arc request !
I didn't expect this to be an office romance, but it was so cute overall! I loved the romance it was so adorable. this manga is about a woman and a woman who are polar opposites but work in the same office. Mamoru, the main male character is the prince of the office who everyone loves, while Kurone our female main character is the gloomy type of character. I loved the dynamic between them because im a huge fan of opposites attract and I loved how this was done. it was a cute light read, and is a slump curer. would def recommend for anyone looking for a easy, fun, light hearted manga. I'm def looking forward to the rest of the series!!

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is really cute - a pair of opposites in the office who collide outside of work when at their most relaxed and end up forging a connection.

But I found the panels themselves to be way too busy and honestly kind of hard to follow because of it. I’m sure it’s just to represent Kitaohji’s mental state, but it interrupted the flow of the story a bit. Plus it felt like we focused so much on Kitaohji being pushy that we didn’t really get much of Kurone until the very end.

I also thought the cats would be a much bigger deal rather than just a vehicle for the plot…

{Thank you Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute DELIGHT to read! I’m so so glad I requested an eARC of this manga because I’m now in love.

First of all, both of our leads are absolutely DELIGHTFUL in their own unique ways, and I would do anything for them 😩

Kitaohji is in a prison of his own making as the office “prince” who is a yes man. You have too much work on your plate? He’ll help you complete it. You’re dealing with an unreasonable client? He’ll smooth things over. You need help changing a lightbulb? He’ll do it. The consequence of this is that he’s overworked, and he doesn’t quite feel like himself at work. He’s built this “perfect” image that he’s scared now of shattering in the minds of his coworkers. In comes Kurone, the office loner. She keeps to herself, hardly speaking to another soul at work, and is often the object of scoldings at work despite not being to blame for half of what she’s being chewed out for. She’s anxious and skittish around others—often coming across as aloof.

Kitaohji and Kurone are brought together when, by chance, Kitaohji finds Kurone at the park with a huge smile on her face as she plays with some kitties.

These two warmed my entire SOUL! I loved every single panel of them feeding the kitties, playing with them, and getting to know each other better. Kurone is extremely standoffish because she’s always internally freaking out about any interaction she has with other humans, and Kitaohji’s goal becomes to develop a genuine friendship with her. He doesn’t always understand her boundaries or why she reacts the way she does, but he tries his best to be considerate and kind while trying to spend more time with her.

Kurone herself doesn’t really under why Kitaohji would give her the time of day as she’s (often) so difficult to talk with, but he certainly keeps trying. It melted my heart whenever I saw Kitaohji earnestly greet Kurone and give her a mega-watt smile because he genuinely enjoys spending time with her so much. I’d also become an awkward mess if I had so much intense golden energy pointed in my direction 😩 Kurone, you’re so valid and real! But please let this man into your inner circle. He’s a cutie patootie! 💖

I seriously need the next volume STAT!!! These two are way too adorable, and I’m obsessed with them 🧎🏻‍♀️

[Bettina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ A beautiful story about friendship and daring to show who you truly are. I thought this was a great story about two different people who met under some really fun circumstances. I’m excited to continue the story, and see where this friendship and love for cats will go!

A big thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an arc of this story!

[Demetri · Rating 4 out of 5]

He Brought Office-Approved Charm to a Cat Park and, Unsurprisingly, Things Got Complicated
“Cat-Life Balance 1,” by Akari Otokawa, is a slyly intelligent romance about why social fluency is not the same as emotional tact, especially when the audience includes one guarded woman and one unimpressed cat.
By Demetris Papadimitropoulos | April 6th, 2026

Romance usually stamps attention APPROVED and waves it through. Someone notices you, remembers your drink order, offers help, lungses into your inconvenience a beat before you have properly named it, and fiction calls the whole performance devotion. “Cat-Life Balance 1,” by Akari Otokawa, asks the question romance would usually rather charm its way around. What if attention is not neutral? What if help arrives with elbows? What if the nicest man in the office is still hovering a little too close to the routine that keeps you sane?

Sometimes the skittish creature is a cat. Here, more often, it is a person.

At cover-copy distance, the manga looks outfitted with every comfort-read convenience money can buy. Mamoru Kitaohji is the office prince – handsome, socially slick, compulsively helpful, forever changing the light bulb, carrying the box, taking the extra client, smoothing the atmosphere. His colleagues adore him for one simple reason: he never says no. Across the office sits Kurone from administration, shuttered to the point of alarm, routinely chewed out, and discussed by coworkers as though she were a difficult appliance rather than a woman being worn thin at work. Then one evening Kitaohji, escaping the office and indulging in his own private decompression routine – convenience-store beer, two train stops on foot, a rakugo story muttered to no one in particular – stumbles across Kurone in a park. There she is not ghostly at all, only intent: smiling, kneeling among stray cats, tending food bowls with quiet competence. The office ghost has a second life. So, embarrassingly enough, does the Prince.

All that would already suffice for a manga content to stay cute and not make trouble. Otokawa has a less flattering problem in mind. “Cat-Life Balance 1” is not, in the end, a thaw-and-kiss machine. It keeps circling a harder fact: two people can stand in the same moment and come away with opposite weather. What feels to Kitaohji like warmth, curiosity, and reprieve feels to Kurone like risk. What the office pays in approval for – availability, adaptability, that bright social ease – does not turn harmless because the scenery changes. The park is no magical neutral ground where hidden selves can bloom at leisure. It is Kurone’s shelter, and shelter here has house rules.

The early chapters move quickly and cut where the social nerves are exposed. The office runs on errands, mood-triage, and tiny social debts. Kitaohji’s princehood is flattering, but it is also a job description he never quite applied for. He is valued not only for competence but for smoothness – for being the man who absorbs strain before anyone else has to feel it. Praise here works like a leash braided from compliments. Kurone gets filed the other way. Because she is not overavailable, the office reads her as wrong on sight. Otokawa does not stop to lecture about any of this. She simply shows how fast a workplace can sort one person into inexhaustible usefulness and another into social defect. Kitaohji is the man people hand things to. Kurone is the woman they explain to each other.

Then the park reverses the current. Kurone’s relation to the cats is not whimsical but rule-bound. She explains feeding schedules, litter-box cleanup, trap-neuter-return, ear-tipping, the practical wisdom of not leaving food out where it will attract crows or other cats. In a lazier book, the cats would be a furry mood board. Here they come with upkeep. That matters. Otokawa does not use them as a shortcut to tenderness. She submits tenderness to maintenance.

The manga gets serious the moment cat care stops being flavor and starts laying down rules. Feed at the right time. Keep your distance. Lower yourself. Do not lunge. Do not presume welcome. Let trust come toward you if it comes at all. That logic comes fully into view in the chapter devoted to Puff, the park cat least inclined to tolerate human enthusiasm. Kitaohji, who has spent his life succeeding through responsiveness and charm, is a terrible fit for Puff. He approaches too brightly. He wants too quickly. Puff bolts. The comedy draws a little blood because good manners get you nowhere here. Kurone explains why. Outdoor cats live short, rough lives. Hands reaching from above are not automatically gentle. A loud male voice can sound like threat. The cat who startles and withdraws is not being rude. He is being sensible.

That is the line where the manga shows its hand. Otokawa is not subtle about the cat-human parallel, but she is precise, and precision is worth more here than coyness. Puff is not a symbol you decode once and shelve. He is procedure first. Method first. He is the clearest demonstration the book could ask for: how do you move toward a living creature without making your own good intentions the loudest thing in the panel? How do you offer closeness without turning yourself into one more hazard to be managed?

That question shapes the book’s verbal texture as much as its theme. In Sarah Alys Lindholm’s translation, the dialogue never tries to outsmart the moment. Conversation is terse, halting, a little awkward in exactly the right places. People here do not vault into eloquence because the plot would find it convenient. They stall, deflect, explain the practical thing when they cannot yet say the tender one. One of the book’s loveliest devices has Kurone telling Kitaohji to speak to the cat about his day. Addressing Zuzu, he says what he cannot quite say to a person: the office irritations, the embarrassment of constant usefulness, the low static of being perpetually on call. The cat becomes a proxy. Funny, yes. Also exact. Some truths will only come out if nobody calls them by name.

So the book shrinks in synopsis and expands in reading. Otokawa understands manga as a neat division of narrative chores. The words carry procedure, awkwardness, and self-correction. The drawings carry social compression. Office scenes feel tighter, more crowded by interruption and expectation; park scenes breathe more, even when that breathing grows uneasy. Kurone’s smile appears around the cats and snaps off at work. Kitaohji’s prince-face glows on demand, then gives way to private foolishness the moment he is alone with his beer and his rakugo. Tiny shifts in distance do real narrative work. So does who is looming and who is crouching. The manga reads feeling less as declaration than as posture. It knows that a body that has been made too socially available will stand differently from one that expects danger.

Its bones are sturdier than the premise lets on. Across five chapters, the volume moves from revelation to routine to method to rupture to reset. Each stage revises the promise of the last. The paired “Where I Belong” chapters are the hinge on which the book stops being cute and starts being exact. They are not there for symmetry alone. They force the reader into the gap between two valid but incompatible readings of the same relationship. Until then, the park can look like reprieve: a place where Kitaohji finally does not have to perform. Then Kurone’s chapter cuts across that comfort. The park is her one stable corner of the world, the one zone not organized around office scrutiny or social demand. As Kitaohji grows more comfortable there, the space grows less secure for her. When a weekend crowd floods the park and the cats vanish into quieter corners, the book stages the change with almost irritating accuracy. A place does not stop being public simply because it once felt private to you.

Kurone’s eventual outburst – telling him to leave, to stay away for a while, insisting that someone like him could never understand – is the scene that will sort readers fastest. A more obedient romance would smooth that conflict into a temporary misunderstanding, then hurry back to the cute parts. Otokawa refuses to award a winner. Kitaohji is not wrong to want closeness. Kurone is not wrong to protect the one corner where she can exist without performing for anybody. The manga leaves those truths ragged, side by side. That is the hardest thing it manages. It knows that friendliness can still crowd. It knows that being seen can feel like exposure long before it feels like relief. It knows, too, that a person can mean no harm and still carry too much of one world into another.

This is the book’s central achievement. Not the office romance, though that works. Not the cat material, though that is more disciplined than most books of this sort would dare. The real achievement is that Otokawa treats asymmetry as a condition, not an obstacle. She does not pretend that the right speech will solve everything. She does not flatten Kurone into a puzzle for Kitaohji to solve or Kitaohji into a merely overbearing nice guy in need of correction. She lets both characters keep the right to their own interpretations. That refusal gives the manga its moral pressure. It also gives it its strange sweetness. Every genuine advance here requires somebody to become smaller – quieter, slower, less convinced of their entitlement to be welcomed.

That exactness sends the bill later. The office ensemble is mostly braces – chorus, pressure system, comic irritant – and rarely acquires the density the leads do. The book is much better at designing the moral weather around its central pair than at thickening the social world beyond them. Late on, too, it grows half a beat too eager to explain itself. Kitaohji’s final self-understanding – that his kindness is real but also tangled up with habit, self-image, and the rewards of usefulness – is persuasive. Still, the manga is strongest when it lets chore, gesture, and pause carry that knowledge for it. It does not quite trust its own understatement as fully in the last movement as it does earlier on.

That complaint matters only because the book has already outgrown the word “pleasant.” It belongs to the same after-hours neighborhood as “Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You” by Jinushi and “Sweat and Soap” by Kintetsu Yamada, but it is more anxious than either about the problem of approach. Otokawa is not asking whether two people like each other enough. She is asking whether closeness can deepen without colonizing the very shelter that made that closeness possible in the first place. That is a better question, and a riskier one, because it leaves the book no easy exit.

It also gives the manga a relevance it never needs to advertise. You do not have to draft it into a sermon about burnout culture to see that it understands the penalties of endless workplace availability, or the peculiar way likability becomes unpaid labor. But its argument reaches further than that. This is a story about the ethics of not pushing too far. About learning that restraint is not indifference. About discovering that one person’s openness can sound, to another, like one more demand. In a culture that treats accessibility as virtue and refusal as rudeness, that is not nothing.

Otokawa refuses the customary teaspoon of reassurance at the close. There is no triumphal seal, no clean arrival in mutual transparency, no absolving scene that turns everything complicated into proof that the relationship was inevitable. The ending offers apology, permission, return. It does not restore innocence. That refusal is exactly what preserves the book’s intelligence. It would be easier – and much less interesting – to pretend that understanding means erasing difference. Otokawa knows better. She lets the connection survive without pretending it has become simple.

My rating is 87/100, or 4 stars out of 5: strong, exact, and more searching than its cuddly premise first suggests. What stays with me, more than the premise, is the manga’s stricter, stranger courtesy. It asks whether care can make room instead of taking it. It suggests that the most romantic thing here may not be the dramatic advance at all, but the slowed body, the lowered voice, the patient return – and, at the end of all that, that tiny, hard-won sign that the animal in front of you no longer has to bolt.

[ashywitchling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an Advanced Reader Copy.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Akarai Otokawa for the opportunity to discover this story early in exchange for my honest review !

Cat-Life Balance follows Kitaohji and Kurone, two coworkers that could - at first glance - not exist farther from each other on the human spectrum... The fun thing about being human though, is that there is often more to someone than what they allow people to see.

"I've been found out. My true self has been revealed to a stray cat in the shape of a girl."

There's not a million ways to say it... I LOVED this so much.

I think it is literally all I could want in a shojo : cute scenes, clever fun, well written, with beautiful drawings... The way the author brings up major social and societal issues is not what I would consider a must when I pick up this kind of story but it definitely doesn't hurt this one either because it's so well incorporated it does not take anything away from the overall vibe.

Character wise, both the FMC and the MMC feel well thought out and endearing. I got attached to them so quickly, but really, how could you not ? I believe what I loved most about them is how authentic they feel, both in their interactions with each other and in their inner monologues.

I can't wait to see more of Kurone specifically, and I'm sure we will. I kinda love the idea that readers get to discover her on more or less the same timeline as Kitaohji does, cause really we're also strangers to her.

I won't say much about the way the cats are used in the development of the story and of the relationship because I don't want to take away from the uniqueness of it. All I will say is that it is really well done, and I hope the second volume manages to incorporate them at least as well.

So, what's my conclusion ?
- I fell in love with Cat-Life Balance, probably my favorite first in a series since I read Tsuki no Oki ni Mesu Mama.
- I will definitely be buying this when it comes and be reading the next one. I hope you do too!

Remember that no review can replace the personal experience of reading, and the most meaningful opinion you can form is the one you build for yourself... <3

[Know My Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I will read anything, almost anything, if you put a cat on the front cover; it’s like catnip for me. 10/10 for how cute and expressive Otokawa-sensei drew the cats. I also enjoyed that the story revolved around two people at the age where they are deeply involved in the workplace. I enjoy a good high school shoujo from time to time, but, after working in Japanese schools, some situations that pop up give me icky feels as a teacher. So I can appreciate a relationship developing between two adults in a similar age bracket to mine. The themes around this books revolve around discourse in which we are at work versus who we are on our own time. Our ‘true selves’ that society deems we have to hide because they are. it socially acceptable.

Kitaohji and Kurone are a well suited pair; what one lacks the other makes up for. I feel like there has been a surge recently in mangas that decpict the golden retriever boy x the black cat girl (though this manga seems to be taking it a step further). I do, personally, love the grumpy x sunshine trope in any form. However, Kitaohji’s ‘princely type’ has never been my favourite. And watching him interact with his coworkers makes me want to grab him and shake him whilst yelling to grow a bloody backbone. Kurone, though, is my girl! It makes me sad the way that her coworkers misunderstood and talked bad about her, behind her back. Girl, I feel you and have been in your shoes.

Puff is my favourite cat; his personality is the most realistic of all the street cats that I have ever met (and reminds me of my very own first kitty). However, Tama-chan is the cutest black baby (and we all know how black cats have infinitely worse luck than all other coats). Very adorable! My first cat had Tama-chan’s looks but the personality of Puff so it’s making me a little nostalgic; especially cause I’m cat-free, not by choice, in Japan.

Yaaassss! We love to see more advocation of TNR programs in media. Showing how to be respectful of a stray cat community with tips on how to properly manage and care for them.

[reese ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone loves Mamoru, because he never says no. He was given the title "Prince of the Office" and he’s widely respected, though often taken advantage of. In contrast, Kurone is antisocial and timid, frequently scolded by her supervisor over the smallest mistakes. Mamoru’s people-pleasing nature makes it difficult for him to approach her until he spots her smiling in a park while playing with the cats. Intrigued, he begins to see her differently. After a few chance encounters, they bond over their shared love of cats. Could this finally lead to a friendship with Kurone or even something more?

--

What immediately drew me to Cat-Life Balance (Volume 1) was its grumpy and sunshine office romance dynamic, and, of course, the cats. I’m simple woman. I see a cat on the cover, I click.

This volume is a delight to read. Mamoru and Kurone are both endearing in their own ways. Mamoru shines at work, often illustrated with glitters and flowers. Yet outside the office, he’s exhausted as hell. Kurone, on the other hand, is very quiet at work but comes alive around cats in the park after her shift. I love how the story shows their different worlds and eventually brings them together through a shared connection.

The portrayal of office life feels painfully real. There is an overbearing boss, supervisors who take advantage of their subordinates' skills, repetitive and mundane tasks, and the stressful client interactions.

I also appreciated how the manga introduces the concept of community cats for readers and we also get to meet adorable and chonky cats like Tama-chan and Puff, each with their own distinct personalities.

I really like the direction of the story so far. This first volume takes its time establishing the characters while introducing an initial conflict rooted in their differing perspectives. The resolution is satisfying and sets up what promises to be a heartwarming journey ahead.

Thank you to Akari Otokawa, Kodansha Comics, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Cat-Life Balance (Volume 1) will be released on May 12, 2026.

[Essentially Bookish Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Going into Cat Life Balance Vol. 1 by Akari Otokawa, I was expecting something light and cat-filled, but it turned out to be much more introspective than I anticipated. While the cats are definitely a highlight, this first volume leans just as much into the emotional realities of work, identity, and the quiet ways people cope with both.

The story follows Mamoru and Kurone, two coworkers who couldn’t seem more different on the surface. Mamoru is the reliable, always-available employee who struggles to set boundaries, while Kurone keeps to herself and is often misunderstood as distant or unfriendly. What I really appreciated is how the manga gradually peels back those initial impressions. Their chance encounters outside of work—especially in the context of caring for stray cats—allow them to show parts of themselves they can’t express in the office.

As someone with two cats, I found the depiction of feline behavior and the comfort they bring incredibly accurate. The manga captures those small, oddly specific moments that cat owners instantly recognize, and it treats the topic of stray cats with a surprising amount of care and sensitivity. It never feels like the cats are just there for cuteness—they’re woven into the emotional core of the story.

There’s a calm, reflective tone throughout the volume, but it still balances in bits of humor and warmth. The themes around burnout, social expectations, and the roles we feel pressured to play are handled in a very grounded way, making both main characters feel relatable in different ways.

The artwork complements this mood nicely—soft, expressive, and especially detailed when it comes to the cats. You can really feel the affection behind every panel involving them.

Overall, this is a gentle yet thoughtful start to the series. It’s comforting without being shallow, and character-driven in a way that makes you want to keep following their growth. I’m definitely interested in seeing how their relationship—and their individual journeys—develop in the next volumes.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Alessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been wanting to read Cat-Life Balance for a long time, and I’m really happy I got the chance to do so thanks to NetGalley.

Kitaohji is in a prison of his own making as the office “prince”, a classic yes-person. If someone has too much work, he’ll help. If a client is being difficult, he’ll smooth things over. No matter the request, he just can’t say no. The result is that he’s constantly overworked and doesn’t quite feel like himself anymore, trapped in the “perfect” image he’s created and now feels unable to break.

Then there’s Kurone, the office loner. She keeps to herself, barely speaks to anyone, and is often unfairly blamed at work. She comes across as cold or distant, but in reality she’s just anxious and overwhelmed by social interactions.

Their connection begins when Kitaohji (by chance) sees Kurone outside of work, in a completely different light: smiling brightly as she plays with stray cats in the park. From that moment on, their relationship starts to grow in a quiet, natural way.

These two completely warmed my soul. I loved every scene of them feeding the cats, playing with them, and slowly getting to know each other. Kurone is very guarded because she’s constantly overthinking every interaction, while Kitaohji genuinely tries to understand her and build a real connection. He doesn’t always get it right, but his effort and kindness really stand out.

What I found especially touching is how both of them struggle in their own ways: with expectations, communication, and being true to themselves. Their dynamic feels soft and sincere, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch them slowly open up.

The cats, of course, are a highlight. You can really feel the care and love put into those moments, and they add a calming, comforting atmosphere to the story.

The art style is gentle and expressive, perfectly matching the tone of the story, and the character designs are especially charming.

Overall, this was a lovely first volume! Is sweet, thoughtful, and full of heart. I’m already very attached to these characters, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops in the next volume.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Cat-Life Balance Vol. 1 by Akari Otokawa

As someone who has only ever owned cats and fully accepts that they run the household, this book was always going to have an advantage. Mamoru is the kind of employee every company claims to value and then quietly works into exhaustion. He says yes to everything, absorbs everyone else’s stress, and functions like a polite email with legs. Then there is Kurone, his coworker who seems emotionally unavailable at best, until he discovers her actual personality only shows up when she is surrounded by stray cats.

The plot is minimal in a way that feels intentional. Their connection builds through shared cat encounters, quiet conversations, and just existing in the same space without forcing anything. There is no dramatic twist or sweeping romance. Instead, it leans into the idea that something as simple as feeding stray cats after work can become the most meaningful part of your day. As a cat person, this feels less like fiction and more like a completely reasonable life choice.

The art style supports this quiet tone with soft expressions and a lot of emotion carried through small details rather than big reactions. Kurone’s shift from closed-off office version of herself to someone noticeably softer around cats is subtle but effective. The cats are drawn with just enough personality to feel real without turning into caricatures. They are cute, slightly aloof, and clearly in charge, which feels accurate.

Overall, this is a calm, slightly melancholic story about burnout, connection, and the small things that make life feel manageable again. It does not try to be dramatic, and it does not need to. For me, this lands at 4 stars simply because it is cute and I am a cat person, which feels like exactly the target audience.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Heloísa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this shoujo hits all the boxes for me. Kurone, one of the half of our main characters, is an introvert with a bit of an obscure aura — but, deep down, she’s lovely. Just like the cats she cherishes, Kurone’s trust is hard to earn, but she craves company and understanding. Meanwhile, Mamoru is an *actual* nice guy, one that keeps on overextending himself because he can’t help but try and help others. Even with his trademark charm, he respects Kurone’s space, and we get to experience the bloom of their friendship, with its delicate balancing and tentative intimacy.

I’m not sure if this will be a slow burn or not, but, for now, I enjoy how we see these two interact, and the little steps taken in order to establish a connection. The author doesn’t rush into it or force their characters into what they’re not just to make it work: there’s actual thought and care put into how they come to meet each other and why they start enjoying each other’s company.

Besides the characters, their personalities, and the development of their relationships, this manga shines in the way it portrays office life — the struggles and routines, the commonplace but sympathetic secondary cast, etc. It creates a very believable slice of life for the reader to follow, but it still provides an escape from an overbearing reality.

The art in Cat-Life Balance is also stunning. It’s very sweet and delicate, but it manages to set itself apart from other series in the genre. Some panels are legitimately beautiful, especially when it comes to highlighting intimate moments (for example, when we get a glimpse of Kurone’s smile, and when Mamoru drops his facade in order to become vulnerable).

Overall, this series has a lot of potential and many strong points! I’m excited to read more and see where the journey leads us.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to expect going into this manga. I mean, the title and cover pretty much reeled me in. (That is, I did not read the blurb first.) So I was pleasantly surprised to see it's a storyline between two co-workers (from different departments) connecting over three community cats.

I'm personally a cat-lover. When I was a child, I had a lot of health issues. One of the side effects was insomnia. Mix that in with an overactive imagination, and you've got a recipe for anxiety. I used to curl up on the couch and talk with our cat. I'd quietly tell her everything. Since then, my home has felt incomplete if I haven't had a cat. One of my current cats even has anxiety from his time on the streets. I say all of this because I firmly understand and support all that Kurone says in this manga. That is how you approach a cat with anxiety. Yes, it is true that big, loud, and assertive are SCARY to a cat. And often, cats reflect the human they trust.

It is with that last statement that Mamoru shapes his early thoughts of the quiet co-worker who doesn't socialize at work. He's outwardly dramatically different from Kurone. He is, in fact, a people-pleaser. It's to the point that it's affecting his health. He comes off as sociable, when really he's just great at Sales and has been roped into this role that isn't actually who he is. I can see how Mamoru and Kurone can balance one another out. It's clear in how they interact at the park.

I am absolutely invested in their connection. I don't even care if this is a romance - which it is being labeled as - I care about the budding friendship that will help the two of them find some inner peace.

With that said, thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for giving me the opportunity to review this manga! I will be buying this when it comes out, as well as all future volumes.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitaohji is the "Perfect Prince" at work; charming, handsome, and always ready to lend a hand. Unfortunately, that's not really the case, he just can't seem to say no and as his co-workers continue to encroach on his time, he is beginning to get very frustrated with them. Kuronoe is his exact opposite; completely socially awkward, unable to do anything right, and does only exactly what is expected of her. Except she isn't really like that, well, she is with humans, but with cats it's a whole other story. One evening the two of them accidentally meet at a local park, revealing their secret identities to each other completely on accident. At first this is extremely awkward for the both of them, but as these two learn that they can be themselves when they are together a tenuous friendship begins to form.

It's an office romance and it has cats, I don't think you can get any better than that! Honestly, this was just a cute story about two people who are exact opposites, at least on the surface, finding each other. Well, I think saying surface level is a little misleading, I think that both of them are exactly what they seem to be, but with Kitaohji he gets tired of his public persona and with Kuronoe, she is truly just socially awkward but it's not something that she's comfortable with. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses, as I'd rather this not end up being a story where thanks to Kitaohji Kuronoe becomes better in social situations. I mean I'd like to see her defend herself, but other than that there is nothing wrong with being socially awkward.

I will most definitely be following this cute story for sure though!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Ahh this was so cute, as a certified cat lover and awkward soul just like Kurone, I really found myself enjoying this manga!

This office romance is definitely a slowww burn, and most of the interactions between Kurone and Mamoru happen at a park outside of the office, but I'm assuming later in the series they'll develop to feel more comfortable interacting within the workplace. I found the opposites attract trope really sweet, Kurone is just like the stray cats she voluntarily looks after, and Mamoru is slowly earning her trust by helping out and using his extroverted personality to talk and get to know her.

I liked that aside from the slow blossoming romance, another focus is the characters trying to find their place in the world. Kurone feels out of place everywhere she goes, aside from when she's with the cats who she can easily talk to. Mamoru is seen as the 'Prince' of the office due to his nature of always being the helping hand people need, only at the expense of his mental health and energy. I'm glad both characters seem to balance each other out, and I'm looking forward to seeing them grow and find reassurance.

The artwork is really cute, especially the cats (Puff is my favourite kitty!) The story in this volume was an introduction and by the end Kurone and Mamoru have reached a new level of kinship, so I'm excited to see them move onto a level where they can freely talk more and are past the awkward denial of being friends despite their differences.

Overall, a very cute and hopeful beginning to a kitty filled romance!

4/5 🌟

[blackcatbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. Cat-Life Balance is about a salary man, Kitaohji, dubbed the Prince of his department because of his kind, easy going nature and willingness to do whatever task is asked of him whether it's part of his job or not. He is a guy who likes to help people out, the problem is that people start to take advantage of his kindness and ask him to do everything. Feeling exhausted one day after work he stumbles upon a park where he unexpectedly meets one of his co-worker Kurone. Kurone works hard but is often thrown under the bus by her co-workers and even her boss for their mistakes because she is quiet and aloof at work. But when he meets her the normally cold Kurone is smiling and surrounded by three cats?! Thus begins the encounters between two people who appear total opposites but actually have a lot more in common than you might expect. Kitaohji has golden retriever looks and energy, friendly and loveable while Kurone is definitely more like a black cat, she is quiet and reserved but will slowly open up as our boy gains her trust and the two become closer. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story progresses especially since it's a shorter series with only 3 volumes in total.

-grumpy × sunshine
-golden retriever boy × black cat girl
-adult cast
-workplace romance
-adorable cats
-fans of "Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You" might also enjoys since it has a similar peaceful, after work vibe but instead of smoking they just get their serotonin boost from petting cats 😂

[India Staten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute story about two co-workers who bond over taking care of community cats at a park on their way home from work. Mamoru is a people pleaser, who one day finds, Kurone, an anti-social, at a park playing with three community cats. Mamoru decides to join Kurone on her nightly adventure.

Not only is this manga filled with cats, but it shows the complicated personalities of both main characters. Mamoru is burnt out fffrom constantly saying yes to everything and doesn't know how to say no. He's known as the "prince" in the office because he's nice and always willing to help people. At first he only did it because he truly enjoyed helping people, but when his work started to pile up and everyone started to expect him to yes to every little thing it started to take its toll on him. Honestly, it was his own fault for letting things get to the way things are. When he was too busy to help and saw the disappointment in people's faces he would say yes. Now it's to the point where he feels he can't truly be himself.

Kurone on the other hand doesn't speak to anyone in the office and has an aura of cool detachment. Everyone pretty much ignores her when it reality she's not well versed in speaking with people. She enjoys spending time with the community cats and always feeds them at night, while another feeds them in the morning. It's only by chance that Mamoru discovers her hobby and joins in. Kurone teaches Mamoru how to care for the cats and there's always misunderstands between the both of them.

Can't wait for the next volume to come out.

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Life Balance
-office romance, slow burn?
-Netgalley & Kodansha ARC read
- office prince x shy/socially awkward FL

First off, I just want to say I did not think I was going to love this one as much as I did. At first I thought this was going to be more of a slice of life and maybe more of the cats’ POV, but I was wrong but by no means disappointed. After thinking about it, it kinda gave me Sweat and Soap type of vibe minus the whole “scent fetish”. I can’t wait to read more of these two! It was a cute wholesome read and the difference between these two’s personalities really worked for me in this.
Volume one seemed like the focus was building the characters' back stories and slowly shifting to their relationship progressing slowly- which is nice that it wasn't oh I saw a different side of them now we are jumping into a lovers type relationship. As the series progresses, I can see that both will have some growth- both individually and as a couple.

Mamoru is seen as the office prince, always willing to help with tasks; however, sometimes they pile up and instead of potentially being seen in a negative light for turning down a request he helps anyway. Whereas, Kurone is seen as an outcast at work, as she doesn't interact with her coworkers. However, one night on his way home, Mamoru and Kurone discover a side of the other no one at the office sees. Now seeing this other side of the usually gloomy Kurone, Mamoru wants to learn more about her and the community cats she co-cares for in the park.

[Audrey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25 stars
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I am really enjoying the recent increase in the soft stories about centering oneself after burn out. Perhaps it’s because I can unfortunately relate, or I just really appreciate the art that is found in taking the time to slow down and appreciate the small things. Cat-Life Balance gives you exactly that. It’s in the title afterall.
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Our MMC, Mamoru, is a people pleasing young man who feels as though he can’t say no to anything. Our complimentary FMC, Kurone, is a young woman who accepts her position as a workplace emotional punching bag without fighting back and instead focuses her effort on caring for the neighbourhood cats. When Mamoru finds her after work playing with the cats in the park, he becomes immediately attached to this idea of something more from his life.
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Kurone and Mamoru are great compliments to each other - each suffering in their own way - and trying to find what might bring them joy. This first volume sets up for a story that I am eager to continue.
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And of course the cats are adorable, but there is also a classicness to the art style, in the hair and facial structures, that reminds me of late 90s manga style in a way that felt a perfect nostalgic match for the burn out topic of this story.
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Is this story mind-blowing? No, but it is soft and comforting in a way that I would be more than happy to keep reading more and more volumes.
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*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*

[Jenn Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of Cat-Life Balance Vol.1! This is my honest and completely voluntary review! 😊🖤

Cat-Life Balance follows FMC, Kurone, a loner black cat personality type office worker, and MMC, Kitaohji, a golden retriever type office worker at the same company, and their blossoming friendship while taking care of the “community cats”, Puff, Zuzu, and Tama, at their local park.

One day, on his way home from work, Kitaohji is invited out to a “drinking party” with his boss and a couple of female colleagues. He stops to tie his shoe and sees a little black cat and follows her to the park. Once at the park, he stumbles across his reserved coworker, Kurone, playing with the cats as happy as can be and that is where our story starts to take off.

This story is so sweet and deals with topics of people pleasing, finding yourself, fitting in, and letting others in. The relationship between the two main characters is so perfect for their personalities. They both shine in their own ways in this story. The cats all have different personalities and the cat facts that Kurone provides throughout, both specifically about this group of cats and stray cats in general show just how much she cares for these cats and cats as a whole. The growth of the two MCs in the story is so well portrayed and came at the perfect pace.

Cat-Life Balance (Vol.1) was beautifully written and illustrated. The pacing was perfect for this first volume in the series. There was so much to keep you drawn into the story. I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series! 🐈‍⬛

5 🌟

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable manga about two very different people who have a chance encounter that reveals part of their true selves. Cats play a huge role in the story since it's the key factor in tying the two leads together for now.

You have Kurone, the FL who is an introvert, who feels like she's outside of the world, looking in... And also the ultimate cat lover! And then there's Kitaohji, a people-pleaser who's lost himself while catering to the needs of others. He finds himself taken in by Kurone's smile and the cats that she takes care of.

Volume 1 is about building the foundation of the story. Kurone and Kitaohji's personality is being told through the beautiful panels. Alongside the three cat characters - Tama-chan, Zuzu and Puff who has distinct personalities too!

For now, I am keen to read the other volumes to find out how Kurone and Kitaohji's relationship will develop because Volume 1 seems too short and leaves me wanting more. Kurone is trying to break free of the shackles she feels by the end of Vol 1 while Kitaohji also has revealed that he doesn't actually like who he is right now... And then that's it for Vol 1. I'm wondering if any major changes will happen to their lives in Vol 2.

As for the artwork and style, it's vibrant and fun! I adore the style of it. It's not soft imo, but the artwork really bounces off the pages. I don't quite know how to explain it but it's really nice because emotions can really be shown through the artwork. It's great.

All in all, I'm keen for future volumes because I NEED MORE. :) Cats are the best.

[Jordan Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga leans into a familiar office romance setup—the universally liked, endlessly helpful “nice guy” paired with a quiet woman who keeps to herself—but it finds its charm in how gently it subverts expectations. Mamoru, dubbed the “Prince of the Office,” is the kind of coworker everyone relies on because he never says no. From extra tasks to impossible clients, he carries it all with a smile, even when it clearly wears him down. In contrast, Kurone exists on the opposite end of the social spectrum: withdrawn, emotionally guarded, and silently enduring her boss’s unreasonable behavior day after day.
What makes their relationship compelling is how it begins not at work, but away from it—during a chance encounter in a park where Mamoru discovers Kurone’s secret joy: feeding and playing with stray cats. Seeing Kurone animated, smiling, and completely herself strips away the assumptions Mamoru (and the reader) have about her. This small, almost mundane connection becomes the foundation for their growing friendship, and it feels refreshingly natural rather than forced.
As the story unfolds, the manga quietly explores themes of emotional labor, burnout, and how people perform versions of themselves to survive in the workplace. Mamoru’s kindness and Kurone’s stoicism are both coping mechanisms, and their bond helps them reflect on what they actually want from life—and from each other. Gentle, character‑driven, and emotionally sincere, this manga stands out not because it reinvents the trope, but because it treats it with empathy and care

[Mariahs_BookNook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: TBD
Spice: Flirting
Series: Cat-Life Balance book 1
ARC publication date: May 12th 2026

Tropes: Workplace romance, stray cats, character development, autistic representation

My synopsis
29yo salesman Mamoru Kitaohji has a reputation at his company for helping anyone who asks, but his kindness is constantly exploited by colleagues. He finds himself fascinated by Kurone, an unsociable admin worker who refuses to play the "nice girl" game. When a chance encounter with Kurone outside work reveals their embarrassing hidden lives, the walls come down. Captivated by the soft smile Kurone hides from the world, Kitaohji vows to do whatever he can to see it again, even if it means volunteering with her to care for the local stray cats.


My review
What a fun start to this new series! Reading manga is such a lovely change of pace. I loved literally watching the story unfold on the page rather than having to picture it all myself.

This is a soft, sweet story about the importance of patience and being genuine. Watching these two colleagues slowly reveal their true selves was heartwarming, but the real stars were the three park cats! Their fun personalities added so much charm. It’s a gentle exploration of letting your guard down, and I can’t wait to see where their "stray" adventures lead.


With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Trigger warnings: Bullying, panic attacks, abandonment, alcohol, animal cruelty, animal death

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

When I started Cat-Life Balance, I thought it would be another manga that mostly focused on cute cat antics, which is absolutely not a bad thing, but something that has certainly been done multiple times before. Cat-Life Balance on the other hand does have cute cats, but is focused more on the various personas and images that adults end up getting stuck maintaining in order to survive work. As an adult with an office job, there were multiple scenes throughout where I felt painfully seen by the circumstances the characters found themselves in. There is a plethora of series out there where the protagonist is a either in school, or just getting out, so having a series that still retained it's whimsy, while also touching on mental health topics, starring people in their late 20s, plus cats? Be still my heart.

The artwork is gorgeous and I often found myself lingering on panels just to I could appreciate the masterful rendering of fabric folds. Mamoru, our male lead, often is shown wearing these slightly oversized suits, and the bagginess of the material added character and fluidity to the artwork. I intend to continue reading this series, but would immediately snatch up an art book because I fell in love with the illustration style.

As mentioned, I intend to continue reading this series as it's released, and am eager to see if the story continues to stab me right in all my office life insecurities.

[niam · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've seen this manga around for so long and i'm so grateful to have finally read it!! a very cute office romance with loads of cats involved.

nicknamed the 'prince of sales', mamoru's people pleasing persona within the workplace has started to wear on him, with his only respite being the moment he walks home, drinks a beer, and occasionally breaks out into an old rakugo routine along the way. so you can imagine his mortification once he's caught by none other than kurone, his antisocial co-worker, with his only saving grace being that she was in a similarly compromising situation - having the time of her life playing with some stray cats.

although initially awkward, the slow-paced and careful development of the relationship between mamoru and kurone blossoms into a heartwarming friendship and possibly (let's be real, definitely) something more. for mamoru, having someone know even such an innocuous fact about him and see behind his overbearing work performance is something he craves, and his own acceptance and understanding of kurone's personal boundaries and uncomfortability with certain social aspects often floors her in a similar way. despite a few bumps in the road, watching the two clumsily begin to understand what makes the other tick and work their way towards a solid bond that allows them the gift of someone else who knows them in a way no one else can is really enjoyable to read. the comp with smoking behind the supermarket with you is particularly apt - if you enjoyed that story, you'll definitely enjoy this!!

[Carrie Gulledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute manga - not my usual speed or genre preference but I enjoyed it!

Where I go, I try to show them the most appropriate face I can.
I am a sucker for all things cat related and I really related with Kurone on all levels as a neurodivergent individual who loves cats and struggles in social situations, especially at work. I would have liked to see a little more of her personal side of the story and less of Kita's, who I didn't connect with at all. I did respect seeing him portrayed as more than the sweet tempered, good guy at work and really felt his struggle with being a people-pleaser.

Two main points that I didn't resonate with - first, large chunks of this ended up feeling like a manual for taking care of cats or interacting with a cat colony and I found those parts pretty boring. Second, the flow and the busyness of some of the panels was overwhelming and made it hard to keep up with what was happening in parts of the story. It felt chaotic and disconnected and some times I struggled to figure out who was even talking. There were too many side characters and I wasn't able to keep up with who any of them were.

I think people who really enjoy work romances or romance manga in general will enjoy this one - I don't think I am going to move on in this series personally but I enjoyed what time I did spend in it.

**I received a copy of this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**