I went into this expecting a cute cozy romance, AND I GOT IT.

Our main characters Yutaka and Minoru each have their own emotional issues and hang ups that prevent them from really connecting with others, and when they find each other through the precociousness of Minoru's little brother Tane, they finally connect with someone. It's a really sweet and heartwarming story that was surprising in the backstory it gave Yutaka and Minoru. It felt like they were real characters with real emotional pasts, and not just simple characters being cute as they get together.

I also love that it didn't do any of the typical over the top romance tropes; while Yutaka does get scared in the third act, it doesn't get drawn out in a terrible fight or cruel breakup or any of that type of emotionally manipulative storytelling. He's just scared about how much he cares and about possibly losing Minoru, and that's so, so real. Our Dining Table really hit home in a lovely way in that regard.

Please give this a read! It's heartwarming and cute and has some of the best cozy romance tropes you could hope for.