Back of Book: 

A Plea From the Future

On the day that Naho begins 11th grade, she receives a letter from herself ten years in the future. At first, she writes it off as a prank, but as the letter’s predictions come true one by one, Naho realizes that the letter might be the real deal. Her future self tells Naho that a new transfer student, a boy named Kakeru, will soon join her class. The letter begs Naho to watch over him, saying that only Naho can save Kakeru from a terrible future. Who is this mystery boy, and can Naho save him from his destiny? This is the heart-wrenching sci-fi romance that has over million copies in print in Japan!

Book Number: Volume One (Contains first three books) 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary | Science Fiction | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What would you do if you had the chance to go back and redo the things you most regret in life?

I've been wanting to read "Orange" for a long time and the last time I went to my public library, I broke down and finally picked them up, even though I'm supposed to be reading books from my personal collection to help clear my shelves. And when I finished the first volume, what did I do? I bought the entire series! So much for clearing my shelves. . .

Anyways, I love "Orange" with all of my heart, and I could already reread this book even though I just finished it last night. I love slice of life manga, and this one had a science fiction element to it, so I was totally sold! This book features a girl named Naho. On the first day of school, she receives a letter from herself. . . from ten years in the future. At first she doesn't think it's real, but as things start happening as the letter says, she begins to regret not listening to the letter. Her future self tells her that if her and her friend group don't change things fast, one of their members will not be around in the future.

My favorite thing about this series thus far is most definitely the characters and the bonds between the six members of their friend group. There's Naho Takamiya, the shy protagonist who is willing to fade into the background as long as it makes everyone else happy. Kakeru Naruse is the new kid, who is always smiling, but always is the first to notice when someone else is feeling low. Hiroto Suwa is the leader of the group, the sports jock, the overall nice guy. I love how selfless he is add he is truly a gem; I wish everyone had a bestie like Suwa. :) Azusa Murasaka is a happy-go-lucky girl who is always willing to share a compliment or giveaway treats from her parents bakery. Takako Chino is the outspoken, rather aggressive member of the group that is willing to stand up to the bullies and take down the mean girls. And last but not least, there is Saku Hagita, the moody nerd of the group, who loves to read manga and often ends up as the butt of the groups jokes. I love the chemistry between all six characters; it took a while to keep them all straight, but I love them all now that I know them.

I love stories that make me feel things, and this one totally did that. The bonds between these friends are so tight and they would do anything for each other, but despite this, Kakeru still feels useless. This book hits on the heavy topics of self-worth, depression, and suicide, which only made me find this story that much more interesting and important. I love the overarching message of get out there and live life, because just letting things happen isn't much of a life at all. Don't live a life that future you will regret. Despite the heavy nature that this book often has, it is also an ode to the power of friendship (not in a cheesy way) and it had me laughing out loud uncontrollably (my sister gave me a few weird looks while reading it).

The art in this book is truly stunning and I just love how Takano drew all of the character expressions! I cannot wait to watch the anime one day and see all these gloriously drawn scenes brought to life in an entirely different way.

Overall, I love "Orange" to death and I have no regrets of purchasing the entire series. It was simultaneously super cozy, yet still carried relevant topics about how we all struggle with mental health and how we all regret some of the thing we did (or didn't do) in our lives. I love, love, love these books, and I will probably rant about them to anyone who will listen for a long time to come. I cannot wait for YOU to read these books and experience their magic for yourself! Happy reading!

Back of Book: 

An Epic Love Story Across Time

Naho immediately feels a connection to the new boy who has transferred to her class. Kakeru is calm, kind, and seems to like Naho as well. But their relationship gets thrown for a loop when Naho receives a letter from the future. The letter explains that Kakeru will die unless Naho does exactly as the letter says. But changing fate is no easy task. When the letter starts to get things wrong, Naho worries that she will still lose Kakeru forever. Luckily, Naho has her friends to back her up. Not only do they want to see Naho and Kakeru get together, they also have time-traveling letters of their own. . . 

Orange: The Complete Collection 2 also includes a bonus story, Haruiro Astronaut. This five chapter story is about a pair of twins who discover that they can't share everything in life—or at least not an alien that suddenly becomes a part of it.

Book Number: Volume Two (Contains books four and five) 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary | Science Fiction | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As I was reading this book, I kept trying to pinpoint which one of these nerds I loved the most, but I just couldn't do it. I am so in love with all these characters and I am so conflicted with which members of the group that I should ship!!!

Anyways, volume two of "Orange" picks up where the second one left off. This one was much heavier on the future versions of them's perspective (along with their past version of Kakeru), but it was really interesting to see how things were so similar in the parallel universe, yet went so differently in the end. I know a bunch of people thought the ending came out of nowhere, but I thought that the ending was quite beautiful. I immensely enjoyed some of the things that Takano tied into the ending that just made my heart melt with happiness.

Everything that I loved about the first volume carried over to this one, too. The art is gorgeous, the character's expressions are priceless, and the important themes are more prevalent than ever. I was very satisfied with how this one wrapped up, but I am still super stoked to see what happens in books six and seven of the manga!

Overall, I just love this group of dorks and I would read about them eating soup together if the author felt like writing it. I know that I will treasure this story for years to come and I already cannot wait to addictively re-read them over and over again. This will be an anime that I will have to find the time to watch in the nearish future, because I just love anime that makes me bawl! I hope that you guys have had a similar journey with these characters and that they haunt your brain for years to come!

Back of Book: 

In this long-awaited sequel to the critical and commercial hit, Orange: Future contains two stories that continue from where the series ended.

Book Number: Six 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary | Science Fiction | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

know that many people think that this addition to the series was pointless or "ruined the magic" of the original five volumes, but that wasn't the case for me at all.

As I said in my last review, I would read about these characters eating soup, and "Orange: Future" was much more enthralling than that! This volume follows Suwa's side of the story, mostly in the future when he is trying to win Naho's heart after Kakeru's death. But the beginning blindside me and got me crying from the get-go when it showed future Suwa writing the letter with Naho; he felt so terrible about what he did and he was willing to give it all up for Kakeru and Naho's happiness and like AHHHHHHH!!! I just can't get over Suwa. I feel like many people reading this book could see his selflessness tainted by his actions that he took to win Naho over at Kakeru's dispense, but honestly, this book just honed the selflessness in for me. I loved seeing future Naho and Suwa's lives flourish as they got to overall conclusion of their relationship. Also, the Suwa and Kakeru moments were so sweet, and I am so glad that I got to see more into their relationship, even if it was the future version's of them past selves (if that makes any sense).

Overall, this wasn't a necessary addition to the series, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed and am glad that I spent my money on. There was some elegantly crafted details in this book that were just stabs to my heart when I read them. This series is so masterful and I honestly cannot express how much I love this series!

Back of Book: 

When Naho received a letter from her future self, it told her she needed to save the life of a boy in her class, Kakeru. At first, Naho had to shoulder this burden alone, until her friends revealed that they had also received letters from the future. Working together, they were able to save Kakeru's life, and Naho and Kakeru started dating. But what happens next for Naho's friends, now that they're living in this brand-new timeline?

Book Number: Seven (Last Volume) 

Genre: Young Adult | Manga | Contemporary | Science Fiction | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I like how this volume finally got the reader into the heads of all six of out main protagonists. It was fun to see how they have all grown as people since the conclusion of the initial five volumes, and I love seeing that their friendship is as tight as ever. <3

"To You, Dear One" really focuses on Kakeru and his relationship between the friend group, while showing what everyone has taken away from being his friend. The last three sections are told directly from Kakeru's point-of-view, and I am glad that the series resolved in his perspective. He really is such an emotional and sweet boy and he just makes me want to hug him so hard!

I can see people's point when they say that this book is repetitive and that it is really hammering in the same themes as the previous volumes, but I truly love this world and the characters that Takano presents the reader with, so I loved it just as much as the others. I know that as a reader one can imagine the characters lives after the fact, but I think that it was fine that Takano wanted to share her vision with the world. It is the author's right after all and it was gorgeous! This book fills in a bunch of the gaps present throughout the series, and I really respect the work put in to make sure that all of the volumes line up, even though there is so many shifting perspectives.

I don't think that I can say this enough, but I love "Orange" to the ends of the Earth and I will cherish these volumes forever. I sincerely ask you to try to set aside the negative reviews that this book receives and just enjoy it for what it is. I hope that you can see the beauty and the joy in this volume; I cherish it profoundly and I always will. :)