Orange by Ichigo Takano, Volumes 1-5 Review

Title: Orange
Author: Ichigo Takano
Publication Date: 2016
Genres: Manga, YA, Romance
Number of pages: 523
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Depression

I went into Orange not knowing much about the story. Within a few pages, I was hooked. Naho receives a letter claiming to be from herself ten years in the future. In it, she finds a list of regrets and actions that her future self wishes she had done. These letters relate to a new student, Kakeru. Without providing spoilers, this story features blossoming love, friendship and the concept of time travel.

I sped through volumes 1 to 5 of this manga. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I loved the relationships in this book, they felt very authentic. I liked the glimpses into the future and the questions I had as I was reading. Takano manages to develop several characters whilst still focusing on the main storyline which I appreciated.

The main issue I had was that the method of time travel did not seem that possible and we did not see exactly how the letter was sent back. This is left to the reader's imagination from the clues that we have been given.

Overall, I really loved this manga. It had so many elements that I enjoyed and the mental health representation was something that I have not seen in a manga before. If you like manga, or would like to try reading it, I would really recommend this series.

Rating: 5/5 stars