BOOK REVIEW: Check Please (volumes 1 & 2)

Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazu
volume 1 publication date: September 18, 2018
volume 2 publication date: April 7, 2020

TW: anxiety, rehab

Major shoutout to my friend Jordan who recommend these graphic novels to me. Check out her lovely blog here.

Check, Please is a graphic novel series by Ngozi Ukazu that follows Eric “Bitty” Bittle during his four years at Samwell University. Bitty is a former figure skater turned hockey player who loves baking and sharing his adventures through his vlog. The graphic novels follow him as his confidence grows on and off the ice, his coming out as gay, his relationship, and his friendships. The graphic novels are so wholesome and “Bro-y” in the best way. Volume 1 follows his freshman and sophomore year, while Volume 2 follows his junior and senior year.

I’m not really a big sports fan (my almost obsessive love for college basketball aside; see a book tag I made for march madness lol) so I was a bit hesitant to start this series because I don’t care about hockey, but when I saw a copy of volume 1 at my library and Jordan’s recommendation was fresh in my mind, I knew I had to pick it up. I was hooked within the first chapter.

WHAT I LOVED

I love books about sports that are not really about sports. And what I mean by that is I don’t like seeing the games on page, but I like the relationships that develop between people who are on the same team and exploring the connection the players have with each other.
The main ship in this is so cute!! Once they get together they are just so wholesome and sweet together. They have the best glances and their pet names are very over the top, but so stinking cute.
I love how supportive the guys are of each other there is no toxic masculinity here!!
- Maybe I am projecting how I wish my favorite players interact with each other onto these characters, but my favorite team just had a “scandal” with someone recording a private convo so YES I wish they were like the characters here.
This lowkey reminds me of the AppleTV show, Ted Lasso, which is one of my favorite shows I seen lately. So GOOD.
Bitty is just a ray of sunshine!! He vlogs! He likes to bake! He just wants to be loved!
- I loved seeing him grow during his four years at Samwell.
- I cried when he graduated so.
I started to care about hockey. I am not a hockey fan, but now I’m like…maybe I should try watching hockey again??
- I’ve gone to one hockey game and it was a weird experience since they overturned a call and then the local team ended up winning? But, then they overturned the call again and then they lost? So people were booing and throwing stuff onto the ice LOL. So hockey and I are just like ????
The humor in this is so good and wholesome!! I cannot stress enough how cozy and wholesome this series is.
I don’t read a ton of graphic novels so I sometimes have a hard time with the format, but these are so easy to follow.
- If you’re new to graphic novels this would be a good one to start with.
- Plus the art style is gorgeous!!

Please enjoy this text I sent once I finished volume 2:

WHAT I DID NOT LOVE

I had a hard time keeping track of all the teammates, but I’m sure when I reread it they will stand out more to me.
There was a part of the ending that I thought was a bit much, but it’s fine because the characters were happy so.

Overall, I would recommend this to literally everyone and have been doing just that. If you are hesitant because this is a graphic novel, I would suggest just giving it a go!! Graphic novels also read quick so you can add to your reading challenges!!

xoxo, Tree