Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones

This came earlier than expected! I had already finished reading the comic online, though decided to buy the physical copies on a whim because I want to support Ngozi in every way I can! I absolutely love Check, Please. It's a fantastic, HILARIOUS, and wholesome comic about love and the growing pains that come with being a queer youth as well as finding yourself once you get to college, and the long lasting friendships (or relationships ;) ) that one will find along the way. Unlike some mainstream LGBTQ+ media I see out there, Check, Please is devoid of any cheating, heavy angst, lying to a partner, or unhealthy toxic traits that I often see in content about queer couples. This isn't to say that it doesn't exist in relationships, because all relationships have their own issues to have and overcome together, but it also doesn't take away from the fact that it IS SUPER REFRESHING to see Bitty and Jack's relationship! They don't try to change each other, they uplift each other, and they are so committed to just loving the other and ahhhh! It's amazing. That's all I can say. Seeing the art transform with each page was also fantastic. I am literally just waxing poetry here. It's hilarious, and makes me excited to go back to college in the fall. Ngozi, thank you for everything that you have done. I can't wait to see where life takes you, with your amazing storytelling and art! And everyone else, buy this book, buy the other books, buy the Huddles, and if not, drown in all the content that exists online! If you can. No pressure :D

Wow! Just wow is really all I can say after reading the second installment of Check Please! This book. This comic. These characters. Are all absolutely phenomenal! Picking up at the beginning of Bitty’s junior year at Samwell, this book goes through his last two years as a Samwell University student and a member of the Samwell Men’s Hockey team. As with the first half of this comic, these characters are amazingly written and I love them all! Bitty’s beautifully crafted character growth continues as he navigates a long distance, and secret, relationship and struggles with coming out to his parents. Readers are truly able to feel Bitty’s inner turmoil as he deals with these issues. One of the most impactful moments of this entire comic is Bitty confronting his dad about being gay and his relationship with Jack. It’s so rewarding as a reader to watch a character grow so much and face his fears and insecurities. Watching as Bitty completes his final years at Samwell was definitely bittersweet and I definitely had a pang of nostalgia in my heart as I read the final chapters of this comic. I feel like that truly speaks to the realistic nature of these characters and this comic as a whole. Seeing the culmination of Bitty and Jack’s story truly made my heart happy and more than once I found myself literally cheering for them both and a more than a little emotional as the story came to a close. This will probably forever be my favorite comic, if not my favorite story of a medium, and I’m sure I’ll come back and read it several times in the future.

Cute story. I read the first one at my public library but was unable to find the second. Fast shipping and the book arrived safe.

~~~Review posted on The Heart of a Book Blogger~~~ If you’re in need of a warm hug, then the Check, Please! graphic novels are for you. This series is the absolute cutest—there’s baking, an adorable romance, found family, and hockey. The art is so wonderful, and Bitty is such a delightful, kind character. Book 1 focuses on Bitty’s freshman and sophomore years and Book 2 his junior and senior years—I loved this layout and how his transformation can be really seen as Bitty grows up and faces new challenges, navigates college life, and discovers himself. Plus, Jack and Bitty are one of my favorite ships in a long time! If you’re looking for a fun college YA that really captures the college experience, this graphic novel series is a must-read!

Clever, funny, heartfelt and beautifully written. This book follows the final two years of Eric "Bitty" Bittle's life as a student and hockey player at Samwell University. The art and storytelling in this volume continued to grow and improve with every panel. (And considering how amazing it started out, that is really saying something.) The characters are fully developed, real, believable individuals with fears, hopes, desires, quirks, and mistakes. As they stumble over life roadblocks, their friends are there to pick them back up and dust off the dirt - in their own loud hockey loving fashion. The personal changes from the beginning of this graphic novel series compared to the end, especially in Bitty and Jack, gave me hope, laughter, and joy - things that are on short supply right now in the world. I will be forever grateful to Ngozi Ukazu for sharing her talent and her hockey boys with the world. And giving me a new appreciation for pie! Recommended for Older Teen / New Adults, as well as fans of Eyeshield 21, Free!, and Yuri on Ice!!!

I discovered this as a webcomic years ago back when Bittle was just a freshman and have loved it ever since so I was extremely happy to see it was available in book form for easier reading/access. The book is set up really well and the art is very crisp and lovely. I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys pies, hockey, and a cute love story to go with it ^.^ (also, the hockey stuff is never super technical so even someone (like me) who knows next to nothing about it wont be put off or distracted by it, made me interested to learn more actually!)

This contains junior and senior year of the Check Please series. This series does lean on the fluffy side, so don't expect too much drama or angst. It's good to read if you want something happy and light. Part three (junior) is probably my favorite part in the series because it has some of the most serious parts of the story, but it also has some of my favorite moments between the main pair. Part four is also good but is very predictable. It's still a good wrap up to the story and if you enjoyed the first book you should definitely check this out.

Adorable and heart warming and just so utterly wonderful. It had me laughing out loud multiple times and even had me on the verge of tearing up a time or two (graduations y’all). Definitely made me miss college and all the wonderful people and times I had there. I wish there was more because I love it but this was also the perfect ending.

Que delícia foi ler Check please!!! Tanto o livro 1 como o 2 são totalmente mágicos. Eu esbarrei nessas hqs na biblioteca do nada e foi um encontro predestinado, simplesmente amei. Amei a leitura, os personagens, a ambientação na universidade, o time de hockey (um esporte que eu sei um total de nada sobre), eu gostei tanto de tudo que quando terminei o livro 2 queria muito pegar o livro 1 pra reler tudo de novo. Seria sensacional se essa série fosse publicada aqui! Terminei com vontade de ler mais e mais. Indico MUITO!!!!!

A brilliant and emotional end to the series. Ngoni Ukazu once again plays Eric Bittle’s story in art and dialogue almost as delicious as Bitty’s pies! I cannot thank her enough for the time and love put into this series and it’s following from Ngozi. This comic and her beautiful art style got me start in the world of graphic novels and I haven’t stopped since. I cannot express my adoration and amazement for this well rounded , campy, colourful , warm series. Well Done.

Es una de las historias más lindas que puedes encontrar. Me gustó más que el primer libro, me agrada que no sea tan cliché y los dibujos y colores son muy bonitos.

Check please just warms my heart it’s the best story I’ve ever read. I just wish it wasn’t over I want an after Samwell comic please!!!

Ngozi is a genius, I love this story so much. I'm happy to give her my money. It's a wonderful story about diversity and acceptance in college sports and much more. Coming out, the power of friendship, mental health issues, what to do with your life: the comic is about all of this!