Review: Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1 by Ngozi Ukazu

Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1
by Ngozi Ukazu

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 288
Publisher: First Second
Publication date: September 18, 2018
Suggested tags: young adult, graphic novel, LGBTQ, sports



Volume 1 in the Check, Please! series. From Goodreads:

"Helloooo, Internet Land. Bitty here!

Y’all... I might not be ready for this. I may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It’s nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking. And then, there is Jack—our very attractive but moody captain.

A collection of the first half of the megapopular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: #Hockey is the first book of a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life."

BITTYYYYY!!! All the heart eyes for you, my precious little lamb!! Omg I fell in love with this book SO HARD. It follows Bitty (aka: Eric Bittle) as a freshman on his college hockey team, moving up year by year, slowly gaining more confidence in his hockey abilities and in himself. And Bitty is just such a sweet little ball of love!! He bakes pies for his hockey bros. He named the oven. I can't, y'all.

I liked that we got to see a lot of his hockey life, both in practice and in games - and I was really surprised that I actually was able to follow along despite knowing next to nothing about hockey... and I was even more surprised that I actually *liked* reading the hockey parts, despite not really liking hockey (sorry please don't hurt me). We also get to see a lot of his college life, living with his teammates in essentially a frat house, going to parties, awkwardly dating, studying for classes... It really, really made me miss college. Like, a lot. I wasn't a big partier and I wasn't in the Greek life scene, and sports? me? AHAHAHA... But still... It brought back that feeling of college life for me in a really great way.

This one is probably best suited for more mature YA readers, meaning those who don't mind foul language and college situations (i.e., parties, drinking, etc.). It's also full of a great story, amazing friendships, surprise kisses, and delicious pies. Volume 2 is due out in April 2020 and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on it!! You can also read the webcomic here!



Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }