Collects the the freshman and sophomore years of the much-loved webcomic with the relevant tweets in a book (now that’s transmedia!)

Sweet story about hockey, first love, pies, hockey bros, coming out, and adjusting to college (not necessarily in that order.) Although i read the webcomic — year 4 just began — i enjoyed rereading them. The story holds together very well and the art improves. Cannot wait for the next volume collecting years 3 and 4.

As a long-time fan of the webcomic, I'm so excited to see this come out in print! Check, Please! is an absolute delight. I enjoy every minute of seeing Bitty's start at Samwell and the process of him and his teammates coming together throughout the course of the narrative. Clearly this is just the beginning of a longer story, but it leaves you wanting more and warms your heart in the process.

I picked up an e-galley of Check, Please!: #Hockey without knowing much about the premise/plot, but having seen that it was getting a lot of very positive reviews. I found it to be unexpectedly delightful from start to finish (even as a totally sports-neutral person, unless the sport is swimming). A pastry-baking, former-figure-skating, not-openly-gay college freshman hockey player who is terrified of getting checked? I think there's something there for all of us to relate to. By the end of the book, I genuinely cared about Bitty, Jack, Sh*tty, Lardo, Ransom, Holster, Chowder, and the whole gang. I am definitely on board to read the follow-up, Sticks & Scones. Loved it!

Check Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu is the first graphic novel in a two volume series for new and young adults, and older readers of course. It is currently scheduled for release on September 18 2018.

Bitty may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented pie maker, 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 there is Jack—our very attractive but moody captain. This volume is a collection of the first half of the webcomic series of the same name. It is a coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during what could be the best four years of your life.

Check Please!: #Hockey is a graphic novel that tackles the fears of fitting in, especially when you are different, or do not conform to gender expectations. Bitty is not just gay, he also bakes like a dream, has a video blog, was a figure skater, and faints at the thought of getting checked on the ice rink. I worried that the character was going to be too stereotypical, but I was glad to get the story from his perspective, and was easily lost in his story. I felt like his journey toward being comfortable with himself, and sharing that with his team when he was ready. There were places I wanted more information, or a peek at someone else's mindset. However, the story was well done and captured my attention while leaving me wanting more. I thought the artwork was a great match to the story. I thought it did a good job of covering some of the good and bad of college life without getting too caught up in any one aspect.

Check Please!: #Hockey is a fun and heart warming story, with a nice variety of characters and challenges that are tackled with light-hearted, hopeful, and realistic. My only complaint is that While left hopeful, I was left with a bit of a cliffhanger, wondering how things will work out. I will be checking out the next volume.

Was so excited to have the chance to read this book. Loved the story and the characters. Breezed right through it in under an hour, can't wait to read the next volume!

I have been a fan of Check Please since finding it online and I honestly lack the words to describe how much I love it. Seeing it all together like this in book form makes my heart swell three sizes too big. This comic captures everything about hockey: the team camaraderie, the flows, the games themselves. I have more than a little bit of a crush on Shitty who manages to be a hockey bro and an intellectual, my true weakness. I care so much about these boys, especially Bitty and Jack and their journeys. This comic makes me feel all of the feels, I can't count the times I've squeed and cried over it. I want to give Check Please to all my non hockey watching friends to convert them because I believe it has that much power.

High School & Up

What a joy to read! With such memorable, funny and well-developed characters, Check Please! was one of the best graphic novels I have read in a long time.

Eric Bittle has been recruited to play hockey for Samwell University. As a former figure skating champion, Eric has moves to avoid getting hit, but the problem is that he really doesn't like getting hit at all! In fact, his teammates don't exactly know how to respond to the the new kid who seems to end up in the fetal position on the ice anytime he senses danger! Eric is also a vlogger and pie maker extraordinare (if he's in a kitchen, pies literally appear out of nowhere!). The author uses Eric's Vlogging as a form of narration that keeps the story moving. His pie making skills, some of his teammates nicknames and the general college antics in the story create a beautiful blend of humor, heart, and hockey that makes this story a super compelling one.

The characters are wildly funny and provide, from my perspective, an accurately portrayal of hockey culture. This is coming from a guy who grew up in hockey country. My home town in Minnesota has placed second at the high school State AA Championship eight times in the last 27 years (read: we have yet to win the whole thing despite having some outstanding team over the years). Nogzi Ukazu clearly spent a great deal of time, as noted in her author note, learning about hockey while studying at Yale and you can tell as her depiction of the characters is distinguished.

Relationship issues of both friendships and love interests are explored here in realistic ways that again, really highlight the power of humor, heart, and hockey in this awesome graphic novel!

*Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Being a huge fan of the webcomic since the very first post, I was ECSTATIC to see that this is finally being printed! Not only is it light-hearted, entertaining and hilarious, but it is also a heart-warming and valuable portrayal of growing up.

The story follows Eric Bittle, a sweet, country-town boy, as he shares first two years of being on his college's hockey team with his online followers. We follow Bittle as he falls in love, we see snippets of his friend's lives (they are hilarious!) and we can't help but fall in love with the family that the hockey team has created with each other.

It is truly an adorable and warmhearted read, with great LGBT representation and a healthy portrayal of masculinity and male friendships. The lessons it teaches about growing up and realising who your true friends are really touches the heart.

I LOVE THIS COMIC!!!!!!!!

I love everything about Check, Please and I was so pleased to be able to re-read this a non-Tumblr format.

You will not be disappointed by this if you read it! Take it from someone who isn't into sports at all. Even though Check, Please is about a college hockey team, you will experience so much more than that. There's adorable and hilarious nicknames, baking, secret crushes, vlogging, angst, and so much more. There is something for everyone. You will grow to love the characters and the storyline, I promise. And if you're looking for LGBT representation in sports, this is also for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story is so well balanced between friendship, coming into one's own confidence, and the feels. Gosh, the feels. It was as delightful as it was when I read it as a webcomic and I'm very excited for the serialization of it as a published comic!

This was really cute, with some added content for those who read the webcomic so it's not completely the same. I really liked the art style and the friendship and the slowburn ship that develops over time. I did want a little more from this overall, though. Like, it's not bad - it's good! I just would've liked a little more development of the characters and the plot. Since I read the webcomic, I'm sure the next installment will give me what I want. And really, that may be the problem - I've already read this, so I'm just wanting more from it because I know (some of, I can't remember where I left off) what's coming. Either way, I do still recommend checking this one out. It's super cute and enjoyable.

OMG!!!! This book was funny, this book was cute, this book was everything that I needed in my life at the moment. I was instantly hooked on Ukazu's ADORABLE book...then proceeded to head to her website to see what else I could find about Bitty! I cannot wait to get my hands on this gem of a graphic novel...and I am still obsessed with what is going to happen to my favorite ice skater turned hockey player!
Ukazu has gotten a lifelong fan in this reader and I can't wait to sell her book to follow readers!

ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL! I'm calling it now, Check, Please! is one of my favorite reads of 2018. Eric Bittle has just started his first year of college and he's vlogging the experience. Adjusting to college and being a part of the hockey team (despite his small stature) is sure to be an adventure. Soon, Bittle (or Bitty) grows fond of his teammates, especially one teammate in particular.

I was kind of skeptical going into this graphic novel, because I'm not much of a sports person, but I I absolutely fell in love with this book. Eric Bittle is a sweet cinnamon muffin who I will forever love and all the characters attitudes towards LGBTQ relationships are really refreshing. I'm glad to see that all the relationships (platonic and romantic) are completely healthy and everyone is so open minded. The story flows well and I found myself going back and reviewing pages just to take in all the content going on in the background too. I legit had to reread the ending of Check, Please! about 12 times. I'm so glad there's more to come.

I understand this was first published as a free web comic, but it's totally worth it to pick up a print copy when it's published.

5/5 stars

Wonderful art, relatable characters, beautifully crafted, Just a delightful read, full of heart and funny and sweet.

What else can I say about this book than this one of the most amazing comics there is? I've been an avid reader of this webcomic. I stayed up until the wee hours to catch up on it, and then again when I was rereading it. There's something about Bitty and all the Samwell Hockey team that just incites loyal love for each and every character. Bitty is so lovable and charming that in a second you're rooting for him in everything he does and wants. I love reading about his journey in hockey, life, school, and love. Getting to reread this was so amazing, and getting to read the tweets since I missed it when it was opened, I could've cried. I am so happy so many new readers will fall in love with the Samwell team. AND JACK AND BITTY FTW WHAT A POWER COUPLE

Check Please is a charming, sweet, and hilarious comic focusing on the hockey team of Samwell College. Eric "Bitty" Bittle, is a former junior figuring skating champion who is on a hockey scholarship to Samwell. This volume covers his freshman and sophomore years. The team is made up of a great cast of characters, Ransom and Holzer, the ultimate BFFs, Shitty, a sometimes outrageous but good natured guy, and Jack, the captain of the team and the son of a professional hockey player. Bitty is an upbeat character who loves to bake. Seriously, I desperately need to bake a pie after reading this. The story is framed through his vlogs, though plenty of scenes are portrayed outside of this framework. Prior knowledge of Hockey is not needed to enjoy the friendships and growth that Bitty experiences in this story. I was thoroughly charmed by their adventures and I can't wait to read more.

Thanks to First Second Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This. Was. Adorable. Like full stop. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. A-dor-a-ble.

Normally graphic novels aren't a thing I really get into. It's not that their bad, it just that I have a hard time finding ones that appeal to my aesthetic. They have to be super cutesy, like Check, Please! definitely was, or have a nice visual style, like Jem and the Holograms was. So when I find a graphic novel like this I devour it.

Check, Please follows Eric Bittle through his first two years on a college hockey team. It's a lot of hockey, bros being bros, and a surprising amount of pies. There's a few challenges to over come, his fear of physical checks, his relationship with the captain and crush Jack Zimmerman, and dealing with the ones you love moving on while you feel left behind. But there's a lightheartedness to the story that never makes it feel dower. In fact, this is like a perfect romantic comedy brought to life. There were parts of this novel where I legitimately went "Awwwww" and meant it. There's a sweetness to the story that just makes this one of the most pleasant reading experiences I've ever had.

The art style is adorable, the characters are adorable, and the story is adorable. And sure, there isn't that much of an over arcing story and you can make a serious argument that the book is more a series of chronological vignettes then a full plot, but I'd chalk that up to how it was a serialized story before being published in full. That a minor, minor nitpick, because the overall style of Check, Please! powers through almost any negativity I found reading it was that powerful. So, please for the love of god, treat yourself to this book. It will make your day. I know it made mine.

One of the cutrest webcomics in exsitencem Ngozi does an excellent job of bringing comedy, sport, and romance together in Check Please!

This was an unexpected delight. I am still just reeling from the sheer amount of charm wrapped into such a small unassuming package! Bittle just yearns to be a part of your teen graphic novels collections, and you didn't know how much you needed him there yourself!

Hocky, pies, liberal arts college, and two boys in love. This book is like a big hug and a piece of pie. I loved it.

There is a fair amount of swearing and innuendo, but it doesn't come from the main two characters, so while I would be hesitant to give the book to kids under 10, I think 12+ is easily in the range (given that I'm sure most kids hear worse from their peers).