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A review by jamgrl
Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this installment even more than the first!! It was a complete pleasure to see Bitty to come into his own as a leader in his Bitty way, to see our other characters move into new stages of life, and to see new students to come in, as is the cycle of college. (These books really make me so nostalgic for college days ðŸ˜.)
Jack and Bitty’s relationship throughout this book is really wholesome. They are very supportive of each other and it is really wonderful to see them work together to decide when and how they will tell who about them and to see them support each other when they are each having a hard time! And of course it is really satisfying to see how Jack’s coworkers and family love Bitty and Bitty’s family loves Jack.
Not that it is all easy! Bitty’s interactions with his parents in this are so real- like I have had these conversations. And Jack and Bitty each dealing with the media and new attention feels very true to the mixed bag of pressure and positivity and negativity coming out can have. I don’t know if this author is queer, but I feel they *must* be based on how real all of this feels.
I do wish we could have seen Jack grappling a little more with the media attention/we could have seen him talking to Bitty about how he feels (his sexuality is also, sadly, vague- like based on his dating history, he seems bi, but he never says it or corrects anyone assuming his gayness, so that’s a little disappointing for this bi, but you can’t win them all, I guess).
I also struggle with the end… I’m so sorry, I am just too practical to get on board with a certain aspect of the ending 😅 (I would have loved it if there had been a 1-2 year time gap, but I understand how that wouldn’t make sense. I’m trying to come to peace with it so I can enjoy what is a very sweet and wholesome ending.)
All that being said, I JUST LOVE THIS SERIES. I freaking love Lardo and Shitty, they are both my faves, and honestly everyone, including Jack’s supportive agent (?) and the Falconers and Bitty’s mom and the infamous jam feud with Aunt Judy 😂.
Jack and Bitty’s relationship throughout this book is really wholesome. They are very supportive of each other and it is really wonderful to see them work together to decide when and how they will tell who about them and to see them support each other when they are each having a hard time! And of course it is really satisfying to see how Jack’s coworkers and family love Bitty and Bitty’s family loves Jack.
Not that it is all easy! Bitty’s interactions with his parents in this are so real- like I have had these conversations. And Jack and Bitty each dealing with the media and new attention feels very true to the mixed bag of pressure and positivity and negativity coming out can have. I don’t know if this author is queer, but I feel they *must* be based on how real all of this feels.
I do wish we could have seen Jack grappling a little more with the media attention/we could have seen him talking to Bitty about how he feels (his sexuality is also, sadly, vague- like based on his dating history, he seems bi, but he never says it or corrects anyone assuming his gayness, so that’s a little disappointing for this bi, but you can’t win them all, I guess).
I also struggle with the end… I’m so sorry, I am just too practical to get on board with a certain aspect of the ending 😅 (I would have loved it if there had been a 1-2 year time gap, but I understand how that wouldn’t make sense. I’m trying to come to peace with it so I can enjoy what is a very sweet and wholesome ending.)
All that being said, I JUST LOVE THIS SERIES. I freaking love Lardo and Shitty, they are both my faves, and honestly everyone, including Jack’s supportive agent (?) and the Falconers and Bitty’s mom and the infamous jam feud with Aunt Judy 😂.