Reblogs and posts I find funny, are meaningful, or i find way too cool not to post. Whatever floats my boat, ya know? Basically Hockey (#findaway), Chris Evans, Check Please!, Teen Wolf, DCI, and Buffy...and anyything.
This universe is a very large one (I try not to think about it too hard, but it's well north of a million words), and has existed for a long, long time. Long enough that, when I went 'I already made an intro post for people getting into the fandom, though' I had to take a bit of a moment after I discovered I had...in 2017.
So yes! Huge! Overwhelming!
So I'm going to give this another go. A lot of the 2017 post is still relevant, and includes a suggested reading order, how the universe differs from our own (some different teams, for one!), and a few other resources.
First and foremost, I need to point to the YCMAL wiki. It's an absolutely brilliant fan run resource that consolidates so much information it makes me a little breathless. They have their own getting started page, which has informed me that I have written in fact north of two million words in this universe, so that's fun. That's a fun fact.
I also cannot recommend enough the YCMAL Story Guide and timeline spreadsheet. This spreadsheet is a work of wonder; it consolidates all the stories I've written in the universe, across the (many) locations, and tells you where you can find them, with links to the free and Patreon content. It allows you to filter by character and pairing, which is invaluable if you want to read extra content of a particular pairing, and even includes an estimated story order.
Unfortunately a lot of my previous organization sort of fell apart as the universe grew a little too mighty for my ADHD, so I wouldn't use the tumblr tags or resources as a tool: the wiki and that spreadsheet are going to be much more useful to you.
Suggested reading order, with links, below.
I am brutally bad at describing my own work with pithy one liners, so this reading order doesn't include descriptors. If any readers have posted a suggested reading order of their own that includes that, I'm happy to link it here.
Suggested Reading Order, YCMAL 'verse:
Start here!
(Free)
no expectation of returns - this one will be taken down for publication in the next little while, so possibly one to prioritize
Vinny gets a life
it's a setup
(Published)
You Could Make a Life - the story that became the universe.
Thrown Off the Ice
Between the Teeth Trilogy (link to first in series)
Don't start here! (But I've provided links for when you get around to them)
(Free)
Follow the North Star (read Thrown Off the Ice first)
giving in to the influence (read YCMAL first)
it's a commitment (direct sequel to it's a setup above)
if all is enough (read YCMAL first, read Vires Acquirit Eundo in the outtakes after)
throw up your fists, throw up your wits (Maybe have a nice self-care day planned)
duelling banjos (spoilers for YCMAL, unfinished)
Impaired Judgment (and other excuses) (spoilers for literally every published novel, Longest Story In the World)
but always in tandem/still always in tandem/always in tandem (ongoing, massive spoilers for Between the Teeth)
Cards on the Table (ongoing, spoilers for always in tandem)
This post includes a super helpful visual of how the series interact with one another, including which are standalone.
Ukazu says, a rising tide lifts all boats, including the S.S. Check, Please! She’s hopeful that the success of Heated Rivalry, as well as another queer romance graphic novel-turned-TV show Heartstopper, will make the dream of seeing her work onscreen into a reality: The book has been optioned for adaptation. — Vanity Fair
Check, Please! has been optioned for a film/television adaptation. A while ago, actually—and that’s lovely. Nevertheless, the vast majority of options do not become television because it takes a million things going right to get projects off the ground.
That being said.
Ahem.
Speaking of getting projects off the ground...
From when Bitty first stepped out into the rink at Faber, to when he kissed the ice at graduation, we've all been part of this fun, weird, magical world of Samwell hockey. But when I left the world of Samwell hockey, I left knowing Jack and Bitty's story was done. Bitty's journey as the first openly gay NCAA Division I hockey captain was done. We baked the last pie; we shut off the lights at the kegster; the story was complete.
…But as I looked around I realized, I had one more story to tell.
Which is why I'm thrilled to announce that a brand new volume of Check, Please! will be serialized in 2026. Dozens of new comics, exciting update drops, your favorite characters with brand new storylines, and characters you've yet to meet.
Hello, Internet Land—SMH is coming home.
This fifth year of Check, Please! will be filled with shenanigans, drama, hockey, pies, Haus parties, and a new message of acceptance that is near and dear to me. And it's been brewing over the last year and half! But with the latest boom in queer hockey stories, I figured, hey! ¯\(ツ)/¯ Here's another one to look forward to. :)
Marginalized athletes still face harmful bigotry, and for this reason, queer sports stories are more important than ever. I love Samwell hockey and how each of you has embraced this roster of athletes.
There's so much more to come.
Ngozi
🏒🥧❤️
=
MORE NEWS? SURE:
I’ll be at Emerald City Comic Con 2026, and yes, I will be dropping exclusive details about Check, Please! Year Fived during my spotlight panel: Ngozi Ukazu - From Check, Please! to DC and Back! (Be there!)
Follow me on Patreon for behind-the-scenes on the making of Check, Please!: Year Five. I'm gonna livestream...a lot.
If only there were an original mm romance that you could read right now while you wait for more Year Five updates! Good news—John Rich & The Big Picture is very cute and laugh-out-loud funny and you can read it now, for free.
My latest graphic novel FLIP has made the best-of lists for the New York Public Library, the A.V. Club, Kirkus Books, School & Library Journal—and more. Get it here.
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