LOVE!! I adored Red, White & Royal Blue and wasn't sure this one could possibly compete but I may have loved it even more. Brilliantly written characters, fast pace and a touch of magic (which is not typically my thing). I couldn't put it down and still find myself wondering what the characters are up to now.

I so, SO badly wanted to love this. So, desperately, badly.

I loved RWRB, and as a bi New Yorker living in New Orleans and dating another woman, as well as being someone who coincidentally just finished unrelated research on the UpStairs Lounge arson and happens to love magical realism, I was beyond enthusiastic at getting the opportunity to read this book and SUPER eager to love it and to come here to shout about how much I loved it. But I just... didn't.

I ended up feeling like McQuiston was determined to touch upon so much that it ended up being both not enough and way too much... but in all the wrong ways for me.

(spoilers below)

I enjoyed the general path of the plot and loved the parallels (in some ways, at least) to the real-world story of Ferris LeBlanc and how his nephew is the one that discovered that he had died in the UpStairs Lounge arson
(https://www.nola.com/opinions/article_88685b6d-d395-5b89-aab0-959664cc95f8.html and https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/article_46a29642-5c77-5c98-8d59-2f0d3e012bd3.html).

I also loved that it seemed like it started from a frustrating subway ride that lead to the offhand joke "what if I'm just stuck here forever????" And who doesn't love a good LGBTQIA+ romance? So it feels like I loved all the concepts, but not the reality of the book itself.

I loved that August's found family is so diverse and entertaining, but (as others have mentioned), some of the conversation hinting about how racism and homophobia are things that stayed behind in the 70s feels very stale, considering the present-day release. I also felt that the group was so determined to be written as representative of millennials and online culture that it went a little too far and became an unintentional, un-selfaware parody. To be honest, it seemed that was trying so hard to represent diversity that it reached the point of tokenism.

I also felt frustrated with peripheral plot lines, like how Uncle Augie was essentially killed off twice, and how Jerry doesn't get a chance to see Jane even though literally everyone else does?

By the end I reeeeally disliked Jane and August and their dynamic, while it felt like I was supposed to love them. Also, as a total side note, the idea of having sex on the subway is simply *horrifying*. Both from the perspective of how terrible that would be to fellow straphangers as well as how unpleasant it would be to actually do it, considering how dirty the subway is. I know it's a tiiiiny thing considering the book is literally about a pseudo-ghost from the 70s, but suspension of disbelief apparently can only take me so far?

Anyway, it seemed like One Last Stop tried to check all the marks of LGBTQ+, mystery, magical, heist, leftist millennial social wish fulfillment, and romance at the same time, and it ended up just being... frustrating.

Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to the hype for me. The plot was very very weird and random and it never really came together. I liked the love story and the friendships, but ultimately I found it too far fetched.

MY HEART. OH MY HEART. This book will absolutely go down as my top five favorite books of the year (top 3 so far). I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue but this was was far better in my opinion. McQuiston FRIGGIN DELIVERED.. and delivered hard. This is how you start off Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈

A book with LGBTQ+ representation, magical realism, historical fiction, romance, sexy, curvy characters, comedy… all built into one book, what more could you ask for?

This novel is full of whit, charm, and magic. I loved ALL the wonderfully quirky and unique characters. McQuiston touched upon the way August’s upbringing sometimes hurt her but was also something that made her skilled and powerful. I adored (yet it saddened me) watching Jane’s journey unravel while respectfully displaying so much queer history through her and others. it explored all sides of the relationship between August and Jane without hesitation.

I will be yelling at everyone from the rooftops of Boston and beyond for you all to read this one 🥰

Synopsis: There is a bit of magic left in the world and August Landry found it on the Q train, both a place and a person. August moved to NYC at 23 to start a new life, with a new job at a pancake diner, a not-your-average new group of roommates, and a beautiful stranger who appears on the train during her morning commute. Referred to as “subway girl”, Janie is everything August could possibly want. The problem? Jane has been stuck on the subway since 1970. August is determined to help get Jane off the train but in doing so may either bring her back to the 70s, present time, or result in death.

I have no words for how amazing this was, but I'm finally ready to try to express myself lololol. This is everything that my queer heart wanted and more!!!!! The found-family elements were everything to me and added to the story so so much! I literally fell head over heels for every single character. The writing was so beautiful and so hilarious; I was laughing and crying all at the same time! Truly a roller coaster of emotions!! This book will forever live in my mind RENT-FREE.

The audiobook was fantastic and really brought all the characters to life! I 100% recommend it- although now I NEED a physical copy just to annotate the hell out of it. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the pause break in between the chapters. They seemed really really long and it kept making me think that the audiobook had accidentally stopped working or that the app shut down. I'm not sure if it was just the download that I had or if the final audiobook also has that problem, but it's definitely something to take into consideration because it was quite annoying TBH!

Overall though, I really did fall in love with this book. This was my first Casey McQuiston and I can't wait to finally pick up Red, White & Royal Blue and all future publications! Definitely found a new favorite author! I am already looking forward to rereading this!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Macmillan Audio an advanced ebook and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

so cute and sweet - all i wanted to do was sit around and read this book until i could escape into the pages themselves! As a lifelong train lover - this entire concept was built for me. i constantly day dream about meeting some one on a train.

- i didn't like the passage where the white character tells the POC one that " not all white people are bad" seems very tone deaf and rude. This needs to be addressed because there is no growth on the character on that aspect.

Let me just say this once. I know readers are going to hate me but I just did not love One Last Stop as other readers did. I tried my best too but I just could not. I know for a fact that I had high expectations for One Last Stop because I absolutely fell in love with Casey McQusiton's previous book, Red, White & Royal. One Last Stop did not live up to its expectations. It was a big let down. I expect more instead of a drag out love story.

First off, I want to thank St. Martin's Press for sending me this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I'm roughly 20% in and I'm really enjoying it so far. I was nervous because I am currently about 50% through RWRB and I might DNF but this is more my style which is nice. However, I received my copy of this book on the day it came out so I was unable to read the full book in time before losing my access and reviewing it. I have to leave a star rating so I am for now giving it a tentative 4/5 stars but I will be finishing the book soon and updating the rating once I have completed the book. Honestly, I can't wait :) It's making me really want pancakes and hash browns mmmmm yummy

I have been in love with Casey's writing from RWRB. I love their writing and sense of humor, and all of the emotions brought forth. I expected OLS to be amazing and I was not disappointed. This is an amazing queer romance that is one of hope and love. The sexual content was masterfully written with tender grace. Highly recommend!

I struggled to get through this book. I was a fan of the author’s previous Red, White, and Royal Blue, but this book did not hold my attention. I likely would have DNF it if not for receiving it as an ARC. If you like magical realism, you may favor this book. Magical realism is not palatable to me personally, and that was my main issue with the book. The characters were fun and quirky. It was a good book choice for pride month. Overall, not a favorite for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC

This book was such a delight and was so heartwarming. I personally found it a little bit slow at first, but the pace picked up around half way through. The mystery of where Jane came from and how to save her was very well done and was so satisfying to resolve. But for me, the characters are what made this book. Each person was so unique and interesting in their own way, and so endearing to read about. Their interactions were realistic and entertaining, and the ending resolution was so perfect. Such a great read!

What else can we say about Casey McQuiston. Everything she writes leaps off the page. She is such a thoughtful, beautiful writer of modern times. The way she wrote about the Q train is the epitome of New York. And that’s just writing about a train.! Her characters break your heart and tie you in pieces every time. I listen to this on audiobook as well as reading it. I definitely recommend both. The audiobook hit different but just as good. For her second book she hit it out of the park once again.
Thanks #netgalley

This is a NetGalley review of the book One Last Stop and was given freely in exchange for an early reading of the book. This book will wreck you in the best way! August meets Jane on the NY subway in the worst way- holding back tears while drenched from head to toe in coffee. Jane offers her a scarf to help her day go a little better. August runs into Jane every ride and they develop an easy friendship, but what are the odds Jane is in the same train car at the same time she rides? This book has so many twist and turns and is absolutely one of the best types of books to read- it keeps you hooked to the last page! Do yourself a favor and read this book now!

I absolutely adored this book! The romance was pitch-perfect and so heartwarming, and the secondary characters stole the show. I love when an ensemble of characters truly works and leaves you wanting to hang out with them. Each character was a little messy but wonderful and I was rooting for them all. I thought the ending was so well-done and will leave readers very satisfied. This is a heartwarming, unique, delight of a book and I highly recommend it!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

August is a bit of a loner, drifting from city to city and college to college and major to major, until she arrives in New York City with an air mattress and a few boxes of belongings. Her new roommates become her new friends, gently forcing her to make connections and join the world. The roommates are fabulous- fully developed, interesting, compelling, with backstories and insecurities and personalities all their own. I think they were one of the best parts of the book.

On her way to school on the Q, August meets a mysterious woman in a meet-cute scenario. The twist is that Jane has been stuck on the Q since the 1970s and has been living in kind of a fog. August's presence and the connection between them seem to create a bond that allows her to see Jane whenever she travels on the Q line.

There are also twists with characters' histories, some mysteries to be solved, a neighborhood institution to save, and more.

Unfortunately, this story lagged for me and was slow to start. It seemed to struggle to stay focused on the main story, which I kind of understand since the side stories were honestly more compelling. A good enough book, just not great.

One Last Stop was hands down my most anticipated read of 2021. Needless to say, I was very excited when I got offered an early digital copy. It took me a long time to write this review after reading the book - simply because I found it really hard to articulate how much I loved this book.

Casey McQuiston pulled no emotional punches in One Last Stop. They delivered an emotionally complex and wonderfully romantic story that had me sobbing multiple times. Fans of Red, White and Royal Blue will recognize the author’s signature witty banter - this book had me laugh out loud more than any other book in recent memory. While this book was predominantly a contemporary romance, it did have a time traveling twist that I really enjoyed and think really contributed to the overall emotional impact of the story.

August began One Last Stop as a thoroughly lost soul - she had just recently moved to NYC totally alone, leaving behind her mother (and their amateur sleuthing). When she responds to a room for rent ad, she stumbles into one of the best roommate/ found family groups I’ve ever read about. Through her growing relationships with her roommates, August really began to blossom as a character. Her journey to finding herself and fitting into her new environment was both relatable and endearing to read about.

August and Jane are my new favorite romance couple - right off the bat they had incredible chemistry and were heartwarming together. Not only did they have incredible tension and payoff, they also had the mystery between them of who Jane was and how she got to be stuck in modern times. This uncertainty in their relationship really helped force August to confront her feelings for Jane and confront herself about what she wanted in her life.

This book is all about the characters - every single one was intricately faceted and fascinating to read about. I loved learning about their relationship dynamics and how they all stumbled into each other's lives. They were all supportive of each other and really uplifted each other - I want spin-off books for each of them, honestly.

If there were any doubts in my mind that Casey McQuiston would become an autobuy author for me, One Last Stop cleared them up. This is a thoroughly romantic story about finding oneself and the strength of found family. It’s also a love letter to New York and breakfast foods, and who can’t get behind both of those things. I cannot wait to read whatever Casey McQuiston writes in the future. 5/5

PS: this book made me cry over strawberry milkshake PopTarts. I won’t provide context at this time.

Time travel is a really interesting premise that has been a little bit overdone in books. One Last Stop, however, has a fresh and unique twist on it, and that makes this book worth a read alone.

The queer romance aspect of it is adorable and sweet, and the layers of mystery are super interesting. I really enjoyed reading McQuiston's latest novel. The supporting characters are lovable and kind, and there's even a psychic. The main characters are less lovable for me, which is why I have to call it a 4 out of 5 stars. Worth a read.

Thank you Casey McQuiston, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

While on its surface, One Last Stop is a love story between a southern cynic and a golden-hearted activist trapped out of her time, it is the familial love and care demonstrated throughout the novel that leaves the biggest mark. One Last Stop captures the joy, freedom and belonging that comes with finding a queer community and building a home. It captures what it is like to be young, a little careless, and a little lost.

August moves to New York City hoping to exist in solitude; one face out of millions. She rents a room in an apartment with Myla (an engineer turned artist), Niko (a psychic and bartender), and Wes (a would-be architect turned tattoo artist), and all chances of a solitary life go out the window. August hasn’t yet acclimated to their chaos when she has a meet cute moment with Jane on the subway. And then another moment. And another. Jane, it turns out, has been thrown out of her own time in 1977, and is bound to the subway line August takes to campus.

The characters in this book are vast and wonderful. They are unapologetically queer, and equally unapologetic in their pursuit of their passions. August becomes okay with not having all the answers; she learns to be a little silly. Her world expands to include her coworkers and neighbours, and the whole rag tag group of queers had my whole heart.

The bisexual and trans rep was also incredibly pleasing; there are a lot of queer books out in the world, but transgender, bisexual and pansexual stories are still underrepresented. The casual inclusion is part of the gift of the novel. And while this book is so different from Red White and Royal Blue, the way Casey McQuiston writes family is reassuringly consistent. The camaraderie, the banter, the **relentless** roasting that only a sibling or a close friend can provide; they get it and they put it to paper. One Last Stop is an ode to the way the right group of people can pull you fully out of your shell when you take a risk and let them in. It is a story about growth and self acceptance and holding tight and letting go; it is a story where the magic of time travel and finding love on the subway take a backseat to the everyday magic of queer folks thriving.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free e-arc of One Last Stop in exchange for an honest review.

I read Red, White and Royal Blue not too long ago and instantly loved it and the way Casey wrote their story. So, when their next novel was announced, I immediately did what I could to get an early copy. Thankfully, NetGalley blessed my Kindle and Casey, once again, blessed my shelf!

One Last Stop is different from their other novel. It has a sort of supernatural-esque vibe with Jane being stuck on a subway train because she is in between her true time, the 70s, and August’s present time of now. When the two meet, it leads August, a newbie in the city, to become someone she was meant to be with her new roommates and this girl that brings out a new life within her instead of the old life she has with her mother, who constantly has her mind stuck in detective work with a case from the 70s. Oh, the irony.

The cast in this book is AMAZING. We’ve got drag queens, queer tattoo artists with moody personalities (but also in love hardcore), trans psychics, queer and black artist who is the best friend you could have, etc. Nobody in this book is bland. Casey gave everyone their own personality and their own way to stand out, so this has to be one of the first books I’ve read in a long time (if not, ever) with side characters that read like main characters and kept my interest.

August was a good character, too. It was interesting to see her evolution as a new girl in New York City. In the beginning, she was a mess. Then she met Jane and became enraptured by her and, even if she wasn’t aware at first, this mystery girl was changing her the more time they spent together uncovering Jane’s past. Jane, on the outside, looks like a tough girl. On the inside, she is so lost and just wanting answers. Imagine her relief when August unlocks those answers.

I like that the romance and attraction was obvious, but Casey took their time building that romance and keeping more focus on what Jane needed. Sure, they both need each other. However, the pace of their relationship was perfect in my opinion. There was flirting, some tension, wit. It kept things interesting.

There’s a lot of history in this story, too. The 70’s were an important time for the LGBTQ community and their growth. Not only that, but this was not too long after the Stonewall Riots. Tensions were still high and imagine how that was mixed with different races. There was also the discussion of HIV and AIDS. Bottom line, having Jane come from such an influential and dangerous time was pretty…I can’t even think of the best word to describe it. It’s one of my favorite decades to learn about, so I was eager to read the moments where Jane would talk about her time.

I want to quickly discuss the ending. So, what happens, I kind of expected it. Maybe I’m having Addie LaRue flashbacks and now THAT all ended, so I was pretty much taking it in and dealing with it. Then Casey throws in the curveball randomly and hits me in the face, knocking me unconscious because I didn’t expect THAT to happen in the end! Of course it made me heart soft, so no complaints here!

Overall, One Last Stop gave me high expectations when it was announced and it did not disappoint. I can definitely say it went higher than my initial expectations!

This book was the perfect summertime read for a healthy dash of escapism in my home away from home (aka my NYC apartment). McQuiston really knows how to live and narrate in the millennial mindset, and ONE LAST STOP shows that, with a drastically different pool of characters, she still knows how to keep her story engaging and deeply romantic. The Jane/August relationship was arguably a more complex story than Alex/Henry in RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE, but I didn't find myself as drawn to this book overall as RW&RB. Then again, it's hard to match such an iconic debut, and this book gets pretty close! A great read.