Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of my most favorite books, so I was excited about McQuiston’s next book…. but I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I found out that it was going to be a love story with a subway ghost. To be fair, my curiosity was definitely piqued by this premise, so I went into my reading experience with any open mind.

August has spent her entire life helping her mother with a missing-person cases, and she’s grown rather resentful of this over the years. So, in some ways, it’s ironic that she becomes just as consumed with researching 1970s Brooklyn in her quest to help Jane.

This is a solid rom-com, but there’s a definite mystery element as well. Helping Jane recovery her story becomes a priority, with dual concerns: what happened to lead us to this point, and what’s going to happen next?

We only have August’s perspective in this narrative, and as much as it would have been nice to have Jane’s, it makes sense that we don’t. After all, Jane lives in the moment and doesn’t remember much of anything that happened to her before she ended up on the subway.

The development of the romance is exquisite. It’s certainly unconventional: how do you have a relationship with someone who can’t ever leave the subway? But somehow, they make it work.
I would absolutely recommend One Last Stop. I’m pleased to admit that my concerns were unfounded. This book was amazing and there are so many lovely heartfelt moments. It’s sweet and funny and poignant. I would read a spinoff book featuring any of August’s roommates. This book was so different from RW&RB, but they are both so lovely in their own way, and I’m already looking forward to McQuiston’s next book, no matter what it’s about.

It took me two days to finish just the first twenty percent of this book. It was quite the slow read in the beginning and once you hit twenty percent it’s like wham. The author hits you with this curve ball that is this huge twist in the story and gosh, it got so darn interesting. I had so many questions and just loved it from then on. August and Jane are brilliant, beautiful and just lovable. I adored August’s entire adopted family too and wish I could read each of their stories. This story is for the ages, quite literally too. I absolutely adored it and would highly recommend this book.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

My GOODNESS this book was such a delight. As a bonus to the stellar, well developed, exquisitely crafted romance, ONE LAST STOP is a love letter to the NYC Queer community.

This book also took place very close to home for me. Figuratively and literally. And also, I LOVE that Casey McQuiston's two last novels have had bisexual protagonists. It makes me so happy to read just wonderfully written, fully realized bisexual characters.

A big thanks to Casey's publicist, who shared this e-galley with me. I can't wait to put this one on my shelf in print.

I ordered this book for an article for LitHub tentatively titled "Romance Novels for Hot-Everybody Summer." OLS is is one of eight romance novels I recommend for readers looking for books with characters who have agency over their choices and are leading full and complicated lives that aren't defined by their identity markers but enhanced by them. Here's my review of the book:

One Last Stop by queer writer Casey McQuiston features anxious college student and amateur sleuth August Landry who has instant heart-eyes for Jane Su, and while most love seems impossible, imagine having to overcome time and space with a woman displaced on the Q train since the 70s. McQuiston weaves in heart-thumping music, Strawberry Milkshake Pop-Tarts, LGBTQ+ American history from the last 60 years, and a queer ensemble cast who loves fiercely and openly as they celebrate joy and acceptance with their found families.

No link at this time, but I wanted to post feedback before the deadline!

Ultimately, I feel like this book is trying to do too much and does not give enough air to the plot elements to make them feel real. Because the story makes you keep jumping between things without settling on them long enough to get serious (except for a few moments later in the book), I felt like I was more aware of the setting since that was the only consistent thing. Basically, a lot of this book feels convenient and predictable and the way that it romanticizes New York City made me roll my eyes. I am a HUGE fan of the found family trope, but the idea that our character shows up to the city and finds the perfect apartment with a group of queer friends that are all indie movie quirky and yet somehow manage to afford rent just makes me tired. At one point in the book, August is neither going to class nor work for THREE WEEKS and yet there's never any issue. She just ultimately passes her classes and apart from one comment about her bank balance being in the single digits, she can still afford everything. Also, she's accepted back into her job instantly because she's the main character.

I get that this is romantic comedy logic and so won't bother other people, but I feel like it's indicative of my issues as a whole. Issues come up and then are solved conveniently and without enough effort on August's part. There are occasionally references to effort, but it felt like if the conversation couldn't be distilled down to a few snappy lines of dialogue then it was summarized instead of getting into the messy part. Because you are in August's point of view, you do get more depth there in terms of her insecurities and issues with her mother but even then <spoiler> I feel like she has a comment to recognize that she's doing this investigation the way her mother would and then she just moves on. I get that she's avoiding thinking about it, but also it feels like the book just doesn't have room for it, so ultimately it comes out in a conversation or two where things are neatly wrapped up.

In general, I was more interested in the potential of a lot of the other side characters than August herself, but mainly Jane/Biyu. I think that her life story had a lot there to talk about, but it's again largely summarized from August's POV. Jane is a big example of things being too convenient. Despite being trapped in a subway for forty years, despite everything in her past, you never really get to see her have negative emotions. In the one fight that she and August have, August does mention 'Jane has seemed conveniently chill about this whole thing' and I was felt like FINALLY we were going to have Jane be a whole messy person, but then that fight gets solved pretty instantly without things really feeling like they've changed. And I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the traumatic events of Jane's past and losing friends in the horrific arson feel, again, more like August because she's focusing on her uncle. The same thing happens when Jane comes to the present - her unhappiness is mentioned but not really gone into. Because you never see these characters deal with serious things, I felt like I was being told they were in love more than experiencing it. </spoiler>

I could go on but yeah, that's basically it: to convenient, too saccharine, trying to do too much. I'm glad we're at a place in publishing where nb writers can just write out their id and have fun with it, but it didn't work for me.

This book is a cast of characters that you will love and hold on to forever. I really enjoy stories about created families (friends and neighbors that form a found family) and the New York City setting really lent itself to this theme.

August is finding her place in New York City with new a apartment, new roommates, a new job, and school. One day on the subway, she meets Jane and is instantly intrigued. Without giving too much away, the story has a time travel element that I was not expecting but really enjoyed. The relationship between August and Jane is so lovely and you will root for them to overcome all obstacles.

Overall this book is a love story about romantic love, love of friends, and love for yourself. I have not read McQuiston’s other popular title, Red, White and Royal Blue but reading One Last Stop has rocketed this title to the top of my reading list.

Thanks to Casey McQuiston, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book demonstrates love in so many different ways, I just want to give it a hug.

I loved August, her quirky roommates/coworkers/neighbors who become her found family, and Jane. August is one smart cookie, determined to help Jane remember her past.

Casey McQuiston’s bright, smart writing is balanced with shadowy mystery in both Jane and August’s story. The chemistry between August and Jane crackles, and the slow burn until they *finally* address their feelings (they aren’t just kissing for research!) is worth it.

Four heart soaring eagles!
🦅🦅🦅🦅

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Can you fall in love with someone that isn't really there?

That is the quandary that August Landry has when she runs, almost literally, into Jane on the Q train. Moving to New York to continue to change her degree and get away from her mother and her mother's obsession about finding her brother August finds herself drawn to someone on the subway in a way that she never wanted to be. Staying away from people keeps you from getting hurt. August initially thinks that Jane has rejected her when she doesn't want to go out for drinks but soon finds out that Jane cannot leave the Q train. She's not from this time and can't move off the line.

That is just the tip of the iceberg for this story that almost immediately sucked me in. There are also a myriad of fun roommates who all bring something new, unexpected, or simply different to the story. None of these characters are necessarily ones you expect to see in a romance novel and they bring so much life to this novel that it has free space in my brain from now on. I am excited to see what McQuiston comes out with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.

This was such a cute book! The stuck in time aspect had me so intrigued and I just had to keep reading to find out what the heck was going on! The whole thing just had a bit of mystery to it, which really made it so much more fun as a love story! The way August and Jane loved each other was so beautiful. I also absolutely adored the found family part of this book and all of the side characters were just wonderful! They were all so sweet and funny. I just really loved this book!

I really wanted to love One Last Stop but it was a little too cutesy and cloyingly sweet for me. I loved the supporting characters and frankly, was more engaged with them than the two main characters. I commend the author for the diversity of the characters and I did think the time travel aspect was interesting. I think some editing would have helped bring the story together better. An enjoyable, quick read that I liked but didn't love.

I wasn't sure how much I would like this book because since their is a time difference between the two characters in love I automatically almost wrote it off and I'm so glad I didn't I loved this one

DNFed because I was unimpressed by the Chinese rep of the love interest Jane. The book is fine, I just cannot tolerate medicore rep.

I had no idea what to expect with this! I didn’t realize there was an element of sci-fi to it, what a delightful surprise! Great cast of characters, a little slow to start but once I figured out what was happening I couldn’t put it down! Loved!!

I loved this romance with a time-travelling twist! McQuiston has an accessible, witty, breezy writing style that sweeps you away. So much humour and love in every line. I adored the side characters just as much as the main characters - nobody was flat on the page, they all leap out at you. You also fall completely in love with New York and how the characters interact with and move through it. A feel-good summery love story that I couldn't put down. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

I absolutely ADORED this book. Yes, the sapphic romance was wonderful, but also the characters! They're all so well-rounded and interesting and exactly the sort of people you meet and live with in college. It reminded me of my college days. I wasn't in New York, but it was all so, so familiar. I love them all and I didn't want the story to end. I didn't think Casey McQuiston could top their previous book but I think I might even love this one more.

It was so unapologetically queer, and seeing Jane react to the differences in 1977 New York and 2020 New York in how queer people could be and were reacted to - it was beautiful and heartbreaking.

I loved the mystery of Jane and her past and how all of it tied into August's past. Just. So well-crafted.

I had the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook and it was so well done. The narrator's voice was perfect for the story, and she brought so much emotion to the characters and just brought it to life. I wanted to live inside the audiobook.

If you, like me, enjoy the found family trope then I highly recommend this book.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for providing an e-arc and audio arc for review.

I literally joined NetGalley for the chance to get to read this book early... and it did not disappoint. After I finished Casey's Red, White & Royal Blue I was all in to make sure and grab any other books she released... and when I heard about OLS, I knew I couldn't wait for it!

OLS is a love letter to NY told through one of the most NY things ever- the subway. It is not glamorous or maybe what you think of first when you think of NY... but it is absolutely the most perfect setting for this story.

I don't know how to explain this story much without giving it away- but I think the "Missed Connections" references is kind of the best way. Who hasn't gotten on the subway before and looked up to someone who you wished you knew. One part romance, one part love letter to NY and one part magic... this story captivated me from the start. I loved August and Jane. I loved their merry band of misfit friends. There are some stories there that I am hoping will get told!

OLS is the perfect romance, with a side of magic thrown in. I am in love. Can't wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars. Effervescently chaotic, a beautiful, intersectional romp through a young woman’s first love, complicated by a time travel storyline. This is for nerdy people who love fully realized characters, fun and quipped dialogue, and the biggest, realest love you can find. I adored August and Jane’s romance, the found family of August’s roommates, and the love letter that this book was to Brooklyn and the MTA. One Last Stop is only very loosely based on Kate and Leopold, in my opinion, and I would probably categorize it as fluffy magical realism. I loved how the mystery of Jane and her circumstances (she is literally stuck in time) dovetailed and created a foil for the very unpacking of Jane and August as characters. It was just such a clever mechanism for a gorgeous, lush romance, and I really fell into it.

At times, OLS felt highly cinematic to me. There were a lot of moments when I genuinely could see scenes in my head as a movie, and I think it would lend itself to an adaptation so effortlessly. One of the things that Casey does so well is party scenes, somehow perfectly conveying the euphoria of iconic moments in a character’s life with the realization of that moment, and balancing the sheer number of people on the page to boot. It’s definitely a gift, and it’s one that really made the found family so real to me. I seriously wish these people were my friends.

I should mention that I read this book on audio for the most part, and I thought the narrator did a really good job distinguishing all the voices in the novel. I especially liked how she pulled off all the party scenes, because again, there are a lot of voices who show up. She also did a really fantastic job with the love scenes, which are very sexy and very hard to do on audio without feeling like you're intruding into someone's private moment.

Did I love One Last Stop as much as Red White and Royal Blue? Probably not, but it did not disappoint. In fact, I think with One Last Stop, Casey McQuiston has cemented themselves as an LGBTQIA romance writer with a very relatable, quirky vibe that feels fresh every time. This is a writer who is always going to knock you out with her concept, and then reel you in with her characters. I’m so here for it.

It’s Pride month!!!

Loved this book & the characters! Really enjoyable and different! I am trying to get more into the romance genre & after reading this, I am more excited to read romance.

I really enjoyed the setting and the main characters job setting! I love when a book goes into a good job description!

The reason I gave it 4 stars is because I found it lengthy!

I was so surprised by this book! I was expecting a cute contemporary read about two girls that fall in love on the subway. I didn't even read the synopsis before reading the book because it's by the Casey McQuiston. The plot was so interesting and always kept me on my toes. The science fiction parts of the story were so cool and they added a lot of depth to the story. And the characters!! Oh gosh, they're so lovely. They're the epitome of found family. I love how unique they are and their interactions with each other. I'll miss this story now that I'm done. I can't wait for more books by Casey McQuiston!!

⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars
August Landry is twenty-three and has arrived in New York City to attend college. She rooms with Myla, Niko and Wes all might be described as ‘misfits’ and soon become a family.
August travel to school on the subway and see Jane a 70 year who has displaced in time and has no idea why she has been and has been trapped in the subway for the past 40 years. (Surely this has you curious?)
I was excited about this story. It is magical.
In addition to this file, I also received “The Book Club Kit”. This is a perfect companion to the book. It includes a 'Letter from the Author' as well as an 'Interview with the Author' both are additions I always enjoy reading~ an inside scoop into what inspired the author's writing!).
There is also a warning about the content of the story ~ as we know not all stories are for everyone.
The Discussion questions are great.
Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press ~ St Martin’s Griffin for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Date was June 1, 2021