Ahhh a subway romance?? I LOVE THAT. I miss taking the subway, so this really gave me nostalgia. Also, time travel? Now, that is quite interesting. I love the connection between Jane and August, and how they learn to just live in the moment, instead of constantly worrying about the future. Also, it's okay to be living in your mid-2os and not know where you stand in life. I repeat, IT IS PERFECTLY OKAY. There is no time frame to figure things out. I also ADORE Myla, Wes, and Nico. They are so supportive of August. Also, let's not forget Lucie and everyone else at Billy's. These guys have a strong support system with each other. That is very necessary when you live in a place like New York. I also love how this novel touches on the lgbtq community, and the INCLUSION OF EVERYONE. LIKE, LOVE IS LOVE! Don't have a narrow mind over it. Really is a beautiful read :)

This book was well written and charming. I had a lot of difficulty getting into it. For me the start was a little slow.

"Hey, Coffee Girl."
"Hey, Subway Girl."

Back in 2019, a small little book called Red, White, and Royal Blue came out. And, unless you avoided every little corner of the internet, this isn’t your first time hearing about it. Maybe you read it the instant it came out. Maybe you’ve read it more times than you can count. Maybe your first read of it was whilst you were under the influence of heavy pain killers because you had surgery that morning (just me?). Whatever the case may be, Casey McQuiston is an absolute genius in concocting realistic characters and believable dynamics between them. So, are we really surprised that One Last Stop is just as great as a gem as their debut?

When I was approved for an ARC of One Last Stop, I lost any semblance of ‘cool’ that I had—which, between you and me, is already very low to begin with. It quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 after loving Red, White, and Royal Blue, and I’m so thrilled to share all of my thoughts on it with you!

A HUGE thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis: For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.

But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things, after all.

I’m going to be honest right off the bat. When I read a book knowing that I want to review it, I write down all of my thoughts in the notes app on my phone so that I can keep the things I want to talk about somewhat organized. And in my notes for One Last Stop, one of my notes was “I keep forgetting to take notes.”

I was so immersed in this story and in these characters’ world that I forgot to track what I was thinking. Taking the time to set down my book and pick up my phone wasn’t an option because I physically could not separate myself from the book. And truthfully, thanks to a horrible reading slump, that hasn’t happened for me in a long time.

Right from page one, you’re introduced to an incredible cast of characters that will undoubtedly end up stealing your heart.

First, you meet August. August had an unconventional upbringing, thanks to her mom that was obsessed with solving August’s uncle’s missing-person’s case and teaching her tactics no 7-year-old should probably know. Throughout her life, August tended to isolate herself and not form deep connections with other people. And she always guards herself with two things: a knife and caution. Then, we have Niko. Niko is a spiritual, confident, take-no-crap-from-anybody psychic who can read a person from across the room better than I can read most books. He’s an absolute sweetheart and would happily be your shoulder to cry on. Next, is Myla. Myla is an art-centered, plant-obsessed, creative soul who loves just about everyone she comes in contact with. While almost all of these characters can be categorized as the “mom friend,” Myla is most definitely the “mom friend.” And, finally, to round out the iconic roommate group: we have Wes. Wes is introverted and sarcastic, but open and kind-hearted to those who are lucky enough to get to know him and I fell in love with him the moment he graced us with his presence.

I could yell about these characters as if my life depended on it, and these four don’t even cover the full cast we get in this book (obviously, because we haven’t even touched on the wonderful gift that is Jane Su). But this group in particular is almost as eccentric as their New York City apartment, and their relationships with one another is unreal.

I’ve always, and probably forever will be, a fan of the found family trope. There’s just something so special and heartwarming about people who didn’t feel at home in the place they were given but they find a home within each other. And I think that, with the found family trope, it’s so often found in fantasy books because those characters are thrown into such high-stake situations; they’re essentially forced into the same room until they all agree to work with one another to save the world, and I think that’s what makes the found family trope in One Last Stop so impressive. Taking away the splash of sci-fi time travel aspect of the book, this is a story about a ragtag group of twenty-somethings who have no idea what they’re doing with their lives. They’re normal people in a normal world and because of their circumstances, they all wound up under the same roof. It’s a found family in a contemporary/romance novel, and it’s done so well.

The characters are so realistic and weird in the best way possible. They don’t talk like or interact with each other like they’re fictional people. They stumble over their words, or they go on tangents. Sometimes they don’t make the most sense when they’re trying to explain something. And it’s so comforting to come across characters that are not only relatable but they’re realistic. There are countless instances of this, but one of my favorites being the repetition of referring to Jane as a ghost. When talking about Jane with August, Myla would almost always refer to Jane as a ghost before they knew about her situation. To which August would always nonchalantly say, “she’s not a ghost.” And when you’re falling deeply in love with the Subway Girl, you’re obviously going to talk about her often; so Jane being dubbed as a ghost very quickly became commonplace, as did August’s stubborn response. This happened so many times within the group that as Myla kept referring to Jane as a ghost, Niko started joining in and saying, “she’s not a ghost” at the same time as August. Even just this small, tiny touch adds so much to these characters’ relationships with one another and further cements their found-family-ness. If it’s not obvious, I could scream about this for forever if given the chance.

On a similar note, the conversations between this lovely cast of characters is incredibly normal in the most refreshing way possible. Someone will be talking about something deeper or serious, and someone else will make a witty joke (probably Wes), and the conversation continues as if his interjection was never there. This aspect is so tiny in the grand scheme of things, but it makes August, Myla, Niko, Wes, and Jane so real that I wanted to jump into the book to hang out with them.

"Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt."

As if I haven’t screamed enough about characters already, I want to dissect August a little bit more.

August is probably one of the most endearing fictional characters I’ve ever met. She’s cynical. She prefers to be alone. She doesn’t really form deep connections. But, more than anything, she wants to find a home (even if she doesn’t know that yet). August wants to find herself in place where she is surrounded by people she loves and people that love her, because she’s never experienced that before. Enter Myla, Niko, and Wes. Her roommates. As they all get to know each other a bit more and connect over shared and unshared interests, they form that bond that makes August feel like she’s found a home, and I could probably cry about it.

It’s one of the most refreshing things to read a book that involves characters in their twenties. Don’t get me wrong: I love following a character that knows their plan inside and out and knows what to do at the next turn. But characters that have absolutely no idea what they’re doing or what they want their future to look like? Sign me up.

August has no idea what she wants to do with her life or what she wants from it. She’s trying to escape all she’s ever known, but she’s also terrified that she’ll never know herself. Being in your twenties is this weird sensation because you’re not a kid anymore but you still don’t feel quite like an adult, and the world feels like it’s shaking your shoulders and screaming at you about knowing your whole life’s purpose. And August has that thought of ‘what if there’s not a purpose or a dream for me?’ which is all too real, but it’s one of my favorite things to see reflected in fiction because it’s so real.

There’s also this one specific moment when August remarks that she can easily visualize and imagine a stranger’s life and their future, but she can’t dream up her own, and I felt that deep in my bones.

One Last Stop is one of the most perfect representations I’ve read about being in your twenties, in that perpetual state of confusion, and I will forever love that. And August’s character development is stunning, but I won’t give that way and leave it up to you to discover!

"Truth is, when you spend your whole life alone, it’s incredibly appealing to move somewhere big."

First and foremost, New York City is a physical place. But, when it’s written about as well as Casey wrote it, it becomes a character. From the second the subway was even mentioned, I instantly time traveled (ha) back to the summer I spent in New York and all of my subway commutes. I was there with August and Jane in the car, surrounded by interesting passengers and weird smells. Sure, I’ve yet to be on a subway in which a dance party breaks out—where can I sign up for that, by the way?—but I was right there with them.

Casey McQuiston also beautifully encompassed what it feels like to move to such a huge city. They perfectly captured how awe-inspiring and beautiful it is, but also how terrifying it is: how you feel so small in a city that’s so big.

There were so many small details expertly placed within the story that ensured that New York couldn’t be anything other than a character, and the story itself couldn’t be more realistic even if it tried. I mean, at one point, it was briefly mentioned that there was a case of LaCroix and a Catan box on the top of the fridge. And that small detail is so linear with these characters and their ages, and the fact that they needed to utilize the top of their fridge for storage? Well, that’s New York apartments for you.

"You’re the most important person I’ve ever met…and I should have never met you at all."

Have I gushed about this one enough yet?
No?
Cool, there’s something else we have to talk about.

Casey McQuiston has a way of writing light-hearted stories with people you can easily love while also including really deep conversations about the world those people are occupying.

Spoiler alert: Jane is a lesbian from the 70s and, because of that, she has been a witness to horrible, horrible deeds enacted across the LGBTQA+ community. Through Jane telling her story to August, we learn what is was like to be living as an oppressed person in the 70s and what that felt like. And then, on top of that, there are so many deep conversations revolving around grief; from losing your childhood to losing your loved one, to losing yourself; Casey covers it all so well.

I really don’t want to give too much away about the amazing duality of One Last Stop and all it accomplishes, so you’re really just going to have to trust me on this one.

I really could keep going. There is so much to scream about, and I feel like I hardly did this book any justice. I mean, I didn’t get to talk much about Jane or at all about Isaiah and the Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes Crew? It’s a tragedy. But, if I did give myself that chance, this blog post would probably turn into a 40-minute TEDTalk. So, I’ll spare you.

One Last Stop officially hits shelves on June 1, 2021! You can head to Casey’s website to find out where to preorder it or run to your local bookstore on release date! You aren’t going to want to miss this one.

Another big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC for review!

You might like this if:
- you liked the Passenger series by Alexandra Bracken
- you are fascinated with time travel
- you are enamored by New York City
- you love powerful and strong females
- you’re looking for a book with great LGBTQA+ rep!
- you’re a fan of the found family trope

Overall: 5 stacks of pancakes out of 5 – ★★★★★.

I was chuckling within the first few pages, and shed a few tears near the end. In this magical novel, jaded August has moved to NYC in part to escape her missing-persons obsessed mother. Everything about NYC is a little weird - her psychic roommate, her job at a pancake diner, and the cute girl on the Q train. The writing is almost as lyrical and delicious as Weetzie Bat, the characters unique and real, and the themes of coming to terms with your past, your sexuality, and the world at large resonates. Hot sex, heart of gold friends, a campaign to save a restaurant and rescue a relic from the past made this unputdownable. It will find a different audience, maybe, than McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue, but the carefully drawn, passionate characters and dialogue will appeal.

I received a digital review copy of #OneLastStop from #NetGalley.

This was precious!

Things I loved:

-I really liked the strong sense of found family. All of the secondary characters were diverse, funny, and well crafted.

-I liked the plot. I thought it was an interesting idea and I like how it played out. I thought the ending was well thought out and executed.



Things I didn’t love:

-I needed a smidge more development with Jane and August’s relationship. I found it being a bit insta lovey.

-It was too long. This was my issue with Red White and Royal Blue as well. There were a few times where I just found myself getting bored.

Overall, this was creative and fun! I very strong sophomore novel. 👏🏻

Trigger Warnings: Talk of homophobia, drinking, light drug use (weed), semi-public sex, exploration of depression and anxiety, memory loss and cognitive issues, familial estrangement, familial death, grief, missing persons, implied PTSD, homophobic violence and hate speech, police violence, the AIDS crisis, racism, childhood neglect, arson

Representation: Chinese-American, Bisexual, Lesbian, Anxiety, Black, Sapphic, Puerto Rican-American, Transgender, Gay, Jewish, Pansexual, Czech

One Last Stop is a queer, contemporary YA novel, in which main character, August helps her love interest, Jane figure out who she is. A love story for the ages where figuring out the past can sometimes do more harm than good, but a HEA after all!

Overall, I absolutely loved this story! I love the satisfaction of a resolution. I felt the first half of the book was a bit slow, which was surprising because I’ve seen so many good reviews already! It definitely picked up towards the middle and was full steam ahead all the way to the last page! The ending was so soft and tender and happy!

I loved reading about adults (or 20 somethings) and I loved the cast of side characters! Seeing August move in with such a great gang was awesome rep!!

Having not found her place, transferring schools, procrastinating on finishing a degree, hopping to different cities, August finally feels like she’s found a home in Brooklyn. From working in a struggling pancake restaurant to sharing an apartment with colorful personalities, August meets a mysterious punk-style woman on the Q train she frequents. Jane is on the train every single time, and the more she gets to know her, August finds herself invested not only in wanting to solve an intriguing mystery involving Jane’s existence, but to help Jane find HER home.

McQuiston did not disappoint! This was an enchanting contemporary romance tale that also captured the vibrance of LGBTQ characters, every one memorable in their own ways. I was skeptical at first with the “stuck in time” piece, but the uniqueness of it made the story that much more sweet. While I enjoyed Red, White, & Royal Blue a whole lot, this was a pleasant one to read this summer!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is one of my most anticipated books of 2021.
I was nervous because I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue so much.
I was sure this wouldn’t live up to my expectations.
Y’all I might love this one even more somehow! It was magical.

In this story we follow 23 year old August who has just moved to NYC. There she is hoping to find a place to call home. August meets Subway girl aka Jane and is immediately smitten, and this is where her life gets interesting!

Let me start by saying I went into this book blind. I didn’t feel the need to read the blurb because I knew it would be amazing.

I found the whole concept of Jane being stuck on the subway so interesting. I wasn’t expecting the sci-fi twist at all! I’m not mad at it though, it was so unique.
I laughed a ton, the characters were all amazing. I loved every single one of them.
Casey knows exactly how to write a book full of inclusive and diverse characters.


This book was queer with found family and my only complaint is that I wanted more. I wish we could have read more of what happens next.

This was my first book by the author and I really wanted to love it, but I honestly struggled. I did enjoy August and her roommates but I struggled with the overall story line and found that it dragged for me and I had to keep putting my kindle down and walk away for awhile. There wasn't anything about the story that was bad, I think it just wasn't for me, but fans of the author may definitely enjoy it.

ONE LAST STOP follow August the skeptic as she starts to build a life in New York City. Her life takes an interesting turn when she meets a beautiful and impossible Jane. When she figures out that there’s something about Jane that isn’t quite as it seems, she throws herself headlong into figuring it all out.

What a joy this book is. Everything about it. I love how McQuiston doesn’t shy away from writing characters with flaws. And the found family aspect of this is a warm hug. I loved every one of the side characters and it really does make a book that just more wonderful when an author provides such rich and varied side characters.

And the love story between August and Jane was so fun to watch unfold. A unique twist of getting to know each other and a wonderful slow burn that smolders.

It’s definitely steamy, but if you’ve read McQuiston’s first book you won’t be surprised by the steam.

Overall, 100/10… would absolutely recommend!

Girl moves to Brooklyn. Girl meets girl on the subaway. Girl becomes obsessed with Subway Girl. Turns out Subway Girl is displaced from the 1970s. What follows is a race against time to solve the conundrum of how Jane got stuck and what August can do to help her.

Review: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is fucking perfect. It is iconic. It’s a coming-of-age story. It’s a mystery with a drizzle of SciFi. It’s a heist. It’s a found family. It’s a guidebook for millennials. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you laughing, gasping, and crying. It. Is. Perfect. Casey McQuiston spares no expense in creating a believable and incredibly queer environment in the heart of Brooklyn. I don’t think I have ever read a book with this much LGBTQ+ representation. And it’s not just the representation that stands out, but the small instances of overlap of queer life in the United States in the 1970s vs today, showing us how far we have come, what it took to get here, and how far we still need to go. By weaving in real life events, Casey cements the reality of this story with the SciFi aspects as a light dusting on top.

August is definitely in my top ten favorite fictional characters. With encyclopedic knowledge, August is that quiet kind of introvert who also knows how to break a few rules when required, a silent but deadly kind of introvert if you will. I can relate to that. Jane on the other hand, speaks her mind and when that fails, makes use of her fists. She is fiery, determined, and kind. What August and Jane both have in common is that they were searching for a place to belong, a place to leave their mark.

Looking at the other characters, Niko, Myla, Wes, Isaiah, Lucie, Winfield, and the others, we see a found queer family, that August didn’t realize she needed. Like so many other recent queer stories with found families, it gives readers that warm hug feeling that everyone needs at some point.

Much like Red, White and Royal Blue, One Last Stop left me happy and hopeful at the end.

Charming, romantic, and utterly absorbing! Casey McQuiston's debut Red White & Royal Blue was a delight, and in One Last Stop they have clearly developed their voice even further. I felt truly at home in the pages — Casey, you could rename it "One Last Chapter" because I am absolutely begging for more.

This. Book. One Last Stop is an incredible read that will absolutely blow you away.

// Content Warning: Death (Mention), Anxiety, Homophobia, Racism //

One Last Stop follows August, who’s moving to New York City for a new start. And then, she meets Jane. Jane is a mystery. Quite literally. Displaced in time, Jane is stuck on the subway with no way off, and August has to help her find a way back to the 1970’s. But, the more time they spend together, the closer they become, and August’s small subway crush grows even deeper.

If you’ve read Red, White and Royal Blue, then you have a good idea of what to expect with the writing of One Last Stop. If you haven’t- then what are you doing here, go read it! Or maybe read One Last Stop first.

This book is funny and heartwarming, the writing adding humor and relatability to each moment. Like Casey McQuiston’s first book, there’s plenty of quotable moments, and I feel that their writing has definitely developed even more since Red, White and Royal Blue.

One Last Stop will have you hooked. It did take me around 50-80 pages to get fully invested, but once I was in, I couldn’t put it down. From the mystery to the romance, this book is absolutely addictive.

August is an incredible protagonist with a great journey, and Jane is the perfect love interest for her. Together, their chemistry is amazing and they bring out the best qualities in each other. Both of them are realistically flawed, but often in painfully relatable ways. And their relationship? Adorable.

But they aren’t the only two characters in this book, and I have to say: I would read a book about every single side-character in One Last Stop. They were all so well-developed, complex, and unique. And there is so much diversity in the main friend group, it made me so happy!

One Last Stop kept me up until 2am laughing and crying over these characters. You do not want to miss out on this beautiful story.

Casey McQuiston can do not wrong in my eyes. This was such a fun romance! Jane can't remember how she ended up riding the train as much as she is. When she meets August, a sleuth in disguise, game-set-match!

I had high expectations for this book after reading Red, White & Royal Blue. One way these books are both similar is how McQuiston creates an alternate reality that is believable and comfortable. This story takes place in NYC in 2020 with frequent subway travel, parties, and college attendance, and there's not a single mention of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a lovely escape both for that reason and also because the book's LGBTQ+ representation is thorough and matter-of-fact. The only thing I did not absolutely love about this book was the magical realism/science fiction aspect. Everything else was so rooted in reality that it was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief. Overall, however, this book was a delight and an excellent addition to the genre.

It's hard for me to overstate how much I freaking loved Red, White & Royal Blue. (That being said, I read it once and haven't re-read it for fear that it won't live up to what my memory told me it was.) I enjoyed this book too, but I have to say it didn't live up to the hype or my inflated expectations from RWRB. But it's entirely possible that I just loved the tropes in that book more than I love the tropes in this one - I'm more of an enemies-to-lovers, royalty, pining across the pond gal than a love-at-first-sight, ragtag group of misfits, time travel gal.

Casey McQuiston's sophomore book has a lot of the same charm, queer millennial/zillennial pop culture, humor, and lovable characters that RWRB had - just with two women, and a fun, unexpected stuck-in-time twist that adds a bit of low-stakes plotting to the mix as well. It's basically romcom heaven, with all the ingredients to a fun, friendship-centric novel: a beloved New York pancake diner institution that's basically a character in and of itself, drag queens, wacky friends, and a subway-fueled romance. On paper, it's everything good in a romance.

But frankly, I didn't find myself as enamored with August and Jane's relationship as I was with Alex and Henry's. The chemistry, banter, love, and lust between them didn't capture my attention and give me that full-heart feeling that many of my other favorite romance couples do. (And look, maybe it's unfair to compare McQuiston's two books, but I always judge a romcom on if the main couple make my heart do that thing. Their other book just made my heart do that thing more than any other queer romcom in recent memory.)

So, a really fun, well-written book that will probably make any queer twenty-something-year-old who's lived in a big city feel seen - but not my new all-time favorite. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the ARCs via Netgalley!

This book was fantastic! I was nervous because I love Red, White, and Royal Blue so much. This book was queer with found family and humor. So good!

August, a 23 year old college student, moves to New York as a last ditch effort at completing college and to get away from her life with her mother. She prides herself on being cynical and believing that the true-love that is common in movies never actually happens. Settling in to living with some odd, but loving, people and waiting tables at a 24-hour breakfast place seems to be the highlight of her mundane life. Until she hops on the Q and meets Jane. Jane, a 24 year old woman, whose style is stuck in the 70's stuns August instantly. When August gets to know her, she realizes that Jane is in fact stuck on the train since the 1970's. She makes it her, and her roommates, mission to get Jane back where she belongs. All while possibly not trying to fall for the girl herself.

Casey McQuiston does it AGAIN! I was a hug fan of Red, White, and Royal Blue and when I got the request approval for this I almost cried (no joke).

This story warmed my heart, made me cry, made my laugh out loud, and instantly made me want to re-read it. I was invested in every single character in the story and their part in August and Jane's story, but also their own story. Found family is such a huge part of this story and it is so beautiful! The diversity of all the characters was great; multiple people from different parts of the LGBTQ+, varying races, varying genders, I could go on!

August and Jane's relationship is one for the ages. Classic opposites attract in the best way possible. Watching their relationship blossom, from friends to more, was beautiful. And it was even more amazing because it was never that perfect relationship. They had bumpy spots, they disagreed, it was more real.

I never knew that what I needed to round out a queer romance was a little bit of sci-fi. The small dives into timelines and science fiction aspects made the book that much better! I didn't find it overly hard to understand and it didn't detract from the story when I didn't fully grasp it because some of the characters didn't even get it! I do have a biological science background, I don't know if that helped my understanding or not.

All in all, this book didn't disappoint. It was everything I expected and more. A great read going into the summer of 2021! I already have my hard copy purchased!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed One Last Stop, I did also find it hard to get into. Lots of characters to keep track of, in my opinion. It was a nice story but not my favorite.

One Last Stop is absolute magic, with its excellent prose, wit, and dreamy next level romance. When I discovered I had been approved for an advanced copy, I quite literally fell on the floor with glee. I had been anticipating it for months already and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. This book wrecked my heart and put it back together, leaving me wanting so much more.

For August Landry, magic doesn’t exist. A cynical twenty-three year old trying to put her past behind her, August is a minimalist by necessity and a loner by choice. That is, until she moves in with a group of weird roommates that might just be exactly what she needs. There’s Niko, a trans psychic and terrible bartender. He is the boyfriend of Myla, a queer black sculpter with an electrical engineering degree. Wes is a broody and gay tattoo artist with an adorable dog. And last but most certainly not least, their neighbor Isaiah, an accountant who also happens to be an amazing drag queen. The group of broke, twenty somethings are perfect together, and become the found family they never had before. But it isn’t until a run in with a beautiful and mysterious girl on the subway, that August starts to believe maybe there is a bit of magic in the world. Because Jane, with her cassette tapes and leather jacket, is lost in time from the 1970’s and August has to stop being afraid of her past and maybe even follow her heart if they are going to save Jane.

The romance in this book is absolutely wonderful. Jane and August are both detailed and developed characters but together they create an incredibly wholesome and perfect relationship. The mystery of the subway and the break in time is woven around the development of their romance perfectly. With expert flirting and the classic “do they like me back?” question in the air, Jane and August become a perfect fit with an amount of gritty realness to their relationship that I respect and crave from books. Of course this is so much more than a romantic comedy, but let me tell you, I still laughed out loud to myself many times while reading. McQuiston’s witty and authentic descriptions are what I love in a book.

It was hard to think critically about this one because I just loved it. I flew through the pages and all I wanted at the end was more Jane and August, and especially more of August’s misfit roommates. Would I read an entire book about Wes and Isaiah? Yes, please give it to me now.

Great diverse books are sometimes hard to come by, but One Last Stop manages to represent characters of so many different cultures, sexualities, religions, and genders in an effortless way. McQuiston highlights the uniqueness of their characters without making it the whole story. With a look into the New York drag scene, and Jane’s knowledge of 1970’s queer culture, they flawlessly pay respect to the LGBTQ+ community who have paved the way for those of today. They touch on activists who made the growing queer representation and easier existences possible. There are so many amazingly crafted people in this book and I highly suggest opening it up to meet them.

One Last Stop is a magically crafted story, full of family, romance, and queer community. As of May it is the only 5 star rating I've given this year and I enthusiastically look forward to all of Casey McQuiston’s future books!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.