Casey McQuiston is truly a RomCom queen at this point. I loved One Last Stop just as much as Red, White, and Royal Blue!

One Last Stop had such a great balance of witty banter, a heartwarming LGBTQ found family, wonderfully romantic moments, and intense family backstories. I truly laughed out loud so many times while reading this book, and probably teared up just as much.

There was so much I loved about this book, I’m honestly having trouble putting it into words SO here’s an out of context list of things I loved in this book that I hope will help you understand why you should read it:
Living Above a Popeyes
Collections of Random Cassette Tapes
The Fast & Furious Franchise
Convenient Subway Blackouts
Midnight “Brunch”
The Su Special
Radio Song Requests
Drag Queen Neighbors
Psychic Roommates
Heists
And a million more things that I won’t write so I don’t spoil TOO much for you!

Bottom Line: If you love romance books with as much banter as there is heart then I think you’ll love this one as much as I did!

One Last Stop should be on everyone's TBR. A blend of science-fiction, romance, and a splash of mystery, McQuiston's flawless writing and story telling is in a word: perfection.

McQuiston has done it again!

A book that I absolutely enjoyed from cover to finish. There is so much to say about this gem of a book and not enough time to eloquently describe every entrancing heart-felt moments scattered throughout like star dust.

If you picked up my digital copy you would find high-lights throughout. Taking note of these perfectly crafted lines that I was utterly astounded by. If I had colorful stickers and a physical copy I think most if not the entire book would be covered in rainbow stickies.

As for the story, it’s such a quirkily mash-up of science-fiction, romance comedy, mystery, and reminiscing of past pop-culture. It’s pure genius.

I want to hug One Last Stop tight. To remember every detail, every word, etching it into my memory with permanent ink because it delivers on so many levels. Beautifully queer, this sapphic romcom is sultry, hilarious, and achingly sweet story on how two people find happiness even when time seems to be against them.

Buy this book and Red White & Royal Blue!

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

You know that Lady Gaga meme that's like talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, etc.? That's this book. My notes while reading/listening to it were: gorgeous and messy and chaotic and absolutely brimming with life and love and hope. I'm sure I'll write a more coherent review at some point, but I loved it and you will too.

I have been looking forward to this book since Red, White, & Royal Blue debuted, though I think it would be unfair to draw a clear comparison between the two. One Last Stop definitely leans more heavily into the supernatural world, which I was not expecting at all. I had a hard time judging where this would pull the story line, and I found myself wondering if August was really the main character at all, or was it in fact Jane. I struggled to be super invested in them as a couple, but individually found them fascinating. I also was infatuated with the cast of secondary characters that surrounded them, though at times I found there to be too many to truly keep track of.
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It is clear that McQuiston has spent time in NYC and on the MTA. I lived off of the Q when I first moved to the City, and the description was spot on. I felt like I have met some of the people that got on and off of the train, and maybe I have even been one of those. Fantasy isn't really my jam, so that probably contributes to some of disconnect with the book, and I can't say that I completely loved the ending, but hey, I'm not the author and it's her story to tell, not mine. I'm really glad to have had the chance to read it, and will be excitedly awaiting her next release. For now, I may just go reread RWRB for a bit.

I requested this book because I loved McQuiston's first book, and this one did not disappoint. One Last Stop is part romance, part mystery, part supernatural fantasy. I really enjoyed the relationship between August and Jane, as well as each of the secondary characters who helped along the way. If you love a good supernatural love story with a bit of mystery, you will love this book. It reminded me of a Kate & Leopold style love story.

This book is so incredibly swoony. The story of August and her Asian, butch subway love interest is something I just couldn't wrap my head around when I read the description. When I finally committed to reading this I felt like I was inside some sort of 5 way intersection of self discovery, found family, LGBTQIA+ community (and history), hot romance, and time travel. The path of the story was delightfully unpredictable. The end was one satisfying surprise after another.
What a great NYC read!

"One Last Stop" is the contemporary lesbian romance you've been waiting for. McQuiston's latest novel is full of romance, found family love, and humor.

I posted my full review on my blog, and the link is located below. In summary, I loved this book! I was overwhelmed with the emotion that the text managed to wrangle out of me. August and Jane's relationship, from its genesis to its apex to its conclusion, completely stole my heart, elicited warmth on cold mornings, caused a burn behind my eyes, and satisfied my inner romantic. It had everything that I adore in fictional romances: a meet-cute, trading quips and fond insults, misunderstandings, requited unrequited love, steamy (and not too explicit) sex scenes, and a devotion so tangible and fierce that it almost caught me off guard. By the end, I wanted more than anything for everyone to know what it's like to have someone to fight for them as hard as August fought for Jane; for everyone to have a notebook of their partner full of their desires and interests, or at least the capacity of mind to notice the most intricate details; for everyone to have someone that will point them out across a crowded room and say, "That's them," being shown off to both strangers and friends. I fell in love with Jane and August's love.

This was really good!

The main character is kind of like a southern, bisexual Veronica Mars finding her way in NYC, and I was HERE for it. For one character being stuck in a single location for almost the entirety of the book, the flow and pacing of both the romance and the story overall was remarkably smooth.

McQuiston does a stunning job bringing the secondary characters to life, as well as making not just one location (NYC) but two (New Orleans) to life. I loved how the trauma of Hurricane Katrina was explored in August and her mother.

I loved how the mild science fiction elements blended in with the rest of the plot and how McQuiston wove all of the historical loose ends together.

This review is turning into just a list of things I loved about the book, but there was a lot that I did love! You might too, so go read it!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3 stars

One Last Stop was a captivating novel in a truly unexpected way. The book took a turn that I did not see coming and that addition of magic/supernatural was fascinating. I also really enjoyed the mystery of unraveling Jane's past as well as Augie's disappearance. The book started off a bit slow for me and the overall pacing seemed to drag at times, but the writing was superb and I loved how Casey McQuiston tied everything together. The secondary characters really made this book though and they added both comic relief and unwavering support. The found family of Niko, Myla, Wes, and August was absolutely beautiful. Though I'm not exactly sure of the science that was attempted in the book, I thought the premise was wonderfully imaginative and unique. As much as I was rooting for Jane and August though, I personally would have preferred the ending to take a different route.

I was lucky to both read and listen to this book and it was a really enjoyable audiobook experience. Natalie Naudus's performance was so heartfelt and emotional. I appreciated the distinct and unique voices each character was given and had no issues determining what character was speaking. Natalie Naudus is a new to me narrator, but I look forward to listening to more of their performances in the future.

CW: homophobia, parental abandonment, death of family member, mentions of hate crimes, arson

*I voluntarily listened and read an advance review copy of this book*

LOVE, LOVED, LOVED this book!

I couldn't put it down. I was reading other books at the time but this was the one that I kept wanting to go back to. This was also my first Casey McQuiston book -- she absolutely nailed the concept of "found family" and a passionate love between two girls who really weren't supposed to meet.

I loved how I didn't just become invested in August and Jane ... but also in the lives of August's roommates and friends. I loved how the mystery of August's missing uncle was connected, and I loved all the pop culture/history/music references. This is a story (stories?) that you will just want to soak up!

And now I'm craving pancakes.

Thanks, Netgalley, for my arc.

The highly anticipated next novel from Casey McQuiston was such an enjoyable read. Also, what a plot twist!!! One Last Stop follows an angsty 20 something bi girl, August who is just trying to find her way in NYC. McQuiston’s writing made me feel like I was literally in New York City. August meets a quirky group of friends when trying to find a place to live and her navigating how to form relationships with them was so heartwarming. August and her friends had such great chemistry. I loved their relationship. We all want a group of people around us that loves and supports us 100% and I’m so glad August found hers. The romance between August and Jane was a 10/10 for me! I also really appreciated how this book mentioned historical references and was so diverse! The representation was spot on. I finished this book in 2 days, I did not want to put it down! Highly recommend!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It had a great cast of quirky characters that I want to know in real life. One Last Stop got me invested in the outcome, and I was hooked until the very end. I initially requested this ARC because I loved Red, White, & Royal Blue, so when I saw McQuiston had a new book, I knew I wanted to read it. Because of this, I didn't really read the premise, so I didn't know going in that it has a bit of a sci-fi lean, talking about time travel, dimensions, etc. If you're not a sci-fi person, don't let that scare you off, it makes the story a little unrealistic but I wouldn't call it a true science fiction novel, just a bit of whimsy. Overall, it was a fun read with hilarious parts and sections that had me bawling!

While the plot of this book is interesting, it’s overall twist is never explained. It’s kitschy pop culture references come off as desperate attempts to reel in younger millennials/gen z readers and as someone in that age range, I found them to cringe worthy. While the book attempts to be diverse by having most of the characters be different ethnicities, they’re almost caricatures of the ethnicities they’re meant to represent. It seemed as if they were just there to check off diversity boxes.

This book was not what I was expecting at all, but I really enjoyed it! It was fun a fun book filled with pop culture references, quirkiness, friendship and amazing characters.

I loved the friendships in this book and all the characters. Jane and August were amazing, and I absolutely loved them together. Their chemistry was off the charts. I loved seeing their relationship blossom and grow as time went on. The author did a great job at writing this book, so that it felt like we were there with them. I also enjoyed the mystery element to this book, it kept me intrigued with what was going to happen. I recommend checking this book out!

This book has a very different vibe than Red, White, and Royal Blue. It’s less bubblegum romance and more “Perks of Being a Wallflower” or “Looking for Alaska.” August moves to NYC for college and finds herself among a bunch of kooky; offbeat characters….including a cute girl on her subway commute.

Add in snippets from Missed Connections ads and the Village Voice, and it’s a love letter to finding yourself in the Big Apple.

I’m kind of lukewarm overall because the shift in style is not really my reading preference, but I can definitely see McQuiston’s growth as a writer and know others will enjoy the new book.

August is a young woman who knows how to deal with mysteries; after all, she’s been helping her mother search for her long lost uncle for as long as she can remember. When August moves to New York after years of aimless wandering, she finds a home, a family, and a purpose. She also finds a girl. On the subway. A mysterious, tough, beautiful enigmatic girl named Jane.

And that’s where the story stopped working for me. I never felt the chemistry between August and Jane. I didn’t feel any “there there” with Jane, and maybe that’s a product of her situation (for much of the novel she doesn’t remember a lot about herself). I did love all the secondary characters, and I was much more vested in the secondary plots -- What happened to August’s uncle? Can the gang save their beloved diner? Will August’s reclusive roommate ever profess his love for the drag queen across the hall? -- than in August and Jane’s relationship.

All that aside, One Last Stop was an enjoyable read filled to bursting with friendship, food, and New York city, but if I want a romance that sparks, I will reread Red, White, and Royal Blue (which I confess to having done several times already) -- because I didn’t get that from this book. Still, I’m looking forward to to McQuiston’s next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I loved the LGBT theme and community in its representation and recognization of the community as a whole. I loved the characters, the plot, and when I finished this story, I was left with a giant smile on my face.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an advanced e-ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

New York.

A place where someone can go to disappear into the sea of humanity. A place that is gritty and real and about as far away as August Landry can get from her mother. Growing up in the shadow of her missing uncle's memory, August longs to find a place where she can simply be August. She isn't looking for love. She isn't looking for home. She's simply looking for a way to survive while attending Brooklyn College. She finds an apartment (filled with roommates but hey, that's New York). A job (waiting tables, but it pays the bills and keeps her fed). And the best subway route to and from school.

What sensible, practical August certainly doesn't expect to find is a woman who makes her pulse race and breath catch.

But that's exactly what she finds in the mysterious, seductive, kind, and generous butch-ish lesbian girl on the train. Jane. Jane who is always there whenever August gets on the train. Jane who avoids questions about herself. Jane, who's there with a laugh, or a band-aid, or a laugh after a tough time. Day after day. Train ride after train ride, August finds herself falling for Jane.

But when August sees a picture from 1976 with Jane in it. She's suddently catapulted into a mystery. Is Jane a ghost? A memory? Time displaced? And what's more... how can August help her. And will helping Jane mean breaking August's heart.

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I did not know how much I needed this book until I read it. It was everything my queer bisexual self needed. One Last Stop features some of my favorite tropes: found family, love in the big city, quantum physics. You know... the fun stuff! The book is like a love letter to New York and in particular Queer New York. From Drag Queens to transgender bad bartenders (who also happens to be psychic) to adorably gruff gays to pansexual teddy bears. This book is filled with so much queer representation that it just made my heart sing... and also feels true to the NYC and the queer community that I know.

But this book isn't a book about coming out. It's a book about love. And about the power of love. Not just romantic love, but also the love of friends, and community. The love of a place and the love of a time. The romance drives and informs the plot, but it's not the only thing going on. There's a lot of journey of self-discovery in this... but this isn't a coming out story. It's a story of finding oneself when one is lost... and all the different ways that means.

August is such a complex character. Not always likeable, but she's still filled with redeeming qualities. She's guarded... closed off... but with good reason. She's skeptical of people... also with good reasons. But at the same time she's kind, she cares, and she's resourceful. Watching her open herself up is a lovely journey.

Jane is an enigma... which is the point. Asian, butch, punk, lesbian. She's got a lot of experience, but there's also something naive about her too. She's a puzzle. But she's also solidly there. She affects so many people with her presence -- as seen in little articles/posts/etc that often begin chapters.

And this isn't just a lesbian romance. It's a queer romance. A bisexual romance. What's more, August's bisexuality doesn't go away when she enters a relationship. She's still as bi as she was before she started dating -- which speaking as a bisexual myself this is true to life. Bisexual erasure is a thing. Bisexual people often aren't accepted in either the gay or straight community. Seeing it here meant a lot to me. I felt seen.

Honestly, this book is lovely and everyone needs to read it.

Five Stars

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley

NetGalley provided me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am an employee for Indigo Canada- all opinions are my own and do not reflect the company.

One Last Stop will be a book that I will continue to think of for years to come and I will hold very close to my heart.

This story has so many beautiful aspects, a mystery, a romance, a wholesome found family and so much more. The part that stood out the most to me was how much I could relate to the main character Augusts internal dialogue in regards to her being bisexual. So much of her thoughts and feelings matched mine. Finally seeing this makes me hope that others will also find comfort in Casey’s writing.

While the romance is the main drive of the story, the plot kept me entranced throughout. The story is definitely character driven, which made the pacing of the story on the slightly slower side; However, I personally liked this pace as it allowed you to get to watch the characters grow as people in more detail.

The only negative side to this book that I experienced is how much PDA there is. Under the circumstances of the story this was necessary for the romance to progress however it took a little getting used to. This is only because of personal preference but once I pushed this to the side and forgot about their location I was able to enjoy the romance as much as any other book.

This book is so different from their first novel Red White and Royal Blue which to me shows the incredible writing skill Casey has. While this book was not as light and comedic, it allowed them to explore more serious emotions and dive into more complex character building. I personally can’t compare the two further than this because they stand apart so beautifully. These books have both won over my heart in their own right.

Overall I am forever thankful to Casey McQuiston for writing this book. It gave me such comfort within myself and left me with warm beautiful emotions that I will forever cherish.