I must have forgotten to read the summary, because I wasn’t expecting the supernatural element of this story, so when it first appeared I was considering putting the book down, because that’s not something I normally enjoy. But I’m glad I stuck with it, because I ending up really liking this book! The characters and their family vibes were all so cozy and comforting to read about, and I’m always a sucker for reading books about NYC, so I loved the different settings.

I could have done with less “open-door” sex scenes, but that’s just my personal preference. The twists and turns and great sorry more than made up for that, though!

This book dragggged! It took me forever to finish it.

I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue and this book didn’t even come close to making me feel the feels.

I barely connected with the leads. I did love the roommates and how August came out of her shell with them.

I’m in the minority though so definitely give it a go! The premise is interesting.

I know that it’s difficult reading a book that has such high expectations surrounding it. Casey McQuiston created such a fun, easy to read, romance in Red, White, & Royal Blue and so going in I worried that I set my hopes too high. But One Last Stop met all my expectations and exceeded them.
August, a 24 year old with an odd upbringing, moved to New York for a new start and a new college hoping to figure out what she wants to do with her future. Jane is a 1970’s punk rock enthusiast stuck in the Subway system of New York in between time. The first time they meet August spills coffee on herself and Jane gives her a scarf to cover up. From then on it’s a series of pining, befriending, pining, figuring out how to send Jane back to her time, pining...
But this isn’t just romance. The side characters are extraordinary and are a major part of the August’s character arc and they add an element of Found Family to the mix.
One Last Stop is light-hearted and full of banter with an extra side of romance.

One Last Stop absolutely exceeded my expectations. It took some time for me to get into the story. But by the end, I was in love with the characters and their story. This book is about an unexpected and seemingly impossible love story, New York City, and community. I loved this even more than Red, White, and Royal Blue, which I also enjoyed. I enjoyed learning about the history from back in the 70's. And I liked the way the disparate parts of the story connected together -- mainly, August's mom's story and Jane's story. Jane is an incredible character. August's community is wonderful to follow. I know that people who liked Red, White, and Royal Blue are going to love this book.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston had an interesting balance of second chances, friendships, humor, and romance. August has had a life full of uncertainty. These challenges have caused her to look in multiple cities to find a connection. She is proud of the fact that all of her possessions can be held in just five boxes. This is a defense mechanism for our quirky eternal college student.

However, August’s latest move to NYC challenges her beyond what she is capable of. For the first time she is making connections. She starts an unexpected relationship with friends and a possible love interest, Jane. The supporting cast of characters are wild and wonderful. From the engineer who spends her time creating sculptures of frog bones and mouse traps to the drag queen accountant and all the characters that flow in and out of August’s job at a pancake house. You will not be bored, it is truly a delight and delving for the deeper meaning of these people that come into August’s life will have you rooting for her as she comes out of her shell.

I do not want to spoil anything but even when you feel you might have it all figured out, get ready for a unexpected surprise. It was also richly detailed and had me longing for a trip to NYC in a time when travel is limited to our memories.

This was a quick read chock full of characters that will not be soon forgotten. I was provided a free advance reader copy from St. Martin’s- Griffin in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

<i>One Last Stop</i> is a journey (pun) that starts and ends in my neighborhood. That was a fun surprise! I requested this book from NetGalley because I loved <i>Red, White, and Royal Blue</i> to excess. Instead of a queer British prince and an American president's son, the lovers in <i>OLS</i> are drifter girls who meet on the Q train at the Parkside stop in Flatbush, Brooklyn, August and Jane.

After attending a number of colleges with a number of majors, New Orleans native August has relocated to Brooklyn to matriculate at Brooklyn College with a sociology major. She moves into a 6th floor walkup to live with what almost immediately becomes her queer family. Roommates Niko, Myla, and Wes are lovable weirdos, as are the rest of the characters in August's Brooklyn world. I'm realizing as I write this that I found a lot to love in <i>OLS</i>. It just wasn't as race-to-the-end as <i>RW&RB</i>.

Jane is a mystery girl and a case to be solved, and her story is truly surprising. Wacky adventures, love, and hot sex about. Enjoy!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston was not at ALL what I was expecting. In my defense, I honestly didn’t know much about the plot going in because I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue so much and read it three times just to continue to be immersed in the world that is Casey’s writing. I would have read this book had someone told me it was set on Mars. But it’s not Mars, it’s New York City and the cast of characters in this book are just as delightful, diverse, and three-dimensional as in RWRB. It made my heart so happy from start to finish, the way Casey weaves the characters into each other’s lives is just so New York (at least that’s how I imagine it) and magical and wonderful. I’m 100% too old to use the phrase “I would die for…”, but I would die for Niko. Or Wes. Or Isaiah. Notice how I haven’t even mentioned the main characters yet?? This is the brilliance of Casey’s writing...you are immediately attached and in love with every single one of these characters.

But speaking of August and Jane...AUGUST AND JANE UGH MY HEART. I hate to keep comparing Casey’s two novels but I just love them both so much, I can’t help it. If you thought the sparks and banter between Alex and Henry was smokin’...August and Jane are electric. If the electric flirting and reading as August somewhat reluctantly accepts her found family aren’t enough to draw you in...BOOM. Jane is LITERALLY from the 70’s! What?! I was not expecting that at all and at first I was like “what a second…” but then I was like “let’s gooooo” and this is the most un-”professional” book review I think I’ve ever written but this google doc cannot contain my LOVE FOR THIS BOOK! All caps and exclamation points just aren’t enough. Read this book. I received a free digital arc from Netgalley and am now counting down the minutes until the book is officially released so I can hold a copy in my hands, read it again, and then put it on my bookshelf next to Red, White, and Royal Blue. *SQUEE*

I wanted this book as soon as I knew it existed and started reading without bothering to check and see what it was even about so when I got to the whole love interest being from the past I had to pause and say,"What?" and then kept on reading. By that point I was already in love myself, not with Jane or even with August although they are both great. I was head over heels for August's entire found family. I loved everything about them so much. I wanted to be at their Christmas in July party drinking and dancing alongside them even though I am way too old and way too boring. And have zero skills on the dance floor. I wanted to get pancakes at Billy's with them and would even trudge up six flights of stairs to hang out in the apartment. So while this is very much a romance, and one with a very unique plot that I did end up throughly enjoying, for me where it is truly shines is with the diverse and supportive group of friends that August finds like magic just when she needs them. I didn't want to leave them all when the book ended. I will continue to want every book Casey McQuiston wants and will likely start reading them without caring what they are about. That level of trust has been more than earned at this point.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

One Last Stop is an extremely smart, refreshing, unconventional, exhilarating, truly original with its remarkable historical references, quirky, unique, extremely likable characters!

It's crammed full of eccentric characters and mid-twenties-life-crises and queer found-family and a mystery about a magical girl tethered to a subway in New York City.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author!

Magical. This book is very different from Casey McQuiston's debut Red White and Royal Blue, but somehow also very much like it in how it manages to capture the exhilarating and terrifying experience of falling in love. I am so excited to read whatever McQuiston brings to life next.

I read this book for a book club coming up and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Negalley. As a reader of mostly mysteries and thrillers, this one was a different read for me. As a Rom/Com I was interested but found myself not picking up on it as much as my favorite genre. It took awhile for me to realize the real basis of this story - about moving to NY (loved where it was because I grew up in that timeline and lived either in or near the areas written about) and becoming your own person.

When August gets on a subway line (the Q) and finds Jane...there becomes a whole story about the two of them - caring and loving each other - while finding out that Jane isnt really from the current timeline but through a freak accident has been transported from the 70s.

We then find ourselves trying to save the girl that is lost in time. It was a nice read and I am sure I will have lots to talk about at the book club. If this is something you are into, please note that this book will be released June 1, 2021 and put it on your TBR. #threestars #netgalley

Lacks the magic and compulsive readability of Red White & Royal Blue – the pacing is slow, the characters far less compelling, and the plot somehow less interesting and lower-stakes despite involving actual magic. I would also say you need to love New York City to love this book, and as someone who very much does not, it lacked a huge part of the appeal for me.

My first book by Casey McQuiston, but it will certainly not be my last!

I had no idea what to expect when I first heard about this book but I knew it was an F/F adult romance that took place in NYC and honestly, that's all I needed to know that I needed this book <i>desperately</i>. I've never read a book that had a time-slip quite like this and I think that the author did such a great job keeping me guessing and engaged as to what would happen to the very end. There were legit moments where I really didn't know how or if they'd be able to get their happy ending and I was *nervous*.

In this book we follow a young woman named August who is kind of mysterious and has just moved to New York. She doesn't know what she she wants to do when she graduates college, and she doesn't have much figured out but she hopes that New York can help her figure it out. One of the best things about this book was the found family that August obtains throughout the book. The cast was sooo diverse and I loved every single one of the characters and how they all loved each other even though they were all so very different.

I also really enjoyed Jane's character, our love interest. She's this huge flirt and was at first glance you think you have her all figured out. But the truth is, Jane doesn't even have herself figured out so as you keep reading you get to learn about her along with the other characters. I did find myself a little irritated by a few things concerning Jane and her romance with August, but to avoid spoilers I won't go into details. As I kept reading I was able to overcome these small things but it's probably part of the reason I can't give this five stars.

Also a times this book did drag a little bit. I can't say why exactly but there were just times where it felt like the book was boggled down by too many words, too many characters and I would find myself wanting to skim to get back to August and Jane. There's never a dull moment but there were times where it just felt like too much was happening on the page and I just needed the story to recenter itself to what I was really there for: August and Jane being cute and in love.

Overall this was a really great read and I can't wait to read more from this author!

I just—
I hope this makes sense.

You know how in epic fantasy movies, there’s a scene where the camera pans out over impossible, beautiful scenery and the music swells and so does your heart? Somehow Casey does this to my brain, but with words. Just, words about romance.

This book was poetry. It was the taste of late-night radio and cheesy 90s romance movies and glitter; the smell of gritty public transportation and 2 am pancakes and falling in love; everything familiar and everything new. It was beautifully impossible, and it was epic.

And my heart swelled.

I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book and the bit of science fiction mixed in with the romance and happily ever after storyline. I also liked the main characters, the snippets of LGBTQIA history, and the humor and fun sprinkled throughout. The only drawback for me was that it took a very long time for things to come together and there were some secondary storylines and characters that detracted rather than added to the storyline. But this is one to pick up if, like me, the scene of a cranked up Run DMC song inspiring an impromptu subway train dance party makes you smile.

Along with many other readers, I fell absolutely in love with Casey McQuiston’s debut novel Red, White and Royal Blue, which came out a few years ago. When I first heard about One Last Stop, I was insanely excited. I also had very high expectations, and it certainly did not disappoint.

One Last Stop is a sapphic rom-com that follows our main character, 23-year-old August, as she moves to New York City all by herself. One day while travelling on the subway, she meets a gorgeous girl named Jane. From there, August gets involved in a mystery of sorts surrounding Jane’s life. This story was full of well-rounded and developed characters, entertaining pop culture references, funny banter, and a lovely F/F romance.

One thing that I love about Casey McQuiston’s stories is how lovable and complex every single character is. August was a super relatable and likable protagonist who had a strong voice to lead the book. She embodied the nervousness and excitement of being involved in your first relationship major relationship. Her personality complemented that of her love interests, Jane. Jane was a bright and energetic character, who was liked by everyone around her. Basically, every Sapphics dream. She might be my favourite character in the story, but it’s so hard to choose because I loved everyone so much. When August first goes to New York she moves into an apartment with three other people around her age. The first being, Myla a queer and black engineer, Niko, Myla’s boyfriend who is a Latino, Trans psychic, and Wes who is a Jewish queer tattoo artist. These three were one of the most fun groups of people I’ve got to read about in a contemporary novel. The cast of characters was so diverse and refreshing to read about.

While this book was fun and entertaining it also focused a lot on queer history which I found super interesting. Jane, who is a Lesbian from the 70s, talks to August a lot about her experiences as a Chinese and Queer person during that time. I learned about many different events in Queer history that I’d never heard about before, including an arson attack on a Gay bar called the Upstage Lounge in New Orleans. Queer history is subject that isn’t talked about all that often so it was great to see a book that discussed it. It showed the beauty and strength of the Queer community.

Overall, I loved literally everything about this book, and it just felt like a big warm hug. I really believe Casey McQuiston can do no wrong. I cannot wait until June so that I can talk about this with everybody around me.

Review will be posted on Blog (allinwitha.com) and Instagram (allinwitha) on Tuesday, April 6th 2021.

Rating: 3/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, LGBTQ and Science Fiction
Warnings: Discussion of grief of loved one, anxiety, homophobia and racism

Review: August is as cynical as can be and moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: love doesn't exist and she is destined to be alone. But could all of that change with some unique roommates, a job at a 24-hour pancake house and her subway commute? Enter in Jane, a charming and quite mysterious girl on the Q train. Jane with her rough edges and leather jacket saves August's day when she needs it most. Soon, August's subway crush becomes the best part of her day…then she discovers that Jane displaced in time from the 1970s. Of course, August has to figure out why and how...it might just connect back to her own childhood.

First off, I actually screamed when I got this ARC...Red, White and Royal Blue is one of my favorite fiction books. I was READY for Casey McQuiston's next book but also slightly worried I would not love it as much...and I was right. This was cute and unique story, I loved the time travel add-in. But I was a little disappointed that I didn't love it and I kept thinking it would get better. What I loved about RWARB was the banter and the clear connection between the main characters. This was missing for me for me in Jane and August. I got lost in a lot of context information, not enough plot and then bam we are at the end...cool, which the end by the way was great! It was a solid "okay" book for me. If you are going into this expecting RWARB, this is vastly different book and that's okay! I probably would have had a better appreciation if I weren’t going in thinking about that.

Things I loved: The side characters were gold, queer representation and the New York setting. It was not your typical rom-com book and those are my favorite!

Things I didn't care for: The lack of connection between the characters and overall execution of the plot...it really dragged on and it took me a week to finish it.

One Last Stop is released on June 1st. Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC for my honest opinion.

One Last Stop is a wonderful follow-up to Red, White, and Royal Blue. The romance between August and Jane is just as supportive, sparky, and heart-warming, and I rooted from them from the first page to the last. One of the most meaningful parts of the story, to me, though, was the exploration of queerness past and present. The juxtaposition of Jane's experience with August's, and their common discovery of community and found family, made me cry more than once. I can't wait to re-read this one.

I admit I did not look very closely at this title when requesting, as this is not a genre I typically read. I would recommend this book if you enjoy this genre.

I freaking loved this book. I always get a little scared with an author's second works, especially if I really liked their first book/album/whathaveyou. This book took those fears away and ripped them into tiny shreds. I loved Red, White & Royal Blue but I freaking adored One Last Stop. Casey McQuiston is an amazing writer, who creates equally amazing characters.

You know when you read a book with romance and that's all you ever really care about. You may even get a little annoyed when some sort of plot tries to develop or the two love interests aren't in the same room. This book doesn't do that. The side characters are beautifully developed and sweet and loving and amazing and I just wanted to wrap them all up in a hug.

The love story is beautiful and the spicy scenes are hot. It's a contemporary rom-dram-com with a splash of sci-fi. It made me cry and laugh, but it just totally warmed my heart. Seriously pick this book up and thank me later.