*representation and tws/cws are listed at the end of this! thank you to st. martin's press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. all quotes may change upon publication and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

"you're movies and destiny and every stupid, impossible thing, and it's not because of the fucking train, it's because of you."

saying that i had high expectations for one last stop is an understatement. after red, white & royal blue became one of my favorite books back in 2019, anything lower than a full 5 stars on this book would've meant disappointment. and then i finally read this (after begging for an arc and checking my email 20 times a day for a reply) and it somehow...exceeded my expectations. because casey mcquiston is incapable of writing anything less than perfection.

one last stop is about a 23 year old cynical loner/part-time detective named august, who's just trying to find her purpose and live life as unnoticed as possible. but after gaining three roommates who are the opposite of unnoticeable and developing the world's biggest disaster crush on cute subway girl jane su, everything changes - especially when she finds out jane has been stuck in time for 40+ years and can't leave the train. the result is a story that's the perfect balance of hilarious, sweet, and moving. where red, white & royal blue is like an uplifting speech spreading hope to the tired and the lost, one last stop is a private letter from a friend, a little more personal and slightly more subdued but no less reassuring.

i literally can't think of a single main or side character in this book who i dislike. august's roommates, friends, and coworkers, as well as august herself, are all so endearing and realistic it's insane (i'm still waiting for niko and myla to adopt me). but the one character who i'll never shut up about, ever, for the rest of time, is jane. jane is a badass chinese-american punk lesbian with nerves of steel and a heart of gold and i love her so much. she's loyal, brave, and the type of person who would buy you snacks when you're sick and then throw a few punches at a racist in the next minute. i was initially drawn to her because of the lack of queer asian characters in media (and, admittedly, because i think girls with undercuts and piercings are...neat) but i grew to love her for so, so many other reasons: her lingering doubts, her past, her unwavering kindness, the way she shoulders so much loss but still goes forth with a smile. her character is truly one of this book's biggest highlights.

on top of that, mcquiston also does a great job with diversity; there's representation for all sorts of sexualities, races, religions, etc. i love how race, sexuality, and gender identity are important to the characters and yet don't become the focus of their personalities (the scattered mentions of chinese culture, from the tiger balm jane carries to the lunar new year references myla makes, make me so happy). with other authors (who will go unnamed for obvious reasons), this book would feel like a checklist: a token poc to insert here, a minor lgbt character with barely any page time there. this definitely isn't the case with one last stop; every character has their own unique depths and dynamics with their friends, families, and partners. (the romance between august and jane is very, very, very good and not toxic, rushed, or shallow in the slightest. but i'm still jealous of august.)

the thing i have to admire most about one last stop, though, is how comforting it is. aside from maybe alice oseman's work, i've never read anything like mcquiston's writing. this book is the literary equivalent of the goddamn sun. it's a love letter to the queer community that oozes every warm and fuzzy feeling in existence, while still honoring those who fought for us in the past and treating serious topics with the respect they deserve. it's a whole home and found family trapped in a bundle of dead tree with pretty art on the front, and i can't stress this enough - it is so good.

all in all, one last stop is an extraordinary second novel that provides refreshing new plotlines, romances, and characters while keeping the humor, comfort, and meaning that made red, white & royal blue so special. it's completely stunning, and, even days after finishing, i still can't think about anything else. i can't wait for it to be found by the rest of the world. it's a masterpiece.

"i love you. summer never ends."

_

rep: bi mc, chinese-american lesbian li, black sapphic sc, puerto rican-american trans sc, gay jewish sc, black gay sc, black pan sc, czech sc

tws and cws: mentions of grief and death, mentions and depictions of anxiety, mentions of destruction (specifically the impact of hurricane katrina), alcohol and drug consumption, mentions of past homophobia and racism, mentions of past hate crimes (specifically the upstairs lounge fire), very brief mentions of blood and violence

I already knew that I like McQuiston’s writing because of Red, White, and Royal Blue, but One Last Stop has solidified them as a favorite author. The story follows August, a woman who tries to take up as little space as possible and distance herself from people so she never gets attached. She moves to New York and joins a ragtag group of roommates and gets a job at a local landmark pancake house. While commuting to school, she meets another woman on the train and there’s a spark, a desperate want to know this woman and maybe be something more. But this woman is no average woman and so August must use all her detective skills to find out what happened to her and how to help her.

I found the romance of this story to be fulfilling and sweet and sexy. It was so refreshing to see a sapphic romance that had both sugar and spice. I also really loved the creative twist on this story! It made for such a thrilling read. I love all the roommates, coworkers, and neighbors of August. The found family trope is so dear to my heart and this was such a perfect example of it and how it feels. I’m obsessed with this story. The twists and turns made it so addicting to read and exciting to read. You never knew what was happening, and you’re so eager to find out even just a little more.

I can’t fully wrap my head around how good this story was. I loved that August was bisexual, Jane a rebellious lesbian, Niko a transgender man, Wes a Jewish queer man, Isaiah a drag queen neighbor... the representation is amazing and so realistic. I wish I had more books like this one. Queer romance with a fun and interesting sci-fi twist. Hopefully this sparks a whole range of books similar and different to it. All I’ll say is that no one would regret reading this.

One Last Stop is a romance that follows August Landry, a 23-year-old who just moved to New York City, and Jane, a girl August keeps seeing on the subway.
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Soon August realizes that Jane isn’t just someone who happens to have the same commute as her; her subway crush is actually from the 1970s, and has been displaced in time. August, ever the detective, resolves to figure out what is going on and how to save the girl lost in time.
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I first read Casey McQuiston’s debut, Red White & Royal Blue, in 2019, and it became one of my favorite books of all time. I was incredibly excited when I heard Casey was writing a sapphic romance next, and One Last Stop easily became my most anticipated release of 2021. I was ecstatic to receive the email letting me know I was approved for the ARC, and this book did not disappoint.
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The characters in this story were so fully realized, and I could easily picture all of them and imagine them to be real people. I absolutely adored August’s dynamics with her roommates, coworkers, and neighbors, as well as, of course, her relationship with Jane. This book was all at once heartwarming, hilarious, and gut-wrenching. I don’t often cry reading books, but I did cry reading this one. I loved August and Jane’s romance so much, and I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
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I knew when I read Red, White & Royal Blue, but it has just been even further solidified with One Last Stop, that Casey McQuiston is a favorite author of mine and I will check out anything they publish.

An absolutely amazing book to start the year with. I was hopefully but wary about McQuiston's second book, having loved her first, but was definitly not disappointed. The characters are all richly developed, and the sense of space is just perfect. Makes me want to hop on a plant to Brooklyn as soon as its safe to do so.

To say I loved Red, White and Royal Blue is an understatement. I was OBSESSED. Recommended to anyone who would listen and then some! So I was SO exited to receive an ARC of One Last Stop!
One Last Stop is about a bi girl named August who has moved around a ton finally settling in NY where she hopes to finish her degree and start making a life. Like RWRB, the book is anchored in its characters. McQuiston does an amazing job creating these incredibly authentic characters. They are diverse, layered and full of life. And of course it helps that the story takes place on my subway line! I love Jane as a love interest and cant wait for more people to get their hands on the book!
TY NetGalley for the opportunity of the early read!

Remarkably well developed world, characters and concept again. A high-wire act to write a romance largely in a subway and Casey McQuiston pulls it off.

I don't even know where to begin with this, because this book not only lived up to my insanely high expectations, but easily surpassed them as it restarted my cold dead heart only to rip it out of my chest still beating. The old blurb for One Last Stop didn't do it justice, in fact, it barely scratches the surface. While it's definitely a romance novel, it's about finding your place in the world , finding your people and learning to move on and let go of the past. It's cynical and hopeful and heartbreaking and joyous. It's the kind of book that makes you sob during the saddest and happiest parts and makes you feel as if your body is overflowing with emotions that have to come out because you're somehow feeling everything at once and it's the most alive you've been in a long time.

I absolutely adored McQuiston's debut, Red, White and Royal Blue, devouring it in one long, emotional and tear filled sitting where I couldn't feel my fingers anymore at the end of it since they were so cold and stiff from lack of circulation. One Last Stop was different though, and not in a competitive way so much as they're just different personalities. It took me almost the entire month of November to finish it, both because of distractions from the election and the upcoming holidays, and because I wanted to savor it as I read. I only read when I knew I wasn't going to be interrupted so I could give it my full attention, so I could soak in every last little detail and and interaction and word since it captured just how messy and hopeful life is.

I loved everything about this book, from the patchwork found family of queers, to the complexity of blood family, to finding yourself, finding the person you love and falling in love with a city (because NYC is definitely a character on this, how could she not be?). If you love stories about self discovery, romance and found family definitely pick this up. And honestly, even if you don't, try it anyway, it's just that amazing.

such a sweet and well-written story! Cases McQuiston is an auto buy author for me. The characters and friend group were fantastic. The romance was cute. And I loved the way music was included in the story.

McQuiston's sophomore novel is full of charm. The dynamic between the character's was fun, and fans of her first novel will enjoy this time-bending book.

This was just so good and I loved it. I absolutely love the way McQuiston writes her characters. Of course the main characters are fascinating and I love them, but the secondary characters are just as fun and interesting and I want to be friends with them all. The mystery and the connection of it all was so well-written and part of me wishes I could just erase the book from my memory and read it all again.

This book was impossible to put down! Red, White & Royal Blue was such a brilliant, fun romance that it doesn’t surprise me that Casey McQuiston’s second novel would be so heartbreakingly perfect. I loved everything about this book, the writing is sharp; the characters diverse, lovable, and compelling; the found family element; the well-crafted blend of history and fiction—I loved it all. It just felt so hopeful and warm with a dash of mystery to make it even sweeter. I laughed and cried with these characters, and can’t wait to share this book with other readers.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a cute romcom featuring diverse characters, LGBTQ rep, community, and romance with a side of mystery.

What a way to end 2020. This book made me cry and I almost never do. The suspense, the mystery, the romance and the twists. I was caught off guard so many times and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So many quotes to that spoke to me. This book was everything I needed as a queer woman and more. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and fall in love with August, Jane and the residents of 6F, and of course Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Wow, this book took my breath away. As much as I loved McQuiston's first novel, this one was so much more my style. The slight fantasy elements, wonderful found family, well-written characters, and fantastic dialogue make it for this one. I can't wait for the publishing date so I can recommend it!

This was just as good as I wanted to be, and nothing like I expected. I don’t know if it would be considered fantasy or speculative fiction, but the supernatural part of the book is not actually important. The characters are what makes the book. I felt like I knew them, and could see the places they inhabited. I highly recommend to everyone.

This was an absolutely charming book. The first section, where August is getting settled in to her new life in NYC as a student, finding a job, and eventually meeting Jane, were a little ordinary. I was surprised that it wasn't drawing me in as I had expected it to. The reveal/twist whatever you want to call it gave the story new energy. Jane and August have amazing chemistry, the plot is imbued with the eclectic energy of New York via the setting of the subway, and the surrounding cast of characters including psychics and drag queens alongside the staff at the diner (that might be lost to gentrification) create a welcoming and warm family unit. Did I mention that Jane and August have amazing chemistry? Just, wow. There was a minor plot thread incorporating August's family that seemed unnecessary and irrelevant but still managed to be tied into the end. You will also get hungry while eating this book, guaranteed. Highly recommend!

I love the world and side characters that Casey McQuiston created in One Last Stop and I wish that would have translated more to the two main leads. While I loved their story it was hard to connect to either of them

I literally cannot wait for everyone to read this!

I loved Red, White and Royal Blue so I was so excited to read this and I have to say, Casey McQuiston's writing feels like such a warm hug and this book felt like such a safe space. I do not know how else to describe it, but when I picked this up, I was in a bad mood, I was in a reading slump and yet I read this and I felt like I got a hug from a friend I really love.

I loved the characters in this novel, they were so believable and real, and the found family aspect of this story is what makes it so marvelous to me. I loved seeing August find herself and her place through her friends and it was just a cast of characters that was so easy to fall in love with and root for. I absolutely loved the secondary characters in here, even more than I loved August and Jane, and I just love how this book had such a strong sense of community.

My one grievance with it is the plot setup and premise (I do not like contemporaries with sci-fi/fantastical twists in general) especially because I felt it made Jane's character rather flat. However, since this book was all about family and love and friendship, I did not mind it as much as I might in some other books.

So to sum up, this was great and important and I think people are going to adore it and I cannot wait to bask in the love this book will receive. AND it was just what I needed to read.

I've been having trouble starting books lately, I couldn't even bring myself to pick one up for the longest time, but somehow this book found its way to me when I needed it most. It's joyful and romantic and full of an amazing cast of characters. I loved how Casey McQuinston mixes the mystery of Jane with history from the 70's, a love of NYC (and food), and a beautiful story of community. McQuinston's stories are truly unique and special and important and I'm so happy they exist.

This book is everything. I have never read anything like it, and I absolutely love it. Finding yourself on so many levels and just letting go. Casey McQuiston has a way with words that I fell in love with when I read Red, White, and Royal Blue and One Last Stop has dredged all those feelings back to the surface. I couldn't finish the book fast enough or make it last long enough. It's going to leave one heck of a book hangover for sure.

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

I'm gonna be honest, when I received a copy of this book I legit screamed because this was one of my most anticipated reads and it did NOT disappoint!

I'm a Casey McQuiston stan first and a person second. This book was fun, emotional and a total page-turner.

Casey has the exact type of millenial humor that cracks me up and her irriverent voice is present in her wonderful characters who I loved with all of my heart.

The story starts with August moving to New York to attend college and she would never imagine that working at a 24-hour pancake dinner and moving in with three weird roommates would completely change her life.

But there's more. On her way to class, she meets Jane and immediately develops a crush on her. There's only one problem: Jane is literally stuck on the subway due to a displacement in time, so August will try everything in her power to help her go back to the 1970, where she comes from.

I completely fell in love with August's roommates, Niko, Myla and Wes. They are the right level of quirky and they each had a distinct personality and voice.

The last chapters made me feel all warm and fuzzy and that's my favorite part of reading books - when the book leaves you with a very good memory.

I love the trope of found family and the accurate LGBTQ representation. At the end of the book I found myself wanting to be a part of August's found family.

I highly recommend this to people who read and loved RWRB - even though it's a different vibe - and to people who are looking for a cute and fun romcom about finding yourself and opening up to love.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early!