Things I Love: New York, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Unsolved Mysteries, Found-Families, Queer Representation, Diversity

Things This Book Had: All of that

I am speechless. I don't even know how to express how much I loved this book. I was nervous, because Red, White, & Royal Blue is one of my favorite books of all time, and I just couldn't imagine how Casey McQuiston could write another novel as incredible as that one was. She really did it though; I never should have doubted!

Every single character in this book is complex, raw, hilarious, and incredibly queer. I adore August and Jane's story, but I was just as invested in Wes/Isaiah and Niko/Myla. Casey is such a talented writer. Every character felt real and I found myself attached to every single one of their stories. Although RW&RB definitely felt finished after one novel, I can't help but feel like there is so much more to explore in the One Last Stop universe. I would absolutely love to read a story about Wes...or really anyone else.

One of my favorite things about how McQuiston writes is that her stories aren't surface level. I am such a sucker for contemporary romance novels, but she writes them differently. Her books are definitely about the romance, but it's never just that. There is always another story there that is just as interesting. Her books are meaningful and impactful, and I can't wait to see what else she conjures up for us.

Audiobook Lovers: I listened to this one and I highly recommend it if you prefer audiobooks. The narrator, Natalie Naudus, is AMAZING. She does such an incredible job that I honestly can't picture the characters sounding like anyone else anymore. 5/5 just for narration!

*I will be updating this review with a link to my book inspired nail art instagram when I post it*

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for providing me with an arc (audiobook version) in exchange for an honest review

I have to say, One Last Stop is charming as hell.

While I don't know if I fell in love with the characters as much as I wanted too in the story, the relationships were all stellar. Jane and August have an instant connection that leaps off the page and they form a deeper connection through the story - helping Jane remember parts of her past that she's forgotten. The found family that August finds in New York was my everything, I loved Nico, Mila, and Wes - and the entire crew at Billy's too. There's such a community that develops around her - it warmed my heart. Even seeing her struggling relationship with her mom was amazing. August's life was a balancing act and it felt so very real.

One of my favorite parts of the story was so small and really means nothing in the scheme of things - but the missed connections posts of other people through time who Jane had had an impact on really touched me. It showed the power in human interaction and the legacy you can have after even the briefest of moments with a stranger. And the weird, timey elements really worked for me - it added something fun and unique to the story, but never felt bigger than Jane and August.

I was a bit nervous going in because it took me two times to really get into McQuiston's work previously, but the quick connections, deep emotions, and fast humor made it impossible for me not to enjoy myself. One last Stop is a story of human connections and the impact we have on other people, and how the community around you can mean everything, even when you feel like you're lost or displaced.

I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was beyond excited to receive an advanced galley of this audiobook version of One Last Stop after I've devoured McQuiston's first book, "Red, White & Royal Blue." So, needless to say, I was pumped to start listening to this one. And now that I've finished listening to it, I believe that my fellow "RWRB-obsessed readers" are going to go nuts for this sapphic New Adult romance because it's that good and worthy of all five of these stars.

Here, we follow 23-year-old August who just moved to New York City as a way to prove to herself that magic and true love doesn't exist, because after all, she's a skeptic and a closet detective. One day she spots a gorgeous girl on the subway, on the Q train to be exact. This girl, Jane, is dazzling and mysterious who shows up to save August's day when she needs it most. So, obviously August develops a little subway crush on the girl that makes every single day better, but soon she realizes that Jane is actually displaced in time from the '70s, and August sets out to help her remember who she is and beat this curse/problem. It's billed as a magical, sexy, and bighearted romance, which is definitely an accurate depiction. The language has humor in spades, like laugh-out-loud lines. August is described in a way that makes her an authentic and realistic main character, which makes me super into her story.

It feels unlike anything I've read before, including "RWRB." but it's still a fun sapphic New Adult romance with a sweeping romance sprinkled in. It's fun and I was so curious to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Plus, Jane+August are so flipping cute, like I couldn't stop smiling for a minute while listening. This slow-burn romance is also a love letter to NYC and good friends, too. Plus, it has this fun mysterious element to take it out of the realm of *just* being a romance novel; it's way more than that. If I had to categorize this book, I'd say it's "Veronica Mars" meets time-travel meets sapphic romance, which seems like an odd combination yet it completely works and I'm sold. The language is witty and funny, too, and I love, love, love it and yes, it totally lives up to all the hype it's already been racking up.

As an audiobook, I found the story so immersive and compelling. The narrator puts you in August's head and what she sees. She uses different voices to effortlessly capture all the different characters and their various personalities. It feels realistic, yet engaging and bubbly.

Between the story and the narration, I just want to keep listening to this story to find out what would happen next. It's impossible not to get wrapped up in this story thanks to such compelling language and vibrant narration. Plus, there's so much diverse representation that feels authentic and real, which is another win in this book's column. Everything is brilliantly planned out, interconnected, and woven together in terms of the story organization.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One Last Stop was a pretty fun book to dive into. I was honestly surprised by the time travel elements in this because I kept thinking this was just going to be a cute contemporary book. Definitely enjoyed that little twist and devoured the book.

In it, you will meet August and Jane (aka Biyu). Both were very interesting girls to get to know. One was an awkward girl dealing with insecurity issues. While the other just happened to be from the 70s. No biggie - right?

It wasn't hard to fall in love with these two one bit. Plus them being together went from adorable to sizzling pretty quickly too. I'm not sure I will ever get over some scenes on a subway.. but I will be glad that I've never seen it happen while I was on at the same time. I'll just stick with loving them from afar and even falling in love with the great cast of side characters as well.

Without spoiling too much, just know that this book was just really cute. I also enjoyed the ending and I am still sort of left with unanswered questions. Also, I'm in the mood for some pancakes. Overall, I'm really excited and happy that I got the chance to dive into this. I loved it and I hope the next person does as well!

I am normally not a fan of anything having to do with fantasy or books that include elements of magic, so I was conflicted about how much I would enjoy a book that involved time travel. After listening to One Last Stop, I can now safely say I am a fan. This book was so well done and made me a believer in love that can transcend time.

August is lost in life. After moving to NYC to finish up college, she meanders through her days, seeking direction and purpose. August really doesn't feel like she fits in, but her new roommates take her under their wings immediately. On one cold January morning, August falls on the subway and is jolted by the appearance of a gorgeous girl that helps her up. When the two keep meeting on the train day after day, August forms a crush on Jane. The only problem? Jane is literally displaced from the 1970s, stuck on the Q line. With the track closing soon, August and her friends are in a race against time to figure out how to get Jane back to where she truly belongs.

One Last Stop is more than a LBGTQ romance. It is a book about acceptance, self discovery, family, and celebrates inclusion and diversity. Both August and Jane are struggling to find out who they are - one figuratively and the other literally. But together, the pair help each other trust the process and push themselves outside of their comfort zones to figure out what to do with their lives.

I am obsessed with August's group of friends. They are fun, quirky, welcoming and hilarious. Seeming like misfits, the group just fits together and would literally do anything for each other. I loved the amazing LBGTQ representation of the group and how they led with their hearts in anything they did.

August is such an amazing heroine. I loved how she could so easily read people and could pinpoint just who they might be and what their motivations in life are. I loved her detective work, both to help Jane, but also to help her mom find her long lost uncle. I also found her struggle to fully grow up extremely relatable and endearing. She didn't want to grow up and plummet into adulthood after college, because she feared not being good at anything.

One Last Stop was absolutely phenomenal, especially as an audiobook. I could not stop listening and I wanted to know what would happen next. I became quickly entangled in the mystery of Jane's identity, August's family and how everything would fit together in the end. Natalie Naudus was a fantastic narrator. I am already pre-ordering my copy of this amazing book, that is out June 1.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Pros: This story was queer and horny af and I loved it! It mixed humor with heart and made some excellent pop culture references. All the characters, not just the main characters were engaging, three-dimensional, and had me wanting to spend a day (or week) with them.

Cons: The first part was a bit slow to me in setting up the action. Once the action started though, it was nonstop! I wanted just a little more time travel explanation.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Red, White, & Royal Blue or is looking for a fun, queer, rom-com that will rip your heart out and then gentle put it back in.

I listened to this on audio and HIGHLY recommend it! The narrator did a beautiful job in bringing the characters to life.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Casey had a really brilliant was of infusing current culture and references without it seeming forced or awkward. This story is a time traveling sapphic love story set in NYC. I loved all the characters and the story really propelled you forward. So sweet and soft and well done as I’ve come to expect all of Casey’s books to be!

Wow. I can't think of the last time I finished a book and just wanted to sit and reflect on how good it was, the feelings it gave me and recognize in awe how well the author brought everything together. August is 23 and moves to Brooklyn transferring to her 3rd college trying to find a place she fits. She lands a room, sharing an apartment and gets a job at a diner. She is insecure and finding her place. She meets Jane Su, a 24 year old Chinese American, on the train when Jane offers her a scarf to cover a coffee stain. Jane is a confident, outgoing punk lover who connects with August. She is also displaced in time.

I'm not a fantasy or sci-fi reader but this book makes it work for me. It takes a while for August to realize that she only sees Jane on the train. She investigates and if feels realistic that Jane has been on the train since something happened in 1977. I loved the mystery and how August pieces Jane's past together.

In addition to being a sapphic romance this is a wonderful celebration of representation, diversity and community. August's roommates, neighbors and co-workers become her family of choice. They celebrate their queerness in ways that Jane couldn't experience in 1977. They add wonderful depth to the novel. At times I was as interested in them as the growing relationship of August and Jane.

Natalie Naudus's narration was fabulous. The voices were distinct and I could easily tell the characters apart. There is some language and love scenes that puts this in the older YA and up category. August and Jane are firmly one of my favorite couples. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for this audio-arc!

This story was beyond my expectations! It’s got romance galore, roommates with lots of personality (giving me some serious New Girl vibes), and even some time travel!

I haven’t read any other books by this author, but after reading this one I will most definitely be picking up more by them. The characters felt like they were all so well thought out, and there was so much great representation. The plot was so unique and intriguing. My emotions were all over the place!

I highly recommend checking this one out! You’ll definitely want to pre-order now before it releases on June 1st!!

August is having a rocky day when she discovers Jane, a fellow passenger on the Q train in NYC to whom August is instantly drawn. She develops an instant crush and is convinced that she’ll never see her again, until she does. But who is Jane, and why is she always on the train?
The development of the attraction and story between “Coffee Girl” and “Subway Girl” is intriguing. The diversity and personalities of other characters is refreshing and intriguing, even to non-LGBTQ readers.
This book has it all; mystery, suspense, romance and enough steamy moments without being grossly overdone. I especially appreciate the family (framily?) dynamic which exists between the main group of friends. The contrast of past and present generates nostalgia and speaks a broad demographic. I highly recommend this incredible work of fiction and am excited to explore the author more. #onelaststop #netgalley

Arc provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

How do you follow up a debut novel that took the romance genre by storm?

Casey McQuiston’s answer to that question was to take a sapphic cynical Veronica Mars-type and trap her love interest in another decade.

I technically have had an arc of this novel for months…and I’ve totally just been putting it off. I read Red, White and Royal Blue as an arc, I loved it. But, there are….always hesitancies that I can’t shake when it comes to a new author’s sophomore novel. I was happy that McQuiston was going for a f/f novel for her second round, but the plot from the beginning...did not appeal to me.

Plot Breakdown:

Meet August, a New York City transplant who just got a new job and new roommates.

Watch August meet Jane, a hot stranger on the train, who helps her out in a moment of need.

Jane isn’t exactly as she seems.

August has a past she’s trying to leave behind.

That’s probably about as far as I can go without spoiling the plot beyond what was given in the book summary.

It has some similar themes to McQuiston’s debut including a quirky supportive cast that is diverse and very, very queer.

However, I found it extremely slow going. It honestly took about 50% until I started to vibe with the characters and the plot; the main crux of the plot also did not start picking up until this point. And as I continued to read, I kept feeling, as though, One Last Stop just wasn’t for me.

Cue: me sobbing as I finished the book.

If you're expecting another RWRB, that’s not what you’re going to get.

One Last Stop is ambitious. So ambitious that I honestly wasn’t sure how McQuiston was going to pull it off, but…she did.

This was honestly such a fun book to read, I was hooked from the very first page.
It follows the story of August a girl who has recently moved to NYC on a whim which is unusual for her and her new group of roommates and the mystery subway girl :')
I absolutely loved everything about this book, the relationship between these characters was so beautifully well-written, found family trope that made me cry, the representation was amazing and oh my god the romance and conversations between August and Jane had me giggling and blushing it was so fun.
I also listened to the audiobook and while I'm not the biggest audiobook fan but the narrator did such a wonderful job of capturing each character's emotions and inner monologues.
If you enjoyed red white and royal blue and Casey's writing style I highly recommend you check out this book you won't be disappointed

I’ve reached the portion of my 30s where I’m closer to being 50 than 23 (*sobs because math is mean*), the age of the protagonist in this book. Honestly, being in your 20s is a lot harder than people let on, so I don’t think I would go back to that age even if I could. But if I was for some reason forced to go back to my early 20s I would absolutely insist that I get to live it over in the company of the beautifully diverse friends-turned-chosen-family depicted in One Last Stop.

Just like in Red, White, and Royal Blue (one of my favorite books) Casey McQuinston has once again breathed such life into their characters that I found myself wishing August and her friends would spring from the page and take me out for 2am pancakes. (Never mind the fact that we’ve already established that I’m old and never want to do anything but sleep at 2am—for August and company I would go.)

One Last Stop is part 🏳️‍🌈 rom com, part time travel mystery, and part missing persons case, but it is fully entertaining, heartwarming, sexy, and fun.

I was first introduced to the author, Casy McQuiston by a friend who practically threw ' Red White & Royal Blue' at me, telling me I would absolutely love it. She was NOT wrong. Knowing that Casey has the capabilities of pulling at my heartstrings, I knew I needed to get my hands on her next novel.

This book was absolutely beautiful and gave me all the feels, the same way RW&RB did.. Casey has yet again taken her reader on a journey of self-awareness and discovery. This story reminded me of a twist between Nancy Drew and Casper the Friendly Ghost, with a splash of New Girl. August's roommates all fit the bill for a New Girl character and it made me smile at the dynamic between each character.

The story begins as August, a 23-year-old bi girl (praise be for representation), who has been looking for a place that she can call home. She is finishing her degree in New York and finds an advertisement of someone looking for a roommate at the Popeyes she's at. Her roommates become a part of her and when she discovers Jane on a New York subway ride.... Coffee Girl and Subway Girl are born. August meets Jane, a mysterious hard-ass who she conveniently sees every time she rides the subway to and from school and work. There's a catch though! But you'll have to read to figure that out for yourself. Just know this story will leave your heart full and your eyes wet.

Without giving away the story, this is a read I believe everyone should take the time to indulge in. Overall this book meant a lot to me as a bi girl and I know there are people out there that will enjoy the depths of this book, the way I did.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the mystery, the diversity and the absolute awesomeness of all the characters.

I was drawn in and attached from the first sentence. The storyline was never boring or lacing at one point I was seriously worried about the outcome and what this would do to the characters

August and Jane are the flipping best I loved them individually and separately. they have such different personalities but they were so perfect together.

Don't get me started on the sex, it was just the right amount of fire!

The Voice on the audiobook was perfect. I mean what else can I say I loved this and I know this will be a book I reread often

One Last Stop = SO MANY FEELINGS. First off, fairly certain that Casey McQuiston is my spirit animal. Her characters rock my world. And this book was so edgy and refreshing. It was raw, it was timeless and yet so poignant. There was so much packed into the history colliding with the present. August and her back story, the roommates, and then Jane. Ugh, everything was so damn perfect. I wanted to climb into their world. To live with them and party with them. And the political and societal changes between Jane and now are so good and so timely. Seeing how love is more open, but still needs a lot of work, was so so good. This book opens minds while making you fall in love and laugh all at the same time. So so good.

I know that Casey McQuiston has developed kind of a cult following, but I can now confidently say that I’ve joined those ranks. She’s got a fun, hilarious, quirky, and completely unique style of writing that had me hanging on every word while simultaneously desperate to find out what happened next. In addition, this story had elements of a love letter to New York City, which won me over.

The audiobook version of this was absolutely fabulous! The narrator, Natalie Naudus, was the perfect choice to voice August, and truly brought the character alive in exactly the way I would have pictured her in my head.

Going into this, I really didn’t fully understand what I was in for. But once I started reading, I was hooked right away. August is the kind of character I could easily picture as a real person. She’s got so many issues and thinks that New York is where she can fade into the background and just lose herself. However, that isn’t what happens at all. Between her weird roommates, a job in an iconic yet strange 24-hour pancake diner (Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes), and a chance encounter with an enchanting woman on the subway, she’s slowly drawn out of her comfort zone only to realize the entire world of possibilities that she’s been missing out on!

Up until now, August’s world has been consumed with her mom’s relentless search for answers, and her desire to escape from that. She’s finally starting to do that. She falls in love with Jane, the girl from the train, but discovers there’s more than meets the eye. Jane isn’t just dressed like a punk from the 70s — she’s displaced and IS from the 70s but somehow got trapped on the subway in some weird sort of limbo. Just like that, August has to learn how to rely on the support of her new friends in a desperate quest to save Jane as she realizes she has to let down her walls, let people in, and rely on all the skills she’s tried to leave behind.

I truly loved seeing August grow and come into her own throughout the story. It was incredibly moving, and I’m not embarrassed to admit that I cried towards the end of the story. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of times throughout the story that I laughed, because it was absolutely HILARIOUS! There’s a lot of queer/bi representation, with a trans character and some really awesome drag queens that factor into the story. But it was really intriguing to see the evolution of gay life from Jane’s time to August’s time, especially since it was a major culture shock for Jane, going from the 70s to present day in the blink of an eye.

This was such a great book, and I will be shouting about this to everyone and anyone. Also, I’m definitely going to have to pick up Red, White, and Royal Blue, since everyone has been talking about it and how great it was, and I honestly have no idea (or excuse) or why I haven’t yet, but I clearly need to!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this second book from Casey McQuinston. I LOVED Red, White Royal Blue but this is a different novel that is different in its premise. While the story is equally compelling and the characters are equally beautiful it would be unfair to go into OLS expecting just a female take on Red, White and Royal Blue.

OLS is a story of 23 year old August who lives in NYC and has the most wonderfully diverse and beautiful roommates. She gets a job as a waitress at a 24 hour diner and to get to work every day she takes the Q train where she meets Jane. Jane is mysterious. Rough, yet charming and August can't help but get swept up in wanting to know more about her. She quickly realizes though that Jane never leaves the train. And she is always wearing the same clothes. Things start to click into place and August pieces together that it's not that Jane doesn't want to leave the Q, it's that she can't. Jane is from the 1970's and cannot leave the train. August tries to help Jane figure out what happened to get her to this place and how to help get her where she needs (or wants to be).

This story is a beautiful exploration of so much history of what is meant to be a lesbian at various points in time. This is also a stunning love story that will capture you and won't let you go. The whole cast of characters in this book was dazzling and captivating. I am not a fan usually of time travel stories so that is the one thing that took me so getting used to in this book but overall the characters and story were so good it was a small thing that didn't make a big difference.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator was excellent! I would highly recommend anything this narrator does. Her use of voices for the various characters was so perfect and not overwhelming and her pauses were so well timed. This is one I am so glad I listened to rather than read because it added so much to the overall experience. I would highly recommended the audio book of OLS! It is an experience you do not want to miss!

Overall this is a beautiful book and the audio book is one to make sure you check out! HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me experience this one! It is one I will be thinking about for a long time to come!

Another knockout from Casey McQuiston, as expected! A highly recommended first purchase (in all formats) for public fiction collections.

I have been DEVASTATED by ONE LAST STOP. I got approved for this three days ago and ever since I started it, I have been walking around in a daze if I wasn't listening to it. This beautiful magical story made me hate having to go to work and do my normal daily tasks because it meant more time I would have to spend away from August and Jane. I have a copy preordered and I already know I will be doing a re-read once it arrives. Casey McQuiston, you have stolen my heart and honestly, you can have anything else of mine that you'd like. Take it all.