I’ve pretty much loved every book I’ve read from Jake Maia Arlow. They have such a knack for creating complex, messy queer characters who go on interesting personal journeys. Leaving the Station is a beautiful story about two characters, Zoe and Oakley, connecting on a cross country train ride as they’re going home for Thanksgiving. They’ve both left home looking for new experiences, but haven’t exactly gotten what they were looking for.

The explorations of queerness, gender identity, and religion were all so interesting. I loved seeing all the different conversations that Zoe and Oakley had, when they would open up, and when they pushed back against one another. While it was tough to read about, getting to see all the ways that Zoe was struggling during the first year of college just felt so incredibly real.

Definitely check this out if you enjoy queer YA romances that also tackle deep subject matter!

thank you so much for the approval- i cannot wait to dive in, this is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! i will be sure to leave a review on GR/retailers to come! 💞

I could hear the train whistle blowing in the distance as I read the last few pages of this one and it absolutely wrecked me.

Arlow is so good at writing love stories that absolutely fill up that small, soft, liminal space of a school break. This one is for my fellow romanticizers of travel. One of my favorite YA books as a teen was Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith, which also follows two teens falling in love on a train. It made me want to take my own train journey, and years later I read and annotated it on my first cross-country train trip. When I heard the premise of this one I was excited for a queer take on a similar set up, and I'm happy to report that Leaving the Station captures that same familiar magic of the train. I might need to take another train trip just to re-read this one someday.

Give me a train based romance and a compelling look into identity any day. Jake Maia Arlow's latest work was a resounding success for this reader. It is by no means an easy read, but one that feels like a smooth afternoon. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Storytide and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

YEAHHHHHHH THATS WHAT JAKE MAIA ARLOW DELIVERS ON. INTROSPECTIVE LOVE STORIES! I feel honored to have followed Zoe on this (literal) journey. Both as a sucker for trains and for the incredible way Zoe is written. The characters and story are amazing and I hope that everyone else gives it a read.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I am a huge fan of Jake Maia Arlow and loved the premise of this book. Their exploration of identity throughout this book was so thoughtfully done and so insightful. There were times that seemed a bit slow and very much caused me to say “OK I want to know what happens already!” in regards to the flashbacks, but ultimately it served the story well to have it revealed the way it was. This may not have been my favorite of Arlow’s books but I really enjoyed it and it definitely made me want to hop on a train!!

"Leaving the Station" by Jake Maia Arlow is a heartfelt journey through identity and friendship, embodying the essence of self-discovery amid life’s chaos. Zoe's cross-country train adventure offers a compelling backdrop as she navigates the complexities of her relationships, especially with her ex-boyfriend, Alden, and the intriguing Oakley.

While I loved the exploration of LGBTQ+ themes, the pacing and storyline felt a bit uneven at times. The side characters, especially Aya, Edward, & Virginia sparkled, but some moments between Zoe & Alden and Zoe & Oakley lacked the depth I was hoping for. Still, Zoe and Oakley’s personal struggles resonate deeply.

If you’re a fan of contemporary YA that tackles tough topics while offering a bit of hope, this book might just be your next cozy read! Thank you NetGalley and Storytide for the eARC.

On a cross country train trip home, Zoe contemplates her gender and relationships and she struggles with dropping out of college. She meets Oakley, who is also trying to figure out her life as a lesbian in a conservative religious family, and the two of them also befriend a cast of characters on the train. Digs into themes of finding yourself and the relationships we create with others, how secrets can strain those relationships, and what it means to prioritize what makes you happy in life.

4.5 Stars rounded up. I absolutely adored this YA coming of age story about Zoe, a college freshman that decided to take the longest way home for break in the hope she can figure out some big decisions before she gets there.
I absolutely adored this little book, and it even made me look up train tickets for some upcoming trips. The story would jump back and forth between Zoe on the train and her first semester of college, and while I typically am not a fan of dual timelines, this one didn't bother me.

In the college chapters, we see Zoe, who always thought she was a lesbian and is very confused by her attraction to a guy at college. Her relationship with him leads her to making some discoveries about herself.

On the train, Zoe strikes up a friendship with various other travelers, including Oakley, a girl that is also trying to find herself before she departs the train.

Most of the story develops through deep conversations between Zoe and Oakley, which makes their relationship feel deep even if they only spent a few days together.

I would say this book should probably be read by upper YA for some sexual content. It is not graphic, but there are multiple scenes of sexual interactions.

Leaving the Station was an unexpectedly compelling read that digs into main character Zoe's gender exploration while sharing flashbacks of her disastrous first semester of college (self-declared lesbian suddenly develops a boyfriend and drops all her classes and friends?!) and journey--both literal and metaphorical--aboard a cross-country Amtrak train.

Zoe isn't always likeable, which is kind of the point, but she grows on you and seeing the other characters (especially the "train crew" which ranges from an older couple to one of the sweetest, most precocious almost-nine-year-olds around (#TEAMAYA)) through her eyes is where the real growth happens. Her burgeoning relationship with blonde, hot, ex-Mormon Oakley is the main driver, but it is sweet to see how everyone contributes to Zoe's growing gender realization. This is my first Jake Maia Arlow book and I thought she handled the element of trans self-discovery well, starting Zoe off as a convincing lesbian with very little self-doubt and pushing her through questions to a deeper sense of self-discovery. (No glorious "outing" moments, either, which makes it feel much more real. I also appreciated the depiction of Oakley's own doubts relating to her religion and grappling with her identity as a queer Mormon--this was handled empathetically and felt very real. Also bonus points to Amorphophallus titanum as the lovely metaphor for Zoe's transition and for just providing a little nerdy plant love.

5/5 stars

**PLEASE NOTE: This book deals in multiple timelines. Heads up for those who might need to get in the right reading mood.**

I listed the above disclaimer because I 100% need to be in the right mindset when dealing with flashbacks in a book -- especially when it's such an integral part of the storyline.

Now then, to my review. I really liked this book. It is written from single POV, through the eyes of a very young, very confused young woman. I say woman, though as the story goes we find that her identity is a big part of the journey (this isn't a spoiler cause it's in the blurb).

When Zoe meets Oakley on the train, she's captivated instantly. There are some corny internal thoughts, but again, this is an 18 year old's mind. I know for a fact I was thinking some wild thoughts at this age. It makes sense.

The issues Oakley faces are just as monumental in my mind as Zoe's though they are very different. [ In her prior life, Oakley was Mormon. She deals with heaps of deconstruction, religious guilt, and identity issues as well. As someone who deconstructed from Christianity, it was a kick in the teeth at times. (hide spoiler)]

During their story we meet a good number of side characters. They create a very fun, energized setting for this love story. I have my faves of course, however, each felt instrumental to the main FMCs journeys.

Also, the characters we meet from Zoe's past - Alden and the Tees (A friend group) - give us such a good example of how life can be a push/pull of sorts in your early adult years. Zoe feels torn, almost as if she's two different people around them. It creates tension, which later leads her to take the train ride. This is why the dual timelines are VERY important.

I will say there were some things I wasn't necessarily a fan of. Nothing bad, more personal preference stuff which is why this is 4 star instead of 5. Overall, it is a good read. I would be interested in a story about Alden and the Tees, though Alden was never labeled queer so that might be off the table. *shrugs*

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Jake Maia Arlow for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a YA the revolves around coming of age/finding yourself mixed in with a meet cute. I found it to lag at times. This is my first book by Jake Maia Arlow and after reading others reviews I definitely need to delve into other books by them.

3.5 ⭐️

Truly a lovely, magnificent book. I lost my original review after I sent it off to Under the Umbrella Bookstore, but I was so grateful for the two arcs of growth between the two characters. The romance of this is a big part of things, but if you're a fan of coming of age narratives, that takes up a lot more of the space. So excited for the next Jake Maia Arlow! She's become a no skip author for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Adorable YA read that made me want to go on a big trip ASAP!

I really liked this book and had high hopes to be able to add it to our junior high library (grades 7-9) but there was too much sex on the page.

My community is largely either Christian or Mormon and there aren't very many books about Mormon children being gay and not knowing how to handle it. I was hoping this would be a possible mirror book for some of them within my school district, but it's definitely high school or older.

I love how Jake Maia Arlow writes books about the older end of young adults (college students) in a way that feels most suitable for younger YA readers (those just making the transition from middle grade books). The fact that much of the narration was Zoe's internal thoughts and feelings (as opposed to dialogue) gave it a very middle-grade feel, but the book never shied away from complex topics. Zoe, Oakley, and even train-goers like Aya and Virginia and Edward were all well-developed characters with intriguing backstories and personal values. I'm looking forward to recommending this book to library patrons!

The dialogue felt a little bit like baby's first Gender Studies class, but I did enjoy parts of it. The main problem is Oakley, who is almost insufferable the entire time. I could tell I was meant to connect with her and feel bad for her, but I couldn't do either of those things because of how aggravating she was. I loved Zoe's character, though I do think the fact that every single person easily forgave Zoe in the end after just a few days of space from the situation was unrealistic. In between the weird characterization pieces, I loved the setting of both the train and the greenhouse and Zoe's journey throughout the story.

This was a nice heart warming book that is a perfect queer rom com. This is a great young adult book that not only is romantic but it’s also a great coming of age story. The setting on the train is also a nice change of pace because it’s a constant outdoor scenery change but the core of the scenery never changes.

After loving ‘How to Excavate a Heart’ I knew I needed to pick up more from Jake. They have such a distinct writing style that is perfect for my brain. It’s so easy to read, so easy to fall into and they write characters that leap off the page. This story is swoony and sweet and deeply romantic. But it’s also about experience and growth and changes of self definitions and everything this can mean.

I can imagine taking this book on a train ride, I can imagine it being a soul changing experience.

Also. SO MUCH GENDER!! VERY GOOD!! i had many feelings!! and as always love seeing parts of myself reflected on page like this in the hands of someone who so clearly Understands.

I have mixed feeling about this book. I was really enjoying it until I got to the last 25% and then it just really fell flat for me, especially the epilogue. The writing felt like middle grade (not bad just not too advanced) but some of the details in the book pushed it to adult and not YA in my opinion. I enjoyed the setting on the train and the idea that both main characters were delaying something by picking a passenger train as their way of going home. I liked that while on the train they started to enjoy the journey and that it gave them both a chance to think things over before going home.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.