I loved Casey McQuiston's first book and One Last Stop lived up to my expectations! Usually I'm not a fan of supernatural elements in books but this one was so well done!

The first half of this book did nothing for me, but I was completely invested at the end. The entire story had a bit of mystery that kept me hanging on, but I wasn’t buying into the relationship part because it seemed too rushed and physical. The underlying theme of learning to deal with feelings was my favorite part of the book. “Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it to deserve to be felt.”

August is a new arrival to New York City, where she is looking to find herself and figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. After responding to a listing in the paper about an apartment, she quickly finds friendship with her roommates, Nico, Myla, and Wes. She starts school and finds a job, she settles into a routine, a routine that takes her on the subway where she meets a charismatic woman named Jane.

August is not the first person to meet Jane and become smitten, there have been reports for years on missed connections about Jane. As August begins to get to know Jane she realizes that something just doesn't quite add up about her. What happens next will bring everyone August has come to know in New York City together to help not only Jane move forward, but August too.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, I had trouble getting into the first bit because I'm not that into magic-y type stuff. But, the story picked up and I ended up liking the story for what it was. The other thing I liked about it was it gave me more exposure to LGBTQ+ stories. I don't tend to read a lot of LGBTQ+ books, not because I don't enjoy them, but I typically read more historical fiction and they don't usually feature that topic, so it was a nice change of pace!

Sadly, I could not finish this one. I absolutely loved Red, White, and Royal Blue, but this one just didn't work for me.

I really tried to like this one but I couldn't. I think there are just some characters that no matter how hard people try to write them, because their lived experiences are so outside of their own, they can't help but revert back to one dimensions, if that's the case then it's better to have space for other writers to write this story.

I remember when I finished reading Red, White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston's first novel, that 1) I loved the book and 2) I couldn't wait to see what McQuiston would write next! Then One Last Stop was announced, and I just knew that I absolutely had to read it and that I needed to get my hands on a copy ASAP.

I was lucky enough to get an early, digital copy as well as an advanced copy of the audiobook, but due to falling behind on my reading schedule, didn't get to read One Last Stop as early as planned. Alas, I read it early last month and absolutely loved it!

McQuiston's second book was everything I had hoped for and more! Having read both of their books, I could really tell how their writing has developed since Red, White & Royal Blue. With One Last Stop, McQuiston's writing has become a lot more poetic in my opinion–there were times when I wanted to take a highlighter to my paperback copy, which is something I almost never think about, and most certainly an urge that I never give in to.

The characters in One Last Stop were incredible. I cannot stress how much I mean this. Even now, one month later, my heart aches with how much I miss reading about them. While August and Jane were, the main characters, their friends and acquaintances almost didn't feel like side characters at all. They were all so fleshed out and multi-dimensional, and loveable. I could go on forever.

And while on the subject of characters: as I mentioned above, I was also provided with an advanced audio copy of One Last Stop, so I wanted to say a few things about that experience. I had to get used to the narrator a bit at first, due to her vocal inflections (if that's the right word I'm looking for). But once I got used to her, I found that she was a good narrator for the book. Since One Last Stop is written in the third person, the narrator also didn't have to sound like any particular character. That being said, she did a great job at altering her pitch and tone when reading out quotes from specific characters–there were a lot of characters, and she did great at sounding different, and true to each character when reading out their parts.

The plot of One Last Stop was also great and ended up being so much more that I'd been expecting while also being something I hadn't even known I'd needed in my life. One Last Stop felt so unique to me and just so good. I laughed, I cried, I gasped in surprise. Needless to say, I loved One Last Stop, and I can't wait to see what announcement McQuiston will make next book regarding their third book!

I hesitated to read ‘One Last Stop’ because I’d heard a lot of mixed things about it, and I wasn’t in love with the premise. Magical Realism and characters stuck out of time aren’t my favorite themes. I worried it would be reminiscent of ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ (heaven forfend). However, since I loved ‘Red White & Royal Blue,’ and I love queer RomComs, I took the plunge anyway, and I’m glad I did.

‘One Last Stop’ bursts with heart. It’s a little slow in the beginning, and because of Jane’s inability to recall much of her life, she feels one dimensional at first. August, though, is so tangible I felt I could reach out and touch her while I listened to the story. Many other side characters felt that way too. It’s also not nearly as funny as RWRB, and the tone is wildly different so it isn’t fair to compare the two books. ‘One Last Stop’ has humor but I personally wouldn’t have marketed it as a RomCom. I consider the book as a blend of Magical Realism, Women’s Lit, and Contemporary Romance.

It’s a beautiful story of found family and choosing to embrace heartbreak and a love letter to the Queer Activists who came before and those who embraced their Queerness even when it meant losing their lives. ‘One Last Stop’ sits heavier than RWRB because, but it is also more meaningful.

So no, ‘One Last Stop’ isn’t what I expected it to be, but it is well worth reading.

I loved Red White and Royal Blue so much and I could not wait to read One Last Stop. Unfortunately the magical realism aspect didn't work for me. I may try again later, but now its a DNF.

This was an absolutely fantastic read. Casey McQuiston truly knows how to make characters who feel like real people. Everyone in ONE LAST STOP is so fleshed out that reading it almost felt like hanging out with friends. August and Jane are both complex, flawed people who readers will absolutely root for. There is also a deep understanding of queer culture here--this book feels like it was written specifically for queer readers, and there was such a fantastic sense of familiarity to it as a result. 5/5 stars!

I ADORED THIS BOOK

August is a 23-year-old bisexual woman who is looking for an apartment in NYC as she transfers colleges. She meets a girl on the subway and instantly falls in love with her. But, she keeps seeing her. And why does she look like she just came out of 1975?

This book was fantastic. It had amazing characterization, and the representation was so broad. I really appreciated seeing all the different races, genders, sexualities, and relationships portrayed in this book. It's spicy, hilarious, and definitely relatable for other 20-somethings. The scifi was interesting and added a new element to something as simple as falling in love with a stranger on the train. 5/5!

When I saw Casey McQuiston was writing an other LGBTQ book I could not wait to get my hands on it! I do love the friendship and romance in the story. There is a lot of LGBTQ representation without feeling like token characters which I appreciate. However, the scifi aspect always felt like a stretch and the end felt a bit throw together.

One last stop by casey mcquinston is one of mine and many other people most anticpaited reads for the whole year of 2021! But I was sadly let down by it. I think I compared it to her debut novel too much! But overall I enjoyed it but I thought it was going to be a 5 star read but it's sadly a 3 stars... Super hard to review this book without spoiling it...

eBook provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but I also bought this book because I loved it so much.

Casey McQuestion has done it again. Her first book Red, White & Royal Blue became an instant favorite of mine in 2019. And now with One Last Stop, she's cemented herself as an author I won't shut up about to everyone I know (seriously, just ask all my friends.) Just like the smell of hot pancakes, One Last Stop is irresistible.

August is fine going through life alone. Transferring colleges, changing majors, moving across the country with as few personal possessions as possible. It's the only smart way to live.

But August never accounted for the impossible magic of New York City and the gorgeous girl on the train -- Jane. Jane, who she can't stop staring at. Jane, who always happens to be on the same Q train as August. Soon August realizes it's not just a coincidence. Jane is stuck. She's displaced from time and can't take a single step off from the Q.

As August gets to work unraveling the mystery of Jane, she realizes she'll do whatever it takes to save the impossible, beautiful, mysterious Jane.


One Last Shot will live in your head forever. Don't miss out and add it to your must-read list ASAP.

This is one of the best books I read this year. Months after reading it, I still think about August and Jane and all their friends. I will now read every book Casey writes.

Ok I went ahead and bought myself a hard copy anyways because I love her books, and that’s how much I wanna spread joy about this book, being a New Yorkers I love all the nyc vibes , and I felt so in love with the characters and their love and couldn’t wait to see what happened next, thank you thank you for sending a copy my way (it went to my old address but don’t worry I bought a copy anyways like I said hehe) and I can’t wait to read more by her, and what a fun concept this book was !!

To say that my expectations for this book were high would be the understatement of the year. I, as many, completely fell in love with Casey McQuiston's first novel Red, White & Royal Blue and so I was so looking forward to reading this new work from her. This book however was an odd plot and I am not sure I loved it.

It was a good and entertaining read, but there were some things that didn't work for me.
I really enjoyed the found family trope that was used in this novel. August and her roommates were lovely and I was so interested in all their lives and throughout the whole novel I just wished for them all to be happy.
Jane and August were lovely together, but I would have liked to see some parts of their connection explored a bit more, sometimes I felt like something was missing. Maybe it was the fact that Jane was literally stuck on that train for the whole book and I swear, at one point I was just over it.

The ending was adorable and I may or may not have shed a few tears.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

I enjoyed the quirky time travel feel of this book. Casey knocked it out of the park again. She's quickly becoming a must read author!

This entire story was vert creative, and a fun simple read. I will say it’s biggest downfall was the MC, as she was pretty obnoxious for a lot of the book. Thankfully, the other characters were such a joy that it made up for it.

I will say, as many other reader I’m sure have pointed out, the moment where Jane experiences racism and her white partner responses with “people aren’t like that anymore” was poorly done. Though, I feel like the moment was realistic, as because Jane was heated an argument ensued that lead to both characters walking away, it felt inappropriate that when they came back together the subject was not discussed again.

All-in-all, the story was original and entertaining. I just wish a little more had gone into the difficult moments.

Excuse me, I knew I’d probably love this book because the reviews have been amazing and I just loved the description of this… but I didn’t realise I would love it THIS MUCH! I looooooved it!

Our main character, August moves to NYC, a cynic who doesn’t believe in love and is quite content going through life alone. Until she sees Jane on the Q train. While she’s covered in her morning coffee. Jane gives August her red scarf and saves the day. August figures she’ll never see Subway Girl again because NYC, right?! Except she does. Again and again, always on the same car.

Jane has been stuck on the train since 1977, memories shaky. August makes it her mission (along with her new chosen family) to help Jane find her way back, but she starts falling for Jane. That’s all I will say.

This book was magical, full of whimsy, hipsters, intersectional feminism, and had so much diversity. It’s a homage/love letter to the lgbtqiap+ community who paved the way historically and those who are leading the fight today. It was beautiful. It made me miss NYC. I loved every word.

Toward the end I couldn’t stop singing, “we were something, don’t you think so? rosé flowing with your chosen family.” (Taylor Swift, the 1) because the vibe of the book matched this lyric so well.

If you need me, I’ll be reading Red, White, & Royal Blue and dreaming of the day I can go to NYC again!

Coming into this, I tried to lower my expectations. I loved <i>Red, White & Royal Blue</i>, so I did not want to place my expectations on <i>One Last Stop</i> as I knew it wasn’t going to be the same book. But even doing that, I still am upset that this book simply wasn’t for me.

The writing was good. There was a flow to the words that did give the story this very peaceful feeling. It also shows McQuiston experimenting a little with styles. This is not the same story as <i>Red, White & Royal Blue</i> and I have to applaud them for branching out and trying something else. It was nice to see that she doesn’t seem eager to follow a formula.

I did appreciate the events that McQuiston weaved into the story. There was a lot of LGBTQIA+ history covered in here, that I did enjoy reading about and glad that it’s in here to maybe spark some interest in the readers.

Now, the rest I think I struggled with more than I would have liked. The pacing was not my favorite. It was slow and really took it’s time to build up. Once things were finally being pieced together a fraction, it felt like it slowed down again? What I’m trying to get across that <i>One Last Stop</i> is an incredibly slow paced book that never really picks up into frantically turning the page because I need to know or I’m super invested. Granted, this is my opinion, but this is a slow paced book, so go in with that in mind.

August was a character that I never connected with. There was something about her that was rather drab. She is surrounded by these wonderful characters who felt like they had life breathed into them, but I never got that feeling from August.

The last point is probably part of this one, but the romance… I wasn’t feeling it. I never felt the chemistry between August and Jane. There was this instant infatuation and then I don’t feel like I got the details to make me feel like it ever really progressed beyond that.

Everything was very convenient for them. It all clicked. There was no moment for me where I thought “oh this is going to cause problems” they just lived their life - on the subway.

Now, I understand why basically the whole book takes place on the subway, don’t get me wrong, but it really led to me feeling like I was reading a lot of the same parts over again. It was repetitive.

I’m incredibly sadden that I didn’t click with <i>One Last Stop</i>. I was looking forward to this sapphic romance, but this was not the sapphic romance for me.