Queer Rom-Com and Time travel? Yes. All that, with trains and pancakes too. If you loved Red, White, and Royal Blue- you are going to love August and Jane's story. I am a sucker for found family and really I have zero complaints. I want to gift this book to many people so we can gush about it together.

When August Landry moves to NYC, it’s to remain anonymous and finish school - not to discover a perfect found family and certainly not to fall in love. And yet, August finds herself in apartment with people who care about her and crushing on a girl on the Q train. Little does she know that Subway Girl, aka Jane, is unstuck from time, and stuck on the train. Weaving together 1970s LGBT history and a memorable ensemble cast, McQuiston adds a delightful narrative to the New York City story canon. This book is so full of warmth and love in all its forms, and it’s my favorite kind of romance novel: the rest of the story is just as engaging as the romance itself. I also had no idea how this book was going to end, which is a real treat in a romance. There is such wonderful representation in this book too, including bi, lesbian, gay, trans, Asian American, Black, Latinx, and more. Plus, drag queens galore.

Ok this book is amazing ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love all the characters definitely loved the concept and the idea, Jane & august are 😍❤️ I love them so much. Everything about this book is mind blowing and really interesting I love how Casey handle some topics and is amazing how you can feel all the emotions of the characters. I definitely will be re reading this book as much as RWARB. Preorder this book you will not regret it!

I enjoyed Red White & Royal Blue, so that's why I requested this one, but it was a very slow read and felt like it was just too long. Big chunks could have been cut out of this book to pace it out better and make it more enjoyable. There's a lot of the same humor that I enjoyed from RW&RB, but there was a spark missing. The build up of the relationship in RW&RB was much better than in this book, I didn't feel the connection as well with this one. Overall, it was just okay for me.

If you do ONE thing this summer, make it be picking up this lgbtq romance from Casey McQuiston. This book swept me off my feet from page one and I am STILL not on the ground. I got lovey dovey butterflies reading Alex and Jane's romance and pitfalls. Summer love? Nah. Forever love is Alex's mission here. In the follow up to Red White and Royal Blue Casey McQuiston stuns readers again. Relatable characters, background that gave me flashbacks to subways of yore and banter that gave me the giggles. The supporting cast is hilarious and I am wanting a story just on Niko and Myla. They compliment Alex beautifully and could be written straight out of How I Met Your Mother.
Pick this book up June 1st and relish in Alex and Jane's trials. Be a Nancy Drew with Alex and a mysterious train rider with Jane. Trust me, it'll be a ride you won't forget. 💕

I loved Red, White & Royal Blue, so I was super excited to get my hands on this book! Unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me. It was sooo long. I ended up skimming a lot. I think the science/supernatural aspect really threw me. I just didn’t like it. And I wasn’t invested in the relationship either. The side characters were the best part of the book for me. I’m sure others will love this book, but not me.

I absolutely loved Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston so when this title showed up on Netgalley, I had to jump on it. I didn't even read the description so I went in completely blind.

When August moves to New York she knows no one and has no money. On her daily commute to school she starts to notice a girl on the subway. Over time the two start talking and suddenly this girl is the only thing August looks forward to. I don't want to give too much away with the plot as it was fun to explore the mystery of "train girl" along with the rest of them, but this book did not go where I was expecting it and it was a very pleasant surprise.

What I love about McQuiston's books is the quirkiness of her characters and how vivid the world is. Everything is so alive and yes, this takes place in New York which is a character in it's own right, but there's just something about her writing that makes everything seem new and bright. The characters were all their own - all very different but yet a family that I just wanted to be part of. I honestly was more interested in the friendship dynamics than the romance because I just love the idea of finding a family where you belong. The saying that "friends are the family you choose" definitely fit this book to a T.

Overall, I didn't love this one as much as Red, White & Royal Blue but it was still very good and I enjoyed spending time with these characters.

What is better than perfection? This, this book!

August is new in NYC and it starting over once again, something she’s done her whole adult life. Jane is the perfectly imperfect stranger August meets on the Q train and ends up falling in love with while also finally finding her place in the world.

There is literally nothing I don’t love about this book. From the meet cute, to the chemistry, to the mystery, to the representation, to the discussion of sex and virginity, to the emotion, to the social commentary every thing is as perfect as August’s and Jane’s moments on the train.

Normally I would say I can’t wait to read Casey McQuiston’s next book but if only getting one book every other year means they are as beyond perfect as Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop then I can’t absolutely wait.

I listened to the audio of this one and the narration was as divine as the story.

I received a complimentary review copy of the book and audiobook but all opinions are my own.

I deeply struggled with this book. Overall I felt bored reading it. Without giving too much away, there is a supernatural element to this story that I did not connect with at all. In the end, I gave up around 50% of the way through.

I just had such high hopes for this book since I adored Red, White, and Royal Blue. However, it just did not live up to them. This was a slow read at times and so I was unable to get really pulled into the romance. I would still recommend the book though.

I was unable to put this book down. One Last Stop is everything I have always wanted to read in a novel, and McQuiston's style is endlessly engaging, with compelling characters and a magic-tinged plot that held my heart gently in its grasp.

One Last Stop focuses on the life of August, a bisexual student-turned-waitress, and Jane, the mysterious butch stranger she meets one day on the Q. There is also a wonderful supporting cast composed of August's roommates and their love interests. When it comes to light that Jane has been stuck on the Q for a very, very long time, August makes it her mission to help her go back to her own time. I also liked the way the book dealt with the political issues of both the 1970s and the 2020s, with Jane talking about activism, punk shows, and cops, and August talking about gentrification, LGBT issues, and... cops.

On a more personal note, as a femme lesbian in a relationship with a butch lesbian, reading this book was an intensely emotional experience for me. I've never read a book with such an unapologetically butch love interest before, and the word butch is even used on the page. It meant a lot to me, and it's now one of my favorite books.

Also, Jane Su is the butch heartthrob the book community needed, and I can't wait to see all the fanart!

Ahhh a subway romance?? I LOVE THAT. I miss taking the subway, so this really gave me nostalgia. Also, time travel? Now, that is quite interesting. I love the connection between Jane and August, and how they learn to just live in the moment, instead of constantly worrying about the future. Also, it's okay to be living in your mid-2os and not know where you stand in life. I repeat, IT IS PERFECTLY OKAY. There is no time frame to figure things out. I also ADORE Myla, Wes, and Nico. They are so supportive of August. Also, let's not forget Lucie and everyone else at Billy's. These guys have a strong support system with each other. That is very necessary when you live in a place like New York. I also love how this novel touches on the lgbtq community, and the INCLUSION OF EVERYONE. LIKE, LOVE IS LOVE! Don't have a narrow mind over it. Really is a beautiful read :)

This book was well written and charming. I had a lot of difficulty getting into it. For me the start was a little slow.

"Hey, Coffee Girl."
"Hey, Subway Girl."

Back in 2019, a small little book called Red, White, and Royal Blue came out. And, unless you avoided every little corner of the internet, this isn’t your first time hearing about it. Maybe you read it the instant it came out. Maybe you’ve read it more times than you can count. Maybe your first read of it was whilst you were under the influence of heavy pain killers because you had surgery that morning (just me?). Whatever the case may be, Casey McQuiston is an absolute genius in concocting realistic characters and believable dynamics between them. So, are we really surprised that One Last Stop is just as great as a gem as their debut?

When I was approved for an ARC of One Last Stop, I lost any semblance of ‘cool’ that I had—which, between you and me, is already very low to begin with. It quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 after loving Red, White, and Royal Blue, and I’m so thrilled to share all of my thoughts on it with you!

A HUGE thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis: For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.

But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things, after all.

I’m going to be honest right off the bat. When I read a book knowing that I want to review it, I write down all of my thoughts in the notes app on my phone so that I can keep the things I want to talk about somewhat organized. And in my notes for One Last Stop, one of my notes was “I keep forgetting to take notes.”

I was so immersed in this story and in these characters’ world that I forgot to track what I was thinking. Taking the time to set down my book and pick up my phone wasn’t an option because I physically could not separate myself from the book. And truthfully, thanks to a horrible reading slump, that hasn’t happened for me in a long time.

Right from page one, you’re introduced to an incredible cast of characters that will undoubtedly end up stealing your heart.

First, you meet August. August had an unconventional upbringing, thanks to her mom that was obsessed with solving August’s uncle’s missing-person’s case and teaching her tactics no 7-year-old should probably know. Throughout her life, August tended to isolate herself and not form deep connections with other people. And she always guards herself with two things: a knife and caution. Then, we have Niko. Niko is a spiritual, confident, take-no-crap-from-anybody psychic who can read a person from across the room better than I can read most books. He’s an absolute sweetheart and would happily be your shoulder to cry on. Next, is Myla. Myla is an art-centered, plant-obsessed, creative soul who loves just about everyone she comes in contact with. While almost all of these characters can be categorized as the “mom friend,” Myla is most definitely the “mom friend.” And, finally, to round out the iconic roommate group: we have Wes. Wes is introverted and sarcastic, but open and kind-hearted to those who are lucky enough to get to know him and I fell in love with him the moment he graced us with his presence.

I could yell about these characters as if my life depended on it, and these four don’t even cover the full cast we get in this book (obviously, because we haven’t even touched on the wonderful gift that is Jane Su). But this group in particular is almost as eccentric as their New York City apartment, and their relationships with one another is unreal.

I’ve always, and probably forever will be, a fan of the found family trope. There’s just something so special and heartwarming about people who didn’t feel at home in the place they were given but they find a home within each other. And I think that, with the found family trope, it’s so often found in fantasy books because those characters are thrown into such high-stake situations; they’re essentially forced into the same room until they all agree to work with one another to save the world, and I think that’s what makes the found family trope in One Last Stop so impressive. Taking away the splash of sci-fi time travel aspect of the book, this is a story about a ragtag group of twenty-somethings who have no idea what they’re doing with their lives. They’re normal people in a normal world and because of their circumstances, they all wound up under the same roof. It’s a found family in a contemporary/romance novel, and it’s done so well.

The characters are so realistic and weird in the best way possible. They don’t talk like or interact with each other like they’re fictional people. They stumble over their words, or they go on tangents. Sometimes they don’t make the most sense when they’re trying to explain something. And it’s so comforting to come across characters that are not only relatable but they’re realistic. There are countless instances of this, but one of my favorites being the repetition of referring to Jane as a ghost. When talking about Jane with August, Myla would almost always refer to Jane as a ghost before they knew about her situation. To which August would always nonchalantly say, “she’s not a ghost.” And when you’re falling deeply in love with the Subway Girl, you’re obviously going to talk about her often; so Jane being dubbed as a ghost very quickly became commonplace, as did August’s stubborn response. This happened so many times within the group that as Myla kept referring to Jane as a ghost, Niko started joining in and saying, “she’s not a ghost” at the same time as August. Even just this small, tiny touch adds so much to these characters’ relationships with one another and further cements their found-family-ness. If it’s not obvious, I could scream about this for forever if given the chance.

On a similar note, the conversations between this lovely cast of characters is incredibly normal in the most refreshing way possible. Someone will be talking about something deeper or serious, and someone else will make a witty joke (probably Wes), and the conversation continues as if his interjection was never there. This aspect is so tiny in the grand scheme of things, but it makes August, Myla, Niko, Wes, and Jane so real that I wanted to jump into the book to hang out with them.

"Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt."

As if I haven’t screamed enough about characters already, I want to dissect August a little bit more.

August is probably one of the most endearing fictional characters I’ve ever met. She’s cynical. She prefers to be alone. She doesn’t really form deep connections. But, more than anything, she wants to find a home (even if she doesn’t know that yet). August wants to find herself in place where she is surrounded by people she loves and people that love her, because she’s never experienced that before. Enter Myla, Niko, and Wes. Her roommates. As they all get to know each other a bit more and connect over shared and unshared interests, they form that bond that makes August feel like she’s found a home, and I could probably cry about it.

It’s one of the most refreshing things to read a book that involves characters in their twenties. Don’t get me wrong: I love following a character that knows their plan inside and out and knows what to do at the next turn. But characters that have absolutely no idea what they’re doing or what they want their future to look like? Sign me up.

August has no idea what she wants to do with her life or what she wants from it. She’s trying to escape all she’s ever known, but she’s also terrified that she’ll never know herself. Being in your twenties is this weird sensation because you’re not a kid anymore but you still don’t feel quite like an adult, and the world feels like it’s shaking your shoulders and screaming at you about knowing your whole life’s purpose. And August has that thought of ‘what if there’s not a purpose or a dream for me?’ which is all too real, but it’s one of my favorite things to see reflected in fiction because it’s so real.

There’s also this one specific moment when August remarks that she can easily visualize and imagine a stranger’s life and their future, but she can’t dream up her own, and I felt that deep in my bones.

One Last Stop is one of the most perfect representations I’ve read about being in your twenties, in that perpetual state of confusion, and I will forever love that. And August’s character development is stunning, but I won’t give that way and leave it up to you to discover!

"Truth is, when you spend your whole life alone, it’s incredibly appealing to move somewhere big."

First and foremost, New York City is a physical place. But, when it’s written about as well as Casey wrote it, it becomes a character. From the second the subway was even mentioned, I instantly time traveled (ha) back to the summer I spent in New York and all of my subway commutes. I was there with August and Jane in the car, surrounded by interesting passengers and weird smells. Sure, I’ve yet to be on a subway in which a dance party breaks out—where can I sign up for that, by the way?—but I was right there with them.

Casey McQuiston also beautifully encompassed what it feels like to move to such a huge city. They perfectly captured how awe-inspiring and beautiful it is, but also how terrifying it is: how you feel so small in a city that’s so big.

There were so many small details expertly placed within the story that ensured that New York couldn’t be anything other than a character, and the story itself couldn’t be more realistic even if it tried. I mean, at one point, it was briefly mentioned that there was a case of LaCroix and a Catan box on the top of the fridge. And that small detail is so linear with these characters and their ages, and the fact that they needed to utilize the top of their fridge for storage? Well, that’s New York apartments for you.

"You’re the most important person I’ve ever met…and I should have never met you at all."

Have I gushed about this one enough yet?
No?
Cool, there’s something else we have to talk about.

Casey McQuiston has a way of writing light-hearted stories with people you can easily love while also including really deep conversations about the world those people are occupying.

Spoiler alert: Jane is a lesbian from the 70s and, because of that, she has been a witness to horrible, horrible deeds enacted across the LGBTQA+ community. Through Jane telling her story to August, we learn what is was like to be living as an oppressed person in the 70s and what that felt like. And then, on top of that, there are so many deep conversations revolving around grief; from losing your childhood to losing your loved one, to losing yourself; Casey covers it all so well.

I really don’t want to give too much away about the amazing duality of One Last Stop and all it accomplishes, so you’re really just going to have to trust me on this one.

I really could keep going. There is so much to scream about, and I feel like I hardly did this book any justice. I mean, I didn’t get to talk much about Jane or at all about Isaiah and the Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes Crew? It’s a tragedy. But, if I did give myself that chance, this blog post would probably turn into a 40-minute TEDTalk. So, I’ll spare you.

One Last Stop officially hits shelves on June 1, 2021! You can head to Casey’s website to find out where to preorder it or run to your local bookstore on release date! You aren’t going to want to miss this one.

Another big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC for review!

You might like this if:
- you liked the Passenger series by Alexandra Bracken
- you are fascinated with time travel
- you are enamored by New York City
- you love powerful and strong females
- you’re looking for a book with great LGBTQA+ rep!
- you’re a fan of the found family trope

Overall: 5 stacks of pancakes out of 5 – ★★★★★.

I was chuckling within the first few pages, and shed a few tears near the end. In this magical novel, jaded August has moved to NYC in part to escape her missing-persons obsessed mother. Everything about NYC is a little weird - her psychic roommate, her job at a pancake diner, and the cute girl on the Q train. The writing is almost as lyrical and delicious as Weetzie Bat, the characters unique and real, and the themes of coming to terms with your past, your sexuality, and the world at large resonates. Hot sex, heart of gold friends, a campaign to save a restaurant and rescue a relic from the past made this unputdownable. It will find a different audience, maybe, than McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue, but the carefully drawn, passionate characters and dialogue will appeal.

I received a digital review copy of #OneLastStop from #NetGalley.

This was precious!

Things I loved:

-I really liked the strong sense of found family. All of the secondary characters were diverse, funny, and well crafted.

-I liked the plot. I thought it was an interesting idea and I like how it played out. I thought the ending was well thought out and executed.



Things I didn’t love:

-I needed a smidge more development with Jane and August’s relationship. I found it being a bit insta lovey.

-It was too long. This was my issue with Red White and Royal Blue as well. There were a few times where I just found myself getting bored.

Overall, this was creative and fun! I very strong sophomore novel. 👏🏻

Trigger Warnings: Talk of homophobia, drinking, light drug use (weed), semi-public sex, exploration of depression and anxiety, memory loss and cognitive issues, familial estrangement, familial death, grief, missing persons, implied PTSD, homophobic violence and hate speech, police violence, the AIDS crisis, racism, childhood neglect, arson

Representation: Chinese-American, Bisexual, Lesbian, Anxiety, Black, Sapphic, Puerto Rican-American, Transgender, Gay, Jewish, Pansexual, Czech

One Last Stop is a queer, contemporary YA novel, in which main character, August helps her love interest, Jane figure out who she is. A love story for the ages where figuring out the past can sometimes do more harm than good, but a HEA after all!

Overall, I absolutely loved this story! I love the satisfaction of a resolution. I felt the first half of the book was a bit slow, which was surprising because I’ve seen so many good reviews already! It definitely picked up towards the middle and was full steam ahead all the way to the last page! The ending was so soft and tender and happy!

I loved reading about adults (or 20 somethings) and I loved the cast of side characters! Seeing August move in with such a great gang was awesome rep!!

Having not found her place, transferring schools, procrastinating on finishing a degree, hopping to different cities, August finally feels like she’s found a home in Brooklyn. From working in a struggling pancake restaurant to sharing an apartment with colorful personalities, August meets a mysterious punk-style woman on the Q train she frequents. Jane is on the train every single time, and the more she gets to know her, August finds herself invested not only in wanting to solve an intriguing mystery involving Jane’s existence, but to help Jane find HER home.

McQuiston did not disappoint! This was an enchanting contemporary romance tale that also captured the vibrance of LGBTQ characters, every one memorable in their own ways. I was skeptical at first with the “stuck in time” piece, but the uniqueness of it made the story that much more sweet. While I enjoyed Red, White, & Royal Blue a whole lot, this was a pleasant one to read this summer!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston is one of my most anticipated books of 2021.
I was nervous because I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue so much.
I was sure this wouldn’t live up to my expectations.
Y’all I might love this one even more somehow! It was magical.

In this story we follow 23 year old August who has just moved to NYC. There she is hoping to find a place to call home. August meets Subway girl aka Jane and is immediately smitten, and this is where her life gets interesting!

Let me start by saying I went into this book blind. I didn’t feel the need to read the blurb because I knew it would be amazing.

I found the whole concept of Jane being stuck on the subway so interesting. I wasn’t expecting the sci-fi twist at all! I’m not mad at it though, it was so unique.
I laughed a ton, the characters were all amazing. I loved every single one of them.
Casey knows exactly how to write a book full of inclusive and diverse characters.


This book was queer with found family and my only complaint is that I wanted more. I wish we could have read more of what happens next.

This was my first book by the author and I really wanted to love it, but I honestly struggled. I did enjoy August and her roommates but I struggled with the overall story line and found that it dragged for me and I had to keep putting my kindle down and walk away for awhile. There wasn't anything about the story that was bad, I think it just wasn't for me, but fans of the author may definitely enjoy it.