A beautiful ode to queerness with all of my favorite tropes rolled into one well-written bundle. I just want to have pancakes with August, Jane, and the fam! A wonderful sophomore novel that put Casey McQuiston on my must-purchase list.

Cleverly crafted and so far one of my favorite books of this year. This book has an unforgettable cast of diverse characters that you want to be friends with. The writing style was smooth and gave striking details on settings and characters without intruding on the flow of the story and was beautiful in all the right moments. From the beginning I couldn’t put it down. This story stayed with me long after I had read the last chapter. A must read!

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Rated: PG-13
Sub-genre: Time-travel/Sci-fi
Trope: Soul mates
Pro: Original story; interesting characters
Con: Ending was just okay
Verdict: Picked up and became more interesting at the end of chapter 4

This was a lot of book. Quirky characters, unique situations, found family... it's a lot of story all tied up in one romance novel. I love the diversity of characters -- their pronouns, their queerness, their absolute acceptance of each other. It was a great love story, not just of romantic love, but family love, friend love and self love. I very much enjoyed my time with this book and the world the author created.

August has finally settled in Brooklyn to finish her degree after a lifetime of moving from place to place. She's surprised by how quickly she finds a home with with a random band of roommates who quickly become family, but she's even more unprepared for the woman she meets on the subway. Jane is the definition of cool, with her leather jacket and retro taste in 70's punk rock, but she's also kind of mysterious: she never leaves the Q train. Since there's little August loves more than a mystery, she leaps into an investigation of how where (or when?) Jane is really from, how she got stuck, and how to fix it. Except that last one comes with a pretty big risk. If they're able to get Jane off the train, she might just go back to where she came from and be out of August's life forever. Is saving this woman she thinks she loves worth her heartbreak if their plan actually works?

I LOVED Red, White and Royal Blue, so I had high hopes for this second novel from McQuiston. Unfortunately, it was a little bit of a letdown for me. The plot and pacing was really disjointed and awkward, with some scenes stretching out forever and then time passing in a blink where we have no idea what happened in between. There were way too many metaphors and other grammatical techniques used to the point where it felt forced, like someone told the author to show and not tell and they really took that to heart. I absolutely loved the supporting cast (August's roommates were all the best, and the drag queens were FABULOUS), but August, herself, was pretty underwhelming. Jane, too, was a little flat in comparison to the others, though she certainly had more attitude and a more interesting backstory than August.

For me, this read as a very early draft, where the story didn't quite work yet and the writing wasn't as sharp or polished as I'd expect. And maybe some of these issues will be worked out before the finished product goes to press. There were still characters that charmed the heck out of me, just like in McQuiston's first book, so it's not like I didn't like anything in this book. There was a lot to work with, I just felt like I couldn't root for the main characters enough to love it. But the representation and acceptance and "finding your chosen family" message was completely beautiful, and I'm glad I read it. And no matter what, after that complete knockout of a first book, I will always look forward to seeing what McQuiston does next. :)

**Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

I felt like I waited 1000 years for another Casey McQuiston book...and boy was this worth the wait! Funny, so sweet, such an interesting story! McQuiston's writing style feels very fresh and distinct. Side characters are perfect, and I loved the resolution at the end!

One Last Stop is at its core a story of found family. It was such a delightful read and will appeal to readers of both contemporary romcoms, as well as those who love a little magic or sci-fi! I was absolutely obsessed with the side characters and found August to be such a relief of a character. She is firmly in that “new adult” range, trying to find her place in the world with the impending end of her schooling. New York City felt so authentic, as did the 24-hour pancake diner and the amazingly well-crafted characters. The mystery behind it all kept me guessing the whole way through and was so well tied up by the end. Also I dare you to NOT fall in love with Jane, August, and the whole crew. HIGHLY recommend.

Quirky, cute & charming. Everything you need in a book. Casey McQuiston outperformed herself with the writing of this book. I could not put it down! All of the eccentric characters were well developed, I absolutely devoured this! Thank you so much for my advanced copy,

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Casey McQuiston for providing a digital galley in exchange for a review.

In Casey McQuiston’s new book One Last Stop, bisexual August has just moved to New York City and is settling into a new apartment with new roommates, a new job as a waitress in a 24-hour pancake diner, a new college, and a daily subway commute with a cute girl who always seems to be on the same train. No matter when August catches the Q line, there, improbably, is Jane, a gorgeous, friendly Chinese-American woman who makes catching the subway the highlight of August’s day. But August’s subway crush becomes more complicated than simply figuring out whether Jane is interested when she realizes that Jane’s old school taste in music, the fact that she always seems to be wearing the same thing, and the way she never leaves the subway car are more than just quirks – Jane has been displaced in time from the 1970s, lost all her memories, and can’t physically leave the Q line. As August tries to track down clues from Jane’s life, help her recover her memories, and free her from the subway, their growing feelings and a looming deadline complicate August’s motivations until she doesn’t know whether she’ll be able send Jane back to her own time and move on without her.

I sincerely loved the premise of this book and I have been excitedly waiting for it to come out since I first heard a description of it. I actually held off on starting it for at least a week after I was approved for the galley because I was worried I had built it up to much and it wouldn’t hold up to my expectations. If anything, it exceeded them. McQuiston has a talent for bringing characters to vivid life and, as fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue might expect, the banter in this book is top notch. Even the side characters feel like real people you will want to get to know. On top of that, August is a fantastic protagonist. She’s prickly and suspicious, carrying a lot of baggage from a childhood spent as her mother’s sidekick in pursuing a missing persons case, and watching her slowly build relationships (both romantic and platonic) is incredibly emotionally satisfying. I also just love McQuiston’s writing. Frequently I would find a line that hit me so strongly I had to stop, reread it a few times, take a picture of the line, and then remember that this is an ARC and I can’t use the photo to convince anyone to read the book yet because it isn’t out. So consider this review a continuation of that urge - go read this book!

In a letter at the beginning of the galley, McQuiston describes the story as about “being broke and lost in your twenties, finding family in more ways than one, and queer communities past and present,” and that really comes through. Although this is a romantic comedy, it’s just as much about August finding her place and figuring out who she wants to be and the life she wants to have, in the middle of a found family of queer characters, and the history Jane brings in of queer communities in the 70s, as it is about whether or not Jane and August will get together. I have a special place in my heart for found-family stories and this one is perfection. For those curious about the time-displacement element of the plot, it works best when you don’t examine it too closely. It’s explained in a way that makes just enough sense to keep the story moving, but the novel isn’t really here to tell a hard time travel story. The time-displacement is there to serve the romance plot, bring Jane and August together, and add the tension of August needing to help Jane get back to her own time, but wanting her to stay in the present so they can be together. There’s also a great subplot of August working with her found family of roommates, neighbors, and coworkers to fight gentrification and save the diner where she works from being bought out by a developer. The end felt a little rushed, in that I kept looking at the remaining page count and worrying about how it could possibly wrap up all the plot lines still in the air at that point, but it did so admirably. In general, this novel makes you want to hug the characters and spend more time with them and without giving any spoilers, I was very happy with the ending. I can’t wait for it to come out so I can start shoving it at everyone I can convince to read it.

This was on of my most anticipated books of 2021. I loved red, white and royal blue. The beginning was slow for me and took a bit to get into it. Once we got more info the story and the characters I did enjoy it. Overall a great read and will definitely recommend it.

I give it a 4.5 of 5 stars! Readers be warned - this started off slow for me in the first quarter of the book, but once we hit the big plot hook (no spoilers), I was enthralled. The realistic, modern novel took on a magical, fantastical air and I needed to know what happened next. The twists and turns were great fun, and the characters were all vibrant and real. There were a handful of moments that made me raise an eyebrow, such as a certain line that was VERY similar to a famous John Green book quote, but overall, this read was great fun. I actually enjoyed it better than Red, White, and Royal Blue, by a decent margin! Knowing how popular that read was, I hope all who enjoyed it will pick up this one next.

Casey McQuiston has done it again in this spectacular f/f romance set in New York City. Equal parts LGBTQ+ history and love affair with the atmosphere of the big city, this novel extends far beyond a simple romance, though that's not to say that this romance wasn't one that will stay in my heart for a long time. August and Jane are a force to be reckoned with as a couple, but on their own, they're each so powerful in the ways in which they have overcome so much to get to where they are. I will definitely be recommending this to any customer looking for their next favourite read!

One Last Stop was one of my highly anticipated reads. I loved Red, White and Royal Blue for a so many reasons. It was a gem. In my opinion, this book was not a success. I couldn't connect with characters and the storyline was disconnected. I love a bit of fantasy in books, but this just didn't work for me.

I initially had a hard time getting into this book, but that all quickly changed. The friendships and queerness of this book are revelatory. I think Casey has created a book that will speak to all different types of queer people. The millennial attitude and air of the story also spoke to my personal age demographic. I would tell anyone who is thinking of quitting this book to keep going because the ending is savory and sweet.

One Last Stop is a heart warming story featuring a touch of magical, a quirky cast of lovable characters who grow into a found family and a love story that is as much about two women as it is about the progress and hopeful future of queer culture. I loved this book from start to finish.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and it did not disappoint. Queer, romantic, paranormal, and mystery weave a truly unforgettable story. These characters warmed my heart and I hope you take the jump and read this book.

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martins Press) and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was amazing! So when I heard about this book I immediately put it on my want to read shelf because the cover totally sold me and when I got the synopsis it just made it 20 times better so I put a request and got approved! I literally loved this book so much so lets start with the pros and cons!
So the pros are the atmosphere I loved it so much I have never been to NY before ,but this just made it feel like I was there the sound of the subways and the iconic popeyes moment everything was just so vivid and amazing that I just wanted to reread and then reread again!
The romance was chefs kiss amazing! The chemistry was their and the characters were so realistic and honestly I just wanted to be their friends lol.
Casey's writing just makes the story so much better and just goes with the flow of the story and I loved every second and word that I spent reading this book! I literally cannot wait for more books by Casey McQuiston.
For me personally their were no cons I loved this book so much and I felt so accepted and seen!

McQuiston said this is the "weird, fun, horny project of [their] heart" and it definitely was. There was so much to enjoy and celebrate about this book. These characters deserve their depictions and page time and I hope others see themselves represented, however, ONE LAST STOP stumbled for me because of the weird factor. There were too may quirky traits (I'm of the less is more type) and the bit of sci-fi didn't work for me either. McQuiston has a lot going on.

ONE LAST STOP just wasn't for me, but I know it will resonate with other readers. That being said I love love loved RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE and will definitely pick up their next book.

Sometimes, you just need fluff. Like "Red, White and Royal Blue", this story, while so improbably, is just so charming and delightfully fun to read. It's like peeking into a universe that should be. People should be charming, true love should conquer all, drag queens should have enough pull to save pancake houses, and so on. This is what more romantic comedies need to be--not "they argue so much because they're IN LOVE" or "what a wacky misunderstanding!" but people who genuinely like each other who have to overcome ridiculous circumstances and still get a happily ever after.

Fluff.

We need more fluff.

5 stars! How was this SO GOOD?

I don't want to spoil anything. Just... read it. Casey McQuiston has once again written a book that makes me feel like anything is possible. This is like a positive and hopeful episode of the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror, where a girl who is feeling a little lost in life meets a girl from the 1970s who is stuck on this modern subway and doesn't know why. The plot unfolds itself deliberately, and beautifully. Their connection is touching, gripping, and I am 100% here for it.

Representation left and right, backstories that make you want to cry, passages that make you long to aimlessly ride on a train in New York. The "OH MY GOD JUST TELL ME IF THIS IS A DATE" scene made me laugh out loud and that ending made me put the book down and to lay out in the sun to absorb everything. The growth of the characters was believable and inspiring.

I loved this book!

If you like - found families, mysteries, kissing for "research purposes," medium burn romance, introspection, pancakes, music, drag queens, tattoos, "I love you"s that burn in your eyes like onions, excessively taking notes, or any of the above, go read this book.