A great book recommendation for anyone this year. Its an emotional book that really transports you to the subway it's set on. Similar to Red, White and Royal Blue, Casey Mcquinston really grounds her main characters romance In a rich and full world around them. Its weighty and interesting, while still being heart warming.

Perfect for YA and Adult, and would recommend for fans of Casey's first book, Sarah Dessen, or Meg Cabet.

Usually, I give myself a day or so to let a book truly sink in after I finish it before I write a review, but I just can't with this one. To say this book struck straight into my heart would be a little reductive to my current 1am-crying-so-hard-my-entire-shirt-is-soaked-in-tears state, but it's the best way I can describe it.

I cannot think of one single thing about this book that I would change or leave out - my RWRB obsessed self has been waiting on this one ever since Casey started tweeting about it before RWRB even came out, and I can safely say it met every one of my expectations and then some. The plot itself isn't something you would see coming from (or working in) a rom-com, but it's executed so perfectly that it felt oddly normal. There wasn't one character I didn't instantly love, they're all written so vividly that I felt like I knew everyone of them in the way August did. It feels almost reductionist to say that August's character itself was so relatable, but her not knowing who she is, what she wants or where she fits made my heart ache more than once. To get to see this developing over the course of the book alongside her relationships to the other characters was just beautiful. Obviously, I'm totally in love with Jane (as everyone should be), but the way her race and sexuality provided context for who she was instead of being simply who she was was so refreshing and made her one of my favourite love interests of all time. I could write essays upon essays about her, and the love her and August have.

More than all of this, what really struck me about One Last Stop, right from the very first chapter, is the feeling of belonging. This whole book feels like a love letter to the families we create, past, present and future. Drag brunches, the smell of pancakes, frog bones in a sculpture,and one train line connecting it all - it all felt so real, like I was living it myself. It was such a feeling of comfort, like arms reaching out and saying "It's okay to not know. It'll all fall into place one day." This book took all of the things I fear the most and gave them back to me changed, more magical, more manageable. I felt less alone, and I think all the best books make you feel like everything and anything is possible. And you know it's good when the even the sex scenes make you cry.

Casey McQuiston's 'One Last Stop' was one of the most unique books I've ever read. Went into it expecting a well-crafted fun romance with feels (a la 'Red, White & Royal Blue') but it was so much more!! I spent some time trying to figure out how it was going to work out (and IF it was) and it was so compelling that I finished the book in two days. The Brooklyn misfits that drive the story are loveably and unapologetically themselves and after spending time in the book I want to be their neighbor. I think there will be a lot of buzz for this book and it will be in many beach bags this summer.

This was a rather difficult review to write, because in all honesty, as much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t. This is by no means a bad book, but there is nothing about it that really stands apart from other romances and it was, in my opinion, very weak compared to her first novel Red, White and Royal Blue. It was just a very perfectly fine book but nothing extraordinary.

With that said, there are some praises I’d like to sing before we get into the parts I didn’t love. This book and the romance were incredibly queer focused and honestly, I thought she nailed it. I was really, really excited to see a queer/bi main character who doesn’t end up with a man like many stories often do, and I love that there was no internal struggle about if she might like women. She was already secure in her queerness and this story was just about finding love. I think this book deals with some heavier topics, but McQuiston does a really nice job of tackling them in a very respectful way – I wouldn’t call it perfect, but it was carefully and considerately done and that deserves props.

However, despite these positives, I have to admit I really struggled to get into this book. It just moved soooooo much slower than Red, White, and Royal Blue and it took me a really long time to feel invested in any of the characters, especially the main character. If we are being completely honest, the entire time I was reading this I just kept shouting in my head “WHEW CHILE, AUGUST NEEDS SOME THERAPY!” I don’t think I was every truly invested in August or her relationship… however, there is a second relationship in the background of this book and THAT is what had my attention. I think its wonderful to have little back stories going on, but something feels off when your side story is more engaging/interesting than the main one. Last but not least there are some parts of this story that feel WAY to farfetched, and I’m not even talking about the elements of magical realism. Maybe I’m jaded because I’m sick of these ode’s to New York City (you know other cities exist right) but come on – we need to be more realistic about the financial aspects of NYC. Its such a simple thing but it truly ruined a lot of the book for me because I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes.

Despite my complaints I want to reiterate this book was perfectly fine and I’m sure other readers will thoroughly enjoy it. I will still happily recommend it to romance readers, both new to the genre like me, and the dedicated one who could easily school me.

Final rating: 2.5/5 stars

So much more than I expected it to be. Wonderful second novel, different than the first but just as warm and welcoming.

(Camera pans to me, casting aside every other book and ARC I have to read so I can start One Last Stop, a book that's pub date isn’t until June 2021)

I knew when I finished Red, White & Royal Blue that Casey McQuiston had locked me down for life as an avid fan. So when I heard they were coming out with a new book, this time a Sapphic love story with a sci-fi, time travel twist? Located in NYC??? UM, HELLO? A gigantic thank you to St. Martin’s Press for quickly giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest (gushing with love) review.

I immediately saw myself in our main character, August. She’s a 23 year old bi girl who’s been hopping around from city to city, university to university, just trying to find a place that feels like home. She feels lost, a little hopeless and most of all, lonely. It seems like everyone else has their shit together and knows what they want from life. What’s she doing wrong? She takes a leap and moves to NYC for a fresh start, in hopes that things start to fall into place. She moves into an apartment above a Pop-eye’s with some roommates who make her feel welcome right away. And then she meets Jane.

Here are the things I loved most;
- A genuine, hilarious and warm cast of diverse, queer characters. The dynamics and banter between not just August and Jane, but August and her roommates, my god. Watching a character do the things you’re yearning to do in your own life and seeing it play out in a mostly positive way? That’s cathartic. Like I said, I saw myself in August right away, and this book gave me hope and perhaps a dash of the courage I’ll need to follow in her footsteps.
- Jane Su. No, I do not need to elaborate. You’ll see.
- The sci-fi element was so well done and never felt hard to buy into. August and Jane’s relationship was a slow burn, mostly due to the teeny, tiny time travel problem, and I was invested from the start.
- The themes of loneliness and feeling lost. They hit me hard. This quote in particular made me wince, “But, you know, that feeling? When you wake up in the morning and you have somebody to think about? Somewhere for hope to go? It’s good. Even when it’s bad, it’s good.”

I’m not going to make a list of things I didn’t like, because there weren’t really any. This book feels like a warm hug. It’s an ode to self discovery, friendship and queerness. And let’s not forget about those pancakes.

I can’t wait for people to read this so I can gush about it with them. Casey has done it again.

The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Oh, Casey. You've done it again. This book is an absolute DELIGHT, it's that book I'm going to read on Netgalley and then buy in print and then listen to on audio. I really cannot wait for the audiobook of this because it will force me to slow down and not fly through the pages.

Prickly August is alone in NYC when she stumbles into a roommate situation with a group of lovable folks who make me miss my 20s in Hollywood. Casey does such a wonderful job of capturing the magic of found family and the beautiful way the queer community has of accepting each other, flaws and all. This book, like RWRB, pays homage to queer history, and no one like McQuiston makes me really feel that pride as though it's June and I'm at the parade celebrating.

Jane is ridiculously hot and the chemistry between her and August was {jazz hands}. I loved the way body image was handled, and I had a ton of fun trying to unravel the mystery of Jane's presence on that damn subway train! How did she get there? Why is she stuck? McQuiston does such a hell of a job keeping us engaged, and the last third of the book is absolute magic.

I cannot wait for everyone to read this!

*representation and tws/cws are listed at the end of this! thank you to st. martin's press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. all quotes may change upon publication and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

"you're movies and destiny and every stupid, impossible thing, and it's not because of the fucking train, it's because of you."

saying that i had high expectations for one last stop is an understatement. after red, white & royal blue became one of my favorite books back in 2019, anything lower than a full 5 stars on this book would've meant disappointment. and then i finally read this (after begging for an arc and checking my email 20 times a day for a reply) and it somehow...exceeded my expectations. because casey mcquiston is incapable of writing anything less than perfection.

one last stop is about a 23 year old cynical loner/part-time detective named august, who's just trying to find her purpose and live life as unnoticed as possible. but after gaining three roommates who are the opposite of unnoticeable and developing the world's biggest disaster crush on cute subway girl jane su, everything changes - especially when she finds out jane has been stuck in time for 40+ years and can't leave the train. the result is a story that's the perfect balance of hilarious, sweet, and moving. where red, white & royal blue is like an uplifting speech spreading hope to the tired and the lost, one last stop is a private letter from a friend, a little more personal and slightly more subdued but no less reassuring.

i literally can't think of a single main or side character in this book who i dislike. august's roommates, friends, and coworkers, as well as august herself, are all so endearing and realistic it's insane (i'm still waiting for niko and myla to adopt me). but the one character who i'll never shut up about, ever, for the rest of time, is jane. jane is a badass chinese-american punk lesbian with nerves of steel and a heart of gold and i love her so much. she's loyal, brave, and the type of person who would buy you snacks when you're sick and then throw a few punches at a racist in the next minute. i was initially drawn to her because of the lack of queer asian characters in media (and, admittedly, because i think girls with undercuts and piercings are...neat) but i grew to love her for so, so many other reasons: her lingering doubts, her past, her unwavering kindness, the way she shoulders so much loss but still goes forth with a smile. her character is truly one of this book's biggest highlights.

on top of that, mcquiston also does a great job with diversity; there's representation for all sorts of sexualities, races, religions, etc. i love how race, sexuality, and gender identity are important to the characters and yet don't become the focus of their personalities (the scattered mentions of chinese culture, from the tiger balm jane carries to the lunar new year references myla makes, make me so happy). with other authors (who will go unnamed for obvious reasons), this book would feel like a checklist: a token poc to insert here, a minor lgbt character with barely any page time there. this definitely isn't the case with one last stop; every character has their own unique depths and dynamics with their friends, families, and partners. (the romance between august and jane is very, very, very good and not toxic, rushed, or shallow in the slightest. but i'm still jealous of august.)

the thing i have to admire most about one last stop, though, is how comforting it is. aside from maybe alice oseman's work, i've never read anything like mcquiston's writing. this book is the literary equivalent of the goddamn sun. it's a love letter to the queer community that oozes every warm and fuzzy feeling in existence, while still honoring those who fought for us in the past and treating serious topics with the respect they deserve. it's a whole home and found family trapped in a bundle of dead tree with pretty art on the front, and i can't stress this enough - it is so good.

all in all, one last stop is an extraordinary second novel that provides refreshing new plotlines, romances, and characters while keeping the humor, comfort, and meaning that made red, white & royal blue so special. it's completely stunning, and, even days after finishing, i still can't think about anything else. i can't wait for it to be found by the rest of the world. it's a masterpiece.

"i love you. summer never ends."

_

rep: bi mc, chinese-american lesbian li, black sapphic sc, puerto rican-american trans sc, gay jewish sc, black gay sc, black pan sc, czech sc

tws and cws: mentions of grief and death, mentions and depictions of anxiety, mentions of destruction (specifically the impact of hurricane katrina), alcohol and drug consumption, mentions of past homophobia and racism, mentions of past hate crimes (specifically the upstairs lounge fire), very brief mentions of blood and violence

I already knew that I like McQuiston’s writing because of Red, White, and Royal Blue, but One Last Stop has solidified them as a favorite author. The story follows August, a woman who tries to take up as little space as possible and distance herself from people so she never gets attached. She moves to New York and joins a ragtag group of roommates and gets a job at a local landmark pancake house. While commuting to school, she meets another woman on the train and there’s a spark, a desperate want to know this woman and maybe be something more. But this woman is no average woman and so August must use all her detective skills to find out what happened to her and how to help her.

I found the romance of this story to be fulfilling and sweet and sexy. It was so refreshing to see a sapphic romance that had both sugar and spice. I also really loved the creative twist on this story! It made for such a thrilling read. I love all the roommates, coworkers, and neighbors of August. The found family trope is so dear to my heart and this was such a perfect example of it and how it feels. I’m obsessed with this story. The twists and turns made it so addicting to read and exciting to read. You never knew what was happening, and you’re so eager to find out even just a little more.

I can’t fully wrap my head around how good this story was. I loved that August was bisexual, Jane a rebellious lesbian, Niko a transgender man, Wes a Jewish queer man, Isaiah a drag queen neighbor... the representation is amazing and so realistic. I wish I had more books like this one. Queer romance with a fun and interesting sci-fi twist. Hopefully this sparks a whole range of books similar and different to it. All I’ll say is that no one would regret reading this.

One Last Stop is a romance that follows August Landry, a 23-year-old who just moved to New York City, and Jane, a girl August keeps seeing on the subway.
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Soon August realizes that Jane isn’t just someone who happens to have the same commute as her; her subway crush is actually from the 1970s, and has been displaced in time. August, ever the detective, resolves to figure out what is going on and how to save the girl lost in time.
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I first read Casey McQuiston’s debut, Red White & Royal Blue, in 2019, and it became one of my favorite books of all time. I was incredibly excited when I heard Casey was writing a sapphic romance next, and One Last Stop easily became my most anticipated release of 2021. I was ecstatic to receive the email letting me know I was approved for the ARC, and this book did not disappoint.
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The characters in this story were so fully realized, and I could easily picture all of them and imagine them to be real people. I absolutely adored August’s dynamics with her roommates, coworkers, and neighbors, as well as, of course, her relationship with Jane. This book was all at once heartwarming, hilarious, and gut-wrenching. I don’t often cry reading books, but I did cry reading this one. I loved August and Jane’s romance so much, and I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
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I knew when I read Red, White & Royal Blue, but it has just been even further solidified with One Last Stop, that Casey McQuiston is a favorite author of mine and I will check out anything they publish.

An absolutely amazing book to start the year with. I was hopefully but wary about McQuiston's second book, having loved her first, but was definitly not disappointed. The characters are all richly developed, and the sense of space is just perfect. Makes me want to hop on a plant to Brooklyn as soon as its safe to do so.

To say I loved Red, White and Royal Blue is an understatement. I was OBSESSED. Recommended to anyone who would listen and then some! So I was SO exited to receive an ARC of One Last Stop!
One Last Stop is about a bi girl named August who has moved around a ton finally settling in NY where she hopes to finish her degree and start making a life. Like RWRB, the book is anchored in its characters. McQuiston does an amazing job creating these incredibly authentic characters. They are diverse, layered and full of life. And of course it helps that the story takes place on my subway line! I love Jane as a love interest and cant wait for more people to get their hands on the book!
TY NetGalley for the opportunity of the early read!

Remarkably well developed world, characters and concept again. A high-wire act to write a romance largely in a subway and Casey McQuiston pulls it off.

It’s almost 3 am and I’m crying my eyes out over this book. Thank you Casey Mcquiston for writing yet another beautiful novel that I can guarantee will touch the hearts of many. Our main character August is such a relatable character as she’s a 23 year old in college who has no idea what she’s doing in life. She then meets Jane and right away knows there’s something different about her. Watching them fall in love while uncovering Jane’s past and restoring her memories was so beautiful, I became so attached to these characters and was so scared for what was going to happen to them. If you didn’t enjoy Red White and Royal Blue I would still recommend giving this novel a shot, as it is completely different and even has some sci-fi elements to it.

Once again, thank you Casey Mcquiston. You made this bisexual girl very happen.

I don't even know where to begin with this, because this book not only lived up to my insanely high expectations, but easily surpassed them as it restarted my cold dead heart only to rip it out of my chest still beating. The old blurb for One Last Stop didn't do it justice, in fact, it barely scratches the surface. While it's definitely a romance novel, it's about finding your place in the world , finding your people and learning to move on and let go of the past. It's cynical and hopeful and heartbreaking and joyous. It's the kind of book that makes you sob during the saddest and happiest parts and makes you feel as if your body is overflowing with emotions that have to come out because you're somehow feeling everything at once and it's the most alive you've been in a long time.

I absolutely adored McQuiston's debut, Red, White and Royal Blue, devouring it in one long, emotional and tear filled sitting where I couldn't feel my fingers anymore at the end of it since they were so cold and stiff from lack of circulation. One Last Stop was different though, and not in a competitive way so much as they're just different personalities. It took me almost the entire month of November to finish it, both because of distractions from the election and the upcoming holidays, and because I wanted to savor it as I read. I only read when I knew I wasn't going to be interrupted so I could give it my full attention, so I could soak in every last little detail and and interaction and word since it captured just how messy and hopeful life is.

I loved everything about this book, from the patchwork found family of queers, to the complexity of blood family, to finding yourself, finding the person you love and falling in love with a city (because NYC is definitely a character on this, how could she not be?). If you love stories about self discovery, romance and found family definitely pick this up. And honestly, even if you don't, try it anyway, it's just that amazing.

such a sweet and well-written story! Cases McQuiston is an auto buy author for me. The characters and friend group were fantastic. The romance was cute. And I loved the way music was included in the story.

McQuiston's sophomore novel is full of charm. The dynamic between the character's was fun, and fans of her first novel will enjoy this time-bending book.

This was just so good and I loved it. I absolutely love the way McQuiston writes her characters. Of course the main characters are fascinating and I love them, but the secondary characters are just as fun and interesting and I want to be friends with them all. The mystery and the connection of it all was so well-written and part of me wishes I could just erase the book from my memory and read it all again.

This book was impossible to put down! Red, White & Royal Blue was such a brilliant, fun romance that it doesn’t surprise me that Casey McQuiston’s second novel would be so heartbreakingly perfect. I loved everything about this book, the writing is sharp; the characters diverse, lovable, and compelling; the found family element; the well-crafted blend of history and fiction—I loved it all. It just felt so hopeful and warm with a dash of mystery to make it even sweeter. I laughed and cried with these characters, and can’t wait to share this book with other readers.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a cute romcom featuring diverse characters, LGBTQ rep, community, and romance with a side of mystery.

What a way to end 2020. This book made me cry and I almost never do. The suspense, the mystery, the romance and the twists. I was caught off guard so many times and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So many quotes to that spoke to me. This book was everything I needed as a queer woman and more. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and fall in love with August, Jane and the residents of 6F, and of course Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes.