An absolute delight in every way. I adored this book! Probably the most joyfully, unapologetically queer book I've ever had the pleasure to read. ONE LAST STOP has all the humor, sex, and romance of a rom-com, while also grounding itself in a wonderful cast of characters and powerful emotions. An absolute must read.

I loved everything about this story, but the characters are absolutely the heart of it. Casey McQuiston needs to teach a masterclass on character creation. Every single one of them is so lovable and unique and hilarious. I found myself desperately wanting to be in the room with them, plotting and joking. They love each other fiercely, and it bleeds from the page with every interaction.

Very few authors can manage to write dialogue that sounds so modern and real without sounding like pandering. McQuiston made me laugh out loud regularly, penning exchanges that I could imagine my own friends saying over drinks at a party. It's a true gift and I'm incredibly pleased at how deftly she applies it to her novels.

I have no doubts that this book will go on to be just as beloved as McQuiston's debut novel. She really is a force and a talent in the industry, and we're incredibly lucky to be able to witness it.

<i>Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

4.5 stars

<i>One Last Stop</i> is the story of August, a bisexual college student who has transferred from school to school in hopes of finally finding something that feels right. When she moves to New York as another attempt to finish her degree in a place that feels like home, she finds some lovable yet slightly odd roommates, a charming pancake diner, and notably, a drop-dead gorgeous girl on the subway. Speaking of drop-dead...August has the feeling that there might be something up with the ethereal Subway Girl Jane. Is she dead? A ghost? Lost in time? It's a mystery she's set on solving. For research purposes, of course. Totally not because Jane is the most beautiful, intriguing, lovely person that August has ever met. Yeah.

I had high hopes for <i>One Last Stop</i> from the beginning and I can confidently state that those were met. Casey McQuiston has such a distinctly descriptive, emotional, whimsical way of writing. I haven't read a book with such unique characters and vivid descriptions in awhile--who knew someone could make New York sound so charming? I was impressed by the incredible diversity within the cast of characters along with the creative plot elements. McQuiston has truly mastered plotting detailed, layered stories that wrap up so nicely. There are so many subplots to this novel and yet McQuiston is able to make them all connect and make sense.

The relationship between August and Jane was fantastic. McQuiston uses such a great blend of humor, awkward moments, and tenderness to make their relationship feel so genuine and right. The ups and downs August and Jane experienced were equally interesting to read. Their fights seemed emotional and real without feeling toxic or over-the-top just for some extra drama. I also appreciated the even balance between Jane's romantic life, family connections, and friendships.

Overall, <i>One Last Stop</i> is a beautiful sapphic novel with wonderfully diverse characters and an impressively multi-layered plot. I think my only complaint was that there were some parts in the beginning and maybe the middle that felt a bit slow, but other than that, I would highly recommend this novel.

One Last Stop follows a girl named August, who recently moved to New York City. When August falls for a girl named Jane on her subway commute, she realizes that Jane is actually a girl from the 70s who got stuck in time on the Q subway line.

This story was beautiful. It’s queer, it’s got that intense and steamy romance that Casey McQuiston is known for, and it perfectly captures that NYC vibe. There’s drag queens, quirky and unique characters, and it punches you in the heart with feelings. This book was such an incredible read for me.

Three-dimensional characters, great group of diverse friends, plausible but heartwarming plot. One of the better "on the subway" books that are coming out lately. I will likely buy this even for my rural small town library, wide appeal.

*4.5*

casey mcquiston strikes again and i am not surprised! this sapphic romance has so much heart, whether you're falling in love with the characters, the romance, or new york city itself. and of course, a plethora of fantastic one liners and a+ young 20-something humor that i will one day put a tab on in my physical copy. i really loved following august's journey and her arc as a character. i loved jane and the connection that she had august formed. and if you think a book often set on the subway can't get steamy, THINK AGAIN!

as always, mcquiston has also crafted a cast of supporting characters with unique backgrounds and traits that are impossible not to love and root for. the found family is STRONG with this one, y'all. though the dog could have used more page time in my total critical opinion.

the one thing that kept this from feeling like a full five star is that the pacing felt just a little off, though it honestly just might have been my own fault for taking a couple weeks to read it (ya girl was doing nano okay). additionally, some of the explanations for some of the ~mysterious things the characters are trying to solve didn't entirely click in my dumby brain. also as a non-new yorker who has also never been there and never been on a subway period, often times the more technical descriptions just had me like ???

BUT overall this book was fantastic. even though there's some sad stuff, in the end, it kind of feels like a warm hug, and it serves as a reminder that you can find love anywhere you go, as long as you're willing to give it a shot.

This was literally everything I could have asked for in a book! Time-traveling lesbian stuck in a New York subway falling in love with an absolutely disaster of a girl who's aimlessly making her way through the world... There's drag queens and strawberry milkshake poptarts and it's everything.

I was crying by the end, just so overly invested in Jane and August and all of their friends. The New York vibes are immaculate, the romance impeccable, the friendships incredible. This is everything I could have ever wanted.

I honestly didn't think that I could love One Last Stop more than I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue but somehow Casey McQuiston did it.

I laughed out loud while reading it and couldn't put it down. The way McQuiston writes is magical and she creates such beautiful characters (and romances).

I was invested in every single character. August and Jane were absolutely amazing both as a couple and as individuals. There really was such a beautiful spark between them and I wanted to know everything about them. (I would really love if McQuiston could write a novella about everyone a few years after the end of the book).

Myla, Niko, Wes, and Isiah were the best found family I've read about in a long time. They really loved each other and knew when to be honest with each other and when someone just needed a bit of happiness. The characters were also really diverse without it being a big deal...they just were and existed in this world without their identity being the entire reason they were in the story.

I also enjoyed the ending and was glad it wasn't a right away happy ending or just a sad ending....McQuiston really created a wonderful end and I want more of these characters!

Casey McQuiston is definitely an auto-buy author for me.

Casey McQuiston is no doubt an extremely talented writer, seasoned beyond her years. There were things about this book that I enjoyed a great deal: the New York City setting, the diverse cast of characters, the humor, the prose (though I could have done with about fifteen fewer mentions of a character "pulling a face"). Overall, however, I was a bit disappointed. I loved Red, White and Royal Blue SO much that I think my expectations were simply too high. Although this book wandered into the sci-fi realm, I'd argue that RWRB contained much more magic. I do predict, though, that many readers will love this book, perhaps especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, which I think will make McQuiston feel proud, as she should.

I immediately requested this book when I saw it because I had loved Red, White & Royal Blue so much. Without knowing much about this book, I was eager to dive in. One Last Stop was so very different from RW&RB, but just as delightful and refreshing.

The characters in this book feel so real, even with these elements of magical realism throughout the novel. Without lengthy introductions or descriptions, the reader gets to know the characters so vividly.

I loved that this book had the element of time travel, it made it so much different from other contemporary style romances.

Not one character in One Last Stop could be categorized as a stereotype, they were so unique and surprising in their own ways. I have a feeling this book is going to be extremely popular when it is released. I can’t wait to hear and read everyone’s excitement about this magical novel.

Another homerun for Casey McQuiston. With how universally loved McQuiston's debut was, there had to have been quite a bit of pressure on this sophomore effort to live up to expectations and, for me as a reader, it absolutely did. It's so entirely different from RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE while being equally as captivating. It is also a flex of McQuiston's skill for writing stories about community and about bigger themes than just the romance happening between two people. And it's a story about two women falling in love! How do we not have more stories written for a new adult or adult audience about women falling in love? I'm grateful that McQuiston has proved an example of how it's done well.

Cheers for joyful queer love and community and stories that distract from the reality of 2020; that feel like a movie you grew up loving and already have nostalgia for the moment you finish reading it.

As a high school librarian, I can’t add this to our collection but personally? I loved it. Not quite RW&RB but that book is another level and, coupled with One Last Stop, will make ma a fan for life.

I love the bisexual main character and that she's not represented as a lesbian even as she's falling for another woman. The diversity in this book was lovely to see especially when it's such a small part of the greater story, in my opinion it was the perfect way to include diversity.
Overall the characters were definitely the best part of this novel, they are absolutely fabulous and feel realistic in the best way possible. Almost every single character felt like a person that I could know in real life while simultaneously wanting them to be my best friend. My favorite character changed a lot in this story because everyone had their moment to shine while helping August.
The magic was the second part of this novel that made it the 5 star that it is. One Last Stop has real magic but also teaches the lesson that magic is in the world and people around you. I saw the magic and beauty in the world around me more clearly as I read this book and that's really one of the best things that I could hope for while reading.

What can I say about this novel in order to convey the depth of my love for it? I don’t know that there are words. Obviously, with Red, White & Royal Blue being the smash hit it was, the expectation for Casey McQuiston’s second novel were beyond high for me—and it surpassed them all.

One Last Stop combines so many of my favourite things to create an amazing novel I’ll be re-reading again and again: a complicated sapphic relationship portrayed with such realism it left me feeling seen, a messy and wonderful protagonist in August (who I will die for, thank you), speculative elements to enhance the contemporary romance plotline, a wonderful queer found family with side characters I would ALSO die for, a swoon worthy love interest, and clear love for the city of New York in which its set.

Seriously. This will be on my auto-recommend list to anyone looking for a romance read, and in my possibly controversial opinion, I liked One Last Stop even more than RW&RB, which is hard to beat. McQuiston has turned me into a lifelong fan and I will be purchasing all their books for as long as they continue to write them.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book and would love to say thank you to Netgalley and the people at St.Martin's Press for giving me a chance to read an advance copy of my most anticipated book of 2021. I feel so lucky I got to do that.

One Last Stop is one of the best love stories I have ever read. Not only does Casey McQuiston made me fall in love with August and Jane, they also made me fall for their friends: Myla, Niko, Wes, Isaiah... They made me fall in love with New York. Billy's pancakes. Drag's shows you go see with your besties at night. The subway. The Q train.

I felt pulled in the story as soon I read the first page. I loved August and saw a lot of myself in her. I found her relatable and loved the whole 'detective gilmore girl' thing she and her mom had, although it might nt have been easy growing up.

I don't want to say too much, but if you, whoever you are, are reading this, I want you to know that this is <i>the </i> book. It's worth reading.

WOW. This book is INCREDIBlE! I honestly didn't want it to end but I also wanted to know what happens. Word of advice, go into this book knowing as little as possible. I didn't know anything about it except it was by Casey McQuiston and I adored Red, White and Royal Blue. Going into this story knowing nothing made for the most magical reading experience! I was genuinely shocked and awed with this adorable book. The characters are quirky and charming. The setting was perfect. Honestly might be my new favorite book! Sorry in advance for how much I'm going to be talking about this book for the next few months! Read it! You'll love it!

A huge thank you to DJ DeSmyter, Meghan Harrington, and NetGalley for this ARC. I emailed many times and I’m lucky it paid off.

Casey McQuiston’s sophomore novel does a complete 180 from her fluffy, dreamy debut, “Red, White & Royal Blue,” and transports readers to the dirty subways of New York, but manages to keep the same themes of hope, family, and queer love prominent to create a show stopper out of “One Last Stop.”

“One Last Stop” centers around August, a 23-year-old trying to find her place in the world who has just recently moved to New York and finds herself ready to attend college for a third time, working at a 24-hour pancake diner, and taking the Q train regularly. But that’s not all life has in store for August. Enter Jane, a Chinese-American heartstopper who seems to always be on the Q train with August, until she finds out Jane is stuck in time. It’s up to August, with the help of her friends, to find out how to get her subway crush back to the real world before she’s stuck in time, possibly forever.

McQuiston showcases major growth in her writing but maintains the same identity. Her writing remains to be this poetic commentary on the characters, their identities, and the bigger themes the book revolves around. For “One Last Stop,” she manages to capture the desire, want, and need of belonging and a sense of family beautifully and in a number of ways.

These feelings are best captured in the ensemble of characters that accompany August and Jane which include August’s roommates (Niko, Myla, Wes, and Noodles the poodle); Isaiah, the drag queen who lives across the hall; and Lucie, one of August’s coworkers at Pancake Billy’s House of Pancakes. These characters are very diverse and represent many parts of the LGBT+ community which gives readers a multitude of emotions to relate to and stories to find themselves in. In all honesty, these characters make the novel and it wouldn’t be the same without them. Readers are guaranteed to fall in love with them just as much as they will August and Jane.

August and Jane are much more complex than their friends, given that they are the leads of the book, but give themselves away in pieces throughout it. At first, neither come off with much to them, but as they find themselves (August in a more metaphorical way, Jane in a more literal way), they grow into more well rounded, complex characters. August is not perfect by any means and is a great example of a disaster bi (in the nicest way possible), but that’s what makes her such an amazing main character. Jane is the character readers will easily fall for, with her badass attitude that breaks occasionally, showcasing the more emotional and insecure side to her. They complement each other perfectly and their (eventual) relationship creates a timeless love story that’s easy to fall for.

What is perhaps the best part of this book, though, is McQuiston’s ability to encapsulate New York which defines the novel all around. She did this in “Red, White & Royal Blue,” where the settings (Washington D.C. and the U.K.) reflect the feel of the book quite well, with its perfect, storybook tone and ending. The same applies to this book. “One Last Stop” captures the greasy yet magical grind of the trains and everyday life of New Yorkers. August is a messy character, often put in messy settings, which reflect McQuiston’s personal experiences, from what she has spoken on the novel. It creates an experience that feels authentic and real, whether readers have lived in New York their whole life or never been at all.

The only part where “One Last Stop” falls flat is its slow beginning and fast-paced ending. Compared to “Red, White & Royal Blue,” it takes significantly longer for much of anything to happen with August and Jane, as it is a lot of scene-setting and character introduction. On the opposite hand though, the ending feels a little rushed and abrupt. Luckily though, almost all loose ends are tied up and the book ends hopeful for all characters.

The Verdict

“One Last Stop” is another masterpiece by McQuiston and offers fans a new kind of magic for readers to fall in love with. It is a story about what defines family, the numerous forms they come in, and the heart-aching love that comes with finding it. It is a love letter to New York, the magic of the small things in life, and, perhaps the most heartwarming, a love letter to her fans. McQuiston’s sophomore novel showcases her talents as an author and shows she has a bright future in the genre for years to come.

This book has given me the most beautiful book hangover. I will be able to think of nothing else but this book and these characters and this story for the foreseeable future. Every single character is vivid and colourful, and the author weaves in queer culture beautifully. You can tell it is written by a queer author because the representation is there, but that's not the focus. It made me want to live in a New York like this that is so full of life. It deals with aspect of the queer experience and talks about the history there, which feels often ignored. And, of course, the two main characters. Their story is epic, one for the ages. It is the kind of relationship that people wish they had, and yet it feels attainable. I didn't know how it would end, which I loved, but the ending was perfection. This book is another triumph from the author, and I will recommend it to everyone I can.

This book was...odd? I was not expecting all of the supernatural elements, which admittedly threw me off a little. But I love that McQuiston creates these little alternate realities that show the potential for a shinier, better and kinder version of the world.

I was so looking forward to this book because I LOVED Red, White & Royal Blue so much! I enjoyed this book very much but it is very different from her first book. It was a bit slow to start but the characters are so endearing you want to live with them!

I am in shock that this sophomore novel lived up to my expectations. How does McQuiston do it?? A romance not only between the leads, but also for/within the queer community. I can't express how grateful I am for this book.