August is a 23-year-old, bisexual woman who has just moved to New York City. She’s super cynical and likes to go through life alone. She doesn’t see how her eccentric roommates and job at a 24-hour pancake diner could change that. Then she meets Jane on her subway commute.

Jane is beautiful and mysterious and has this edgy punk rocker vibe. August is drawn to her and looks forward to her daily commute so she can see her. Then August realizes that Jane isn’t from this time. She’s literally displaced from the 1970’s and can’t get off the train. Maybe it’s time August starts believing in something so she can help Jane.

I really enjoyed this story. It’s a fun LGBTQ+ romance with some magical realism thrown in. Being from NY originally, I really loved the setting. August was written so realistically, and I enjoyed her relationship with Jane.

The best part of the book was all the secondary characters. The roommates and the diner employees were all fantastically written. I loved the scenes that included them. The character development was great for all of the characters.

The one negative I had was that I found the premise a little far fetched and was surprised this book wasn’t classified as magical realism. You really need to have an open mind when going into this one.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the the narrator, Natalie Naudus did an incredible job. You could feel her emotions while listening.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars! This was a really fun book! The characters were amazing and the cast diversity was so refreshing. I was a little let down by the storyline - it was not my favourite but it was quirky and kept me engaged enough to keep going. I think this will be a hit for a lot of people. It would make a great summer read! The narration of the audiobook was really great. Overall it was enjoyable and I recommend giving it a try!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book & audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book wrecked me in so many profound and beautiful ways! The story itself is brimming with mystery, paranormal investigations, and drag shows that have no right to work but mingle almost seamlessly together. Yet, the bonkers plot always comes second to the chaotic cast of characters at the centre of this story. As it should because every character that crosses August’s path is a damn delight!

August is the closed-off, pocket knife-wielding protagonist you can relate to in her ugliest moments. Her roommates are found-family perfection as they push her to live life as loud and as weird as she wants to in their crowded New York apartment. From Nico’s psychic antics to Mia’s blunt honesty to Isaiah’s messy relationship with Wes, there’s always something new to entertain the reader when August leaves the confines of the subway station.

The romance may be complicated but what Jane and August have within the pages of this book is effortless, endearing, and swoon-worthy. They somehow find a way to glamorize a crowded subway car as a hot date spot, making for an adorable string of meet-cutes. The barriers between them make for endless fun as we read about Jane watching Fast and Furious or August falling in love with Seventies punk music. All the while, this book finds ways to weaponizing everything from the smell of pancakes and the most devastating Queen song against us.

This book cultivates a very specific New York ascetic within the confines of subway stations and Billy’s pancake restaurant that will entrance the reader and leave us hungry for more. This intoxicating love story will wrap you up in its warm feelings, energetic characters, and greasy comfort food. And just like August finds her place in the world, you find your own tranquillity within the pages of this blissful book.

Twenty-three-year-old August is ready to escape her past. After spending her life helping her mother investigate the disappearance of August’s uncle, August is now an ace detective—with little to show for it. She’s hoping for a new start in New York City. She soon falls into a community, with her welcoming and quirky new roommates and job at a beloved diner. But it’s the intriguing girl on the subway who really piques her interest. As she and Jane grow closer, August discovers a new mystery to solve: Jane is from the 1970s and forever stuck on the subway. Why, and how can they fix it?

McQuiston—best known for the wildly popular Red, White & Royal Blue—brings us this new LGBTQ romantic comedy, set in a slightly alternate universe and filled with their signature banter and diverse characters. The narration is excellent–I highly recommend this on audio.

I will never stop talking about this book. I will never stop recommending this book. I can not even begin to explain how important this story is to me and how wonderful it is in every single way. Casey McQuiston has a writing style I absolutely adore and always creates characters I would do almost anything for and I will always support them and their books.

Casey McQuiston did it again. I fell in love with Red, White and Royal Blue when I read it and was thrilled to receive an ARC of One Last Stop. McQuiston has the ability to tell a story, create characters you can't help but invest in and weave it all together with the perfect amount of humor.

What I wasn't expecting with this book was the sci-fi time travel aspect. That said, I didn't mind it. I actually found it to be quite clever. August, our main character, has been subjected to her mother's obsessionsher entire life. Her mother's obsession -- finding her long lost brother - - or at least finding out what happened to him.. Trying to solve this mystery has literally been her mother's main focus for all of August's life. In attempt to free herself from her mother's ongoing drama, August moves to New York.. She moves into an apartment with several other people - - which are total strangers to her - - and ends up finding her "family." Then the day arrives when August meets Jane on the subway. Their chemistry is almost instant. Yet, their relationship slowing develops over time with small encounters here and there. All the while, emotions and attraction are building as anticipation ramps up. Not only did I really enjoy seeing the Jane and August's relationship develop, I was also really attached to August's friends as well. The bond they all shared and the way they supported one another was incredibly special and just what August needed.

McQuiston blends the various character's storylines together in a way that shows how their lives are all interconnected Some stories will overlap in ways the reader doesn't expect which only makes the reading experience even richer. When August realizes there's a mystery surrounding Jane and her presence on the Q, the story really takes off. In addition, McQuiston does a great job of bringing the reader's attention to how difficult and dangerous it was for the LGBTQ community in the 1970's. Obviously, these accounts are difficult and painful to read. But they are critical to this storyline in order for the reader to fully appreciate the sacrifices made in the past that lead up to the present day events.

I listened to the audiobook along with reading the ebook. The narration of the audiobook was fabulous. There were numerous characters and the narrator did a wonderful job of giving them each their own distinct voice and personality.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

August has always been something of a loner. That changes when she moves to Brooklyn where she quickly forms a bond with her new roommates. August is both hurt and intrigued when she’s turned down for a date by Jane, a beautiful and mysterious woman August meets on the subway. The problem isn’t that Jane’s not interested-it’s that she literally can’t leave the Q train.

I loved so much about this book, beginning with Casey McQuiston’s prose. The way they write just works for me. Additionally, Natalie Naudu’s narration of the audiobook feels spot-on as a match for the writing style.

The world-building is masterful. Brooklyn and the different settings all felt so vivid. The way McQuiston develops Augusts’ roommates and acquaintances makes them jump off the page. They’re such a fun and engaging group of characters. I would genuinely love to hang out with them.

Another thing I really liked was the mixture of genres. Yes, it’s a romance, but it’s also a mystery with time-travel woven in. The love story remains at the heart of the novel even as August works through the threads of several different mysteries.

While I loved many things about this book, I had two major issues with it. One of them is August herself. Some of the things she does just don’t make sense, for example completely dropping her work and school duties in order to figure out what’s going on with Jane when they barely know each other. I find it really difficult to believe that so early on in her job at Pancake Billy’s she’d be allowed to come back after practically falling off the face of the earth.

The other problem was the pacing. It started off fine, and I fell in love with the book immediately. The middle third of the book really dragged for me because it felt repetitive. I found my attention wandering and almost dreaded hitting play. I realize that it takes time to develop a deep and meaningful relationship, but since August and Jane were so limited, many of their encounters were quite similar.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen to and review this book!

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ (4 out of 5 stars)

In One Last Stop, you follow August who is a 23 year old, bi student who is just trying to find her place in the Big Apple (New York). August feels all over the place and like she doesn’t belong when suddenly she meets Jane on her Q train commute. With this right place and right time scenario then becoming an everyday thing, August then realizes that maybe her luck is changing after all and that maybe she should learn to enjoy this ride called life that she’s on.

Thank you @netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook version of One Last Stop in exchange for an honest review.

This book gets published today (June 1st) and you won’t want to miss out on it. If you enjoyed Red, White, & Blue, you’ll absolutely adore this book as well.

**Audiobook Thoughts** The audio was fantastic. The narrator really carried the story. While with such a diverse cast, others may feel multiple narrators might have been helpful, I disagree. I really enjoyed hearing it all in this narrator's voice. It kept me completely engaged! I loved it!!

**Full Thoughts**

I'm going to find it close to impossible to write this review without swooning like a fangirl, but I'll give it my best shot.

In One Lost Stop, we follow 23-year old college student, August, who has recently moved to New York City.
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the city, August is on a journey of self-discovery. She's on her own for the first time and is a little desperate to find her place. Securing a room in an apartment with three other people and taking a job at a 24-hour pancake diner seem like steps in the right direction.

August is establishing herself as a functioning adult, no matter how meager her resources, yet she still feels alone. The stars align one day, however, as she meets a girl on the Q. The sexy and mysterious, Jane, gives August a scarf in her hour of need. After that, August cannot get her out of her mind.

Subsequently, she runs into Jane every time she is on the train and a relationship develops. It very quickly becomes clear that something about Jane is a little off. Jane's not just a random punk rocker, razorblade girl with a cotton candy heart, taking her style inspiration from the 1970s. She's actually from the 1970s, and somehow, someway, finds herself trapped on the Q-line.

I know this seems like a bit of a trippy idea, but it was such a phenomenally fun and creative way to frame this story. August coming to the revelation that Jane cannot leave the train and trying to figure out what exactly that means and why; it was bloody fantastic and so incredibly entertaining.

August's roommates, Myla, Niko and Wes, all become involved in the relationship, as well as their neighbor, Annie. Together this vastly diverse group of souls evolve into one of the most beautiful found-families that I have ever read. Each person had their own unique story, voice, personality and contribution to August's growth and maturation. I absolutely adored the way they interacted and supported one another. Friendship goals, for sure. McQuiston packed so much into this book and watching the evolution of August's character was immensely satisfying.

There were so many moments when I laughed, a few when I felt my heart-breaking and times where I was just left contemplating this thing we call life. The release date for this book coinciding with the 1st day of Pride month, couldn't be more perfect!

The representation includes a plethora of Queer identities and romances. I particularly enjoyed how OLS is just a story of Queer individuals living their lives in the way they choose. It didn't really have individuals having to hide who they were, or having to come out to anyone in a dramatic way.

They all just were living their day-to-day lives in New York City; dealing with family, work, relationships, LIFE. There was a certain sense of peace to be found in that, even when the narrative got a little crazy!

I think August learned a lot from her new friends. Particularly how to open up, be herself and allow herself to need other people in her life. That it was okay if things were complicated, what with her love interest being trapped in time and all.

Jane was a fascinating character as well. I loved how her life was pieced together through her continual interactions with August. It was particularly clever how McQuiston used Jane's character, in a way, as a plot device to compare the experiences Jane had, as a Queer woman, in the 1970s, versus the experiences that August and her friends have in the present time. It felt like a subtle, respectful nod to those who came before.

At the end of the day, this book has it all. If you enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue, you should love One Last Stop. It's next level. This book made me overflow with feeling!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I greatly appreciate the opportunity!

A new favorite!!!

Trigger warnings: missing persons, anti-gay sentiment

August is a 23-year-old bisexual virgin from Louisiana who moves to New York City. She's lived in many other cities for college, and none of them felt right. She finds an apartment with quirky roommates including an optimistic and artsy engineer, a trans psychic, and an emotionally unavailable gay tattoo artist. She fudges the truth of her experience to land a waitress job at a 24-hour diner.

August is named after her lost uncle who disappeared in the late 70s. Her mother filled August's life with the investigation into finding her long-lost brother. August has issues with her weight and her relationship with her mother. She's in NYC to go to yet another college and doesn't know what to do with herself if she ever finishes. She's had several majors and can't commit to one.

On the way to Brooklyn College on the Q train, she meets a girl named Jane who enchants her. Through several other meetings, she begins to have feelings for Jane. But Jane is more than she seems... August finds that Jane is stuck on the Q and can't remember how long she's been there.

August bonds with Jane over trying to figure out how Jane is stuck on the Q train, and why she hasn't aged since the mid-70s. The unofficial detective training from her mother proves to be useful with piecing Jane's life together one memory at a time.

Because Jane and her Uncle Auggie both disappeared in the mid to late 70s, August also has to deal with her feelings about her lost uncle. August also must wrestle with the desire to keep Jane in the present while trying to help her return to her own time.

Recommended for romance readers, especially those who like diverse romances or a hint of the supernatural.

I loved Casey McQuiston’s Red, White, and Royal Blue, so I requested this on @NetGalley as soon as I saw it…and got declined. However, Macmillan Audio to the rescue - they let me have the audiobook! AND IT WAS GO GOOD!

I totally didn’t read the blurb before I start listening; there is a time-travel element I wasn’t expecting. It was a little weird at first, but I really, really enjoyed it. I could not stop listening. Highly recommend!

Thanks to @NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!

What a cute, fun read to kick off Pride month!
Twenty-three year old August moves to New York City, finding herself waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and living with a colorful yet endearing cast of characters. But then she meets Jane, a mysterious rough around the edges gal on the train, who quickly becomes the highlight of her day.
My favorite part of the story was when Jane reminisces the 1970s and how it was for her at that time coming out and growing up in CA, NYC and other locations. It was sobering how times have changed but a really important message woven through the tale.
I enjoyed this book, although at first the time travel aspect seemed a bit of a stretch for me. But I grew to appreciate it as I believe it was a creative way for the author to allow us to go back in time a bit and examine how LGBTQ+ rights have evolved over the last several decades.

I was able to get an ebook ARC of this as well and it was amazing!

The audiobook brought the characters to life and made them more real to me.

Would definitely recommend the audiobook for this book!

Reformed ex-child detective August is working on her new career, Perpetual student. this has her moving to New York to continue her search for a place that feels like home. Here she meets her psychic roommate, her drag queen neighbor, and this beautiful girl she keeps seeing on the subway. Jane is gorgeous and fun and she starts dance parties and listens to cassette tapes and more alluring than her utterly kissable lips, Jane has something August has never been able to resist...she’s a mystery.

Red white and royal blue fans will recognize this author for her banter and relatable love interests. What this book brings that RWRB didn’t is that it is not a coming out story. This also might not fall into the category of fiction. It probably leans more towards sci-fi. The romance is cute and sweet and healthy but I’m not sure you can say it’s the main plot line of this story. While the story starts with August trying to learn more about Jane because she’s interested in her, it becomes more about helping eachother and learning who Jane is than trying to get in her pants (though we certainly have that to look forward to😉)

August doesn’t believe in psychics or magic. She’s spent her whole life as her mom’s assistant digging up clues and archives to find out what happened to her uncle. So when she moves to New York, ends up with a psychic roommate, and falls for a girl on the subway who seems to be lost in time from the 70’s, you’d see how things might get a bit out of hand.

This book was such a treat. I’m always down for a sapphic romance, and there was a bunch more representation for the LGBTQ+ community (but I’ll let those in the community speak to the quality of the representation). The magic of this book was subtle and delightful, and the romance gave me butterflies. Also, the narrator was fantastic! I can’t say enough about this book, so run don’t walk to pick this one up! If you liked Red, White and Royal Blue, you need to read One Last Stop. Period.

I received an audiobook ARC from #netgalley, and thus in no way affects my review.

I loved McQuiston’s first novel. It’s one of my go-to book recommendations. I was excited to read this but also nervous that I would not like this sophomore novel.

I was SO wrong to be nervous. I dare say I love this more than RW&RB. I am blown away by McQuiston’s ability to effortlessly weave heart, humor, romance, steam, and amazing characters in every story. I liked and wanted to be friends with each character. The author even managed to add a taste of supernatural that did nothing feel forced.

I love the queer storylines that is are about trauma and not the only aspect of a character’s identity. The blend of queer history and queer joy is just… YESS!

I listened to the audiobook, and I cannot wait to listen to more from this narrator. She did a good job of giving each character a district voice to it gout it being over the top. I cannot get enough of her sultry voice.

This was such a well written book. I’m not usually into the supernatural thing, especially when done with romance because it always ends up a mess in my opinion. This book made it work though! We all knew the author was great, but this book proved it again.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. OMG. Everyone needs to read this. It's that good! Utter perfection from start to finish! Casey McQuiston, you're now on my radar! Thank you!

In full honestly, I was slightly hesitant to pick this up. Red, White, and Royal Blue really didn’t work for me (but I fully understand and respect the love), but this blew me away. I absolutely loved this relationship — August and Jane were adorable. And I loved the side characters just as much as the mains. Everyone felt so genuine. ADORED IT ALL.

The slight time travel element was absolute perfection for me. I tend to find there’s an element of predictably with traditional romances (which I definitely appreciate every once in a while), but this was completely original. I was turning the audiobook pages so fast -- the narration is amazing as well! Even if time travel isn’t your jam, it’s weaved so seamlessly into the story that it’s not at all a distraction to the romance.

Definitely absolutely 100% pick this up when it comes out June 1st! Thanks to the publisher for the ALC! I will definitely be picking up again when the sapphic wholesome mood hits.

Romance novels are not my usual genre, but One Last Stop is funny, sassy, and sexy. August and Jane are such genuine characters and the narrator was top-notch. Fun summer read!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this ARC.