3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 because I loved the last half.

When I started reading this book, it took me a long time to get into it because it starts off quite slow and a bit long-winded. BUT once you get about halfway through, the story totally changes pace for the better. I mean, it took me 3 weeks to finish the entire book, but only 2 days to get through the last half - so that tells ya something. It’s a very cute LGBTQ+ meet-cute romance with a mystery that keeps you intrigued once you get to that halfway point. Despite the pacing of the first half, I really loved the story overall. (I just wish it had given a little bit more to reel you in at the beginning. Had that been the case, I definitely would have read it a lot quicker.)

I really look forward to reading more from Casey McQuiston though, as I’ve heard great things about her other books!

This did not land like Red, White, and Royal Blue did, and I think it is because I am a huge fan near fantasy/sci fi. To me, this was a very weak attempt at near real fantasy/sci fi that felt more like a sloppy romantic comedy. I think McQuiston should have either leaned in harder to the science fiction aspect. I loved the character of August but Jane never felt real to me at all.

Casey McQuiston's debut novel blew reader out of the water. In her sophomore release she aimed for the stars but fell a touch short. One Last Stop is queer, magical, campy fun, but it lacks the emotional punch that had readers falling love the first time around. Overall a solid book, and the narrator really brings the story to life.

I’m not a big fan of romance but this was far from cringe worthy and of course I appreciated the slow burn.

This was a fun read full of laugh out loud moments and centered around quite an amazing relationship. Without giving away too much, the magical twist on this one caught me off guard but it really fit.

As a NYer I really appreciated the love and attention the author paid to the city. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Solid 4 1/2 stars

This book grabbed me from the start and I was enjoying it so much. But then the romance and infatuation started to feel like a YA book. Kind of ruined it for me after that. I did love the friendships that were formed and all the side characters.

This…was…so good. It made my brain hurt a little bit because I’m not the biggest fan of time travel or time loop scenarios, but this was just so freaking GOOD. And Jane was just so yummy, wasn’t she? And the sex on the train? LAWD! Someone get me a cooling compress! I thought it was great and am continually impressed with McQuiston. I also loved the narrator.

SO GOOD. SO, SO GOOD.

I only listened to half the audiobook ARC (because, once I reached that halfway point, my print copy pre-order arrived, so I dove into that instead), but... anything Casey McQuiston writes, I'm going to love. It's simply a fact.

Great in audiobook form. Great in book form. Altogether, just a pretty perfect story. Absolutely loved it!

One Last Stop is a must read for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue. This is a cute romance between two young women that meet on a train. I loved the characters with the romance between August and Jane. August thinks Jane is cool, but doesn't realize Jane is jealous of everything August has. August has great friends. At first I wasn't a fan of the sci-fi aspect, but it really fit for the story so grew on me. I recommend One Last Stop to anyone looking for a queer romance.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nataile Naudus and enjoyed her narration.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Libro.fm and Macmillan audio for One Last Stop.

I remember that I started playing my audiobook ARC as I started to do the dishes.
I remember texting my bookish friends' group and telling them I was loving this book.
I remember staying up past my bedtime.
I remember worrying about the ending.
I remember bracing as I wonder if I'd be able to accept the ending, to suspend disbelief. I remember absolutely loving the book and telling all my friends to read it.
I remember wanting to reread it.
I now know how I am spending this Sunday.

My phone broke and I wasn't able to listen to this audiobook. I couldn't download it again on my new phone, I'm so sorry for not being able to review this audiobook like I wanted to.

I really wanted to like this book, but I really did not get along with it. The intrigue was there at times. I wanted to know what happened at the end; however, the book dragged and was a bit all over the place plot-wise. I was also kind of disappointed with the ending. Overall, the pacing was not consistent which lead to moments being dragged out and others moving too quickly.
A good concept, but was not executed well.

The narrator was very good at giving characters different voices, which was entertaining.

This one was fun. I enjoyed the fantastical type elements in this contemporary. I didn't enjoy it more than R,W and RB, but I did have a good time. I hate how long the chapters are though. It keeps me from feeling like the pace is fast.


The narrator was good though! I liked how the characters were brought to life and would recommend it.

Really enjoyed this one!! I liked the twist from the typical romance book. The LGBTQ representation was amazing and it wasn’t made a big deal, which it shouldn’t be. I loved all of the characters and it was pretty funny! I was chuckling along with the audiobook. Good thing I was by myself while listening.

The steam level in this one was pretty up there but nothing too crazy. The narration was fantastic and I would 100% listen to another of her books and read another Mcquiston.

One Last Stop has been a highly anticipated book by both myself and many, many others, and Casey McQuiston certainly met and exceeded my expectations with this. If you're going into it expecting another Red, White & Royal Blue, this may not be what you're expecting, but the unique blend of science fiction, coming of age, found family, and romance makes for a really cool read.

August as a main character worked well for me, because her quirks and personality felt like they meshed well with the other characters as well as the plot. Her backstory and skills didn't feel like they were there just for the reason of plot. Her dynamics with the other characters, and the sense of true found family added a lot to the general feel of the book. Of course, I can't not mention the chemistry she had with Jane. The way McQuiston builds up their unique relationship really gets the reader engrossed in what will come next for the two of them. Because so much of the emotional engagement from this book is tied in with their relationship, the fact that it was well developed is crucial for making this such a captivating read.

The science fiction elements, while not particularly science fiction-y, were really well worked. From a science perspective, there was very little substance behind everything, really, making it more of a fantasy, but everything was written in a way that even as a regular science fiction reader, I was still immersed in the little details. It takes talent to work with the laws of the universe to create something plausible, but it also takes much talent to create something that should feel completely unrealistic and make it work. This was very suitable for the tone of the book

Realistically, the main friction point with me and this book was the fact that because it was so entrenched in the lives of young people who had relatively normal lives, there were several moments when I couldn't help but wonder how they were getting away with some of the things they did without it being touched on particularly. This is a fairly small snag for me, but moments like August ignoring so much of the rest of her life for the sake of Jane took me past the point of suspension of disbelief. I think this is probably just a me thing, because that type of all-encompassing feeling isn't really my cup of tea, but it definitely has some fantastical elements that aren't linked to the science fiction.

In terms of narration, I'm so glad to have gotten the opportunity to listen to the audiobook level because it became such an immersive experience. Natalie Naudus did a really good job of breathing life into each of the individual characters, from the main cast to the smaller parts, and that made the whole thing seem that much more vivid. It sped up well without sounding too tinny or unnatural, and although I don't tend to slow it down while listening for myself, I did check and even on slower speeds it doesn't sound distorted.

To make it clear, this is not a science fiction romance. It's a genre blending combination of contemporary, romance, light science fiction and coming of age, all in one book in a way that doesn't feel cluttered or chaotic in an unreadable way. McQuiston has done it again with another book that draws large numbers of people in, and I can see why this has become a favourite for many. I definitely felt many things while reading this, and from the beginning to the emotional ending, it was a satisfying read.

I already reviewed the print edition but I also had the audio to have uninterrupted time with this book! The narrator had a great reading voice and I enjoyed listening to it.

This book set me on a magical realism ride that hasn't quit. Normally I'm not a fan of any time-travel type books, and romance is not my preferred genre, but these characters captured my heart. I loved how the setting was its own character in the book; the train, the cityscape, the diner all added to Jane and August’s story. The author managed to capture the falling-in-lust feeling between August and Jane achingly well and August’s platonic friendships were superbly written and made me love her even more.

Not going to lie, I don’t get the hype of Casesy McQuiston. I know it sounds harsh but I feel like she needs an editor. This book could’ve been good but it just dragged on and on. I liked the other characters aside from August and Jane and the background of LGBTQ characters were done great.
I also felt like Jane and August were forced, wasn’t feeling them at all. I felt no connection and pretty bored with it.

The magical realism concept with the time travel was cool but that felt shoved in.

More than a raw and touching romance, this book also explores how families can be the ones we choose for ourselves. It also is an important look back at the history of the LGBT rights movement in American history-something that is underrepresented in stories and our shared understanding of American history. More please, Casey McQuiston. Your stories are needed.

Love Casey McQuiston's writing and the worldbuilding. Such an interesting romance. Wasn't a huge fan of the narrator, however.

WOW. I loved ONE LAST STOP by Casey 🤩 my heart is still so full, and I read this book a few weeks ago. It took me a while to find the words for this review I enjoyed this book so much! I’ve been reading romance novels for a long time, and this is one of the most unique and well-executed premises I’ve ever read.

I’m not sure what subgenre this wlw romance fits in, maybe magical realism? Sci-fi (ish)? Whatever it is, it’s pure enjoyment. I mean, I might have enjoyed this even more than Casey’s debut, RED WHITE & ROYAL BLUE.

Our heroine, August, is a cynical 23-year-old who is, honestly, a bit of a mess and I love her for it. She keeps meeting a mysterious and gorgeous leather-jacket-wearing, punk rock, throwback of a woman named Jane on the subway.

There were so many points in this book where I had no idea how McQuiston was even going with the story, but I was strapped in for the entire ride. I knew there HAD to be a happy ending, but woahhh what a rollercoaster. Jane and August have my entire heart.

A wonderfully diverse cast of secondary characters made delightful foils for August as she first struggles with her feelings, then as she tackles Jane’s problem (that she seems to have been stuck on the subway since the 70s).

Not only was the book romantic, and fun, and hilarious, there were SO many moving parts to the plot that all tied together beautifully by the end of the book. It was absolutely masterful writing. I’m in awe of this sophomore novel!.

At the heart of the book, the thing that kept me absolutely invested was the ROMANCE. Gah. Jane and August were everything. The burn was slow and beautiful with lots of mutual pining and falling in love awkwardness, and the most satisfying happily ever after. Perfectly imperfect characters falling in love? My favorite.

The narration was excellent! I couldn't put my phone down.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Story rating: 3/5 stars
Audiobook rating: 4/5 stars

Audiobook:
The female narrator did a great job with August's point of view as well as different character's personalities. Listening to the audiobook definitely helped move the story along in places.

Overall Story:
August and Jane's romance had a bit of mystery and magical feels to it. There was good, decent chemistry between August and Jane from the very first train meeting, but I don't feel that it progressed beyond an intense crush. Some of my favorite bits were between August, Jane and August's oddball roommates that added some comedy relief and heart to this story. I didn't like parts of August's personality. She had a tendency to complain for most of the story about how she hated how her whole life until moving to NYC revolved around helping her mother investigate her uncle's disappearance decades earlier. However, after complaining, August then ends up investigating Jane and others for the entire story. It came off as strange and didn't fit. Overall, this was still a good sweet, sapphic romance with a pinch of paranormal and side of quirky side characters.

*Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.