SO QUEER. LIKE EVERYONE IS QUEER. and I don't care what some people say, but QUEER PEOPLE EVERYyyyWHERE is actually how the world is. You just don't know it ahaha.

Okay, so about the disclaimer : I received an Advanced Listener's Copy of this book, but I just really couldn't get into it. Since McQuiston is one of my fave authors, I absolutely did not want to ruin their book. So I waited for my physical copy to arrive in the mail! However, life gets in the way, and about halfway through the book, I had to pick up the audiobook again because I wanted to finish it but just never had the time! 😅 I ended up loving this 50/50 mix! Anyways. I used way to many words to explain this 😂

Ahhhh. F/F romance with a dash of magical realism? HELL. YES. Alsooo, I loved all the oldies music mentioned (because seriously, oldies are much better than modern in my opinion 😅)

I seriously cannot explain how perfect this book is. Everything about it. There are just no words.

The only downside is some parts felt a bit longer than necessary. Yikes 😬 don't hate me ahaha.


** SPOILERS AHEAD **


MY FAVE MOMENTS :

• Bringing the party to Jane in the subway 😭💛

• Niko's family's reaction to his identity 😭😭💛

• August finally feeling like she belongs somewhere 😭😭😭💛

• Jane. Just.. Jane.

From now on, whenever I pick up a Casey McQuiston book I'll just plan on blocking the day so I can finish it in one sitting. One Last Stop has one of the best sounding premises of the year and it shockingly holds up its the end of the bargain and more.

When August moves to New York she takes the Q Train where she meets Jane, a super cool, red converse & leather jacket-wearing woman who...always seems to be on the Q train. When August finally puts it together that things might be a little different than they appear, Jane, August, and her fabulous roommates embark on a quest to free Jane from where she's stuck. And yes, the love story at the center of this is soft and tender in all the right places.

I was pleasantly surprised to find small, but poignant, mentions of what it might be like to be gay in 1970's New York. There is Queer representation in this gem for DAYS and I'm here for every last bit of it.

Perfect for PRIDE month, One Last Stop will be one you think about for weeks to come and you won't be able to stop the smile that forms on your face when you do.

Standout Quote: “Nobody tells you how those nights that stand out in your memory—levee sunset nights, hurricane nights, first kiss nights, homesick sleepover nights, nights when you stood at your bedroom window and looked at the lilies one porch over and thought they would stand out, singular and crystallized, in your memory forever—they aren't really anything. They're everything, and they're nothing. They make you who you are, and they happen at the same time a twenty-three-year-old a million miles away is warming up some leftovers, turning in early, switching off the lamp. They're so easy to lose.”
•
•
•
My thoughts:
•I have been sitting on this review for awhile now because I couldn’t quite figure out how to put my thoughts into words with this book. (I was lucky to receive a copy early through NetGalley) But it’s almost like at times I felt overwhelmed and then other times I sort of felt underwhelmed and then kinda just whelmed.
•I had the audio version of this book and to me it simultaneously felt slow, and too much at the same time. Almost like at times there was way too much filler, and others there was too much going on.I think individually everything was good, but when it came together it felt like we were introduced to a lot but skipped a few steps and weren’t really given answers to most of the things introduced. There were times where I had to restart sections or contemplated DNF’ing, but ultimately I’m glad I saw it through.
•I did absolutely adore the amount of representation and inclusion in this book.
•There was also a lot of steam! More than I would say I normally read in similar books.
•
•
•
Overall: This was my first book by Casey, but it won’t be my last. I plan on reading RWRB this month and have high hopes for it!

I have seen plenty of raving reviews for this book, so please don’t let my review discourage you from picking up a copy! ♥️

One Last Stop sounded like a quirky, fun listen, and it was at times. The characters are certainly quirky, but the story left me waffling back and forth - sometimes, I was completely on board and other times, not so much. It's drawn out and has some lags that left me zoning out, and that never works well with audio. It's not like you can just skim over those parts like you can when the words are in front of you. The story is somewhat witty, and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy that part of it, but I think Casey McQuiston's wit just isn't for me because there were moments when it got on my nerves rather than come across as amusing. Narrator Natalie Naudus saved this one for me with her upbeat performance. With a less lively narration, I very likely would've given up. In the end, I liked the premise for this one better than the execution, and a big part of that was due to the narrator.

LOVE! August and Jane are the sweetest and their relationship building was so enjoyable to get invested in. The other characters are also hilariously brilliant. This novel was incredibly fun, had amazing queer representation. Pancake Billy’s forever!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This is one of those books that settles into your bones and gives you brainworms for months. McQuiston's characters and their dynamics are one of their strongest assets. It's wonderful to be so fully absorbed in a book! I've never been to New York but thanks to this story, I feel like I have. I hope y'all like pancakes and Popeye's; lotta food here. I will be thinking about August and Jane for a really long time.

I feel like Honey Girl should also be required reading after One Last Stop. The themes are similar (queer/sapphic romances with adult characters) but Honey Girl is more existential and One Last Stop is more love story. Honestly I want the casts of the two books to meet and be bffs lol.

This type of romance book was very unique! It had a different type of element here that seems to be very unique from all other romance books.

The main character, August, is a type of girl who just wants a fresh start in a big city. She seems like a practical kinda gal who is just trying to find her calling. I think she was pretty much realistic to me since she seems to be a real over thinker. Her personality seemed kinda straightforward but also pretty much holding back on what she was feeling for Jane.

Jane, the mysterious girl. Okay she definitely had the cool vibe thing going and she seemed like she can stay calm and play it aloof when necessary. She is a calm person and has a nice personality. I liked her more than August lol.

okay the plot was very very different than anything I’ve read before. It was new and good! I found myself entertained and couldn’t stop myself from wanting to know what was going to happen next.

It did however drag towards the end because just when you thought the book was over, it wasn’t. The author wanted to include more and respond to all the questions you were left wanting to know about August’s uncle and Jane’s family. Which I think it was good but I didn’t know she was going to do that because most authors just leave it with the whole wondering and asking questions.

Overall, this was cute and fast pace book, but I did however listen to it lol, and I would say give it a shot if your into romance with a little sci-fi. This is a 4 out of 5 stars for me and I hope you pick this book up! 👍

Casey never disappoints. This story made me cry, laugh, and hold my breath in anticipation. Casey’s writing flows very easily and feels like a real conversation instead of words on a paper. August was super relatable, and Jane was such a good love interest that I was hooked from the beginning. Casey’s books also have really good background characters that I can actually remember and care for. I loved it and can’t wait to reread over and over again!

I was so incredibly excited for this book, and it smashed through every singe expectation I had. I immediately fell in love with the cast of characters, and I loved every interaction between August and her roommates, or her roommates and Jane. Both the multitude of characters and the story had me loving every single chapter and page, and I never wanted it to end.
I read this in audiobook form, and the narrator did an absolutely incredible job. The voices she gave the characters fit and flowed perfectly, and gave everything so much life.
This book immediately went on to my all-time favorites shelf, and I loved everything about August and Jane’s story.

I enjoyed this audiobook. It was definitely different than anything else I've read this year.

I enjoyed the twist of possible time travel and how their relationship grew on the subway. The ending surprised me I was expecting a different ending but enjoyed it.

Pure queer excellence. McQuiston nailed it. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It kept me hooked. I can't even explain how nice it was to read a book with characters around my age who were also having a slight life crisis towards the end of their college career. It’s so nice to have a book that encompasses the chaos of being someone in your early 20s trying to figure life out. While not everyone is going to meet their soulmate on the Q and find out that they’re stuck on said Q, McQuiston covered so many relatable topics to this transitional part of life. I loved the way that all of the side characters were so fleshed out. I cared about each and every character in this book. Also, having a majority LGBTQ+ cast of characters just warmed my heart so much. I picked up a physical copy and was rereading the book in less than 2 weeks after my first read and I refuse to shut up about it to anyone who knows me.

This book is quite the departure from Casey's last novel, Red, White and Blue. For starters, the main characters are women. It is just as queer, but definitely no male love interests. For second, this novel has a magical element that is slow to arrive on the scene, but once arrived does infiltrate every part of the story.

August moves to New York and into a really cheap apartment with Nico, Wes and Mila. They are so quirky and unlike anyone else that August has really known. This is mostly because August has spent her life pretty much as a hermit with only her mother and the ongoing search for her uncle as company.

She doesn't trust love. She knows that's only there to hurt people. She doesn't even tolerate close friendships, really, and she certainly doesn't have a lot in the way of extraneous stuff to put into her room when she moves in.

One day, on the subway train, she happens to meet a girl who changes a lot of this. For the longest time, she is just Subway Girl, the girl in shining armour who gives August a scarf when she spilled coffee all down her front. Pretty soon, August is hoping to see Subway Girl every time she takes the subway.

And she does.

Every time.

No matter which time of day she happens to take that particular train, Subway Girl is always on it.

This is around the time the supernatural element of the story begins to unfold, and makes clear that it is more than a meet cute that has August and Jane meeting on that subway for the first time.

There are so many twists and turns of this plot and, if I thought at times that the story was moving a little bit slow, it was only because it was just about leading up to the next big hurdle. The interaction between August and Jane throughout holds the story together. They take small steps forward that keep ones attention throughout, and this is augmented by the relationships that August slowly builds with her housemates and side characters.

I loved the author’s last book and I listened to both that one and this one on audio. The narration was excellent for this.

The story fell a bit flat for me, but don’t let that deter you from picking this one up as that is definitely a me issue and not the book. The magical realism element lost me a bit.

I felt like the story moved at a snail’s pace. I appreciate the building of the character’s and their backstory but the book felt way longer than it needed to be.

I enjoyed the romance aspect and that one train scene was sizzling. The relationship was sweet and I was definitely rooting for them. I didn’t understand the conflict, it seemed to be made a bigger deal than it needed to be, I thought I missed something.

Overall I think this one just wasn’t for me!

I wanted to love this one because you don't see many well done LGBTQ+ romantic comedies/chick lits, however I really struggled to get through it. I can;t really put my finger on specifically why I didn't love this but it just didn't do anything for me. I found the love story to be a bit unbelievable and overly cheesy. I just wasn't convinced that their love story was real or authentic despite how much I wanted to and tried to.

Had to re-read this title through audiobook and it was an even better experience! The narrator was fantastic giving the different characters voices and personalities, and truly made the emotions come through with their voice. Highly recommended!

This was a challenge to get through.

Love the lesbian-centred story. Love the setting of New York. But at exactly 26.7% the first and almost only interesting thing happens and the rest is cloying and performative.

There are plot holes and cognitive leaps and absurd conclusions and I found myself just zoning out while I was listening.

The narrator is Natalie Naudus and this isn't her fault, although she does that high, breathy voice some narrators do to characters who are a bit more ~whimiscal~ (i.e. dumber/more manipulative) than the rest of the cast.

I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

In reading the synopsis of this book, I didn't think the book would go the way it did. I so appreciated the variety of characters, with lead and supporting roles filled with LGBTQIA+ identities. I found that so refreshing and lovely. I really wanted to be in love with the premise, but just couldn't find myself connected to the storyline. It was a bit more whimsical and far-fetched for me than I anticipated, and couldn't really shake myself out of it. I really enjoyed the characters though, just found it hard to suspend reality enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know so many others loved this book, and so maybe it's me?

Absolutely loved the narrator for this book. She fit August perfectly and I really feel that if you do not read, that this is a great way to enjoy this otherwise marvelous story of love.

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 their 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. Their writing remains to be this poetic commentary on the characters, their identities and the bigger themes the book revolves around. For “One Last Stop,” they manage 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. They 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 they have 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.

In addition to an amazing story, the audiobook provides a unique and amazing experience to this story. Narrator Natalie Naudus skillfully adds flair to each of the characters, especially Jane, which creates a wonderful listening experience. A highlight for me personally was listening to this book and catching parallels between this book and “Red, White & Royal Blue.” There’s one scene in particular where Jane is very reminiscent of Henry in their internal conflicts which makes McQuiston’s writing almost come full circle in a way.

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 their talents as an author and shows they have a bright future in the genre for years to come.

You can read “One Last Stop” when it comes out on June 1st, 2021.

My final rating: 4.5/5 stars