I read Casey McQuiston’s first book, Red, White & Royal Blue, at the beginning of 2020 and really enjoyed it, so when I heard that she was releasing a lesbian romance, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! I was so excited for it that I actively avoided finding out anything more about the book other than the title and release date. I didn’t want to set my expectations before I started reading, which ended up turning into a really fun reading experience.
In a fun twist of fate, I’ve found that I have been reading a lot of books set in New York City recently, which has made for some interesting exploration opportunities in the city. With this book in particular, completely by accident, I ended up reading about the Q train while riding the Q to Coney Island, which only added to my excitement and enjoyment of the novel.
Summary
Twenty-three year old August is used to getting by on her own and moving to New York City shouldn’t be any different. She doesn’t believe in most things, including magic and cinematic love stories, and she doesn’t think moving in with three roommates above a Popeyes in Flatbush and working part time at a pancake diner while going to school will change that. That is until her daily subway commute leads her to Jane: a bright, bubbly, and mysterious old-school punk rocker, who’s been literally displaced in time, stuck on the Q since the 1970s. August has to pull from her past and lean on the people around her if she’s going to help Jane off the train.
Review
When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be in the same vein as McQuiston’s other book. That is, a realistic fiction new adult romance. What I did not count on was ghosts (well, not ghosts. Jane is not in fact a ghost.) But I digress. I was not expecting the more mystical elements of this book, so it was a surprise when the novel finally revealed this information to me. I actually loved not knowing that first big twist, as it created an extra layer of suspense and intrigue for me. Each chapter in this book starts with some sort of posting, from an advert for roommates to news clippings and missed connections posts, which add an additional layer to the mystery as the reader tries to fit the snippets into the narrative.
And so, in her first month in the apartment on the corner of Flatbush and Parkside above the Popeyes, August learns that the Q is a time, a place, and a person.
page 38
At its core, One Last Stop is a romance novel for the 20-something who has no idea where they’re going to land after graduating. There are so many lighthearted and joyful moments throughout the book and there are also a number of contemplation and introspection, creating a well-rounded reading experience. I really related to August as she struggles to figure out what she wants to do after graduation. Even as she struggles with this, she’s able to take the skills she’s developed throughout her life and use them to help those around her. And maybe she falls in love in the process, and perhaps she even finds a way to continue using them into the future.
She’s twenty-three years old, and she’s doing something absolutely stupid, and she’s allowed to do absolutely stupid things whenever she wants, and the rest doesn’t have to matter right now.
page 187
This book is full of lighthearted joy and snippets of queer culture, to the point where I could never list all of them, but I can certainly try. One of my favorite tropes in queer stories is found family, because while it is a trope for use in storytelling, it can also be extremely accurate in real life. August isn’t looking to make friends, let alone find a second family, and yet, one advert on a Popeyes trashcan changes all of that. On top of this, we also get so see a larger look at the queer community coming together in a number of ways, from drag shows to house parties, and all of the joy that can be found in those moments.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. There were a few moments that I felt a felt a little wobbly on the timeline of events, but those moments often lead up to revelations and clarity. I would recommend One Last Stop to anyone who is looking for a fun read set in modern New York. I found it especially enjoyable as a recent college graduate who is still trying to settle into adult life, so others in that same situation may enjoy it as well!
This book is considered New Adult, which means its primary audience is twenty-somethings, and because of that, it does include some more explicit references to drinking, drug use, and sexual relationships, but I personally didn’t find any of that overbearing.
I read the 2021 first edition paperback edition of One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.
If you’d like to pick up a copy for yourself or a friend, check out the following links:
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