Cynical August starts to believe in the impossible when meets Jane on the subway, a mysterious punk rocker she forms a crush on, who is literally displaced in time from the 1970s and is trying to find her way back.
Having loved Red, White, and Royal Blue, I was anxious to get my hands on Casey McQuiston’s new book. I love her writing style and her ability to create interesting and relatable characters. This book did not disappoint in that aspect.
The diverse and interesting characters, both main and side, made the novel enjoyable. I found myself gravitating toward the supporting characters more than I did the main character, August.
August Landry is in her early twenties and has moved to New York to finish college, running away from her life and mother back in New Orleans. Despite being closed-off and cynical, she manages to find roommates and friends who accept her and her five boxes of belongings. This fish out of water takes her time warming up to her new surroundings, that is until she meets Jane. Jane is interesting and mysterious and August is convinced she has found the love of her life. The problem is Jane only exists on the Q train, having gotten stuck during a time slip in the 1970s. Once August realizes this, she spirals down a path trying to unravel the mystery that is Jane.
This science-fictional element was an unexpected and interesting aspect to this novel. I was expecting a romance, however, I was surprised at the twist surrounding Jane’s past. I was also surprised at how much the Q Train line became such a character in the novel. It almost seemed to come to life in a way that I wasn’t expecting. Though this book started out slowly, it picked up speed three-fourths of the way through just like the Q Train. This may be a turnoff for readers who like fast-paced novels, such as myself. However, if you stick it out, the story does pick up and Casey finds her groove, making the ending of the novel heartwarming and special.
This book has the ability to appeal to several types of readers. Those who like intricately plotted stories will fall in love with One Last Stop to which the plot is the forefront of the novel. This book would also appeal to readers who enjoy LGBTQIA diverse characters. Casey does a great job in this novel of creating characters that represent a plethora of identities, backgrounds, and personalities. These characters also appeal to readers who like witty or offbeat banter and interactions. With that being said, this novel would also appeal to readers who identify or can relate to the concept of a chosen family. This really grabbed me while reading the novel, the idea that family doesn’t have to be blood to be real.
Availability: Book; eBook & eAudiobook in CloudLibrary Rating: *** Stars (I liked it) Reviewer: Heather, Thibodaux Branch
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! One Last Stop
AWARDS: LibraryReads Favorite: 2021
GENRE: Contemporary Romances; LGBTQIA Romances; Romantic Comedies THEME: Chosen Family (Sometimes you have to build your own family. In these stories, misfit characters find love and support in a circle of friends and like-minded people.); Time Slip (Characters find themselves suddenly somewhen else -- past or future. They may manage to adapt, or discover how to return to their original time. )
TONE: Funny; Moving; Offbeat; Romantic
WRITING STYLE: Engaging; Witty CHARACTER: LGBTQIA Diverse; Likeable LOCATION: New York City SUBJECT: Bisexual Women; City Life; Crushes; Cynicism; Friendship; LGBTQIA Persons; Moving to a New City; Rescues; Romantic Love; Sexual Attraction: Subway Passengers; Time Travel; Women/Women Relations
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