... has such warmth spilling out of it that suddenly everything you've dismissed as cliche about the city feels new and earned ... extraordinary ... this is a book with one of the most captivating, hot, weird, and wonderful casts in recent memory ... wears its heart – by which I mean its deep investment in honoring both the joys and struggles of LGBTQIA history – on its sleeve. McQuiston's ear for banter and sense of pacing are as keen as ever, and you'll find yourself surprised into both laughter and tears as the novel alternates between whirlwinds and moments you get to luxuriate in ... Overwhelmingly, it's the slow burn discoveries and the risks we see the characters become brave enough to take that make One Last Stop such a moving and transportative read. McQuiston manages to capture both the electricity of a crush and the moment when, all of a sudden, the daydream you're infatuated with becomes a real, whole, complicated human being that you'd do almost anything for. She pins down the moments when suddenly a house doesn't feel like a pit stop anymore, when the worries in your head that your friends don't really want to hang out with you die down a little, when you realize you made something really wonderful happen for somebody else because you know them so well ... It's a very particular feeling to be in a room where joy and community and good humor are all palpable. How remarkable then, that One Last Stop takes you to so many such spaces – apartments, drag bars, diners, and so many subway cars, tunnels and bridges – and lets the reader bask in the love that lives, is remembered, and is cultivated there.
If you’re looking for a delightful and quirky book that is full of romance and a bit of electrifying magic, then you’re going to want to pick up One Last Stop ... You’ll wander through the streets of New York with a newfound love for this city that seems to radiate something more than glittering lights and a fast-paced life. August is such an excellent protagonist, and even through some of the dark parts, there are moments of light that peek through and give readers hope. You’ll absolutely want to add this story to your TBR if you’re in the mood for an adorable summer romance ... I absolutely adored August and reading this book through her perspective was hilarious, full of observations, and cynicism, but you can also tell there’s a desire for more ... speaking of Jane, I wish that some of this story had taken place a bit in her perspective, because it would be fascinating. She’s quick witted, and I loved her musical taste, and penchant for subway mischief. However, getting to see Jane the way that August sees her is quite a fulfilling read regardless ... What I was entirely fascinated by is the ongoing mystery of how Jane became trapped on the subway, and how August and Jane are connected by more than just a little bit of static electricity ... The way that McQuiston builds up August and Jane’s romance is so amazing! I honestly had no words as I was reading, just small gasps and squeaks as things got more serious. And boy, do they get serious. It’s almost like you’re in a dream when you’re hit with a pretty harsh reality. It’s worth picking up to see how it works out at the end, for good or bad ... There’s plenty of moments to laugh, some to cry at, and plenty of swoonworthy moments too. If you haven’t thought about adding it to your reading list, it’s definitely a must.
McQuiston has managed to do what no one else has: Make the New York City subway sexy and magical — and make readers feel so five minutes ago for not having our own public transit meet-cutes ... Trying to figure out how McQuiston will resolve such a seemingly impossible task is only half the fun; the other half is spending time in the company of a found family of memorable characters whose laugh-until-you-cry quality banter (and seances) will make readers feel right at home. Last Stop is by and large a humorous romance, replete with syrupy moments of love and ride-or-die friendships, but the complex themes of familial relationships, gentrification, and identity temper the levity ... The conversations around identity in particular demonstrate that — to a certain degree — Last Stop is not just an evolution of McQuiston's exquisite craft, but an extension of her debut Red, White and Royal Blue ... Queer relationships of every form are normalized and healthy, and the characters are fully-realized people who are beautifully diverse, but also much more than their identities ... It would've been interesting to read Jane's perspective about this evolution, as someone who witnessed the 40+ years' worth of changes, was still fighting for LGBTQ rights when she disappeared and is now seeing a more inclusive society and experiencing a bit of a culture shock ... Even so, McQuiston delicately juxtaposes the past with the present, evoking nostalgia for classic music (and terrestrial radio!) and beloved institutions, while brewing possibilities for a more accepting society ... an electrifying romance that synapses into the dreamy 'Hot Person Summer' kind of story you wish you were a part of. McQuiston is leading the charge for inclusive happy-ever-afters, radiant with joy and toe-curling passion, and bursting with the creative range to make anything from electricity to social activism sound sexy.
... delightful ... If you’ve ever had the pleasure of traveling to NYC during the warmer months, you’ll recognize the particularly fervent summertime energy that One Last Stop exudes. The air is thick with humidity and endless possibilities. McQuiston infuses charm into every detail, from the creaks and hisses of a subway train pulling into a station to the shine and grandeur of the New York skyline ... This is a book of hope and love and self-discovery ... The speculative twist of a time slip adds angst to August and Jane’s seemingly meant-to-be pairing, giving One Last Stop higher stakes and making it feel more propulsive than other city-set contemporary love stories ... Bursting with heart, snappy banter and a deep respect for queer history and community, One Last Stop isn’t just another surefire hit for McQuiston. It also might be the best read of the summer.
This novel reminds me of everything I love most about New York City ... This novel was especially moving because I've felt so isolated from my own queer community throughout the pandemic. One Last Stop is about finding who you are and what your purpose is in life. It's about how the people who love you come together for you again and again, even when you feel alone. McQuiston's second novel reads like a love letter to my queer NYC community with gay history lessons and sexy, young-adult shenanigans mixed in that hit all the right notes. By the end, you'll be itching to call up your friends and invite them to brunch. You might even hold a new appreciation for the people you see on your public commute.
... sweet, swoony ... I am one of many fans of McQuiston’s debut, Red, White, and Royal Blue, and they’ve only grown as a writer ... The book invites readers in, reminding us that it is a process, to become. And it’s okay to be figuring it out. It revels in sharing that process with found family, especially queer trans found family --- all the secondary characters are magnetic and compelling, and readers will love them just as much as August does ... It’s a magic rom-com, and it has magic rom-com rules --- à la Kate and Leopold, for example --- but I felt a twinge of discomfort that it was never really acknowledged that people do in fact live their entire lives on the New York subway, and not by choice or magic ... Also, I wanted more of the dissonance between the New York Jane knew and the New York August lives in now ... Though I wanted more of those moments, McQuiston truly knows how to write a heart-skipping romance. They unbury their gays here, and give anxious, lonely queer readers hope, love and magic. Of what it means to build a home when you never felt like you belonged, of wanting to build that home in another person, of what it means to choose yourself. This is desperately, achingly, furiously romantic, especially between the leads but also between the Love Actually-style stories of the supporting cast. A love story and a coming-of-age tale, yes, but also a celebration, a battle cry and a hint of a riot, One Last Stop is sure to be one of the biggest hits of the summer and beyond.
Get your copy of One Last Stop and enjoy steamy subway seductions that will have you using a public transit map to plan your next hot date; heartbreaking partings that resolve into heart-pounding returns; and kisses that have all the melting heat and heady hunger of a first ... if romance isn’t your first, second, or even last pick of genre—there still may be something for you to love in this love-drenched novel ... McQuiston packs One Last Stop with a diverse cast of wacky yet adorable oddballs ... One Last Stop will even appeal to those looking for that particular stew of steamy magic and sensual setting that defines much of the best Southern lit ... it’s a grand success, one that will satisfy fans of McQuiston’s brand of contemporary queer romantic comedy, fans of satisfyingly steamy romance fiction in general, and really, fans of well made stories of all types.
... a terrific sophomore effort that McQuiston fans will enjoy. I mostly loved it but a few things kept it just shy of a perfect read. Few quibbles aside, I highly recommend One Last Stop – especially if you are a fan of some supernatural elements in your romance ... this book was so unexpected! ... a delightful, mind-expanding science-fiction mystery. But then this book also has the unexpected romance between August and Jane plus an amazing cast of delightful misfits ... the story was sometimes hard to follow (and amazingly hard to summarize). You definitely need to exercise some suspension of disbelief, but there is so much more going on in One Last Stop than August and Jane’s story. McQuiston has packed the novel with terrific secondary characters ... a true ensemble novel packed with witty banter and beautiful insights ... there are definitely some loose ends with the ‘Jane-out-of-time’ angle – like how did she spend all those years on the Q without any idea she was stuck? But if you can go with the flow and just lose yourself in the story, you are in for a treat.
... [a] hilarious, sexy love story with a strong narrative voice. [McQuiston's] affection for her characters—each of whom lives on the spectrum of sexuality and gender—gleams, and no quirk is wasted as this romance morphs into an homage to found family and coming-of-age, and onto a metaphysical heist. It is a love story on all levels, one that marvels at the magic of human connection and is unabashedly romantic.
Both a satisfying romance and a heartwarming, realistic coming-of-age tale, McQuiston’s latest book features finely drawn, fully realized characters, a healthy dose of speculative mystery, and a soupçon of true crime. It will appeal to a wide range of readers and is essential for public library collections.
McQuiston’s joyful sophomore romp mixes all the elements that made Red, White & Royal Blue so outstanding—quirky characters, coming-of-age confusion, laugh-out-loud narration, and hilarious pop-cultural references into something totally its own ... With all the fun and camp of a drag show (of which this novel features more than one) but grounded in the tenderness of first love, this time-slip rom-com is an absolute delight. McQuiston brings the goods.
McQuiston introduces another ensemble full of winning, wacky, impossibly witty characters. Every scene that takes place with August’s chosen family of friends crackles with electricity, warmth, and snappy pop-culture references, whether they’re at a charmingly eccentric 24-hour pancake diner or a drag queen brunch. But there are also serious moments, both in the dramatic yearning of August and Jane’s limited love affair (it can be hard to be romantic when all your dates take place on the subway) and in the exploration of the prejudice and violence Jane and her friends faced as queer people in the 1970s. The story does drag on a bit too long, but readers who persevere through the slower bits will be rewarded with a moving look at the strength of true love even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles ... A sweet, funny, and angst-filled romance with a speculative twist.
