Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her.
... 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.
