Book Review: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Like most other cave-dwelling Millennials on the internet, I absolutely adored Red, White, and Royal Blue earlier this year, so had very high expectations going into this. I saw lots of commentary on TikTok about how this book was better than RWRB, so suffice it to say I was PUMPED when I got a copy from NetGalley.

One Last Stop tells the story of August, an early twenty-something brand new to New York. Having bounced around from city to city, major to major, August finds herself lost in life and looking for a fresh start in a city she can be anonymous in. So, with what little savings she has, she moves to the big apple, finds an apartment with an engineer-turned scientist and her Trans psychic partner, a recluse gay man in love with the drag queen across the hall, and of course, Noodles the dog.

August is used to being alone with few belongings- it's how she survived her childhood of being dragged around by her mother as she tried to solve her brother's disappearance, some 40 years before. She grew up with the mantra of 'I don't need anyone', so it's a surprise to August when she finds herself falling for a girl she met on the train. Enter Jane, who is an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a fluffy red scarf. Jane has no memory of who she is or where she comes from, which would be a problem alone, but she's also stuck in time and can't get off the Q train without bouncing right back on it.

As August and Jane start to fall in love and learn more about themselves, there's also a deadline approaching- the train will be shut down in a few months, and with it, Jane may disappear forever.

Ultimately, One Last Stop was a cute love story with a very unique plot. I fell in love with Niko and Wes, although Jane's abrasiveness didn't do it for me. The book is laugh-out-loud funny, and there are times I found myself grinning along with the antics. It's also about found family, as August navigates her way into adulthood and finally builds relationships with people who start off as roommates, become friends, then become family.

August's mother can go to Hell, though- who the hell raises a child with the explicit purpose of using them to score information on a case you may not have otherwise had access to? August forgives her WAY too easily, I think.

Overall, a great Queer book with lots of representation, and one I'll be recommending to our patrons to read.