One Last Stop Book Review

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I read McQuiston’s Red White & Royal Blue a few years ago and loved it; it was a slushy romance read with enough of a decent plot and cute characters to make it hard not to love. Luckily, One Last Stop was not a disappointment! Set in New York, the protagonist August sees a girl on the train, and it feels almost like love at first sight. Gorgeous and mysterious, August finds Jane irresistible, but when she gets to know her a little better, they both realise that Jane is actually from the 1970s and has somehow ended up stuck on the Q train, unable to leave and unable to return to her time. Having already fallen for her, August enlists the help of her friends to try and save Jane.

With a genre-bending plot, this is unexpected and layered and while it was thoroughly enjoyable, I think it will surprise readers with its depth. The main time travel element of the story was actually the least interesting part – the camaraderie shown by August and her new friends is so heart-warming it’s like a hug in a book. This found family aspect is what makes this book so triumphant, that and the smutty encounters that help build the relationship between August and Jane!

Jane’s upbringing, her relationship with her mother and their never-ending search for her uncle added another layer to this narrative. Jane is imperfect but you can see in the book as she becomes more sure of herself and it’s refreshing to witness! This comes from her gaining confidence, but also her friends’ support (which is about as envy-inducing as watching any episode of Friends) and it’s just so damn cute!

What I think McQuiston’s get so right in this book is that the characters don’t automatically know what they’re doing – they perfectly capture that feeling of being young and learning as you go, so yes they might make mistakes, but they generally pick themselves back up again and carry on going – no matter what life throws at them.

If you want a compelling and complex read that will take you by surprise, then read One Last Stop. I can’t quite decide if it’s better than Red White & Royal Blue though they are very different books – this will have you laughing, crying, and getting hot under the collar. A fun and bold story with just a dash of time travel thrown in for good measure, you’ll finish the book wanting to be a part of Jane’s story!