Right on time for this year’s Pride Month, New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston brings readers her second novel, “One Last Stop.” Published on June 1, “One Last Stop” is an ode to the queer community.
This story brings readers on an intimate ride across New York City, with most of it taking place inside the Q subway line, contrasting against an array of diners, drag bars, and hole-in-the-wall spots featured in between.
They say that experiences are made up of time, places, and people. Reformed girl detective, August Landry, learns this as she steps onto a new morning commute and meets Jane Su, a charming punk activist who—spoiler alert—is displaced in time. Both girls are enthralled by one another from the moment they meet. But as August attempts to run from her past, Jane scrambles to remember her own. They enlist the help of August’s roommates, engineer-turned-sculptor, Myla; psychic herbalist, Niko, and conflicted tattoo artist, Wes, to break Jane out of the time slip—before it's too late.
To say that McQuiston’s style of writing is vivid would be an understatement. Despite being written in August’s limited perspective, “One Last Stop” paints scenes with sensory information, cleverly crafted metaphors, and cheeky humor.
August and Jane’s romance is a central factor in the story. Spanning 432 pages, we see how this relationship grows through crowded subway cars and late-night conversations; unconventional research methods and electric passions. McQuiston doesn’t shy away from writing scenes with enough spice to cause major burns to the nosy stranger reading over your shoulder.
Needless to say, this book could be considered a hazard to read in public.
Twisting time
Admittedly, One Last Stop’s plot is generally predictable. Readers could easily make connections between different scenes and characters. The story has often been described as a queer “Kate & Leopold.”
However, where this book truly stands out is in its overall execution.
As the plot comes around; each conflict and subplot comes to a form of resolution one way or another.
August and Jane are imperfect in their own ways; with August’s extreme cynicism and Jane’s frustration, but they do not use this destructively. Each of the extended cast is so well fleshed out that they feel like they exist outside the confines of the pages in August's story.
As far as time travel elements go, the story’s approach is uncomplicated and feels plausible; making use of science and history as opposed to pure magic. On top of this, the obstacles that August and Jane must traverse captures the peak uncertainty and inner conflict that comes with being someone in their early 20s trying to figure out who they want to be in the world.
Ultimately, “One Last Stop” is a perfect read for Pride Month. Perfectly capturing the sense of family found in the LGBTQIA+ community. Each page is filled with brilliant bursts of wit, sarcasm, humor, and pop culture references. And the characters? They’re themselves, despite the discrimination or circumstances. This book reminds readers to simply feel in the moment, find your own people, and fight for what you love.
