One Last Stop
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Somewhat less angsty than Red, White, & Royal Blue, McQuiston’s second novel is a comforting exploration of found family and the spark of love across a crowded room. (Or subway car.) The novel kicks off introducing August’s new roommates. They’re an enjoyably odd bunch. Immediately endearing, its obvious they’ll quickly transform into a supportive found family. I would have read the book just for that! Then we meet Jane, the coolest woman August has ever seen and object of her immediate, raging crush. I’m new to LGBT romance so I don’t know if the ‘idiots in love’ trope is a common one, but I quite enjoyed the supporting cast’s reactions every time they learned more about Jane and August’s interactions. (Idiots in love basically means one or both members of the prospective couple are the last ones to figure it out - something obvious to everyone observing with half a brain.)
Intertwined with August’s quest for Jane is her intention to settle into New York City as her new home, and her mother’s quixotic goal to find out what happened to her brother years ago. August’s childhood was shaped by the ragged hole her uncle’s disappearance left in their lives. She and her mother moved constantly trying to find new clues, and by the time the book starts adult August is a twitchy, semi-obsessive wreck with almost nothing to her name. New York itself was practically its own character, enveloping August even as she began to set down tentative roots.
The final wrapup ended up being more stressful than I would have thought; unexpected questions were answered and there were two obvious potential ways for the book to wrap up. Both would have been excellent, but I wanted one of the endings with my entire being. There was enough character development to feel satisfying without seeming rushed, and McQuiston just created a really nice world to visit. In honor of most of the relationship occurring on the subway line, I paired this with a boxed cocktail. My goal was just something ideal for a picnic, but the rose sangria turned out to be delicious!
