Tag Archives: Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop — Casey McQuiston

“When you spend your whole life alone, it’s incredibly appealing to move somewhere big enough to get lost in. Where being alone looks like a choice.”

Genre: Romance, LGBTQIA+
Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1.5 fire emojis because technically there was spicy stuff, but it happened mostly on the subway which is so disturbing.
Content Warnings: Describes homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, hate crimes, racism, death, car accident, suicide, classism and gentrification.

“One Last Stop” follows August Landry, a 23-year-old bisexual woman who just moved to New York City to run from her past. One day, on the subway, she runs into Jane Su, a wonderfully unique girl and immediately develops a crush. But when August asks Jane out, things get awkward. That is until August realizes Jane is actually stuck in time—has been since the 1970s. And so August will use all she’s learned from her past life to help Jane go back to her time—or get out of the subway in present day.

And really, “One Last Stop” had all the cards to make me fall in love with it: New York City? Check. Sapphic romance? Check. Shy main character? Check. Public transport crushes? Check.

Yet, I can’t even believe I finished this damn book. I found August and Jane’s relationship so weird. I’m sorry, but if I run into a subway crush that’s ‘stuck in time’? Hell no. I’m getting off that line and never getting on it again.

But it’s not only that. It’s not only that August got literally obsessed with Jane. No. The worst part of it all is that THEY HAVE SEX ON THE FREAKING SUBWAY. IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT. WHAT. THE. HELL. This book is unforgivable. I would rather die than have to read it again.

Which is weird, because I had never not liked a Casey McQuiston book. I am actually pretty upset her image of her will be tainted by this book in my mind. I can’t, in my right mind, recommend this book to anyone. God only knows why it has a 4+ stars rating in Goodreads. People are literally insane.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC — I Kissed Shara Wheeler — Casey McQuiston

“How can that be possible, to feel estranged from a place where everyone loves you? To owe your life to a place and still want to run?”

Genre: YA, LGBTQIA
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Homophobia, religious bigotry, and bullying.

“I Kissed Shara Wheeler” follows Chloe Green as she tries to solve her archnemesis’, Shara Wheeler’s, disappearance. Joined by Rory, Shara’s neighbor, and Smith, Shara’s long-term boyfriend, Chloe is set to find Shara and beat her to Valedictorian fair and square—if only her feelings of burning hatred won’t get in the way.

If you’re only reading this because you liked “Red, White, and Royal Blue”, don’t. Yes, there is queerness in this book too, but the plot is nothing like Casey McQuiston’s debut novel, and I say that as a fact, not as a good or bad thing… just a thing.

I gave this book 4 stars because I liked the writing and the ending, but the getting there was a bit boring and I was never able to empathize with Chloe Green, the main character of sorts. I was tired of the whole Shara-scavenger-hunt when I was 20% into the book but they don’t find her until well past 60%. So I guess you can see how this book was a bit boring for me. I had read the summary of the book but still, I was not expecting Casey McQuiston to write a mystery YA book.

I would recommend this book to actual YA readers, not new adults who read YA. “I Kissed Shara Wheeler” is a bit childish, but it’s entertaining and engaging, so don’t hesitate to grab it off the shelves as its release date is today!!!

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: May 03, 2022

“Love God first, love Shara Wheeler second.”

“Because this is what Shara does (…) It’s like… little hints. She can’t just let you in. You have to figure out your way there.”