The following version of this book was used to create the guide: McQuiston, Casey. One Last Stop. St. Martin's Griffin, 2021.

Casey McQuiston’s novel, One Last Stop, follows the story of August Landry after she moves to New York to finish her degree in sociology. At the beginning of the novel, August is emotionally guarded and avoids developing relationships. She believes that keeping people at a distance will help her avoid the inevitable pain of rejection. When she moves into a loft in Flatbush, she reluctantly spends time with her roommates, Niko, Myla, and Wes, who help her find a job at their local diner, Pancake Billy’s House of Pancake. During her commute to school, August meets Jane, a leather jacket clad punk who lends her a scarf.

While August does not believe that she is worthy of a romantic relationship, she fantasizes about asking Jane on a date and spending time with her crush. Later, she is startled to find a vintage photograph of Jane at the diner and asks Niko to determine if Subway Girl is a ghost. When August confronts Jane about her omnipresence on the train, she admits that she does not remember her life and only knows her name because it is stitched into her jacket. The main character offers to use her investigative skills, that she learned from her mother’s years of trying to solve the disappearance of her uncle, Augie, to help Jane remember her past. Together, the two women use sensory tools to evoke Jane’s memories and solve the mystery of why she is trapped on the Q train. August tries to separate her romantic feelings for Jane from their case work but finds it more difficult when they kiss to bring back memories of Jane’s past partners.

Myla and Niko advise Jane on her romantic relationship and encourage her to be direct about her feelings. When August sets up an impromptu date with her crush, Jane confronts her about her own confused feelings. They discuss their mutual sexual attraction and start a romantic relationship. Meanwhile, August conspires with her friends to save Pancake Billy’s from gentrification by throwing a benefit drag show. They decide that a substation in the MTA tunnels will be an ideal venue. Myla, who studied engineering, offers to cut the power to the Q line during the party in order to break the electrical connection between Jane and the subway line. She postulates that Jane will be forced back into a linear timeline when the power surges. August is afraid that Jane will return to the 1970s and she will lose the first person she ever loved. While she wants Jane to stay in the twenty first century, August realizes that the only way to save Jane is to allow her to go back in time.

After the friends cut the power to the Q line, Jane disappears from the Q train and August attempts to resume her normal life. She makes amends with her mother and finds a post-graduation career path. At the celebratory Pancake Billy’s staff party, August looks up to see Jane standing in the doorway. The second power surge through the third rail sent Jane into the twenty first century. The couple goes back to the Flatbush loft together that night and they explore their relationship outside of the Q train for the first time. Jane assimilates into modern day New York while August starts using her investigative skills to help others find their lost loved ones.