“Sometimes the point is to be sad, August. Sometimes you just have to feel it because it deserves to be felt.”
If you fell head over heels for One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, you’re probably searching for more books that capture the same mix of heartwarming romance, found family, and LGBTQ+ representations. With its cosy atmosphere, slow-burning sapphic love story, and sprinkling of magical realism, One Last Stop has become a favourite among readers who adore feel-good queer romance. Whether you’re looking for books like One Last Stop, novels with found family vibes, or contemporary LGBTQ+ romance with emotional depth, you’ve come to the right place. From tender slow-burn relationships to uplifting stories filled with heart and humour, these picks all offer the same warmth and charm, perfect for anyone craving their next cosy, romantic read.
One Last Stop Summary
For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train. Jane.
With her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes her favourite part of her day, but there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like a punk rocker from the 1970s. She’s literally displaced in time from then, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does all she can to save the girl lost in time.
Last Night At The Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo
Kicking off our list of books like One Last Stop is Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Seventeen-year-old Lily can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.
America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father – despite his hard-won citizenship – Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the day. Lo’s novel is a story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the height of the Red Scare.
Written In The Stars – Alexandria Bellefleur
After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. So she fibs and says her last setup was a success. Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account, Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soulmate. But she knows that is definitely not Darcy. But when Darcy’s brother expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled.
When Darcy begs Elle to play along, she agrees to pretend they’re dating to save face. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her overbearing family over the holidays, and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect to develop is a real feeling during a fake relationship. But, perhaps opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?
The Fiancée Farce – Alexandria Bellefleur
Tansy Adams’ greatest love is her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. But when it comes to romance, she can’t get past the first chapter. Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book. Yet when real-life Gemma crosses paths with Tansy, her white lie nearly implodes.
Gemma van Dalen is a wild child, the outcast of her wealthy family, and heir to Van Dalen Publishing. But the title comes with one tiny condition: she must be married to inherit. When Gemma discovers a beautiful stranger has been pretending to date her for months, she decides to take the charade one step further – and announces their engagement. Like One Last Stop, The Fiancée Farce is a steamy Sapphic rom-com about a modern-day marriage of convenience.
Tell Me How You Really Feel – Aminah Mae Safi
Sana Khan is a cheerleader and a straight-A student. She’s the classic (somewhat obnoxious) overachiever determined to win. Rachel Recht is a wannabe director who’s obsessed with movies and ready to make her own masterpiece. As she’s casting her senior film project, she knows that she’s found the perfect lead – Sana.
There’s just one problem: Rachel hates Sana. Rachel was the first girl Sana ever asked out, but Rachel thought it was cruel and has detested Sana ever since. Told in alternative viewpoints and inspired by classic romantic comedies, this compelling YA enemies-to-lovers tale follows two strong-willed young women falling for each other despite themselves.
Her Name In The Sky – Kelly Quindlen
Hannah wants to spend her senior year of high school going to football games and Mardi Gras parties with her tight-knit group of friends. The last thing she wants is to fall in love with a girl – particularly when that girl is her best friend, Baker.
Hannah knows she should like Wally, the kind, earnest boy who asked her to prom. She should cheer on her friend Clay when he asks Baker to be his girlfriend. But Hannah longs to be with Baker, who cooks macaroni and cheese with her late at night, believes in the magic of books just like she does, and who challenges her to be the best version of herself. And Baker might want Hannah, too – if both girls can embrace that world-shaking, yet wondrous possibility.
On The Same Page – Haley Cass
Riley Beckett met Gianna Makinen – drop-dead gorgeous influencer, trilingual, daughter of world-famous models, yes, that Giana Makinen – their first year at Boston University, and it changed everything. After all, when you find the person who just gets you, nothing feels quite the same. And in the ten years since, Riley has come to depend on Gianna more than anyone else in her life.
This is what makes sense to her; all of this is status quo. But when a holiday party mix-up sets in motion a domino effect of changes to previously inalienable truths, Riley must question everything she thought she knew about their relationship. What, exactly, does Gianna mean to her after all?
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care – Ashley Herring Blake
Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls. Her life is in New York, with her photography career gaining momentum and her bed rarely empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that suits her just fine. Yet, when Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town she used to call home.
Delilah plans for the trip to be a quick one, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides there might be some fun to be had in Bright Falls after all. For single mother Claire, Delilah is an unwelcome surprise, especially as Delilah knows exactly which buttons to push. Nevertheless, as they’re forced together during the wedding preparations, Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms in this steamy queer romantic comedy, perfect if you loved One Last Stop.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
