Queer Time on the Q train : Love, Belonging and Chosen Family in Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop

Abstract

This thesis explores how Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop (2021) portrays queer time, belonging and chosen family. The emphasis is on how the novel manipulates time and setting, and how these factors influence the identities and connections of the characters. The novel serves as the primary focus of the study, supported by queer theory and academic discussions and papers about temporality, community and queer history. The research relies on a theoretical literary analysis, combined with concepts of queer theory that help in understanding the novel’s themes. Concepts, such as queer temporality, help in explaining how the novel uses the Q train not only as a physical setting but also as a place where the usual flow of time is disrupted. The thesis additionally explores how the Flatbush community and August’s friendships foster a sense of belonging that differ from traditional, family-focused structures. The analysis suggests that One Last Stop depicts queer time as something that opens alternative ways of living and connecting with others. The novel highlights the importance of chose family, not only as emotional support, but also as a way of preserving and respecting queer heritage. Ultimately, the thesis argues that McQuiston’s novel shows how queerness can reshape relationships and experiences of the past, present and future through alternative forms of belonging and connection.