The YA author’s third novel for adults wears its quantum physics lightly, but it is a delight to be lost in its rich, character-driven world
Anyone familiar with Jaclyn Moriarty’s work will love her quiet whimsy and gentle magic. Across her extensive catalogue of books for adults and children, Moriarty has a flair for knitting together the worlds of magic and reality. In Time Travel For Beginners, Moriarty’s third novel for adults, the eponymous time travel agency is a gateway to possibility and wonder – for characters and readers alike.
Found between a gelato bar and a pharmacy in Sydney’s Neutral Bay, the agency is neither hi-tech nor magical. Described at varying points as “riotous”, “unassuming” and “a joke”, it isn’t exactly the height of prestige. Protagonist Anna takes a job there in a concussed haze after she’s been hit by a car. But even though Anna doesn’t believe in time travel, from her first day she senses something special about her new workplace.
Jaclyn Moriarty’s Time Travel for Beginners is out now (Ultimo Press; $34.99)