Review of 'Time Travel for Beginners' by Jaclyn Moriarty
Review of 'Time Travel for Beginners' by Jaclyn Moriarty
Release date: July 28th, 2026
Publisher: Ultimo Press
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What the story is about:
On a bustling road in Sydney lies a nondescript storefront known simply as the Time Travel Agency.
Inside, you’ll be welcomed by the smell of freshly brewed coffee, a selection of baked goods . . . and the question, Where in time do you wish to go?
The guidelines are simple: you can go whenever you wish into the past, and there’s no fear of altering the present. Have tea with Jane Austen, scream at a Beatles concert, witness the Olympics in ancient Greece. Perhaps a more personal trip? Visit your long-lost grandmother, recapture the heady days of your youth, return to the idyllic time when your teen was a babbling baby―or watch yourself make the one decision that changed everything.
REVIEW
What an original and comprehensive time travel story! I was gripped by Time Travel For Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty and could not stop reading. This is a long novel but it is so intriguing the pages seemed to disappear. A lot of years and work have gone into its creation and it shows. The number of authors and their works covered in events is astounding. I am certain this is a novel I will never forget and many will be talking about it for years to come. It is not a science heavy novel as the physicist who runs the shop is not big into explanations. There’s a healthy mixture of both sadness and humour and some very unconventional moments. The text has a good variety of writing formats from traditional fiction to various text messages, journal writing and customer reviews. This prevents any potential monotony and keeps it interesting and fresh. There are so many layers in the characters, themes and plot that it is a real reader’s feast! The pacing is appropriate, too, and allows us time to get to know each person involved.
The setting of the time travel business is a storefront in Sydney. The narrative is divided between 3 perspectives Anna, Teddy and Jade but with Anna as the central figure. Anna is a single mother who needs a fresh start and much to her surprise gets hired to work at the Time Travel Agency as a consultant. She is a strong character who quickly reveals her opinions and gets involved in the affairs of those who visit the Time Travel Agency. One person in particular is Teddy and she carries on text based conversations until they meet. There is a bit of mystery around his identity so his presence is not quickly known to her. He wishes to use the offerings of the Agency to sort out his marital relationship. But Anna cannot help herself and gives out advice of what he should do and how he should respond to his negative situation. The betrayal by his wife also affects his sibling relationship. And once psychological analysation begins, it cracks open a long history of his brother’s treatment of him or at least what he perceives to be true.
Beside learning that Teddy’s marriage is in trouble, we see quickly he is a likeable character. His job of salvaging businesses is an interesting one. He discusses why businesses fail and says it’s because employees are unhappy. He then goes about figuring out what made them so unhappy and offers solutions that work. But for all his talent in this area, his own life is in shambles and he needs to be saved. Which is what drew him to the Agency hoping he could go back in time, sort out his difficult childhood and fix his marriage (that seem interrelated).
This novel is unique on so many levels. Time travel has many uses but more than once we see it utilised in the area of relationships (friends, couples, parent-child, etc.). A lot of emotions are present and discussed. Character behaviour is analysed and why people do what they do. Including ignoring repeated warnings about Time Travel restrictions. Some customers believe the warnings set by the Agency are for legal reasons only but the Time Travel Agency truly means what it says. There are rules and reasons to avoid dangerous situations. In the reviews of the business, we see a variety of responses to these safeguards plus also the time travel experiences shared by customers that are both good and bad.
I was fascinated by the method of time travel in the novel and whether customers decide to travel in complete mode (customer is fully there and will feel all sensations like a punch in the mouth!) or partial mode (customer can’t be seen or heard). And if something goes wrong with the time booth (as it does) the consultants are told to consult the manual. This experience was described in detail and at times it was quite humorous. But also scary because of the end result if the booth errors are not fixed when it malfunctions.
There’s plenty of discussion on the rules of time travel such as: ‘Actions taken in the past while travelling make ZERO difference in the present.’ So you cannot change anything. But it proves to be a good tool to observe and learn from past people and incidents. Some customers want to go back to when Stonehenge was built. Or take a ride on the Titanic but get off at one of the ports before it sinks. There is also a time limit on how long you should stay in the past, particularly useful knowledge if you are visiting a younger version of yourself. If you stay until you catch up to the present, your consciousness…And your body…well, let’s just say, the outcome is bad.
Although The Time Travel Agency’s booth is the tool used to go back in time (but never forward), and customers use it for various reasons, the analysation of relationships is a major engine of the plot. Time travel is used as an attempt to fix broken lives and during those sessions, many issues and thoughts arise that need attention. But these complications are sometimes worked out in unexpected ways.
Anna takes many time travel research trips and the places and people she visits are amazing. We can all imagine what it would be like to do such a thing. My favourites are her visits to the Brontes (literary loves of mine!) as it was fun to see how she interacts with them. Jane Austen, too, and Shakespeare. Yes, the whole premise is unbelievable if analysed through the eyes of reality but presented in the format of magical realism, these events stand up strong and sure. It was easy to believe in the fictional world of what was happening as the characters feel real and flawed—providing true depictions of human nature.
My favourite character is Anna and the letters between her and Teddy are a pleasure to read. They are honest, straight from the heart, vulnerable chats. The literature references, authors and Jade’s Journal are intriguing offerings as well.
At one point there is a discussion about how it is best the Agency remain a small business. And that works as a majority of people do not believe in time travel. It is not meant to be a profitable venture as the service they provide is ‘dangerous.’ Yet can provide ‘healing’. They wish to remain small and those who need them will find a way to them. Comparable to a common fantasy theme of a secret door that chooses who it lets in…but it is always someone who needs help.
Of course, numerous times the question arises: how does this process work? Or does the customer actually time travel or is it some psychological experience? But often the sceptics test the time travel booth and are stunned at their experience. They become believers and are fascinated by how alternate timelines are created.
Time Travel For Beginners focuses on grief, family bonds, marital and single parenting issues and past choices but it also demonstrates how to move forward into the future and to avoid getting stuck in the past (literally and figuratively). Parenting struggles are a big part of Anna’s story for she tries hard to contain and protect her daughter who rebels. We see the results of a parent holding on too tightly through fear. But how disaster can bring loved ones together. Then there is the sibling rivalry and Teddy’s exploration of that— all quite eye opening.
It is a brilliant novel that took me by surprise and has me still thinking about it ever since I turned the last page. I highly recommend this literary time travel masterpiece that will have you pinned to the pages and enjoying its tender, wise, tumultuous and sometimes humorous ride. Loved it! 5 Stars easy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Huge thanks to Ultimo Press for the paperback ARC.
