DNF at 20%

I am so sorry, but this book just wasn't right for me.

It is well written. The writing is beautiful, but sadly the book wasn't what I thought it would be. I thought it would read as a fantasy/science fiction, based off the cover and description, but that's my fault.

I am giving the book 3 stars for the writing style. I would read more books by this author.

I feel poorly placed to review this as I just don’t think this book was for me. I do, however, think it will be a big hit upon release, that it’ll sell a lot of copies and that it’ll find a big audience. This is the kind of accessible sci-fi romance that will appeal to a lot of people, and I don’t think my issues with it reflect the reception it’ll have.

This is a novel about a young civil servant in the near-future, who is successful in interviewing for a role in a secretive new department - the ministry of time. Time travel is possible - “how does it work? Don’t worry about it” - and the new recruit is assigned as supervisor, or ‘bridge’, to Graham Gore, Arctic explorer who has been brought from 1847 to (the book’s) present day London. The two of them are forced to co-habit, and a will-they-won’t-they relationship ensues while a nefarious time travel conspiracy plays out in the background.

This book had a fun premise, and I went in expecting something entertaining and plotty - and that’s not quite what this is. The first act sets up the fish-out-of-water scenario, and we see Graham (along with the other historical expats) forced to learn about modern culture, and all that has evolved in the centuries since they were last present. This is quite amusing, and Bradley’s writing is very likeable and witty, but I did find it a little tiring after a point. There’s a lot of this - actually, the bulk of the novel is this - and I’m not sure I was invested enough in these characters to really need so much of it. Think of the BBC’s ‘Ghosts’ but with a little less humour. There are whispers of a conspiracy plot here and there, but a majority of the novel feels like it’s lacking much propulsion in its plot. Readers expecting a romance novel might have less of an issue here, because if you really buy into the relationship between the characters then I’m sure this is a satisfying slow-burn love story. Anyone looking for more focus on the time travel aspects is likely to be a little underwhelmed.

All of this time travel plot is crammed into a baffling third act which I found unbelievably confusing - and not in a fun, complex and intricately plotted way. I really don’t know what the author was going for here and I just found it utterly incomprehensible. Not explaining how the time travel works is fine with me, that seems like a big ask - but this didn’t feel like it had much internal logic to the time travel at all, and it just made it a bit of a chore to follow. One unengaging action scene is followed by a pages-long exposition dump, full of nonsensical twists that have to be explained at length and still left me feeling like the consequences hadn’t really been thought through. It’s difficult to connect emotionally with the climax of the novel when you’re really not clear on what’s happening at all, and this had me thoroughly lost. It’s a real disappointment from a book with such a fun premise, and written with a clear and confident voice. It feels a bit harsh to complain - I was told up front not to worry about the time travel - but I wish that the novel had just worried a little bit more about it.

For me, this had its moments, and I think Bradley is a talented writer. Go in expecting something more in the vein of a romantasy novel and I think you’ll find this more satisfying - and I really do think this’ll have widespread appeal. An appearance on the Observer’s Best Debut Novels of 2024 list has done this few favours, and those expecting a new literary sci-fi classic are likely to be left underwhelmed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sceptre for the ARC!

I think I've never felt so connected to a character whose name I don't know, this novel is warm, smart and totally enjoyable, loved it!

I revived a copy of this book to review from Netgalley.
This book is unique and brilliant. I have never read anything like it before and the writing is superb.
I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. This is sure to be a bestseller of 2024 and beyond!

Thanks to Net gallery for the ARC.

Such an interesting idea for a story. I did want more time travel and focus on the Ministry. That being said I loved the characters in this novel.

The development of the characters is wonderfully written.

Entertaining and funny. Very enjoyable. People are going to love this

I should have read the reviews in advance- especially the warning that you might not sleep! Subsequently I stayed up most of the night reading this. I loved it. It was a time-travelling, historical, love-story with Men in Black undertones. It was funny and very compelling. I literally couldn’t stop reading it. I was really thrilled to get an advance copy.