Time Travel for Beginners, Jaclyn Moriarty (Review by Darlene Smoliak)
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Imagine being able to go back into your past to visit certain moments or loved ones. Who wouldn’t want that—to be an observer or even take part in those memories again? That’s where Jaclyn Moriarty takes us: to a magical place where we can relive moments in time, whether good or bad. It sounds wonderful, but it can also become addictive, leaving you wanting more and more.
Anna is stuck in a dead-end job when, on her way to work, she is hit by a car. The accident seems to trigger something in her, and she soon quits her job and begins working at the Time Travel Agency. Then there’s Teddy, who is struggling after his recent marriage falls apart when his wife leaves him for his brother. By chance, he comes across an ad for the agency and decides to give it a try, hoping to look back and see if there were any signs he missed. Lastly, there’s Jade, who is gifted a membership through a woman whose business is located above the agency. She’s encouraged to journal—something she initially finds ridiculous—but over time, she begins to open up to the process. As the story unfolds, these three lives begin to converge in very unexpected ways.
The Time Travel Agency itself feels like a dream workplace, filled with quirky and memorable characters. Anna is initially skeptical of the time travel aspect, but as she experiences it for herself, she begins to believe. I loved the idea of going back in time to meet a favorite author or revisit a moment with a loved one—wouldn’t we all want to do that? Teddy is also doubtful at first, but after his initial experience, he realizes something real is happening. And then there’s the connection between Anna and Teddy—it had that feeling of kindred souls right from the start.
This novel took me by surprise. I was hooked from the first page and found it hard to put down . The author weaves this story in such a way that you’re going happily along and then suddenly you’re hit with a surprise twist that you didn’t see coming. I had a sense something was building, but the way it came together was so well done. At its heart, this is a deeply emotional story about what it means to be human—to feel loss, happiness, and hope. It’s full of a kind of magic that asks you to simply go along for the ride. This story and its characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. I loved it!