The Ministry of Time: One of the Observer's Debut Novels of 2024

A disaffected civil servant is offered a job in a mysterious government ministry gathering expats from across history to test the limits of time-travel. She works as a bridge between the past and the future, living with and assisting the expat known as 1847, Commander Graham Gore. As the project unfolds, Gore and the bridge are forced to confront their past choices and imagined futures, and question whether love can triumph over the structures and histories that have shaped them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2024
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

"A Boy Meets a Girl" is a thrilling debut novel that defies genre conventions and offers a captivating blend of intelligence, humor, and pure imagination. The book is a testament to the author's exceptional writing skills, as it seamlessly weaves together complex themes and intricate plotlines with a touch of whimsy and absurdity.

The story follows a disaffected civil servant named Lily, who is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry. The ministry's mission is to gather expats from across history and test the limits of time travel. Lily's role is to work as a "bridge," living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as 1847 - Commander Graham Gore.

As Lily delves deeper into her work, she discovers that 1847 is not just any ordinary expat. He is a man with a mysterious past and a dangerous mission. Graham has been sent back in time to prevent a catastrophic event that could change the course of history forever.

The novel is fast-moving and riotously entertaining, a genre-busting blend of wit and wonder. The author's sharp wit and clever observations keep the reader engaged and entertained throughout, while the complex plotlines and well-developed characters add depth and dimension to the story.

One of the standout features of "A Boy Meets a Girl" is its combination of extreme whimsy and high seriousness. The author seamlessly blends humor and tragedy, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The characters are flawed and complex, with their motivations and actions often driven by their personal demons and desires.

The novel also explores themes of belonging, identity, and the consequences of our actions. Lily's journey as she navigates her relationship with 1847 and her own sense of self is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as she confronts the challenges of living in a world that is constantly changing and evolving.

The author's writing style is elegant and evocative, with vivid descriptions and a keen sense of place. The settings, from the futuristic government ministry to the historical periods that the expats are transported to, are vividly portrayed, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

"A Boy Meets a Girl" has received critical acclaim from critics and readers alike. The Guardian praised the novel for its "fast-moving and riotously entertaining" style, while the Observer hailed it as a "genre-busting blend of wit and wonder." The Financial Times described the book as "utterly winning," and the Times called it "clever, witty, and thought-provoking."

Kate Mosse, the author of "The Ghost Ship," praised the novel for its combination of extreme whimsy, high seriousness, and cool understatement. "Utterly winning," she wrote, "readers, I envy you: There's a smart, witty novel in your future."

Max Porter, the author of "Shy," described the book as "as electric, charming, whimsical, and strange as its ripped-from-history cast." Emily Henry, the author of "Happy Place," praised the novel for its "thought-provoking and horribly clever" nature, while Alice Winn, the author of "In Memoriam," described it as a "feast of a novel - singular, alarming, and (above all) incredibly sexy."

Francis Spufford, the author of "Golden Hill," praised the novel for its "weird, kind, clever, heartsick little time bomb of a book." He described it as "a weird, kind, clever, heartsick little time bomb of a book that will leave you feeling both exhilarated and devastated."

In conclusion, "A Boy Meets a Girl" is a thrilling debut novel that offers a captivating blend of intelligence, humor, and pure imagination. The author's exceptional writing skills and ability to blend genres create a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The novel's combination of extreme whimsy and high seriousness, its well-developed characters, and its vivid descriptions make it a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

Weight: 588g
Dimension: 242 x 162 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399726344