Are you ready to have your mind twist and turn as you try and follow a ton of genres bundled into one book?

An unnamed civil servant becomes a "bridge" a roommate and guide to a man who has been abruptly pulled from his imminent death in the 1840's. But things can never stay simple. While he is awestruck by such modern inventions as "Spotify", his bridge is falling deeper and deeper in love with him. However, there is some sort of mole within the ministry and they are all in danger.

With chapters that alternate between the two main characters, and his taking place in the 19th century, this novel will ask the readers to consider time travel, the effects, secrets, and our duty to both the past and the future.

I enjoyed this book and think that others will enjoy it as well. I was immediately pulled out of the story (and read another book before picking this back up) when the POV changed. I was not as interested in the past portions of the narrative but thankfully they were quite short.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avid Reader Press, and Simon & Schuster for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Ministry of Time is buzzed about for a reason. I don’t believe anyone else has written a sci fi book with the perfect blend of humor, drama, mystery and exploration of some harder hitter topics along the ethics scale. The concept is fascinating - time travel is possible and those from the future can bring along those from the past as historical refugees. Understandable there’s a lot to someone from hundreds of years ago suddenly being in ‘present’ time, and the way author Kaliane Bradley is able to weave in the historical with an engaging cast of characters and intrigue was masterful. More than that, the more currently relevant topics of immigration (through different angles), climate change, and general complicity were a surprising to be found but done well given the elements at play. I’m very surprised at everything I took away from The Ministry of Time but so glad I have the chance to share with others!

This one is a genre bender. It's plot is sci fi, many of the characters are historical, and the plot development depends on a love story. The author's writing style is literary, and she has some of the best, most original similies I've ever read. Like, you really know what she means when she likens one thing to another.

The time travel was good and explained just enough to be believable. I liked Gore, the 19th century sailor, the most; some of the other characters could be one-dimensional.

This is one of those unique, kind of sad stories that you want to tell everyone about, just because it's so unusual.

Kaliane Bradley’s “The Ministry of Time” is a unique and captivating read. Seamlessly blending time travel, sci-fi, rom-com, and historical fiction, it offers a fresh and engaging narrative. The novel is delightfully witty while also tackling deeper themes like colonialism with nuance. While the pacing felt uneven at times, I still found it thoroughly enjoyable. I’ll definitely be recommending this as my next book club pick!
Thanks to NetGallery and Avid Reader Press for an advanced copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC!

The Ministry of Time by Kalaine Bradley is a fascinating blend of science fiction, historical fiction, romance, and thriller elements. This genre-bending novel takes a slow-burn approach, gradually unraveling its intriguing premise: in the near future, a civil servant is offered a dream salary—only to learn her new role involves working with “expats” from the past, testing the feasibility of time travel.

Her assignment? Assisting and monitoring Commander Graham Gore, a man who, according to history, perished during Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 Arctic expedition. As he struggles to adapt to modern life—grappling with washing machines, Spotify, and the collapse of the British Empire—he’s supported by a lively, chaotic cast of fellow time travelers. But the ministry’s true purpose may not be what it seems.

While this isn’t an action-packed read, the novel’s strength lies in its thought-provoking exploration of history, adaptation, and human resilience. Bradley’s writing is excellent, crafting a steady, immersive narrative that builds toward a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a leisurely, yet compelling, pace, this one is worth picking up!

A gripping blend of historical intrigue and time-travel mystery. Cleverly plotted and atmospheric, it kept me turning the pages .

When I finished this ARC I thought instantly, "I'd like to own this." Which is quite literally the highest praise I can give a book as I don't often purchase hard copies. I go into every book with as little knowledge as possible about its contents so when it comes to The Ministry of Time I have to recommend you do the same. This is a story about time travel, its not a romance but it is bound in love.

This is a fantastically written sci fi novel that will draw you in from the start. Plenty of twists and turns mixed in with drama, romance, and mystery. Great characterization that will put you into the mind of both of the main characters and leave you turning the pages for more.

This novel is a wildly inventive and deeply compelling blend of time travel, romance, and sharp social commentary. The concept alone is fascinating, but what truly makes it shine is the way it balances humor, heart, and a creeping sense of unease. The dynamic between the protagonist and Commander Graham Gore is both witty and tender, unfolding in a way that feels both deeply human and beautifully strange. Their evolving relationship—rooted in cultural clashes, curiosity, and longing—gives the story an emotional depth that lingers.
Beyond the romance, the novel is also an astute reflection on power, control, and the ethical implications of time travel. The prose is sharp, often darkly funny, and full of tension as the true nature of the Ministry’s work slowly unravels. With its seamless mix of genres and thought-provoking themes, this is the kind of book that keeps you thinking long after the last page. A mesmerizing, intelligent, and utterly original read.

This is THE book that you just can’t shake. An equation that can’t be solved. A puzzle with pieces that don’t quite fit. Everything & nothing, all at once.

A wild ride, this book.

While I might quibble with the ‘romance’ label, it was revelatory.

Racism, sexism, power, past, present, and future.

Like all good scifi, it was served with a healthy dose of social commentary.

Also: I will never, if I live to be 127, forget the line, “You’ll have to get your face wet.”