IN 1972, two extra seconds were added to time to balance clocks and while this probably seemed insignificant to most, for 11-year-old school friends Byron and James, it’s a terrifying prospect.

They believe messing with time will cause problems and despite their efforts to put things right the spiralling consequences are beyond their control.

For anybody who read Rachel Joyce’s debut novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, her follow-up, Perfect, would have been highly-anticipated.

Joyce’s debut became a No 1 Sunday Times bestseller, was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and saw her named Specsavers National Book Awards New Writer of the Year.

Despite high expectations Joyce will have pleased her readers again.

She creates a momentous story from a very simple plot, fuelled by emotions that are, at times, so acutely observed it’s heartbreaking.

Reading Perfect might make you feel so involved with Byron and his mother Diana’s journey that you want to reach into the pages and hug them.

Sadness and despair may be key currents running through Perfect, but glimmers of humour, optimism and resilience complete the picture throughout.

Rachel Joyce is...

  • A married mother of four children who lives in Gloucestershire.
  • She moved into writing after a twenty-year acting career in theatre and television, performing leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, The Royal Court and Cheek by Jowl, winning a Time Out Best Actress award and the Sony Silver.
  • Rachel is a writer of more than twenty original afternoon plays for BBC Radio 4 and adaptations for the station’s Classic Series and Woman’s Hour.