For a while I saw the cover of How to Stop Time by Matt Haig quite often on social media so when I saw a copy of the book on the library’s bookshelf, I decided to pick it up and take it home with me.

The story centres on Tom Hazard, a man who looks forty-one years old but, because of a rare condition, has been alive for centuries. From performing with Shakespeare, to exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, to sharing cocktails with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom has seen and experienced a lot. But after over 400 years, he yearns for something in his life.

The moment he catches the eye of a captivating woman named Camille, Tom feels his life unravelling. Caught between the danger of discovery and the desire to live a real life, Tom learns that the thing he can’t have might just be thing that saves him.

How to Stop Time is a story about love but told with a difference. It is a bittersweet time-travelling story that is about finding yourself and discovering who you are – even if it does take centuries. It is a story about the certainty of change, and about the perils of love. It is a story about love for a child, and love for another person. It is about how love can change you – and save you.

The story is heartbreaking and I felt a deep sympathy for Tom and his experience. His story is told with sensitivity and compassion. The tale spans through the centuries as we are told Tom’s story. I really enjoyed the little tidbits about well-known personalities that were woven into the tale – the bits about Shakespeare and F. Scott Fitzgerald, for example.

How to Stop Time is a perfect tale for lovers of Fantasy fiction. It is an unusual tale that you can’t help but fall in love with.

I give this novel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars.

Have you read any of Matt Haig’s books?

© Colline Kook-Chun, 2018

(This novel was the 37th in my 50 book pledge for 2018)