Sometimes, you come across a book you’ve never seen before, but that immediately sparks your interest. For me, this was the case with Where Time Stands Still by N.S. Perkins. I first saw this book on Instagram, when the Dutch publisher posted about it. So, naturally I had to read the blurb and this grabbed my attention straight away. Then, I didn’t know it’s the first book in a romance series. Was this novel worth it?

About the book

Where Time Stands Still by N.S. Perkins
Series: Evermore #1
Published by Independently published on November 15, 2022
Pages: 296
ISBN: 9781778044847
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, General fiction, Romance

Twenty-six-year-old Wren Lawson knows she will soon forget who she is. With early familial Alzheimer’s disease written in her genes, it’s a fact she’s wrapped her whole life around; to indulge in friends or romance is a risk for everyone around her—one she’s not keen on taking. Throwing herself into her work as a lawyer is the only thing she can do.

Aaron Scott-Perez was happy with his quiet life in Boston, but when a doctor’s mistake leaves his father unable to run his Christmas tree farm, Aaron has no choice but to move back to the small Vermont town he used to call home. He never saw himself managing the business, but since it is so dear to his father, Aaron has given up everything to do it. To get his father the justice he deserves, he hires none other than Wren. She’s emotionally blunted and secretive, but her kindness and competency provide something his family hasn’t felt for a long time: hope. So much so that Aaron starts to think the life he didn’t want might not be so bad when she’s around.

Yet Wren cannot let him in, too haunted by her future.

As the two get closer and the lines become blurred, Wren and Aaron find themselves at a crossroads. But their attraction is unyielding, and together they must decide what risks are worth taking, and if love is better to lose than to never have at all.

My review

Expectations beforehand

After reading the blurb, I knew that this would be a book that suits me right. It’s a romance, but with much more deper layers, emotions and heavier themes. I like those, they provide more depth to my reading material. I expected a lot of character development as well as a good chemistry, without this novel getting all too heavy.

Characters

The main characters of this book are Wren and Aaron. These are the biggest opposites you could ever come across in a novel. Wren is scared to really live, she lives her life by strict schedules and plans. There’s no space to differ from these schedules. She has no friends and is scared to open up to other people. Relationships are a no-go, because what if she forgets everyone she loves? Aaron on the other hand is much more open en definitely not afraid to love. He has a warm and loving family who, despite their difficult situation, provide a steady support system. However, due to a medical error, he has to change his future since his dad is not able to run the Christmas tree farm anymore. This farm has been in the family for three generations, so he feels responsible for it. When Aarons and Wrens paths cross, their chemistry is undeniable. When they spend more and more time together, it’s clear that they bring out the best in each other. They both grow so much, individually and together. Wren learns to open up more, there’s nothing left of the distant advocate she was at the start of the story. Aaron learns to navigate his future in the current family situation as well. These characters are written fine and you get to know them pretty well.

Atmosphere

Because of the heavier themes this novel addresses, the atmosphere is quite tense for a good part of the story. However, the moments with Aarons family – and especially his mom Martina and younger sister Callie – are heartwarming. They really care for one another and Callie is just a happy kid despite everything she endured in her short life. Also, the way Aaron and Wren get along with the dogs is really great to see. There’s a lot of tension regarding the romance as well, whereas there’s not much spice. This is in no way negative for the story.

Writing and plot

The writing is fine. Perkins uses multiple POV narration, this story alternates between Wrens and Aarons POV a lot. This way, we get to know them better, as well as witness their character growth. I found the writing indulging, I was sucked in from the start. The chapters are not that long and the time jumps were all pretty logic too. Since this is a character driven book, there’s not much of a plot. Of course there’s a basic one to support the characters in their growth. However, this growth is what’s so intriguing, as well as how the author deals with such heavy themes. Despite their seriousness and heaviness, the book itself is not extremely difficult to read. It may be triggering for some, but not for me.

Final thoughts

As I’d already expected, Where Time Stands Still by N.S. Perkins was indeed a book I liked. It’s character friven, these characters have been written well and there’s chemistry between them. The writing style was fine, nott too difficult, despite the heavier and more serious themes this book discusses. This is the first book in a small town romance series, but I’m not too sure if I want to read the next book. Why? That one is about Finn, a side character I wasn’t rooting for. Maybe he has a back story of his own, I don’t know. Furthermore, I’m not sure if I want to keep up with yet another series. I’m getting tired of them, but escaping them proves to be tough.