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Here’s my review of Rich Shapero’s newest book, These Balmy Days.

The latest book and interactive story by Rich Shapero, These Balmy Days is a blend of literary fiction, psychological drama, and surrealism, ideal for anyone who enjoys unconventional storytelling.

If you haven’t heard of him before, Shapero is the mind behind the award winning TooFar Media app. There this new story is available to read for free, where the writing is enhanced with illustrations, animations and music in its own immersive storyworld.

For this project Shapero collaborated with artist Dennis Martin, who created the line drawing illustrations, as well as SiLee Films and Impromptu who created the animations. It’s this combination of features that make TooFar Media’s work unique, and like nothing else I’ve read before.

Alternatively, These Balmy Days can also be read in full as an ebook, which is also free to download on his website here.

In this blog post I review These Balmy Days, exploring the main themes and my own thoughts on the story.

Book Summary (No Spoilers)

Published in 2026, These Balmy Days is 293 pages long and available to read for free within the TooFar Media App. Here is the synopsis:

“Is love a consolation at the end of life, or a discipline practiced against its fading?

Angelo, an aging American expat, has retreated to a sunlit town on Portugal’s southern coast, hoping to shed the weight of ambition, regret and loss. When his young granddaughter, Tenina, comes to stay for the summer, she offers an alternative way of being: playful, unguarded and rooted in the present.

The two explore seaside villages, befriend eccentric locals, write poetry and marvel at migratory birds preparing for a perilous crossing. Markets, ferries, cafes, and ancient ruins become the stage for a shared understanding.

But as Angelo confronts the decline of his body and mind, he spies a mysterious presence shadowing their steps, threatening to destroy the precious communion.

Told in lyrical, episodic reflections, These Balmy Days is a luminous exploration of joy in the face of impermanence and loss. Blending travelogue, reflection and poignant intimacy, Shapero offers a stirring meditation on life at the threshold between holding on and letting go.”

The Main Themes of These Balmy Days

Love and Human Connection

The relationship between Angelo and his granddaughter, Tenina, is really at the heart of this story. It explores how familial love can transcend generations, as Tenina’s youthful curiosity encourages her grandfather to explore the world in new ways.

As the novel progresses, Angelo’s feelings of loneliness begin to dissipate, and his time is spent enjoying shared moments with Tenina, exploring nature and spending quiet time together. These small moments are a reminder of what really matters in life, and how everyday moments can mean more than grand gestures.

Reading their story felt touching, and encouraged me to reflect on relationships that I have with my own family.

Reality vs Illusion

The book is written from Angelo’s perspective, and the story quickly begins to take on a mysterious, supernatural feel. While Angelo spends time reflecting on his own thoughts and memories, the reader is left to interpret the shadowy presence that follows him as they wish.

This blurs the line between reality and the private, internal experience of the character.

Self-Discovery

For me, this story is ultimately about self-discovery and the personal transformation of Angelo. He spends the story reflecting on his past and reconnecting with the present, coming to terms with ageing with the help of his young granddaughter.

In the end, becoming more accepting of his mortality allows Angelo to better engage with the real world in front of him. Through simple pleasures and time spent with a younger soul, he moves from a place of regret to one of acceptance. This is something that a lot of people will be able to connect with.

What I Loved About This Book

These Balmy Days is written with the descriptive, lyrical prose that Rich Shapero uses in all of his books. He spends time bringing southern Portugal to life through evocative descriptions that transport the reader to sandy beaches and winding streets in quaint towns, which were a pleasure to read.

As someone who loves being able to travel through literature, this is something that I really enjoyed, and it was fun to read about Angelo and Tenina’s as they romped along the coast.

The pacing of the story is slow, with a focus on relationships and emotional development, instead of a fast paced plot. I’ve always preferred character driven stories, which makes this method of storytelling ideal for me. The development of the granddaughter-grandfather relationship was touching, I enjoyed the surrealist element of this novel too.

This is common in Rich Shapero’s books, and I liked how the shadowy presence seemed to represent Angelo’s mortality, bringing a deeper meaning to an already enjoyable story.

Final Thoughts

This story was enjoyable to read but also had a much deeper, philosophical meaning. On the surface, I was pulled in by the descriptions of Portugal and enjoyed how the story transported me to the sunny Mediterranean.

As I continued to read, however, I started to think more deeply about life and the relationships that make it worth living. This is what really makes These Balmy Days memorable.

You should read this book if you tend to enjoy literary fiction and magical realism, with endings that are ambiguous and open to interpretation. This might not be for you if you prefer to read stories that are straightforward or fast paced, with a focus on plot and a clear meaning.

Overall, These Balmy Days shows that Rich Shapero’s writing continues to be thoughtful and compelling, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he writes next.