The Means of Keeping by Rich Marcello takes readers on a profound journey that brings together real-world climate issues and the fictional world. As readers follow the journey of best friends David and Tereza, they will experience a compelling contemporary fiction that discusses poignant social, political, and economic topics through an immersive story.

The book is narrated from the third person perspective, an endearing way of bringing real-world issues such as the climate crisis into the fictional world without detracting from its severity. With each chapter, readers find that they are contemplating real-world issues and the impact that today’s choices could have on future generations to come.

David and Tereza have known each other since they were teenagers, and now in their mid-forties find themselves closer than before, after a climate-induced tragedy takes the lives of their families. The friendship between David and Tereza changes from the start to the end of the book, creating a seamless plot progression throughout. The reader not only forms a connection individually with the characters but also the pair and their friendship together.

A key theme explored is friendship, and as the story progresses, so does the friendship between David and Tereza. At the beginning, the reader is aware that Tereza’s character is leaning on David for support and toward the end of the book, the roles reverse with David’s character leaning more on Tereza. This reinforces to the reader the depth of their friendship and their value for each other.

The character development of both protagonists is cleverly written. The depression both characters feel has been written authentically and compellingly, which will resonate with many readers and provide a strong sense of realness to the characters. The author has achieved a believable environment, adding depth and realness to the overall story. Keeping is the community featured within the book and has been described with such detail portraying it to be a beautiful and freeing place.

Vivid imagery transports the reader into Keeping alongside the characters and its residents. When reading the initial scenes within Keeping the reader will feel a sense of community coming through the pages and feel they can almost hear the citizens around them.

Readers will find the writing style allows for an easy-to-read book with fast-paced chapters. However, readers may feel some parts of the book could be more active. Despite the book’s impactful storyline, there are sections where the narrative appears to lose its momentum, detracting from the anticipation the reader may feel. Nevertheless, these instances of slower pacing do not diminish the overall feeling of intrigue and engagement the book contains.

The overall pacing of the book does provide a good sense of suspense for the reader in anticipating what the outcome will be for David and Tereza. Created with smooth transitions between scenes from one chapter to another, preventing any abrupt changes in the narrative for the reader.

A standalone book that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. The Means of Keeping is a book that effortlessly brings together real-world crises and the fictional world. Marcello will have readers pondering what they want out of life and for future generations when venturing into this new contemporary fiction.