Major Gift

Ezuma’s poignant debut explores grief, legacy, and new beginnings. Ndidi Davis struggles to cope after the death of her husband, Alex, an überwealthy tech mogul. Having come to believe that “in an ethical, just society, no one would be a billionaire,” she finds new purpose in setting up a foundation to give the money away. Chronicling her turn to philanthropy is journalist Geoffrey Campbell, who ignites desires in Ndidi that she thought she’d never feel again. The pair grow closer but worry about journalistic ethics and the optics of starting a relationship. More complications arise when Geoffrey turns up a secret from Ndidi’s past that could alter Alex’s legacy. The leads handle the hurdles in their paths with remarkable emotional maturity, making their compatibility clear even as Ndidi wrestles with guilt over moving on and Geoffrey struggles to prioritize love or career. The measured tone makes for a refreshingly grounded billionaire romance, and it’s genuinely affecting to see Ndidi embrace new possibilities, redefine herself and learn to love again. Readers will be moved. (May)