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Major Gift
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
10 days and 11:29:13
100 copies available
U.S. only
The widow of a tech mogul is determined to give her wealth away—and keep one secret from the journalist tasked with telling her story. A hot new take on the billionaire romance.
When Ndidi Davis’s husband unexpectedly dies, she’s left bereft—and with $2.1 billion in the bank. She channels her grief into launching a charitable foundation, but the endeavor is made more complicated by Geoffrey Campbell, an ambitious, perceptive journalist assigned to profile her philanthropic pursuit. Geoffrey’s reporting slowly uncovers Ndidi’s whole heart—and some parts of her past she’s worked hard to keep out of the public eye.
When Ndidi Davis’s husband unexpectedly dies, she’s left bereft—and with $2.1 billion in the bank. She channels her grief into launching a charitable foundation, but the endeavor is made more complicated by Geoffrey Campbell, an ambitious, perceptive journalist assigned to profile her philanthropic pursuit. Geoffrey’s reporting slowly uncovers Ndidi’s whole heart—and some parts of her past she’s worked hard to keep out of the public eye.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
June 1, 2026
Bumped up to a 3 stars. This one was just okay for me. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and thought the initial set-up had a lot of potential, but I struggled with a few elements of the conflict and romance that kept me from rating it higher.
The romance was insta-lovey in a way that wasn't super believable for me, and I also really, really struggled with Ndidi’s decision to intentionally hide her involvement with the business. I think this specific plot point could have been fleshed out differently to make it believable but it made me incredibly frustrated with her, which is not what I want in a novella.
I also was a little thrown off by the billionaire aspect to this. Our FMC declares she wants no association with the money but then clearly takes advantage of it throughout different aspects of her life... I would have preferred dedication one way or another (and if it was a billionaire not wanting to be a billionaire, maybe don't market it as a billionaire romance?)
That said, this was still a very easy, light read, and I did enjoy the writing!
Thank you to 831 Stories for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The romance was insta-lovey in a way that wasn't super believable for me, and I also really, really struggled with Ndidi’s decision to intentionally hide her involvement with the business. I think this specific plot point could have been fleshed out differently to make it believable but it made me incredibly frustrated with her, which is not what I want in a novella.
I also was a little thrown off by the billionaire aspect to this. Our FMC declares she wants no association with the money but then clearly takes advantage of it throughout different aspects of her life... I would have preferred dedication one way or another (and if it was a billionaire not wanting to be a billionaire, maybe don't market it as a billionaire romance?)
That said, this was still a very easy, light read, and I did enjoy the writing!
Thank you to 831 Stories for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2026
3.5⭐️ Tiffany Ezuma’s take on the billionaire romance felt fresh and unique with a tiny hint of Philadelphia Story, à la the reporter who falls for the debutant while doing a piece on her. The widow aspect created emotional depth and a sense of maturity that added to it as well. All in all, a bite-sized romance with a lot to offer.
Thank you, 831 Stories, for the advanced copy.
Thank you, 831 Stories, for the advanced copy.
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May 27, 2026thank you netgalley and 831 stories for the digital arc!
unfortunately this one was very much not for me. major gift is a spin on the billionaire romance. main character ndidi's billionaire tech husband dies unexpectedly, and she is left to deal with his fortune. she decides to launch a charity to make a positive impact of her (decidedly evil) wealth, leading her to journalistic geoffrey. geoffrey is profiling the charity's launch, which means he and ndidi will be spending a lot of time together...romance ensues!
i read in the author's bio that she studied screenwriting, and perhaps this would have worked better as a movie or other visual media. there was just a lack of interiority here that left me feeling disconnected. the characters felt rather flat and one-dimensional, and the story overall just felt kind of dull to me.
moreover, you simply cannot make me care about billionaires. i guess i expected the discussion of wealth here to actually mean something, but it didn't! silly me! despite the fact that ndidi claims to care about dispersing her billions for worthy causes, she is actually still quite content to flaunt her wealth, to the point where she even charters a private jet to chase after geoffrey because (paraphrasing) what's the point of having all this money if you can't spend it?!
there might be a demographic for this one but it certainly does not include me, and for that i am sorry!
unfortunately this one was very much not for me. major gift is a spin on the billionaire romance. main character ndidi's billionaire tech husband dies unexpectedly, and she is left to deal with his fortune. she decides to launch a charity to make a positive impact of her (decidedly evil) wealth, leading her to journalistic geoffrey. geoffrey is profiling the charity's launch, which means he and ndidi will be spending a lot of time together...romance ensues!
i read in the author's bio that she studied screenwriting, and perhaps this would have worked better as a movie or other visual media. there was just a lack of interiority here that left me feeling disconnected. the characters felt rather flat and one-dimensional, and the story overall just felt kind of dull to me.
moreover, you simply cannot make me care about billionaires. i guess i expected the discussion of wealth here to actually mean something, but it didn't! silly me! despite the fact that ndidi claims to care about dispersing her billions for worthy causes, she is actually still quite content to flaunt her wealth, to the point where she even charters a private jet to chase after geoffrey because (paraphrasing) what's the point of having all this money if you can't spend it?!
there might be a demographic for this one but it certainly does not include me, and for that i am sorry!
March 4, 2026
4.25
This was a refreshing read; female billionaire in Silicon Valley. I actually think it would be a great full-length novel so we could go deeper with the characters.
Would recommend!
This was a refreshing read; female billionaire in Silicon Valley. I actually think it would be a great full-length novel so we could go deeper with the characters.
Would recommend!
June 7, 2026
I really loved this fresh take on a billionaire romance— a widow to a tech billionaire is being interviewed by a reporter as she creates a foundation to give away the majority of her wealth. I thought the writing was beautiful, and this story had emotional depth and character growth throughout. Despite being a novella, I felt like I really got to know these characters and I loved the side characters as well. I also loved the discussions around gender, race, class and wealth and felt they were extremely relevant. Really enjoyed this one and recommend— 831 always has such unique stories and they feel so different from what else is out there romance-wise— and I am saying this as someone who mostly reads romance and it feels rare to come across books that feel unique in this space.
May 21, 2026
What I appreciated most was that this wasn’t only a love story. It was also about rebuilding a life and learning to take up space in your own story. If you like romance with emotional depth and characters growing as much individually as they are together, this one is worth picking up. This is my second 831 book this month and I’ve found myself paying attention to what they’re doing. They’re publishing books that feel like they’re pushing beyond the traditional publishing lane while also creating space for new female voices and perspectives.
June 3, 2026
interesting plot, strong start, lost me half way through. i know it’s hard to have build up in a novella, but instant love is yucky
May 27, 2026
I do love that this is a story about a FMC that is a POC tech billionaire. We need more books like this. This novella was a quick, sweet read with some mild spice. Can't wait to read more from this author.
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2026
I really wanted to love Major Gift by Major Gift because the premise immediately hooked me. A middle-aged billionaire in Silicon Valley giving away her wealth to try and change the world, while a writer follows her to profile her and ends up falling in love with her? That sounds like the setup for such a layered and fascinating story.
I think that’s why this ended up being a disappointing read for me. The concept has so much potential. Themes of grief, wealth, morality, power, philanthropy and the ethics of being extraordinarily rich in a deeply unequal world. There’s so much here that could’ve been explored in a really nuanced way. But for me, the book only briefly touched on those ideas before moving on.
I also struggled with the writing style. It’s very accessible and easy to read, which I know will work for a lot of readers, but it personally fell flat for me because it leaned heavily into telling rather than showing. The main character is often described as “brilliant” but I never really felt that through the writing itself. I kept wanting more depth, more complexity, more substance.
I think the novella length ultimately worked against the story. The characters, their relationship and the themes all felt underdeveloped to me and I found myself wishing this had been a full-length literary novel instead. Because underneath it all is a genuinely strong concept that could’ve led to such an emotionally and intellectually compelling story.
I completely understand that novellas aren’t meant to flesh everything out extensively, but this felt less like intentional restraint and more like missed opportunity. I finished the book thinking about what it could have been rather than what it actually was.
I think that’s why this ended up being a disappointing read for me. The concept has so much potential. Themes of grief, wealth, morality, power, philanthropy and the ethics of being extraordinarily rich in a deeply unequal world. There’s so much here that could’ve been explored in a really nuanced way. But for me, the book only briefly touched on those ideas before moving on.
I also struggled with the writing style. It’s very accessible and easy to read, which I know will work for a lot of readers, but it personally fell flat for me because it leaned heavily into telling rather than showing. The main character is often described as “brilliant” but I never really felt that through the writing itself. I kept wanting more depth, more complexity, more substance.
I think the novella length ultimately worked against the story. The characters, their relationship and the themes all felt underdeveloped to me and I found myself wishing this had been a full-length literary novel instead. Because underneath it all is a genuinely strong concept that could’ve led to such an emotionally and intellectually compelling story.
I completely understand that novellas aren’t meant to flesh everything out extensively, but this felt less like intentional restraint and more like missed opportunity. I finished the book thinking about what it could have been rather than what it actually was.
May 20, 2026
I enjoyed this take on a billionaire romance because it did not follow the typical storyline I read in this genre.
The story follows Ndidi (Didi) as she grieves the loss of her husband while trying to focus on giving back, and hiding a major secret from her past. Geoffrey, the journalist writing her profile, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story. I really liked how his career began and that he had previously written about Alex, Didi’s husband, and how his start up came to be. That detail made the story feel full circle in a really satisfying way.
It was clear from the beginning that Geoffrey sensed there was more to Didi’s story, but I appreciated the patience and ease he brought to their relationship. They connected naturally from the start, and the comfort he provided allowed Didi to slowly become her true self.
Overall, this was a thoughtful and more than just a romance with strong emotional themes woven throughout. You need to stand up for what you believe in and for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and the 831 Stories Romance for the ARC. I read an uncorrected proof and all opinions are my own.
The story follows Ndidi (Didi) as she grieves the loss of her husband while trying to focus on giving back, and hiding a major secret from her past. Geoffrey, the journalist writing her profile, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story. I really liked how his career began and that he had previously written about Alex, Didi’s husband, and how his start up came to be. That detail made the story feel full circle in a really satisfying way.
It was clear from the beginning that Geoffrey sensed there was more to Didi’s story, but I appreciated the patience and ease he brought to their relationship. They connected naturally from the start, and the comfort he provided allowed Didi to slowly become her true self.
Overall, this was a thoughtful and more than just a romance with strong emotional themes woven throughout. You need to stand up for what you believe in and for yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and the 831 Stories Romance for the ARC. I read an uncorrected proof and all opinions are my own.
June 1, 2026
I've made it my mission to read all the novellas that 831 Stories comes out with, and I have yet to be disappointed. This one was delightful! Ndidi's husband died a year ago, and she has decided to give away all their wealth a la Melinda Gates. She starts a foundation to distribute funds, and a journalist who's profiling her and her foundation follows her around. They have immediate chemistry, but they're both wary of exploring it.
I'm always surprised at 831 Stories' ability to tell a full and complete story in a short number of pages - in this case, 192 pages. Ndidi's complicated grief is sketched very well: she mourns her husband but is also grappling with his legacy as a billionaire tech founder and the rockiness of their last few months together. She also doesn't want the journalist Geoffrey digging into her past, for reasons interwoven with her experiences of racism and sexism, her own feelings of inadequacy, ahd her desire not to taint her deceased husband's work. But she's drawn to Geoffrey, which I loved. I appreciated the book's emphasis that there is no timeline on moving on after grief and that many feelings can coexist. Ndidi is scared of erasing her husband and scared of ever being hurt again the way she was when he died, but she also feels something with Ndidi and doesn't want to be afraid forever. I found this love story tender and complicated and interesting. These books always hit the spot!
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'm always surprised at 831 Stories' ability to tell a full and complete story in a short number of pages - in this case, 192 pages. Ndidi's complicated grief is sketched very well: she mourns her husband but is also grappling with his legacy as a billionaire tech founder and the rockiness of their last few months together. She also doesn't want the journalist Geoffrey digging into her past, for reasons interwoven with her experiences of racism and sexism, her own feelings of inadequacy, ahd her desire not to taint her deceased husband's work. But she's drawn to Geoffrey, which I loved. I appreciated the book's emphasis that there is no timeline on moving on after grief and that many feelings can coexist. Ndidi is scared of erasing her husband and scared of ever being hurt again the way she was when he died, but she also feels something with Ndidi and doesn't want to be afraid forever. I found this love story tender and complicated and interesting. These books always hit the spot!
Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 27, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the complimentary ARC of “Major Gift” in exchange for an honest review.*
I’ll be the first to admit that contemporary romance isn’t usually my go-to genre, but I was in desperate need of a palate cleanser after some heavier recent reads. I’d heard good things about 831 Stories and decided to give one of their novellas a shot.
“Major Gift” was a fun time. I especially enjoyed the refreshing spin on the billionaire romance trope (where are all my lady billionaires?!)
While some elements were admittedly predictable, I still had a great time reading and found myself rooting for Ndidi and her hopeful fresh start.
I’ll be the first to admit that contemporary romance isn’t usually my go-to genre, but I was in desperate need of a palate cleanser after some heavier recent reads. I’d heard good things about 831 Stories and decided to give one of their novellas a shot.
“Major Gift” was a fun time. I especially enjoyed the refreshing spin on the billionaire romance trope (where are all my lady billionaires?!)
While some elements were admittedly predictable, I still had a great time reading and found myself rooting for Ndidi and her hopeful fresh start.
March 24, 2026
I liked it! A woman in the tech world, Ndidi, finds love after her husband passes away. There are some nice “yes bitch!!” moments where Ndidi asserts herself while interacting with men who are belittling her.
I’m really into all of these later in life romances I’ve been consuming lately (I think this woman is 40?) - I’m thinking of Violet Bridgerton’s plot-line in newest season of Bridgerton and Found Time (the 831 I read yesterday). Awesome and refreshing to read about someone’s second great love story.
Out on May 19th!
I’m really into all of these later in life romances I’ve been consuming lately (I think this woman is 40?) - I’m thinking of Violet Bridgerton’s plot-line in newest season of Bridgerton and Found Time (the 831 I read yesterday). Awesome and refreshing to read about someone’s second great love story.
Out on May 19th!
May 2, 2026
I’d like to thank NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with this eARC!
I went into this one without having read even the blurb… it was a nice surprise to see the development of the story. One thing I’ll always love is when a woman comes through and ends up confidently slaying whatever problems the story throws at her. This story, also, was refreshing in the sense that the maturity of the characters was tangible. The communication through the evolution of their relationship was chef’s kiss!
4 ⭐️
I went into this one without having read even the blurb… it was a nice surprise to see the development of the story. One thing I’ll always love is when a woman comes through and ends up confidently slaying whatever problems the story throws at her. This story, also, was refreshing in the sense that the maturity of the characters was tangible. The communication through the evolution of their relationship was chef’s kiss!
4 ⭐️
May 28, 2026
will I ever write an 831 review without mentioning the shortness of their short stories? It’s either it leaves me wanting more—which is such a wonderful sign, chefs kiss, my favorite thing to happen—or can leave me confused because gaps weren’t always filled in the time alloted for the entire story.
Major Gift felt more like the latter. While part of me understood her reasoning for the secret (which was quite obvious right away), the other part of me felt like it was antithetical to everything we built the character to be. We meet her and quickly learn she rolls her eyes at misogynistic and racist comments, she’s thick as thieves with her sister, her parents have placed immense pressure to succeed….and you’re telling me she wouldn’t have claimed that win // shared with loved ones?? I find it hard to believe.
I liked Geoffrey and their dynamic but it didn’t captivate me. I think there was a lot happening in this one! But Geoffrey as the mmc was so warm and loving and dynamic. Big fan of him!!
& loved the billionaire romance being the woman as the billionaire FOR ONCE!! And a philanthropist? So good!!
Major Gift felt more like the latter. While part of me understood her reasoning for the secret (which was quite obvious right away), the other part of me felt like it was antithetical to everything we built the character to be. We meet her and quickly learn she rolls her eyes at misogynistic and racist comments, she’s thick as thieves with her sister, her parents have placed immense pressure to succeed….and you’re telling me she wouldn’t have claimed that win // shared with loved ones?? I find it hard to believe.
I liked Geoffrey and their dynamic but it didn’t captivate me. I think there was a lot happening in this one! But Geoffrey as the mmc was so warm and loving and dynamic. Big fan of him!!
& loved the billionaire romance being the woman as the billionaire FOR ONCE!! And a philanthropist? So good!!
June 5, 2026
Yikes. So much potential, but fell extremely short due to its length. The concept of a tech billionaire widow falling for a journalist covering her foundation launch was great. However cramming several weeks into 200 pages left me feeling like I hardly knew anything about the MCs. There wasn’t much depth, like how you scrape butter out of the container. I wish this author would have taken the extra step to make this a whole ass book. I’m left feeling like this was a high schooler’s hobby piece.
May 25, 2026
3.75! I love all 831 books and this one is no exception.
May 29, 2026
2.5 loved the premise but did not love the writing of it sadly
June 1, 2026
I think I liked the idea of the romance more than the romance itself.
Ndidi and Geoffrey are meeting one year after Ndidi’s husband has passed away, whom Geoffrey once wrote a profile on for his success in the tech industry. Now, Geoff is meeting with Didi to see what she’ll do with all the billions she’s left with. It’s idealistic in its philanthropy, lord knows we need that energy in the world and I was excited to watch it unfold. It touches on racism, immigration, misogyny, patriarchy and all the things I want to read about, all wrapped up in a romance between these two people who feel safe together. Unfortunately, a lot of it felt too convenient, too self aware and lacked the chemistry I wanted to truly feel. I suppose what I want to say is that it felt like we were really just trying to hit the beats of the story. Overall, I did enjoy myself, it certainly wasn’t a bad time. But I do wish there was more.
Thank you 831 Stories for the ARC
Ndidi and Geoffrey are meeting one year after Ndidi’s husband has passed away, whom Geoffrey once wrote a profile on for his success in the tech industry. Now, Geoff is meeting with Didi to see what she’ll do with all the billions she’s left with. It’s idealistic in its philanthropy, lord knows we need that energy in the world and I was excited to watch it unfold. It touches on racism, immigration, misogyny, patriarchy and all the things I want to read about, all wrapped up in a romance between these two people who feel safe together. Unfortunately, a lot of it felt too convenient, too self aware and lacked the chemistry I wanted to truly feel. I suppose what I want to say is that it felt like we were really just trying to hit the beats of the story. Overall, I did enjoy myself, it certainly wasn’t a bad time. But I do wish there was more.
Thank you 831 Stories for the ARC
June 9, 2026
intriguing idea, i would read more of this!
June 14, 2026
This was very okay!
June 5, 2026
Too insta-lovey and hard to believe for me! Also if she was giving away all her money why was she chartering planes lol
June 5, 2026
3.5
Cute and sweet!
Cute and sweet!
June 3, 2026
Lovely novella! Predictable, as it is a romance, but with a really well developed lead + love interest and a fresh premise. I would like to read more from 831 stories!
Review of advance copy
I borrowed this from my daughter who received it as an ARC. The book was a great read and the author has a beautiful writing style, especially regarding scenes with intimacy, either emotional or physical. I was a bit surprised that there is so much character and relationship development and then it seemed like the book wrapped up so quickly. In any case I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.
June 2, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
This was so flat or maybe I should say one dimensional. I know it's a novella but it could have used another 30-40 pages of character development to help bring the MC's to life.
This was so flat or maybe I should say one dimensional. I know it's a novella but it could have used another 30-40 pages of character development to help bring the MC's to life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am not sure how to feel about this book. The writing is good. It draws you in. However, the main character is difficult.
Before I delve into the hard parts, something simple that I struggled with is that I felt I could not visualize any of the characters well. Except for Wendy and maybe Henry. For Ndidi who is the FMC, I had a blank face; the things I could picture most clearly were her hairstyles. In romances and in literary fiction, I am used to characters being described more thoroughly. All I got was that she was pretty, which did not help to shape her in my mind. Whether or not it is intentional, I do think it is a keen reflection on her character—though I won’t take the time to connect those dots because I’m already writing too much as is.
I’ll start by saying that I love a book about grief. I am Black and a woman and a working professional who has had to deal with very difficult men. I understand that characters are not perfect narrators. However, I really struggle with the way this was presented.
I knew what was happening from very early on, so there was no element of surprise or emotional volatility, which actually might’ve made it easier for me to read the book from a more critical lens. However, I do like getting wrapped up in a novel and I enjoy being caught off guard, so that predictability is part of why this book is three stars for me.
There is a lot more underlying discontent that I would like to voice as a reader; it is not limited to the novel, it is definitely a reflection on our society, but this novel aims to address these problems in our society so it has triggered these feelings in me.
I don’t know what this book is asking me to feel—maybe confusion or a niggling of frustration. It mostly made me think. The delicacy with which these critical topics were handled, much like Geoffrey’s final piece, skirted around a plethora of really sensitive topics without criticizing them head on. It was a soft book for a very hard edge of the world that is too difficult to navigate and survive to be so subdued in a novel that seems to be positioning itself as a criticism.
Considering that I (as a person quite similar to the main character) was not be surprised by this book, it makes me feel as if it is written for a wider audience. And with that in mind, I don’t always feel that things need to be softened for groups that will view this as ‘just’ a work of fiction—as opposed to a personal reality.
Literature has an incredible purpose: informing and expanding the views of readers. Fiction, specifically romance, is an amazing vehicle for this. People quite literally come to romance with open hearts. I won’t pretend to know the best way to handle the delivery in Major Gift, but a less subdued effect would have made me feel a lot more enamored with this story.
As it is, it just reminds me of why so many women are jaded and chronically ill. We are exploited in the same ways that we are taken for granted in romantic relationships. We are forced to fight and fend for ourselves. We have to make tough life-changing decisions to escape toxic environments. We are overworked and we are underpaid. We are taught that it is rude to discuss our potential, both financially and socially, in a work environment.
When you are Black, that is an entirely new dimension to navigate. Everyday, “quiet” sentiments are communicated very loudly without being said—without most people around you noticing. There is no calling attention to it if you want to keep your job and fund an enjoyable life for yourself.
With Ndidi, there is an implicit distance between her and the average reader because she is a billionaire which is also unrelatable, particularly in this current economic and political climate. It is possible that her wealth has diluted the personal impact of her life experiences. People say money doesn’t buy you happiness, but it sure does buy you peace of mind. It gives you access to coping mechanisms that make life easier to survive. You are not necessarily forced to face your challenges head on when you are secure. Even so, I did appreciate reading about a successful Black woman. I have not encountered many books where the main character is a Black woman who is doing quite well for herself and living a relatively peaceful life.
However, much like her family, I am left confused by the entire situation as it unfolds. I too feel that there is something missing from her story. I wasn’t satisfied with her explanations. It felt very much like a rationalization to survive what was the first half of her life and a softening of reality to avoid accepting the truth. Her sister even alludes to her habit of using logic and reason to work her way out of feeling—I believe that can be applied to her story at a larger scale. The entire recollection has been coated in a layer of logic and reason.
The book truly feels like a larger reflection of her, and I’m not sure those are always books that I enjoy reading. I enjoy feeling like the author has imposed a sense of judgment for readers to follow, because at the end of the day the character is fictional and some things need a heavier hand when it comes to what you want readers to take away.
Art is no longer yours once it is in the world and language is inherently insufficient. There will always be gaps in communication from one mind to another. These are concepts I have carried with me since college. When you put something into the world, everyone who interacts with it will run with it—reshape it through the lens of their own perceptions, which are formed by their own life experiences. When you make criticisms so vague about topics that are so complex, there is a lot of room for misconception.
One last thing that frustrates me is the fact that the story also doesn’t properly delve into the ways Black women are mistreated/taken for granted in relationships. It is true for all relationship dynamics, but it is poignant in mixed relationship dynamics because of the element of social perception and regard. A white man will always have a fundamentally different life experience and point of view. It is inevitable. This is not a point about personal failings by race; I’m sure we’re all aware that all men, including men from one’s own culture, can fail women. However, because this character is so intricately tied to the main man in her life through work and through love (since early adulthood), because so late in life she is saying she has had her best intimate moments with someone who is essentially a stranger, this point feels especially relevant in the context of her story.
I’m not sure everyone will be able to read these words and see through the murky puddle of it all. I want more media in the world that compels people to gain clarity on situations like this. Every book I have read that broaches this topic, of Black women struggling in the workplace or in dating, handles it from either a quirky or a tortured or a surface level lens. I want something deeper and more evolved, a story that is not afraid to be on the nose. Considering I have encountered so many multilayered stories from this publishing house, and I have seen the way being queer is covered—boldly and emphatically and very much on the nose—I really wish that there was more here. Something less muted.
Before I delve into the hard parts, something simple that I struggled with is that I felt I could not visualize any of the characters well. Except for Wendy and maybe Henry. For Ndidi who is the FMC, I had a blank face; the things I could picture most clearly were her hairstyles. In romances and in literary fiction, I am used to characters being described more thoroughly. All I got was that she was pretty, which did not help to shape her in my mind. Whether or not it is intentional, I do think it is a keen reflection on her character—though I won’t take the time to connect those dots because I’m already writing too much as is.
I’ll start by saying that I love a book about grief. I am Black and a woman and a working professional who has had to deal with very difficult men. I understand that characters are not perfect narrators. However, I really struggle with the way this was presented.
I knew what was happening from very early on, so there was no element of surprise or emotional volatility, which actually might’ve made it easier for me to read the book from a more critical lens. However, I do like getting wrapped up in a novel and I enjoy being caught off guard, so that predictability is part of why this book is three stars for me.
There is a lot more underlying discontent that I would like to voice as a reader; it is not limited to the novel, it is definitely a reflection on our society, but this novel aims to address these problems in our society so it has triggered these feelings in me.
I don’t know what this book is asking me to feel—maybe confusion or a niggling of frustration. It mostly made me think. The delicacy with which these critical topics were handled, much like Geoffrey’s final piece, skirted around a plethora of really sensitive topics without criticizing them head on. It was a soft book for a very hard edge of the world that is too difficult to navigate and survive to be so subdued in a novel that seems to be positioning itself as a criticism.
Considering that I (as a person quite similar to the main character) was not be surprised by this book, it makes me feel as if it is written for a wider audience. And with that in mind, I don’t always feel that things need to be softened for groups that will view this as ‘just’ a work of fiction—as opposed to a personal reality.
Literature has an incredible purpose: informing and expanding the views of readers. Fiction, specifically romance, is an amazing vehicle for this. People quite literally come to romance with open hearts. I won’t pretend to know the best way to handle the delivery in Major Gift, but a less subdued effect would have made me feel a lot more enamored with this story.
As it is, it just reminds me of why so many women are jaded and chronically ill. We are exploited in the same ways that we are taken for granted in romantic relationships. We are forced to fight and fend for ourselves. We have to make tough life-changing decisions to escape toxic environments. We are overworked and we are underpaid. We are taught that it is rude to discuss our potential, both financially and socially, in a work environment.
When you are Black, that is an entirely new dimension to navigate. Everyday, “quiet” sentiments are communicated very loudly without being said—without most people around you noticing. There is no calling attention to it if you want to keep your job and fund an enjoyable life for yourself.
With Ndidi, there is an implicit distance between her and the average reader because she is a billionaire which is also unrelatable, particularly in this current economic and political climate. It is possible that her wealth has diluted the personal impact of her life experiences. People say money doesn’t buy you happiness, but it sure does buy you peace of mind. It gives you access to coping mechanisms that make life easier to survive. You are not necessarily forced to face your challenges head on when you are secure. Even so, I did appreciate reading about a successful Black woman. I have not encountered many books where the main character is a Black woman who is doing quite well for herself and living a relatively peaceful life.
However, much like her family, I am left confused by the entire situation as it unfolds. I too feel that there is something missing from her story. I wasn’t satisfied with her explanations. It felt very much like a rationalization to survive what was the first half of her life and a softening of reality to avoid accepting the truth. Her sister even alludes to her habit of using logic and reason to work her way out of feeling—I believe that can be applied to her story at a larger scale. The entire recollection has been coated in a layer of logic and reason.
The book truly feels like a larger reflection of her, and I’m not sure those are always books that I enjoy reading. I enjoy feeling like the author has imposed a sense of judgment for readers to follow, because at the end of the day the character is fictional and some things need a heavier hand when it comes to what you want readers to take away.
Art is no longer yours once it is in the world and language is inherently insufficient. There will always be gaps in communication from one mind to another. These are concepts I have carried with me since college. When you put something into the world, everyone who interacts with it will run with it—reshape it through the lens of their own perceptions, which are formed by their own life experiences. When you make criticisms so vague about topics that are so complex, there is a lot of room for misconception.
One last thing that frustrates me is the fact that the story also doesn’t properly delve into the ways Black women are mistreated/taken for granted in relationships. It is true for all relationship dynamics, but it is poignant in mixed relationship dynamics because of the element of social perception and regard. A white man will always have a fundamentally different life experience and point of view. It is inevitable. This is not a point about personal failings by race; I’m sure we’re all aware that all men, including men from one’s own culture, can fail women. However, because this character is so intricately tied to the main man in her life through work and through love (since early adulthood), because so late in life she is saying she has had her best intimate moments with someone who is essentially a stranger, this point feels especially relevant in the context of her story.
I’m not sure everyone will be able to read these words and see through the murky puddle of it all. I want more media in the world that compels people to gain clarity on situations like this. Every book I have read that broaches this topic, of Black women struggling in the workplace or in dating, handles it from either a quirky or a tortured or a surface level lens. I want something deeper and more evolved, a story that is not afraid to be on the nose. Considering I have encountered so many multilayered stories from this publishing house, and I have seen the way being queer is covered—boldly and emphatically and very much on the nose—I really wish that there was more here. Something less muted.
May 20, 2026
*thank you to 831 Stories for a gifted ARC of this title!*
A fresh take on the classic billionaire trope, Major Gift subverts the standard conventions by introducing us to Ndidi, a FMC who is uninterested in retaining the wealth she inherits after her tech bro husband passes away; and instead hard launches her philanthropy era by creating a foundation to funnel the $2.1 billion into charitable corporations that work to solve causes near and dear to her heart. In the process, she crosses paths with Geoffrey, the journalist profiling her foray into the limelight and who's interested in the woman behind the name (and fame). Between board meetings, gala parties, and dive bars, Ndidi and Geoffrey's professional relationship develops into something more, as the peel back the layers of the personas they've crafted to protect themselves and their hearts.
I went into Major Gift really excited to see the billionaire trope flipped on its head and kind of in conversation with the current sociopolitical climate regarding the hoarding of wealth amongst the 1%, tech bros having the power and means to solve societal issues but choosing to stuff their own coffers, etc. and while I think the book succeeded in its commentary on that, and Ndidi working to fight against that with her foundation, I think we lost a lot on the romance front because of everything the author was trying to commentate on. And while there were some really sweet moments between Ndidi and Geoffrey, the "can't-look-away" chemistry that I've come to associate with 831 published stories felt like it was severely lacking. I wanted to see why they were drawn to each other, and it felt like Ezuma relied heavily on telling the reader what was going on versus showing us. In a way, the big love confession actually felt rushed to me because I couldn't understand the why behind all of a sudden Ndidi couldn't see her life without Geoffrey or why Geoffrey would risk everything to be with Ndidi. I wanted to know more about them as individuals–who is Ndidi the woman, beyond Alex's shadow and their shared legacy? what does she want out of life unattached to anyone? And I felt like this story needed another 100-something pages to really expound upon the main characters to fully give the love story and the commentary the space it needed to flourish.
Also, while I love the way 831 Stories structures the epilogues and fanfiction worlds of their releases, this time it felt like the epilogue and the main story were two different entities and not a continuation of each other. Good spice/intimacy scenes are such a fertile space to peel back the layers of two characters because sex is such a vulnerable act and when our defenses are down but the "scenes" in the book didn't provide much character exposition or tell us more about who Ndidi and Geoffrey are at their core. But in the epilogue, the sex scene is so detailed in a way that didn't exist in the book, and I wish that level of detail had been included in the main narrative.
All in all, the writing style was fairly enjoyable but I wanted to like it way more than I did. 3.25 ☆
A fresh take on the classic billionaire trope, Major Gift subverts the standard conventions by introducing us to Ndidi, a FMC who is uninterested in retaining the wealth she inherits after her tech bro husband passes away; and instead hard launches her philanthropy era by creating a foundation to funnel the $2.1 billion into charitable corporations that work to solve causes near and dear to her heart. In the process, she crosses paths with Geoffrey, the journalist profiling her foray into the limelight and who's interested in the woman behind the name (and fame). Between board meetings, gala parties, and dive bars, Ndidi and Geoffrey's professional relationship develops into something more, as the peel back the layers of the personas they've crafted to protect themselves and their hearts.
I went into Major Gift really excited to see the billionaire trope flipped on its head and kind of in conversation with the current sociopolitical climate regarding the hoarding of wealth amongst the 1%, tech bros having the power and means to solve societal issues but choosing to stuff their own coffers, etc. and while I think the book succeeded in its commentary on that, and Ndidi working to fight against that with her foundation, I think we lost a lot on the romance front because of everything the author was trying to commentate on. And while there were some really sweet moments between Ndidi and Geoffrey, the "can't-look-away" chemistry that I've come to associate with 831 published stories felt like it was severely lacking. I wanted to see why they were drawn to each other, and it felt like Ezuma relied heavily on telling the reader what was going on versus showing us. In a way, the big love confession actually felt rushed to me because I couldn't understand the why behind all of a sudden Ndidi couldn't see her life without Geoffrey or why Geoffrey would risk everything to be with Ndidi. I wanted to know more about them as individuals–who is Ndidi the woman, beyond Alex's shadow and their shared legacy? what does she want out of life unattached to anyone? And I felt like this story needed another 100-something pages to really expound upon the main characters to fully give the love story and the commentary the space it needed to flourish.
Also, while I love the way 831 Stories structures the epilogues and fanfiction worlds of their releases, this time it felt like the epilogue and the main story were two different entities and not a continuation of each other. Good spice/intimacy scenes are such a fertile space to peel back the layers of two characters because sex is such a vulnerable act and when our defenses are down but the "scenes" in the book didn't provide much character exposition or tell us more about who Ndidi and Geoffrey are at their core. But in the epilogue, the sex scene is so detailed in a way that didn't exist in the book, and I wish that level of detail had been included in the main narrative.
All in all, the writing style was fairly enjoyable but I wanted to like it way more than I did. 3.25 ☆
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you 831 Stories for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
I've had an up-and-down relationship with the novellas from this publisher, but I'm always grateful when they give me another chance with their latest ARC. I actually liked this one a lot, and it has a lot of things going for it. But at the end of the day, I wanted more from it and it didn't feel like there was a lot of THERE there, even with the novella constraint.
Ndidi Davis is the forty-something widow of a tech billionaire (think he invented faux Instagram) who died too young last year. Now she wants to give her billions away (think MacKenzie Scott) and do some good before retiring from public view entirely. To launch her foundation, Giga Giving, she's doing a profile with preeminent journalist, Geoffrey Campbell. Sparks start flying almost immediately, the first Ndidi has felt since her husband died. Public perception, journalistic integrity, and grief all collide as Geoffrey tries to do what he came to San Francisco to do and Ndidi tries to figure out who she is without Alex.
It was lovely to read about adults who have adult problems (if you can think of a billionaire as someone with relatable problems), but any issues Ndidi and Geoffrey have seem to slide away very easily. Perhaps that's how it goes when you have money? Ndidi doesn't have a confidence problem, but the reveal and break in the third act seems to act like she does. I appreciate her speech to the board before she goes to get her man, but that could have happened at any time and it felt odd that she wasn't calling certain people out.
The novella also seems to abruptly end just as things were getting to the good part. I'm usually thankful for no epilogue, doing the work to say that everything's okay, but I was still left wanting. Any conflict of interest or problem in the public eye never comes to fruition. In fact, there's no mention of the public response to the article at all. Despite the odd warning from one person or the odd picture in a 20-slide Instagram, ahem OneK, post, no one seems to care, which is nice, but didn't feel real to me.
The author is an excellent writer and got many San Francisco/Bay Area vibes correct, which I appreciate, so I'd probably read something by her again. In the end, Ndidi and Geoffrey seemed like nice people I'd probably like to work for, but their story didn't light me up.
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
I've had an up-and-down relationship with the novellas from this publisher, but I'm always grateful when they give me another chance with their latest ARC. I actually liked this one a lot, and it has a lot of things going for it. But at the end of the day, I wanted more from it and it didn't feel like there was a lot of THERE there, even with the novella constraint.
Ndidi Davis is the forty-something widow of a tech billionaire (think he invented faux Instagram) who died too young last year. Now she wants to give her billions away (think MacKenzie Scott) and do some good before retiring from public view entirely. To launch her foundation, Giga Giving, she's doing a profile with preeminent journalist, Geoffrey Campbell. Sparks start flying almost immediately, the first Ndidi has felt since her husband died. Public perception, journalistic integrity, and grief all collide as Geoffrey tries to do what he came to San Francisco to do and Ndidi tries to figure out who she is without Alex.
It was lovely to read about adults who have adult problems (if you can think of a billionaire as someone with relatable problems), but any issues Ndidi and Geoffrey have seem to slide away very easily. Perhaps that's how it goes when you have money? Ndidi doesn't have a confidence problem, but the reveal and break in the third act seems to act like she does. I appreciate her speech to the board before she goes to get her man, but that could have happened at any time and it felt odd that she wasn't calling certain people out.
The novella also seems to abruptly end just as things were getting to the good part. I'm usually thankful for no epilogue, doing the work to say that everything's okay, but I was still left wanting. Any conflict of interest or problem in the public eye never comes to fruition. In fact, there's no mention of the public response to the article at all. Despite the odd warning from one person or the odd picture in a 20-slide Instagram, ahem OneK, post, no one seems to care, which is nice, but didn't feel real to me.
The author is an excellent writer and got many San Francisco/Bay Area vibes correct, which I appreciate, so I'd probably read something by her again. In the end, Ndidi and Geoffrey seemed like nice people I'd probably like to work for, but their story didn't light me up.
May 21, 2026
thank you 831 stories for the early copy of this title!
3.5⭐️ 1🌶️
this had such an intriguing premise - a billionaire romance, but the FMC is the billionaire. i love the switch up on this trope that i had never seen done before.
the writing was great and very easy to get into - but i had some issues with the story itself. Ndidi is still reeling after the sudden and unexpected death of her husband Alex a year prior. she’s currently in the middle of trying to figure out what to do with all of the money that she’s been left with after his death, and is trying to fully lean into philanthropy and donating money to charities she’s passionate about. a noble cause, and one i can definitely get behind. however, from the very beginning, Ndidi let Henry, a previous business associate of her late husband, disrespect her and walk all over her on multiple different occasions. this was so frustrating to watch. to be fair - there is a lot of commentary about how Ndidi fears she will be perceived as a black woman. she never wants to come off as too aggressive, too intense, or too opinionated which i do understand. i tried to give her grace in this regard.
but what i really couldn’t get behind and could not understand was Ndidi’s intentional dismissal of the work she put in to get Alex’s company off the ground. why was this necessary for the plot line? it was so weird to me that she hid her involvement from the very beginning, even with her husband begging her to let him include her in the credit. i just did not understand this at all, to be honest. it felt like a weird plot line for what could’ve been a very empowering story about this badass business woman who helped to build this company from the ground up and is now enjoying the fruits of her labor.
now, in regards to the romance with Geoffrey - this did not do it for me, unfortunately. from the jump, it felt SO insta-lovey. and while i know this is a novella and it seems like it would be unavoidable, i have actually read quite a few novellas that have managed to pull this off without such strong insta-love vibes. and to be honest, i really did not feel that Ndidi and Geoffrey had any real chemistry or connection outside of the obvious physical attraction they had for each other.
overall, i really wanted to love this one, but it was just okay.
3.5⭐️ 1🌶️
this had such an intriguing premise - a billionaire romance, but the FMC is the billionaire. i love the switch up on this trope that i had never seen done before.
the writing was great and very easy to get into - but i had some issues with the story itself. Ndidi is still reeling after the sudden and unexpected death of her husband Alex a year prior. she’s currently in the middle of trying to figure out what to do with all of the money that she’s been left with after his death, and is trying to fully lean into philanthropy and donating money to charities she’s passionate about. a noble cause, and one i can definitely get behind. however, from the very beginning, Ndidi let Henry, a previous business associate of her late husband, disrespect her and walk all over her on multiple different occasions. this was so frustrating to watch. to be fair - there is a lot of commentary about how Ndidi fears she will be perceived as a black woman. she never wants to come off as too aggressive, too intense, or too opinionated which i do understand. i tried to give her grace in this regard.
but what i really couldn’t get behind and could not understand was Ndidi’s intentional dismissal of the work she put in to get Alex’s company off the ground. why was this necessary for the plot line? it was so weird to me that she hid her involvement from the very beginning, even with her husband begging her to let him include her in the credit. i just did not understand this at all, to be honest. it felt like a weird plot line for what could’ve been a very empowering story about this badass business woman who helped to build this company from the ground up and is now enjoying the fruits of her labor.
now, in regards to the romance with Geoffrey - this did not do it for me, unfortunately. from the jump, it felt SO insta-lovey. and while i know this is a novella and it seems like it would be unavoidable, i have actually read quite a few novellas that have managed to pull this off without such strong insta-love vibes. and to be honest, i really did not feel that Ndidi and Geoffrey had any real chemistry or connection outside of the obvious physical attraction they had for each other.
overall, i really wanted to love this one, but it was just okay.
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