This was so charming! Kind of a wacky premise, but I think Quincy navigates that really nicely, without anything feeling too messy or unkind. I love historical romances with widows, and Leela's no different – sharp and smart, fully grown into herself. And it's really nice to see a brown person in these – her Levantine background, her travels, her Palestinian olive oil and za'atar bread. Yes! 

That said, I read a review on GR that said this book was "all about racial injustices" which I thought was a crock before I even read it, and I feel that even more now, because I feel like her culture is such a small part of the actual narrative throughline. It's just fucking colour. People are bonkers and very annoying!