Rules for Ghosting: A Novel BY Shelly Jay Shore

Rules for Ghosting is a heartwarming debut novel that blends romance, family drama, and the supernatural in a story of self-discovery and healing. Ezra Friedman, who has spent his life trying to escape the burden of seeing ghosts, finds himself drawn back to his family’s funeral home after his career crumbles and his mother drops a bombshell during Passover—she’s leaving to be with the rabbi’s wife. With his parents' marriage in shambles and the Friedman Family Memorial Chapel on the verge of bankruptcy, Ezra reluctantly steps in to help, which means confronting the ghosts—literal and metaphorical—that he’s long avoided.

Life at the funeral home is complicated by Ezra’s crush on Jonathan, a charming volunteer who lives downstairs from his new apartment. But things take an unexpected turn when the ghost of Jonathan’s late husband, Ben, starts appearing, defying every rule Ezra knows about ghosts. Ben isn’t just a passive presence—he can speak, move, and seems to be stuck between worlds, breaking spectral norms and leaving Ezra to unravel the mystery.

As Ezra navigates the pressures of family expectations, the complexities of his own queer identity, and his growing feelings for Jonathan, he learns that there’s more to ghosts than he ever imagined. Rules for Ghosting is a beautifully crafted tale of love, loss, and the many ways people—and spirits—can haunt our lives. Shelly Jay Shore delivers a poignant, funny, and tender exploration of what it means to confront the past and embrace the future.