Rules for Ghosting: A Novel By Shelly Jay Shore

Rules for Ghosting is a heartfelt debut novel that intertwines romance, family drama, and the supernatural in a unique exploration of life, death, and identity. Ezra Friedman has always been able to see ghosts—a gift that made growing up in his family’s funeral home especially challenging. Struggling with the judgment of both living and deceased relatives, particularly his grandfather’s ghost during his second puberty from hormone replacement therapy, Ezra escapes the family business and the expectations that come with it.

However, when his life in the city falls apart, and his mother reveals during Passover that she’s leaving with the rabbi’s wife, Ezra is pulled back home. With the Friedman Family Memorial Chapel facing financial ruin and his parents’ marriage in shambles, Ezra reluctantly steps in to help, bringing him back into daily contact with the ghosts he tried to leave behind. Complicating matters further is his growing crush on Jonathan, a charming funeral home volunteer who lives downstairs from Ezra’s new apartment. Things take a turn for the supernatural when Jonathan’s late husband, Ben, appears as a ghost, breaking all the spectral rules Ezra knows by being able to speak and move.

As Ezra navigates the challenges of his family's business, his unanticipated feelings for Jonathan, and the mysterious presence of Ben, he begins to understand that being haunted isn’t just about ghosts—it’s about the unresolved past and the choices that shape our futures. Rules for Ghosting is a touching and often humorous story about love, healing, and embracing one’s true self. 📚❤️