There's something about a familial drama that really pulls me in.

I definitely went into this thinking it was going to be one thing and was pleasantly surprised that it ended up being something completely different. The premise that the MC, Ezra, can see ghosts is what first sparked my interest. How could he juggle this burden while growing up with a family business that's literally dedicated to the dead? The ability to see ghosts, however, wasn't the plot point that I thought it was going to be. I had assumed it would take more of a central role in the conflict - and while there are ghosts, and they do impact Ezra, I felt like the other plot points were far more compelling and interesting to read.

This is a family drama - a character study on the sibling who carries the burdens of their family on their shoulders and just deals with it. This is a story of Ezra realizing that it's okay to not be okay and to allow himself an opportunity to just exist without the pressures or expectations placed on him by his family.

I really really enjoyed this book. It caught me from the beginning and provided a wonderful insight into a queer perspective and a viewpoint of someone trying to be the pillar that their family needs, but doesn't always deserve. I loved the rep, the familial relationships - both Aaron and Rebecca are beautiful, if not frustrating, siblings to Ezra.

While this wasn't what I was expecting, I very much enjoyed it!

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, Random House Publishing for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: LGBTQ representation, family drama, paranormal

This was so good. This was hilarious, sweet, and funny. I loved the mix of fantasy and romance. I loved Ezra. This was such a great debut. I recommend this!

Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore is a delightful and engaging contemporary novel that blends humor, mystery, and a touch of romance in an unexpected and charming way. Shore introduces readers to the quirky and relatable world of protagonist, Gwen, who finds herself caught up in the aftermath of a ghosting incident and must navigate the complexities of relationships,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Honestly, I loved this book. I found it to be delightful. I loved Ezra's journey as he learned to accept himself for who he was and as he discovered his worth.

Dnfed at 15%. This book was not for me. I was bored, There were a few bright spots but not enough to make me care to read more. Not paranormal which is what I was expecting and wanting.

3.25 ish stars!

I went into this book thinking it would be a cute mildly spooky paranormal romance with great representation but but it didn’t really give that to me, I felt like the paranormal aspects kinda got put on the back burner throughout. It was bad by any means. I loved the sibling relationships. I loved the premise and plot. I just felt like there was something missing throughout the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publishers are RH-Ballantine for the digital arc of this lovely book!

Okay I loved some parts of this book and was just meh about others. I feel like it’s much less romance than the synopsis lets on but it wasn’t an interesting plot. Something I haven’t really seen before. Overall it was meh for me. Easily forgettable but kept me interested while reading

Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore is a quirky, thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of modern relationships in the digital age. The book takes an intriguing approach to the concept of "ghosting"—the act of suddenly cutting off communication with someone without explanation—by turning it into a central theme that resonates with contemporary experiences of love, friendship, and personal growth.

The protagonist, navigating the ups and downs of her social and romantic life, discovers that the world of dating and relationships is filled with unspoken rules, many of which are explored in the book’s witty, yet insightful narrative. Rules for Ghosting is both humorous and reflective, offering a look at how we interact with others in an increasingly disconnected world, where technology often complicates genuine human connection.

Shore's writing style is sharp and engaging, with plenty of humor and wit to keep the reader entertained. However, the novel also delves deeper into the emotional complexities of ghosting, showcasing the hurt, confusion, and self-doubt that can come with being ghosted or ghosting others. The story provides a nuanced look at how people can struggle with vulnerability, commitment, and communication in relationships, making it both an entertaining and thought-provoking read.

One of the strengths of Rules for Ghosting is its relatable exploration of social media and dating culture, reflecting how these platforms often blur the lines between genuine connection and superficial interaction. The characters are well-drawn, and their experiences feel realistic, with plenty of humor and warmth that balances the more serious aspects of the narrative.

While the book is undoubtedly funny, it also doesn't shy away from examining the emotional consequences of ghosting, providing depth and insight into both the pain and the liberation that can come with distancing oneself from relationships that no longer serve us. This makes the book not just a humorous exploration of modern dating, but also a thoughtful reflection on how we manage connections in the digital age.

Overall, Rules for Ghosting is a witty, smart, and entertaining novel that tackles a subject that’s all too familiar in today’s dating culture. With a mix of humor, heart, and insight, Shelly Jay Shore has crafted a fun and meaningful read for anyone who has ever navigated the sometimes awkward, often confusing world of relationships in the digital era.

I could not get into Rules for Ghosting. It didn't interest me and I didn't care for the characters.

This beautiful, poignant story had me in tears for like 60%. If you haven't picked this one up, you're missing out big time!

I wish I hadn’t gone into this thinking it was a romance, because it’s much more a family drama than a romance. It’s not a plot heavy book but it is about really digging into a lot of different relationships, with family, friends, exes, romantic partners, and ghosts! It has some really touching moments.

I absolutely adored the cover of Rules for Ghosting honestly, it’s one of my favorite designs from 2024. But here’s the thing: it totally tricked me. With that playful vibe, I was gearing up for a fun, breezy read...and, well, that’s not exactly what I got. Don’t get me wrong, Shore knows how to spin a story. Even though the vibe wasn’t what I expected, the writing kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Shore dreams up next.

The cover of this book drew me in right away! I absolutely loved it. I was so ready to get into a paranormal ghost story romance! That wasn't exactly the case with this book. I did enjoy the found family and the love story. I just wish it had some of the elements on the cover. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.

Rules for Ghosting
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Shelly Jay Shore

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Rule #1: They can't speak.
Rule #2: They can't move.
Rule #3: They can't hurt you.

Ezra Friedman sees ghosts, which made growing up in a funeral home a bit complicated. It might have been easier if his grandfather’s ghost didn’t give him such scathing looks of disapproval as he went through a second, HRT-induced puberty, or if he didn't have the pressure of all those relatives—living and dead—judging every choice he makes. It’s no wonder that Ezra runs as far away from the family business as humanly possible.

But when the floor of his dream job drops out from under him and his mother uses the family Passover seder to tell everyone that she’s running away with the rabbi’s wife, Ezra finds himself back in the thick of it. With his parents’ marriage imploding and the Friedman Family Memorial Chapel on the brink of financial ruin, Ezra agrees to step into his mother's shoes and help out . . . which means long days surrounded by ghosts that no one else can see.

And then there's his unfortunate crush on Jonathan, the handsome funeral home volunteer who just happens to live downstairs from Ezra's new apartment . . . and the appearance of the ghost of Jonathan's gone-too-soon husband, Ben, who is breaking every spectral rule Ezra knows.

Because Ben can speak. He can move. And as Ezra tries to keep his family together and his heart from getting broken, he quickly realizes that there's more than one way to be haunted—and more than one way to become a ghost.

My Thoughts: This is a slow burn, a very slow burn. I think things could have been sped up just a bit to move the plot along. Ezra sees ghosts and growing up in a funeral home was a bit challenging. Ezra left the family business early on but he had to return when his dream job disappeared and his mother needed help to run the family business. Upon his return, he is attracted to a volunteer, Jonathan, but when Jonathan’s passed away husband Ben shows up in ghost form, things go from complicated to very complicated. This follows the tropes of Jewish, an element of fantasy, ghosts, and complicated family relationships.

The story is narrated by a single character, Ezra, in third person in the present, but they have too many hats to wear, they are Jewish, queer, trans that have surgeries pending, struggles with body image, bisexual, assists with women’s births, and a psychic. They have a lot of inner monologue conversations as they struggle with their self esteem. The family dysfunction is rooted in miscommunication. There were a lot of characters that we meet through Ezra. I would have liked to see more focus on the sibling connections, and even a little more on Ezra’s transition would have been awesome.

This story is a mix of character driven and plot driven with not a clear direction for one or the other, just both, if that makes sense. The author does a phenomenal job at the Jewish representation with the cultures and traditions. The message is one that I liked, learning to communicate in your family (and even outside it) effectively to avoid intentional hurt and to know your self worth, to be able to stand in your truth are valuable messages.

This was not a bad story, I enjoyed it. I just think if some things were tweaked, it could have been even better and would have elevated to another level. This was a debut novel and I think the focus was on too many things at one, the proverbial kitchen sink concept, I think if the focus was on just a few of the things, it would have really taken this story to another level. I would give this author another shot as I believe the bones are there and with some nurturing, greatness could ensue. I would recommend this to other readers as a family drama/contemporary romance.

Wow. This was incredible.

This book is about a Jewish trans man who moves into a new apartment and after getting furloughed from his job he ends up going back to work at his family's funeral home for a while. Oh and he can see ghosts.

When he moves into his new apartment he runs into the very attractive man with nice Jewish boy energy and then he runs into a ghost. Turns out that ghost is the very attractive man's dead husband.

I really really loved this book and I think it is mostly because of the balancing act that the author plays the entire time. I honestly cannot believe this is a debut. This book manages to juggle family drama, found family and friendships, romance, personal hang-ups, and paranormal ghost seeing. I'd go so far to say it's this book might be perfect. I don't think I have a single complaint.

I would classify this as a mostly closed door romance. There is one explicit scene that's kind of drawn out but everything else is just alluded to. It is a romance but it's also a complex story that weaves so many elements together and I am just really impressed by the whole thing. 10 out of 10 recommend.

Bi trans MC, trans woman best friend, asexual secondary, many queer secondary characters

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. This one wasn't right me or my the right fit for my mood reading.

Book Review: Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: Romance
Book # for 2025: #17

SYNOPSIS: Ezra is Jewish and a trans man. His family owns a funeral home specifically for the Jewish community. A series of unfortunate events leads Ezra to begin working at the funeral home. This is unfortunate because Ezra sees ghosts. In particular, he sees the ghost of his current love interest Jonathan’s dead husband.

MY THOUGHTS: This book was great! I enjoyed it so much. There was quite a bit in here about Jewish burial customs, which was very interesting to me!

Pacing was a little off at points, but overall, a very enjoyable read! Will revisit around Halloween time.

It had potential in being a good read. However, I did not enjoy the weird pacing throughout the story. I felt a bit confused at first.

First off thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. The rules for ghosting made sense throughout the book in a few different meanings. I loved the characters and the sibling relationships with eachother. My favorite character was Jonathan he was such a sweet soul and deserves the world. I love how there was talk about lgbtq plus matters and mental health within the book as well.