Bookishly Jewish

There is a bond that comes through shared life experiences. I have seen it in my given profession, but also in writing circles. I am closer with some of my writing friends than I am with some people I went to high school with. We have turned to each other in crisis, we pull each other through. It was this idea of joined communal interest that drew me to Sisters in Science, by Olivia Campbell.

It’s a weird right time right now in the world for a lot of people. Friendships are being tested, and long lasting relationships are dissolving in the blink of an eye, while others are rapidly forming. This is seen a million times over for the four women physicists featured in Sisters in Science. These women pushed against a misogynistic world that was extremely unfriendly to female scientists to build meaningful careers and find fellow scientists they could form productive relationships with. Despite all that, they still find their work and their lives in peril from a new and unforeseen threat – the third reich.

It is notable that only one of the four profiled scientists was a person who considered herself a Jew. Lise Meitner, arguably the most famous of the bunch, came under threat because her ancestors were Jewish despite she herself not having any Jewish affiliation or thinking of herself as such. Two others were under threat for their anti-nazi sympathies, and having the gall to desire a career as a woman. One surprising thing I learned was how in addition to the horrific antisemitism, the Nazi government was also vehemently anti-woman. Women were for the home and church, birthing babies to further the Aryan race. German women were victims – but at the same time, also often wholehearted participants in oppression and cruelty of “lesser” people. Indeed, some of the only jobs open to them were assistants in Nazi “science” in which Jews (and other undesirables) were ruthlessly experimented upon.

Also complicated is the way every single friendship and professional relationship these women forged was put to the test. It is heartwarming to read of the colleagues who worked tirelessly to help them escape, but shocking to see the ones that sat back and let it happen. I’m not going to lie – sometimes I sit up at night wondering who would help me if things got bad. Would I have a tireless team of colleagues trying to help me survive? Or would I have my Nobel prize stolen by a supposed “friend” like Lise Meitner did, and then be told that I am selfish because I only had to endure the first five years of Nazi rule, while they had to endure all of them. As if she should feel bad for the colleagues who stayed behind and worked for the Nazi government, completely overlooking the fact that had she remained, she would have been shot in the back into a mass grave (the true fate of a butterfly biologist featured in book). And yet through it all, Meitner herself refused to participate in the Manhattan project, rejecting the idea of weaponizing her science.

These four women were lucky to escape, mostly due to their esteemed resumes and colleagues who pushed to save them. Their lives are a testament to the friends that refused to stand idly by, but also to the ability of the human mind to adapt to new circumstances. While this is a Jewish book, my favorite character was Hurtha Sponer, who was not Jewish but fled due to her anti-nazi sentiments, and then tirelessly worked to bring over her fellow scientists to safety. It is not a surprise to discover she lost a sister who was killed as part of the resistance. Some family values run deep.

I flew through Sister in Science at top speed and was left with the piercing agony of all the brilliant minds that were lost because their stories had less happy endings. How many families were torn apart, how much potential mercilessly cut off? I was moved by those who stood up to this regime and hope that through my interactions, I show that Jews are people just like anybody else, inspiring others to step forward. We need more Hurtha Sponers. May the memories of all we lost be for a blessing.

Note: BookishlyJewish received a copy of this book from the publicist after we reached out to ask for one.

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2024 was a big year of growth for BookishlyJewish. I set a goal of two posts a week and unless I was on vacation, we accomplished it. We rolled out four new features, which are looking like they might become annual staples. 100 Nights to Hanukkah was a huge hit driving both traffic and reader engagement so we would love to run a version of this next year, right along with out Hanukkah Gift Guide. Cookbook Week is selfish – I love cookbooks and will blab about them endlessly, but it also came with one of my favorite authors telling me she loves the exact same recipe as I do, which was a moment I never though would happen in my life. Reader’s Choice needs a bit of tweaking, but that’s what trying things out is for!

This was also the first year I kept good records. Therefore, it was exciting to look back and find 16 books with queer rep, 5 with BIPOC rep, 6 with disability or neurodivergent rep, and increasing sephardic, mizrahi and orthodox rep. We can only review what’s being published but please we would love to receive more of these. If I know a book contains this rep I will jump it to the head of the line.

There’s no breakdown of self pub, indie, trad because when I tried I got really confused as to who I should be counting as small press/indie. Suffice it to say, we have some of every category in there. We welcome them all. We even had our first book in translation and two books of poetry!

Here’s to hoping 2025 brings even more wonderful expansion for us. We always love to hear your thoughts and suggestion so please fell free to comment or email us!

Usually, BookishlyJewish Hanukkah book reviews feature books about Hanukkah or with strong Hanukah plot lines, but I couldn’t help myself from including my number one Hanukkah gift recommendation (and request!) this year. There’s a reason Chutzpah Girls by Julie Esther Silverstein and Tami Schlossberg Pruwer graces the cover of this years Hanukkah gift guide. It is literally perfect for everyone, and if I don’t receive one, I’m going to go buy it for myself because I want it in hardcover and not just the electronic copy I used for this review.

The premise is simple – the book has biographies of 100 brave and interesting Jewish women spanning from ancient biblical times through the modern day. These one page run downs are paired with stunning art. It’s a book that can be given to middle schoolers to learn about the power of Jewish values and perseverance, to senior citizens as a coffee table book, and to me as a cherished belonging for my collection. While I was familiar with many of these women, others were new to me, and I was so enthralled I kept poking people next to me to tell them about the incredible people I was learning about.

Jews come in many different shapes and sizes and Chutzpah Girls featured women from a wide swath of cultures – Ashkenazi, Sepharidc, Mizrahi, Haredi, Secular, Modern Orthodox – living all around the world. Plus, the illustrations were time period appropriate. Many readers will find either their namesake or their favorite Jewish heroine in here, while others will finally find someone like them featured in a book.

This is a book to inspire and delight. Readers are taken on a journey through the lives of women who lived in many different times, facing all sorts of obstacles, yet pulled through by using their shared Jewish values. It’s a book that readers can return to over and over as they seek reminders that they too can be a chutzpah girl.

Note: BookishlyJewish received an e-ARC of this book from the authors

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For many Jews, Hanukkah is a time for family. Clusters of menorahs burn bright against a window sill as every family member lights their own distinct menorah. Afterwards, extended families gather for seasonal parties and the exchanging of gifts (or more traditionally – gelt in envelopes). While the parties and gifts might be a spill over from the Christian tradition of exchanging gifts around this time of year, and a heavy marketing push to get as much of society buying as possible before year end balance sheets, the injunction to be together as a group is uniquely Jewish. The menorah is lit in a window or in a doorway in order to spread the word about the miracle publicly. There are even rules about how high up one can light the menorah, as it won’t officially count unless you can see it from street view or you bring someone up to view it. 

This all adds up to it being a real kick in the rear to spend Hanukkah alone. Which is exactly the predicament facing Andie, protagonist of Miri White’s adult romance novel Eight Nights To Win Her Heart. She’s celebrating the first Hanukkah since her father died, has no extended family, and is even facing the loss of what few connections she has as she contemplates a move to another state to find employment. It’s a bit depressing, until the neighbor she has been crushing on for months winds up at her door. After a few false starts, Andie and Leo agree to spend the eight nights of Hanukkah together. 

Leo is hard of hearing and battling to show his father that neither his hearing loss nor his childhood mistakes mean he cannot take over the family business. He’s also got a niece that struck me as just a tad unbelievably precocious for her age, kind of spoiled, and with way more technology use than I think is wise for a ten-year-old. But she’s a necessary plot device to move this relationship forward. Through her meddling, Leo takes Andie on a aeries of delightful adventures that show off Andie’s amazing skills as a preschool teacher – the woman has more empathy than seems legal – and the pluses and minuses of Leo’s family. Because let’s face it – while there are some very steamy scenes between these two – it’s the love of family that is really roping Andie into this relationship.

The third act conflict is where my writerly side came out and tried to ruin things for me. Unfortunately, I saw it coming a mile away, and it kept distracting me waiting for the thing I knew was going to happen to actually happen. At least this time no fluffy companions were harmed in the process (they are the reason I can’t read horror in which precious things are presented to us one by one in order to be killed off later. My heart was not built for that). We feel Andie’s outrage even as we ponder the actual legality of the situation, and how she might have a whole plethora of options she hasn’t explored yet. In the end, it’s family that helps repair the rift, which brings the relationship full circle. 

I’m not naive enough to think many people don’t celebrate Hanukkah alone. In fact, as an introvert, I sometimes need more alone-ness in my life and holidays like this can overwhelm me. But when living in Andie’s world I felt her needs keenly. It’s a useful reminder to reach out to the people in your life you’ve been only superficially interacting with. You just never know where things will go. 

Note: BookishlyJewish received an arc of this book from the publisher

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When I think Hanukkah books, I think Stacey Agdern. Don’t get me wrong, there were some crumbs of representation already existing, and many authors and artists fighting to increase it, but Agdern’s Friendship’s and Festivals series was when I saw Hanukkah getting acknowledged in a big way by the general reading populace. Plus, it was representation in the right way – written by an actual Jewish person who is sensitive to what out traditions actually look like. Rather than trying to fit us into a mold that works for others, those books let Jews just be Jews. Which is why I was ecstatic to hear she was releasing a new Hanukkah book for this season. 

The Dreidl Disaster is the third book in the Last Girls Standing series and follows Liv, the mayor of a small New England town preparing to receive a Hanukkah sculpture from a hockey team. Unfortunately, the team representative coordinating the event has completely botched the entire thing – presenting a proposal to the town consisting of Christmas traditions thinly coated in blue for Hanukkah and clearly having no relevance to the town or Judaism. The town residents, including the non-Jewish ones, are in an uproar. Liv’s mayoral legacy as she prepares to leave office for a different position is in jeopardy. To fix this mess the hockey team sends in someone we’ve met before as part of the Friendship and Festivals series – Artur Rabinovitch, professional fixer. 

Artur and Liv have a growing attraction, but there’s the whole sticky issues of their respective jobs and what is and isn’t appropriate while they coordinate the event. The Dreidl Disaster is a closed door/sweet type of romance, you are safe to read this book pretty much anywhere, but as a public figure Liv can’t even date publicly without half the town giving her the side eye. This small town vibe is always captured so well by Agdern, and I especially adore how she creates worlds that both acknowledge the complicated web of Jewish geography while also incorporating communities made of Jews and non Jews who respect each others traditions

One word of caution, I think you really should read some of the other books in the Agdern universe before jumping into this one. There were so many repeat characters and references to past events that I think you might feel like you were missing out if you didn’t know what they were referring to. This shouldn’t be a problem though, because those other books are totally worth it. 

Jewish romance in particular has seen a blossoming of late. I was able to find new books for every night of Hanukkah this year! But sometimes it’s good to go back to the classics. And as is the classical Jewish blessing, may they grow and multiply to include not just Hanukkah but all of our holidays. We contain multitudes. Publishing is finally catching up and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Note: BookishlyJewish receive an e-ARC of this book from the author

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Hanukkah is an interesting holiday, because it has taken on an oversized importance in the Jewish calendar thanks to the non-Jewish holidays that surround it. For Jessica Sacks, protagonist of Jennifer Wilck’s romance Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels, it also represents a way to disguise her trip home as a visit for the holidays rather than the unfortunate side effect of her being fired from her job as a reporter. Thanks to a mistake on a prior article, she’s out on her behind – unless she can convince local hometown hero Thomas to give her an interview so she can impress her former boss.

Thomas just so happens to be Jessica’s neighbor and childhood crush. Except the holiday season isn’t so benign for him either. As a firefighter, he’s recently rescued a man from a burning building and the town wants to honor him. As an alcoholic, he’s resigned from his position due to shame over having been under the influence on the job, is determined to ignore the honors being bestowed on him, and also preparing for a dry Christmas. The last thing he needs is his nosy neighbor – who just so happens to have grown up into a very attractive woman – poking around and exposing his secrets.

Jessica is walking a tight line. She wants to use the growing attraction between her and Thomas as a means to get him to open up, but she doesn’t want to be manipulative. In fact, the further she delves into the relationship, the more distasteful the assignment becomes. Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels is steamy – there are two sex scenes – Jessica and Thomas clearly have chemistry. It’s understandable that Jessica doesn’t want to jeopardize the relationship. To make it all worse, she’s coming under pressure from her mother who doesn’t want her to date a christian.

Interfaith romance is an interesting choice for Hanukkah, which is technically a celebration of Jewish rebels who refused to assimilate into Greek culture, but Wilck handles a difficult topic with grace. Jessica has an intriguing visit to her Rabbi which shines a light on what this relationship means for reform Jews.

In the end, we see a blending of holiday customs that is both sensitive and sweet. Jessica and Thomas both need to realize their own worth, and their friends and family are there to help them through that process. It’s the kind of book to cozy up with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and a jelly donut, whether you’re doing so in front of a tree or a menorah.

Note: BookishlyJewish I received a copy of this book from the author

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As a writer, I’m no stranger to failure. The vast majority of writers, even successful ones, will face far more rejection in their careers than they do success. One of my writing groups routinely ponders the fact that the difference between those who make it and those who don’t, for the majority of authors, has more to do with thick skin/perseverance than talent. So I can really empathize with the dreidel in Little Dreidel Learns to Spin.

Who among us hasn’t felt like we are struggling to do the thing we are born to do, yet somehow keep messing up while all our critique partners are sailing through? Poor little dreidel is aware that this is his moment, the holiday for which he was created to dance and spin, but he just can’t figure it out. Yet he keeps getting back up, dusting himself off, and trying again. Even when advice from friends and relatives is less than helpful. Even when it seems like everyone else is more talented. Even when falling hurts.

Because trying again is the only way to finally get it right.

We all learn at different rates, so it was nice to see a book where kids learn that the point is to keep trying until they figure it out. That sometimes, even when we are all striving for the same goal, we each have different paths to success. Little Dreidel does indeed learn to spin, and it is all the more delightful because it didn’t come easily.

Note: BookishlyJewish received an arc of this book from the publisher

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I have been lucky enough to travel to London a few times, and overall the experience is great. I can read all the street signs, order easily in a restaurant, and even read the local paper. There’s just one hitch – Londoners drive on the left side of the road and taking “the tube” was so confusing I was grateful for the NYC subway system for the first time ever in my life. (Don’t tell anyone I said that, because really my complaints about the subway are numerous). Which is why I considered it a true sign of love and devotion when Cohen, American expat and hero of Sharon Ibbotson’s romance Hanukkah At The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery, braved three transfers to court the heroine, River.

Cohen fled to London from NY after a particularly vicious divorce. His ex wife has absolutely zero redeeming qualities, and when he tried to go to therapy to process it all, the only thing that resulted was a further complication to his already tenuous relationship with his mother. So off Cohen went, to lick his wounds and throw himself into his work an entire ocean away from all his problems. It was a lonely but functional existence until his mother hunted him down and forced him to visit her old friend and owner of the ice creamery in the title. Turns out, the friend has a daughter named River, and Cohen finds himself absolutely smitten.

There are several unusual choices made for a romance novel. For one, there is only a single POV and it is male. We never enter River’s head, only Cohen’s, and as a fellow American I found it pretty funny when he would suddenly say or think things that were very British (lift, flat, etc.). It made me wonder how long full cultural assimilation takes. For another thing, there is no third act break up. Hanukkah At The Great Greeniwch Ice Creamery is an exquisitely gentle book. I kept biting my nails, fretting about when things would go awry, but that moment never came and I was actually quite happy without it. There is a happily ever after, but there was no huge blow up and grovel proceeding it. Instead, Cohen had to work through some of his personal issues and mend past relationships.

He also has to prove to everyone else that he’s worthy of River. After suffering an infection as a child, River has grown up deaf. Not only must Cohen learn to navigate British public transportation, he needs to learn British Sign Language, which is very different from American Sign language. As Christmas and Hanukkah approach River invents new flavors for the ice creamery’s holiday line up and each flavor sampled brings back a host of memories for Cohen and River. We explore the new relationship but also their pasts. The romance is closed door, and generally fades to black.

By the time we find out the actual three flavors chosen for the holiday menu, readers understand why Cohen might be willing to put up with the tube forever if it means keeping River in his life. Hanukkah At The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery didn’t follow every plot beat I expected for a romance, but it still gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling. Kind of like when my train gets rerouted but I still manage to somehow find my way home. Plus, it made me really, really want ice cream.

Note: BookishlyJewish received an e-copy of this book from the publisher after we requested one.

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The origins of our 100 Nights To Hanukkah event this year are less than noble. It was not yet even Halloween and I had gotten a promo email in my inbox for “100 Nights to Christmas.” To say I was less than thrilled to see the unwritten societal agreement not to shove Christmas down everyone’s throats until after Thanksgiving broken, is an understatement. However, the results of my organizing out of spite were pretty great.

We’ve been able to feature a ton of new authors and books on our nightly countdown posts on social media. Interaction from readers has been at an all time high. Plus – we found a ton of books! Such a good time was had by all that we’ve decided to make it an annual event in some form or another.

Now that Hanukkah is upon us, it’s time to tally up how many of the 100 you’ve read…but also to tell us which ones you’re planning to read over the holiday. Drop your counts in the comments and HAPPY HANUKKAH EVERYONE.

Adult Romance:

Bens Bakery and The Hanukkah Miracles by Penelope Peters: Amazon

Bright Winter Lights by Liz Maverick: Amazon

Burning Bright by Wendy Warren, Stacey Agdern, KK Hendin, Jennifer Gracen: Amazon

Deadlines Donuts and Dreidels by Jennifer Wilck: Amazon | Bookshop

Dreidel Date by Eliana West: Amazon

Dreidels and Do-overs by Kim Fielding: Amazon

Dreidel Do-Over by Amanda Usen: Amazon

The Dreidl Disaster by Stacey Agdern: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Crazy One Night Stands: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Days by Ruth Nix: Amazon

Eight Kinky Nights: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Nights of Apricot Cookies by Roni Denholtz: Amazon

Eight Nights to Win Her Heart by Miri White: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Nights to Win Her Heart by Roni Denholtz: Amazon

Eitan’s Chord by Shira Glassman: Amazon

Fortunes Holiday Surprise by Jennifer Wilck: Amazon | Bookshop

Hanukkah At The Great Greenwich Ice Creamery by Sharon Ibbotson: Amazon

Hanukkah Hearts by Jean Joachim: Amazon

The Hanukkah Hook-Up by Jessica Topper: Amazon | BookishlyJewish review

Hearts of Hanukkah: Amazon

Holidays in Manhattan by Jennifer Gracen: Amazon

How to Survive a Chanukah Party by Rachel Abugov: Amazon

Homemade Hanukkah by Eliana West: Amazon

Home for Hanukkah by Rebecca Crowley: Amazon

Home For Hanukkah by Celine Banks: Amazon

I’ll Be Home for Hanukkah K K Hendin: Amazon

I made it Out Of Clay by Beth Kander: Amazon | Bookshop

A Jewish Love, Actually by Alex Turner: Amazon

Leah’s Perfect Christmas by Catherine Beck: Amazon

Light It Up by Evie Blum: Amazon | Bookshop

Lighting The Flames by Sarah Wendell: Amazon | Bookshop

Lights of Love by Morgan Malone: Amazon

Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Love and Latkes by Amanda Page: Amazon

Love You A Latke by Amanda Elliot: Amazon | Bookshop

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer: Amazon | Bookshop

Meteors and Menorahs by Nessa Claugh: Amazon | Bookshop

Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Mistletoe and Menorahs by Marily Jeulin and illustrated by Suzanna Smith: Amazon

Mistletoe and Mishigas by M. A Wardell: Amazon | Bookshop

Moonlights, Menorahs, and Mistletoe by Wendy Warren: Amazon

Newly Fallen by Megan Hart: Amazon

The Remaking of Corbin Whale by Roan Parrish: Amazon | Bookshop

Season of Love by Helena Greer: Amazon | Bookshop

The Sentient Lesbian Dreidel Eats Gimmel Off My Butt by Chuck Tingle: Amazon

Shine A Light by Rebecca Crowley: Amazon

Snowbound In her Boss’s Bed by Marcella Bell: Amazon

Spark by Allie Lasky : Amazon | Bookshop

To Touch The Light: E. M. Lindsey: Amazon

Twinkle by Allie Lasky: Amazon

Two Weeks in Toronto by Amelia Doyle: Amazon

Chapter Books:

How I Saved Hanukkah by Amy Goldman Koss and illustrated by Diane DeGroat: Amazon

The Magic Menorah by Jane Breskin Zalben and illustrated by Donna Diamond: Amazon

Paula Levine is a Potato Pancake by Rebecca O’Connell and illustrated by Majella Lue Sue: Amazon

Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah by Judy Press and illustrated by Erica-Jane Water: Amazon | Bookshop

Rachel Friedman and the Eight Not-So Perfect Nights of Hanukkah by Sarah Kapit and illustrated by Genevieve Kote: Amazon | Bookshop

CookBooks:

Hanukkah Treats to Make and Bake by Ronne Randall: Amazon | Bookshop

Latkes and Vodka by Yael Mao: Amazon

Horror:

Dreidel of Dread by Alex Shvartsman and illustrated by Tomeu Riera: Amazon

Eight Very Bad Nights edited by Tod Goldberg: Amazon | Bookshop

Humor:

How To Spell Hanukkah…And Other Holiday Dilemmas edited by Emily Franklin: Amazon

Literary:

The Power of Light by Isaac Bashevis Singer: Amazon

Mystery:

Hanukah Guilt by Rabbi Ilene Schneider: Amazon

The Latke in the Library by Libi Astaire: Amazon | Bookshop

Middle Grade:

A Donut in Time by Elana Rubinstein: Amazon | Bookshop

Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

The Festival of Lights edited by Henry Herz : Amazon | Bookshop

The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner and illustrated by Kevin Keele: Amazon | Bookshop

Hollowthorn: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Rebecca Reznick Reboots the Universe: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Takedown by Laura Shovan: Amazon | Bookshop

This Is Just a Test by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg: Amazon | Bookshop

Nonfiction:

Halachic Handbook: The Laws of Chanuka by Rabbi Yitzchok Rosedale: Amazon

Inside Chanukah by Aryeh Pinchas Strinkoff: Amazon

The Lights of Chanukah by Avraham Arieh Trugman: Amazon

Picture Books:

Beam of Light by Elisa Boxer and illustrated by Sofia Moore: Amazon | Bookshop

Chanukah Lights by Michael J Rosen and illustrated by Robert Sabuda: Amazon | Bookshop

Chanukah On The Prairie by Burt E. Schuman and illustrated by Rosalind Charney Kaye: Amazon

The Eight Knights of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Galia Bernstein: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Winter Nights by Laura Krauss Melmed illustrated by Elisabeth Schlossberg: Amazon

The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes: Amazon | Bookshop

Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky illustrated by Greg Harlin: Amazon | Bookshop

Hanukkah Pajamakkahs by Dara Henry and illustrated by Olga Ivanov and Aleksey Ivanov: Amazon | Bookshop

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman: Amazon | Bookshop

J is for Januca by Melanie Romero and illustrated by Cassie Gonzalez: Amazon | Bookshop

Katie Koala and The Perfect Latke by Nina Schultz and Illustrated by Selfi Sidabutar: Amazon

The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Lisa Brown: Amazon | Bookshop

The Light From My Menorah by Robin Heald and illustrated by Andrea Blinick: Amazon | Bookshop

Meet The Latkes by Alan Silberberg: Amazon | Bookshop

My First Hanukkah by Anna Kris: Amazon

The Odd Potato by Eileen Bluestone Sherman: Amazon

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Tanya Simon, Richard Simon, and illustrated by Mark Siegel: Amazon | Bookshop

Young Adult Romance:

As If On Cue by Marissa Kanter: Amazon | Bookshop

Eight Dates and Eight Nights by Betsy Aldredge: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

The Eight Slopes of Chanukah by Jacqueline Elisabeth: Amazon | Bookshop

How To Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow: Amazon | Bookshop | BookishlyJewish review

Recommended For You by Laura Silverman: Amazon | Bookshop

Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz: Amazon

What I Like About You by Marissa Kanter: Amazon | Bookshop

Introducing readers to the main character of a book is a crucial part of setting the stage for what is to follow. In Rules For Ghosting, the moving debut romance from Shelly Jay Shore, the reader is immediately clued into the fact that the main character is trans. While the POV is third person, we are deeply in Ezra’s head, and we are therefore able to see the cognitive dissonance produced by how he thinks of himself and how the world perceives him. It’s such a gentle slide we hardly notice it happening. Which is why I was so busy contemplating how unfair life can be that I barely noticed the ghosts.

I probably share that fact with Ezra. He’s worked or volunteered in the family funeral home since he was a small child, but after the death of his grandfather, when he began to see ghosts, Ezra has avoided the place he once loved. I don’t blame him. It’s got to be pretty creepy to realize the Zeidy you’ve been talking to for weeks is actually dead. Unfortunately, that’s not the biggest revelation in Ezra’s life. Within the first few chapters his mother has announced that she’s been having an affair with their Rabbi’s wife, there are outside funeral corporations looking to buy out the struggling family business, and Ezra’s job as a yoga teacher is yanked out from under him. Which means he’s stuck going back to work at the funeral parlor to make up for his mothers absence while trying to untangle the financial mess the family is in.

Weirder? One of the ghosts is following him around and it just so happens to be the dead husband of the guy Ezra is crushing on. Yikes.

The potential for dark humor and bizarre shenanigans is epic, and indeed Rules for Ghosting does have a very tongue in cheek side. These siblings can banter like nobody’s business- which is good because every family holiday celebration we witness (Passover, Lag B’aomer) is a straight up disaster. We are talking literal dumpster fires. But we also see a strong element of found family in Ezra’s personal life, and there are extremely poignant scenes. My personal favorite was when Ezra’s family goes out of their way to accommodate a funeral for a queer client and Ezra discovers they go that extra mile for everyone.

Almost as immediately as we understand Ezra’s dysphoria, we also understand his psychological needs. He has a hard time asking for help, low self esteem, and in general is keeping the massive secret of seeing ghosts from everyone in his life. Watching him move through the process of dealing with all that is like watching a rebirth, which is apt given his preferred job is working as a birth doula. (Side note, I enjoyed all the doula scenes but there was one tiny thing that really bothered me about how Ezra described his job to his roommates. Don’t get hung up on it – keep going, one of the doula scenes is truly fantastic).

The choices made to have readers so deeply immersed in Ezra’s head made his life and emotional landscape much more visceral to me. There’s enough drama to fill a soap opera for several seasons in these pages, but that wasn’t what pulled me in. I enjoyed learning about Ezra, working through his issues with him, and meeting the tidal wave of support he receives when he is finally ready to accept it. Rules For Ghosting is not a cozy or sweet romance- there’s high stakes and one very spicy sex scene – but I would still describe it as a comfort book that made me feel cozy and loved. This might be a book populated by the dead, but it is about the living and left me feeling more alive.

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