The Forty Rules of Love is a beautifully woven novel that intertwines two stories separated by centuries but connected through the universal theme of love. One narrative follows Ella Rubenstein, a middle-aged American housewife who takes on a job as a reader for a manuscript about the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi and his spiritual mentor, Shams of Tabriz. The other story transports readers back in time to the transformative friendship and spiritual journey of Rumi and Shams.

Elif Shafak explores themes of divine love, spirituality, and personal transformation, drawing from Sufi mysticism and timeless wisdom. The novel invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and challenges conventional ideas about love, faith, and human connection.