The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak intertwines two narratives: one set in the 13th century, focusing on Rumi and his spiritual teacher Shams of Tabriz, and the other in contemporary times, following Ella Rubinstein, a Jewish housewife who finds inspiration in Rumi's teachings. The novel explores love, spirituality, and self-discovery through the lens of both historical and modern-day perspectives.