The Rules for Disappearing

The Rules, Book 1

By: Ashley Elston

Narrated by: Alexa Elmy

Don't miss this captivating mystery from Ashley Elston, the New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins, a Reese's Book Club pick!

She's been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she's been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they've given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do—or see—that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all of the Suits' rules—and her dad's silence. If he won't help, it's time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn't counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who's too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there's only one rule that really matters—survival.

©2025 Ashley Elston (P)2025 Little, Brown Young Readers

It’s okay

I love, The First Lie Wins, I hoped this would be as good but I am highly disappointed. It’s geared more towards teenagers. It’s decent.

Witness protection program

"Meg" lives with her father, alcoholic mother, and traumatized younger sister in the witness protection program. Recently located to a small Louisiana town, she's determined this will be her last move and last new name. She has one question for her father--what did he do to get the family in such a predicament. She needs to keep a low profile as part of the program, and to avoid getting attached to friends if she has to move again, but the adorable Ethan has other ideas. When he starts to ask questions, the safety if her entire family could be in jeopardy.

RULES FOR DISAPPEARING is a fasted pace, ya novel that will also appeal to adults. "Meg's" first person POV is sharp with just the amount of sarcasm and teenage angst to make this smart, likable young woman easy to root for. From dealing with her alcoholic mother to navigating school bullies, Meg imperfectly fumbles through her unconventional life.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, as well as Ashley Elston's other novels.

Hard to listen

The story is interesting and probably a much better read than audio. The actress does a good job but the character is a teenage girl. It is whiny and tough to listen to.

Perfect for teen reader

Was looking forward to a book after First Lie Wins. That was a 5+ adult read. However this title was for the high schooler or someone who wants to relive their high school years. The details about Witness Protection was interesting.
Please write an adult title!

Narrator voice is hard to listen to.

The story was a decent listen but it was so hard to get past the narration. The main character voice came off as whiny the entire duration of the book. It did not fit the character in my opinion.

decent for a teenager

whiney performance that I found difficult to listen too. I didn't realize this would be a first person teenage drama. Not my cup of tea as I enjoy crime drama/thriller etc.

Just ok

This book is pretty good, but not exciting. No real twist and turns as I expected. Very predictable.

Great plot

I enjoyed the story and twist after I had thought I figured it out. Looking forward to book 2

Interesting plot

Story kept moving and had some good twists and turns. Narrator was a bit whiny at times for the teen protagonist - maybe was intentional but it got a little grating. Good character development.

A little ok, a little bad

She’s not smart. Not even tv smart. Every few weeks they get pulled from the witness protection program, she knows this isn’t normal but doesn’t suspect a mole? It’s annoying to listen to her blame her father for doing something bad even though she knows just seeing something you shouldn’t is an option. She comes up with dumb options for trying to get out of things and her boyfriend has to come up with all of the smart ideas. She then tries to ditch him 1000x even though he’s obviously the brains. It’s hard to read a character that is this incapable of making a smart decision when her life really does depend on it.