Editor’s Note: This writer was asked to moderate Rallo’s Michigan tour stop on Oct. 20, part of which includes providing an interview before the event. The publisher and venue were not otherwise involved in the interview or production of this article.
Eli Rallo, University of Michigan alum and TikTok phenomenon, is set to return to Michigan during her upcoming book tour this October. As she prepares to tour across several U.S. cities following the release of her sophomore novel “Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?: Essays on Conquering the Quarter-Life Crisis,” Rallo’s fans — especially those who attend the University — will be happy to know that she has included a stop at Schuler Books in West Bloomfield.
Rallo has held events in Michigan, and even at the University, in the past. In 2022, she presented a TEDx Talk at the University where she explored how social media doesn’t necessarily have to be toxic, sharing her perspective as a successful influencer. This was right around when her career had started to take off, her viral videos under the original handle @thejarr setting her up for unprecedented success. In 2024, during the book tour for her first book “I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself,” she collaborated with the University’s Alumni Association to create a live event catered by and for the U-M community. Now, with her most recent book’s release, Rallo contemplates going through the book launch process for the second time.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Rallo talked about her complicated relationship with the University as a pandemic graduate.
“It’s really sentimental because there wasn’t a lot of closure for our class,” Rallo said. “I’m looking forward to coming back this time and going to the Metro Detroit area. It’s the marathon in Detroit that weekend. I ran the marathon in 2018, so I feel like it’s kind of meant to be that I’m coming back (that) weekend.”
Looking forward to the upcoming event at Schuler Books, Rallo is excited about taking her upcoming shows in a new direction.
“I really love supporting independent bookstores,” Rallo said. “A heavy emphasis on the book itself is something I’m really excited about.”
During her last book tour, Rallo felt there was a larger emphasis on putting on a show. She told The Daily she’s looking to converse with her audience and share her thought processes more this time around, as well as discussing where she hopes this book will take her in the near future.
When pressed about her favorite chapters in “Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?,” Rallo had a quick answer.
“I really love all of (the chapters), but the first and last chapters I really like,” Rallo said. “The first and last chapters were always the first and last chapters. I feel like they bookend (the novel) really nicely.”
“Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?” is out now, and the Schuler Books event in West Bloomfield will be taking place on Oct. 20. For anyone attending, be sure to first do your required reading on all things Rallo — including her first book, “I Didn’t Know I Needed This.” Expect to receive a copy of “Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?” at the event if you bought a ticket.
Now you know, folks! You can get your tickets to the event on Humanitix before Oct. 20. Join me and Rallo in figuring out if anyone else actually does feel this way after all.
Daily Arts Writer Graciela Batlle Cestero can be reached at gbatllec@umich.edu.
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