I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself

This book arrived at the perfect moment in my life. I was going through a rough breakup and felt completely lost, but Eli’s words felt like a warm hug from someone who actually gets it. She doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but she offers a perspective that is so refreshing and shame-free. I loved how she prioritized 'friend love' as much as romantic love, reminding us that our girls are the ones who stay through it all. The writing is beautiful and poetic, making even the smallest moments of self-discovery feel monumental and important. This is the kind of book I wish I could give to my younger self during those lonely college nights. It’s a fantastic guide for anyone trying to build a life they actually love, regardless of their relationship status. Highly recommend for any girlie who needs a confidence boost!

To be fair, I was already an Eli fan, but this debut exceeded all my expectations. Most books by 'influencers' feel like ghostwritten cash grabs, but this is so clearly, authentically Eli in every sentence. The vulnerability she shows regarding her body image and her journey toward self-confidence is genuinely moving. I found myself underlining so many passages that felt like they were plucked straight from my own brain. The prose is lush and intentional, showing a real love for language that you don't see often in contemporary self-help. It’s funny, it’s wise, and it’s deeply relatable for anyone who has ever felt 'too much' or 'not enough.' I’ve already bought copies for three of my best friends because I think we all need this reminder to love big and stay open. A truly magical debut!

Ever wonder what it would be like if your smartest, loudest theater-kid friend wrote a manifesto? This book is exactly that, and it is glorious. Eli Rallo delivers a guide to modern life that feels both incredibly specific to her experience and universal to the female experience. The advice on everything from first dates to fostering long-distance friendships is practical, witty, and delivered with zero judgment. I actually loved the non-chronological storytelling because it felt like how you’d actually talk to a friend over drinks—jumping from one memory to the next as they come up. It’s an excellent guide for college students and recent grads who are trying to find their footing in a world that feels increasingly lonely. This book made me want to go on a solo date, call my mom, and wear my favorite outfit all at once. Absolute 5/5 stars!

The chapter on 'dating your city' was exactly the kick in the pants I needed this month. I’ve been feeling stuck in a rut, and Eli’s perspective on romanticizing your own life really hit home for me. While some of the dating rules felt a bit cliché, the overall message of self-love and radical confidence is something I think every young woman needs to hear. The writing is definitely stylized—expect a lot of metaphors and long, rhythmic sentences—but I actually found it quite charming and unique. It’s not a traditional self-help book; it’s more like a collection of essays that encourages you to be your most 'extra' self. Personally, I loved the focus on choosing yourself first, even if the author does spend a lot of time talking about her own relationship. It’s a sweet, empowering read for a Sunday afternoon.

Finally got around to reading this, and it felt like a chaotic FaceTime call with a friend who has way too much energy. Eli Rallo has a way of making you feel seen in your most embarrassing moments, especially when it comes to the horrors of modern dating apps. The book is divided into rules and personal stories, and while I didn't agree with every 'rule,' I appreciated the honesty behind them. Her theater-kid energy leaps off the page, and the prose is much more intentional than your average influencer book. I do wish the stories about her exes were a bit easier to follow chronologically, as it got confusing trying to keep track of who was who. Despite that, it’s a great guide for anyone navigating their early twenties and looking for a bit of encouragement. It’s witty, fun, and surprisingly tender in places.

Look, this book is basically a physical manifestation of a 2023 Pinterest board. It’s colorful, slightly chaotic, and full of aspirational phrases that look great but don't always have a lot of depth. I found the sections on 'dating your city' and female friendship to be the strongest parts of the book, mostly because they felt more authentic than the dating tips. Eli’s voice is very distinct, and if you like her TikTok, you will hear her voice in every single sentence. Not gonna lie, the repetitive nature of the 'rules' made me skim a bit toward the middle. It’s a fun, light read for a weekend, but don’t expect a life-changing memoir or expert-level psychological insights. It's a snapshot of a specific age and a specific time, and for that, it’s decent enough.

As someone who graduated college a few years ago, I found parts of this incredibly nostalgic. It captures that specific brand of twenty-something anxiety where every text message feels like a life-or-death situation. The truth is, the advice isn't revolutionary—it's mostly common sense wrapped in very flowery, 'theatrical' prose. I enjoyed the stories about her family and her theater background more than the actual relationship advice, which felt a bit repetitive by the third chapter. It’s a quick read and the tone is very encouraging, almost like an older sister giving you a pep talk before a first date. I think Gen Z girls will find it very relatable, but older readers might struggle with the lack of chronological structure and the author's limited life experience. It's an okay debut that shows promise for future, more mature work.

Why is a twenty-five-year-old writing a definitive guide on love and life? I enjoy Eli’s content in small doses online, but in book form, the tone comes across as a bit condescending and wildly unqualified. The advice is often reckless, suggesting a lifestyle that only works if you have a massive safety net and zero real-world responsibilities. Frankly, the organization of the chapters was a mess, jumping between 'Gemini Boy' and other nameless exes without any clear timeline. I liked the cover art, but the content inside felt like a shallow collection of essays trying way too hard to be 'profound' and 'coquette.' It’s a lot of word salad about becoming loved while not pressuring yourself, which sounds nice on a graphic but means nothing in practice. I think she has potential as a writer, but this needed a much heavier editorial hand.

Picked this up during a Libby haul without knowing much about the author’s TikTok presence. I quickly realized I was not the intended audience for this at all, as the 'advice' is geared strictly toward a very young, suburban demographic. The writing style is exhausting; it uses polysyndeton and over-the-top imagery that reminded me of a freshman-year creative writing assignment. While some of the sections on friendship were sweet, they were buried under 200 pages of dating 'rules' that were both vague and repetitive. To be fair, I appreciate the vulnerability she showed regarding her past heartbreaks and her theater-kid roots. However, the execution felt amateurish and the 'single is a destination' message felt contradicted by the constant focus on romantic validation. It just wasn't for me.

I really wanted to like this because I see Eli on my FYP all the time, but this was a total miss for me. The writing is incredibly frustrating, relying on these strange, flowery metaphors that don’t actually lead anywhere meaningful. Truth is, the 'rules' at the start of every chapter felt like recycled TikTok captions rather than actual, grounded advice. It’s hard to take relationship tips from someone who admits to being just as lost as the rest of us, especially when the stories aren't even in chronological order. I found myself flipping through pages of repetitive similes just trying to find a cohesive narrative that never appeared. The level of privilege is also pretty jarring, making it difficult for anyone outside a very specific demographic to relate. It felt more like a diary for the author than a guide for the reader.