Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Emotional
Witty
Heartwarming

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Gail Honeyman2017
"Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. That, combined with her unusual appearance (scarred cheek, tendency to wear the same clothes year in, year out), means that Eleanor has become a creature of habit (to say the least) and a bit of a loner ... But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office"--
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Reviews

Photo of Amanda
Amanda @asteil
3 stars
Mar 11, 2025

I didn’t think I’d like this book. It was so off putting how strange the MC was. However, I loved seeing her develop and find her way in the world.

Photo of ginny
ginny@ggny
4.5 stars
Sep 7, 2024

my dearest eleanor.. i have loved you ever since hollywood

+2
Photo of Ada
Ada@adayaaaaa
3.5 stars
Aug 29, 2024

it was VERY VERY hard to get into ths book i was almos dying till like pg 160 BUT then it started to pivk up and DEMMM it was GOOOODDD

so def need to be patient with this book to get to better parts

Photo of angie
angie@angieyarovoy
4 stars
Aug 18, 2024

i love eleanor oliphant with all my heart

+4
Photo of Kirsten Haney
Kirsten Haney@khaney93
3.5 stars
Aug 3, 2024

Charming and cute story focusing on mental health and childhood trauma.

Photo of Madii
Madii@alieco
5 stars
Jul 30, 2024

It was light-hearted, emotional, and sweet at times. It was dark, deep, and mysterious the next. It was good and I think it was a breath of fresh air. It felt peaceful and light at the end. 10/10 would recommend.

Photo of Eva Ströberg
Eva Ströberg@cphbirdlady
3 stars
Jul 19, 2024

Thankfully it wasn’t just “another” chicklit. This book goes deeper than that. Eleanor Oliphant is a loner and what I guess has autistic traits. She takes things literally and never understand the way of “people”. But there’s more to that as a co-worker started befriending her out of accident involving an elderly gent passing out in the street. This book isn’t a literary champion nor in some Pulitzer nomination list but it’s entertaining enough for me

Photo of Erin G.
Erin G.@toughcakes
5 stars
Jul 4, 2024

My most challenging read of 2018. Incredible characters, ruthlessly emotional, completely satisfying ending. This story will stay with me for awhile. Wow.

Photo of Angelyn Francis
Angelyn Francis@angelynsayshi
5 stars
Jul 4, 2024

Hilarious voice, loved the character. Slightly predictable plot but heart breaking and warming at the same time none the less

Photo of Ryan Mateyk
Ryan Mateyk@the_rybrary
5 stars
Jul 4, 2024

I thought this was going to be light and fluffy but it was quite a bit heavier than expected, touching on themes of trauma, mental health and loneliness. Us humans can be quick to judge; this book was a reminder that everybody has a story that they may be hesitant to share. We should all try to show a little more patience and compassion when we meet people who are different from ourselves. At the end of the book, Raymond said he thought Eleanor was "a right nutter" the first time they'd met (to which Eleanor agreed) but he still took the time and effort to get to know her. I really loved this! All in all, I thought this was a great read, would recommend.

Photo of Devika M
Devika M@devikareads
4 stars
Jun 22, 2024

The only way to survive is to open your heart.

This is such a wonderfully written book! The character of Eleanor is an odd balance of eccentricity and endearing which takes a bit of getting used to. Eleanor went through some unspeakable and unimaginable horrors in her life. But in the end, her resilience shines through and she emerges like a phoenix from the ashes. This story is a good balance of sad and funny. It emphasises the beauty of friendship and how it can change your life for the better. The best part about the book was that the author didn’t try to cure Eleanor and lead her into the light by having her fall in love which magically makes her happy. Being happy and improving your self-worth should never be tied to romance and that’s what this book does a great job of portraying!

I would definitely recommend this book.

Photo of Bria
Bria@ladspter
5 stars
May 31, 2024

I didn't think I was going to like this book but I loved it so much.

Photo of Hanna Rybchynska
Hanna Rybchynska@hannarbc
5 stars
May 3, 2024

From the moment I picked up this book, I was swept away by the quirky and endearing character of Eleanor Oliphant. This book emotionally destroyed me in the best possible way. It starts out seemingly simple, with Eleanor exhibiting some childish behaviors for a 30-year-old woman. But as the story unfolds and we meet her mother, everything suddenly clicks into place. What I found remarkable about this book is its depth. It doesn't give everything away at once; instead, it slowly draws you in with its magic until you're completely immersed in Eleanor's world. And then, just when you least expect it, it hits you like a tidal wave, leaving you emotionally raw and utterly wrecked. Honeyman's writing is both witty and poignant, seamlessly weaving together moments of humor and heartbreak. Through Eleanor's eyes, we're invited to explore themes of loneliness, trauma, and the power of human connection in a way that feels refreshingly honest and authentic. Overall, 'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' is a true masterpiece. It's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, reminding you of the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between, look no further than Eleanor Oliphant.

Photo of Bella Baxter
Bella Baxter@bellhorebooks
5 stars
Apr 4, 2024

Mirror, mirror, in this book. I felt like I was looking in a mirror as I read this book and what I saw was both great and terrible. Phenomenal story. 10/10

Photo of Eugene
Eugene@jujinjujeen
4 stars
Apr 2, 2024

Even though I didn’t like the beginning of the book it turned out to be a really good exploration of loneliness in modern world, dealing with trauma. Good character development overall. At the beginning I didn’t like the fact that Eleanor wasn’t able to make a human connection with anybody for 20 years, even though she craved it so much, and was able to as it seems. Then though I was more captivated by developments in her life. Maybe she needed a nudge, a bit of gentle force to make her realize what she was craving even, what she shut down from.

Photo of Priyanka Pal
Priyanka Pal@priyanka__pal
5 stars
Mar 31, 2024

Reading this book felt like letting in sunshine into a dull and dreary room. Emphasized yet again how every small act of kindnes goes such a long way without us even realising it. Will cherish for long the feeling of warmth the book left me with.

Photo of Vicky  Nuñez
Vicky Nuñez @vicky21
5 stars
Mar 25, 2024

Slow, but gripping story about loneliness, depression and the importance of mental health care.

Photo of Nabila Azahra
Nabila Azahra@nabilazhhr
3 stars
Mar 24, 2024

3.5 ⭐️ for a 300 pages book, it took me quite a while to finish. eleanor IS supposed to be unlikable, she’s nowhere near flawless and not gonna lie Honeyman did a great job crafting such a character. the details of some things Eleanor did/say, for example, really adds to the character. great i guess but i ended up just (almost) lost my interestT___T

Photo of Janet Akisanmi
Janet Akisanmi@janetakiz
4.5 stars
Mar 7, 2024

LOVED

funny enough, i just finished poor things and i find that bella and eleanor have very similar character arcs. watching them build their identities and learn to love (themselves and others) was beautiful 🥹 one of my new all time faves

Photo of Bella Koch
Bella Koch@amk
4 stars
Mar 3, 2024

This book was emotional. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, so I’m going to go into a bit of detail so that there are no surprises. The beginning of this book was very heavy. Eleanor is deeply lonely, completely lacks self-awareness, and clearly has some deep-rooted trauma. Since the book is told in first person through her perspective, as a reader, you find yourself seeing the world through her eyes. I found this very challenging for two reasons. First of all, Eleanor is deeply struggling and so empathizing with her was inherently a bit depressing. Be aware that this book deals with child abuse, alcoholism, and severe depression. Second, she was very hard to actually relate to. I had a tough time actually getting immersed in this book, because the way that Eleanor views the world is so different from how I view it. Additionally, she is lacking self-awareness to a degree that is almost painful to read. For the first third of this book, I wasn’t sure why people liked it. The second half of the book provided the answer to that question. Eleanor’s new friend, Raymond, is practically kindness personified. He offers Eleanor a friendship that challenges her beliefs about the goodness of people and what is possible for her own life. As their relationship develops, we start to see the impact that it’s having on Eleanor. In turn, she becomes kinder and more hopeful. She opens up and as a reader, I could start to relate to her and root for her a lot more. The end of the book was hopeful and uplifting. I really enjoyed it, but it did not make up for the heaviness at the beginning.

Photo of JoAnna
JoAnna@lilipuddingdog
5 stars
Feb 21, 2024

4.5, but deserves the rounded star. Honeyman is poignant and gripping. I couldn't believe this was her first published novel! I read it in four days, and I'm someone with a terrible attention span. I can't even get through most poems. Honeyman's writing is skillful, vivid, and balanced. She includes the right portions of description, scene, and introspection, giving the reader strong visuals without overwhelming them, keeping the story moving while still revealing emotional truths. I liked how much of the description was filtered through Eleanor's judgmental perspective, doing the double-duty of revealing her personality as well as the setting. Eleanor's voice was distinct, real, and convincing. I'm not sure any other character could pull off some of the bizarre things she said or did. At times, I found her a little much and off-putting (Eleanor as a character, not the writing), but I was sympathetic anyhow because of how Honeyman revealed her past. I loved the foreshadowing. Every shoe dropped at a convincing pace. There were a handful of times where I felt the foreshadowing was getting repetitive, but those sentences were far and few between. I liked the dichotomy presented, between (view spoiler)[those raised with happy, healthy families, and those from abusive households (hide spoiler)]. I think it's something that presents itself in everyday life all the time, and goes unaddressed/misunderstood between both parties, so I'm glad Honeyman conveyed the two perspectives the way she did. I also loved the ending. I liked that (view spoiler)[it ended verging on the cusp of romance, but didn't go that far (hide spoiler)]. Overall, I felt the book satisfied the questions it initially presented. I did have a problem with how abrupt it felt that (view spoiler)[Eleanor suddenly realized her mom was imagined, and how she reacted to that realization (she didn't, really). (hide spoiler)]. Still, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is an amazing book, and worth the read.

Photo of Louise Briley
Louise Briley @loub
5 stars
Feb 3, 2024

Eleanor Oliphant is all of us and none of us. I charge anyone to read this book without relating personally to some aspect of her life and feelings. Eleanor shows us that those with the most crippling of social insecurities are ultimately the bravest and most resilient in the face of others who would wish us harm. Eleanor also shows us how quiet kindness can save a life. Read and then reach out.

Photo of Bethany s.
Bethany s. @leetleuhm
4 stars
Feb 3, 2024

I am glad I read this book, but I am also glad it’s over. It had a weird way of sucking me in, and I found myself thinking about Eleanor’s world the whole day at work. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading it, but somehow I also wanted to just be done with it. But at the same time, I am already planning to read it again in the coming years. I love Eleanor so much, (but she is highly irritating sometimes too). It’s a wonderful story written from Eleanor’s point of view- a delightful look into the brain of a complex, well-developed, beautiful character. It’s simultaneously a little mundane, and very rich. Nothing really exciting happens; yet the metamorphosis of Eleanor is tangible not just in the plot but in the language and writing style. As she transforms, the pages come alive with her strength and one can begin to feel every heartbeat of her story. It’s unique, beautiful, moving, and frustrating all at once in its mundaneness and simplicity. What an oddly shaped little gift it was.

Photo of Maria M
Maria M@mariasagdalen
4.5 stars
Jan 12, 2024

I loved this book! Very witty, this is actually the first time I’ve laughed out loud by a book lol. Lots of important issues are discussed, mixed with vibrance and humour.

+6

Highlights

Photo of Malavika
Malavika@maljeez

The goal, ultimately, was successful camouflage as a human woman.

Photo of Malavika
Malavika@maljeez

Beauty, from the moment you possess it, is already slipping away, ephemeral.

Photo of Kat
Kat@lavendear

These days, loneliness is the new cancer-a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don't want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.

Page 227
Photo of Lizzy Jensen
Lizzy Jensen@lizzyjensenn

I suppose one of the reasons we're all able to continue to exist for our allotted span in this green and blue vale of tears is that there is always, however remote it might seem, the possibility of change.

Page 182
Photo of Laura Gonzalez Villar
Laura Gonzalez Villar@lauraglez

Daba igual lo mucho que quisieras a alguien. No podías mantenerlo a salvo solo con amor...

Page 196
Photo of Laura Gonzalez Villar
Laura Gonzalez Villar@lauraglez

-Cuídate tú también, Raymond -le dije, y lo deseé de veras.

Page 188
Photo of Laura Gonzalez Villar
Laura Gonzalez Villar@lauraglez

En el corazón tengo cicatrices igual de gruesas y feas que las de la cara. Sé que están ahí. Pero espero que quede algo de tejido sano, un pequeño retal por el que pueda entrar el amor y colarse dentro. Ojalá.

Page 85
Photo of Laura Gonzalez Villar
Laura Gonzalez Villar@lauraglez

Las cosas que yo he visto no pueden ser desvistas. Las cosas que he hecho no pueden ser deshechas.

Page 83
Photo of Laura Gonzalez Villar
Laura Gonzalez Villar@lauraglez

Es muy aterrador pensar en las ideas que he podido absorber de mamá.

Page 56
Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

when you took a moment to see what was around you, noticed all the little things, it made you feel... lighter.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

I felt… happy. It was such a strange, I unusual feeling- light, calm, as though I’d swallowed sunshine. Only this morning I’d been furious, and now I was calm and happy. I was gradually getting used to feeling the range of available human emotions, their intensity, the rapidity with which they could change.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

Noticing details, that was good. Tiny slivers of life- they all added up and helped you to feel that you too could be a fragment, a little piece of humanity who usefully filled a space, however minuscule.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

If they liked you- and, I remembered, Raymond and I had agreed that we were pals now- then, it seemed, they were prepared to maintain contact, even if you were sad, or upset, or behaving in very challenging ways. This was something of a revelation.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

These days, loneliness is the new cancer- a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don't want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted, or that it might tempt fate into visiting a similar horror upon them.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn't spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

I had no idea what it was, but I realized that I’d happily sit here in the warmth with him and watch a golf program if that was all there was.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

Grief is the price we pay for love, so they say. The price is far too high.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

The strange thing- something l'd never expected- was that it actually made you feel better when someone put their arm around you, held you close.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

I realized that such small gestures- the way his mother had made me a cup of tea after our meal without asking, remembering that I didn't take sugar, the way Laura had placed two little biscuits on the saucer when she brought me coffee in the salon- such things could mean so much.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

I was warm and full and comfortable in a way I couldn't remember feeling before.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

There are scars on my heart, just as thick, as disfiguring as those on my face. I know they're there. I hope some undamaged tissue remains, a patch through which love can come in and flow out. I hope.

Photo of Eliza adkins
Eliza adkins @elizareadsalot

Did men ever look in tha mirror, I wondered, and find themselves wanting in deeply fundamental ways? When they opened a newspaper or watched a film, were they presented with nothing but exceptionally handsome young men, and did this make them feel intimidated, inferior, because they were not as young, not as handsome? Did they then read newspaper articles ridiculing those same handsome men if they gained weight or wore something unflattering?

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Deia Scarpa@ibelongtothedarkling

the gametes donor

Photo of Ian Brakspear
Ian Brakspear@ibrakspear

I have always enjoyed reading, but I've never been sure how to select appropriate material. There are so many books in the world - how do you tell them all apart? How do you know which one will match your tastes and interests? That's why I just pick the first book I see.

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