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rosietomyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eleanor Oliphant Is Extremely Fine by Gail Honeyman is a hard, uplifting, depressing, inspiring, and surprising read.
I admit I was rather surprised by just how dark Eleanor's backstory is, and somehow missed any references to that in reviews I read prior to picking it up. For those who have dealt with narcissistic caretakers, substance abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, etc -- take caution. I wish I had gone in more prepared for it.
Still, though it can absolutely be emotionally taxing/triggering to read, the novel is worthy and uplifting. Eleanor definitely takes a bit of getting used to, but she is easy to warm up to after a few chapters. Following her growth and the expansion of her social and emotional life is truly heartwarming.
I would definitely recommend the novel, but I would add some warnings as well. Definitely pick the book up, but do so only when ready to read about some heavy, depressing, and truly awful issues (child abuse, emotional abuse, substance abuse).
I admit I was rather surprised by just how dark Eleanor's backstory is, and somehow missed any references to that in reviews I read prior to picking it up. For those who have dealt with narcissistic caretakers, substance abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, etc -- take caution. I wish I had gone in more prepared for it.
Still, though it can absolutely be emotionally taxing/triggering to read, the novel is worthy and uplifting. Eleanor definitely takes a bit of getting used to, but she is easy to warm up to after a few chapters. Following her growth and the expansion of her social and emotional life is truly heartwarming.
I would definitely recommend the novel, but I would add some warnings as well. Definitely pick the book up, but do so only when ready to read about some heavy, depressing, and truly awful issues (child abuse, emotional abuse, substance abuse).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
corinnelora95's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"The covers are of very little help, because they always say only good things, and I've found out to my cost that they're rarely accurate. "Exhilarating" "Dazzling" "Hilarious." No." (Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, p 265)
This quote stuck out to me because the cover reviews for "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" are part of what led me to pick up and read this book. I found that it was not "beautifully written and incredibly funny," as Reese Witherspoon described it to be. It was not "hilarious and moving," as People claimed. And it certainly was not "completely wonderful," as Purewow said it would be.
For everyone who recommends this book because it's "light-hearted" or "funny," I have to wonder why. I found the majority of the book to be frustrating and depressing. Eleanor annoyed me for the entirety of the "Good Days" part of the book. She was slightly better in the "Bad Days" and "Better Days" parts, but I still found myself questioning why she was written to be so socially inept. It was maddening.
Overall, the book was easy to read, but it left me asking, "Why am I reading this?" over and over. I ultimately decided around the halfway point that I'd finish the book because I was too invested in Raymond and the other positive characters to quit. Raymond's care for Eleanor is what earned it the third star for me, but just barely.
This quote stuck out to me because the cover reviews for "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" are part of what led me to pick up and read this book. I found that it was not "beautifully written and incredibly funny," as Reese Witherspoon described it to be. It was not "hilarious and moving," as People claimed. And it certainly was not "completely wonderful," as Purewow said it would be.
For everyone who recommends this book because it's "light-hearted" or "funny," I have to wonder why. I found the majority of the book to be frustrating and depressing. Eleanor annoyed me for the entirety of the "Good Days" part of the book. She was slightly better in the "Bad Days" and "Better Days" parts, but I still found myself questioning why she was written to be so socially inept. It was maddening.
Overall, the book was easy to read, but it left me asking, "Why am I reading this?" over and over. I ultimately decided around the halfway point that I'd finish the book because I was too invested in Raymond and the other positive characters to quit. Raymond's care for Eleanor is what earned it the third star for me, but just barely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Alcohol, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Minor: Cursing and Animal cruelty
leanne_who_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was a slow burn for me. It took me a while to get into this book and I found the pacing of writing slow, however, as the story progressed and Eleanor began to develop a friendship with Raymond and the other characters I began to take a liking to her. I love the character development in this book and, I think that the book was well-paced for the story to progress even though I don't really like slow-paced books. I believe it was done intentionally and I think it was done well.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
charliewarliee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is an absolute beauty of a novel. As a mood reader, it did take me a bit to get through, but I enjoyed it every time I picked it up. This book was so good and I adore it! Gail Honeyman portrays Eleanor as this character who will make you laugh with her viewpoint of the world and make you cry simultaneously.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine follows our title character, Eleanor Oliphant, through her daily life and through her unpacking her childhood trauma. The slow reveals of her past were executed flawlessly, and the twist at the end of the book (which I'm unsure if it was designed to be a twist but it was for me) had my jaw on the floor.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine follows our title character, Eleanor Oliphant, through her daily life and through her unpacking her childhood trauma. The slow reveals of her past were executed flawlessly, and the twist at the end of the book (which I'm unsure if it was designed to be a twist but it was for me) had my jaw on the floor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
jazzreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is 100% worth the hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Child abuse
jordan_noel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Eleanor Oliphant describes how loneliness can completely eat at a person's whole life, and yet still feel like something that must be hidden away.
Eleanor Oliphant is funny, completely un-self-aware, and refreshingly blunt with her social observations. She's continuously shocking and increasingly loveable the more you get to know her.
I felt that this book can help anyone better understand how isolating "dark thoughts" can be, and how necessary simple social interactions are to our survival and, less dramatically, our well-being. Everybody needs a friend, no one is completely self-sufficient and happy, in spite of that being exactly what society seems to want from each of us. I loved the honesty in this book; it's the only way for people to truly heal and live better lives.
Eleanor Oliphant is funny, completely un-self-aware, and refreshingly blunt with her social observations. She's continuously shocking and increasingly loveable the more you get to know her.
I felt that this book can help anyone better understand how isolating "dark thoughts" can be, and how necessary simple social interactions are to our survival and, less dramatically, our well-being. Everybody needs a friend, no one is completely self-sufficient and happy, in spite of that being exactly what society seems to want from each of us. I loved the honesty in this book; it's the only way for people to truly heal and live better lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Child death, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing
cozyapril's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Death
shadow_seven's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It takes a bit to get through but once your about halfway done everything slides together nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gaslighting, Stalking, and Bullying
It's an easy read but can be emotionally challenging as well.jyothym's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eleanor Oliphant is so unlike anyone I have ever met, but her experience with loneliness is so deeply relevant because it echoes that of humanity. In the modern world, loneliness has become an aspect of daily life and, in some ways, a definition of what it means to be an adult. But Eleanor's development through the book - her slowly coming out of her shell - is proof that humans are not meant to be this way. We gravitate towards one another, despite everything, because it is in our nature, and we are all we have. Love does not have to be transactional. Did you know a healed femur once evidenced human civilization? Our survival depends on and necessitates helping one another, and healing requires a community. When I read about everything Eleanor had been through, I wondered how she would ever find peace again, how she would ever forget. By the end, I had hope - she is not alone. We are not alone.
I loved this book overall and read it literally in maybe a night and a half!! I did have some small critiques with how the author handled some of Eleanor's trauma. I'm also overall not a huge fan of the "makeover" trope :( BUT I'm so happy with how Raymond and Eleanor's relationship was handled. There was a particular scene when Raymond was talking about his ex girlfriend that gave me a major red flag, but it was a dialogue issue if anything and I don't think it reflected his character in the rest of the book. Generally an interesting read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Alcohol, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape
aimee1991's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Honestly, I didn’t like this book at all when I started it. Give this book a chance to get into it. This is easily one of my favourite books of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide