Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

191 reviews

melli29_'s review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

didn't expect to enjoy this book so much

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Cancer

chelsea_shelves's review against another edition

This was initially too silly for me and then much too dark especially when the blurb describes it as “smart, warm and uplifting.” I found it bleak, traumatic and flat. I looked up the content warnings about 40% through and realized it was only spiraling to harrowing. Thought I could do it, but after reading the synopsis I am so glad I put it down. This book was not for me at this point in my life. I also didn’t find the writing beautiful enough to balance out the darkness. I think the subplot of pursuing the singer and having a makeover were supposed to add levity but I found it disjointed and ridiculous. The new friendships would have been enough instead. Overall though it was all a bit dull and uncomfortable and I found it a chore to read that always left me sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape

mjenae's review

hopeful reflective 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

5.0

The title makes this book seem a little like comedy—touching, but lighthearted.

It's… quite heavy. If you want an easy read, this isn't for you. But if you want a spectacular survival story with anguish enough to empty you out and bravery enough to fill you to the top, you've come to the right place.

Something the potential reader needs to understand: Eleanor has gone through intense, repeated trauma—physical and emotional abuse, the latter of which is still happening throughout the book. And that's just part of it. I thought at first she might have autism—and I don't know, maybe she does—because of her inability to pick up on social cues or read humor. But now I think at least some of that was due to her chaotic and unhealthy upbringing. To be fair, I haven't read a lot of books dealing with trauma so upfront and firsthand like this, but this seemed very heavy on the sorrow.

There's healing, too, though. There has to be. Go travel down that path with Eleanor. She's a fascinating character, and she meets a lot of interesting people on the way, people who pop out of the page and shove new perspectives into your hands. I hope you come away with something you didn't have before—hope, at the very least. I have.

I'd give it more stars if I could. Possibly the best book I've read so far this year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Child death, and Physical abuse

carlar's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious medium-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

3.75

Very well-paced. You learn about Eleanor without having to hear every detail of everything she thinks or does. Ending was a bit weak for me but I didn’t mind because the character development was solid.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, Cancer, Murder, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, and Death

klsreads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.5

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, often heartbreaking, and very tender. Eleanor felt like a real person to me. I loved seeing her grow in tandem with her relationships. The writing was gorgeous and accessible (minus some Big Words). Heartwarming, excellent, very sweet.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Child death, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Confinement, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, and Sexual assault

Minor: Murder, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Cancer

llipari1022's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder

geerbeer's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In het begin dacht ik dat ik Eleanor verschrikkelijk zou vinden om zo lang over te lezen, maar nu ik het uit heb ben ik van haar gaan houden en mis ik haar nu al 🥲

Ook dacht ik in het begin; wat saai, waarom lees ik dit eigenlijk, maar al snel werd ik toch nieuwsgierig naar waar het boek naartoe wilde gaan en echt al mijn hoop werd beantwoord! Wat een lekkere 'ride' om te nemen, het verhaal in dit boek. Heerlijk ♥️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, and Death of parent

All the content warning things are either used in a beautifull and thoughtfull way to tell an honest story ór they are redeemed at the end (like the fatphobia and bodyshaming)... to me it seems like the author is not a bad person / only using terrible things for shock value 😊

kasialipa's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Child death

Minor: Death of parent and Animal cruelty

tidals's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lots of dry British humor. Guess I’ve been through a lot because I didn’t find her current state or her past particularly depressing; that’s life. If you’re quick to find things depressing don’t read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Bullying, Body shaming, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

tracytcamp's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse