Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

94 reviews

joysmith's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Child death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

3.5

This was so much weirder than I was expecting it to be (you have no idea what you're getting into just from the blurb). However, the ending really turned it around for me (it was an absolutely fantastic ending, and anyone that is thinking of DNFing while in the first half of the book should endure to the end because it is so worth it). This has interesting things to say about loneliness, which is what my first impression was, then it got...weird. During the first half of the book, I found Eleanor relatable at times, but mostly extremely judgmental and amoral to the point where I wasn't really rooting for her. However, from the midpoint of the book onwards, as she became less isolated and more ingrained into a social life, she became more and more understanding. Then, at the 75% mark, she finally snaps out of what really made me uncomfortable about her behavior (

her literally stalking a musician she became obsessed with

) and then really addressed all the things I didn't like about her and showed her change and willingness to continue to work on changing for the better (therapy and all). In the last ten minutes of the audiobook, the twist that was revealed was one I did not see coming at all (I guessed most of her backstory, but not about

the fact that her mother was dead the whole time and that she died in the fire!

I was so shocked that I had to take a brief pause before finishing the book). I liked that the ending was a bit open (even though I usually hate open endings) because that last moment could be taken in one of two ways, and I definitely have a strong preference between the two (

the entire time I was dreading that they would try to make Raymond and Eleanor be romantic, and I am adamantly against it! It is unnecessary and doesn't make any sense. That is why I am so glad that the final kiss on the cheek could be taken as either a purely platonic, affectionate gesture or a hesitant romantic beginning. In my head, it is the former.

). I wasn't too connected to Sammy, as we didn't see too much of him and we didn't see Eleanor and him form that strong of a connection, and they only really interacted about 3 times in the entire book. Raymond and Eleanor's friendship was a bit more developed, though I honestly wasn't overly attached to Raymond as a character or their relationship. It is done well, and they have an ease, understanding, and support to their friendship that enriches the novel. However, the way that Eleanor spoke of him for most of the first half of the novel slightly lessened it's effect for me (I know it was addressed why she thought and acted the way she did, and that was done well, but it still put that distance for me in the relationship, so I couldn't fully be invested; perhaps upon a reread (though I don't know when or if I ever will reread this), with the knowledge of how the book ends I can have more appreciation for their relationship). The true relationship that Eleanor interacts with in this book is with herself and her mental health and trauma, and the payoff is well-done (there could have been a more cathartic end to a certain source of negativity (

her weekly calls with her mother, though the twist really took care of that

), but it was nonetheless satisfactory and satisfying in a slightly more realistic way). Overall, much weirder than expected, but one that I will recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child death, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Fatphobia

moanareads's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Murder, and Mental illness

shayna14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Alcohol, Classism, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Rape, Ableism, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

megan96smith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Stalking

stindex's review against another edition

hopeful sad slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking

quixie's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

Eleanor Oliphant is completely lovable and hilarious. Her story is so sad and I found myself desperately wanting to be her friend! Some of her social faux pas were entirely relatable, which endeared me to her character. I also loved Raymond and his mum, and Sammy. Such lovable characters. Such an engaging story. I’m so glad the author decided to speak on the subject of loneliness, which is a major problem ironically in our overly populated world. This book gave me so much joy and hope. Well done!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Grief, Death, and Vomit

Minor: Animal cruelty and Stalking

alienrosey's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

She just like me fr. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Child death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape

not_asha01's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

kptinydancer97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape