Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

160 reviews

vagrantheather's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia

Minor: Stalking, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Self harm

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

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

almaprincess66's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I think this is what contemporary fiction is and I don't know how I feel about it. Ordenary people with ordenary things is my genre but I need some pizzaz that this book didn't have.

Overall it was fine. It had moments that made me smile but I didn't feel connected enough to her trauma. It wasn't too well established, which I get because that was the whole mistery of the plot. The ending plot twists felt a bit out of place tho. I did't get them.

Bonus points because Eleanor is so autistic coded. She is not which is a shame, but I'll pretend she was. Would explain a lot.

Extra bonus points for showing that a man and a woman can have a friendship without being in love with each other. Also that you can have friends even after your 20s. That was an important message.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Ableism, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Fatphobia

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

daniofthewood's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Rape, and Vomit

jessicakisiel's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I enjoyed this so much! The character development is what had me hooked the most in the end. The story was interesting to start with, but towards the end I just had to know what was happening with Eleanor. I knew something was up, and the author gave great hints throughout. I found the final twist really surprising and I was guessing theories the whole time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.25

I found Eleanor to be intensely unlikable at the beginning of the story, which is sort of the point, but it was hard for me to get over it. She is a little (a lot) oblivious to how the world works, and while this is funny and endearing at times, it also involved a lot of second hand embarrassment for me. This gets a bit better, once Raymond begins to teach her how to be human. Her character growth is immense, but I don’t know if the payoff was quite worth it. I did really enjoy the writing style, so I might have to check out something else by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Child death, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Ableism, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Classism

marac3's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I've never read a book like this one before. You were totally engrossed in her mind, her world and with tiny breadcrumbs you could piece together the story. Eleanor's character development was brilliant. I cried multiple times while reading this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Child death, and Murder