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angada's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicide attempt
Minor: Emotional abuse
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
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.
This book has been a long-time coming. I was a little scared going into this because of all the high praise surrounding this book, but I shouldn't have been. I thought it was very well written, with an engaging plot and a lot of important messages to get across to the reader. I certainly had a couple of issues with how some things (the therapy, the SA, and the alcoholism to give just some examples) were handled and I found Eleanor's fatphobia (although in no way endorsed in the book) was somewhat difficult to read.
However, Eleanor was a very unique character and her charm really grew on me throughout the book. Despite the dark themes, Gail Honeyman's humour came across very well in my opinion and I loved the way she made me feel Eleanor's loneliness. If the trigger warnings do not look to overwhelming, I can definitely recommend this book to many of my close friends, it is one that is certainly worth the read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Fatphobia and Body shaming
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
dexlud'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.