skurtyka89 's review for:

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

4.5

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

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This book was so well written and the story is super engaging. It would have been a 5 star for me, except for the fact that it dealt with some really difficult topics (eg: trauma, child and adult abuse, neurodivergence, mental illness, suicide, child death, self harm, alcoholism), which made it really difficult for me to read. I kept having to take breaks because I was feeling so uncomfortable. I was not prepared for Eleanor’s story. It was tragic, heartbreaking and disturbing. This book wrecked me. The author did a great job mixing in hunker and touching/heartwarming moments. Eleanor as a character is fascinating! A difficult read for me, but fantastic story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism