#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, … stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!” —Reese Witherspoon
No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.
Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.
But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.
Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the smart, warm, and uplifting story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .
The only way to survive is to open your heart.
more
I absolutely adored this beautiful, heartbreaking, funny novel.
EVERYONE loves Eleanor. Someone in publishing recommended it to me long ago and I loved it. I’m posting a review because it’s a book that everyone loves. A 20-something friend raved about it recently, reminding me that the appeal of this character knows no limits.
A friend of mine recommended this book. I started reading it and didn’t want to keep going–but I HAD to! The writer took an acerbic character who is a bit unlikable in the beginning, and made her story compelling. Each night I couldn’t wait to pick up the book and find out how this woman’s story ends. I really enjoyed how it all unfolded. I hope you will too. but be prepared for an unusual story–and an unusually good one. and share your thoughts. I’d love to know what you think!
Loved Eleanor’s voice and the tantalizing way her story emerges out of the compelling and bravely sympathetic world she creates for herself. Beautifully written portrait of a woman who sees through her disabilities and opens herself to new possibilities for beautiful change. A testimony to the human spirit, a stunning first novel.
Simply brilliant. Heartbreaking. A lovely story, full of everything you need to have all the feels. I cried twice. Amazing.
I decided to read Eleanor Oliphant as a change from psychological thrillers. To my surprise, Eleanor Oliphant turned out to be as psychological as many thrillers out there.
Eleanor is quirky, forthright, and lonely. She’s also funny, and open to change, making this book a delight to read. I felt very protective over Eleanor as she woke up one morning and decided that she was in love with a man she had seen on stage in a band. Gail Honeyman expertly writes Eleanor as a woman with true raw emotion just beneath the surface, all controlled by her chilly outward demeanour.
Heartwarming but never overly-sentimental, Eleanor Oliphant is an emotional read about an extraordinary character learning how to create true friendships with people she never thought she would. It’s the kind of book that stays with you for a while. I’m someone who is easily annoyed by rude people on the street, but I’ve never thought about what might make a person rude. Now I’ll forever be wondering if someone needs a little kindness from others to help them show kindness to others.
Sarah A. Denzil
Wall Street Journal bestselling author of SILENT CHILD
I actually listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator proved as talented as the author. I was addicted to the quirky Eleanor and rooting for her from the beginning, and I loved Raymond. He was just a wonderful character, the type of friend we wish we could all have. I’m behind, so you’ve probably read this, but it you haven’t–don’t miss it!
This is one of my top reads of 2018. Eleanor is such a quirky, prickly yet lovable heroine. The writing shines. I never wanted it to end, but when it did, I had the mother of all book hangovers.
Eleanor Oliphant is a truly original literary creation: funny, touching, and unpredictable. Her journey out of dark shadows is expertly woven and absolutely gripping.
This book—-beyond wonderful!! Loved every page so much, and once I reached the end, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and reread, and I never do that. Beautifully, skillfully told. Endearing characters. A story with wit and warmth, humor and charm. Plus an ending that does not disappoint in any way. 5 stars. Brilliant novel that will appeal to book club readers and romantics.
I adored this book. I’ll admit, the first chapter had me off-balance and unsure about whether I would be able to relate to Eleanor, but then I was all-in. Her blend of social ineptitude and astute observations about life and people is fantastic, and I literally laughed out loud on the train across Spain. People were staring at me, but I didn’t care.
The author does a fantastic job of setting up questions so that you are constantly wondering what exactly happened to make her this way, and what she was about to do next. Give yourself a big block of uninterrupted time for this one–you won’t want to put it down.
I resisted this book, since it was advertised everywhere – overhyped? But no, Eleanor is a unique, funny, touching and ultimately uplifting voice and this book deserves its attention.
It went on a wee bit at the last section, but really, I didn’t want to leave Elinor’s world, so I didn’t mind at all…
My daughter and I listened to this on a road trip and hung on every word. Both heartbreaking and inspiring, we loved it very much.
This story was exquisite.
I tend to sniff around books, wait till the hype fades before I read them. This one did not disappoint. I have so much admiration for what the author has done. She managed to represent the complexities of Eleanor’s mind consistently and realistically, leaving plenty of room for the reader to be drawn in. Eleanor’s backstory is gently woven into her day to day, leaving us wanting more. Side characters are well drawn and the ending does not disappoint.
Heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. I wouldn’t rush through this story. The novel is a study in loneliness and how we ignore people in our everyday lives who are desperate for that extra hand, extra reach, a bit of love.
Wow, what a book! I got everything I expected and more from Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine. From the quirky, lovable characters to the twisted, surprise culmination, I was riveted to this book. I loved observing Eleanor blossom from recluse to a woman with a zest for living life to the fullest.
Eleanor Oliphant leads a rigid and controlled life. It seems sad and depressing, but it is the only way she can feel in control of the maelstrom of the world. There are early hints of a disfiguring accident but details are not revealed until the story’s zenith. Throughout the story, I questioned Eleanor’s pious judgment of everyone as well as her continued weekly calls with her odd, judgmental mother. This woman, who clearly doesn’t have her best interest at heart and does not love her unconditionally, greatly influences and shapes Eleanor. Their relationship creates some story tension as well as a great deal of sympathy for Eleanor.
The secondary characters bring so much to the story by way of their impact on Eleanor. Raymond, the geeky IT guy in the office, is a welcome addition to the story. He sparks a change in Eleanor. He and their few outings become the catalyst for Eleanor to venture out of her limited comfort zone. Sammy, along with Raymond’s mother, are charming elders whose sincerity, warmth and welcoming acceptance greatly impact Eleanor. She is truly affected by the gratitude and affection they show her.
From her quirky, isolated beginning to her decision to live her life fully, Eleanor’s journey is amazing. It’s highly satisfying to ‘watch’, and Eleanor’s simple declaration that she survived provides a hopeful end after many missteps and a tragic rock bottom. The darkness from Eleanor’s traumatic childhood is balanced with the lightness of her new acquaintances and outlook for her future. Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly fine is a deeply gratifying read.
The audiobook is excellently narrated by Cathleen McCarron.
Fabulous book! Eleanor is a character like no other. While her story is tragic, you will laugh and cry for her. Most of all, you’ll be rooting for her to the very last page.
Is this my favorite book ever? No. Is this a book I will insist my friends read? No. Is this a book I will read over and over? No. Then why would I give it 5 stars? Because this book affected me on a very personal level. It is a story that will stay with me, and that’s a rare find.
When I read the summary of the book before reading it, I didn’t realize that this is really a journey into a mental health crisis and back out again. As someone who has been dealing with a family member in a mental health crisis, this story felt authentic, painful, and hopeful.
The author does a really good job of building the characters and making them feel very real. I loved the relationship between Eleanor and Raymond. The fact that he was so accepting of her no matter what gave her the freedom to grow and get the help she needed. I can only hope that their relationship also grows beyond the story.
Am I glad I read this book? Yes. Would I recommend his book? Yes. This is definitely a book worth reading.
What is the story behind the sad or somewhat odd faces we see? The story would soften our judgement. Living with Eleanor through her loneliness is terrifying. And her break with her stultifying routine is even more so. The slow, gentle attention of a friend opens a crack into her world, so she can face the ghosts of her past. I can say the story made me uncomfortable as seeing a homeless person, and not helping. This book opened my heart to their stories.
I thoroughly enjoyed Eleanor’s journey & found all of the characters endearing. This was rather like a social experiment, gaging people’s reactions to the office freak & Eleanor herself struggling to find her own kind of normal. There are highs & lows, revelations & predictable scenes, but overall it’s a great read. My only wish was for a more satisfying end.