#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.
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Amazing read!! I was skeptical the first chapter or two. The character was so quirky as to be unlikable; but this changes gradually as we learn who Eleanor is.
The characters are beautifully imagined and I came to like them and feel invested in them.
I highly recommend this book
Can I just say – such a fun read. Eleanor is quirky, unusual, wholly incapable of normalcy so it would seem, yet searching for the same things we all are; companionship, comfort, to be wanted.
Told in such a way that it takes a while to really figure out what is going on in the book. Eleanor leans on her mother, yet knows her mother is no good for her. It isn’t until the end where the story wraps up all the loose ends and the readers can finally non their head in understanding of what the book was really about. I liked that, some were frustrated with that (so I read in reviews).
I would suggest that if you want a dark, undercurrent-style of a book whose plot is not transparent and you like odd characters – this is a good read for you.
NOTE: I listened to it on audio – fun British accent!
Personally, I loved it. (My mom, not so much; she didn’t finish it)
Did not interest me
Loved this book so entertaining. The characters were so realistic.
Absolutely LOVED Eleanor! I laughed out loud at her inner thoughts (dentally challenged, Tesco thoughts, talking with food in mouth ) so witty and yet dark too, which I love and can so relate to. Best book I have read in awhile! Please tell me there are more to come about Eleanor!
Awful book…
[Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine] made me laugh, it made me cry, and the entire time I beamed with joy at the beauty of this story.
This novel tells the quirky and sometimes awkward life of Eleanor Oliphant, a typical office worker with a strong appreciation for her wacky furniture and the evening cup of vodka. Due to unfortunate events that took place in her past, Eleanor has never exactly felt what love or a true friendship feels like, or felt that she even deserves it. When Eleanor and a coworker find themself in a troubling situation where they have to act fast in order to help a stranger, Eleanor’s life begins to change. The story of her exploring new friendships and navigating life’s hardships will leave you wanting to hug her and empathize with her.
Oh how I loved reading Eleanor’s upfront and honest thoughts! It was such an interesting, and at times entertaining, way to read this story. The character of Eleanor was developed so well that you are entirely drawn into her backstory and want to keep reading to find more about her and where her life will take her. Heartwarming, hilarious, and heavy-hearted. Definitely worth the read!
I love a character-driven novel, and Eleanor is delightful!
It was an interesting read and Elinor Oliphant was definitely an interesting character to read about. Though somethings felt a bit repetitive overall all I enjoyed it. I laughed and cried with the characters and felt the struggle of Elinor trying to navigate the everyday life with the remnants of a childhood trauma.
You have to root for Eleanor, a twenty-something clerk in accounting who hasn’t had a haircut in fifteen years, drinks vodka like it’s Coke, and has a certain quirky air about her. She’s simmering for a local musician with dreams of hooking up with him, but, the more available Raymond, a nerdy, loveable type is always in the picture. Eleanor has a scar, not only on her face but also in her personal history. The reader keeps turning the pages to see what will happen to Eleanor, despite her old bad luck, missteps, and fantasies.
I very much enjoyed reading the character development in this story. The book was well written as well as entertaining.
I loved reading Eleanor Oliphant; what an endearing character.
As others have noted, this is a book that sneaks up on you. You start off not particularly enthralled with the character. This is, obviously, a deliberate authorial choice. You begin to intuit where the story will lead you, and it’s like following a path in a national park; well-marked and beautiful. I am actually someone who likes following paths in national parks. I know they will lead to interesting sights and places. They have been designed to do that. I know I am in good hands. The story of Eleanor is emotionally satisfying and sweet and well-designed and leads to interesting places, some well-rounded and comfortable characters, some violence and darkness (usually necessary for a compelling story), and an arc that leaves you satisfied, if not changed or shaken. Maybe back at a national park concession drinking hot chocolate. Or since national park concessions have notoriously bad food, I’ll enter into one of the book’s many coffee shops in Glasgow, where Eleanor lives, and have something there. I listened to this novel, as usual, and–the Scottish accents! Wonderful.
Great, original story with some surprises.
I was so excited to go into this book. I love quirky heroines and Eleanor is one of the best. I found myself laughing at her wit, especially when she didn’t realize she was being funny. I always think there’s the truth that the heroine believes and then there’s the truth the rest of society sees, and it was heartbreaking to see Eleanor learn some of these truths. However, I think she’s going to be so much stronger. Her character growth during the story was inspiring.
That was crazy! I expected a rom com showing the characters what friendship is all about. But I was crying and smiling all the way through. Especially the last half, I was enraptured!
I loved the character Eleanor Oliphant and she will never be forgotten. She is quirky, tragic, sad, loving – a unique character in fiction. The story was exceptional and kept me wondering, and I enjoyed the plotline and the ending. Highly recommend.
Loved this book. Big surprise twist toward the end. At least for me. Funny, heartbreaking and hopeful. I would love to know how Eleanor is doing now!
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it gave you little bits along the way as it continues to build. I enjoyed the healing that can come from having someone who truly cares for you. Definitely language in this book.