Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine: Debut Sunday Times Bestseller and Costa First Novel Book Award winner

Some books tell a story and others quietly reach into places you didn’t expect them to touch. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine belongs firmly in the latter category. Very much my kind of novel, it joins a growing list of favourites centred on eccentric, lonely characters trying to find a place for themselves in a world that often feels indifferent. Eleanor is thirty years old-socially awkward, painfully literal and fiercely independent. She lives alone in Glasgow, works as a bookkeeper, spends her weekends with frozen pizza and vodka and insists she is completely fine. The tragedy and brilliance of the novel lies in the slow realisation that she is anything but. Gail Honeyman has created an unforgettable protagonist. Eleanor’s observations are often unintentionally funny, not because she is trying to be humorous but because she sees the world through an entirely singular lens. Beneath this humour, however, lies profound loneliness, emotional pain and a traumatic past that is revealed with remarkable restraint. As her carefully controlled world begins to widen through a series of chance encounters-especially her growing friendship with the warm hearted Raymond-she slowly begins to experience what genuine human connection feels like. What moved me most was the novel’s understanding of loneliness: not as something dramatic, but as a quiet, persistent ache. Honeyman explores depression, addiction, trauma and mental health with great compassion, never reducing Eleanor to her struggles. At its heart, the story is not about romantic salvation but about friendship, kindness and the simple power of being present for someone. Eleanor’s journey is both heartbreaking and hopeful, exposing the quiet fears that often sit beneath ordinary lives. Her longing to be seen, valued and understood speaks to a deeply human vulnerability that many of us struggle to articulate. A beautifully written debut with a memorable protagonist, this is a touching and unforgettable novel that I know I will return to again. If you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend that you do pick it.

An outstanding debut by Gail Honeyman. There is something about this book which makes you feel deeply. It’s an easy, touching and engaging read. Eleanor Oliphant, a 30-year female is a survivor. She works in an office, follows a set routine for weekdays and weekend too. Monday to Friday she is on time for her work, has lunch alone and reads the newspaper and solves crosswords. Friday’s she buys Margherita pizza, wine and vodka. The booze spreads through the weekend so that she is neither drunk nor sober. She is well-read and well mannered but doesn’t seem to fit in this society. She is lonely in this world and many situations expressed by the author from her viewpoint moves you deeply. Like she doesn’t speak from the point at which she says her destination to the bus driver on Friday night, right through until she greets his colleague on Monday morning. We are busy with our lives that we don’t realize that such people do exist. We may think, but such people do indeed exist. She thoroughly researches all activities before pursuing them. She is neither close to someone nor she hangs out socially. The author has wonderfully described her first experiences of many things like bikini wax, manicure, fast food restaurant, getting shampooed, dancing etc. Her relationship with Raymond (nothing romantic here) has been beautifully described. Eleanor meets new people and feels the warmth around them. It’s overwhelming but pleasant for her. As she doesn’t hang around with people she is completely natural (not diplomatic), sometimes weird and deadly honest. Her thoughts are sometimes humorous and sometimes silly. She thinks Bobbi Brown is a female, who works at the store. It’s moving how things that are considered normal doesn’t cross someone’s mind e.g. job change, moving to another city, etc. Eleanor had never walked hand in hand with someone; no one had ever rubbed her tired shoulders or stroked her face. There are times when she felt she would die of loneliness. A paragraph I would like to quote, “ 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.” Read this page-turning book to find out more about Eleanor and life from an angle of a person who is in loneliness. For me this book is unforgettable, unmissable, powerful, deeply moving with perfect combination of humor and sadness. I would rate this book 4.5/5. Happy reading!

You often find some books which remain with you for a long time after you finish reading it. Same happened to me with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine . I read this book way back in January and that book is still fresh in my mind till today. That only means that the book was amazing and it made its spot in my favourite books list. The main reason that I liked this book so much is its main character, Eleanor. Though I am nothing like Eleanor in real life, I related to her on so many levels. She is an unlikeable character in the beginning but as the story progresses you can’t NOT like her. She will make you feel for her. You would laugh with her on her punchlines. You would cry for her. You would dream with her. She will make you fall in love with her. In other words, this book is a rollercoaster of emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, you will get angry, you will be sad, but still, you would like every moment of that ride. Truth to be told, I had no idea what to expect from this book when I started it. I had only heard rave reviews about it and everyone was praising it last year. It also won Costa Debut Novel award in 2018. I am generally lucky with the hyped books, but still, I was afraid about picking this one. But I am so happy that I loved this book so much. Gail Honeyman has perfectly presented the mental illness concept and her writing will instantly connect with you. She has created a wonderful character, Eleanor. She is not perfect in any sense. She is flawed, lonely and straightforward, still manages to throw punches in between and you would laugh at her wittiness. This book is character-oriented and the other lovable character is Raymond, Eleanor’s colleague, who soon becomes her friend. I loved how Raymond and Eleanor’s relationship was portrayed and how he made Eleanor come out of her loneliness. She used to make fun of him because of his dressing sense and all, but soon Raymond made her realise there is so much in the world to see. She went to a totally different place because of him. He even persuaded her to see a therapist which she never realised was needed for her. Raymond was a good addition to her life 🙂 Books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine definitely deserve all the hype and every reader should give this one a chance. This has left a deep mark on my mind. It is hard to find books which are full of emotions and yet are far from being overly-sentimental.

I am not surprised this book received awards for first book by an author. It is well written without being too difficult to understand and it has a twist in the end as well, which I won't spoil for you. Eleanor Oliphant is 30 years old and according to her is completely fine. She talks to Mummy every Wednesday night. She loves drinking vodka (mostly on weekends) and doing the cryptic crossword. She has a scar on one side of her face which is related to a fire in her youth (that is part of the twist). The book goes on to describe how this highly intelligent female meets her first ever friend, Raymond (Raymond describes as thinking of Eleanor as a "nutter" when he first saw her towards the end of the book!!). Raymond and Eleanor help an old man, Sammy, who has collapsed on the road and call an ambulance and thus their friendship develops. Eleanor sees a musician (Johnnie Lamond) and develops what can only be called an insane crush on him, thinking that it will lead to marriage and children. She buys a computer so she can do some research on him and decides she should do herself up with makeup and improve her wardrobe. The book is mainly a development on how initially Eleanor thinks she is completely fine but is she? She realises her the madness of her crush on Johnnie Lamond and nearly dies but is saved by Raymond. She undergoes therapy and a lot of the main crux of the story comes out in those therapy sessions. Eleanor undergoes self-realisation due to the chance of her friendships with people as vastly different as Raymond (an IT guy with personal hygiene issues) and Sammy (the old man whose life they save). The book is quite witty at times and I enjoyed reading it :) I give it 10/10.

Eleanor Oliphant was a completely heartwarming read and I for one, am simply glad that I finally picked up this book as a part of my August read in the Dr. Snob’s Book Club. “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.” The plot was truly well made- and though I felt that it dragged for a bit in the middle part, it had an overall heartwarming touch to it. The ending was truly not one I had anticipated and the twist that you get, will truly twist your mind. It is, I admit, not a very climatic scene- do not expect The Woman in the Window kind of revelation- for it is not a thriller. Nonetheless, at certain other parts, it surely felt like it was. The central character- our protagonist- Eleanor is like every other woman- except that she’s not! She’s the type of person that I personally classify as a highly functioning sociopath- very much like Sherlock Holmes (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) puts it. As a reader, you can’t help but relate with her, at least on some points; I know I did. And at times, you can’t help but feel pity for this amazing woman who has had to suffer so much. The themes in this novel are also very relatable in modern day life. At times, this book feels like a very casual and toned down Modernist novel- featuring the bleak regularity of everyday life. Apart from this monotonousness, we see the elements of friendship, and humanity- both within the spectrum of human relationships. The writing style is very free-flowing and gradual and the overall effect is beautiful- it reads delightfully. The grammar and editing was perfect and while I type this, I feel so much like Eleanor- always preferring to use the correct English over colloquial slangs and short forms. I honestly cannot believe that Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was a debut- it was exceptionally well written. I’m looking forward to reading more books by the author. I rate this a 4/5 stars.

Eleanor is a 30-year-old who works in an office Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Rarely anyone asks what she does in the office. But in the self-narrated story, Eleanor tells us she works as a financial clerk in an IT firm. She lives alone has since she was 17 in an apartment provided by social services and furniture from the charity. She makes herself pasta every night and on Friday she buys a Tesco pizza and two bottles of vodka, not uttering a single word for two days. She talks to Mummy every Wednesday night and she is completely fine. You’d say that she might feel lonely from time to time but it’s something she doesn’t know even exists because she never had company. “Some people, weak people, fear solitude. What they fail to understand is that you don’t need anyone, you can take care of yourself.” One fine day Eleanor finds her computer is not working so she calls up the IT guy, Raymond. Raymond is not someone she can like. He doesn’t fit her definition of proper man as provided by Mummy besides she has already found a proper man. He is a musician. Eleanor develops a middle school crush on the musician leading to changes in her physical appearance. On the other hand, her interactions with Raymond increase after they save an old man on the street. A new world opens to Eleanor, one she didn’t know existed. She made choices she didn’t know were there. It is funny and sad when Eleanor describes day to day things in a new perspective. And Eleanor is hilarious. This is how she describes her mug “I purchased it in a charity shop some years ago, and it has a photograph of a moon-faced man. He is wearing a brown leather blouson. Along the top, in the strange yellow font, it says ‘Top Gear’. I don’t profess to understand this mug. It holds the perfect amount of vodka, however, thereby obviating the need for frequent refills.” But what’s the reason for Eleanor’s utter loneliness? Why doesn’t she use a phone or talk to anyone? What happened to her that she has a scar on her face? Why is Mummy so rude to her? A set of changes forces Eleanor to face her past, the one she didn’t want to remember. The past she removed from her memory. Maybe change is better than fine. My Review Well, Eleanor’s vocabulary is awesome, and she treats herself like royalty. Which made me think our world is what we want it to be. The way she carries herself makes it evident that it’s easy to exist, but it takes an effort to live. Her loneliness and lack of emotions touched a nerve. Raymond is such a kindred spirit. While reading I was so afraid that maybe now Raymond will walk out and leave Eleanor alone. It’s a feel-good book. Makes you believe that there are still good people out there. And once you start running for the bus the universe provides. What I didn’t like how the author doesn’t go into the detail of Eleanor’s past. But maybe it’s just me. “In the end, what matters is this: I survived.”

Thes best part about elanor is that she was always trying to be better and knew what was in her hands. I predicted the main hinge (no spoilers) even before it was disclosed in the book.This book teaches us to sometimes believe in people around us and adulting with insecurities we all face. I wanted something more from its Ending. Nevertheless, its a good read.

Wow ! What a book! What a roller coaster ride!!! Several times i had tears in my eyes while reading it. It was so raw, so apt portrayal that I had to brace myself for the impact! It was so overwhelming and sad yet funny at times. Sometimes I laughed and many times I just cried silently. Love and the abscense of it, both have been pictured excellently. Pure jem this book is. Loneliness is a silent yet swiftly spreadable disease. The sonner it is tended to the better it is. But often it goes unattended. We are so busy with our life, we have little time for our friends /family that we rarely notice such matters. Such small gesture of kindness, yet they could make a huge difference. What I loved about the book most was its honesty. Also the writer has great sense of humour. Made it worth it. Reading the book can be therapeutic for many people. And even if you don't need that just reading it will nourish your intellect. Only qualms I have is of Eleanor and Raymond to stay content with their announced friendship and not further step up to format it into something intense and profound. But I guess that was deliberate. The author I assume wanted us to understand that afteral change was not so easy and every relationship takes time to form and therefore hers takes baby steps forward. A new beginning-- slow yet steady. I simply adore this book. This is one of those books that you can read again & again and yet they wont be old. Going to read this again sometime later. Five stars from me. Could have given more if there were any. :) Excellent packaging by the seller and prompt delivery from amazon. Also the condition of the book was very good. Two thumbs up.

Solo una parola: unico! È un libro delicato, ma forte, così come la protagonista. Tratteggia il personaggio e le difficoltà psicologiche con tatto, umorismo, accarezzando le sue "cicatrici" e curandole. Una storia di resilienza, di come alcuni traumi ci formano su strutture di personalità "particolari" per farvi sopravvivere, ma di come ce se ne possa prendere cura con forza e coraggio!

Eleanor Oliphant is an accounting clerk who works all week, stays at home every Friday night enjoying her supermarket pizza and vodka, and wait for Monday to come. She’s fine keeping her distance from the people around her until she finds her “soulmate” and at the same time, forms an unlikely friendship with one of her colleagues. Eleanor is a fascinating and definitely a very memorable character. This book is written in her perspective which I really loved. We get to see what she sees and know what she thinks. She can be off-putting at times but still very relatable and realistic. I loved her humor and honesty. Her relationship with Raymond was so sweet and enjoyable to read. The author’s writing is compelling and beautiful. I can’t believe that this is her debut novel. This book is sad and painful to read at times but the author still managed to tell Eleanor’s story in a lighter way (if that makes sense). There’s also a mystery surrounding Eleanor’s past which is slowly revealed throughout the book. I appreciated how the author handled mental health issues in this book. It’s raw and very moving. I know that this book is not for everyone because you might love or hate Eleanor. But I’m pretty sure that you can relate to her in some ways. This book is about loneliness, unspoken sadness, friendship, and kindness.

Eleanor Oliphant is the main character in this book. Her sad younger years have stunted her growth socially. Now that she is older, she is trying her very best to learn how to interact with people. She will make you laugh and she will make you cry. Eleanor Oliphant is a 30 year old woman, who lives alone in a flat with her bird plant she named Polly. She works as a clerk in the accounts receivable department of a graphic design company. She is highly intelligent, educated, articulate, but socially behind. When she speaks, she says whatever is on her mind with no boundaries and so, people think she's weird. Her co-workers make fun of her, but she is used to it by now and carries on with her work. She has been working for the company for 10 years. One day, she wins tickets to a concert and she takes one of her co-workers with her. It is there that she finds herself attracted to a musician. He is handsome and talented. She knows instantly that he is the one for her. She decides to look after her appearance and learn some social skills. That would surely get him interested in her. Every Friday, she picks up a pizza and a bottle of vodka and heads home. She spends her weekends alone in her house drinking until Monday arrives. Her Mummy calls her every Wednesday from jail. She is a mean woman and never has a nice thing to say to Eleanor. She always tells her how ugly she is and by now, Eleanor is used to it. She never knew her father. Eleanor has a scar on her face and scars on her hands. When she was 10 years old, she moved from one foster home to another, but she considered herself lucky. She always had a roof over her head and food to eat. A social worker came regularly to see how she was doing . When she was on her own, Eleanor went to live with her first boyfriend named Declan. He physically abused her and she moved out. One day at work, her computer gives out. An IT man named Raymond Gibbons comes to repair it. Eleanor doesn't like a thing about him. He's unkempt, chews with his mouth open, smells of cigarette smoke and the list goes on. On her way home after work, Raymond sees her walking and he soon catches up with her. As they are talking, a pedestrian falls on the sidewalk and Raymond runs to help. Eleanor soon follows and a friendship begins. Gail Honeyman has created a character named Eleanor Oliphant, who is funny, sad and is trying so hard to fit in. I loved this character and I kept rooting for her and hoping that one day she would fit in. Gail Honeyman is a gifted writer with quite an imagination. I enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine immensely. It will warm your heart.

A beautiful story about trauma, self discovery, and love.

Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a beautifully layered novel that took me by surprise. At first glance, Eleanor seems eccentric, isolated, and peculiar in her daily routines. But as the story unfolds, we begin to see the depth of her loneliness and the emotional walls she’s built to cope with a haunting past. What I appreciated most is how Honeyman balances humor and heartbreak. Eleanor’s candid, often unintentionally funny observations about society add a refreshing lightness to her otherwise dark reality. It’s hard not to root for her as she stumbles through awkward social interactions and begins to slowly open herself up to kindness and connection. The novel beautifully explores themes of loneliness, trauma, and human connection. It reminds us that healing isn’t linear, and reaching out—whether to friends, professionals, or even strangers—can make all the difference. I found Eleanor’s journey both heart-wrenching and hopeful, and by the end, I was deeply moved. If you enjoy stories with strong, unique characters and a mix of humor and emotional depth, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is well worth the read. It’s a book that lingers in your heart long after you’ve turned the final page.