A review by kmkasiner
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

4.0

Very close to five stars, but this was a difficult read at times. Trigger warnings for a lot of things. The copy for this book is misleading. I was expecting a humorous novel, but it's mostly sad, although there is a glimmer of hope at the end. It's about a very lonely woman, Eleanor. She happens to be the survivor of great trauma, but really, she could be anyone. It's a book about someone who chooses not to take part in society, and the toll that takes. I think anyone who has experienced loneliness and awkwardness can relate to some parts of Eleanor.

That said, it might be best to stop wondering what this book is trying to do and just view it as a portrait of a character. Eleanor has a very distinctive voice, and while it wasn't always comfortable being in her head, she's definitely an interesting character. By the end of the book, I really wanted her to be happy. I'm not sure how critics thought this was "hilarious," because it's mostly heartbreaking to read.