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

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" has been on my TBR for so long and I'm so glad I finally got around to it. 

The book follows a quirky and solitary woman as she starts to grow and transform after years of repetitive monotony. Eleanor's character traits are odd and unexplained but the reader slowly grows to understand them as we (and she) unravel her past. 

I was moved while listening to this book. Eleanor's innocently pretentious attitude and general nose-turning to the normal world was funny, and watching her experience one "first" after another was heart warming. 

The cast of characters in the novel were so fun, generally normal people but their individual oddities were hilarious from Eleanor's perspective. The themes of loneliness resonated with me. While my life has never been as isolated as Eleanor's, her struggle to find relationships / friendships / community was relatable. I absolutely did not see the twist coming-
Mummy was all in Eleanor's head?! Incredible.
 

The evolution of Eleanor's relationship with Raymond from their first interaction to their last was beautiful and felt realistic. A slow progression into a deep friendship with genuine care for one another. 

The audiobook narration was fantastic for the story. The accents for the characters added to their charm and brought the novel to life.
 
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