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

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed the writing of Eleanor's character - the story being told from her POV created a tone that kept me engaged throughout. Eleanor is such a layered & mysterious character who at first came off as overly proper even if she often thought & said things that she shouldn't, she had a standard for how she believed we're meant to participate in society. The story unfolds surprisingly yet beautifully at a pace that feels true to what it feels like to get to know a new friend & see pieces of their life and character come together. I particularly enjoyed the trajectory of her relationship with Raymond & how this influences how much more she believes is possible for herself. I also resonated with how tidily she viewed life despite how messy her experiences had been so far & how she took to practicality as a response to all the chaos & trauma.  Even if we do eventually start to see the real impact of her complicated & very traumatic early life.
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