Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

By Gail Honeyman

Over 2.5 million copies sold

‘Funny, touching and unpredictable’ Jojo Moyes

‘Heartwrenching and wonderful’ Nina Stibbe

Winner of Costa First Novel Award, a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and the Book of the Year

Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive – but not how to live

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.

One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she’s avoided all her life.

Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than… fine?

‘Moving, funny and devastating’ The Herald

‘Unforgettable, brilliant, funny and life-affirming’ Daily Mail

‘I adored it. Skilled, perceptive, Eleanor's world will feel familiar to you from the very first page. An outstanding debut!’ Joanna Cannon

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: May 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9780008172138

Gail Honeyman

Gail Honeyman’s debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, won the Costa First Novel Award 2017, and has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Desmond Elliott Prize. As a work in progress, it was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize. Since publication, translation rights have sold to over thirty territories worldwide and Reese Witherspoon has optioned it for film. Gail lives in Glasgow.

Reviews for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

[Chloe Newcomb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! Had me hooked from beginning to end well done

[michelle joseph · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! This debut novel is truly exceptional. It effortlessly transitions from subtle humor to laugh-out-loud funny moments, all while conveying a sense of dread and tragedy. Spending time with this book is truly worth it. Amazing to believe it's the author's first work!

[Laura M · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it a lot, but it became a little stilted toward the end, hence the 4 not 5 stars, although it's about 4.5 to be fair.

[Danae Bye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it much more than expected- it was a delightful reas

[Coral Tulip · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting. Eleanor is like a bit of the atypical Virgo sign which was surprising to note! you can slowly become fond of the characters. Honeyman put a lot of care and regard for Eleanor and it's an easy and casual read after a couple of chapters.

[mujaiswal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One if the finest books discussing mental illness. Beautiful read.

[sqlee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A heartwarming book that shows the beautiful side of humanity.

[BookWorm Quotes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book! Magnificent writing, characters and story. Not what I was expecting.

[Jess True · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first half of the book was a little rough to get through.
But the character development and backstory writing makes this book hard to put down towards the end.

[Isabela Abreu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An amazing journey of a young woman to find herself through her past

[Jezella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Couldn't put it down, a great read. Enjoy the tears and laughter.

[Hannah Ware · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book. There was such slow and meaningful character development that you truly felt part of their lives by the end. Couldn’t put it down until I had finished it

[Vanessa Lee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exquisitely written , with wit, pathos and joy. Superb ?

[Carryn Morrison · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everything! I couldn’t put the book down and am now sad I have finished reading it.

[Sayli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phenomenal. I loved it. Hilarious and deep. Just awesome. Yes.

[judiex · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not.Eleanor Oliphant is nearly30 years old and has worked as a finance clerk for a graphics design company for nine years. Academically brilliant, she is comforatably wedded to her routine. Weekdays she’s at her desk from 8:30 until 5:30. She buys a sandwich for lunch every day which she eats in the staff room while reading the newspaper and doing the crossword puzzle. Her solitary dinner at home is “cheap, quick and simple to procure and prepare, whilst providing the requisite nutrients to enable a person to stay alive.”On Fridays she buys margarita pizza, some Chianti and big bottles os Glen’s vodka. That and sleep take care of her weekend.She wears the same clothes every day, all black, and hasn’t had her hair cut for fourteen years. She does not socialize at work or anywhere else. That she has no friends she attributes to other people’s lack of social skills. Every Wednesday, she spends 15 minutes talking with her mother but cannot visit her. The conversations consist of her mother severely criticizing her.She had a difficult childhood. From the time she was 10 years old, she lived in foster homes and institutions. She still gets semiannual visits from a social worker. While she was in college, she spent two years with an abusive boyfriend.At some time in the past she was burned in a fire and has scars on her face and other parts of her body. She is a survivor. “A self-contained entity.”Then suddenly her life changed. She won tickets for concert, asked someone from work to go with her, and fell madly in love with one of the performers, deciding that he was the one for her even though he had never even looked at her. Motivated, she realized she had to become someone in whom he would be interested.Soon thereafter she and a new IT employee at work, Raymond Gibbons, were walking together when they saw an elderly man collapse. At Raymond’s urging, they immediately went to help him that experience changed her life even more dramatically.The book deals with loneliness and isolation and how the intervention of a carrying person and a competent mental health counselor can have very positive results.ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, won several awards and is being made into a movie. It’s very well written, insightful, and witty and I found that I really cared for and rooted for her. It has a very surprising twist near the end.

[kayanelson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This has been on my TBR list for years and because of the stay at home order I was able to get a kindle version from the library. I read this book in 24 hours as it was a simple read and I wanted to know what happened. Good yet simple plot and great character development.

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another one that I almost abandoned after the first 40 or so pages. I DID NOT LIKE Eleanor Oliphant. She was dry and off, the author was brilliant... she allowed just one little bit of information that made you go... hmmmmm and then BOOM. Couldn't put it down!

Great one!!

[judithrs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Gail Honeyman.2017. Pat suggested that I read this book during my recuperation from surgery—an easy read she said, and funny. It was, but it was also sad. Eleanor is a rigid single woman who prides herself on her independence and organizational skills; it is apparent that the last thing she is, “is completely fine.” Even though the plot is predictable, the book is so well written that we keep reading to the end and Eleanor is completely fine. I really enjoyed this book

[reynag-379957 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing read! Slightly dark comedy that pulls at the heart strings. Emily Oliphant is completely fine is a title for the ages, once you start this book you will find yourself nodding in agreement. A great book club read - I would suggest it for a sunny day read.

[katyefk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The surprise twist at the very end of the book, really makes this book interesting and worth thinking about afterwards.

[sarahstenhouse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gentle, sweet tale, about loneliness and connection. Moving and uplifting although at times very sad too.

[Kamalia Ramlan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best novel I read this year! Thanks to the author.

[Leslie Cohen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very enjoyable and easy to read, in spite of the difficulty and seriousness of the subject.

[tshrope · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have a confession to make. I LOVED this book so much that after I finished it, I immediately started listening to it all over again. I listened to it on audio, and I know that added to my Love of the book. The narrator is excellent and brings so much to the book, perfect intonations and accents.

Eleanor is quirky, original, funny without meaning to be, and honestly bemused by most social situations and interactions. If you liked A Man Called Ove or the Rosie Project you will like this too.

Best book I've read this year.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this a great deal as an ear read.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Funny. Sweet. Charming. Heartbreaking. I felt such strong connection with Eleanor.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There's fine and then there's fine. Eleanor has survived from 10 to 30 by not remembering by isolation and vodka. But a need for connection manifests when she encounters an attractive singer and a new co-worker makes friendly overtures. The meta-stable existence she has maintained seems to suit her but she does get knocked over the edge....I'm not quite sure I can totally believe in Eleanor as she is presented, but this story of not too extraordinary people did interest and touch me throughout.

[mojomomma_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. Eleanor comes to terms with a tragic event in her childhood and slowly lets the walls dissolve between her and the rest of society.

[katscribefever · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a delight, particularly because of the way it presents the dichotomy of Eleanor's character, as well as the dissonance between the way she believes others view her and they way they actually do. Of course most of us do not have a background similar to Eleanor's, but the mistaken view she has of the world at large, especially in regards to herself, is something I feel fairly confident is familiar to virtually everyone. Is this a "classic book club book"? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth your time.