Book Review - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by 

Gail Honeyman

Click here to purchase from Amazon

A stunning debut. 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?

,

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this ARC, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine thank you very much! She has her routines; work, speak to Mummy on a Wednesday, buy and consume two bottles of vodka and never get involved with other people. Eleanor has her own opinions on how things should be done and doesn't hold back on sharing these opinions, no matter how abrupt or rude she may seem. 

Eleanor is surviving, not living and then Raymond the bumbling, unhygienic IT guy begins to talk to Eleanor. Usually work colleagues ignore her, make fun of her or talk about her behind her back. They begin to have lunch together, a situation that Eleanor finds very strange indeed.

One day an elderly man collapses on the street and Raymond rushes to help him. He enlists a rather reluctant Eleanor to help him and they both visit the gentleman - Sammy - in hospital. Gradually Eleanor gets absorbed into Raymond's life, tea with his Mother and walks and they both end up spending time with Sammy and his family too.

Eventually Eleanor begins to blossom, to live not just survive. Raymond helps her face her demons and Eleanor finally puts Mummy in her place.

If you only read one book this year, then make it this one. A genuine, deep, thought provoking book about a woman fighting her past and muddling through as best she can. I really felt an affinity with Eleanor and her actions although sometimes unforgivable, were always understandable. Everything in her world is black and white until she begins to live and see the colour in the world.

Definitely a 5* read,