Thank you Netgalley for the review copy of this book for an impartial review.

Everyone has been recommending this book to me - calling it 'uplifting, imaginative and original.' I can agree with the latter two but uplifting was not the feeling I got. The storyline is one big mystery and only little comments from the 1st person narrative gives you an idea of the hell this character has been through and the reason for why she is the way she is. The main character Eleanor is amusing, clumsy in nature (both mentally and physically) and all kinds of different 'sad' to me. I did not find her story uplifting, apart from maybe the fact that she gets the help she needs and seems to be on a path to recovery by the end of the novel.
One of the better written books I've read this year but not the happiest.

Firstly, I am late to the party.  Everyone is reading or has read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.  Everyone.  I have had this recommended to me so many times, and I still didn't manage to pick it up until now.  It's won awards, and it has still take me this long to read it.  I can only apologise.

Secondly, I am giving this novel 5 stars.  That's right, this is my second 5 star review in a matter of weeks.  I don't know what is happening! I feel it is important that you know this is a 5 star novel from the outset, rather than waiting until the end of this review to find out!

So, I loved this book. Eleanor is a beautifully crafted, complicated character who really gets inside your head and stays with you. Her matter of fact statements, the shocking way she'll sometimes impart information makes you feel for her all the more. Despite her tough, somewhat lonely life, she has come through it all (albeit with a quite serious drinking problem). You can't help but want her to connect with other people to build the life you know she deserves.

I am often put off reading award winning books - I know this is a little controversial - because critics (in my opinion) do not always represent the wider audience. For example, how many Best Picture Oscar winning films do you actually like? But I am happy to confirm that this novel thoroughly deserved to win its awards. It is an amazing debut from Gail Honeyman, and I look forward to seeing what else she brings us. I also cannot wait to see what Reese Witherspoon does with the book now that she owns the films rights - exciting times ahead!

So, to round up - if you haven't already read this book, go out and get yourself a copy.  You will not regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny. I didn't read them with any pre-conceived ideas - in fact both were from NetGalley and I knew very little about them and it’s possibly only a similarity of my own thinking, but they seem like a match to me.

Eleanor Oliphant is a massive success; a debut novel that started a bidding war and won The Costa First Novel prize. Widely acclaimed and apparently a prime example of feel good “Up Lit” I feel entirely at odds with popular opinion as I loathed it.

Eleanor is a lonely thirty-something who works in an office and adheres to a strict routine she feels safe with. There is unspecified trauma in her background. She’s an oddball, a figure of ridicule at work, out of step with her colleagues and apparently all of modern society. She’s a cartoon character: LOL she's so weird cos she gets things wrong! Don't worry though, she's going to undergo an ugly duckling to swan transformation via a wax, a haircut, a make-over and some new clothes. The characterisation throughout is wafer thin and the plotting seemed incredibly obvious. Eleanor develops a crush on a lead singer in a band at the same time as meeting Raymond, a man seemingly not at all put off by the things that every other person in the book are. Everything is telegraphed well ahead. The voice adopted is a one note bright, play it for laughs (never mind the trauma) voice.

The idea of this being a mood-lifting “up” style of novel only works if we can ignore rape, murder, fire, crushing loneliness and abuse. The representation of trauma and (possibly) additional needs is woeful.

Standard Deviation, another debut novel, is about Graham, whose inner voice we are privy to, his younger wife, Audra, and their son Matthew. Matthew is an 11 year old with Aspergers and is described in a wonderfully relatable way and is genuinely funny. There’s a warmth that comes through in this novel, and an authenticity that is lacking in Eleanor Oliphant.
“The terrible twos seemed to have a magical stretching ability when it came to Matthew. They went on for years. Eruptions over milk served in anything other than the Buzz Lightyear soppy cup, over music that was too “tinkly”, over carpet that was too scratchy, over people who stood too close, over the smell of sunblock, the prospect of butter on biscuits, the sight of cheetahs in an animal documentary. The littlest thing could set Matthew off, and there seemed to be no way of calling him back from the land of the tantrum - in an instant, he would be flat on the floor, back arched, legs rigid, mouth a wide open circle of angry scream. They would do anything to prevent it. Graham could remember scorch-taping the last banana in the fruit bowl back into a banana peel so Matthew could eat it monkey-style. Graham’s hands had been shaking with desperation.”

Audra is an excellent (over-loud, over-chatty gossipy) character who is a great foil to Graham (and his ex wife who seems the opposite of her) and is the stand-out star of the book. I enjoyed this novel far more than I expected to and really am quite puzzled why it doesn't seem to have garnered more praise. Especially considering how feted that blooming Oliphant book is.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It was heartwarming and full of life in many ways. I was completely engrossed in Eleanor's journey and didn't realise how invested I was until I had tears pricking my eyes. The book follows the highs and lows of Eleanor's life and her road to recovery. I loved reading about Eleanor's relationship with the different people in her life, and the change in dynamics when she is speaking to certain characters.

Even if you think this book isn't the type you'd enjoy, I honestly say, give it a chance! You will be pleasantly surprised.

Eleanor leads a reserved, very proper, and strict life. There are hints from the start that she has had a difficult past and that she is continuing to struggle with this: she has a strange relationship with her mother, drinks a lot of vodka, and has a social worker who visits her at home and ask questions about what she remembers of her past. She gradually becomes friendly with Raymond, a man from work, who brings her out of her comfort zone, leading to her facing up to her astonishing past. At times the writing was a bit flowery for my tastes, but it suited Eleanor's voice perfectly. The subtle references to her past throughout keep you turning the pages wanting more, and the twist is exquisite. This was a brilliant read.

Unfortunately, I am no longer interested in reviewing this book on my blog. Thank you for this opportunity.

3.5 out of 5 stars! I found the minimal mentions of Romance to be rather refreshing and the ending to be written well. However, I did personally struggle with character connection and the amount of backstory that was used in the novel. It dragged the pacing down which sadly left me feeling a little disappointed. I have a full review on my Goodreads profile!

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, or is she? She has her routine and her vodka but is that enough.? Things are about to change.

Beautifully poignant story, well written, and addictive. Eleanor oliphant is a haunting character you won't forget.

In this tale, which seems like the female and slightly less funny but more sinister version of The Rosie Project, Eleanor Oliphant is 'weird' and fine with being alone and with her routine until she decides she's in love and is going to do something about it.

The narrative proceeds then to follow someone pursuing this path that would be 'normal' for most of the population but through the eyes of someone who doesn't fit into the social spectrum deemed normal by the media and most institutions in society.

It's a typical ploy used to exploit 'other' points of view so that we can have a laugh at them. She complains about the lack of other people's manners while behaving in a way that the reader would immediately know is not socially polite. We are invited to look down and laugh at her through her very own narrative, in a sense.

By the end of chapter two I already disliked the book. Half-way through story I could no longer stand the exploitation and mockery of someone who the author was quite clearly suggesting had been abused and traumatised. There are horrible and sickening allusions and I couldn't take it.

I read a review of the book on Shona Craven's site and I agree with the following:

The biggest problem with the book as a work of literature is that there is barely a scene in it that rings true. As a character, Eleanor is utterly implausible, a crude caricature. Does she have autistic spectrum disorder? Post-traumatic stress disorder? Some kind of dissociative disorder? It’s barely worth speculating, as she is nothing but a figment of the author’s imagination. No-one like her exists in the real world. And as such, the book has nothing whatsoever of value to say.

But the reason it matters is that this is a book about a character who is part of one of the most marginalised and misunderstood populations in society – care-experienced young people. She is a young woman who has experienced childhood trauma, and moved around foster placements, and struggled to form relationships.

The average person doesn’t know a great deal about the care system. Neither, is seems, does Gail Honeyman, who has nonetheless written a novel about a care-experienced character who at the outset has no friends, no social skills and a ludicrously limited understanding of the world she has inhabited for 30 years. The novel is set in contemporary Glasgow, yet the author seems to have no interest in getting very basic facts right. She perpetuates a number of harmful myths about social services, including that workers conceal vital information from foster carers, that young people are not included in decision-making about their lives, and that trauma-experienced social work clients (whether adults or children) receive no meaningful support whatsoever.

This is an irresponsible book that 'others' certain behaviours for effect. It does feel harmful and it's a sad state of affairs that people think they can understand others' trauma by reading through the lens of mockery.

When I first started reading this book, my first thought was "really, who does that now, such an 80's throw back story", but this was done in such a cunning way that i was totally drawn in and it formed part of the story. By the end of the book, I was totally in awe. Great book. Good story. Now the title makes sense.

A wonderful book that I regret taking so long to read. The hype is well deserved and really is an incredible read.

A well written book though the beginning is very slow. Since reading it, the book has become a hit so a lot of people have enjoyed it. A good book, but not enough action for me.

Disclaimer: An eGalley of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think I can say much more about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine than has already been said: this book is utterly amazing, an absolute must-read and I bought myself a finished paperback after I read the eBook (the UK cover is striking (get it? because it has matches on the cover?)). Safe to say, this book gets my seal of approval.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine follows Eleanor Oliphant, a woman who struggles with social situations, who forms an unexpected friendship with a man from work when they save a man who has fallen on the sidewalk. This is a book that balances sad and funny moments, and it’s such a brilliant and memorable debut that I can’t wait to see what Gail Honeyman does next. I’m also interested to see how the film adaptation goes.

This book has already won the WHSmith Book of the Year Award and the Costa Book Award for First Novel, but if you needed a push to read this, here it is. You won’t regret it.

What’s it About? Am I the last person in the world to read this? This is Eleanor Oliphant’s story – her social skills are somewhat lacking, she avoids social interactions and spends the time she’s not at her 9-5 office job where her colleagues think she’s weird, drinking vodka and eating pizza and she is fine with that, until quite by accident she runs into a completely undesirable man from her office in the street and helping save an old man who’s fallen on the pavement and starts to realise what it means to have friends.

What I liked Feelings. I has them. This book is really realy good. It’s been getting all the hype; it deserves it. I was not ready for this book, and I was not fine after finishing it because OH MY, MY HEART. I was not warned and I was not ready. This book is profound and it is beautiful and it is so worth a read. It’s quite extraordinary, really.

What I liked Less the supporting cast. Eleanor was fabulous, Raymond pretty good…everyone else though kind of fell by the wayside and that made me sad.

This is a truly wonderful book! I have to admit, at first I was fairly sceptical at the prospect of yet another socially-awkward character, but very soon Eleanor won me over completely.
As we follow Eleanor through her daily routine, it soon becomes apparent that her inability to relate to others in a social context is the result of emotional and psychological abuse as a child. This becomes particularly clear during Eleanor's weekly calls to "Mummy", which completely chilled me to the bone.

Everything in Eleanor's carefully planned life, however, is about to change as two extraordinary things happen: first, she falls in love with a musician while attending a concert; second, she meets Raymond, the bumbling new IT guy from her office, and Sammy, an elderly gentleman whom she and Raymond save after he falls on a sidewalk. Suddenly forced to amend her routine and looking to obtain a complete makeover to win over her man, Eleanor starts to realise that she can be loved and she deserves more than she had so far. But in order to do so, she will need to confront secrets she buried so deep, even she doesn't remember the truth anymore - and she'll need to do it before their weight crushes her. As she embarks on this journey of discovery of herself and the world around her, Eleanor has to come to terms with a past that is far too painful - and she has to accept that she doesn't have to do it alone.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a tiny jewel of a book. At times funny (Eleanor's first wax had me doubled over), at times heartbreaking, always tender, this book broke my heart and put it back together several times. I loved watching the world through Eleanor's eyes, and I felt like cheering her on at every small step she took towards regaining control over her own life. This is one character I am certain will stay with me for a really long time. I enjoyed the writing style very much, and found more than once that I did not want to stop reading. I could hardly believe this was the author's debut! I'll definitely look out for more of her books.

It took a while to get into it as I really didn’t like her way of speaking (think almost like a female Sheldon Cooper!). Sometimes she’s uses big words that I have to go and look up to understand what she means in the rest of the conversation!
I loved the ending but could have done with another chapter maybe tidying up the ends a bit more?

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Title - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Author - Gail Honeyman
Published - Jan '18
Publisher - Harper Collins
Genre - #Womens
Pages - 400
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £3.99 Kindle - £3.99
ISBN - 00872145

Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills, she tends to say exactly what it on her min and that doesn't go down well with many people. So Eleanor fills her timetable so she can avoid social situations. Her weekends include frozen pizza, vodka and long chats with her mother.

Eleanor Oliphant's whole life changes when she meets hygiene challenge, Raymond. Together they rescue an elderly gentleman names Sammy who had a fall on the street. Pretty soon the three become great friends and they rescue each other from a life of isolation.

There was a huge hype around this book and usually, when everyone is raving about a book, I end up not enjoying it. (Flashbacks to Fifty Shades) This book, however, was a pleasant change. I like, everyone else really enjoyed it.

I found it easy to read and very well written with a fun and interesting plot. I struggle with anxiety and I struggle in social situations so I was able to relate to the characters which I always think is good with a book if you can relate to a character it makes you feel like your part of there world. It makes it much easier to connect with the story and the characters, making the book easier and more enjoyable to read and that is what happened here for me. A really good book. I really enjoyed it I would recommend this book to anyone looking for their next great read.

Thank You to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating - Five out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - Yes
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes

Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon (UK) under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at http://www.readingbeyondobsession.co.uk/
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com

Links to this review can be found at:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is having its moment and it deserves it. I didn't want to stop reading this for a minute and I'm going to admit I cried, several times. Eleanor is not the most lovable character but her shallows hide really deep depths of trauma and her recovery is spellbinding. Yet this is not a downer of a book, Honeyman inserts dark humor and also light hope in here.

Loved this book. Really liked the main character. An easy read that made me not want to put the book down.