Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

I feel guilty giving this a lower rating because the reasons I disliked it were kinda the whole points of the book, but I stand by it. I was considering DNFing this one when I got to the halfway point and was still fairly disinterested. If this book didn't have a bit of underlying "hmm, what's going on here?" I would have put it down. Granted you can figure it out well before the book's end (well, all but one part which I did not see coming), but my curious brain wanted to see how it played out. Overall I'm not mad I finished it, the end was heartwarming and tied things up well so I don't feel it was wasted time, but I wouldn't recommend to a friend. Eleanore is unbearable for most of the book which made it really difficult for me to get into. By the end you understand why she was written this way (though I still think it was overdone) but it just didn't make for a super engaging read for me.

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marissaheffler's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book was a bit of a slog to get through. Eleanor is established as a socially removed, critical character who uses unnecessarily big words to dissect the world around her. As she becomes more connected to the people and world around her, the story opens up a bit to learn about how her past as influenced her and how she begins to heal from past trauma. The end goal of this book was pretty clear from the get go and more of a logical conclusion than a moving conclusion to a narrative story.

All that being said, it was an interesting experience to push myself to see the world through the lens of a protagonist so different than myself. I certainly came to care for Eleanor and was happy to see the growth in her ability both to develop a support network and appreciate it once present.
(6 hr 10 min read)

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ellenlemon's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Beautifully written story that covers some deep topics with such sincerity and manages to weave in humour and warmth. I’ve not met a character like Eleanor Oliphant before and she has definitely left a lasting impression.

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bea_frankie's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.5

Pleasantly surprised with how the growth and relationships of characters developed and thought the ending was beautiful. A reflective story on grief

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bookyanna's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

3.75

I struggled to get into this book intially; I found Eleanor to be a challenging and judgmental narrator. That said, as I approached the halfway mark it was clear I was supposed to be uncomfortable, and that Eleanor herself was uncomfortable in all aspects of her life. The style of narration evolved as the book progressed - as Eleanor stopped seeing herself as an island and learned to rely on the people around her. Ultimatetly, it was an uplifting read, reminding the reader that friends can be found in unlikely places and that it's never too late to make changes for the better.

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