Eleanor Oliphant is 30 years old, lives in Glasgow, works on accounts at a graphic designer, wears the same practical clothes every day, eats the same food and spends her weekend drinking vodka and doing the crosswords. Eleanor has no friends and no social life – beyond her weekly conversation with her mother. It’s existing, but it’s not really living.

Initially it has a feel of The Rosie Project. Comedy drawn from the lack of social awareness of someone with an undiagnosed psychological disorder somewhere close to Asperger’s Syndrome. But it soon becomes clear that Eleanor’s problems are borne of childhood trauma rather than underdeveloped emotional awareness. Whilst Eleanor is gauche, she is not completely socially stunted; she has self-awareness and the capacity to learn. And learn she does. This is essentially a Bildungsroman – a coming of age story – but with an abnormally late developer. There is genuine comedy gold in the process – particularly as Eleanor finds reasons to alter her image.

At times, in honesty, Eleanor’s apparent ignorance of modern culture and appliances stretches credulity, but it is easy to go along with the conceit for the sake of the humour. Yet at its heart, there are real people like Eleanor. Even in Glasgow, a city with a rough and ready reputation, there are a few delicate flowers who wince at the sound of swearing, who maintain prim and proper manners to the point of prissiness, and profess never to have stepped into a pub. There are people in every city whose lives fall into lonely ruts as a way of avoiding difficult decisions and facing up to the need for personal development.

As the novel unfolds, more detail of Eleanor’s past emerges at the same time as she takes more responsibility for facing up to – and improving – her situation. The reader becomes increasingly sympathetic towards her and wills her to beat her demons.

This is not a novel that relies on tricks and although there is a twist at the end, it doesn’t define the novel. What really makes the story special is the narrative voice. Eleanor is defiant even at her most desperate. She does not look to others to solve her problems and doesn’t even really want to admit to having problems. Many people are in a worse situation than her, she reasons. Even as she does emerge from her isolation, it is not to address a particular problem; rather it is a strategy to achieve a particular goal. She can be self-depricating, but never whiney.

Eleanor Oliphant is a really fantastic book that affirms all that is good about modern Scottish society; it is an optimistic book that will stay with me.

Eleanor Oliphant is one of the best fictional characters I've ever got to know. There's a huge range of human emotion wrapped up in this book, with an amazing multilayered protagonist and some great supporting characters. I couldn't put this book down, and it is a cliché, but I laughed, cried, squirmed, squiggled, hid, attempted to ignore, suffered and grew with Eleanor. Great book.

I mostly very much enjoyed this book. Eleanor is a kind of endearing character in that she functions, but doesn't actually really live her life, and doesn't even really know what she's missing. Her naivete and obliviousness is by turns endearing and infuriating, and journeying with her as she discovers what it really means to live is a really very heart-wrenching journey of discovery.

Eleanor has lived a very sheltered life, being brought up in care from the age of 10 and working in the same job as an office worker since she was 21. Now 30, Eleanor's life begins to change as she meets the man of her dreams, and as she begins to expand her life and social circle through her interaction with her colleague Raymond and a stranger they happen to meet.

I really liked being on Eleanor's journey with her as she realised that the life she was living wasn't all that it could be, and she started to unfurl from the pressured, tightly strung, compressed individual she was to blossom into a more rounded person. Part of her journey of discovery was highly entertaining, as she misinterpreted social norms and blundered her way through the most banal of social interactions.

But at the same time, her absolute obliviousness to not only social norms but also cultural context and awareness was occasionally infuriating, as with her mental framing of, for example, her experience at a Bobbi Brown counter, and her remarks on a manicure.

Generally, though, I was very touched by this heart-rending story of a child who suffered terribly and buried it all as she struggled her way through to adulthood without the guidance of a continuous nurturing presence in her life. Parts of the story were genuinely touching, as Eleanor delved into her past and began to embrace her future. I also very much appreciated the fact that her journey was not a linear progression, but showed the struggle and back-and-forth of any sort of personal development. Unfolding the stained and murky pages of Eleanor's past with her felt like a journey of self-discovery that was by turns horrifying, bewildering, and infuriating, but always an odd kind of charming. I'll definitely look out for more from Gail Honeyman - if her debut is this good, I can't wait to see what comes next.

An absolute delight .... I could not put this book down
A loveable charter in Oliphant that will stay with me for a long time.
Her quirky ways and how she battles with relationships of any kind due to her past keep you turning
the pages
Highly recommended a pleasure to read!!!

What an amazing read this was. I was totally drawn into this as soon as I started, mainly due to the type of person Eleanor Oliphant is.

Eleanor has no social graces, she doesn't know how to interact with other people at all, and she has absolutely no filter whatsoever. She says it how she sees it, and no more. It's obvious as you read this book that she has a terrible past. Something has happened to her which has turned her into the person she is today. What that is can only be guessed at for most of the book. When the author finally reveals everything it will shock you. For a character to go through what Eleanor has, and come out all but intact at the other end, is quite something.

Eleanor reminds me very much of a computer, or Mr Spock from Star Trek. She talks about the world, and life, with extreme logic. She can't understand the quirks some people have because, to her, it isn't normal. She misses the point so much when others are trying to have a conversation with her because she simply can't make it fit in her mind. But that is what endeared her character to me.

A brilliant debut novel from an author whose career I will definitely be following in the future. Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

It took me very few paragraphs of this book to come to the conclusion that I was likely to enjoy it. Eleanor is such a good character. There is a thin illusion of normality with her however you quickly realise that this is far from the truth. The story feels powerful and understated. The reality of her isolation from the "normal" world becomes uncomfortably apparent.

Once I'd got over the initial feelings of discomfort about the way her life was I really did find this book ridiculously compelling reading. I do actually mean it when I use the word "ridiculously" too. The humour - her take on life - is simply so dry and funny at times. I have to say that rarely has a funeral been so amusing and sad at the same time for example.

I almost always take notes as I read books that I review however, with this one, I simply go so caught up in the writing the notes became rarer and rarer. The quality of the writing here is very good and used very effectively. The roller coaster that is Eleanor's life plays out for us. At times we are spectators at a car crash, at times we shed tears - sometimes but not always of laughter. Eleanor is a wonderfully envisioned character. The other main character is Raymond who I also thought was very good indeed. The other people who appear in the book do the jobs they need to well. I loved this book and I want to read another one by Gail Honeyman.

Review copy courtesy of Harper Collins - many thanks for the opportunity.

There was a point near the beginning of this book when I was very close to dumping it. Told in the first person, I disliked the voice of Eleanor so much - pretentious language and a superior attitude. But I stuck with it and came to realise that the author has structured it cleverly and, as the reasons for Eleanor being how she is are revealed, so she becomes more sympathetic. That she survived her childhood at all is testament to her resilience but she has spent 20 years of her life suppressing the memories, just surviving day to day, unable to interact with others in any meaningful way. A chance meeting with some rational, unpretentious, kind people who want to be friends is the turning point for her and she starts to respect and like them in return, and so to value and like herself. I was soon willing her to reject her early influences and trust her own judgement, a painful process but I was rooting for her all the way.

Not unremittingly serious, Eleanor’s story is lightened by frequent mild digs at the absurdity of popular culture, fashion and celebrity. Ultimately uplifting, nicely plotted and paced, I’m glad I persevered beyond its first pages and would recommend it.

I really enjoyed this. Eleanor's voice is remarkably well realised and her loneliness is heart renching. This is one of the most affecting books I've read in a long time. There are a couple of issues, the auditory hallucinations (as mentioned elsewhere) could easily be internal conversations whilst retaining the unreliable narration, and Eleanor's autism is never mentioned. This bothers me more, as I'm unsure if the author includes these (difficulty making eye contact, learned social responses, lecturing) as symptoms of her trauma that will now recede which is potentially problematic. Naming the cat Glen is a stroke of genius and there are lots of moments of humour in her otherwise dark world. The lack of "romance" in the traditional sense is one of my favourite things about this book. Eleanor is not "rescued" by love, but by friendship.

Somewhat like a female version of The Rosie Project but with a dark twist, this is a totally absorbing read.

This novel will stay with me for a long, long time. It was beautiful, sad, funny and melted my heart. I do not have enough superlatives for how it made me feel. One line in particular stood out for me "it makes me look shiny". That caught my heartstrings and broke them in two.

The human psyche is so fragile so let's be kind to those who are different.

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Thank you so much to net galley and the publishers for making this book available to me.

This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Gail Honeyman has created the most wonderful character in Eleanor Oliphant and it is a privilege to join Eleanor on her sometimes heartbreaking, but ultimately heart warming journey. There are laugh out loud moments, and moments that had me crying. This is a book that will really make you feel.

Eleanor is socially awkward, but her overly literal judgements seem so reasonable and logically considered, that she caused me to look at things twice. Her lack of social skills are entirely the result of her life to date; the two relationships she has had in her life have been cruel and abusive. We learn about her university boyfriend who was physically abusive and her mother, who speaks to Eleanor once a week, who is emotionally abusive, and manipulative. As the novel progresses, we, and Eleanor who has mentally blocked all memories of what her mother did, learn more about her past and the complete lack of any love and affection in her life. She has learned to be self reliant and closed herself off from other people. Her work colleagues have tried to include her, but she views them through her mothers snobbish and overly critical values. Part of Eleanor's journey is to accept that she can be too judgemental though, and that kindness comes in all shapes and forms. Not only is it lovely to receive kindness, but Eleanor revels in the fact that it gives her as much pleasure to be kind to others.

All of the characters are realistic and considered, even the lead singer of the band that Eleanor obsesses over is brought to life through a small series of tweets.

The friendship between Raymond and Eleanor is beautiful, and I didn't want the book to end.

I cannot wait to see what Ms Honeyman writes about next.

I really wanted to like this book and at first I found the concept of Eleanor Oliphant to be interesting.. The aspects of mental well being are treated with respect and obvious understanding. The main character is a childlike adult but as I read on she became less and less believable and I found the style of writing difficult to get on with. The subject matter isn't used as a plot device but actually portrayed as it would be but I still found it difficult to get on with. Just one of those books which isn't for me I think.

I know it’s only April but I think I’ve probably already found my Book Of The Year in Gail Honeyman’s debut, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
A bold claim? Maybe. One that could come back to haunt me? Possibly. However, I found this unique, funny and touching book spellbinding from start to finish – and given the buzz it’s already generated, I’m not alone.
I first read the blurb for it in January and immediately put it on my reading list, practically jumping for joy when I received an email stating it was available on NetGalley pre-publication.
My anticipation levels were so high that I was almost nervous to start reading - and I’ll admit the unexpectedly authentic voice took me by surprise at first but it turned out to be so SO much better than I was hoping.
Before I gush some more, here’s the blurb that got me so excited:

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?

Just a few pages in and I was hooked. Eleanor’s observations on life are astute, funny and a little bit heartbreaking all at the same time.
Witnessing her gradual transformation, like a bud blooming into a flower, was captivating. The fact that it resulted from just a small amount of kindness warmed my heart.
I was willing her to thrive and the moment I realised she was heading for a fall, I wanted to leap into the pages and save her the pain.
I find it amazing that Gail was able to keep Eleanor’s voice so strong and true throughout and I struggle to believe this masterful book, written with so much confidence, is her debut.
After I had finished it I found myself on a bus looking at the other passengers and wondering how many were just waiting for someone to really see them?
We never know what’s going on with other people from just the outside, there’s no way you can judge even when – probably especially when - someone says they are fine.
Maybe, in real life, happy endings are not as readily available but surely it’s worth taking a chance – especially with something so easy to do.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is not only a wonderful and compelling story, it also has power within its words, power that opened my heart and mind and changed the way I think.
I don’t think you can ask for much more than that.

Format: Kindle.
Price: £4.99.
My rating: All the stars.

Thank you very much to Harper Collins UK for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

The debut novel by Gail Honeyman is wondrous. When I first started to read about Eleanor Oliphant, I was interested but also a little bit bored. It felt like Eleanor was the female version of Don Tilman from 'The Rosie Project'. However as I read on, I was to discover that she was unique, a beautiful individual trying to find her way to survive after an incident that would destroy many. At times, it was a difficult read, due to the sadness that I could feel through Eleanor´s life story but ultimately it was uplifting and I felt like cheering at the end, at how far Eleanor had come.

Oh this book. I loved it so much. It made me laugh and cry in equal measures. I love Eleanor so much. I felt everything she felt.

In parts it was like a warm hug and in others I had to read though my fingers as I was so uncomfortable

I don’t want to give any of the storyline away so I just suggest you read it. Brilliant book.

A stunning debut, rich with humour, observational gems and utter tragedy, which is ultimately uplifting. Loved Eleanor O's unique story, perspective and resilience.

Tough to believe this is a debut novel as it' is so amazingly well done. Tender, touching, and emotional while still hilariously funny in parts. I realize my review sounds cliche but what can I do?

From the first few pages I was hooked and I knew this book was a winner and it had me totally captivated from start to finish.

Honestly I slowed down my reading speed so that this book would last longer, that's how much I loved it. I look forward to more works from Gail Honeyman. I would certainly love to read more about Eleanor.

Absolutely loved this book! I loved Eleanor, she was rude, obnoxious and completely adorable! I laughed and cried at her story. Couldn't recommend this book enough!

'I was getting to quite like my own voice, my own thoughts. I wanted more of them. They made me feel good, calm even. They made me feel like me'

Such a lovely book that made me want to reach into its pages and give Eleanor a hug, then take her drinking and dancing! Honeyman has created a character who has dealt with trauma by retreating into herself but now, at the age of 30, she's increasingly ready to change her life. An inauspicious meeting with the new IT guy at work heralds in a new chapter, though it takes a false start and a set-back before Eleanor really starts to emerge as herself.

There are a few signs of the debut novelist here: <spoiler> that Eleanor, who's worked in an office for 8 years doesn't know the difference between a laptop and a tablet, but knows her way around Twitter and Instagram? That she doesn't know anything about fashion, make-up or styling but knows about a bikini wax?</spoiler> but emotionally this feels spot-on.

One of the clever things that Honeyman pulls off is making us see the world through Eleanor's judgmental eyes at the start, then revealing things to be not quite the way she's perceived them to be <spoiler> such as her work colleagues in the office who aren't as cruel as we first think</spoiler>.

Most of all, though, this is a book which centres on the importance of kindness, on acceptance, on friendship, on the small everyday things that give warmth to our world. So a book which made me laugh and cry a bit, and which made me want to hug everyone I know!