The Book Report #89

Episode #88

The Book Club Edition #3

I joined a book club, and this was the book that was chosen to read for November 2025

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

By Gail Honeyman

The Book

2017 was the year this book was published. HarperCollins Publishers was the company that released it to the public.

My copy is an ebook; it has 327 pages, with Acknowledgements.

What Did I Think

This book is narrated from Eleanor’s viewpoint. Eleanor has had a rough life. She was in a fire when she was young. She has a scar on her face and has been in and out of several foster families. Her Mummy and ex-boyfriend both abused her mentally and physically. And is still abused by her Mummy.

She is well educated and speaks her mind. I think she may have some spectrum of autism. And has spent most of her time, while not working, as a recluse, where she would spend her weekends knocked out on Vodka to escape her problems and the voices. That was until she saw someone at a concert and fell for one of the band members, insisting that she would have him for her own.

The Change and Plot

This transforms her and brings her out of herself, where she starts to take care of her appearance more and begins talking to others, including Raymond. The tech guy. However, they continue their relationship; it is a relaxed and friendly one. They help each other navigate the outside world, and Raymond helps her deal with social etiquette. She also finds his dress sense and eating habits less than desirable.

This in itself makes for a nice story, learning how one person who has had the world dump on them copes with life. Slowly recaliming themselves under the delusion that she has any chance with a person she hasn’t met. However, the progress she has made is brilliant, but she still has a very long way to go. While reading, I wondered what happened to her Mummy? Is she still alive? Is she real or a figment of her imagination? I found out, and it is what I thought it was.

And then it happens: a realisation, and a rock bottom that hits hard, leading to her nearly dying from alcohol, and she doesn’t care anymore. After some time, Raymond finds her and helps sort Eleanor out. Leading to her finding help.

In Theory

I did wonder who this book was for. And I am also wondering if Mrs Honeyman was the only person who wrote this book, as the tone of the writing changes or if I am seeing the bouts of depression that lifts now and again during the story. I don’t know. In theory, this is a good story, but for some reason, it is a bit flat.

In the end, I did like the book, but it didn’t make a lasting impression. Except being something meh! However, I did like the slow progression of Eleanor and Raymond, even if Eleanor still doesn’t understand what is happening at the end. And the relationship hadn’t evolved enough to be complete by the end of the book.

Would I Recommend

This is a tricky one, well, maybe not. Do you like drama with a traumatised woman who lives her life without realising she is suffering, and the suffering she causes herself is completely normal to her? And also the delusion of a crush that in reality will never happen. Then this is a recommendation for you.

Please give this book a go.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes & Noble or eBay UK/USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.