(4 / 5)Short listed as one of the Goodreads Best Contemporary Fiction of 2017, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was a real treasure to find and read. I don’t typically gravitate toward contemporary fiction (something you’ll see me say from time to time on this blog) and so it always surprises me when I find one that I really enjoy. I’m glad I’m able to start 2018 on the right foot as far as contemporary fiction goes. I’m trying to change my way of thinking, but I feel like I’m not going to find a lot of (or too much!) substance from contemporary fiction. Or maybe it’s because I so rarely find I protagonist in contemp fic that I really love. So much of what I’ve read is fluff good for an airplane ride or beach day (and sometimes I need that) or dense literary battle cries, but Eleanor Oliphant was neither of these and definitely not what I expected. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has heart, grit, integrity, humor, and kicked me in the stomach a couple times before I got done with it. Needless to say it was an unexpected surprise and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I will admit to almost abandoning it in the first 50 pages; it didn’t start out very strong but I’m so glad I went with my gut and pushed through. I would have missed out on a very enjoyable read and a wonderful journey about a quirky girl who’s been dealt a hard hand and who’s just trying to figure life out. The romance in this book takes a backseat to Eleanor’s journey of self-discovery and self love, and I thought it was much more beautiful and compelling then had it merely been the piece of chic lit I thought I was picking up. The end even had a piece that I did not see coming at all and I love it when that happens.
I will say many other reviewer’s have touted this as a very humorous and Laugh-out-loud kind of book. It wasn’t that way for me but I could see how many people would find it so. I did smile many times and maybe it’s because I’m not British but the humor wasn’t fall-on-your-face funny like I was expecting.
As long as you don’t mind a moderate amount of swearing this is a book that needs to be on your To-Read list.
Violence: Low Language: Medium/High Adult Content: Medium/High