Relationship Fiction Annotation: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Title: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Genre: Relationship Fiction
Publication Date: 2018 for the large print version I read, 2017 for regular print
Number of Pages: 519 in the large print version I read, 327 in regular print
Geographical Setting: Glasgow, Scotland
Time Period: Present day

Series: N/A

Plot Summary: Eleanor Oliphant lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and she has a strict routine that she has built for herself, including full work weeks, vodka on the weekends, and calls with her mom (Mummy). As she goes about her routine, Eleanor meets Raymond, who works at the same company as her. Raymond helps Eleanor confront her past as they go through daily life together, which includes rescuing a stranger (Sammy) and changing routines.

Subject Headings:    Glasgow, Scotland -- Fiction

                                    Mental health -- Fiction

                                    Friendship -- Fiction

Relationship Fiction Appeals:
Intimate Glimpse: According to Wyatt and Saricks, relationship fiction can "provide an intimate glimpse into the lives of the protagonists and exert an emotional pull," and Eleanor Oliphant's life is greatly detailed in this book (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 195).
Difficult Situation: Wyatt and Saricks mention that "story lines reflect social issues and difficult situations," and Eleanor definitely has a difficult situation at the core of her behavior (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 195).
Unhurried Pacing: Readers get a chance to settle into spending time with Eleanor throughout the novel (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 195).

Three terms that best describe this book: Comforting, charming, introspective

Three Relevant Non-Fiction Works
1. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Winfrey, O., & Perry, B. D. (2021). What happened to you?: Conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing. Flatiron Books.

Eleanor has a great deal of trauma at the root of her behaviors, and she eventually goes to see a counselor to get help. This book delves further into trauma and could be of interest to readers as a result.

2. It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn

Wolynn, M. (2017). It didn't start with you: How inherited family trauma shapes who we are and how to end the cycle. Penguin Publishing Group.

As the novel progresses, it becomes apparent that Eleanor is dealing with guilt and shame that her mom has handed her. Readers who want to know more about that kind of trauma may be interested in this book.

3. Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by B. J. Fogg, PhD

Fogg, B. J. (2020). Tiny habits: The small changes that change everything. Harvest.

Eleanor starts to make changes in her life with Raymond's help. For readers who want to know how to make their own changes in life, this book could be useful.

Three Relevant Fiction Works
1. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Ware, R. (2019). The turn of the key. Gallery/Scout Press.

Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Ruth Ware's The Turn of the Key is also set in Scotland for readers who enjoy that setting.

2. How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper
Roper, R. (2019). How not to die alone. G. P. Putnam's Sons.

How Not to Die Alone's Andrew also has a similar lifestyle to Eleanor, so if readers want to have similar characters in their next read, this would be a good choice.

3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Flynn, G. (2006). Sharp objects. Crown.

In Sharp Objects, the main character has to come to terms with her past and her childhood, much like Eleanor does.

References
Honeyman, G. (2018). Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Thorndike Press.

Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd edition). ALA Editions.