Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

More Information & Critical Reviews

Gail Honeyman is a Scottish writer whose debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, won the 2017 Costa First Novel Award. She was born and raised in Stirling in central Scotland and was a voracious reader in her childhood, visiting the library “a ridiculous number of times a week”. While working as an administrator at Glasgow University, Honeyman enrolled in a Faber Academy writing course, submitting the first three chapters of what would become Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine to a competition for unpublished fiction by female writers.

The novel, published in 2017, went on to earn numerous awards and wide critical acclaim. It has subsequently sold to almost thirty territories worldwide, and it was chosen as one of the Observer’s Debuts of the Year for 2017. Gail was also awarded the Scottish Book Trust’s Next Chapter Award in 2014, and has been longlisted for BBC Radio 4’s Opening Lines and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize.

A truly original literary creation: funny, touching and unpredictable. Her journey out of the shadows is expertly woven and absolutely gripping’ Jojo Moyes

‘Original [and] unexpectedly funny’ Sunday Times

‘As perceptive and wise as it is funny and endearing… Warm, funny and thought-provoking’ Observer

‘A narrative full of quiet warmth and deep and unspoken sadness… Wonderful and joyful’ Jenny Colgan, GUARDIAN

‘Unforgettable, brilliant, funny and life-affirming’ Wendy Holden, Daily Mail

‘I adored it. Skilled, perceptive, Eleanor’s world will feel familiar to you from the very first page. An outstanding debut!’ Joanna Cannon

‘Hugely original, a funny and sad tale of a survivor who tackles the challenges of emotional reconnection with grave courage. Unmissable.’ Sunday Express

‘A truly original voice and so good on loneliness: I sobbed and sobbed’ Cathy Rentzenbrink

‘An outstanding debut about loneliness and the power of a little kindness’ Mail on Sunday

‘So powerful – I completely loved Eleanor Oliphant’ Fiona Barton

‘An absolute joy, laugh-out-loud funny but deeply moving’ Daily Express

‘Heartbreaking’ Bryony Gordon

‘Deft, compassionate and moving’ Paula McLain

‘Heartwrenching and wonderful’ Nina Stibbe

‘Heartbreaking and heartwarming’ Stylist

‘Brave, smart and funny… the most refreshing and heartwarming debut I’ve read in some time’ Yorkshire Post

‘Moving, funny and devastating’ The Herald

‘Quirky, witty and absorbing’ Heat

‘Warm and funny, moving and deeply original, Eleanor Oliphant is completely marvellous’ Gavin Extence

‘A beautiful and delicate balance between funny and heartbreaking… restores your faith in humanity’ Red

‘You’ll laugh and cry reading this fine debut’ Prima

‘Impeccable’ Dawn O’Porter

‘Delightful, dark and moving’ Sarah Pinborough

‘Warm, quirky and fun, with a real poignancy underneath’ Julie Cohen

‘A stunning debut! I laughed, wept and reflected’ Lucy Clarke

‘Satisfyingly quirky’ New York Times