Setting

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is set in contemporary Glasgow, Scotland. The story unfolds in the present day, reflecting modern urban life with its social challenges and technological interconnectedness. Glasgow, a vibrant post-industrial city, serves as the backdrop for Eleanor's journey from isolation to connection.

While the novel primarily takes place in Glasgow's urban environment, it also explores the internal landscape of Eleanor's mind. Her small flat, where she spends most of her time alone, becomes a significant setting that mirrors her emotional state. The office where Eleanor works as a finance clerk is another key location, serving as the stage for her interactions with colleagues and her budding friendship with Raymond.

The city's pubs, restaurants, and concert venues play important roles as Eleanor begins to venture out of her comfort zone. These public spaces contrast sharply with the private, controlled environment of her home, highlighting her gradual integration into society. Additionally, the counselor's office becomes a crucial setting for Eleanor's psychological journey, representing her steps towards healing and self-discovery.

Characters

• Eleanor Oliphant: The protagonist and narrator. A socially awkward 29-year-old finance clerk who leads an isolated life. Eleanor struggles with appropriate social skills and has a traumatic past. She undergoes a transformative journey throughout the novel, learning to open up and connect with others.

• Raymond Gibbons: An IT worker at Eleanor's office who becomes her friend. Kind and socially adept, Raymond helps Eleanor emerge from her isolation. He plays a crucial role in Eleanor's emotional growth and recovery.

• Sammy Thom: An elderly man whom Eleanor and Raymond help after he collapses on the street. Sammy's gratitude and warmth contribute to Eleanor's social development.

• Eleanor's Mother: A manipulative and abusive figure who exists mainly in Eleanor's imagination. Her weekly phone calls to Eleanor are revealed to be hallucinations. Eleanor's mother was responsible for a traumatic incident in Eleanor's childhood.

• Johnnie Lomond: A local musician on whom Eleanor develops an unrealistic crush. Eleanor's idealization and subsequent disillusionment with Johnnie serve as catalysts for her personal growth.

• Bob: Eleanor's boss at the graphic design company. He shows concern for Eleanor's well-being when she misses work unexpectedly.

• Laura: Eleanor's counselor, who helps her work through her traumatic past and current mental health issues.

Quick facts

• Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is Gail Honeyman's debut novel, published in 2017.

• Honeyman wrote the book while working full-time, often writing during her commute to work.

• Honeyman got the idea for the story after reading a newspaper article about loneliness in young people. 

• Eleanor Oliphant's character was partially inspired by Honeyman's own experiences of loneliness in her twenties.

• Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine won the Costa Debut Novel Award in 2017.

• Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine has been translated into over 40 languages.

• The audiobook version, narrated by Cathleen McCarron, won the 2018 US Audie Award for Fiction.

• The novel was selected for Reese Witherspoon's Book Club.

• Film rights were optioned by Reese Witherspoon's production company, Hello Sunshine.

• The book is credited with popularizing the “up lit” genre of uplifting literature.

About the Author

Gail Honeyman is a Scottish novelist. She rose to literary fame with her 2017 debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Garnering critical acclaim for its blend of humor and heartbreak, the novel was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and won the Costa Debut Novel Award. Chosen as a selection of Reese Witherspoon's Book Club, it became an international bestseller.        

Born in 1972, Honeyman studied French literature at the University of Glasgow and Oxford. After earning her degree, she opted for a career in academia outside the classroom, preferring various “backroom jobs.” While working full-time as a university administrator, she pursued her passion for writing through a Faber Academy course. After reading a newspaper article about loneliness among young people, she got the idea for a story about a woman struggling with loneliness—a universal experience, and something she understood personally—and childhood trauma. She began writing the novel that became Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine on her daily commute to work.

As of 2024, readers are eagerly awaiting Honeyman's second novel. While details remain scarce, the author has hinted that it will be set in a different period and location from her debut.