7 Uplifting Books Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh and cry, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is definitely the one for you. This quirky novel tells the story of Eleanor, who has always been a bit different from everyone else. However, through her journey we come to understand her better and appreciate all that she is. So, what the heck are you waiting for? Here’s a list of books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Warm & Fuzzy Books Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Eggshells by Catriona Lally
Similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Eggshells by Catriona Lally digs deep into the theme of overcoming one’s personal boundaries by reaching out for answers and figuring out where they belong. Our main protagonist Vivian is a young, unemployed, and rather odd woman. Living in her great aunt’s house alone, which was bestowed to Vivian after her passing.
Vivian’s mannerism is that of someone who takes anything in an extremely literal way, causing discomfort to anyone who is caught in conversation with her. Although she enjoys being alone, a sudden feeling is swept in her to make a friend, a very specific friend to be exact. Her name must be Penelope, which leads Vivian to create poster ads for her ideal and odd standards.
This is only one of the many oddities of Vivian. She believes she does not belong in the world, and makes an effort to calculate every action in her life to find some pattern that will lead her to a portal that will redeem Vivians wish of being in a place where she belongs.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A Man Called Ove written by Fredrik Backman is another heart warming story similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Fine. A story about a 59-year-old man named Ove who is known for his harsh and grumpy personality. Although he is stern and not easy to get along with, Ove was not always this bitter man.
The reasons for his ill-tempered personality is fleshed out when a young couple and their two kids move in next door. Typically pessimistic to younger couples, Ove is caught interacting with the couple when a small accident in which the husband of the family hit his mailbox while backing his truck.
An unpleasant beginning, Ove is brought back into a space of vulnerability when this couple and their young children bring out the better parts of themselves while also unearthing his unfortunate past that has led him to this life of solitude.
The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman is a great light hearted novel about a girl’s simple life being turned upside down. Similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Nina must force herself out of her cushy and routine life of a simple bookseller when she suddenly finds out that she in fact, was not an only child.
A part of her life that Nina was told and never questioned her single mother about. Unbeknownst to Nina, her absent father had many children after abandoning her family, which was not known to Nina, till he suddenly passed away. Nina is now faced with having to come out of her routine and introverted lifestyle to meet all who live close by and interact with these strangers who she now has to call family.
More Uplifting Books Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
The Rosie Project is a beautiful novel written by Graeme Simsion about a strict and straight forward man named Don. As a 39-year-old man that has never had any experience with a successful relationship, wakes up one day to realize he now wants a wife, and takes the steps he deems necessary to get that done and calls it, the “wife project”.
Those steps involve a 16 page questionnaire that he will use in order to weed out any unqualified woman from the start. Rosie, a graduate student in psychology is then introduced to Don as he mistakes her for a qualified candidate. As their agreement to date one another, Don also agrees to help Rosie find her biological father in order to keep their relationship interesting.
Throughout their adventures, they begin to feel things for one another that are unexplainable, yet they both deny their intimacy with one another till they are faced with the reality of the situation. An amazing novel that is a great read if you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple begins with Bee Branch, an intellectually gifted 13-year-old who wants nothing more for her birthday than to take a cruise to Antarctica. Bee’s father, Elgin, is a successful and respected software developer at Microsoft and her mother, Bernadette, is a well known architect who abandoned her work for reasons unknown.
The idea of a trip to the Antarctic boils her skin, as she is not one for leaving her house. Regardless, They agree with her choice. Sometime before the trip Bee’s mother Bernadette goes missing before the big trip and Bee takes it upon herself to find her mother refusing to believe in the worst case scenario.
With the help of her father, Bee and Elgin go on the hunt for their missing family. An amazing book to follow up with right after indulging yourself in Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
The Lido by Libby Page
The Lido by Libby Page is a heartfelt novel involving the main protagonist, Katie, an introverted 26-year-old who gets by as a small town news reporter. Her latest story is one about an outdoor recreational Lido swimming pool closure. Questioning locals about its closure, Katie is acquainted with 86-year-old Rosemary. Rosemary has been visiting the Lido everyday since it was built as a child and created great memories there, the most important being that of falling in love with her now deceased husband. This leads Katie becoming invested in saving the Lido with everything she has, while getting closer with Rosemary in the process. As their relationship begins to bloom, as do themselves as individuals.
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell is a coming of age story for the lost young adults in their early 20s. An amazing novel for readers who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Lincoln is from college and his interesting career path has led him to the responsibility of monitoring work emails sent between co-workers to keep a professional work setting.
Our protagonist is placed in an interesting predicament when he becomes invested with a chain of emails, and incidentally begins to fall for Beth Fremont, the resident movie critic, and the sender of emails Lincoln has been tasked to monitor. With these feelings arising, Lincoln is confused on how he should approach the situation and is left with romantic confusion.
This is a great novel if you’re on the hunt for books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
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Did you like this book recommendation list and want more? Well, did you know this is an ongoing series on The Novel Thief? Shocking, right.
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Which one of these books will you be picking up at your next bookstore run? Because Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but you won’t be after reading one of these incredibly well-written novels.
P.S I did laugh when writing that last line.
