Loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Looking for similar books.

I just finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and honestly, I didn’t want it to end.

I read it in a couple of days (on weekdays, no less), and I was surprised by how deeply I connected with Eleanor as a character. I came on Reddit thinking I’d find people who felt the same way. Instead, I was pretty shocked to see how many people disliked her or found her too rude or strange.

Having lived in the UK for quite some time now, I can kind of see why people might read her that way. But I also feel like a lot of that comes down to cultural tone. People here can be very particular about things, quite straightforward and blunt in conversation, and they often like things done a certain way, but that doesn’t mean they’re unkind. Most people mean well.

What really stood out to me, though, was how Eleanor processes trauma. Not everyone understands that part. The way trauma shapes someone is deeply subjective. Some people build masks just to get through life, and after a while they almost forget who they were before the hurt. That’s why, having gone through several traumatic experiences myself, I found her relatable.

You can argue that the recovery in the book felt rushed. I’d agree with that to some extent. But you can’t say she wouldn’t struggle again. You can’t say she wouldn’t relapse after going through her file and confronting everything she’s been through. What matters is that she chose to take control of her life and face it. That decision took strength, and I really admired that about her.

For those of you who also loved Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, are there any books with a similar emotional depth or character journey that you’d recommend?