I mean what an incredible book. I loved it so much. I laughed, I cried. It kind of made me sad how much I can relate to Eleanor.

I loved the warm friendship between Raymond and Eleanor. I really liked Sammy and his storyline.

I loved the writing style.

I have no words; it’s brilliant. I’m so glad I read it. Please can anyone recommend me something similar? Thank you all!

  • Active-Upstairs-2478@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I really loved this book. It’s such a good depiction of what living with loneliness and low level depression can look like - but also what life can look like as someone who is just a little “different” than mainstream. I love these characters. A Man Called Ove, Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, maybe even The Helpline. Similar vibes.

  • invisiblette@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Found it in a “little library” and brought it along on a trip to read. Random, but turned out to be a great choice. I felt really engaged, intrigued and impressed.

  • Crankyfrankly@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I’m a librarian and I tell people about this book all the time. It TRULY captures what depression is like.

  • pinktopprincess@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    OMG!!! I remember reading this in winter last year while sitting on a park bench behind my apartment in Tokyo. It was 10 PM, snowing a little bit and felt magical <3

  • PurpleDreamer28@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent is similar, but with a suspense/thriller aspect.

    And then there’s She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, which is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

  • JoEvansRob@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I loved it too! Another in the same vein is The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman. Delightful book!

  • MerakDubhe@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    It’s absolutely beautiful. In my opinion quite realistic. Good plot twist, and in general very heart warming. I wish I could recommend you something, but there’s nothing like it. I loved Autumn, by Ali Smith, though. You can give it a try.

    I think the book made a lot of damage to the author, though. After Eleanor’s success, she got a contract for her second novel yet to be published. It’s been six years, and it seems like it’ll be released in 2025… I have the impression that she feels pressured to write a book as successful as her first.

    • Bean_Juice_Brew@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      A free copy showed up in my mailbox, no idea why. I was skeptical of it because of this. Maybe I’ll pick it up

  • theunspokenwords__@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I felt the exact same way! It’s such a charming little novel, and I found myself relating to Eleanor a little too hard 😅

  • AgentBrittany@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    That’s one of my favorite books. Books don’t normally make me cry, but that one does me in every time.