Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the winner of the Costa First Novel Award.
Described as ‘striking a cord’ and ‘making waves’ by Wendy Holden, author and Chair of the Costa judges, and ‘a lovely book about that very modern issue of loneliness’ by Stig Abell, the presenter of Front Row, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine can now add this prestigious award to its collection of accolades and successes, and we could not be more delighted for Gail Honeyman.
As you may have read in our previous posts, Gail and Eleanor had the most phenomenal 2017. The book was one of the biggest selling hardbacks of the year, and was selected as the WHSmith Book of 2017. It spent 12 weeks in the Sunday Times Top 10, as well as being No. 1 in Ireland and its brilliant serialisation has just finished airing on Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime.
The book has been capturing the hearts of readers around the world, among them Reese Witherspoon, who loved the book so much she optioned it for film and plans to star as the lead role.
So 2018 had a lot to live up to considering the journey so far, but my word has it delivered! This prize is a hugely deserved success for a book about a woman acquainting herself with the world, after the walls she built around herself are breached following a single act of kindness.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine was one of four shortlisted debuts. The other contenders were The Haunting of Henry Twist by Rebecca F. John (Serpent’s Tail), Montpelier Parade by Karl Geary (Harvill Secker), and The Clocks in This House All Tell Different Times by Xan Brooks (Salt)
Along with the winners of the other categories, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will now be put forward for the Costa Book of the Year, announced on Tuesday 30th January.
Once again, huge congratulations to Gail Honeyman for this brilliant achievement – we are so proud of you and your work!
Gail Honeyman will be appearing on Front Row (BBC Radio 4) on Monday 7th January to discuss Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
