The Authenticity Project

A Novel

By: Clare Pooley

Narrated by: Anna Cordell

A New York Times bestseller

A WASHINGTON POST “FEEL-GOOD BOOK guaranteed to lift your spirits”

“A warm, charming tale about the rewards of revealing oneself, warts and all.”
—People

The story of a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected friendship, and even love

Clare Pooley's next book, Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting, is forthcoming

Julian Jessop, an eccentric, lonely artist and septuagenarian believes that most people aren't really honest with each other. But what if they were? And so he writes—in a plain, green journal—the truth about his own life and leaves it in his local café. It's run by the incredibly tidy and efficient Monica, who furtively adds her own entry and leaves the book in the wine bar across the street. Before long, the others who find the green notebook add the truths about their own deepest selves—and soon find each other In Real Life at Monica's Café.

The Authenticity Project's cast of characters—including Hazard, the charming addict who makes a vow to get sober; Alice, the fabulous mommy Instagrammer whose real life is a lot less perfect than it looks online; and their other new friends—is by turns quirky and funny, heartbreakingly sad and painfully true-to-life. It's a story about being brave and putting your real self forward—and finding out that it's not as scary as it seems. In fact, it looks a lot like happiness.

The Authenticity Project is just the tonic for our times that readers are clamoring for—and one they will take to their hearts and read with unabashed pleasure.

Just plain enjoyable

A cute story about people. It took me away from the monotony of day to day and reminded me of the basic need for human to human interaction.

accents were a miss but overall story was great

I liked the concept of the book and liked the growth of the characters because they decided to show reveal the depths of their characters.

but i had to really move past some of the bad accents. Riley, and Aussie, was the worst interpretation I've ever heard. I'm Aussie so maybe it was more obvious to me, but it was physically painful to hear. Benji who was meant to be Scottish ....wasn't. sometimes i feel like it's best to just not do the accents because it takes away from a story unless you're really good

Great story and delightful listen

The reading of this story by the voice actress was very well done. There are many unique voices and she managed to keep the characters separate and printed by accent and tone.

The story itself is a delightful
tale of humanity, community, friendship, and love.

If you enjoy a good happy ending story you will love The Authenticity Project.

lovely

well imagined characters. I wanted some of them to be my friend. yes, I recommend.

Vignettes of People Finding Their True Selves

The story was a little contrived to bring all the characters together. Otherwise, it's entertaining to get to know them like new friends. Each chapter switches to the perspective of another character. Slowly, the vignettes of what each character is feeling, thinking, and experiencing unfold.