What an interesting book about authenticity, addiction, relationships and perception. Just when I thought I knew where Clare Pooley was taking her characters and readers, I was surprised by the turns we took. I love when fiction raises important, real-life questions. A memorable and thoughtful read.

Monica finds a notebook sitting on a table in her coffee shop. It was left there by Julian, an elderly artist who is overcome with loneliness. The notebook is the beginning of Julian's "Authenticity Project." He feels that we are not honest with ourselves and our neighbors about who we really are. His is the first entry in the notebook, where he writes of his loneliness and heartbreak. Monica adds her own entry to the notebook, and leaves it for the next person to find. She also reaches out to Julian. She offers him a purpose, and then friendship. Relationships continue to form as the Authenticity Project gets passed around, from Hazard, to Riley, to Alice, and on, eventually finding its way back to Julian.

When I began this book, I was considering the recent trend in fiction where a couple or group of people are brought together through an object or other odd circumstances. This is definitely a "feel-good" book about life, relationships, friendship, and how we all try to hide the ugly truths of our lives from ourselves and from others. I do believe that it transcended this narrow description, though. This book was about real life and how we all hide inside our own lives. The characters in this book choose the harder road of connecting with other people. I found it inspirational and moving to watch this group of strangers form connections and help each other. The characters feel real and are not always likeable. The Authenticity Projects urges us to live our authentic lives, no matter how difficult that may be. I highly recommend this book for book clubs.

I really liked this book! If it was summer, I would say a beach read Since it is winter, a snow day read! I thought the characters were likable and funny. The cover appealed to me and I would read this author again!

Charming book filled with charming characters. The premise of authenticity is a powerful theme for such an easy-to-read novel. The author wields this mighty sword as one might wave a feather. The narratives flow easily, bouncing from character to character. The use of various appealing settings and nostalgic music will appeal to the book club set.

What a delight! This book instantly pulled me in and had me routing for each of the characters throughout, even Hazard, who was initially a little more difficult to love. Each new letter added a new character and a new level of involvement. I anxiously waited to see how the puzzle pieces would add together. I have to say that I never saw the last piece until it popped into place. How, wonderful!

Really enjoyed this story - great characters that you fell like you have met before. The idea of a notebook tying them all together and seeing where it goes is great. I loved that it didn't end how I thought it would.
Each character had a story that I could relate to and found to be engaging. I also loved that a coffee shop sort of held them all together as well.

I really liked this book and could hardly put it down. The main characters — Julian, Monica, Hazard, Riley and Alice — all present themselves in one way, but through the Authenticity book reveal themselves to be more insecure, more eager to change, and ultimately more interesting even to each other. For much of the book, the story is pleasant without a lot of drama. It could have stayed that way with happy endings for everyone. Toward the end the book showed us that not everyone was telling the truth about who they were, even in the Authenticity book. Midway through the book I thought it would appeal to readers of The School of Essential Ingredients because it involved the stories about people who just end up together. By the end, I felt I could give it to readers of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It will be an easy book to hand-sell to people who want something heartwarming without being sappy.

I found this debut to be very thought provoking. The author took a very different approach to telling her story which I found very intriguing. The main character, an octogenarian, begins to tell his life story in a notebook that he leaves at a cafe for someone to find, read, and continue the process he began. The notebook takes a journey and unites the people in the book while helping them navigate life’s ups and downs. The author does a great job flushing out her cast of characters and making you feel for each one. Well done! #TheAuthenticityProject #ClarePooley #NetGalley

A fun, quick read that is deceptively deep. It asks you to look at your choices and those who are close to you. It spurred me on to reconnect with old friends.

I adored Pooley's novel! She included several surprises and twists and turns. Very thought provoking. Highly recommended!

I really like this title, with... reservations. The characters are fleshed out and fun, despite a full almost ensemble-like cast. I enjoyed reading each character's perspective and felt the story flowed well as we focused on each new character in The Authenticity Project, also the name of a book that ends up in the lives of several very different people, urging them to write their truth. I felt satisfied as each person found the book, reflected on their lives and found the courage to be honest with themselves and seek out what they want or have been hiding from. And while some may disagree with the end, I thought it was a satisfying conclusion that the book carried on outside of the hands of the people who first wrote in it.

It's just the romance felt a little lackluster. I feel as though the couple that ends up together did not have enough chemistry or like I skipped a chapter, even with all the hinting leading up to it. It felt like everything got tied in a pat HFN without exploring a few loose ends, especially given the way one character's chapter ended. That made it kind of hard to root for them in the end, which makes me wonder if there was more that was suppose to get written that got cut at some point or if there's an intended sequel.

Die hard romance readers who need the HEA or HFN to be focus of the novel may come away a bit disappointed, but it's a solid piece of character drive fiction that many will enjoy.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Five stars are not enough for this book....it was FANTASTIC!! What started out as a simple notebook with the truth about a lonely man brought together a cast of characters you will love and not soon forget!! A true winner for new books in 2020!!

Excellent read that kept me hooked until the end! Great friendships, strong characters, some romance, interesting settings, all the things I love about reading! It especially fits today's world where it is so easy to not be authentic in our social interactions and on social media. How would your life change if we were truly authentic with each other in all our relationships?

The Authenticity Project is a quick, light read, but it misses the mark on character development. Rather than allowing the reader to get to know the characters through their actions, the author uses long paragraphs describing their thoughts. Often, it did not sound genuine. The treatment of Hazard's addiction and his road to sobriety was superficial and unrealistic, although the twist at the end was a welcome surprise.

I loved this book. It is certainly a feel good story with a message that we should all take to heart. Be true to yourself and open to others" ideas and feeling. The premise about a notebook bringing people together is unique and heartwarming. The cast of characters are wonderful and how lucky they found each other. I can't wait to see more from this author.

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Julian is an eccentric but self-involved elderly artists. Monica is a slightly neurotic (a la Monica from Friends) but caring coffee shop owner and former lawyer. Hazard is a charming addict. Riley, a happy-go-lucky Australian gardener, and Alice, a new mom who is obsessed with creating a perfect life on Instagram.

This book was heart-warming. It made me want to be a better person. I wanted to be friends with this cast of characters and attend their art classes and group dinners.

This book would make an adorable movie (it reminded me of one of those big-cast-intertwined-story-films like 'Valentine's Day' or 'New Year's Eve').

This was an utterly charming book revolving around the lives of five people living in London: Julien, an older artist who lost his wife, Monica, a cafe owner, Hazard, an addict, Allison, a new mom and Instagram influencer, and Riley, a visitor from Australia.

The book begins as Julien writes frankly about his loneliness and leaves the book at the cafe for Monica to find and continue. Soon all the characters are coming together in interesting and fun ways.

The writing is easy to read and the story easily sucks you in. The book is charming with a lot of heart.

Thanks to NetGalley.com, the author, and publisher for my ARC.

This book is a must read, a true feel good story about a group of people who find each other. Julian starts writing in a notebook he titles, The Authenticity Project, in which he asks questions such as who really knows their neighbors, or the truth about people around them? Telling his own story, he leaves the notebook to be written in, and it is after Monica finds it in her cafe. Writing her true feelings, the book continues on as more characters are added, and they end up forming a circle of friends to offset their loneliness. It’s a lovely story, original and well written. I highly recommend this one and thank Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a very fun and entertaining novel! Relatable and touching, this book is great and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Dear Hollywood: I think this one would make a great movie, so get on that please!

1. Amazingly crafted, colorful, relatable characters with of-the-moment problems.
2. Cinematic filming locations with strong visuals: London, Thailand, maybe a bit of Australia
3. Romance, love, longing . . . relationships of all kinds!
4. A strong message about what it means to be real; this is a message WE NEED TO HEAR.
5. Full spectrum of human emotion from multigenerational points of view
6. Offers insight into the WHY of people's actions
7. Makes you want to be a better person
8. Reminds us to connect with others - to do the things that make an impact in the life of another.
9. Uplifting in an age when there's much to complain about
10. We need each other. Doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. Be a part of it.