This was such a cute story about what happens when a group of people come together and share their stories. It's a bit like a sisterhood of the travelling pants as a simple green notebook gets passed from person to person, and each write a section about themselves. What they discover is that while nobody is perfect and they all feel lonely, they also discover that they are all connected.

At the start of the book I was a bit confused when it switched from one character to the next. After I got used to that and was able to build an idea of each character from the authors descriptions, I was able to follow along more easily. Although I found the end of the story to be sad, it did fit with the story. I would love there to be a sequel

Wow this book really reminded me of a mixture of “Jane Austen’s book club” and “the guernsey potato peel pie society” mixed together. I like reading from everyone’s perspectives and how it all came together. I thought there was some drama added in that could’ve easily been avoided through conversation but I’m glad everything worked out. Also that ending though!!!

Thi ook was adorable, I loved the whole concept of being more authentic and writing thoughts into a journal, Meeting Julian was really endearing and I enjoyed how he was able to have a new outlook on his life by opening-up. I loved how the characters wrote in the book and eventually their lives intersected, Monica was also a lovely character, I loved her perspective.

I received this as an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

DNF @23%
2020; Viking/Penguin Random House Canada

The Authenticity Project is such a cool premise, but I just could not get into the novel. I had just read another quirky contemporary novel so maybe it was too similar, but not as engaging. The novel has been compared to the movie Love Actually. It basically has interconnecting stories of people picking up a notebook entitled "The Authenticity Project". In being more authentic and honest, how will life change. I'm sure it's all for the better and is a great beach read. The Authenticity Project is quite popular on book sites so give some star reviews a shot to see if this should be your next read.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

A well written read that allowed one to ponder what you would right about the truths about yourself in a book where others had already done so. And you had to pass it along. A great book to read during this pandemic time and about how friendships can come from the most unusual places when you open your eyes and heart.

If you had the opportunity to be 100% completely honest, putting your story out into the world and not knowing where it would end up, would you? Pensioner Julian is a lonely soul, who one day decides to ask the question about being honest and authentic. He decides to start a project by writing some questions in a book and leaving it for someone to find. He asks the reader of the book to think about what would happen if instead of lying about something in your life, you told the truth, instead?

Thus begins the journey of The Authenticity Project. As the notebook travels from person to person, each new individual has the option to tell a part of their own story. This is a book about first impressions, about loneliness, and friendship, about losing yourself and finding yourself in a totally new place. Clare Pooley does an amazing job of developing the characters, making them feel like someone you already know, and letting the readers see themselves in the book as well.

I absolutely loved The Authenticity Project. It was a light, easy read that absolutely drew me into the story and characters from the first chapter. Sometimes books that are written from the viewpoint of several different characters can be hard to follow, but this one was written in a way that made it feel more like a movie.


This book is exactly what the world needs right now. It is fun, and serious, and will make you think about the what ifs. Who knows? It may even inspire you to start your own Authenticity Project.

In an era where outward appearances have significant value and live our lives out on social media platforms, what would be your truth? What would be your authentic self and would you have the strength to accept it and live by it?

When Julian, a 75 year old artist writes about his loneliness in a green notebook and then leaves it in Monica’s café he inadvertently sets into motion a chain of events that will bring together a group of strangers, bound together by their desire to find their truth, their authentic self.

A wonderfully sweet, uplifting and charming read with definite Sophie Kinsella vibes. The characters are quirky and relatable and you can’t help but root for them and their journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for providing an advanced digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Contemporary New Adult | Adult
When Monica discovers a green notebook in her London cafe, titled The Authenticity Project, she opens it to discover it’s a kind of diary. The first entry is by Julian Jessop, an aging artist who writes it’s time to tell his truth. “Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead? The one thing that defines you, that makes everything else about you fall into place?” Julian starts it off by writing his own truth, his shameful story, of how badly he treated his wife. It’s a story of regret, and Monica is fascinated. It ends after a few pages, and the rest is blank. Waiting for the next story. After giving it some thought, Monica writes her own truth, her desperate longing for a family of her own, a hope that is fading as time marches on. On an impulse she pops the book into a stranger’s pocket – a stranger whose own messed-up life needs close scrutiny.
The book travels from person to person, each of them reading the stories of those who come before, and adding their own truth. The book travels around the world but makes its way back to London. Monica’s cafe ends up being a kind of homing beacon for the storytellers, serving to gather the threads into a beautifully written story of love, loss, longing, friendship, hope, and peace. The characters are beautifully drawn – filled with good intentions gone awry. It’s heartwarming, funny, touching, and tragic. The perfect solution for those dreary days when you need to curl up with a great book and ignore the world around you. I loved this one, a gentle beckoning toward a more authentic life. Sure, it’s the pandemic that’s leading us all to rethink our priorities, but it helps to have a story that shows what a well-lived life can look like, at any age. This is Pooley’s first novel, and she is a writer to watch. Grand Forks residents will find a copy of The Authenticity Project at the library, when it opens again. My thanks to Penguin/Random House Canada for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51332635

This story is told from multiple points of view as “The Authenticity Project” comes into each of their lives. It was really fun to have all their lives interconnect. There were a lot of ups and downs in each of the characters lives which came about in surprising ways and overall this is a book that leaves you with a good feeling.

I wasn't sure about this story when I started. The characters didn't grab me and I thought it plodded along too slowly in the beginning. But it soon picked up speed and I enjoyed seeing the various characters who found the Authenticity Project interact. The writing was well done in general.

Because of its unique premise, The Authenticity project reminded me in a way of the Dinner List by Rebecca Serle. This title however, was less emotionally resonant and more a light romp to make you think about the myriad ways your life could change in an instant. I enjoyed the quirkiness of this title and its encouragement to engage in self-reflection, however I felt that slightly more depth would have elevated this book even higher.

I will be recommending this book to my seniors' book clubs.

In these extraordinary times, you want something nice to take your mind off of things, and this book does just that. The Authenticity Project is a sweet book, and one that just makes you feel good and believe that everything will be okay in the end. It’s positive and really reflects on the human being: its highs and lows, and its successes and secrets. It encourages being your true self and actually promotes kindness and celebrates the opportunities that we have to do good things for other people just because we can.

My only qualm with the book was the pacing. There are a lot of discussions throughout the book - pages upon pages of chit chat as characters meet and bond with one another. If that’s your cup of tea then that’s fine, but it dragged a bit for me in certain spots.

Still, the premise is beautiful and the story ties together at the end in such a fantastic manner. You will put down this book wanting to spread some love around the world, and if that isn’t just fantastic in this current state of the world, then I don’t know what is.

I’d like to thank Penguin Random House Canada for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Authenticity Project is a breath of fresh air. Part love story, part women’s fiction, this novel leaves such a pleasant feeling upon completion. These characters have become my friends; I have journeyed with them and felt every bump along the way. The green book has not only changed their lives, but mine as well. I highly recommend this charming book.

The Authenticity Project provides a lovely literary read. What do I mean by that? So many books today read like a screen play. Clare Pooley uses classic styling to develop her many characters while slowly building the plot. THIS was a book I THOROUGHLY enjoyed and has put Pooley on my "watch list", I look forward sampling many more....

An enjoyable read about unfulfilled lives which are enriched when a community comes together to help each other find their happiness. The characters are jolted together by a journal which strives to bring authenticity to their lives by revealing their true selves, as well as their hopes and desires. While a bit far fetch, the book moves swiftly along, and presents a society where, by truly seeking to know each other, the individual end up finding their place in their community and achieving a bit more happiness:

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.

The idea of a travelling notebook was intriguing. Though much different than other travelling item stories, it kept with the theme of bringing people together. I appreciated that the notebook wasn’t magical – even though enchanted items can be exciting. It was a delight to read how a simple ordinary notebook could affect the lives of so many people.

The story started out at a good pace and kept it up the whole way through. Different chapters focused on different characters but I didn’t feel that the story got lost at any point in time. I loved seeing the events multiple times in the perspective of different characters.

Clare Pooley is a talent I’m so glad to have found. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next release.

Amazing and inspiring! This book gives you hope for humanity! Loved it so much!
The characters were easy to love and the story line on point

For the most part really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters though some of them got on my nerves a bit until I really got to know them. Especially Alice as she seemed a bit shallow though you learn some things about her along the way that proves that she has her hidden qualities! I also felt that the romance between Hazard and Monica was a bit rushed at the end and I felt a little bad for Riley. I felt for the guy as Monica could be a bit judgmental at times that it made me a bit frustrated. Especially when it came to fight neAr the end of the book. It felt a bit forced and I felt that the author was just bringing things up to create conflict when Monica knows that Hazard feels differently about her now that he really knows her. I will definitely check out the authors next book as I really enjoyed her characters even when they irritated me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of the book. I really enjoyed the book and the characters in the book and the premise of the notebook travelling and the introduction of new characters.