The Authenticity Project

A Novel

By: Clare Pooley

Narrated by: Anna Cordell

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

“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.

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 listeners are clamoring for - and one they will take to their hearts and listen to with unabashed pleasure. 

©2020 Clare Pooley (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"The Authenticity Project is an enjoyable read that is cozy - or as its British characters would have it, cosy - in the best sense of the word.” (USA Today) 

"An enjoyable, cozy novel that touches on tough topics." (Kirkus Reviews)

“I loved The Authenticity Project. It has such an intriguing premise, wonderful characters and is utterly truthful about the lies that we all tell. It’s a clever, uplifting book that entertains and makes you think.” (Sophie Kinsella, number-one New York Times best-selling author)  

Sweet, easy listen

I am a frequent consumer of audiobooks but I rarely take time to.write a review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was light with some fun twists, but with characters that were layered and compelling. This combination of depth and ease can be tough to find. I consume a lot of historical fiction and like a "popcorn" book to cleanse the palette, but dislike contrived and trite characters that try too hard to be funny or deep. This hit just the right tone. highly recommend.

meh

maybe I am too young, 35. maybe i am too American. i dunno. this book had zero edge even though one of the main characters is a recovering coke addict and alcoholic.
I was very disappointed with the entire plot. can I get a feel good story with some grit?

Slow start but stick with it

I was impatient with this novel in the beginning. The set up was quite complicated and not that compelling. I managed to keep listening and was rewarded with a deeply moving story. Sometimes insights were so targeted, I gasped. I believe I forgave my self for feeling some of the feelings expressed. Well done, Clare Pooley!

Anna Cordell added much to the reading of this tale. Her emphases made moments even more poignant.

such a good book

The narrator was excellent! Good story line. No boring parts at all! She did all the different accents so well and the characters appearances had such detail that I could picture them as she read their parts.

So glad I randomly found this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed both the book itself and the performance of it. Very well written with a nice tight plot, engaging characters, and a couple of surprises. Maybe part of the charm for me was in just happening across it and picking it based on subject matter, the short sample, and favorable reviews. if you haven't read (or heard of) Clare Pooley, I'd encourage you to take a chance.

Delightful

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It is highly recommended during this dark time in our nation. I really missed all
The characters when the book was done. Bring joy to your life and read this sweet story and maybe learn something about yourself to be more authentic along the way

Entertaining But Not Resonating

3.5 stars. I wasn't sure this book was going to be for me and, to be honest, I'm still not sure. But, it is an enjoyable story, if somewhat tropey and predictable. It all begins with a journal that's left on a table at the local coffee bar. When the owner, Monica, finds it, she opens it to see to whom it belongs and ends up reading the first journal entry, by a man named Julian, who suffers from loneliness and sadness. His goal with the journal is to see it passed around from stranger to stranger and that these strangers will write about the things that are meaningful to them, with all the authenticity possible. He hopes to bring authentic feelings and actions back to the world.

Along the way, we meet the various people who find the book (or the book is slipped to them without their knowledge). Soon, they are all becoming friends in Monica's coffee shop. Lives are changed, love blooms, some sadness occurs.

The narration by Anna Cordell is clear and easy to understand.

It's a little contrived and the characters are those we've all seen before: the tidy, inflexible woman, the wild drug-addled rich kid, the happy-go-lucky foreigner, etc. It was a pleasant enough book to listen to but I'm not sure it will resonate very deeply with me.

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.

Uplifting!

The year 2020 has left us all filling drained and I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and the storyline different. There was always a surprise around the corner.

A moving story

One of the most beautiful, inspiring, and uplifting stories I’ve heard in some time. Brilliant narration as well- it was easy to tell the characters apart through the full telling. I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I have and be moved to live authentically and truly get to know your communities as well.