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.

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.

Predictable, but I still cried at the end.

...and I’d listen to this book again. If you’re looking for something light and sweet, give this book a try.

So Good!!!

This a fascinating idea for a story full of characters that the reader becomes completely invested in. Loved it!!!

Small but significant transformations

I’ve been binging romance books and this one was both fantastic and believable. I thought the addict was well researched and was glad I read up on this author. While most romance books have tunnel vision on the two main characters this book had breathing room with a community.

Cute and whimsical

The narration was great. Really brought the story together, vividly and with context. I expected a bit more for the travels of the "project", but I appreciated how each storyline had its proper conclusion. A cute and whimsical novelty of a read with a nostalgic touch. It would be a great project to undertake for anyone willing (not necessarily ready) to be actually authentic.