I loved this book so much! It was charming, fun and quirky. It was definitely a page turner for me, I just couldn’t wait to see what happened next! It was such a fun read with lots of great characters. I’m kind of wishing for a sequel. I highly recommend checking it out!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A clever concept that effortlessly weaves characters together which makes for a light enjoyable read. I instantly fell in love with the characters and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Although somewhat predictable there a few surprises as well.  I appreciated the underlying tone of wanting to have more authentic connections to those around us. 

If you are in the mood for a light hearted read full of charming characters, I'd highly recommend the Authenticity Project. 

(Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book)

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Authenticity Project follows the story of how a simple green notebook with the words “The Authenticity Project” written on its cover left in a café leads an eclectic group of strangers to become friends and to confront their deepest truths. The Authenticity Project starts with Julian Jessop, an eccentric artist who is in his 70s, leaving his green notebook in Monica’s Café. In this notebook, he writes the truth about how lonely and invisible he’s been since his wife passed 15 years ago and then he invites the next person who finds it to write their truth. Throughout the story, this green notebook gets picked up by Monica, Hazard, Riley, Alice, and Lizzie, bringing them together and allowing them to reflect on the truth.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book, but I ended up really enjoying it. My favourite thing about this book was how each character was seamlessly introduced to the story. I loved how each character was gradually introduced, how we got to see them react to the stories before them, and how later on, once another character was introduced, we got to see what they wrote in the notebook.

Another thing that made this book stand out to me was the characters. I thought that Julian was a quirky character who brought a memorable amount of razzle-dazzle to the story. I loved Monica and how brave, committed, caring and organized she was. I enjoyed reading about Hazard’s struggle with his addiction and discovering who he really is. Riley kind of reminded me of a puppy dog, and I liked his positive attitude. I also liked reading about Alice and how she struggled with the difference between the picture-perfect life she’s showing on Instagram and reality.

I liked that this book dealt with serious issues, especially addiction. To a certain extent, addiction plays an important role in the life of most of the characters in this book. I also liked that addiction took many different forms in this book, including alcohol addiction, drug addiction, compulsive behaviour, vanity, and lying, to name a few. I think that addiction is an issue that plays a part in the lives of a lot of people, and I like it when it pops up in books in a way that feels real and authentic.

One minor complaint that I have about the book is that Monica felt too much like Monica from Friends. I like Friends, and I appreciate its contribution to pop-culture, but unfortunately, every time Monica was mentioned, I thought of Monica Geller.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the friendship that formed because of the green notebook. I liked that this book dealt with various kinds of addiction and I enjoyed the discussion of what is authentic. Once I started this book, I had a difficult time putting it down, I definitely recommend it.

How well do you know the people who live near you? How well do they know you? Do you even know the names of your neighbors? Would you realize if they were in trouble, or hadn’t left their house for days?

Out of loneliness, An elderly man start the authenticity project, which is  basically a notebook where the person that finds it write the truth about their life in it. 

That project started an unlikely friendship between the peoples that participated. 

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada for the opportunity to read The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley in exchange for an honest review.  

I had more trouble reading it because of the format it was in and my kindle wouldn’t let me change it. Beside that the story was great,  you can’t help but get attached to the characters and about halfway through I just couldn’t put it down

DNF @ 75% but not because I didn’t like it - simply because I just didn’t have enough time to finish it which I am now kicking myself over. I really enjoyed reading about all of the characters so far - I felt connected to most of them and/or at least tried to understand and feel what they were going through. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to  finish it by tonight - but I’m going to try as it is eating away at me. However, I guess it’s the best of both worlds because I’m just going to have to buy the book when it comes out and I can't wait!! I also think it's a great book to gift someone. Here are some of my thoughts on it! I will be posting my review on Goodreads also. 

Things I liked: 
- Really great character building, it is a slow and well-thought out process.
- I was connected to the characters from the start. 
- The POV from each character and the amount of them is never confusing.
- I had a lot of empathy for each of the characters but in different ways. 
- I felt like I was a part of the ‘project’ and thought multiple times of ‘what if someone did this in real life’ how interesting would that be to find this book! 
- This book will bring people together - a feel good story in a time where we need it most! 

Things I didn’t like 
- Hazard was not my favourite character and the only reason why is that I found him to be not that believable. This could very well be my own bias as I work in finance, have worked on a trading floor and all of a sudden he gets very ‘soft’ and I just couldn’t picture this in real life from that type. 

Other:
- Not sure why but T-Shirt is capitalized on p.130

My first ARC (advanced reader copy) of 2020! This book has been on my radar since last year. A unique premise with a motley cast of characters, The Authenticity Project is a rare little beacon of positivity that shows you can live a more fulfilling and wholesome life if you try to be your most authentic self. 

My one issue with this read was that I had a hard time feeling a connection with the characters. I find with fiction, I enjoy it a lot more if the characters are well developed. Some of these characters had great arcs, but I didn't have a connection to them. I think this would make a great TV show adaptation as a quirky British comedy!

I received a copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review. #TheAuthenticityProject #NetGalley
-I loved that the book had multiple POVs. Each time a new friend came into the picture, the author gave you a look in the window of that person's life. Very interesting.
-You can see how the characters developed as the story goes along and how they each welcomed a newcomer into their small circle.
-The scenes where the action happens doesn't change much: the cemetery, the cafe, the beach, and a cottage. Sometimes a few other places.
-The book kept my interest and I went through many emotions, not like a roller-coaster, but as the story enfolded. Fun, sad, entertaining, baffling at times, endearing and LOL.
-I loved how the book made a complete circle, then started back again. Loved the end, even if sad.
-This is about friendship, relationships, loneliness, how we react to certain circumstances, having fun with our dear ones, alcoholism and a bit about drug abuse.

Elderly and lonely Julian sits in Monica’s Café. Disheartened and alone, he needs to talk. But there is nobody there for him. Writing in a notebook, he shares his feelings about his life. Wondering if anyone might read it, he leaves the notebook in a café. 

Monica, the owner of the café, finds the notebook and after reading Julian’s entry, decides to share her own thoughts and sets in motion a succession of kindnesses.

As the notebook gets passed from person to person, strangers become friends and lives are transformed. 

The Authenticity Project is a lovely concept and a light, heart-warming, feel-good, darling of a read.

Very much recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for Clare Pooley’s read of, The Authenticity Project.

Opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

I might be a little too cynical for these types of stories, so that's why it got a 3 star rating on my end. I didn't totally dislike it, but it didn't revolutionize my life in any way. The Authenticity Project is a solid slice-of-life drama where a cast of characters maneuver themselves through their daily lives while interacting with people they would not normally have connected with if not for a journal they each find and write in their genuine truths. Each of the characters pick up the Authenticity Project and write in it thinking they’ve discovered their authentic self, but as the story progresses, the cast realize that their surface level problems have deeper voids they’re seeking to fill. Overall, the premise is solid and has potential to be a heartwarming story about personal growth and authenticity.

I really, really wanted to like this book. When I read the description back in October, I thought it sound like a book that would be right up my alley.

Since October, I would start The Authenticity Project, then not get wrapped up in it. So I'd put it down and read something else. Then I would come back to The Authenticity Project, and put it down again.

With publication coming up this week, I knew January was the time to finish it. Maybe it would finally grab me.

It never did.

The characters are a bit one dimensional. Even The Authenticity Project didn't seem super authentic. What you think is going to be the major conflict in the book happens about halfway through, then the book does a pivot and ends in a completely other place.

I first heard about this book in a @penguincanada email, and the synopsis reeled me in right away!

I thought this book was such a light, fun read! I loved reading each character's story, and then seeing them grow throughout the book. Some of the characters dealt with some more serious issues, but it was never too dark. I felt like this book was really heartwarming, and highlighted the importance of friendship at every stage of your life. I'm glad I had the opportunity to check out this authors fictional debut, and I can't wait to see what else she she'll put out!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Viking for an advanced copy of The Authenticity Project in exchange for an honest review.

A group of people meeting and becoming not only friends but important to each other because of a notebook called The Authenticity Project.  I felt myself drawn in and wanting to know about these people, who were of many different backgrounds and ages.  I found myself rooting for Monica and Riley and then being surprised by Hazard. I enjoyed it very much.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

Synopsis: Julian leaves a notebook in Monica’s café, detailing his life, encouraging others to do the same. The purpose of the book is to bring strangers together and be your true authentic self. Monica discovers the notebook, writes her story and leaves it at the wine bar across the street where Hazard finds it, and so on and so forth. One notebook brings six strangers together, to form a unique friend group.


Review: A really fun, feel good book to read. I loved the dual narrative, it was refreshing to be introduced to each character so personally prior to mingling the characters together. Anyone reading this book will be able to relate to at least one of the characters, I felt a connection to every character involved. The character development was beautifully written, and so real! The romance aspect was good, I made my assumption of the ending about 1/4th into the book, and I was right. The concept was great, the characters fantastic and relatable, and the overall execution was there!  

 

Thank you @netgalley and @penguincanada for my review copy! Publication date: February 4, 2020.

A deliciously sweet and ingenious book that brings readers to the core of our being..."Are we honest with ourselves? Are we honest with how our lives are playing out? Are we truthful about the choices we made or will make? And... How well do we know the people around us?"

Author Clare Pooley creates characters that are very real; people quite similar to those we know -or think we know, from our daily lives. People we talk with, interact with and yet are more than likely wearing a mask...or at least showing us a side they want us to know.

The Authenticity Project starts with a common green notebook, nondescript in its simplicity, yet it holds the truths of those that find it.
The little green notebook is left behind in a cafe, and begins its journey into the lives of several random people...uniting them in ways that are unexpected, endearing, sometimes painful, but definitely serendipitous.

The "finder" of the green notebook reads about the person before; their fears, wants and truths. Once in your hands, it's now up to you to make a decision, good or bad...but it will be Authentic!

4stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House-Viking and the author, Ms. Clare Pooley for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Authenticity Project". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

This is the first novel by the British author of the memoir 'The Sober Diaries'. The plot in this one revolves around a notebook entitled The Authenticity Project.  Julian is an elderly recluse who was formerly a  fashionista and an artist of some renown.  He writes his 'truth' in a notebook and then leaves it in a cafe for others to write in.  Monica the cafe owner finds the book and adds her story, then sets out to help Julian.   As the book makes it's way from person to person, lives are changed and friendships are made.  The book is part romance, but mostly about facing life head on and being honest with both yourself and others.  It is a delightful read and a good recommendation for fans of books that are easy reads, but have some depth.  It would be a great beach read!

3.25 stars

I thought I needed a light read after reading a few intense novels, but The Authenticity Project, while enjoyable, was a bit too light. The concept was clever. 75 year old Julian, a lonely aging artist, writes about his loneliness in a notebook titled The Authenticity Project which he then leaves in Monica’s cafe. Monica then writes about her desperation for a family, and then passes the notebook on to another stranger. Slowly, all these strangers become connected, and the reader realizes that authenticity is more complicated than it seems. It all had the feel of a Sophie Kinsella novel, with imperfect characters on a road to understanding their truer selves. I actually like the occasional dose of Sophie Kinsella, and I liked parts of The Authenticity Project, but overall it was just a bit too predictable and the characters were a bit to stereotypical for my tastes. Thanks to Netgalley and Edelweiss for giving me access to advance copies.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley!

Alright guys. 
I have never been one for ebooks at all. I find them hard to read and what not due to the fact that its all on your phone, and we all know how distracting phones can be. However, this story fully engulfed me.

This story you cannot even explain without spoilers, so I am literally just going to say my feelings.

I loved all the characters. They all were so real, and had so many faults. Which is exactly what made me like them even more. 

Julian, Hazard, Monica, and Riley were exactly what I wanted to read at this moment. I wanted to see people with hardships that don't have to overcome it, but rather just learn how to cope with, how to be amazing because of their faults, not in spite of. 

For me, this book had the perfect pacing. A little slower of a start, and then almost impossible to put down the rest of the way through. 

I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 simply because I did have a slight week where I just couldn't decide if I should bother finishing it. But I am so happy I did, and I would have regretted it so much if I did not finish it.

I so look forward to this novel being released and can't wait to see more from Clare!

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley: Book review

A while back I posted on my Bookstagram asking for book suggestions for reads that are just pure happy, uplifting reads. After reading this book over the last week or so amidst busy shifts and a raging cold, I am pleased to share my own recommendation - this book is cheerful, heart warming and charmingly predictable at times. 

Julian, a lonely septuagenarian writes in a little green notebook some hard truths about his life. He leaves it in the local cafe for someone to find, read, and hopefully write their own story in, and continue the cycle. What follows is a genuinely lovely story, where we meet a slew of characters, from an uptight, single cafe owner looking for love, an addict experiencing his first attempt with sobriety, to a new mom struggling with postpartum depression. 

I enjoyed the pace of this novel. With shifting points of view, I found it engaging and the story was constantly moving forward as characters discovered truths about themselves and empathized with neighbours they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to know.  I think some parts were a little overdone/repetitive, but I enjoyed the resolution of plots. 

Although fairly predictable, and at times a smidge cheesy, I enjoyed this for what it was. It had depth while remaining a lighthearted, easy read. I appreciated the message of striving for authenticity and getting to know people in the periphery of your life beyond face value. 
I think it would make a really cute movie I’d absolutely watch on a cozy night with fuzzy socks on. 
If you’re in the market for a charming, lighthearted sweet read, I’d recommend The Authenticity Project. 

Thank you to Nettgalley and Penguin Randomhouse Canada for access to an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It comes out on Feb 4, 2020!

I rate if 3.5⭐️

This is a charming witty book which kept me entertained. Full of intriguing characters some of which will definitely pull on the heartstrings. A book about relationships, friendship and loneliness. This is a great beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book. It was enjoyable. Perhaps a little predictable. Still recommended.