Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this incredible book. Once I started reading it I found it extremely difficult to put down! It was one of those stories that was so engaging and insightful that I really couldn't wait to find out what happens next.____There was an incredible insight into the complexities of human nature: our willingness and our haste to judge others, and the lies we tell each other and ourselves.____The Authenticity Project started with a forward by Claire Pooley and her inspiration for the story. What amazed me and what I found inspiring is her courage to speak/write about her challenges and struggles. It's truly amazing how those that were facing similar challenges found comfort and guidance in her words._____The story starts off with Monica, a coffee shop owner that comes across a green notebook that's left in her shop. She attempts to return it but couldn't find the owner.  She recalls using a similar book in grade school, decorating the cover with hearts and flowers. She opens it up in hopes that the owner had written their name or an address inside. What she found inside were questions that made her think about her life and her story._____"maybe telling that (your) story would change your life, or the life of someone you've not met."____On the next page, there is a story about an artist that with the loss of his wife, lost his life, his world, and is lonely. After reading his story and doing a bit of research on him, Monica decides to help him and then writes her own story in the book.What happenes next is nothing short of inspiring and refreshing. Refreshing in sense that it was nice to read a story about the good in people. That deep down, all anyone wants is friendship, connection and love. Looking for the good in others and spreading kindness can make an extraordinary difference in not only the lives of others but in yours as well.

This book had so much potential. I grabbed the ARC on the premise alone. Unfortunately for me, it didn't measure up to what it could have been. Great idea, wonderful vivid characters, loved the connections but I got bogged down with the depressing lives of the characters and the writing. Plus the formating was a mess. I'm sure it will be fixed before release day though.

I absolutely LOVED this book! The concept is one I have not come across before and I love the web the story weaves! The group of characters the reader gets to know are such a great group of true opposites. They are very easy to relate to and it is easy to fall into their lives and the things they are experiencing.
The writing is excellent and the voices of each character are obvious and there can be no confusion as to who is telling their story.
I had a really hard time putting this book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and it was definitely a case of “just one more chapter” and staying up much later than planned! 
I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for a fun, unique story that has interesting characters, brings people together, and there is some great character growth.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley is such a fun book to review. The characters are quirky and easy to relate to and the concept is really unique. This novel will have you feeling all sorts of emotions.

What is so intriguing about this book is its little green notebook that contains its authors’ innermost thoughts and feelings. As one can imagine, it becomes cathartic to the characters that write the truth about their lives. It is when these characters form friendships and try to help one another, the real story starts to unfold.

❀ ECLECTIC GROUP OF CHARACTERS

There are quite a few characters in the novel and many different perspectives to keep track of, however the writing makes it easy to follow. The group of characters is both eclectic and multigenerational, which adds a real flavour to the novel. It is hard to pick a favourite, although Julian is probably the most fun to read about. He has so many layers and is so eccentric that there are some real laugh out loud moments in the book.

❀ GIVES THE READER PAUSE

At first, The Authenticity Project starts off giving the reader lots of pause. It really makes you wonder how truthful we really are with one another. Would unleashing the truth help us to move forward in our lives? Pooley gives some really interesting food for thought in the story that will make you stop and think.

❀ INTRIGUING CONCEPT

The Authenticity Project is one of those books that should be on everyone’s TBR this year. It has an especially intriguing concept and a slew of interesting characters to keep you entertained. I am looking forward to reading more from Clare Pooley.

•”Everyone lies about their lives.  What would happen if you shared the truth instead?”•

The Authenticity Project is a story about chain story; one where each chapter is autobiographical, revelatory and anonymous to the authors who preceded it.  It starts with the instruction to tell the truth about oneself.  You can think of it as a modern fairy tale where serendipitous readers play fairy god mother/father to contributors of the Project.

I usually rate a book on its overall performance but The Authenticity Project was much more of a journey than most.  At the start, it seemed tangential and a little dull.  I stopped and started multiple times and was sure this was shaping up to be a 2 star read - I wasn’t sure I could relate to or even like some of the characters.  And then there was the writing style.  I get a little annoyed when writing lacks transitions, which is definitely the case here.  This writer likes to skip temporally from one spot to the next very abruptly, in a manner that can be either annoying or quirky depending on your perspective.  I’ll admit I started with the former and fought hard for the latter.

But then, the characters changed.  Or rather, they turned out to have more depth and soul to them than their own confessions belied.  By a third of the way in, I was liking it and thinking “this will probably end up being 3 stars after all”.  But even more characters were added and by their addition, the old characters also grew as well.  The little club of authentic subjects were shaping up to have a unique and eclectic bond.  Two thirds of the way through I was as convinced this was going to get 4 stars.  Adjectives like “clever”, “memorable”, “thoughtful” and “heartwarming” were beginning to attach themselves to this review.

So how did this book end up with a 5 star review?  Well, it really is more than a great story.  It’s exceptional.  It turns out that I do have empathy for these people and I do like them.  I feel as if I am part of the chain.  This book has made me a part of the Authenticity Project and has changed me as well.  I hope you will pick it up, give it a chance and become part of it too!

(This book was reviewed as a NetGalley ARC.)

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the copy of this book. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the lives of the characters in this book. They were a motley crew that came together all over a notebook, but in the end it was as though they had always been the best of friends. I think the author touched on an important theme of things are not what they seem in this book. What one sees on the outside is not necessarily what is there on the inside of people. I think this book with end up being quite a hit!

I loved the concept of this book, that of someone writing their authentic truth in a book and leaving it for others to find and do the same. In an age of social media and comparing our lives to what other people present, this idea is appealing.

And the book does a great job of delving into it!

I loved the cast of characters and how they were woven together all because of the little green notebook -- which is almost a character itself -- and how it made them want to connect and help and be authentic. The characters were fun and their stories were compelling. They make mistakes, they take chances, they help and look out for one another. I wanted to wander down the street and stop for tea at Monica's coffee shop myself.

I received an ARC of this wonderful book, courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada. I'm so glad that I read it; now I can highly recommend it to all my friends. The Authenticity Project is the title of a green notebook that travels from London, UK to a small village in Thailand and back, via the people who have written their very personal stories in it.  By sharing their truths and reading those of others, the characters learn how to accept and live comfortably with their own authentic selves. I loved the way the notebook connected these strangers by chance and served as the glue that ultimately bound them together as close friends. . 

P.S.. I think that one of the movie studios should option it!

The Authenticity Project is one of those books that will stay with me a long time, for many reasons. If you've read the blurb, you know that an elderly man, Julian, leaves behind a notebook in a cafe. In it, he's written his story, and he challenges the next person to write their truth. Monica, the cafe owner, finds the notebook, and adds her story. In total, six people put their stories in writing in this notebook.

So first, I love the structure of the novel: It's told through the eyes of six different characters and as each person adds another little bit, the story begins to build. It's not told in a strictly linear fashion. Characters come in and out of each others' stories, and some questions that are raised in one person's story are answered later in another person's story. Not every person is given the same amount of time to "speak," and in fact one character who comes in a bit later adds only a few paragraphs to the notebook. Writing in this style cannot have been an easy feat to pull off; done well, as it is here, it's fascinating. As a bonus, each chapter is short so this is a very easy read.

Secondly, the characters: I found myself reading more and more slowly as I neared the end, just because I didn't want to finish this book. Not to sound terribly needy or anything, but I think the characters are all people I have elements in common with, and I wanted to continue hanging out with them just a little longer. Julian, the elderly man, starts things in action. Monica, the cafe owner, is the touchstone of the book. Alice is a new mom and influencer whose life is nothing like she presents it to be on Instagram. These characters, plus three more who write in the notebook, all have quirks and foibles that resonated with me on some level. 

Third and very importantly, the writing is stellar. The more I read, the more invested I became in the story. I started rooting for characters, and being disappointed when they let me down. I hoped the romantic pairing that I wanted to happen, would happen. Some of the stories unfolded the way I wanted but there were definitely surprises, including some I didn't like. Some of the ways in which the notebook made its way into the hands of the next recipient stretched the boundaries of belief ... except that I totally bought into it because the author persuaded me with her writing that it could have happened this way.

I'm thrilled to have discovered author Clare Pooley, and I hope we'll be hearing a lot more from her in the future.

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NOTE: I've included links below to reviews on Goodreads, to my blog and to Instagram. On Instagram, my review is in the Books section of my Stories. I can't post a review on Amazon.com until the book is released but I'll do that as soon as I'm able to.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book, however within the first chapter I was hooked.
I liked the idea of the notebook being secretly passed around for others to find and how the characters felt comfortable  telling their stories- hopes, fears and dreams.

It’s a heartwarming story of how small and connected the world truly is and how people from all walks of life are interconnected.

I got lucky, by being one of the first 50 or something NetGalley members to respond on an email invite for this title. I thought it looked like fun, light reading, which it was, but it surpassed my expectations. Okay, it's a "feel good" novel of the kind of "pay it forward" and "everything/everyone is connected" trope, if there is such a thing, but I thought it reached further than the basic trope. It starts with Monica, the owner of a coffee shop, finding a notebook entitled "The Authenticity Project." In it, she reads the story of an elderly man who admits to being lonely. He launches the notebook to see if it can help him meet people. Monica reads his story, adds her own, the notebook is picked up by someone else and so it goes on. It all sounds just a bit hokey, but it's not. The characters are really well developed, likeable, and human. No one is quite what he or she seems on the surface. I really enjoyed the way the author showed us how our impressions of other people can be so misleading, especially in one case, the story of an Instagram Influencer whose life is a lot different than what she shows her thousands of followers. By the end of the book I felt like I knew all the characters and would like to visit Monica's cafe and meet them. Highly recommended.

I have to admit that before I started this book, I was very skeptical of the idea that a simple notebook would carry the entire story - but this is exactly what happens and it's thoughtfully done in a very sweet way. 

As the book gets passed around, readers get introduced to some incredible characters - each with their own secrets, stories, and challenges. This gives readers a really interesting perspective on the story as we see everything through several different eyes. 

My only complaint is the story lags slightly in the middle - but the very beautiful (and absolutely perfect) ending more than makes up for it! 

I really want to be thank the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a really lovely read!

I was really excited to read this book the plot seemed to be very unique.

The plot of the book, a notebook left in random places filled with peoples stories, the authentic story, what they really see their life as and what they want it to be.  The notebook created a unique group of friends and brought life back into some, and all was going well till secrets were revealed (this secret is what ruined the book for me, I was really enjoying the book and would have given it four stars before it was revealed) still a great book overall.

I received this book to review from NetGalley. This is a story of a notebook, that is passed between 6 people and brings and binds them all together. It’s a story of finding oneself, of love, of friendship and compassion. I laughed and  cried while reading this book. It will change how you look at strangers. And you will find that it is with a little more understanding and care. I loved the story and the characters! I highly recommend reading this novel. This is one of those books you will want to read again!

I know, I know, I don't give out very many 4 stars, but I really liked this book on many levels. I was given a free e-copy by NetGalley and was interested because it was a first novel for this author. I found the book charming, witty and well-written especially for a first novel.  The story line was engaging- "The Authenticity Project" was hand-lettered on  a green notebook left behind in a London cafe by an old man. Monica the cafe owner saw the back of the man as he left and intended to return it to him. First she read what he had written in the book and thus began a story with twists and turns, fun, romance, and people coming face to face with the truth in their lives. We met Julian, Monica, Hazard, Riley, Alice, and many side characters. The author developed the characters so well, that I even began to predict how they would react to the various situations in which they found themselves. Since the story has a modern setting, there is the usual use of electronic devices; in fact one of the characters is an "influencer" on Instagram. But there are many aspects of the story that take us back to a simpler time of handwriting in journals and learning how to draw. Personally I loved this emphasis. I like to write in a daytimer, and I have reverted mostly to reading books printed on paper. In fact, while reading "The Authenticity Project" I found myself wanting to reread the various journal entries, something that is more difficult to do while reading on a tablet!
All in all, an entertaining book, that reminded me of "A Man Called Ove". Well done, Clare Pooley!

How much time do you spend thinking about who you are and your place in this crazy world? When Monica finds a notebook in her quaint neighbourhood cafe she believes that someone has obviously left it behind. With good intent she opens the notebook hoping to discover a clue to the owner. What she does not expect is a confession from an artist now recluse sharing his feelings of loneliness, and a suggestion that the finder of this book share their own secrets and struggles. 

What follows is a series of events that alter the lives of a unique cast of characters who are each struggling in some way with some aspect of their life.

To avoid spoilers, I will not include a description of the characters that Pooley has created. Instead, and I think this is more the point of the novel, is that I will focus on the message The Authenticity Project spoke about and how it made me feel. 

As an adult it is SO HARD to make friends. You believe that certain people will not know how to handle your friendship, life is too chaotic as it is, and really how could someone who looks like that/acts like that/talks like that/or any other combination know what it is like to be me.

It is so difficult to be vulnerable around other people because to share weakness to some is to admit being weak. The reality is that to share weakness is to be authentic. The other important thing to remember is even when we believe we are being authentic, we can be the most inauthentic and unreliable person to our own self.

I received an advanced copy of this book by the publisher and author in return for a fair review.

The Authenticity Project is an interesting story of a group of people who come together from reading a green notebook called The Authenticity Project.  Friendships are formed and each individual helps those around them become their authentic self. A delightful story. #netgalley

“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?”

These are the first lines written in a plain, pale-green exercise book that is left behind in a café, lines that remind us of how isolating urban life can be.  This deliberate act of leaving a notebook behind brings together six key characters. Characters that are lonely, or lost, or suffering from some sort of addiction, or putting up a front for the sake of appearances.  All are in some way lying, to themselves, to others or both.  Now all that may sound depressing but the story is not.  It is an uplifting, often humorous tale that in the end provides hope and serves as a reminder of how we all need to connect face to face, not by texting or posting photos on Instagram. And it is also a reminder of what family is about and that family can take many unique forms.  We are shown that to know ourselves isn’t just an inward journey but also a journey that involves reaching out and connecting with others, even those who we may initially not like or find frustrating. 

I enjoyed this book and was immediately invested in the characters.  Did I like them all?  No, but I learned to understand them and appreciate them because of their weaknesses, not despite them.
A very worthwhile read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story was both heartwarming and witty.  The characters were not likeable  but by the final chapter they felt like friends. I was spellbound from the first as I read this fast-paced tale of friendship and discovery.  In some ways, it reminded me of My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry - with eccentricity and extremely different personalities, but it was also a work entirely of it's own making - unique, touching, and emotionally-engaging.  I found it funny and frustrating, and even a little heartbreaking when I cried at the end.

I requested to review this book because I was in the mood for something lighter that handled some interesting topics with a bit of depth. The Authenticity Project fit the bill with its compelling plot about a notebook that makes its way into the lives of six people who share their private feelings within its cover. 

This is a light read but it's predictable - so predictable that I almost put this book down at the halfway point because I figured I could pinpoint exactly how things would go down (and I found it a little dull at this point). I decided to finish the book hoping for a change of heart, but my initial predictions were correct and things ended as I had expected. Kind of satisfying, but kind of not.

This a light read featuring the POVs of several characters which are woven together well. I liked how the book progressed to each person and their personal stories while creating a sense of community among them. But even though the book is lighter fare, it needed more depth - more tension, unique story twists instead of relying heavily on popular romantic tropes and more depth to its characters. (Note: I'm still confused as to why Pooley made Monica the spitting image of the well-known TV character from Friends of the same name)

Overall, this was a sweet, light read that had great potential but was a little too predictable for my tastes. Readers who enjoy light reads with a small town feel and a story with a nicely wrapped up ending will enjoy this book.