absolutely loved Clare Pooley’s The Authenticity Project, so it’s no surprise I actually squealed with delight when presented with the opportunity to review an arc of this book.
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting was laugh-out-loud funny, sniffle-inducing touching and 100% authentic. Once again, a brilliant assortment of characters, from the larger-than-life Iona, sweet Emmie, pleasant Sanjay, mousy Martha, oafish Piers and forgettable David. Oh, and LuLu!!
I absolutely loved the idea of a group of passengers actually conversing during their daily commute. Having been on British public transport, I know what a faux-pas it is to actually interact or draw attention to oneself.
Another book from Pooley I will keep close to my heart and be sure to reread again in the near future.

Another wonderfully warm story about community and connection from Pooley, whose debut novel The Authenticity Project I read twice during lockdown and recommended (with great success) to more people than I can count. Here, she looks at what happens a group of commuters, startled after an incident on their train one morning, dare to actually speak to one another. At the heart of the group is stylish, flamboyant and unapologetic Iona, who soon sets the example that draws sweet Emmie, helpful Sanjay, bullied Martha, and burnt out Piers together. Following them as they help one another and end up changing their own lives over the course of several months made me long for the end of WFH and the chance of making lucky, life-changing connections of my own over the morning commute.

I loved The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley and was really excited to get this one from NetGalley and I am so happy to report that it did not disappoint! I loved this book so, so much! We get many points of view. First we have Iona, she is a self described magazine therapist. We also have Sanjay who is a nurse, then there is Piers a finance guy who wants to be a math teacher, followed by Emmie a tech wiz in the marketing game and finally we have Martha who is a high school student caught in a terribly embarrassing situation at school...they think they know each other, but do they really? There are a few side characters that are also just as important and well thought out...and everyone is hiding a secret, can these strangers really be the answer to each other's prayers? So funny yet heartbreaking, so poignant yet quirky, so sweet yet impossibly real. These are such an unlikely bunch to become friends, but become friends they did and in the end they make sense. I really don't want to go into it any further because this story is much better the less you know and I encourage you, reader to get to know them yourself and just enjoy the (train) ride, you'll be glad you did and you just might find some surprises along the way.