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Authenticity Project
Authenticity Project | Clare Pooley
103 posts | 117 read | 3 reading | 88 to read
"A clever, uplifting book that entertains and makes you think."--Sophie Kinsella, #1 New York Times bestselling author 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 caf. 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 Caf. 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.
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tpixie
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This is a sweet book so far.
It has the heart of The Red Notebook. 📕 It also has a green notebook! 📗
So very similar, but still fun!
It‘s kind of like reading both The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek 💙💙💙 & The Giver of Stars ⭐️

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Gadolby
Panpan

Couldn‘t get over the over-the-top British writing and contrived characters

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BkClubCare
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Pickpick

I adored Iona Iverson‘s Rules for Commuting and so I knew I wanted to read the author‘s book just prior. EXACTLY my favorite kind of book! This is another “found family”, great lovable characters, assumptions made, kindness needed, and a happy hopeful ending.

#ReadICT category Lost or Found

36 likes1 stack add
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BkClubCare
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Just started my next library book and found pie on page 11! #ReadICT Category: Lost or Found (I think 🤔) #LitPie #BooksandPie #iLovePie

27 likes1 stack add
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melissajayne
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Pickpick

4.5⭐️ I was a bit ambivalent when a #bookclub choose this about a month ago, but as I got into the story, I was finding myself actually enjoying the book. #2024 #bookstagram #bookreview #contemporary #fiction #foundfamily #romance #feelgood #chicklit

Was my #doublespin selection for January

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-authenticity-project-clare-pooley/9595165?ean=9...

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mcctrish
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Pickpick

What time I went to bed last night #wildchild I just want to be reading and comfy

dabbe This reminds me of the scene in St. Elmos Fire. When in college, the #wildchilds would party all night. When they're (ahem) adults, they talk about getting together (and they're clearly reluctant to suggest a wild party), and one of them finally says, “How about brunch on Sunday?“ 🤣 13mo
mcctrish @dabbe I‘m not sure I can even manage brunch 🤣🤣 just puttering and knocking things off my to do list, finishing books or listening to my audio book. I was going to go out and then I managed to just waste my day away 13mo
Tamra That‘s me too - if I can get up off the couch to get to bed after chores! 😂 13mo
ItsAnotherJen Ever since the time change, this has been me too! Lol I just want my bed and my book. My favorite place to be by 9pm. 13mo
mcctrish @ItsAnotherJen the time change 😖 absolutely we should be in bed with books when it‘s pitch black out 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 13mo
36 likes5 comments
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mcctrish
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It‘s the middle of the night. Truthfully it‘s 5:30 and full dark thanks to stupid clock changing, who is the holdout for EST?!

Follow.my.read AGREE! I‘m ready to go to bed and it‘s only 6:30pm!!! 14mo
mcctrish @Follow.my.read I feel like we went from late October to mid January over night ( not temperature wise - but seasonal disorder wise) 14mo
TheBookHippie I just said the same thing 😂 14mo
See All 9 Comments
JenReadsAlot Ugh same! 14mo
mcctrish @TheBookHippie @JenReadsAlot thank god for books, I‘m just going to hide behind/beside my towering TBR until we get on the other side of this madness (edited) 14mo
Ruthiella Yes! In this day and age, let‘s stop messing with the clocks! 14mo
mcctrish @Ruthiella it‘s so dumb 14mo
Aimeesue My dogs are SO confused. 14mo
mcctrish @Aimeesue poor puppies ☹️ 14mo
45 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Judybskt
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Pickpick

Good one! Cute book.

Ncostell I enjoyed this one too! I had no expectations going in and thought it was a really sweet book. 1y
13 likes1 comment
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Judybskt
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New book!

19 likes1 stack add
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Hedon
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Sunny day, good book, all is good.

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Librarybelle
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Pickpick

One notebook connects several people in this quirky novel. What does it mean to be authentic…authenticity is on the mind of Julian, who decides to share his thoughts in a notebook and let it somewhere for others to read and contribute. This is a story about friendship and support and being true to oneself. I greatly enjoyed the storylines, and prepare to use a tissue or two.

78 likes1 stack add
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

I tore through Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting and loved it so dug this off the shelf where it's been languishing far longer than it should have. I definitely preferred Iona but this was a very strong debut. It gave me Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine crossed with The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper vibes.

BkClubCare Okay! Putting Curious Charms on my tbr 11mo
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Sylvia12
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Mehso-so

I am still reading this book, but so far I like it. It is written in different way with short chapters that change from personage to personage. I am very slow reader lol but I am already half way through the book. I will make full review once I am done 😁

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DLQBOOKNERD
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️. Authentically cute 😍

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ItsAnotherJen
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Pickpick

Great book to read when you need something that is easy and leaves you feeling good about the world. I liked that the characters were all different ages and had different backgrounds and personalities. Yet they all complimented each other. Their lives each improved after the notebook ended up in their possession. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love checking out the different covers books can have! Same story, but somehow the cover can influence whether you pick a book up.

LiteraryinPA That is so true! My cover when I read this was the bottom right one, and I think it‘s my favorite. 3y
98 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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crazyspine
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Pickpick

I was dreading this but absolutely loved it. A cute, quick, endearing read without being fluffy.

48 likes1 stack add
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Suet624
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Pickpick

Thanks to @AmyG for sending me this novel. A quick and easy read, just what I needed right now. A lonely man starts a journal explaining his current life - he once was a well known “somebody” and now he is lonely and alone. He leaves the journal at a cafe and from there it moves on to other people. How the journal impacts them, how they come together & how they learn to speak their truth is fun to watch. It‘s a romance novel but the concept is 👍

AmyG Glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes you just need something light and easy. 3y
67 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Coleen_Nieto
Authenticity Project | Clare Pooley
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$1.99 today on
Amazon

17 likes1 stack add
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Bibliophile004
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Pickpick

Great read- also a good reminder that people aren‘t always how they present themselves, & how we all impact each other‘s lives whether it‘s by our actions or inactions. This book ends on a happy note- sometimes you just need everything to work out 💕

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suvata
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Pickpick

Everyone lies about their lives (on social media). What would happen if you shared the truth instead? So what happens when an aging, artist decides to entitle a blank journal The Authenticity Project, launch into an admission of how his life is not meeting expectations and leave the book in a public place for the next person to expand, ignore or discard? People find it, write in it, and pass it along; bringing some together almost by serendipity.

Suet624 Sounds interesting! Makes me want to try it. 3y
suvata @Suet624 It‘s light hearted but addresses some serious issues. 3y
CarolynM Sounds good. Stacked. 3y
slategreyskies I really enjoyed this one! 💕 3y
49 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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VanessaCW
Pickpick

Basically this story revolves around six characters, all of whom have issues in their lives. I really enjoyed this well written story and loved the idea. I enjoyed the humour running through it. It‘s a feel good, heartwarming read whilst, at the same time, having something to tell us.

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This was a sweet story about strangers who connect because of a notebook where they write about their true selves-The Authenticity Project. Some of the characters where pretty unlikable at times but most of them did grow and improve by the end.

My #doublespin for June. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
40 likes1 comment
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booksaremyfavorite
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Pickpick

Kind of a slow starter for me but overall I liked this book. It‘s all about the notebook that connects these strangers.

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akfreeborn
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Pickpick

This was a nice feel good story. The premise of the notebook to have these characters collide was clever and grounding. Everyone had flaws and needed friends and courage to face truths of themselves and their lives. I was very touched by the characters and their supportive nature. Well done.

31 likes1 stack add
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Bookish_Gal
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Pickpick

Oh. My. Word. Dont know the last time I was so moved and amazed with other people‘s lives. The authentic you think someone is, the more lies you uncover. That‘s life thou. That no matter what your life affects another‘s. Good and bad. That change is good. There‘s so much I can say, not enough space. It‘s not fast paced. But that‘s the joy of it. The time passed as real life time. Take time to experience
loved Monica most. Ending sad yet satisfying

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Bookish_Gal
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This is such a heartwarming book. With weather outside, warmest at 25 degrees, this has been a nice read. Every time I think I‘m getting to understand a character, another on shows up because of the book making is round. I really like how you don‘t know what the person is writing in the book until the next person finds it to read it. I also love how new friend drama is really the only major conflict. Everyone‘s trying to live those authentic life

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emmaturi
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book, the story is a notebook is left lying around with the hope someone writes the answers to the question written there. And so begins a journey which involves six strangers which leads to friendships and romance! #books

Crazeedi Sounds fun! 4y
emmaturi Yes it is a good read! @Crazeedi 4y
37 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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monalyisha
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book about an eccentric cast of loners who are unexpectedly brought together by a confessional art project...with some caveats. First, it's a slow-burn. The characters are not immediately likeable -- some barely, eventually likeable -- so you may not be invested right away. And second, a fairly big part of the story IS a romance & I personally didn't find any of the characters swoon-worthy (or sponge-worthy, if you're Elaine Benes).

monalyisha 1/1: However, the characters are dynamic, there's a great underlying message about growth & honesty (one that's not saccharine-sweet), & Julian, the elderly artist & fashion icon, could probably carry the story alone on his Vivienne Westwood-clad back. This is the worst book I've read this year...but they've all been exceptional so far (one week into 2021), so that's not really a condemnation. (edited) 4y
sprainedbrain Literally spit out my water at sponge-worthy. 🤣 4y
80 likes2 comments
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monalyisha
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“Hazard felt like he was trapped in Groundhog Day. Every day the sun shone. Every day he‘d follow the same routine: meditation...walk on the beach, swim, read in hammock, lunch, siesta, swim, dinner, bed. He realized he was “living the dream”...He should be horribly grateful. But he was bored. Bored rigid. Bored stupid. Bored to death.”

LISTEN. I know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that I would NOT be bored. Fucking Hazard.

Mrs_B 😂 4y
Soubhiville Agreed! Wtf Hazard! 4y
charl08 Lol. I would work really hard not to be bored. (!) 4y
readordierachel Seriously. I should be so bored. 4y
71 likes4 comments
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monalyisha
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Update: 50 pages later, I‘m glad I didn‘t give up. 🙌🏻

Sharpeipup Oh good! 4y
monalyisha @Sharpeipup Thanks for the encouragement! 😉 4y
76 likes1 stack add2 comments
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monalyisha
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Roughly 40 pages in & not so sure about this book, when I happen to take a glance at the spine.

Should I be interpreting this as a divine sign? 😅

JennyM 😂😂😂 4y
Prairiegirl_reading 🤣🤣 I didn‘t catch it first! 4y
Sharpeipup Funny! It was a slow start for me but I was happy I stuck with it. 4y
See All 7 Comments
monalyisha @Sharpeipup That‘s good to know! I was really looking forward to it, so I‘m not ready to give up yet. But I‘m skeptical. 4y
PurpleTulipGirl I worked in a college bookstore for a while. The system used the first four letters of the author‘s last name and the first three of the title, in that order, to look up titles. I always loved when I got to enter Assembly Language Programming by Yu. 4y
monalyisha @PurpleTulipGirl I can HEAR the tone in that one. 😆 4y
rabbitprincess 😂😂😂 4y
92 likes7 comments
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meglynn86
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Mehso-so

This was the first book for 2021.
I had a difficult following along (maybe because I was working while listening )
However I can say the feelings Alice was having about being a wife and mother was very much relatable.

#bookspinbingo

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emmaturi
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Once I finish The Empire of Gold which is huge just over 750 pages I will tackle these two. I have a lot of time off work this week so hope to finish TEOG at the weekend or earlier if possble! #tbr

22 likes1 stack add
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BookNAround
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Pickpick

What happens when a bunch of strangers share the unglamorous truths about their lives? This is a sweet and somewhat predictable story of the ways they all come together and work towards happiness. Not earth shattering but nice. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-authenticity-project-by-clare.ht...

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SerenaCrawford
Pickpick

2020 read great book 📚🤩

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achalla
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Finally! After months of order, cancellation and reorder I have my copy of The Authenticity Project 😃

bookandbedandtea I really like that cover 🤩 4y
12 likes1 comment
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Citra182
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What a lovely story. Seriously, such a wonderful pick me-up book. Especially with all the shitty things happening right now - it‘s so easy to disappear into this world of warm coffee, love, and some serious soul searching. It feels like a warm hug on a cold day with your most beloved friends.

bookandbedandtea I felt the same about this. Loved the story and this is the perfect time to read it 4y
1 like1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed this light novel for the most part. I tried the audiobook and it didn‘t work for me. But the book was better. I had some issues with likability and believability but an entertaining light read. #ARC #Edelweiss

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Well-ReadNeck
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Seen on today‘s #audiowalk

😳

Hooked_on_books My husband is the type who would do this 🙄 4y
Samary Hilarious. Love it! Now he it just need a red balloon attached to it 🤣 4y
82 likes2 comments
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Jaimelire
Authenticity Project | Clare Pooley
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Pickpick

Entertaining read with relatable characters. I give it 3/5 ⭐️
It was a good, light read but nothing especially memorable.

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Victoria_Clyne
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Pickpick

This is the story of how six strangers meet because of an exercise in telling a truth about themselves in a book they leave for someone to find.

This was a good fun read, a bit of guilty pleasure. No great literary classic but perfect given where my heads at. However I would have liked a couple of the characters to be a bit more fleshed out.