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A review by ruth24
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
4.0
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
[b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790] begins when Julian, an eccentric former artist/senior citizen, writes about his feelings of loneliness since the loss of his wife and purposely leaves his notebook behind in a cafe. In doing so, he hopes a stranger will not only read what he's written, but will face their own truth, write it down and pass it on. As each new character discovers Julian's notebook, they not only find relief in writing down their innermost feelings, but also find community with one another, despite their many outward differences.
[b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790] is a feel-good contemporary read with romance and comedy, but what makes it different is its ability to also go deep on real issues, like addiction (and others I won't mention to avoid spoilers). An unexpected twist adds an element of surprise near the end of the story. The characters really came alive for me and I felt I knew them by the end of the book. If you enjoyed [b:A Man Called Ove|18774964|A Man Called Ove|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259930l/18774964._SY75_.jpg|21619954], I'd encourage you to pick up [b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790], out February 4th.
[b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790] begins when Julian, an eccentric former artist/senior citizen, writes about his feelings of loneliness since the loss of his wife and purposely leaves his notebook behind in a cafe. In doing so, he hopes a stranger will not only read what he's written, but will face their own truth, write it down and pass it on. As each new character discovers Julian's notebook, they not only find relief in writing down their innermost feelings, but also find community with one another, despite their many outward differences.
[b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790] is a feel-good contemporary read with romance and comedy, but what makes it different is its ability to also go deep on real issues, like addiction (and others I won't mention to avoid spoilers). An unexpected twist adds an element of surprise near the end of the story. The characters really came alive for me and I felt I knew them by the end of the book. If you enjoyed [b:A Man Called Ove|18774964|A Man Called Ove|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259930l/18774964._SY75_.jpg|21619954], I'd encourage you to pick up [b:The Authenticity Project|42592725|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566227411l/42592725._SY75_.jpg|66283790], out February 4th.