the authenticity project by Clare Pooley

18th book of 2021

Reading period: Feb 16th 2021 – Feb 24th 2021

Summary

One green notebook. Six strangers. The chance to start being honest… 

Six strangers with one universal thing in common: their lives aren’t always what they make them out to be.

But what would happen if they told the truth instead?

Julian begins The Authenticity Project – a small green notebook containing his ‘truth’ – to pass on and encourage others to share their own.

Little does he know that this small act of honesty will impact all those who come into contact with the book, and lead to a life-changing world of friendship and forgiveness…

Rating

Review

I am pleased to have read this book.

I struggle a bit at the beginning to read the book as the chapters are short, and you start right away with three POVs. I was a little overwhelmed by it, but after it’s okay, the story completely sucks you in.

The cover says “six strangers,” but some of them arrive later in the book, which is a good thing, so you are trying to guess who that can be and how they will be included in the story.

The “Authenticity Project” notebook is the link through the whole story; it’s there enough to understand it but not too much and be a burden to the story.

You have a mix and match of characters that are true to reality and not perfect. Like everyone, they have flaws, but the beautiful thing to see is to see them evolve as a person and as a group. You connect you them, and even if you don’t like one of them, you understand them, which is the most important thing.
The other characters who surround the six main protagonists are essential and colourful. They also take a great place in the story.

This book was an uplifting read, and if Monica’s café were real, I would have gone there every day.

Liz.