The Authenticity Project

*Book Review**Author- Clare Pooley*Genre- Contemporary romance*Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5One fine morning, six strangers find their lives mysteriously connected through one green notebook. All for the sake of authenticity.Does the chaos take over all happy and good intentions? Or finally they come in terms with their true selves?QOTD- Do you maintain a journal? What is your motivation behind it?Julian, Monica, Hazard, Riley, Alice and Jessie couldn't be more different from each. As life throws them in to a common circle through a peculiar green notebook and a social experiment, The Authenticity Project, they ensue on a new journey to discover not only themselves but also other people with whom they share this beautiful world.It is really enthralling to find out how each one of them react to the new arrangements. Cheery, happy- go- lucky Julian and Riley are very much open and accepting, whereas upright Monica and an ex addict Hazard struggle to overcome their inner turmoils.It is heartwarming to see this group of unconventional oddball characters standing by each other and being the pillar of support for their individual fights.The book is written in multiple POVs of all the six people who discover the notebook at some point of their lives.I absolutely loved the individual character arcs of Monica and Hazard, because out of everybody else these two genuinely needed some encouragement to fight their inner demons.The author dealt sensitive issues like addiction- sobriety, mental health, loneliness with compassion and empathy. For there are thousands of Hazards out their, trying their best to stay sober and not relapse, who just need someone to tell them that they are doing a great job and things would become easier eventually.That little gesture could make massive difference.The book redefines friendship, love and companionship. That none of them should be restricted by age.Evils of social media addiction and the constant urge of portrayal of a perfect picturesque life has been discussed. And following that trail, readers would end up asking themselves if they too lead an authentic life or not.The perfect chicken soup for the soul, this book is highly recommended if you are looking for something similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Absolutely Fine.

“Staying vulnerable is aRisk we have to take if weWant to experienceConnection.” Brene Brown.Vulnerability is a dreaded word as many of us weren’t taught how to express our emotions freely. As a result, we’ve grown up with habits embedded deeply into us to keep us stifled and bottled up.It is our vulnerability that makes us human. And connecting with others by being vulnerable, will result in some of the best interactions and relationships of our lives. That is how we made friends as kids and as we grew up, so did our walls around our heart. As a result, we became ‘guarded’, ‘realistic’ or we might say ‘just protecting myself’...protecting ourselves from who? And from what? From getting hurt you say?? but you win some and you loose sum...That is life!!! And in spite of putting on a brave front, we still might get hurt, be disappointed with some outcomes in life.The key to true vulnerability is that we are willing to accept the consequences no matter what. Take the rejections and move on because you’re the bigger and stronger person. The bravest thing one can do is to not close our hearts to new beginnings, new adventures, relationships and friendships that life has to offer us.It’s truly daunting to reveal ourselves as we really are, even to the ones closest to us, let alone share it with complete strangers. What if we did bare our souls to complete strangers? That my friends is the wonderful concept of this novel.‘The Authenticity Project’ is the story of a group of unlikely strangers brought together by a shared notebook called The Authenticity Project. The whole premise of this book is that we rarely share the truth about our life closest to us. I loved this idea of sharing your soul, with all the flaws and baring your true self that we rarely put out on display.Julian is an artist that formerly enjoyed success. Now, almost eighty, he feels quite lonely. Seeking genuine connections, he creates The Authenticity Project, a green journal in which he writes his unfiltered story, the version that he has not revealed to others before.“How well do you know the people who live near you?How well do they know you? Do you even know the namesof your neighbours? Everyone lies about their lives.What would happen if you shared the truth instead?The one thing that defines you, that makeseverything else about you fall into place? Not on the internet,but with those real people around you? Perhaps nothing.or may be telling that story would change your life,or the life Of someone you’ve not yet met.That’s what I want to find out.” – Julian’s entryHe then leaves the journal at a cafe and asks the person that finds it to be honest about their lives too.Monica, the owner of Monica's Cafe, finds the journal and is moved to write. her truth and pass the book on. When the journal reaches Monica’s hand she has already been through a lot. She used to work as a corporate lawyer in a big firm. A drastic outcome at office makes her question the life she is leading...crunching numbers and not having a social life outside her work, she is forced to make some life altering changes in her lifeMonica’s mom’s advice to “do something worthwhile with her life” keeps gnawing at her. She ultimately quits her job and open this Monica’s Café. She is happy but also very lonely. She has tried Tinder and other dating apps only to feel dejected by all those endless dates she has been on. All she wants is a handsome prince and to live happily ever after.So, Monica writes her authentic truth and drops it in a pub to find its next writer.Next, the journal ends up in Hazard’s hand in a small island called Koh Panam, Thailand. Hazard used to work in trading and he had it all together -insanely well-paid job, beautiful apartment and gorgeous women, but the reality was he spend a huge proportion of every day just planning his next high. His life got smaller and smaller, stuck on this miserable treadmill.“Anyhow, working in the City eats away at your soul.You never actually make anything, other than more money.You don’t leave a legacy. You don’t change the world in anymeaningful way” - HazardHazard’s life was going on this way until he saw his old picture of himself and realised he lost himself completely. That’s when his eyes fell on a picture of South China Sea and packs his bags and left to this tiny Island to think things over and perhaps discover new sense of joy and wonder. He picks up the journal by mistake from a nearby pub accidentally and that’s when he reads about Julian and Monica’s stories and begins to write his authentic truth: He is an addict and doesn’t want to end his life this way so he comes to this Island.The journal then finds it way in an Aussie’s hand – Riley. Hazard meets him in Thailand and slips it into his bag, as he is travelling back to where it all began- in London. Riley reads about Julian, Monica and Hazard’s authentic truth and wants to meet them in person.Up next, the journal finds its way into Alice’s Hand, a social media influencer on IG. And then into sixty-five-year-old Lizzie’s hand, who works part time at Mummy’s Little Helper. And finally ends up in someone else’s hand who might question Julian’s authentic story. We also come across some wonderful characters such as Benji, Baz, and Baz’s grand mom - Mrs Betty Wu.As the journal passes from hand to hand, new friendships and relationships begin to blossom showing that being authentic takes real courage. As the group grows, bonds and new friendships form, it becomes evident that being honest takes a lot of heart but the results are worth it. This is a charming and touching book, with lots of heart.Will Julian come out of his loneliness and find purpose @ 80?Will Monica get her happy ending?Will Hazard go back to London and change his life around? And how does Riley, Alice and Lizzie helpeach other out forms the rest of the story.Each character had their own quirks and issues to overcome, and I love the idea of people portraying a mask over their true selves - which is a big thing now, especially on social media.I loved how the author showed the life of addicts, new mom's, singleton's and seniors in a different light, they are real people living real hard lives...no matter what they show to the outside world.This narrative accurately portrays human interaction and our fears of being truly open and honest. The notebook writers have real life concerns, and it's easy to empathise with them. The warm connections and inclusion among the new friends is heart-warming. After all the social distancing during the pandemic, every city probably needs a cosy gathering place like Monica's Cafe.Loved the beautifully etched out characters. I felt as if I had known each one of them forever. The diary exchange element adds to the incredible charm of this gentle and heart-warming novel which made me believe in the generosity of humankind again.This story really shows how we are all connected and how the impression of the life we show to the world is very different than our reality. It is a good reminder of what people present to the world is usually not the whole truth - whether its through social media or wanting people to see us in a certain way, there are insecurities, lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, past traumas, etc., that lie below the surface. If we only have a bit more compassion and understanding for others, our world will be a better place to live.This is beautiful hard cover book that looks inviting enough to be lost in these pages. Although this book looks daunting with 400+ pages, the language is fluid, effortless and the narrative pace keeps you hooked to this engaging story.Clare Pooley’s writing and storytelling created a unique experience for me and restored my hope in humanity.Read it!!! Its uplifting, real and totally relatable.

Very well written, gripping, and lots of life lessons. A breeze read

Though I liked the starting of the book, it's unique concept and the question it posed that how well u knoe ur neighbors ?The character of Julian, Moncia and Hazard have been portrayed well ,but riley and alice character lacked the nuanced characterization and lacked realism.There are many repetition, easy to guess what coming next , especially the brewing love story.In the end the book do gives a good happy ending feeling but doesn't end the way it promised to be in the beginning.

Imagine you randomly find a notebook that forces you to be 'You'.A very unique and a new story that will make you laugh and self-reflect.The story includes 5 main principal characters and I am sure you'll easily relate with any one of them.It is a book about hope, love, laughter, chosen family and of course, AUTHENTICITY.This one literally felt like a Netflix feel-good movie.