The Authenticity Project cover art

The Authenticity Project

The bestselling uplifting, joyful and feel-good book of the year loved by readers everywhere

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The Authenticity Project

By: Clare Pooley
Narrated by: Anna Cordell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.
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'A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside' Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy

'Feel-good...full of hope. A quirky cast of characters you can't help but root for'Woman & Home, Book of the Month

Listen to the warm, poignant and uplifting New York Times bestseller and Radio 2 Book Club pick, loved by readers.



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

What would happen if they told the truth instead?

Julian Jessop is tired of hiding the deep loneliness he feels. So he begins The Authenticity Project - a small green notebook containing the truth about his life.

Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she'll be inspired to write down her own story.

Little do they realize that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely.

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Readers are falling in love with The Authenticity Project:


***** 'A charming, funny and uplifting story.'
***** 'Full of optimism . . . I defy anyone not to pick it up and be both transported and delighted.'
***** 'An absolute gem of a book . . . brings both honesty and the perfect level of escapism to give you a warm fuzzy glow inside.'

© Clare Pooley 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Coming of Age Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Urban Feel-Good

Critic Reviews

I loved The Authenticity Project. It has such an intriguing premise, wonderful characters and is utterly truthful about the lies that we all tell. It's a clever, uplifting book that entertains and makes you think
Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It was a joy to read
'One of the best books I've read in a long time. Original, engaging and unforgettable'
'Reading the book was like hanging out with a rowdy, affectionate bunch of friends where you don't want the party to stop. A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside'
I loved The Authenticity Project. I powered through it and it was such a joy. It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I've so missed (since the days of Love Actually etc). It really reminded me of those classic Richard Curtis films... Fab characters and just the right amount of romance, humour and weepy moments
It's full of life's truths, funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting. I thoroughly enjoyed it
'Pooley handles her cast with brio as new relationships are formed and lives are changed in this poignant and uplifting read'
This is a reminder of the importance of friendships and reaching out to others
I loved this uplifting, original tale
In a heartfelt and ultimately joyous read, we learn what it means to open up to who we really are
All stars
Most relevant
Enjoyed this book whilst sunbathing by the pool. Good read for someone wanting something escapist and light reading

Great holiday read

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This was such a great, warm and uplifting story. I recommend this book to anyone

Loved it

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Such a great story full of feeling and true characters.
Well narrated (except for the Aussie accent🤭)

Wonderful

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A great book with lots of charm and humour ,although the Australian accent is really bad ,I say this as an Australian 😅

great captivating whimsical story

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This was an interesting idea for a story and the idea that no-one is really as they seem was a good one. The flawed characters were kept moderately real and many issues faced by the average person were addressed that is all except for the character Alice who gave fleeting acknowledgement of her coping mechanism for the stresses of new motherhood. It was disappointing that it was glossed over a bit while the issues of other characters were given a large amount of attention. What drove me crazy was the TERRIBLE Australian accent.. It became so incredibly irritating and when koala "bears" were referred to I almost gave up. The author and narrator really needed to get the Australian character so much more believable. He sounded so unlike any Aussie Ive ever heard (and I live in Australia) and his stereotypical characterisation was pretty awful. I listened to the book while driving and walking and the whole time I fluctuated between enjoying a pleasant story to being completely exasperated by the narration.

Enjoyable story spoilt by awful accent

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I like most people found the accents awful. I would have rather read this book than listened to this version.

nice story

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loved the story, however the narrator's attempt at the accents (particularly Australian) was really poorly executed and a bit awkward! lovely ending nonetheless ☺️

narrator

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I loved every moment of this warm, caring, funny and so very human book. I’m an Aussie myself and found Riley’s accent very very bad and the simplistic portrayal of an Aussie character, but the story was so lovely I just put up with it. Highly recommend this to anyone. I won’t forget it in a hurry.

Fabulous read

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A great read/listen
Loved its unusual take on the romance/com novel. Adored the characters, especially the marvellous Julien

Loved it

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love both books can't wait for the next one. Sober diaries have helped me like nothing else has.

fantastic

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