Clare Pooley's The Authenticity Project Is the Embrace I Never Knew I Needed

‘Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead?’

‘Chick-lit’ is the genre pool I barely dip into these days. I usually save up these pages of indulgent gorgeousness for holidays or times in when I can just sit, read, drink tea and relax. Books such as these are like a hug; they are familiar and warm and comforting. The Authenticity Project is the embrace I never knew I needed, it grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the very end and I had given way to tears and emotional release. Like all great hugs, it came at the right moment.

Julian Jessop is lost. He is an octogenarian artist, who has found himself alone after the loss of his wife and former lifestyle, which was full of grandeur, exciting parties and celebrity friends. His days are monotonous, repetitive and lonely. The disconnection he feels, leads him to write the truths about his life in a rather un-assuming pale-green exercise book that he labels, The Authenticity Project. He leaves this book, alongside his secrets in his favourite café. At the end of his story, Julian invites the person who finds the exercise book to share they own authentic truth in its pages before leaving it for others to discover. It is found by the cafe owner, Monica.

The Authenticity Project then makes its way into the hands of four other people and travels around the world, spreading truths about those who fill it. The characters become inextricably linked by the power of authenticity and opportunities it can open up.

The novel is written in a multiple narrative, with each of the characters becoming more intertwined as the story progresses. Each new contributor learning more than the previous one and all needing to make connections with those that have gone before.

Pooley writes beautifully and with a poeticism that sometimes borders on heartbreak. Her personal life experiences are also expertly woven into the storyline, with her history of addiction being mirrored in the character of Hazard.

The characters jump off the page, each with their own unique voice, personality and quirks. For those of my friends and family on whom I have forced this book, I always ask one thing - which character are you? It’s a kind of wonderful literary personality test.

This story, in my opinion, teaches many lessons. In a world of fakery, gender expectations and Instagram filtered lives; what does it mean to be truly authentic, and how would it change our lives if we were? If this book is anything to go by, honesty seems to be the best policy. It makes way for love, hope, friendship. Being authentic, it seems, allows for the basic human connection we all crave.

Perhaps Julian, was on to something.

I worked at Transworld (PRH) doing work experience just prior to this books release. I was lucky enough to work as part of the Publicity team and when this proof fell into my lap, I knew it was love – I even have my very own pale-green exercise book. My own, Authenticity Project.

Maybe one day, I will leave it on a café table somewhere. . .

The Authenticity Project is just gorgeous. It is funny, full of love and at times painfully honest. You will find yourself in this book, as if Pooley has reached inside your head and pulled out your truths without you knowing.

Read it, you’ll love it.

I’m Monica, by the way.

Katie D xx