The Authenticity Project

The Authenticity Project

A Novel

by Clare Pooley

384 pages· 2020· ISBN 9781984878625

Browse books you can read free on Readfeed

No club is reading this yet — be the first to start one

2 readers have this book on their Readfeed shelves

Start a club free
About
A WASHINGTON POST “FEEL-GOOD BOOK guaranteed to lift your spirits” “A warm, charming tale about the rewards of revealing oneself, warts and all.” —People The story of a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected friendship, and even love Julian Jessop, an eccentric, lonely artist and septuagenarian believes that most people aren't really honest with each other. But what if they were? And so he writes—in a plain, green journal—the truth about his own life and leaves it in his local café. It's run by the incredibly tidy and efficient Monica, who furtively adds her own entry and leaves the book in the wine bar across the street. Before long, the others who find the green notebook add the truths about their own deepest selves—and soon find each other In Real Life at Monica's Café. The Authenticity Project's cast of characters—including Hazard, the charming addict who makes a vow to get sober; Alice, the fabulous mommy Instagrammer whose real life is a lot less perfect than it looks online; and their other new friends—is by turns quirky and funny, heartbreakingly sad and painfully true-to-life. It's a story about being brave and putting your real self forward—and finding out that it's not as scary as it seems. In fact, it looks a lot like happiness. The Authenticity Project is just the tonic for our times that readers are clamoring for—and one they will take to their hearts and read with unabashed pleasure.

Discussion questions for The Authenticity Project

Bring these to your book club — or discuss them with readers on Readfeed.

  1. 1

    How does Julian’s premise that "most people aren't really honest with each other" resonate with your own observations of modern society, particularly in the age of social media?

  2. 2

    Each character in the novel struggles with a curated public persona versus their messy reality; which character's initial deception felt the most relatable or understandable to you?

  3. 3

    The green notebook acts as a catalyst for radical honesty; do you think total authenticity is always a virtue, or are there times when withholding the truth is a necessary act of kindness?

Discuss The Authenticity Project with other readers

Join or start a book club for The Authenticity Project on Readfeed. Live chat, shared reading progress, and AI discussion questions — free to get started.

Frequently asked questions

How do I join a book club for The Authenticity Project?

Sign up free on Readfeed, then browse public clubs or start your own club with The Authenticity Project as the current read. Invite friends with a share link and discuss together with live chat and AI discussion questions.

Can I discuss The Authenticity Project with other readers online?

Yes. Readfeed book clubs let you chat live, share progress, and join discussions about The Authenticity Project with readers worldwide — whether your club is virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

Is Readfeed free?

Yes. Creating an account and joining book clubs is free. Sign up to find readers who love the same books and start discussing today.