The Authenticity Project: The feel-good novel you need right now

Product Information

The People on Platform 5 is Clare's second novel, inspired by her fascination with inventing stories about her fellow passengers on her commute to work.

The inauthenticity could be clever and meta. It came close with Alice, who realises her brand “was all about authenticity”, but knows her posts paint sunny lie after sunny lie. And a couple of other characters question the effect of the notebook. But overall, every paragraph felt utterly inauthentic to me. Put down your phones, quit sitting in front of your computer screens, get out of your house, and enjoy the faces and company around you... The Authenticity Project has a very YOLO ( 'you only live once') vibe. It's a very sweet, cutesy, if somewhat implausible, story told from multiple perspectives. Riley is the only character in the novel who doesn’t have an obvious fatal flaw. Does this make him more loveable, or less? How does Riley act as a touchstone for the other characters?Monica, the cafe’s owner, is a little dubious about unburdening herself in a notebook that will be read by strangers, but she has feelings she can’t express to anyone else. In addition to telling her secrets and leaving the notebook for someone else to find, she sets out to try and make a difference in Julian’s life. The other thing that annoyed me was the reference to Koala bears. When are people going to realise there is no such thing? They are simply koalas. No relation to a bear at all. With the internet these days, it is not that hard to get facts right. 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. Little by little the notebook finds its way into the hands of those who need to say things they can’t tell others. At the same time, it forms a community of sorts, kindred spirits in need of some kind of support or comfort. There are too many other books out there that move me to force myself to read something I don't enjoy.

But what annoyed me the most was the ridiculousness of the situations, everything was so unbelievable to the point it was plain stupid.Insightful, timely, and utterly addictive, The Authenticity Project illuminates the importance of discovering – and honoring – our truest, most imperfect selves.” Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising. I think the best part of this novel is the incredible characterization. I fell in love with all of the characters in their own way. They had deepness and layers beyond the initial exterior, which the different chapters from differing character perspectives really helped to accentuate. It was wonderful to see them bloom as the novel progressed. I also loved the relationships between them. This book truly highlights how important good friendships are to people’s lives. This book will create waves, I'm so sure of it. It wouldn't surprise me that it would be made into a movie, too. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes how little people really know one another anymore. So one day he begins The Authenticity Project—he writes truths about himself in a green notebook and leaves it in his local cafe.

Things can't be all sunshine and puppies though so you know conflict and drama are coming to tear it all apart. I was a bit sad to see the friendships built in the first part of the book break down. You would think that with everyone baring their souls in the notebook that they wouldn’t be hiding too many secrets from each other but this is absolutely what happens and anguish ensues. In the end everyone has some sort of a conclusion to their story and it is for the most part positive and happy, but also bittersweet. I became emotionally attached to these characters and I admit I was a bit teary.We all make snap judgements about each other, and often they’re wrong. What incorrect assumptions do The Authenticity Project characters make about each other? I really enjoyed the artistic elements of painting, clothing descriptions and music references. I truly could imagine Julian in my mind in outrageous outfits!

In efficient handwriting below this paragraph, a person has shared their intimate story. They appear to have answered these questions.Do you follow suit and share your own story and pass the journal on and leave it for the next person? The story is told from the POV of the six characters who wrote in the green notebook. They are all looking for change in their lives. Through their actions and encounters, we see the effect facing their truths has on their own lives as well as others'. This one has a quirky set of characters that somehow come together for new friendship, love, and happiness in London. One of the main characters is Monica. She’s finally gone out on her own to open Monica’s Café, but she’s struggling to keep the doors open and the money flowing. One day a mysterious green notebook is left behind in her café and the journey begins! The Authenticity Projectreads like a gorgeous box of chocolates: sweet, surprising and impossible not to love. I found myself cheering, cringing, laughing and crying as I read this book and – above all – remembering the true value of community and human connection.” The Authenticity Project is a rich roast of great characters, even better relationships, wonderful entanglements, and a few surprises along the way. If Monica’s Cafe were a real place, I’d stop by every day.”