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

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Clare’s second novel - The People on Platform 5 (titled Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting in the USA/Canada) is published in Spring 2022.

This was an adorable book that kept me smiling throughout. It really reminded me of the impact we can have on those around us and how kindness always wins.

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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! Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead? The one thing that defines you, makes everything else about you fall into place? Not, on the internet, but with those real people around you?

So The Authenticity Project, what is it? Well, Julian is an elderly man who has kept to himself for a very long time. He thinks people aren't honest with one another so he decides to write the truth about himself in a green notebook and he leaves it in a local cafe for someone to find. The owner of the cafe, Monica, comes across the notebook and decides to write about some of the things she is most vulnerable about in her life and then she leaves the notebook in a bar so another person can have their chance to spill their guts. And eventually some of the people who have written in the notebook get a chance to meet, and you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens next. 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.”The Authentic cozy καφέ της Μόνικα, μια ομάδα αγνώστων μεταξύ τους ενώνονται με αφορμή ένα πράσινο τετράδιο. Ο Τζούλιαν Τζεσόπ, ένας μοναχικός και εκκεντρικός γέρος αποζητά μια σανίδα σωτηρίας που θα τον σώσει από τη θάλασσα της μοναξιάς. Ξεκινώντας ένα πείραμα αυθεντικότητας, καταγράφοντας την αλήθεια του σε αυτό το τετράδιο, καλεί τον επόμενο κάτοχο του να πράξει το ίδιο, ώστε να έρθουν όλοι αντιμέτωποι με αυτό που κρύβουν πολύ βαθιά: την πραγματικότητα. Στην πορεία όμως ό,τι πίστευαν πως ίσχυε για τους εαυτούς τους, αλλάζει, χάρις ενός παράγοντα που κάθε άνθρωπος αποζητά: τη συντροφικότητα. We are all connected via huge social media communities, but are we really missing the type of local, ‘IRL’ community provided by Monica’s Café and Julian’s Supper Club? What could these communities give us that virtual ones do not? I disliked this ridiculous feel-good novel, stuffed with clichés and implausible caricatures of people, situations, and dialogue, and presumably sponsored by Apple *. But two friends recommended it as enjoyable, uplifting fun. I fancied something light, and the premise had promise. One of them lent me a copy, so I felt obliged to read the whole thing. I did. But I wish that I hadn’t. This is an honest review of my feelings about the book. I will say less, and be rather gentler when I return it.