Pooley also cleverly gives a character’s point of view about another character, it highlights how people view others, make assumptions about people’s lives and how we portray ourselves to the world, but how we actually feel underneath it all. I thought I needed a light read after reading a few intense novels, but The Authenticity Project, while enjoyable, was a bit too light. Unfortunately, I’ve come to discover that good intentions (and, in this case, a good idea/premise) doesn’t necessarily mean a good read.

Reading the book was like hanging out with a rowdy, affectionate bunch of friends where you don't want the party to stop.

I guess this is chick-lit, so I looked at the only other such book I reviewed, nearly 14 years ago, Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret? Monica headed toward the north end of the cemetery, pausing only briefly, as she always did, at the grave of Emmeline Pankhurst, to give a silent nod of thanks. I found this a light-hearted, fun story about a motley group of people, whose lives have collided and despite the differences become great friends. There are too many other books out there that move me to force myself to read something I don't enjoy. I was surprised to read that the author has struggled with addiction as I remembered thinking how unrealistic those parts of the story seemed.

From there the story unfolds, as the volume travels to Thailand and back to London, seemingly destined to fall only into the hands of people—an alcoholic drug addict, an Australian tourist, a social media influencer/new mother, etc. Each of their words, trigger an action by the next person who reads them, eventually connecting all of the characters to one another. She’s looked him up online and discovered he’s a once famous artist, and a minor celebrity in his day. The Authenticity Project is a rich roast of great characters, even better relationships, wonderful entanglements, and a few surprises along the way. Now when I said my honest opinion about author's work, I hope her father (as she warned us in her acknowledgment) won't leave a nasty comment.

After writing his ‘authentic’ story in the book, he leaves it lying around for someone to pick up and read. But when they move to Alaska, still very wild and sparsely populated, Ernt finds a landscape as raw as he is. As in, a man his age would have been well into his 40s during the 80s and, therefore, his love for the clothes and music from that decade felt a little confusing and wrong.

He got his comeuppance for his philandering and selfish ways, but also a second chance at life - redemption is probably a better word for this part of the story line. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes how little people really know one another anymore. The Authenticity Project, Clare's debut novel, was a BBC Radio 2 bookclub pick, a New York Times bestseller, the winner of the RNA debut novel award and a Babelio award. Through their actions and encounters, we see the effect facing their truths has on their own lives as well as others'.Not only does this story show the reality of humanity, it shows the ripple effect that each person can have on each other.