It also gives food for thought in taking time to talk to people and not jumping to first impressions as this story shows that a lot of the time they couldn’t be further than the truth. As she cautions the Allbrights, “Alaska herself can be Sleeping Beauty one minute and a bitch with a sawed-off shotgun the next. The story includes 5 main principal characters and I am sure you'll easily relate with any one of them.

The four men think about work and creativity and success and failure; they cook for each other, compete with each other and jostle for each other’s affection. There are a lot of characters but they are all so different that it was never confusing, even when their stories all connect. As the notebook is passed from one character to another and authentic thoughts are shared, these characters lives begin to intertwine. 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.

The two of them had, so the rumors went, traded insults (and, the implication was, women) over the years. The references to famous people of the eighties Julian used to hang out with, his designer wardrobe and old LP collection, add plenty of colour and I loved the Fulham setting. Each character has their story to tell and their own authentic selves to share which they do through a notebook.Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Having read and loved The People On Platform 5 by the author, I knew I had to read this book also and it didn’t disappoint. Eventually, the tone darkens and the story narrows to focus on Jude as the pain of his past cuts deep into his carefully constructed life. The book was recommended to my book club and I will be passing that information along to other book clubs. So the reader gets chapters from several different people and the interactions that form between these people.