Clare Pooley

Anna Cordell

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How to Age Disgracefully

A feel-good and uplifting read with unforgettable characters from the bestselling author of The Authenticity Project

The People on Platform 5

The Authenticity Project

I loved The Authenticity Project. It has such an intriguing premise, wonderful characters and is utterly truthful about the lies that we all tell. It's a clever, uplifting book that entertains and makes you think

Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It was a joy to read

'One of the best books I've read in a long time. Original, engaging and unforgettable'

Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Morgan

'Reading the book was like hanging out with a rowdy, affectionate bunch of friends where you don't want the party to stop. A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside'

I loved The Authenticity Project. I powered through it and it was such a joy. It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I've so missed (since the days of Love Actually etc). It really reminded me of those classic Richard Curtis films... Fab characters and just the right amount of romance, humour and weepy moments

It's full of life's truths, funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting. I thoroughly enjoyed it

'Pooley handles her cast with brio as new relationships are formed and lives are changed in this poignant and uplifting read'

This is a reminder of the importance of friendships and reaching out to others

I loved this uplifting, original tale

In a heartfelt and ultimately joyous read, we learn what it means to open up to who we really are

'A wonderfully warm, feel-good novel about the power of friendship and connection'

'A moving tale about living the best life you can'

In this joyous read, we learn what it means to embrace who we really are

'This is the feel-good story, full of hope, that we all need to read right now'

'A superb, life-affirming book . . . this is both funny and heartbreakingly sad'

'A heartening story about the importance of truth and friendship, with characters that spring to life on the page'

'A moving tale about loneliness, parenthood, addiction and the importance of living the best life you can'

'If you're a fan of Eleanor Oliphant, read this!'

'It's not difficult to see why this beautiful, tender novel has been such a hit with readers'

'This debut is life-affirming . . . Charming'

'Reminds you of the good in human nature, community and friendship... A lose-yourself, uplifting read with a serious theme to ponder'

'With lessons on honesty and just how well you might know your neighbours (which feels extra pertinent right now), The Authenticity Project will have you pondering your own 'inner self'...If you're looking for reassurance about friendship and love, it's a great place to find it'

'A lively story of revelations and self-realisations'

'The Authenticity Project cracks the facades that people present to the world and shows what happens when you're willing to share your true self. This is a story of love, community, of found family, and of forgiveness. A beautiful book with a poignant message, perfect for our time.'

Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost

Insightful, timely, and utterly addictive, The Authenticity Project illuminates the importance of discovering - and honoring - our truest, most imperfect selves.

Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones

Fans of Frederick Backman and Gail Honeyman - make room on your shelves for Clare Pooley. The Authenticity Project is a stunning debut and it left me inspired to share more of myself with the world.

Steven Rowley, bestselling author of The Editor

It's a heartwarming, laughter-and-tears story about the value of friendships and the importance of reaching out to each other.

'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.'

Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is

A heart-warming, feel-good story about love, loss and what it means to be human. Pooley's debut is gloriously upbeat and gorgeously readable.

Annabel Abbs, award-winning author of The Joyce Girl and Frieda

The bestselling uplifting, joyful and feel-good book of the year loved by readers everywhere

Brought to you by Penguin. 
------------------- 
'A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside' Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy 
 
'Feel-good...full of hope. A quirky cast of characters you can't help but root for'Woman &amp; Home, Book of the Month 
 
Listen to the warm, poignant and uplifting New York Times bestseller and Radio 2 Book Club pick, loved by readers. 
 
 
 
Six strangers with one thing in common: their lives aren't always what they make them out to be. 
 
What would happen if they told the truth instead? 
 
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. 
 
Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she'll be inspired to write down her own story. 
 
Little do they realize that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely. 
 
-------------- 
Readers are falling in love with The Authenticity Project: 
 
 
***** 'A charming, funny and uplifting story.' 
***** 'Full of optimism . . . I defy anyone not to pick it up and be both transported and delighted.' 
***** 'An absolute gem of a book . . . brings both honesty and the perfect level of escapism to give you a warm fuzzy glow inside.' 
 
© Clare Pooley 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

THE 2020 DEBUT NOVEL EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. 
Our lives aren't always what we make them out to be. What would happen if we told the truth instead?

Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer. 
 
Clare's dark but hilarious memoir, The Sober Diaries, has helped thousands of people around the world to quit drinking. 
 
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. It's been translated into 29 languages. 
 
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. 
 
Clare lives in Fulham, London with her husband, three children and two border terriers.

The Authenticity Project

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