There’s been a lot of excitement about the publication of Clare Pooley’s gorgeously uplifting debut, The Authenticity Project, and for readers in the US, the day is finally here.

This stunning novel hits US shelves today, published by Penguin Random House / Pamela Dorman Books.

The Authenticity Project first took the world by storm at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair, where it sold into nearly 30 territories in a month, having just been snapped up in a competitive six-way auction in the UK by Penguin Random House / Transworld, and in a major deal by Pamela Dorman Books in the US.

Around the same time, it was mentioned in a brilliant article in The Guardian about the rise of uplifting literature. It has had a fabulous review from Publisher’s Weekly, where they said “This is a beautiful and illuminating story of self-creation” and it was featured as The Bookseller‘s April Preview two weeks ago as Editor’s Choice: “A charming and heart-warming tale about the importance of friendship and reaching out to others.”

More recently, The Authenticity Project was chosen by Good Morning America as one of “20 Books You’ll Want to Read in 2020“. The novel will be presented at the “Books at Berlinale” pitching event in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair on 24th February, where it will be featured as one of “twelve exceptional works of literature that are particularly well-suited to adaptation for the screen”.

Early reviews have also been amazing:

 “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.” Sophie Kinsella

“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, of community, of found family, and of forgiveness. A beautiful book with a poignant message, perfect for our time.” Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost

“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

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One green notebook. Six strangers. The chance to start being honest…

Six strangers with one universal thing in common: their lives aren’t always what they make them out to be.

But what would happen if they told the truth instead?

Desperate to confess the deep loneliness he feels, Julian begins The Authenticity Project – a small green notebook containing the truth about his life – to pass on and encourage others to share their own.

Leaving it on a table in Monica’s café, a warm, friendly place where Julian escapes at his most lonely moments, he never expects Monica to find it and track him down. Or that his small act of honesty will impact all those who come into contact with the book, and lead to a life-changing world of friendship and forgiveness…

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Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising before becoming a full-time mum. She is the author of the hugely popular blog, Mummy was a Secret Drinker, under the pseudonym Sober Mummy and her memoir, The Sober Diaries was published by Hodder in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her blog has had over two million hits and she recently gave a TEDx talk titled Making Sober Less Shameful.

Clare lives in Fulham, London with her long-suffering husband, three children, dog and a cupboard filled with alcohol-free beer.