The Authenticity Project – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Authenticity Project

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2020

84%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

Six strangers, one green notebook, and a whole lot of secrets. It’s like a group therapy session you actually want to attend.

The Authenticity Project

book

2020

84%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

Six strangers, one green notebook, and a whole lot of secrets. It’s like a group therapy session you actually want to attend.

4.4

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Screenwise Verdict

The Authenticity Project is what people call 'up-lit'—uplifting literature that doesn't shy away from the messy parts of life.

It’s a great read for anyone feeling a bit burnt out by the digital grind. It’s not a literary masterpiece that will be taught in schools 100 years from now, but it’s a warm, smart, and genuinely engaging story that reminds us that everyone is carrying something heavy. If you're looking for a book that feels like a conversation with a friend who isn't afraid to tell you the truth, this is it.

Age Fit

This is a solid pick for older teens (14+) and adults. While the writing is accessible, the themes of mid-life crises, addiction, and the regrets of an elderly artist are geared toward a more mature perspective.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It’s a story about building community and being honest with yourself. While it touches on heavy topics like loneliness and addiction, the overall trajectory is toward healing and connection.

Imaginative

The central premise—a notebook of secrets left in a cafe to spark a chain reaction of truth—is a clever hook that encourages readers to think about their own hidden narratives.

Safe

No graphic violence or shock value here. It deals with adult themes like substance abuse and romantic complications, but it does so with a gentle hand. It's 'safe' for its intended adult/young adult audience.

Enriching

In an era of curated social media feeds, this book is a direct hit on the 'perfection' myth. It offers genuine insights into the importance of vulnerability and real-world human interaction.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

A perfect antidote to the 'everything is fine' facade of social media.
The characters feel like real people you'd actually meet at a local coffee shop.
It’s an easy, 'unputdownable' read that doesn't sacrifice depth for pace.
Promotes the idea that it's never too late to reinvent yourself or find community.

⚠

What to Watch For

One character struggles with drug addiction, which might be a heavy conversation for younger teens.
The plot leans into some 'small world' coincidences that might feel a bit too tidy for cynical readers.
Explores themes of aging and isolation that can be quite poignant and sad in parts.

Conversation Starters

"If you found a notebook like this, what’s the one 'truth' you’d be terrified to write down?"
"Why do you think we feel so much pressure to look like we have it all together online?"
"Which character’s 'secret' did you relate to the most, and why?"
"Do you think people are actually lonelier now than they were before the internet?"

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