The authenticity project
(Book)

When Julian, an elderly, once-famous artist, leaves a journal in his local cafe, it changes the lives of a chain of people. The cafe's owner, Monica, finds the mysterious book and reads about Julian's struggle to make authentic connections. She adds her own pages about her wishes to find love and start a family, and then the journal finds its way to Hazard, a recovering addict and financial trader; Riley, an easygoing Australian traveler; and Alice, a young mother who feels unfulfilled. Monica's cafe becomes a hub for this quirky bunch and others as it hosts art classes led by Julian and orchestrates celebrations and excursions, all of which give rise to unlikely friendships and even romance.