I received this ebook ARC free of charge from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. It was my choice to read and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

It was pretty good but I wasn't sucked in. I kept switching to other books in between while reading it and I didn't have that urgency to read this book and only this book until about 60%.

I think the historical aspect of the book was more interesting than the present-day story and I might have liked this as historical fiction more. The present-day story did become more intriguing during the tipping point and the events after. I also didn't feel too connected to the MC, Charlotte until the tipping point where she became the victim of the famous author Luca Bruni's unwanted advances. And even after that, I didn't feel like I knew her as a character. I knew I was reading a book and I like to feel so connected to characters that it doesn't feel like a book but instead, it feels like their diary etc. That's what makes strong character connection and a 5 star book for me.

I also liked the tidbits at the beginning of each chapter on female poets and artists from the fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen hundreds.

The themes about famous artists and how they may abuse their power, the way talented women artists have been treated in history, etc do make this a worthwhile read.

TW: Sexual harassment and assault, underage drinking, anxiety, depression, pedophilia, references to: alcohol abuse, rape, child marriage

First off, I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect summer adventure for me. I loved how I felt like I was really in Venice with the help of Caletti’s descriptive writing. Next, I loved the plot of this book. The story line was creative and at a good pace. I did not feel like the book went by too quickly or too slowly. In addition to this, I loved the quotes on the top of each chapter. I really liked how it tied into the book and helped SMASH the patriarchy. This book was all about feminism and I loved it. Also, lets talk about this amazing ending! I won’t give too much away, but it perfectly tied the book together at the end. I am giving One Great Lie 5 stars and can’t wait to talk more about it once it gets released in July.

*THANK YOU NET GALLEY FOR AN ARC OF THE STORY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

★ “The incisive and sharply written, place-laden book balances its contemporary #MeToo narrative with Charlotte’s passionate investigation of Renaissance Venice gender politics…” – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

One Great Lie follows Charlotte, a graduating senior who has the chance of a lifetime to go spend a summer in Venice, studying creative writing under her favorite author with a group of other inspired students. The trip is even better for Charlotte as she will get to work on the mystery of her relative, Isabella, from the 1500s who might have written one of the most famous poems to have the credit stolen by a man. Charlotte takes the duty of solving her own problems and the mysterious poem into her hands for a summer full of excitement, opportunity and consequence.

I throughly enjoyed this YA novel with main themes of feminism, women equality and showing how history has impacted our current day life. I think this is a great read for teenagers 15+ as it does discuss heavier topics such as assault. However, the book has great messages for everyone who reads so please pick it up and let yourself walk in Charlotte's shoes.
I felt as I myself were traveling through Venice with a desire to consume as much history as my brain could manage. This fun summer read did include romance but I respected that following Deb Caletti's major themes, this romance was not the focus of the story. It helped our main character grow, learn and feel supported but never distracted from the main goals of the book.
Personally, my only qualm was that there were times the author's writing style didn't exactly match my preference but that never stood in the way of my wanting to pick up the book and continue reading.

One Great Lie by Deb Caletti might technically be a young adult novel, but the words in this story are so powerful and moving that anyone at any age will feel moved and touched by Charlotte’s story.

Charlotte thought she was the luckiest girl alive. Selected to participate in a famous author’s summer writing program, Charlotte will get to spend her summer after high school in Venice, Italy, learning and workshopping her writing with one of the most famous contemporary authors the world over. Charlotte’s ancestors hailed from Venice, so Charlotte sees this as her chance to not only impress her idol, but also discover more about her past and learn who the poet Isabella Di Angelo truly was. But as Charlotte uncovers secrets about Isabella, she also discovers who her idol, Luca Bruni, truly is as well. Through an eye opening series of events, Charlotte uncovers the secrets swept under the rug in both the past and the present, and discovers the depth of bravery that runs in her family.

One Great Lie was such a fantastic story, full of so many layers in both Charlotte’s time and Isabella’s. I spent the first half of the book internally screaming over every interaction Charlotte had with Luca Bruni; my guard was up on her behalf, even though she is a fictional character. But, in reality, it is easy to see the folly when you are outside the situation. As much as I cringe to admit it, the relationship between Charlotte and Bruni is all too real, now and throughout history. Powerful men can bury all their problems and come out clean on the other side. Isabella found that out in the 1500s, and Charlotte finds that to be true still today.

After Charlotte’s time with Bruni comes to a head, I still wound up unsettled with heartache over how other people reacted to the truth about Bruni. We see it so often with famous actors and politicians, and a whole Me Too movement was born to draw attention to the injustices victims often suffer through.

The last part of the book, though, gave me so much hope. Charlotte was so brave, faced her fears, and became a more fulfilled person because of it. I also loved that, after everything Charlotte went through, she was still able to find love in the place where she was hurt. Charlotte went through so much: hopelessness over her parents fighting, jealousy over Bruni’s wandering attention, hope when she thought he actually saw her for who she was, torn when she finally saw him for who he was, lost when his fans took his side over hers, love when she followed her heart, and finally peace when she could finally tell Isabella’s story when it had been lost for so long.

I went through so many emotions while reading One Great Lie. While at its heart, it’s a tale about finding yourself, this story covers so much more. It’s commentary on power dynamics, it’s commentary on victim shaming, and it’s commentary on the human need to feel wanted and how that is often exploited.

As heart wrenching as parts of this book were, I loved every chapter of One Great Lie and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Deb Caletti.

Years ago I spent two days in Venice and I left a little part of my soul there. Reading this book took me back there, the smell of the water in the canals, the shouts of the gondoliers, the crowds of tourists. I love books set in other countries and this one was no exception. Charlotte wants to do a summer program with famed writer Luca Bruni all the way in Venice. But once she arrives, the man she admired turns out to be not as she once believed. It is honestly brutal, unapologetically facing down the problems with how women are treated and seen in historic and modern society. It tackles tough subjects such as unwanted advances, finding your voice, and standing up for the truth. Luca may be a brilliant, talented writer, but he is a predator who had learned to masterfully manipulate his biggest fans. And as we often see, the rich and famous get off the hook, leaving his storyline unresolved without there being any consequences as we all would like to see. The atmosphere is creepy and stomach churning, as it should be. Teens should read this because it is very eye opening to the plight of many young women trying to make it in a man's world. Interwoven with Charlotte's story is that of Isabella, an ancestor of Charlotte's. Isabella's story rings so familiar, her beautiful poetry was stolen by a man who took credit for the work. Charlotte has proof of this and begins to unravel the mystery of her ancestor. This tale has some potential triggers for young readers but is a beautiful tale in a spectacular setting.

I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Okay, so I requested this book because middle school me LOVED Deb Caletti. She was one of my most favorite authors. When I saw this book, I got excited. That being said, I didn't even look at the synopsis or anything, I just requested it and hoped to be approved.

I LOVED this book. As a girl who believes that women are so discounted throughout history particularly artists whose art is ignored and lost as time goes by. Recovery work is SO important to gender studies and many people have no idea the amount of work that recovery work takes. The two main storylines- Charlotte's and Isabella's- are so important today. Charlotte must learn to stay strong and speak out against the injustices that women face, especially by men in power. Isabella learned the hard way that speaking out is difficult and can hurt you irreparably. Beautiful story and a great read- exactly the sort of book I'm interested in reading and promoting!

Deb Caletti’s One Great Lie is a stunning YA novel about gender dynamics and issues of power, perfect for consideration in the aftermath of the #metoo movement.

Told in spare, gorgeous prose, the novel focuses on a girl who’s given her dream and then has to reckon with the fact that it’s not what she hoped it would be.

Charlotte is a typical junior at her high school: she and her best friend, Yasmin, have big dreams—Charlotte wants to be a writer, and Yasmin wants to work for NASA—but otherwise, they have the typical concerns of high school students: the next big project that’s due, how to deal with needy boyfriends, navigating family tension. Charlotte’s dad travels a great deal, and her mom’s temper is a constant source of stress, so Charlotte and her little sister Ella support each other and escape when they can.

One day, at the library, Charlotte sees a flyer advertising the possibility of a writer’s workshop with Luca Bruni, her absolute favorite author, in Venice. There’s no way her family has the money to pay for it, but there are scholarships available. On a whim, Charlotte applies. And she wins the scholarship.

She travels to Venice, ecstatic about the start of her career as a writer, about the opportunity to work with other students who are writers, to be in Italy, and—above all—to meet and learn from Luca Bruni.

I love this book so much. I think the questions it asks are important, and they’re asked and answered in a thought-provoking way that acknowledges their complexity. One of the book’s major subplots is that of Charlotte’s ancestor, Isabella Di Angelo, a woman who—it was rumored—wrote some famous poetry that has been credited for centuries to a man. As Charlotte works on her own writing and works with Venetian historians who become intrigued by her story, Caletti asks about the necessity of considering both the art and the artist, of the geniuses who use those around them as pawns in their own greatness. The author weaves in small blurbs about female artists at the beginning of each chapter, which serve to reinforce the themes of her novel.

I requested One Great Lie because of my admiration for Caletti’s book A Heart in a Body in the World, which dealt in nuanced ways with issues of violence and trauma, and this new novel completely lives up to the brilliance of that previous work. Caletti is doing important work here, and I can’t wait to put this one in the hands of students.

Charlotte is an aspiring writer, and she jumps at the chance to win a writing workshop in Venice, Italy with the famous author Luca Bruni. When she is accepted through a scholarship, she is elated because her story is good enough for her to be chosen. Charlotte also has a relative named Isabella, a poet who lived 500 years ago in Venice, and Charlotte is convinced that Isabella is the true author of a famous poem attributed to a man named Antonio Tasso. Charlotte enlists the help of a handsome, sweet boy named Dante who works at the library in Venice to help her solve the mystery, but at the same time, her writing workshop begins to take a frightening turn when Luca Bruni subtly hits on a couple of the girls and acts in a strange and mysterious manner. Soon the summer of a lifetime seems to blow up into more of a nightmare, and Charlotte will be tested far beyond what she ever imagined.

What an absolutely heartbreaking, relevant book this was. It was appalling to read about the way women were treated in Renaissance Italy as well as the way the girls in the story were treated. I felt so many things while reading, especially sadness, anger, longing, and triumph. After reading this realistic and lushly descriptive book, I wanted to go to Italy myself. I enjoyed learning more about Venetian culture and history, as well as the ways people, especially women, were able to overcome their awful circumstances. It was easy to sympathize with Charlotte and to get caught up in the mystery unfolding. Sweet Dante and his mother Maria were my favorite characters, as well as Aldo. Though the book has a feminist message, there were some kind men in the story that made me hopeful and showed that not all men are selfish and mean. Even though I didn't care for the profanity or agree with some of the views and lifestyles portrayed, I think this is an important book and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

One Great Lie is a compelling YA novel that quickly draws you in to a mystery involving a young writer, Charlotte, and an elusive,Venetian poet, Isabella Di Angelo. Charlotte is head over heels when her dream comes true and she is awarded a scholarship to a writing workshop in Venice! Arriving in this romantic and stunningly visual and spectacular city, feels like an adventure of a lifetime to this determined young woman. The city is rich, serene, and uniquely seductive, as is the man who is Charlotte's teacher,the charming and powerful, Luca Bruni.

The villa on La Calamita island is gorgeous and luxuriant and Charlotte falls under a spell as she researches her possible lineage to the female poet, Isabella, and builds a firendship with an Italian student, Dante.
But as the sultry summer progresses Charlotte begins to see a darker,more ominous side of Luca. and realizes he is a dominant, controlling man as he oversteps the boundaries between man and young, beautiful and impressionable young woman, as well as teacher and student.

As the end of the summer draws near and things build to a devastaing daze of an ending, Charlotte must rely upon her own determination, pride and creative spirit to battle the dark truths of the real Luca Bruni and men like him.

DNF.

I should have looked at the formats available before requesting. PDF basically unreadable.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity.

Deb Caletti has crafted a five-star masterpiece that has set a new standard for stories of female empowerment. One Great Lie is a riveting story of women sidelined by men and the devastating ways men throughout history have controlled the fates of women who challenged them. Set along the dreamy canals and isles of Venice, Charlotte, an American student who aspires to be a writer, is selected for a summer program hosted by Luca Bruni, a legend in the field of literature. However, a dream opportunity becomes a nightmare when Luca creates elaborate scenarios to lure young women into secluded locations.

The story is balanced by women of Italy's cloistered past, who had been deprived of the right to publish, their words stollen by men who hid them away in convents or had them killed. As the past can never stay hidden, especially in the Aqua Alta of Venice, the truth floats to the surface, revealing the power of women helping other women.

This book is perfect for discussion and should be a necessary part of the literary canon. Please, add this to your library, share it with teachers and professors of literature. It would be no surprise if this becomes more than a nook. With romance and action, the story has a cinematic quality that would easily translate to the screen.

I absolutely loved the mystery within this novel. It was exactly what I was looking for when I requested this book. The setting and descriptions make you feel as though you are transported to Venice.

I was unable to read the format that this book came through on. I am going to get a hard copy to review. I have heard great things about it and the plot seems like something right up my alley.

I love Deb Caletti - she is such a talented writer and this book was so so good. A little dark and gritty and unlike most of the contemporary rom-coms that hit the shelves in the summer. I enjoyed the pacing and I loved the setting. Would highly recommend to fans of Caletti or those looking to get out of the standard YA genre. This is a bit off beat and that's why I enjoyed it so much.

I started out not really liking this book - it was just your basic teen novel about a girl on an adventure to a writing workshop in Venice. She's insecure but when a famous author starts to notice her, she feels special.
But things spiral out of control. There are really two stories going on in this book - Charlotte the writer working with Luca and the how powerful men influence the lives of women, and the story of Charlotte's ancestor, and how women were treated at second class citizens and essentially shuttered when they showed any sign of stepping out of line or being independent. A story as old as time which unfortunately, still happens today. Hopefully books like this will help put a stop to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen for early access to the novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

One Great Lie became one of my all time favorite novels within just a few chapters. I will be reading and recommending this one again and again.

I love the unique ways I got to meet everyone who matters to Charlotte, the 18 year old protagonist. Through these brief introductions to her multi-dimensional friends, family, and teachers, Charlotte's own complexities take shape.

I love how Charlotte's passion and dreams shine through beautiful prose. Never have I read a book with so many dynamic sentences that touched my soul in a way I want to keep them nearby always.

I love the chapter openers, mini biographies of Renaissance women (mostly poets) who have been all but erased from history. These true stories along with the mystery of Charlotte's fictional ancestor Isabella bring to light the deep-rooted tendrils of sexism that still hold tight to today's society. Charlotte's struggle with this is layered in her personal experiences, her research into Isabella, and her self- exploration through her writing.

I love how this novel is a partially a frame story, with some charachter and plot development happening as we "listen to" fledgling authors read their seminar assignments aloud. We similarly learn more about their idolized writing instructor as he models the skills and as he responds to the attempts of Charlotte and the other students.

One Great Lie is about many great lies that impact Charlotte and other charachters. In some cases, it made me angry and sad, and in others, it made me proud, curious, or excited.

I love this novel, and look forward to sharing it with teen and adult readers both.

I tried reading this, I really did. I made my way to the halfway point and couldn't go any further.
The mystery aspect of the story was subpar. It was very slow. I didn't feel the characters; I couldn't relate to any of them. This was not what I was expecting it to be.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

I wish this was 2 separate books. 1 story about Charlotte looking into her family's past and another one about the summer writing program and what happens there. It was too much all at once. I felt like the beginning of the book was a little slow. Then after Charlotte leaves Italy, it seems like the book skipped over some pretty important part for the storyline. It moved too quickly then. I loved Charlotte, Dante and Maria. They made the book. Without them it would have been a dnf.

I honestly am not sure what I think of One Great Lie. It was not what I was expecting. It has wonderfully crafted prose. Oddly enough, that same prose at times felt too heavy and bogged down my enjoyment of the read. I found the two interwoven story lines - Charlotte's story set in the present and mystery surrounding Charlotte's long ago relative, Isabella, set in Venice in the 1500s - interesting.

I think One Great Lie would make a good book club selection. It would be interesting to compare and contrast life and social mores in the 1500s in Venice with what currently is happening in Charlotte's life.

I’ve been reading Deb Caletti’s books since I was a young adult myself. Thus, I found myself really looking forward to delving into One Great Lie. I think that Caletti has this spectacular way of exploring issues that affect girls and women in a way that feels realistic. Although certain elements of One Great Lie were a bit outside of reality (the writing fellowship in Venice with the world famous author and scholarship), the really important parts definitely could have been ripped from real life – particularly from the experiences of #MeToo.

One Great Lie is about Charlotte, a girl from Seattle who is unassuming and quiet. She dreams of being a writer. Charlotte applies for a writing program where she will be mentored by her favorite writer, Luca Bruni, in Venice. Of course, she gets in and has a scholarship. At first, it is a dream come true. Only, then things change. You see, Luca is not to be trusted. He uses his position to take advantage of girls, chews them up, and spits them out as Charlotte and her fellow participants will discover.

Interspersed with what happens at the writing program is a subplot. The subplot involves Charlotte looking for the work and truth of a relative who was a female poet in the 1500s. She has received no recognition for her work. With the help of a new friend, Dante, and an Italian professor, Charlotte looks to the past and sees she is not the first girl to have a powerful man wreck her dreams. She sees a whole history of women who never received the recognition the men of their time did. Instead, these women were sent to convents, accused of using magic, as well as of being prostitutes. Some even saw their work stolen and taken credit for by the men.

I think that the themes within One Great Lie are extremely relevant to today. With Luca Bruni, you can see the parallels to Harvey Weinstein, among other examples. The setting for this book is immersive and interesting. I also liked the history that was added, particularly about Venice and the different festivals. However, the pacing is a bit slow. I also never totally felt engaged while reading. The themes within of power and control are very important, however, and I do think that this book definitely deserves a read.