When a new Deb Caletti book comes along, I read it. Her writing relates to what young women are experiencing. It not all roses for Caletti heroines, there’s plenty of anguish, and confusion as they head into adulthood. In One Great Lie Charlotte, senior in high school, has won a scholarship to a writing workshop held on a private island close to Venice, Italy. Two things compelled her to apply. The first is her mother’s Italian heritage and a mystery about a Venetian poet, Isabella de Angelo, who lived in Venice in the 1500’s. The second reason Charlotte is so excited is the instructor is her favorite author. Things don’t turn out as Charlotte expect, but she does find “herself” but the skillful foreshadowing of the instructor’s predatory actions show that Charlotte is in for more than she planned. An afterword by the author tells of the research that went into writing this book.

There are so many lies going on in this book. I thought I knew what the "Great Lie" was until I got a few chapters in the book and there are many lies, two of which hold the book together. There is a lie that Tasso wrote a poem he has long been credited for and the lie that Luca is a great guy. Sprinkled in throughout the book are other lies that build on each other and those who choose to believe the lies as well as those who confront them.
I really enjoyed this book and am recommending it to a coworker as soon as we return to school. I also recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great read.

I was not only hooked, it really made me see things that have been hidden in history. Every chapter begins with a mini bio of a female author that has been forgotten, either because a man took credit for her work or history chose to forget her and her contribution. Many of these women died very young.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book includes beautiful prose, a stunning setting, and heavy commentary on who we study in literature and art, along with why their works survive when others’ (specifically women’s) are forgotten. Charlotte, a recent high school graduate, is thrilled to be chosen to attend a writer’s program in Italy hosted by her favorite author Luca Bruni, but that thrill wears away as she finds out who he really is. Along the way, she meets a young man Dante who helps her research her distant relative Isabella di Angelo, who, in her family’s lore, was the actual author of a famous poem rather than the man who claimed it as his. Dante connects Charlotte with researchers who help her as she seeks the truth. As you can see, there’s a LOT going on in here, and at times I felt a bit lost, but the premise, setting, and strong female characters kept me going.

I am unable to read this book as it is not able to be downloaded on my e-reader. Can you please make this available because, though I appreciate it being sent to me, I am unable to see what it's all about!

A beautiful story gifted through NetGalley... I’d give it a 3.5 stars. There is vivid imagery both in location and in description or circumstance that leaves the reader with fantastic realism. However, there are also portions that drag and feel,ultimately unnecessary and cumbersome to the plot. It is a tale of passion and idealism that is a part of youth, but them develops into a more mature understanding of true passion - of finding ones true self.

Hank you so much for this advance copy of the novel. This was not available as a kindle file and I couldn't open it. It sounds like an amazing YA historical fiction with a strong female character and lots of plot development. Disappointed that I couldn't read it.

This book caught my eye with the cover. I started reading this book and fell in love with the Charlotte. There were so many things that I felt Charlotte and I truly connected on. Her passion and love for writing kept me turning the pages. I was hopeful that she would be selected for the scholarship that would send us both to Venice.
I thought it was fun to introduce readers to her project and her family history in a unique powerful way. From the begining you can see how Charlotte wants to rise above the ordinary and make not only herself but the history of women about their worth, not their list of lovers.

Following Charlotte on her journey to becoming independent and find her true self was an incredible journey. I found myself turning the pages to see what would happen text. I was pushing Charlotte to be strong while hiding behind the cover worried for her next step into becoming the Charlotte she knows she can me!

In Deb Caletti’s new YA novel, One Great Lie, Charlotte gets a scholarship to study writing with famous author Luca Bruni in Venice for the summer. She just graduated from high school, and can’t wait to travel and learn from her idol, but things don’t exactly go the way she hopes. A second plot line--more interesting in my opinion--revolves around the search for one of Charlotte’s ancestors who may have written a famous poem in the 16th century, but had it stolen from her because she was a woman. At times One Great Lie feels like two books smooshed together, but Caletti’s solid writing and the unraveling mystery of the poet carry the day. YA readers who enjoy a mix of romance, feminist ideas, contemporary issues, and a little bit of mystery will enjoy this book.

Ah! The romantic description of Venice and its rich history brimming over the edges of the islands, flooding my heart with longing for a city I've never seen... And, I am obsessed with the history (HER-stories) of the unseen daughters of the convents:
"You will see me. Even though you have locked me away, I am here."

The more I read, the deeper I fell in love with One Great Lie. The characters are fully developed and endearing. There is so much to unwrap within this story! The way we celebrate and ignore literature because of the author's gender... Why we tend to overlook serious, ugly, harmful flaws of accomplished people...

Charlotte's emotions are authentic--her anxiety over confrontation; the intimidation of dealing with an angry person; sensing the lure of power. Just the sheer thought of "the power of words" that Charlotte recognizes as she explores her own writing, the writing of her mentor, and the writings of 500 years before is handled in a genuine way.

There are so many parts of the book that will stick with me; one being the Alta Acqua Libreria bookstore that has books in boats and bathtubs to protect them from Venice's seasonal flooding. I learned so much about Venice and the respect for its culture.
Bonus: Each chapter heading brings attention to a female writer/poet of the Italian Renaissance who hasn't received the recognition she deserves.

This book is for all YA audiences, but especially readers and writers who love words.

This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! This book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the story and the characters long after you finish the book!

Thank for you the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately the Netgalley App is not accessible to me so I am unable to read this book.

Not readable on Kindle, therefore I can't read this! Please allow access to those of us who use ereaders, then I'll be able to review this properly.

I just clicked this to download as I saw it popped up as a Read Now, but I did not realize it would not be available on Kindle. Due to headaches associated with reading on anything other than a kindle, I will not be able to review this. This makes me sad because it sounds amazing and I am sending a rating based upon that alone. I just wish it was accessible to all types of readers.

One Great Lie was the fifth book that I have read from Deb Caletti, but it was my favorite one yet. It was the first book in a while that really got me thinking about certain issues. Charlotte, the main character, wins a scholarship to Venice to learn more about writing from her idol, Luca Bruni, and while there she also looks for more information on the life of a woman poet in her lineage. While she’s in Venice, she learns things about Bruni and her long ago relative that changes everything she knows and believes in. One of the greatest themes in this book was feminism, and while I will admit I have never been a deep feminist, this book really had me thinking about issues that woman have faced over time and even now. I don’t want to give away too much but I will say that Charlotte’s journey of self discovery was inspiring and thought provoking and I am so glad that I was able to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Some settings appeal to me so much that they grab my attention and make me eager to read a book. Venice speaks to me and I am glad to have found this YA story.

Although the tales of misogyny and abuse are old, the themes are given a fresh twist in “One Great Lie.” I enjoyed the author’s writing style, her description of the island city and the clever use of the 500-year-old relative’s history; but was not surprised by the outcome in the present.

Overall, a delightful novel for teens.

Third person narrators grind my gears. In this case, I understand the artistic choice. It makes sense, but it created a coldness & aloofness for the reader that made the main character less engaging. When I questioned whether or not I liked her, I mentally scolded myself. Like or not, her story is her own. My liking of the character should be irrelevant. At the same time, I have to have some degree of affinity for a character to continue chasing down his/her story. Although I quickly sussed out what was coming, I wasn’t sure how it would all unfold. I guessed at a few things and missed on others. Trying to figure out what was next was the most compelling aspect of this text. I think we need all of the #metoo stories out there that we can get shared. This cleverly shared a silenced female writer with the intro to each chapter. Those snippets were compelling. All said, this one just missed the mark for me.

One Great Lie by Deb Caletti
One Great Tale is a tale of one girl’s passion and love of writing.
What would you do if you were allowed to spend a summer with your idol? The one person who motivates you to be something more than just your average self and makes you want to be exceptional? That is precisely the opportunity presented to Charlotte when she gets the chance to spend the summer in Venice with her favorite author for whom she idolizes and learns from him on a writing retreat. During her summer of inspiration and discovery, she takes the chance to try to unlock the mystery behind her long-lost family member’s (Isabella di Angelo’s) hidden poetry that may have been stolen from her hundreds of years ago.
When she writes, there is a love that makes her pour out all her emotions, weaving a tale, bleeding her soul on paper, describing the outcome of stolen passion.

Deb Caletti put so much raw emotion in this story that you felt the pain deep in your soul; it would bring me to tears. It was overwhelming at times, but there wasn’t always pain. There was joy and happiness too. The fun and enjoyment were terrific and gave a blissful feeling. Many times, I would catch myself smiling and feeling a hopeful fluttering for Charlotte. I find it amazing when an author can write so many different emotions to give you such strong reactions with such ease. It’s a fantastic accomplishment, and others should praise this work.

I have so many things I want to say about this story, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I will keep this vague. One Great Lie by Deb Caletti is a journey of one girl’s unexpected self-discovery while she uncovers the mystery surrounding her long-lost family member’s stolen life. While trying to discover Isabella’s story from the dark and murky water of the past, she finds herself along the way. Sometimes One Great Lie can change one person’s entire existence and shape the rest of their lives.