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One Great Lie
A YA story of romance, mystery, and power about a young woman discovering her strength in Venice.
When Charlotte wins a scholarship to a writing workshop in Venice with the charismatic and brilliant Luca Bruni, it’s a dream come true. Writing is her passion, she loves Bruni’s books, and going to that romantic and magical sinking city gives her the chance to solve a long-time family mystery about a Venetian poet deep in their lineage, Isabella Di Angelo, who just might be the real author of a very famous poem.
Bruni’s villa on the eerie island of La Calamita is extravagant—lush beyond belief, and the other students are both inspiring and intimidating. Venice itself is beautiful, charming, and seductive, but so is Luca Bruni. As his behavior becomes increasingly unnerving, and as Charlotte begins to unearth the long-lost work of Isabella with the help of sweet, smart Italian Dante, other things begin to rise, too—secrets about the past, and secrets about the present.
As the events of the summer build to a shattering climax, Charlotte will be forced to confront some dark truths about the history of powerful men—and about the determination of creative girls.
When Charlotte wins a scholarship to a writing workshop in Venice with the charismatic and brilliant Luca Bruni, it’s a dream come true. Writing is her passion, she loves Bruni’s books, and going to that romantic and magical sinking city gives her the chance to solve a long-time family mystery about a Venetian poet deep in their lineage, Isabella Di Angelo, who just might be the real author of a very famous poem.
Bruni’s villa on the eerie island of La Calamita is extravagant—lush beyond belief, and the other students are both inspiring and intimidating. Venice itself is beautiful, charming, and seductive, but so is Luca Bruni. As his behavior becomes increasingly unnerving, and as Charlotte begins to unearth the long-lost work of Isabella with the help of sweet, smart Italian Dante, other things begin to rise, too—secrets about the past, and secrets about the present.
As the events of the summer build to a shattering climax, Charlotte will be forced to confront some dark truths about the history of powerful men—and about the determination of creative girls.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
69 people are currently reading
6290 people want to read
About the author
Deb Caletti
37 books2,279 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars. While this wasn't my favorite of Deb Caletti's books plot-wise, it is hard to deny that she is unmatched when it comes to writing hard-hitting, feminist YA. While I thought that this was beautifully written and handled the subject of grooming and emotional manipulation very sensitively, I struggled to connect to Charlotte and her connection to Venice. I wanted to know more about what was happening in the present and I didn't really care much for the mystery-esque plot line, so the book as a whole ended up falling kind of flat for me.
CW: rape, sexual assault, grooming, slut shaming
CW: rape, sexual assault, grooming, slut shaming
Read
June 21, 2021What Caletti does so brilliantly in this book is weave together a story of a girl who so desperately wants to find her voice and all of the realities that come with it with a mystery about a young girl from centuries earlier who wanted the exact same.
Charlotte earns a scholarship to attend a writing workshop with one of her favorite authors in Venice. She's lower middle class at best, and this is a way to get away from a complicated home life and to hone her skills as a writer. It's also a chance for her to work through a family mystery of a writer from centuries earlier who she is convinced was the real writer of a famous poem -- that poem had been, through history, attributed to a beloved male writer. But when Charlotte arrives at the workshop, she finds herself tangled in things she didn't sign up for, and the author who had been her favorite, who she believed genius, turns out to be a creep.
And she's not the only one to experience his predatory behavior. Scads of other young women begin speaking out about it, until suddenly, they're in the spotlight for trying to ruin the career of a powerful man.
Caletti weaves together #MeToo with cancel culture and begs readers to think about what voices have historically held significance and which ones have been hidden away or squelched all together. Throughout, we know what's happening with Charlotte and writer Luca, in part because Caletti is smart in using a third person point of view, removing some of the story's immediacy. This is, of course, the bigger point, as Charlotte digs into the mystery of Isabella di Angelo and how her voice was claimed by a man and how her life and career were taken from her by more powerful men in her life. For as much as society and history have changed, Charlotte -- and we as readers -- see the parallels of then and now and realize how little the marker has actually moved.
What WOULD it be like if we didn't have Woody Allen movies and instead saw films directed and written by women who were shoved aside for his fame? What WOULD happen if beloved male authors would be weeded from classroom syllabi in favor of the voices of women and people of color who have been underrepresented and overshadowed? It's not censorship; it's honoring and revering the realities of being outside the white male gaze.
A smart, savvy, engaging read.
Charlotte earns a scholarship to attend a writing workshop with one of her favorite authors in Venice. She's lower middle class at best, and this is a way to get away from a complicated home life and to hone her skills as a writer. It's also a chance for her to work through a family mystery of a writer from centuries earlier who she is convinced was the real writer of a famous poem -- that poem had been, through history, attributed to a beloved male writer. But when Charlotte arrives at the workshop, she finds herself tangled in things she didn't sign up for, and the author who had been her favorite, who she believed genius, turns out to be a creep.
And she's not the only one to experience his predatory behavior. Scads of other young women begin speaking out about it, until suddenly, they're in the spotlight for trying to ruin the career of a powerful man.
Caletti weaves together #MeToo with cancel culture and begs readers to think about what voices have historically held significance and which ones have been hidden away or squelched all together. Throughout, we know what's happening with Charlotte and writer Luca, in part because Caletti is smart in using a third person point of view, removing some of the story's immediacy. This is, of course, the bigger point, as Charlotte digs into the mystery of Isabella di Angelo and how her voice was claimed by a man and how her life and career were taken from her by more powerful men in her life. For as much as society and history have changed, Charlotte -- and we as readers -- see the parallels of then and now and realize how little the marker has actually moved.
What WOULD it be like if we didn't have Woody Allen movies and instead saw films directed and written by women who were shoved aside for his fame? What WOULD happen if beloved male authors would be weeded from classroom syllabi in favor of the voices of women and people of color who have been underrepresented and overshadowed? It's not censorship; it's honoring and revering the realities of being outside the white male gaze.
A smart, savvy, engaging read.
July 30, 2021
It’s almost midnight and I’m crying because this was just so, so good. I feel like I say this a lot, but this is truly Deb Caletti at her finest.
This felt like Caletti’s love letter to all the young women out there who are figuring out who they are and where they belong in the world and letting us know we are worthy.
This book made me angry in the best kind of way. The injustice at knowing you’ve done all you can to right a wrong and people still doubting you is one almost unique to the female experience. But this book wasn’t just critique either. We also get this counterbalance in the relationship with Charlotte and Dante that makes my heart sing. (The best boys are fictional, but I’m praying that they’re modeled after ones we know in real life too)
This felt like Caletti’s love letter to all the young women out there who are figuring out who they are and where they belong in the world and letting us know we are worthy.
This book made me angry in the best kind of way. The injustice at knowing you’ve done all you can to right a wrong and people still doubting you is one almost unique to the female experience. But this book wasn’t just critique either. We also get this counterbalance in the relationship with Charlotte and Dante that makes my heart sing. (The best boys are fictional, but I’m praying that they’re modeled after ones we know in real life too)
June 2, 2021
This book does an excellent job of showing how women were treating hundreds of years ago and mirroring how they are still treated today. There are actually 2 stories being told in the book at the same time and the way they are woven together is fantastic. Our main character is chosen for an exclusive writing class in Venice with a brilliant and charming author that she adores. At the same time she uses her down time to investigate an old family mystery that unfolded in the same town. You can pretty well see where things are progressing in the current story line. In my opinion, I felt that the family mystery had better closure than the events that our main character, Charlotte, did in present day. This is a very good book and I do recommend it for Young Adult and Adult readers.
May 29, 2021
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
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
June 4, 2021
Venice—family mysteries!
Caletti’s YA novel with 17 year old student Charlotte cutting a literary swathe through Venice (that is if you count her research hours as a swathe!) Having been awarded the chance too attend a summer writer’s program in Venice led by her favourite Italian author Luca Bruni heads off taking with her a book of poetry, The Verses, supposedly written by a fifteenth century ancestor, Isabella di Angelo, a “great-great-(too many greats too count)-grandmother on her mother’s side.”
Things don’t quite go according to plan and Charlotte ends up trying to track down Isabella and her writings.
Of course their two lives collide in the written sense, the hunt for Isabella, who she was is fascinating—a mystery to be solved if possible.
Likewise Charlotte’s journey has moments—of darkness and light, surrounding her search. This is equally as fascinating.
A Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Caletti’s YA novel with 17 year old student Charlotte cutting a literary swathe through Venice (that is if you count her research hours as a swathe!) Having been awarded the chance too attend a summer writer’s program in Venice led by her favourite Italian author Luca Bruni heads off taking with her a book of poetry, The Verses, supposedly written by a fifteenth century ancestor, Isabella di Angelo, a “great-great-(too many greats too count)-grandmother on her mother’s side.”
Things don’t quite go according to plan and Charlotte ends up trying to track down Isabella and her writings.
Of course their two lives collide in the written sense, the hunt for Isabella, who she was is fascinating—a mystery to be solved if possible.
Likewise Charlotte’s journey has moments—of darkness and light, surrounding her search. This is equally as fascinating.
A Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Read
June 16, 2021In Deb Caletti’s strong new young adult novel One Great Lie, aspiring writer Charlotte wants to be taken seriously as a literary artist. When the famous author Luca Bruni invites Charlotte and a few other promising young writers to his island villa near Venice, she is honored and excited to meet the great man she admires so much. Luca Bruni is enigmatic and strangely attractive, much like the mysterious beauty of Venice. He seems to be both flirtatious and deeply respectful of feminism. As Bruni turns his individual attention to the various girls in the writing workshop, is he nurturing their writing voices, or is he grooming them for something more?
Charlotte’s back story includes an awareness that she is a descendent of Isabella di Angelo, a 16th Century female poet whose work may have been stolen by an opportunistic male poet who is regarded favorably by history. Although five hundred years separate them, Charlotte discovers that she, her ancestor, and many other female Renaissance-era Venetian poets share the experience of being used and silenced by their mentors and lovers. While in Venice, Charlotte wants to uncover the truth about the authorship of Isabella’s poetry.
One Great Lie is one of the best YA novels I’ve read so far this year. (Think Moxie meets Blood Water Paint.) This is a richly-layered novel sure to appeal to readers yearning for vicarious travel. Charlotte’s romantic life—first with an American boy, then with an Italian—is sweet and sincere, while the intrigue of the plot lines involving Luca Bruni and Isabella di Angelo keeps the pages turning quickly. The intoxicating atmosphere of Venice only adds to the allure.
As One Great Lie unfolds, readers must confront important issues, including whether the lives of artists should be considered separately from their work, the lasting effects of sexual harassment, and the power that can be unleashed when courageous victims share their stories.
Charlotte’s back story includes an awareness that she is a descendent of Isabella di Angelo, a 16th Century female poet whose work may have been stolen by an opportunistic male poet who is regarded favorably by history. Although five hundred years separate them, Charlotte discovers that she, her ancestor, and many other female Renaissance-era Venetian poets share the experience of being used and silenced by their mentors and lovers. While in Venice, Charlotte wants to uncover the truth about the authorship of Isabella’s poetry.
One Great Lie is one of the best YA novels I’ve read so far this year. (Think Moxie meets Blood Water Paint.) This is a richly-layered novel sure to appeal to readers yearning for vicarious travel. Charlotte’s romantic life—first with an American boy, then with an Italian—is sweet and sincere, while the intrigue of the plot lines involving Luca Bruni and Isabella di Angelo keeps the pages turning quickly. The intoxicating atmosphere of Venice only adds to the allure.
As One Great Lie unfolds, readers must confront important issues, including whether the lives of artists should be considered separately from their work, the lasting effects of sexual harassment, and the power that can be unleashed when courageous victims share their stories.
July 6, 2024
If you are a first-timer to Deb Caletti, I recommend you to read Stay before this book, or even before her award-winner A Heart in a Body in the World. It's because you need to experience her forte—lyrical and powerful prose—in first person. And that's why on her latest works she seems to prefer writing in third person POV, which in YA novels can create distance between readers and the character hence the lack of immediacy and relatability. On the other hand, it also allows one of her strongest skills to shine, and girl, if you're words-before-plot kind of reader, you're in for a treat with One Great Lie.
Here's my reading progress since I wasn't in the mood to organize it:
1. I don't know why Dante just straight speaks English to Charlotte when she's introduced in Italian. Maybe because it happens often to tourist? But Charlotte has Italian descendant so maybe her features don't really appear foreign?
2. Every time I hit immersive scenes or just get back from doing chores to read again and next is told in Charlotte's thought, I keep wanting to read 'I' instead of 'she'. I get why it's written in 3rd person free indirect POV, but just for once, I really want to be in Charlotte's shoes. Besides, there's little urgency of making distance to readers unlike in AHBW.
3. I'm conflicted about intertwining events of writing retreat and family mystery (present and past matter) because it's certainly can be connected but at the same time feels... detached? Like when I am really invested in the stuff happened in their writing group I suddenly get transported to piles of poems and letters with another character that just shows up later in the story.
4. Charlotte, I know Italian men are irresistible especially the highly intelligent, nerdy, and handsome ones, but why do you just kiss him after like, three meetings? And weeks after your break up?
5. Why is San Marco translated? It's written Saint Mark couple of times.
6. Found che due pelle haha (I'm immature).
7. (Switch language) Jadi ngebayangin misalnya ada novel berbahasa Inggris yang latarnya di Indonesia, terus tokoh utamanya ketemu orang Indonesia yang bahasa Inggrisnya ala kadarnya, habis itu pas jelasin kayak gini, "She is kelilipan" atau "She is masuk angin" udah gitu dia harus jelasin lagi "enter wind, do you know when wind enters your body?". Because that's what I feel with this colpo d'aria scene 🤣 lost in translation sometimes can be fun.
8. It's starting to connect! Great. Charlotte, ai maneh, tong polos-polos teuing hadeh.
9. The comments... it rings so true. I remember a Twitter incident among US YA authors and even though the one who started it all apologized, the articles about it are still up everywhere.
10. I just knew that it's on syllabus, in lesson plan 😦 wonder if I ever wrote it wrong when I was teaching.
About 60-70%, I began to like and enjoy it even more. It's a different vibe, but it reminds me of Siobhan Vivian's Stay Sweet (prolly because of the third person POV and the historical aspect) and for me, I connected to this book more than the latter. The resolution for historical part too is done more carefully here. Caletti seems to be a writer who likes to put the biggest wow factor at this point near the end, so patience is key to follow this story especially when you prefer fast-paced, personal, dialogue-heavy YA.
It's also worth it to put up with Charlotte at first, because she can be really clueless and in denial even though she knows something bad was coming. The insta-love though... AHBW also has one, but it comes parallel with the theme, while in this one is not really so. Charlotte could be finally with Dante in the end, but instead the get-together part comes real fast like by winter they already have sex (in a library, while her ancestors are watching... my ancestors would probably be shouting "go back to your job").
My favorite character is Maria, Dante's mom, especially when she found out about Luca Bruni. The complexity of Charlotte's family dynamic is also interesting and needed in more YA novels (supportive parents is the best trope y'all). The social commentary is on point, and you might want to prepare a pen or highlighter to annotate amazing quotes here. The last line is *chef's kiss*. Even with a jarring feeling that sometimes happen when the immediacy is replaced with distanced description, I truly like this book and I hope more readers will pick this up too. It's an important book for us, women, and artists, and female artist.
Here's my reading progress since I wasn't in the mood to organize it:
1. I don't know why Dante just straight speaks English to Charlotte when she's introduced in Italian. Maybe because it happens often to tourist? But Charlotte has Italian descendant so maybe her features don't really appear foreign?
2. Every time I hit immersive scenes or just get back from doing chores to read again and next is told in Charlotte's thought, I keep wanting to read 'I' instead of 'she'. I get why it's written in 3rd person free indirect POV, but just for once, I really want to be in Charlotte's shoes. Besides, there's little urgency of making distance to readers unlike in AHBW.
3. I'm conflicted about intertwining events of writing retreat and family mystery (present and past matter) because it's certainly can be connected but at the same time feels... detached? Like when I am really invested in the stuff happened in their writing group I suddenly get transported to piles of poems and letters with another character that just shows up later in the story.
4. Charlotte, I know Italian men are irresistible especially the highly intelligent, nerdy, and handsome ones, but why do you just kiss him after like, three meetings? And weeks after your break up?
5. Why is San Marco translated? It's written Saint Mark couple of times.
6. Found che due pelle haha (I'm immature).
7. (Switch language) Jadi ngebayangin misalnya ada novel berbahasa Inggris yang latarnya di Indonesia, terus tokoh utamanya ketemu orang Indonesia yang bahasa Inggrisnya ala kadarnya, habis itu pas jelasin kayak gini, "She is kelilipan" atau "She is masuk angin" udah gitu dia harus jelasin lagi "enter wind, do you know when wind enters your body?". Because that's what I feel with this colpo d'aria scene 🤣 lost in translation sometimes can be fun.
8. It's starting to connect! Great. Charlotte, ai maneh, tong polos-polos teuing hadeh.
9. The comments... it rings so true. I remember a Twitter incident among US YA authors and even though the one who started it all apologized, the articles about it are still up everywhere.
10. I just knew that it's on syllabus, in lesson plan 😦 wonder if I ever wrote it wrong when I was teaching.
About 60-70%, I began to like and enjoy it even more. It's a different vibe, but it reminds me of Siobhan Vivian's Stay Sweet (prolly because of the third person POV and the historical aspect) and for me, I connected to this book more than the latter. The resolution for historical part too is done more carefully here. Caletti seems to be a writer who likes to put the biggest wow factor at this point near the end, so patience is key to follow this story especially when you prefer fast-paced, personal, dialogue-heavy YA.
It's also worth it to put up with Charlotte at first, because she can be really clueless and in denial even though she knows something bad was coming. The insta-love though... AHBW also has one, but it comes parallel with the theme, while in this one is not really so. Charlotte could be finally with Dante in the end, but instead the get-together part comes real fast like by winter they already have sex (in a library, while her ancestors are watching... my ancestors would probably be shouting "go back to your job").
My favorite character is Maria, Dante's mom, especially when she found out about Luca Bruni. The complexity of Charlotte's family dynamic is also interesting and needed in more YA novels (supportive parents is the best trope y'all). The social commentary is on point, and you might want to prepare a pen or highlighter to annotate amazing quotes here. The last line is *chef's kiss*. Even with a jarring feeling that sometimes happen when the immediacy is replaced with distanced description, I truly like this book and I hope more readers will pick this up too. It's an important book for us, women, and artists, and female artist.
It's really, really crazy that we're still talking about the same thing that women were talking about five hundred years ago. Maybe history is always present, and never truly past.
The one thing that's maybe hardest for Charlotte to understand: How many women's lives are equal to one man's?
Light should be spread around. A great light focused in one place... it can cause a fire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2021
I'm kind of conflicted about this one. But I liked it!
I definitely really enjoyed it, but I really did not jive with the writing style. It just wasn't for me, and that's my main critique and what kept this from being a solid 4 star read.
I also was expecting, for some reason, that this was going to be a more light-hearted Summer story set in Venice and it's definitely not. I guess I was expecting Kisses and Croissants but in Venice instead of Paris, and with writing instead of ballet. But it's really looking at the ways in which men take advantage of the destinies and legacies of women, and it does this in a really interesting and unique way. There is also a significant plot line regarding sexual harassment/assault that I wasn't expecting. And I did feel like that particular storyline wasn't really resolved, and the perpetrator, a very famous individual, didn't really face any consequences, which, in the context of the story, didn't make a whole lot of sense, I guess?
There's also a romance in here which I didn't really care for. And we all know I love romance and barely read books without some sort of romance, but this one just felt... I don't know, forced? Like, of course the main character was going to meet a cute Italian boy and fall for him. I feel like that's the easiest thing to sell in a book about a girl who goes abroad for the Summer, but it just didn't work for me. The boy, Dante, is great and all, but I their romance was a bit underdeveloped.
Lastly, I read an ARC, but it is still very clear that an enormous amount of research went into crafting this book, and I hope the finished copy has an author's note, as I think that would be really valuable.
I definitely really enjoyed it, but I really did not jive with the writing style. It just wasn't for me, and that's my main critique and what kept this from being a solid 4 star read.
I also was expecting, for some reason, that this was going to be a more light-hearted Summer story set in Venice and it's definitely not. I guess I was expecting Kisses and Croissants but in Venice instead of Paris, and with writing instead of ballet. But it's really looking at the ways in which men take advantage of the destinies and legacies of women, and it does this in a really interesting and unique way. There is also a significant plot line regarding sexual harassment/assault that I wasn't expecting. And I did feel like that particular storyline wasn't really resolved, and the perpetrator, a very famous individual, didn't really face any consequences, which, in the context of the story, didn't make a whole lot of sense, I guess?
There's also a romance in here which I didn't really care for. And we all know I love romance and barely read books without some sort of romance, but this one just felt... I don't know, forced? Like, of course the main character was going to meet a cute Italian boy and fall for him. I feel like that's the easiest thing to sell in a book about a girl who goes abroad for the Summer, but it just didn't work for me. The boy, Dante, is great and all, but I their romance was a bit underdeveloped.
Lastly, I read an ARC, but it is still very clear that an enormous amount of research went into crafting this book, and I hope the finished copy has an author's note, as I think that would be really valuable.
May 23, 2025
I love books about books, and this has got to be one of my favorites! The message was so powerful and well written and vulnerable! Before I continue, please know the trigger warnings: SA, underage drinking, anxiety, depression, mention of rape, and child marriage!
Now! I can’t explain why, but this was one of the most well written and eloquent books! I saw right into Charlotte’s mind and heart, and every word you could just feel all of her emotions. It was very hard to read at times, and I just felt so crushed building up to the event because we all knew it was coming but it’s just not okay! I loved the little descriptions of female authors and poets at the beginning of each chapter too! It’s so special and such a unique touch! The characters were all so good, from the other students, to Dante, to Charlottes family! Their love story was so sweet and pure!! My only complaint would be that we didn’t really get an outcome for what happened with Luca…would have loved a lawsuit or smth but I do see why the author ended it like this.
so yeah! this book was really special and perfectly combined thriller, romance, and historical fiction! would definitely recommend!
Now! I can’t explain why, but this was one of the most well written and eloquent books! I saw right into Charlotte’s mind and heart, and every word you could just feel all of her emotions. It was very hard to read at times, and I just felt so crushed building up to the event because we all knew it was coming but it’s just not okay! I loved the little descriptions of female authors and poets at the beginning of each chapter too! It’s so special and such a unique touch! The characters were all so good, from the other students, to Dante, to Charlottes family! Their love story was so sweet and pure!! My only complaint would be that we didn’t really get an outcome for what happened with Luca…would have loved a lawsuit or smth but I do see why the author ended it like this.
so yeah! this book was really special and perfectly combined thriller, romance, and historical fiction! would definitely recommend!
August 5, 2021
"She shouldn't make it into something it wasn't, just because it seems like a great story. You could forget that history was something that happened to real people."
3.5 stars rounded up. I thought this was such a great, fun and interesting story. Charlotte (Char) was an easy MC to love. She's a women of words - she loves them and loves to write. She has such appreciation for it all. I loved writing style as you see the world through her eyes and I loved her adventure to unearth this mystery from the past.
But I like how interesting and real the story was. I was completely romanced by the adventure of the mystery and loved the above quote when she pulled me back down to reality. This is a story with great twists and takes place in a spot to love. I really liked this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
3.5 stars rounded up. I thought this was such a great, fun and interesting story. Charlotte (Char) was an easy MC to love. She's a women of words - she loves them and loves to write. She has such appreciation for it all. I loved writing style as you see the world through her eyes and I loved her adventure to unearth this mystery from the past.
But I like how interesting and real the story was. I was completely romanced by the adventure of the mystery and loved the above quote when she pulled me back down to reality. This is a story with great twists and takes place in a spot to love. I really liked this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 5, 2021
This was a DNF for me. I had a lot of trouble with the main character's obsession with an older male writer, especially where there were some red flags about his conduct with younger women. Maybe it would have been ok, and she would have learned something, but the ick factor was too much for me to finish it. I did love how driven she was and that her parents were generally supportive of her writing aspirations. More adults should be reading books like this, where parents are supportive of their children's dreams...I also think teens need to read more books like this too...just maybe without the ick factor.
September 27, 2022
I didn't like the prose/ writing style at the start (and kinda wanted to drop it) but I powered through and now I can say the end is very yummy. It's like eating a chocolate-covered biscuit from M&S - I devoured it quickly as the plot moved fast, wanted to eat more when I was done
July 19, 2021
oh my god this was amazing. I was expecting something more lighthearted but this book was AMAZING. 10 stars out of five.
September 14, 2023
Rated 3.5
May 23, 2024
I didn't love this as much as her The Last Forever, but it was definitely worth reading.
January 8, 2021
Like any Deb book, this was beautiful and harrowing and gorgeous!
May 24, 2021
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.
May 20, 2021
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 book. With romance and action, the story has a cinematic quality that would easily translate to the screen.
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 book. With romance and action, the story has a cinematic quality that would easily translate to the screen.
April 16, 2021
This is my first Deb Caletti novel.
Story is based in Italy and the descriptions are so vivid you can totally picture it in your mind’s eye. In fact, you will want to book a flight and start packing.
Story features Charlotte who wins a scholarship to Venice to attend a writing intensive program with a famous author, in fact an author she greatly admires.
There are parts that were a tad slow for me as the genre is a bit different than my typical psychological thrillers. I am a fan and look forward to the twists and turns.
This, however, was a nice change of pace for me.
Want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 1, 2021
Story is based in Italy and the descriptions are so vivid you can totally picture it in your mind’s eye. In fact, you will want to book a flight and start packing.
Story features Charlotte who wins a scholarship to Venice to attend a writing intensive program with a famous author, in fact an author she greatly admires.
There are parts that were a tad slow for me as the genre is a bit different than my typical psychological thrillers. I am a fan and look forward to the twists and turns.
This, however, was a nice change of pace for me.
Want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 1, 2021
February 14, 2023
Oh my GOSH this was good. I said this about A Heart in a Body in the world too, but One Great Lie broke my heart and stitched it back together again. It was so real and so beautiful and so painful. As a woman (and a writer), I relate to it so much.
It does deal with pedophilia and other difficult topics, so please bear that in mind. Because unfortunately that is a real problem. What Luca was doing made me sick. But I love how in Caletti’s books, she shows both sides—men doing awful things, yes, and she calls them out for that, but she has good, kind men as well. Which, I think, is so important.
I wish I could punch all the Luca Brunis in the world in the face. I wish I could and not be the one punished for it.
It does deal with pedophilia and other difficult topics, so please bear that in mind. Because unfortunately that is a real problem. What Luca was doing made me sick. But I love how in Caletti’s books, she shows both sides—men doing awful things, yes, and she calls them out for that, but she has good, kind men as well. Which, I think, is so important.
I wish I could punch all the Luca Brunis in the world in the face. I wish I could and not be the one punished for it.
August 28, 2021
Very powerful and riveting story of how women's fates and stories have been controlled by men throughout history. The writing style wasn't my favorite, but the heartbreakingly beautiful mystery drew me in. This book is brutally honest tackling dark subject matter like sexual assault and manipulation. Yet at the heart of the story was the topics of finding one's voice and standing up for the truth. Highly recommend for a great lesson in history and an open discussion of the problems of how women are treated in society, past and present.
January 7, 2022
I thought this book was really good and I liked all the italian names and the setting. I loved how Charlotte wanted to find the story about Isabella. I really thought Luca Bruni was a good guy but he isn't. I loved Dante and Charlotte a very cute couple. I thought it was okay. It did kind of leave off of a cliffhanger but it was good. I wish it was more romance but I liked it. I would recommend this to someone who wants a book that takes place in Italy. 🇮🇹
April 2, 2021
The mystery the summary of this book offered was intriguing. I loved learning about Venice in the 1500’s. The modern day story line was relevant and interesting. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. Overall though, this was an enjoyable historical mystery that made me want to hop in a plane and go to Venice.
July 19, 2021
I'm honestly not sure how to classify this book-- romance, mystery, historical-fiction, feminism, young adult-- and that made me love it more! I loved the setting and variety. I didn't love the writing style but this would make for an awesome book club book! I also loved the shout-outs to 'forgotten' women writers, seriously so cool. --4.75
June 1, 2021
Caletti is so good at exploring serious topics in a very entertaining way. She never talks down to her teen audience. Another winner with the bonus of a trip to Italy.
*Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2021
Very atmospheric, maybe all much too much. A bit repetitive. However, did enjoy reading Charlotte’s transformation as a character.
July 21, 2021
the aesthetic ahhhh!!! but the rising action was wayyyyyy too long
May 24, 2025
“It’s right there on the page. Those pages tell you who they are.”
Gotta manifest my Italy trip. The Venetian setting was described absolutely beautifully. It was definitely one of the best parts of this book.
I didn’t expect this book to be the way it was. Critiques aside, I’m still going to give it all the stars.
I enjoyed the idea of a writing camp in an exclusive villa with a famous writer mentor and all the discussions on feminist literature. Charlotte was a good main character although I think this book would’ve been better in first person. She is a passionate person so I think seeing her thoughts and feelings in that format would’ve made the book stronger.
Luca gave me such an ick from the start 🥴. He really reinforced the “never meet your heroes” saying for me.
The romance with Dante could’ve been developed better. This is a longer book so how they started falling for each other could’ve been stretched a bit because they do have good chemistry and bonding moments, especially since the events (that I won’t say for spoilers) with Luca brought it to an abrupt end. I would’ve liked them more and felt more angst if they had more of a foundation. Or, if anything, skip the whole romance part of it completely.
I loved the insight on Italian culture and the insight on Italian feminist writer history. It was extremely interesting and informative. The parallel between Charlotte and Isabella was a painfully fascinating illustration.
The discussions at the end pertaining to the MeToo movement and separating art and artist were very captivating, as well as Charlotte’s well-being after Italy. I’m glad that we got to see a lot of the aftermath of Italy and how it impacted her.
Gotta manifest my Italy trip. The Venetian setting was described absolutely beautifully. It was definitely one of the best parts of this book.
I didn’t expect this book to be the way it was. Critiques aside, I’m still going to give it all the stars.
I enjoyed the idea of a writing camp in an exclusive villa with a famous writer mentor and all the discussions on feminist literature. Charlotte was a good main character although I think this book would’ve been better in first person. She is a passionate person so I think seeing her thoughts and feelings in that format would’ve made the book stronger.
Luca gave me such an ick from the start 🥴. He really reinforced the “never meet your heroes” saying for me.
The romance with Dante could’ve been developed better. This is a longer book so how they started falling for each other could’ve been stretched a bit because they do have good chemistry and bonding moments, especially since the events (that I won’t say for spoilers) with Luca brought it to an abrupt end. I would’ve liked them more and felt more angst if they had more of a foundation. Or, if anything, skip the whole romance part of it completely.
I loved the insight on Italian culture and the insight on Italian feminist writer history. It was extremely interesting and informative. The parallel between Charlotte and Isabella was a painfully fascinating illustration.
The discussions at the end pertaining to the MeToo movement and separating art and artist were very captivating, as well as Charlotte’s well-being after Italy. I’m glad that we got to see a lot of the aftermath of Italy and how it impacted her.
February 9, 2022
Thank you to @libro.fm and the publisher for allowing me to listen to an ALC of this novel. The narrator of this audiobook brought the story to life with her Italian accent so much that I could almost imagine myself right there. The summer after her high school graduation, Charlotte leaves behind her dysfunctional family and breaks up with her boyfriend to attend a writing program in Italy with one of her favorite authors. Charlotte finds a lot of things in Italy that summer -- competitive classmates all vying for the attention of their host, a link to a long lost relative, and a charming young historian to fall in love with. The experience goes from a dream to a nightmare for Charlotte when she falls victim to the famous Luca Bruni and his toxic masculinity. Each chapter of this book introduces us to a female poet, author, or artist from the past emphasizing the importance of recognizing the contributions of women and other under represented voices that have been suppressed by white men in power for much too long. I would recommend this book to mature high school students or older young adults, especially those who love literature, writing, history, and romance.
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