Daphne Berg is a plus-size Instagram influencer living in New York City when her former best friend, Drue Cavanaugh, reappears after six years of silence. Drue, a wealthy socialite, asks Daphne to serve as the maid of honor in her high-profile wedding at a luxurious waterfront estate in Cape Cod. The narrative tracks their complicated history of body-shaming and social betrayal while following the logistical chaos of the wedding weekend. When a sudden death occurs during the festivities, the story shifts from a character study of female friendship into a murder mystery.
Readers interested in the intersection of digital fame and body image will find a realistic portrayal of how social media metrics influence self-worth. This audience looks for stories that examine the tension between curated online personas and private insecurities. Those who finish the book walk away with a detailed look at the toxic dynamics within upper-class social circles and the specific challenges of navigating weight-bias in the fashion industry. It serves as a study of how childhood loyalty survives or fractures under the pressure of adult ambition and public scrutiny.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
Insights from Big Summer
“I was the fat girl. I would always be the fat girl.”
Daphne spent years building her online brand as a confident plus-size woman. Seeing Drue again reminded her how fast that shell can crack.
“The camera lens was a shield and a bridge.”
Living life through a lens makes everything look perfect. It also makes you forget how to just exist in the moment without an audience.
That Cape Cod house felt like a dream until the secrets started leaking out. Wealthy families have a way of hiding their rot behind expensive siding.
“I was a professional happy person.”
Daphne thought her followers saw the real her. She realized she was just giving them a curated version of what they wanted to see.
- Published
- 2020
- Publisher
- Atria Books
