Under the influence
Online culture is thread that runs through Big Summer
Big Summer Jennifer Weiner Atria ANGELA HAUPT
In Big Summer, Daphne Berg, a not-so-influential plus-size influencer, reconnects with her estranged former best friend, Drue Lathrop Cavanaugh. If you scrolled past Drue on Instagram, you’d be dazzled: good looks, expensive clothes, seductive smile. But lies of omission are standard operating procedure online — and it’s easy to gloss over imperfections, especially the invisible kind that fester inside.
Weiner takes a breezy romp through online influencer culture, aiming an “I see you” gaze at the Instagram fake-it-till-youmake-it crowd. It’s deliciously fun: frothy entertainment with surprising depth.
Years ago, Drue — a familiar high school mean girl — humiliated Daphne at a bar, tricking her into a setup with a man who could barely disguise his disgust. After summoning a rare shot of courage, Daphne stood up for herself and delivered an Oscar-worthy tell-off that would later go viral. She fled the scene, as Drue screeched, “You’re a fat little nobody ... You’re lucky I ever even talked to you!”
Six years later, Daphne has evolved into a #fiercefatgirl: a 20-something Instagram influencer who’s cultivated a following through body acceptance hashtags like #mybodyisnotanapology.
When Drue re-enters the picture, begging forgiveness and claiming she’s changed, it’s with a big ask: Will Daphne be her maid of honour?
Soon, the pair is in picturesque Cape Cod for the society wedding of the summer. Drue is marrying Stuart Lowe, who starred in All the Single Ladies — a hilarious spoof of The Bachelor. The couple outdid themselves soliciting sponsors that paid to be featured on wedding-related social media posts (hashtagged #drueandstu). From there, the plot careens into slightly over-the-top whodunit territory, with a splash of steamy romance.
Weiner’s appraisal of Instagram culture, and our fixation with likes and followers, will resonate. Even as Daphne enjoys the perks of influencer status — clothing from hip brands, a community of women who make her feel seen — she’s alert to its pitfalls. “In space, nobody could hear you scream; on the internet, nobody could tell if you were lying,” she muses.
Weiner isn’t the first to be inspired by our collective fixation with social media. But she stands out as implicitly getting it. Female friendships have always been complicated, in ways echoed and exacerbated by online pressures. When you nurture a certain persona and broadcast it to a rapt audience, it sticks. Glide a thumb over a photo; apply a filter; become untouchable. It breeds an insidious cycle of envy, comparison and impossible standards.
Even with a side of romance and mystery, this is a story about friendship — and the damage we do when we’re not authentic with ourselves and each other.