Instagram – a place where many of us engage in ‘doomscrolling’ through a multitude of meticulously curated and edited influencers, only to ironically emerge feeling more discontented with our unfiltered, authentic selves. Can you relate? Well, Irene Graziosi tackles this theme head-on in The Other Profile, translated from Italian by Lucy Rand. 

The novel is narrated by Maia, a 26-year-old waitress and university dropout unhappy with her career plateau and older boyfriend. After an unwanted suggestion by an old friend, Maia finds herself lying through her teeth to work for smiley, positive influencer Gloria, who’s amassed some two million Instagram followers aged only 18. Gloria is the polar opposite of Maia, standing for pretty much everything she hates – yet soon enough the new employee finds herself deeply entwined with the realities (and non-realities) of paid creators and social media. 

Gloria’s social media presence essentially curates her whole life: how she acts, dresses and, though she might not admit so, the interests she pursues. Maia is one of the only people who tells Gloria straight about the toxicity of this, and their relationship is intense and honest – but this soon leads to downfalls in both of their lives and those around them. The Other Profile delivers a thought-provoking commentary on influencer culture and the prevalent facade within the realms of social media, offering a short yet sombre and Black Mirror-esque reading.