This book was so good! I really enjoyed it. I felt like it kept me on my toes not really sure what was going to happen next. Would definitely read more by this author in the future.

I enjoyed this book. The influencer trope is so realistic for today. The trip part had me a little thrown off guard but I get it now that I’m done. It didn’t work out the way I expected, which is good.

I was so excited to be choose to read this arc in exchange for my honest feedback. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity! I love love any book that reminds me of Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum they are my go to comfort reads!!! This one stacks up beside them!!! I enjoyed the first half of the book more so than the second half. As others have said the second half felt cult vibes. Overall still a great thriller. I have not expected that ending at all. This was a first for me from this author but if she happens to write anymore I definitely want to check them out!

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read one. What a ride! I enjoy the suspense and the pacing throughout.

Pub date: April 29, 2025

Oh boy, this was a wild one. The first half had me locked in - Julie gets a chance to step into her glamorous twin sister’s influencers life after she stumbles upon her dead body. I could definitely see the comparison to Yellowface (which I loved). But the second half? Without giving things away, it gets WEIRD. Like, very weird. I predicted some aspects of the ending, but I’m not sure how I feel about the conclusion. All to say, it was a page turner to be sure but I do have some questions!

This book had dark humor, and commentary on influencer culture.

Thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for early access in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, this book completely pulled me in from the start. Julie Chan, a regular supermarket cashier, suddenly finds herself stepping into the life of her dead twin sister, Chloe, a popular influencer. I honestly couldn’t put this one down! The first part is pretty wild—Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body and then does what anyone would do... steals her identity. I mean, who wouldn’t be curious about what it’s like to live that kind of life, right?

The second half is where it gets even crazier. It turns into this cult-like, horror-thriller with so many twists. The whole influencer circle Chloe was part of is totally messed up. Julie starts to uncover some seriously chilling stuff as she digs into her sister’s life—and I honestly didn’t see a lot of it coming, except one twist, but it didn’t take away from the tension at all. I was still totally hooked.

What I loved most about this book is the way it blends dark humor and commentary on influencer culture. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion—you just can’t look away. It really makes you think about how fake and shallow the social media world can be, but also how far people will go to stay in it.

It’s a super fun, addictive read with a lot of depth. I recommend it if you like suspenseful thrillers, dark humor, and a little bit of social commentary mixed in. Definitely worth it if you’re looking for something different that keeps you guessing until the very end!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow wow wow! This is one of the most unique books I've read in a long time. My jaw kept dropping and I did NOT see any of what happened coming! A really intriguing premise, a scathing commentary about social media, and a plot with more twists and turns than I knew what to do with! Outrageous and ridiculous, at times, the whole thing worked and I LOVED it! I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!

Uh….what did I just finish reading?? I was grabbed from the beginning and transfixed by the tale of Julie taking over her twin-sister’s life. As someone who doesn’t know much (anything?) about influencer culture I found it fascinating. The story was gripping and addicting and then about 60% of the way - it got downright WEIRD! I had a strong feeling that the author, Liann Zhang was writing for the potential of a movie deal. The book started to read a bit like “Scream” or some other dark movie. That said - this is a great debut novel. No doubt Zhang is just getting started - I think she crafts a strong story and will do doubt continue to challenge her readers and reach new heights. I just hope - purely for my sake as I will definitely read another book by her - she tones done some of the unbelievable parts! Thank you of Simon and Schuster - Atria Books - , Net Galley and of course Liann Zhang for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. READ this! You might not be immediately glad you did - but it’s a book that EVERYONE will be talking about!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4! I was immediately drawn into this story, though by the time the girls' trip to the Caribbean began, it felt like I was reading a completely different novel. The first half had strong parallels to Yellowface - twin sisters, one dies unexpectedly, and the other seizes the opportunity to step into her wealth and fame, only to face the inevitable fallout. However, the second half felt underdeveloped in its exploration of Julie’s relationship with Chloe’s family, friends, and the true consequences of her actions. Instead, the focus shifts to Julie being lured into what is essentially a wild influencer cult. While this left me wanting more depth, it was still an addictive, fast-paced read. If you're looking for a page-turner, I’d recommend picking this one up!

Liann Zhang did not disappoint in her debut novel! THIS BOOK had me hooked from the very first page. I love the premise of long lost siblings who have been dealt different hands in life. However, this takes a savage twist on that premise. Julie Chan finds her twin sister dead in her apartment and seamlessly takes over the influencer's life. However, some secrets are revealed that paint a not so beautiful life for her late sister, Chloe. I did not expect where this book was going to take us. At about 60% in, I was like...UHHHH, WEIRD???? but that did not last long & I feel as though it was necessary for the overall storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This might have just taken the top spot as the most insane book i've ever read, but I enjoyed every minute of it!

Going into this, I expected it to be similar to R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, and it definitely has elements of it in the first half, but the second half takes such an insane(ly entertaining) twist, which I was glad to see! (Not that I could have predicted anything that ended up happening when I first started the book).

Zhang's writing style is very efficient and addictive -- I genuinely did not want to put this down whenever I was reading it (the number of times I decided (and failed) to just read "one more chapter"...)! Also, as someone incredibly fascinated by online culture and parasocial relationships (I literally want to study this for a PhD!), this was an intriguing exploration of those topics in literature! I'm looking forward to reading Zhang's future work (and hope it remains just as entertaining and insane as this one!)!

I'd highly recommend checking this out if you're looking for a fast-paced, addictive thriller (or if you're just slightlyyyy obsessed by internet culture, like myself).

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of "Julie Chan is Dead" in exchange for an honest review!

1st half: I’m listening.

2nd half: Excuse me, may I get off this ride? I don’t feel safe.

Julie Chan and Chloe VanHuusen are identical twins who are separated at the age of 4 after their parents are killed in a car accident. Julie is left with an abusive aunt and Chloe is adopted into a wealthy white family. Fast forward 20 years and Julie is a store clerk barely scraping by and Chloe is a wealthy influencer who appears to look down on Julie’s misfortune.

Cut to an apparent overdose by Chloe, Julie slides into her twin’s life pretending to be her and reaping the benefits. Then sh*t gets weird. Really weird.

I did not *not* like the 2nd half, it was just bizarre - No spoilers. With that said, it was entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoyed the book Yellowface then you will enjoy this one as well! It’s a fast paced thriller with dark humor and I read it very quickly.

I believe my first words after I finished this book was “omg that was bananas.” The first 30% of the book is weird, but not too weird.

At first I was reading and I was mildly horrified. The idea of taking over someone’s life was frightening enough. Watching Julie take over her sister’s life was entertaining to read though. Though, the twists ans turns of the second half of the trip and this mystery island retreat really drug me in and kicked this book into high gear.

This got weird, crazy, and disturbing in a hurry. Loved the family dynamics, social media frenzy, and the twists and turns!

Julie Chan Is Dead was a wildly entertaining read! I loved the premise of the story and Zhang wove social media into Chloe’s persona—it felt fresh and modern. Liann Zhang’s writing is sharp and compelling, and I especially enjoyed Julie’s internal monologue, which added humour to the narrative. While I absolutely loved the first half of the book, the second part didn’t quite hold the same momentum for me. The ending felt a bit too fast and abrupt—I wish there had been more time to fully explore the resolution. Overall, this was a great quick and entertaining read, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

In Liann Zhang's debut thriller, Julie Chan Is Dead, supermarket cashier Julie Chan discovers her estranged twin sister, influencer Chloe van Huusen, dead under mysterious circumstances. Seizing the opportunity, Julie assumes Chloe's identity, immersing herself in a world of luxury and social media fame. However, as she navigates Chloe's life, Julie uncovers dark secrets and realizes that her sister's glamorous existence was fraught with hidden dangers. Attending an exclusive island retreat with Chloe's influencer friends, Julie faces escalating threats and must unravel the mystery behind Chloe's death before she becomes the next target.

Wow - this book started off as a solid 5 stars (very similiar vibe to Yellowface) but then it took me on a ride that I was NOT expecting. The woo-woo at the end threw me off and is probably why I decided to lower my rating - it feels like it came out of nowhere! Julie also became an unlikeable character so quickly with her complete 180 into Chloe's life. I didn't even have time to process the transformation because it literally took place overnight. All of this being said, there's a lot of interesting themes here and messages about what being chronically online can do to someone's persona. You can't tell me these women were not in a legitimate cult and it makes me wonder what group of influencers the Belladonnas were based off of.

Honestly, this was a pretty good debut thriller and I'm always glad to try new Canadian authors. I'd definitely pick up another one of Liann Zhang's books.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang is pitched as a must-read for fans of Bunny and Yellowface, and as a devoted admirer of both Mona Awad and R.F. Kuang, I knew I had to dive into this one. If there’s a book about an unhinged woman making bad life choices, I’m going to read it—and chances are, I’m going to love it. This book was no exception.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The premise alone is diabolically intriguing: Julie, a down-on-her-luck supermarket cashier, steps into the high-profile influencer life of her deceased twin sister, Chloe, only to find that beneath the filters and sponsorship deals lurk sinister secrets. Zhang masterfully weaves a fast-paced thriller that balances dark humor with genuine suspense. Every wrong step Julie took, I was right there with her, encouraging her reckless choices, because surely she deserves all the good things, right?

Zhang’s writing is razor-sharp, witty, and compulsively readable. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I still can’t believe this is a debut novel. The references to Bunny and Yellowface are well-earned—the themes of stolen identity, unreliable narration, and a fever-dream descent into chaos are all present in the best possible way. At times, I found myself questioning reality alongside Julie, wondering what was truly happening versus what was merely her perception.

While I was left with a few lingering questions (no spoilers here!), they only added to the eerie, unsettling nature of parts of the book. I have no doubt that Julie Chan is Dead will be a wildly discussed release, and I can’t wait to see how other readers interpret its twists and turns.

If I could give this book 10/5 stars, I absolutely would. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy—I am already eagerly anticipating whatever Liann Zhang writes next.

This was so awesome. Julie Chan, split up with her twin Chloe after a tragic car accident that kills their parents, accidentally stumbles into the glamorous life of her long-removed influencer sister after finding her dead in her apartment. She makes a split second decision and chooses to inhabit Chloe’s cushy lifestyle…craziness ensues !!

I don’t think this is the book you read if you want super fleshed out characters or are unhappy with some loose ends/lack of depth. In fact, it might be purposeful—the influencers are tediously shallow. In exchange, you get a super kinetic, fast-paced plot, and some fabulous cult stuff. A+!

Julie Chan is Dead is a twisty story surrounding two twin sisters separated due to tragedy and the vastly different lives they lead, even if one of them isn't alive to help tell the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. It is a very fast-paced read filled turns I did not expect, and this almost looming sense of dread as you wonder how long Julie's act can stay before she gets caught.

I loved the way this book took a topic like social media and influencers, aomething most of us find very light hearted, and turned it into such a dark twist-y story that had me constantly turning the pages to figure out what was happening. I enjoyed the way Liann Zhang made me feel so immersed into Julie's life as Chloe that I did find myself going, "Ugh, I cant imagine."

I was not expecting what happened toward the end but I thought the choice to go with the twist Zhang did with the Belladonas was definitely the best option to explain their stardom and mass growing influence. I also appreciated the way this book did continue to address the issues of economic standing, race, and nepotism. It made Julie and Isla feel well rounded and in touch with us.

I do recommend this book and I cannot wait to talk to my bookclub friends about it after it comes out. Its a delicious modern feeling thriller that reads like a fast-paced, character driven contemporary novel.

Got the ARC from NetGalley and I’m finally starting this one! I’m almost halfway through and I’m really enjoying it. I’m interested to continue seeing how deep the MC will get into the plot. The book is lighthearted but also is still serious in terms of trauma, diversity, life’s obstacles, etc. I’m definitely enjoying it so far and would definitely recommend. This is my first book from Liana Zhang and it’s definitely a good switch from what I normally read. I particularly like how the audience is taken down a sort of a comedically crafted spiral with the MC.