Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Liann Zhang's Julie Chan is Dead!

Whew! From start to finish, this was a fun ride. I wish we could give half stars because this was a solid 3.5 from me. It had me giggling with all the ridiculous (but almost certainly accurate) goings on of social media darlings and influencers. The story was engaging, the characters fascinating and comically crazy at times.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in social media and the way it influences just about everything in our world.

This book was an absolute rollercoaster in the best (and most horrifying) way possible. The twists were wild, the tension was palpable, and there was one scene in particular that had me saying “WTF” over and over to myself—I might have even gagged. But despite that (or maybe because of it?), I loved every second of this book!

One of my favorite things was how it explored the higher world of influencers and social media—it truly felt like a cult where you have to sign your soul away once you make it. The way Liann Zhang captured that eerie, all-consuming side of internet fame was chilling and so well done. Dark, gripping, and completely unputdownable. Highly recommend! 😂❤️

Julie Chan is Dead - Liann Zhang
Pub Date - 4/29/25
Rating - 2/5
Thoughts - Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the gifted advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. The premise of this book was so interesting and I really wanted to like this book. The first half was done very well, with the backstory of the twins and Julie taking over Chloe's life upon finding her dead in her apartment. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the lives of influencers and how consuming their lives become. The second half.....turned pretty insane and I found myself skimming the book to get the gist so I could finish it. I nearly DNF'd many times but pushed through and honestly, it wasn't worth it. The cult portion of the book was absolutely unnecessary and in a way made me feel disgusted. Also, the girls were unbearable and made me want to CRINGE. Wasn't for me.

**2.5 Stars**

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with little to lose, suddenly finds herself stepping into the dazzling yet dangerous realm of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a well-known influencer. The twins were separated when they were young and had grown apart, only connecting through a viral video that Chloe had created. When Julie stumbles upon Chloe’s lifeless body under suspicious circumstances, she seizes the opportunity to embrace the life she has always dreamed of. Adopting Chloe’s persona turns out to be surprisingly simple for Julie. She quickly immerses herself in the glamorous world of influencer culture, donning designer outfits, following an elaborate skincare regimen, and gaining millions of fans who adore her. However, it doesn’t take long for Julie to realize that Chloe’s seemingly flawless existence was riddled with hidden troubles.
As chaos unfolds around her, Julie begins to uncover dark secrets that may have contributed to her sister’s tragic end, and she starts to fear that she could be the next victim in this twisted game.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
I have a bit of a mixed reaction to this book. The author shows promise, and the premise was quite captivating, but the plot and character development didn’t quite hit the mark, leaving me unable to connect with any of the characters. It felt like what others have mentioned—two stories awkwardly combined. This made it hard to believe, which affected my ability to stay engaged. The first two-thirds were enjoyable and provided a light-hearted look at influencer culture, but the last third took a strange approach, discussing how some influencers are willing to compromise their integrity for fame in a way that felt unrealistic. While it may find its audience, it just didn’t work for me.
Thank You @Netgalley and @atriabooks for allowing me to review this ARC.

After their parents' deaths, Julie was taken in by their spiteful aunt while her twin Chloe was snatched up by a wealthy white couple. Two decades later, Chloe is a glamorous influencer while Julie slogs through a dreary existence. When she stumbles upon her sister's corpse, Julie seizes the opportunity to slip into her life. She switches instantly from scornful envy of the influencer lifestyle to wholehearted endorsement. However, an island retreat with a gaggle of internet-famous blondes exposes the toxicity at the core of her new life. Things get real trippy. This thriller has teeth.

Wellp, I don’t know what I expected this to be like… but damn it was addicting and had all the wtf moments! There were specifics parts toward the beginning that had me like, WTF is ACTUALLY going on right now! Then ALL the shit hits the fan and its jaw dropping like, are these chicks for fuckin real right now!?!? I really enjoyed this book and all the messages it sent! An absolute recommend!!!!

3.75/5

Get ready for a fast-paced thriller that pulls back the curtain on the glamorous world of influencers—where secrets are currency and deals can turn deadly.

Perfect for a poolside or vacation read, this book will keep you glued to the pages (and off your phone).

At first, the story seems to follow an average girl who just wants out of her current life working at a grocery store, but as Julie eagerly steps into her sister's shoes, she's plunged into a world of deception, power plays, and dark twists. I’ll admit, the first 25% had me wondering if this was going to be a DNF, but once the main plot begins and the key players step in, the tension skyrockets, making it impossible to put down.

If you enjoy the mystery and drama of Pretty Little Liars, the eerie psychological tension of Get Out, or the unsettling, surreal vibe of Bunny, this is a must-read.

Looking forward to whatever Liann Zhang writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This was truly a wild ride from beginning to end. I love Liann's voice, I couldn't put it down. The ending really took a turn I was not expecting though.

I went into this book mostly blind and MAN was it a wild ride. The lunacy of social media, cults, murders - what more could you want? It was a little far-fetched (ok, a lot far-fetched), but still deliciously fun.

Thank you, #Partner @atriabooks and @netgalley, for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 5/15/25.

This was a fast-paced read, and such a train wreck (in a good way), that it was impossible to look away from. I would almost categorize this as a thriller/horror, and yes, it does get very strange the last 30% of the book, and I enjoyed it. It was awesome to get a glimpse of the lives of influencers that do it for a living, I definitely don't think I could do it!

Julie Chan and her twin sister Chloe VanHuusen were separated at a young age. They grew up totally opposite of each other. Julie is working at a grocery store, barely making it while Chloe is a famous influencer. When Julie gets a strange phone call from Chloe, Julie decides to take a trip to check on her estranged sister, but to her suprise, she finds her dead in her apartment. They are identical twins, so Julie has the thought of living Chloe's life instead of her own, but Chloe's life is not at all what Julie was expecting.

When Julie’s parents died, her evil aunt took her in while a wealthy couple adopted her twin Chloe. While Julie worked dead end jobs and endured her aunt’s cruelty, Chloe led a charmed life as a social media influencer. A strange phone call from Chloe motivates Julie to check on her twin and she finds Chloe’s body, giving her the opportunity to step into her dead sister’s designer shoes. But the Belladonnas, a tight knit group of influencers led by Bella Marie, can make or break Chloe’s brand as well as potentially blow Julie’s cover.

JULIE CHAN IS DEAD makes for a fun read and would make a great movie or miniseries. My favorite thing about the book is Julie’s perspective, particularly her humorous tone and her way of seeing the world. Watching her attempt to fool Chloe’s followers and the Belladonnas makes the book hard to put down. Julie is given plenty of motivation for taking over Chloe’s lifestyle so I couldn’t help but root for her. I liked her genuine connection to a couple of the Belladonnas and how she evolved as Chloe 2.0.

I am torn about the plot twist which took the plot into a bizarre direction, but I really liked the ending.

Zhang’s experience as an influencer shines through as the characters endorse products and manage their social media accounts with the help of their assistants. JULIE CHAN IS DEAD is a solid debut. I look forward to reading her next novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Atria Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. I really wanted to like this book - and I did - for about...the first 50%. I loved the intensity of Julie and seeing into the eyes of someone who is thrown into the social media influencing world, but once they went to that island? I don't know - it felt rushed and not really developed.

Liann Zhang’s Julie Chan is Dead is a razor-sharp, intoxicating thriller that plunges readers into the glossy, curated world of influencers—only to peel back the filters and expose something far more sinister. Darkly satirical and deliciously twisted, this debut is wonderful, blending psychological suspense with biting social commentary.

Julie Chan has always lived in her twin sister’s shadow—until Chloe VanHuusen, a wildly successful influencer, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Seizing the opportunity to step into her sister’s shoes, Julie quickly discovers that influencer life is more than just picture-perfect brunches and skincare sponsorships. As she navigates an exclusive island retreat with Chloe’s elite circle, the cracks in her sister’s carefully constructed world begin to show, revealing buried secrets, hidden betrayals, and a lurking danger that suggests Chloe’s death wasn’t an accident.

Zhang’s writing is hypnotic and immersive, pulling readers into Julie’s transformation with eerie ease. The novel masterfully explores themes of identity, envy, and the unsettling power of social media. The influencer world is portrayed with a sharp, almost surreal edge—glamorous yet grotesque, a space where authenticity is an illusion and the line between admiration and exploitation blurs.

The tension escalates with every chapter, culminating in a climax that is as shocking as it is satisfying. If there’s one drawback, it’s that Julie’s morally gray choices might make her a challenging protagonist for some readers—but in a story about deception, ambition, and self-reinvention, that’s exactly what makes her so compelling.

Julie Chan is Dead is an addictive, chilling, and wickedly entertaining debut that will leave readers questioning just how much of what we see online is real—and how far someone might go to maintain the illusion. Liann Zhang is a fresh, fearless voice in thriller fiction, and this novel is one that lingers long after the final page.

Wow, what a wild ride this book was!

What isn't to love about a peek behind the curtain of toxic influencer culture? It goes without saying that there is a lot to punch up about when it comes to influencers and influencer behavior and I loved the satirical component of this novel that didn't shy away from exposing and leaning into how toxic it truly can be. Everything is "for the content."

That said, the second half of the book REALLY started to drag for me. I got to about 50% in and found myself losing interest quickly. I even started picking up other books so I could re-engage my brain with something that was more entertaining or thought provoking. In my opinion, we could have made the latter half a bit more interesting.

Pleasantly surprised by how off-the-rails this one got–so happy I went into this blind.

After her parents died in a car accident, Julie Chan lives a pitiful life with her terrible aunt and terrible retail job. When she gets a worrying phone call from her rich influencer twin sister, Chloe, Julie flies over to find her in person but discovers her dead. At that moment, Julie gets the crazy idea to take over her twin’s identity and lavish influencer lifestyle.

Since this is a story largely about social media, I was half-expecting to read a bunch of cringey moments, but came to appreciate them as evident satire. I also appreciated the worldbuilding–it was so fun to experience the extravagant parties and food vicariously through Julie. There was a ton of detail about influencer culture and it reminded me of Debut or Die (webtoon), which went super deep into the K-pop stan lifestyle.

Aside from influencer culture, Zhang also tactfully incorporates discussion on race, family, wealth, friendship. Even with all these heavy themes, the story progressed naturally. I was thoroughly engaged and could not put this down.

What I didn’t expect was the way Zhang naturally fit in this ubiquitous unsettling feeling which drove an effective buildup to the climax and tied nicely to the ending. There are a few scenes that can get quite absurd/disturbing (think Sayaka Murata/horror), so I really wouldn’t recommend this for the lighthearted. If you can handle that + enjoy fast-paced, plot-packed stories about identity like Yellowface, I’d say give this a shot!

Interested to see what Liann Zhang comes up with next. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. This was a fun read. I found it to skew a little younger but still kept wanting to turn the page.

It’s rare to find a book that makes you question identity, reality, and the roles we play in life, but this one did exactly that. From the very first page, I was drawn into a story that felt both unsettling and fascinating—a tale of stepping into someone else’s shoes, of becoming and replacing, of blurring the lines between self and other.

What struck me the most was how the book toyed with the idea of authenticity. Is identity something fixed, or is it simply a performance? Are we ever truly ourselves, or are we just playing parts assigned by circumstance? As I turned the pages, I found myself questioning not just the characters’ motives but my own assumptions about identity and reality.

The writing was immersive, the tension carefully woven, making me feel like I, too, was caught in this strange, almost dreamlike game. By the end, I wasn’t sure what was real and what was an illusion—but maybe that was the point. It’s a book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, making you rethink the roles we all play in life.

I love me an influencer thriller, and Julie Chan is Dead is by far one of the best--and certainly the most unique--that I've read! This book explores the story of Julie Chan and her twin sister, Chloe. The two were separated when their parents died and were brought up in very different ways. Julie has become a supermarket employee living paycheck to paycheck, while Chloe is a privileged influencer living the high life...at least until she turns up dead and Julie takes over her identity. In her captivating debut, Zhang manages to include conversation on privilege, racism, and influencer culture while also weaving an intricate and twisty plot. This book was such a wild ride, and I can't wait to see more from this author! This is destined to be one of the buzziest thrillers of 2025.

Have you ever wondered what'd happen if you could steal your twin's perfect Instagram life? Liann Zhang's debut novel takes this delicious premise and runs it straight into psychological thriller territory.

When Julie Chan finds her identical twin sister dead, she makes a choice that changes everything: instead of calling the cops, she steps into her sister's carefully curated life as social media darling Chloe Van Huusen. But trading up from nothing to everything comes with a price, and Julie soon learns that her sister's picture-perfect feed hid some seriously dark secrets.

Zhang, a former skincare influencer turned author, knows this world inside out. She weaponizes that knowledge to craft a story that starts as a wickedly funny takedown of influencer culture before taking a hard left turn into something much darker. Think Single White Female meets Black Mirror, with a dash of Gone Girl thrown in for good measure.

Fair warning: this isn't it if you're looking for a cozy mystery. The mid-book pivot from social satire to psychological horror will either thrill you or lose you completely. But that's exactly what makes this book impossible to put down – you genuinely have no idea where Zhang is taking you next.

For readers who loved the wild rides of Bunny and Yellowface, this debut hits all the right notes. It's a sharp, unsettling look at identity in the age of Instagram, where the line between real and fake is about as reliable as a filter's beauty effects.

4/5 stars – A bold, twisted debut that'll make you think twice about every perfect social media post you see.

First of all, it's crazy how I could see the story unfolding in my head like a Netflix true crime series. It has all the captivating plot points that hook you from the beginning and make you binge read it all in one sitting. I was literally unable to put it down until I gathered all pieces of the puzzle. That being said, I DID NOT EXPECT any of the plot twists from the second part of the book. Though I have to admit that I liked the mystery of the first part more than the craziness of the second.

Secondly, I feel that this novel is super relevant in this day and age. It tackles many complex themes like social media, influencer culture, racism, cults, etc. It's actually not that hard to imagine that a situation like this happened or will happen someday. However crazy it may seem, it's almost believable.

Thirdly, am I the only one who feels unsettled in the end? It feels like Julie rid the world of some monsters, and in doing that, became one herself. But what makes it truly unsettling is the fact that I can see exactly how and why she became like that. Fame, influence, love (even superficial) is like an addiction that few people can resist.

All in all, I think this is a pretty strong debut novel and I'm grateful to have read it before its release. Especially in a time when I only read fantasy and romantasy, this felt like a welcome palate cleanser.

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Release date: 29 April 2025

☆FINAL RATINGS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼ /5
☆POV: Single POV, First Person
☆GENRE:
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Contemporary fiction
☆TROPES:
- Morally grey FMC
- fake identity
- rich sister - poor sister
- deal with the "devil"
☆TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- death
- drugs
- murder
- cult sacrifices & rituals
☆CHARACTERS: 👥️👥️👥️ /5
☆WRITING: ✍️✍️✍️½ /5
☆PLOT: 📜📜📜 /5
☆MYSTERY: 🔎🔎🔎½ /5
☆ROMANCE: ✖️
☆CLIFFHANGER: ✖️