This story made me literally laugh out loud a few times. It also made me feel uncomfortable a time or two.

The basics: Julie receives a call from her estranged twin, Chloe, but she’s not able to understand what Chloe was saying. She decides to go look for Chloe, just to make sure she’s safe. She discovers that Chloe is dead, and Julie makes the decision to take over Chloe’s life. What follows is a life of luxury among other influencers. Plus, there are a few secrets that her hero is keeping.

Overall, I found this book to be entertaining. It also made me angry to see the commentary of Chloe/Julie’s influencer crowd. And no, not all of us would trade places with them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a gripping, darkly clever debut thriller that explores the dangers of envy, identity, and the dark side of social media. The novel keeps you on edge as Julie digs deeper into her sister’s life, discovering the twisted layers hidden beneath the surface of fame and beauty. As the truth unravels, Julie begins to question if stepping into her twin’s life is worth the danger it brings, and whether she may become the next victim in this deadly game of deception. With sharp writing, a relentless pace, and a chilling look at the world of social media influencers, a must-read for anyone who loves psychological thrillers with a dark twist.

Julie Chan is Dead has the same compulsive readability as Yellowface - where you rapidly thumb through pages about characters you despise and yet can’t stop continuing to read about them. Similarly, the tension between being white and “model minority” Asian isn’t the main point of the novel, but is a major point of tension between the main character and her influencer friends.

The first half of the book had me hooked - we find Julie placed in an impossible situation and learning to thrive by impersonating her dead sister. She gets high off of feeling important and making tons of money from doing very little of substance. She wonders at various points about whether what she’s doing is right.

The second half of the book took a wild turn — I’m still figuring out how I feel about it. I wish it was a little less grotesque and exaggerated because I think it did take a bit away from the more serious commentary of the first half about influencers and social media. But it did feel a bit more like a closed room thriller at that point.

Still overall an unputdownable book, and I would read Liann Zheng’s next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria and Liann Zheng for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for this copy. Julie Chan is Dead but not really because she has taken over her twin sister’s influencer life. This book was crazy, sad, and psychotic.

A group of mega influencers think Julie is really Chloe her mega popular twin sister who is the only Asian in a group of white women who are the crème de la crème of influencers. After finding Chloe dead in her apartment, Julie slips into her sister’s life. Julie - Chloe - and these women share their whole lives online and make big money for it. Chloe aka Julie thinks she finally has friends and love. Her sheltered life and abusive aunt have made her life a living hell. Once the Bellas take her under their wing Julie finds herself in a cult with a group of rich white women who will do anything to stay true to themselves and their beliefs.

Once the women go on their annual island trip things go from strange to crazy real fast. From worshipping each other to making sacrifices to their god these women do insane things to keep their group and popularity alive.
These girls are messed up!! Outstanding debut!

“When we finally free ourselves from those protective yet toxic echo-chambers, open our eyes to the wounds we caused, it’s only human to feel regret and guilt, to want to make things right, even if it means confronting an ugly reality”

4.5 ⭐️’s

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! First off let me say, if MidSommar and Yellowface are your vibes then this book is completely up your alley. I am not a massive fan of books that use modern day themes or language, but with the extremely eye opening commentary of social media that this book centers around, it fits perfectly with the narrative. Julie is actually hysterical, I mean her inner monologue was so refreshing and honest that I could not stop reading.

This book was broken into two parts, the first half being Julie discovering her estranged mega-influencer identical twin sister is dead after an eerie phone call. Julie does what any logical person would do, steal her sister’s identity! The second part of this book is the most campy-cult/horror-esque piece of writing and I loved it! I did predict one of the twists, but this read kept me hooked. For her debut novel, this book was wonderfully done and really hits hard on social media commentary, mental health, and so much more 📱💗🎞️

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Julie Chan Is Dead” is a dark, gripping thriller that dives headfirst into the curated world of social media influencers, exploring the blurred lines between perception and reality as well as admiration and obsession, both with social media followers and with the influencers’ desire for fame. Liann Zhang’s debut novel uses the story of estranged twin sisters Julie and Chloe to craft a chilling story about privilege, power, and the dangers of chasing a "perfect" life.

The story begins with Julie struggling to make ends meet, envying the glamorous life of her estranged twin sister, Chloe, a famous influencer. When Chloe dies unexpectedly, Julie seizes the opportunity to take over her twin’s life, stepping into her shoes—both figuratively and literally. But as Julie immerses herself in the elite world of influencers, she uncovers sinister secrets behind Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life. The deeper she digs, the darker things become, revealing a toxic influencer cult known as the Belladonnas and unraveling a web of lies and power plays. There is also an unexpected supernatural element with a god who supposedly will grant your wish for a price.

Julie is a deeply flawed character, and while her naivety and impulsive choices can be frustrating, her journey is undeniably compelling. Her descent into Chloe’s world is equal parts thrilling and disturbing as she begins to grapple with the consequences of her choices and the harsh realities behind the influencer lifestyle. Some aspects of Julie’s ability to adopt the influencer lifestyle of her sister require you to suspend your disbelief, but it’s really interesting to see the underside of that particular lifestyle. The Belladonnas, a tight-knit group of elite influencers, are portrayed as both alluring and grotesque, embodying the dark side of social media fame. Iz, one of the standout characters, serves as a critical voice, highlighting the greed and detachment of influencer culture while being equally complicit in her pursuit of wealth for her children.

Liann Zhang masterfully critiques the parasocial relationships formed between influencers and their followers, exposing how curated perfection feeds into obsession and exploitation. The book also explores deeper themes of power and the moral cost of ambition. Zhang’s sharp commentary is both timely and thought-provoking, offering a scathing look at the modern obsession with internet fame, which I really enjoyed and thought of as a highlight of the book. The book’s pacing, however, can be uneven at times. The opening chapters, while intriguing, feel light-hearted compared to the dark, intense turn the story takes later. The ending, while shocking and memorable, veers into the surreal and over-the-top, which I was not expecting, especially with the cult aspects. Some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more to add depth to the story, but Julie’s transformation and the relentless twists more than make up for these shortcomings.

Overall, “Julie Chan Is Dead” is a wild, unsettling rollercoaster that peels back the glossy veneer of influencer culture to reveal the darkness lurking beneath. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers as the book offers a unique and addictive take on the price of fame.

I’ve been sitting on my thoughts on Julie Chan Is Dead for a few days and I still can’t figure out exactly how I feel about it.

This book is incredibly fun to read, and it’s fast paced. I read most of it on a red eye flight where I was unable to sleep, and it kept me entertained until I reached my destination. It’s a silly goofy time full of influencer antics and I would recommend it to readers based on that alone — if you’re in a reading slump, this will propel you right out of it.

However, this book lacked emotional depth and I never felt connected to any of the characters. I wanted to care more about the main character Julie, but I simply didn’t. This made it hard for me to want to continue reading from her point of view.

Overall, I did have a fun time reading this book and I’m glad I picked it up, but the lack of connection I felt to the story and the characters makes it a bit forgettable in my mind.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review posted on 12/29/24.

Brief review to be posted on Instagram the first week of January in my monthly reading wrap up, and a full review will be posted closer to the publication date.

Julie Chan is ordinary. A cashier with the most unglamorous life possible.
She has a twin. Adopted by another family. Chloe is an influencer. Yes, one of those people.

And now Chloe is dead and Julie is just sliding right into her slot.

Suspension of belief is one thing, however, this was so out there I just could not.



NetGalley/ Atria April 29, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.
Let me preface this review by admitting I'm not on Social Media unless NetGalley and Goodreads are considered so). Anyway, I was curious to learn more about influencers and how they became such popular and wealthy women, and thought this could be a fun read.
It started out as such, but soon I got tired of all the posturing and fake love expressed by the women. Then, towards the end it became so strange, I gave up. Sorry!

In Liann Zhang's debut novel we find Julie Chan, a cashier at a supermarket, heading to NYC because she received a strange call from her separated twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, only to find her lifeless body. Chloe was an influencer and had a life that Julie wishes she could have...until Julie decides to pretend to be Chloe and enters her world. With an in inside of an influencer circle of friends, she slowly learns the secrets behind her sister's success and demise.

The thriller and mystery lured me from the start! I wanted to keep on reading until the truth about what happened to Chloe VanHuusen was revealed. It touches upon issues of family ties, class, race, what does it mean to be a social media star, and the idea of who has power in society. If you like a mystery set in the present day and/or want to read more from AAPI authors, read Liann Zhang's book.

Thank you so much to the publishers for this arc.

From the moment I read the synopsis, I knew that this book would be right up my alley. What I didn't know, was how many layers, twists and turn this book would have(I'm not complaining, I loved them all). I'll write a full review in a week or two(on Instagram, Goodreads, blogpost)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book couldn't really decide what it wanted to be- social commentary, mystery, horror. Nevertheless I found much of it interesting. The look into the world of influencers was fascinating, A microcosm of the "real world" replete with social injustice and our obsession with beauty. The main character, Julie, had some depth and struggled with fitting into that world of easy money and fake personal.
The mystery regarding who killed Chloe added spice.

About 3/4 of the way, the book took a strange turn morphing into a horror story. It was unexpected and jarring. The ending was rushed and didn't and jarring, as if the author was unsure of how to end.

I don't regret reading it. I just wish there was better plot continuity

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the E-ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

I really liked the pretense of this book, but it got real weird in the last 30%. The first half of the book was much more believable than the second half. I did like how the author pulled back the curtain of the world of influencing, reminding us that many influencers sell their lives for content. It is a great reminder/warning that not all parts of our lives have to be filmed or curated. The last 35-40% of the book really threw me and my feelings for the book changed. I did not like the ending in the slightest.

The book is a quick, easy read which is perfect for a beach or rainy day read!

4.25 stars!
"Social media is the biggest thief of time but it's also an impossibly addictive form of escape." - this is so true and I loved this quote.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Atria Books for sending me an arc of Julie Chan is Dead to be reviewed! Okay I don't even know where to start, the book had my mouth gaping open for about 6 chapters straight at having absolutely no clue what was going to happen and the twisted sickness of it all. I truly enjoyed this book so much, and could NOT put it down!!
I was genuinely hooked from the start and wanted to know who killed Chloe, and how Julie's life would now unfold as she stepped into Chloe's. I was extremely intrigued by the influencer aspect of it, as it is such a prevalent presence in our current lives, and thought this book did a really great job at exploring and twisting a story around it!! At no point in time did I know where the story was going once they were on the June trip, and thats a good thing as I don't like a predictable book, and let me tell you, this was NOT a predictable book by any means!! I was genuinely so present for the entire book and wanted all the answers. I thought the book was perfect paced and the perfect length as well, there was no point while reading where I was bored or thought anything was dragging on! I also usually find books to use modern day lingo or slang to be extremely cringey in books, but I have to say there was not a single time where I felt like that in this book. It was rather fitting and used properly where it made me laugh and it was entertaining to see bits of the modernized world in it, especially since the book is so heavily focused on social media, I enjoyed the accurate depiction of things as there were funny & relatable bits. I laughed out loud multiple times, even at the end there was a now very commonly used phrase of "I support women's rights and women's wrongs" and I thought it was so fitting and laughed pretty hard!
Overall thoroughly enjoyed this book so much and can't wait to secure myself a copy when it gets released! I have left a review on my goodreads & fable which are linked below, and will be posting a review on my tiktok and instragram account tomorrow as well, my accounts are linked for that as well! :)

This book followed Julie Chan as she took on the life of her dead, estranged twin sister Chloe. This was a book that analyzed the impact of class, race, beauty, and what social media “stars” mean. I loved it. It reminded me of Bunny by Mona Awad, with a twist. I think the ending was slightly rushed, but loved how it all circled back to the beginning. Truly well written, and love the new voice from Zhang! Will definitely keep looking for her work.

Julie Chan Is Dead is the book that FINALLY got me out of my reading slump. (Now to make sure I stay out of it ... ) The author does such a good job of blending family relationships with humor, mystery, and just the right amount of satire. From the first page, I was absolutely hooked.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll say that the story overall was not what I was expecting. It still gripped my attention and made me laugh, so I'm not too mad. My only (minor) grievance is I would have loved for Julie (and therefore the reader) to get to know the other influencers better before the retreat. Nevertheless, I LOVED this book and am already excited for Liann Zhang's next one.

It’s the age old question: WHO HAS IT HARDER?!? STREAMERS OR MCDONALDS WORKERS???

One thing is certain: Julie Chan did not kill her twin sister, Chloe. Interesting phrasing of the sentence, as things start to get murky after that. Adopted separately, identical twins Julie and Chloe grew up with different families and experiences. Julie lived with an emotionally abusive and manipulate aunt while Chloe lived with an affluent shire family. In her loneliest hours, Chloe turns to the internet, and after some years becomes a powerhouse influencer. After Chloe’s death, Julie is thrown into the world of influencers, cults, and the obsessive and addiction validation that comes with internet fame.

I really liked this book and jt grabbed my attention from the beginning. I liked the commentary on “influencers” and how ridiculous they all are and how “hard” their jobs are and how “others just don’t get it” and to be accepted into this world, how far are you willing to go and give up?

In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first half of the book really had me hooked. The second half kind of felt like it suddenly took a weird shift, not exactly in a bad way but not what I was expecting. Overall a fun read.

Why is Chloe dead? Julie finds her twin dead. And she decides to take over Chloe's life of an influencer. The book covers the thrills and chills of that world. Friendships are made but why exactly would she become close friends with her competition? Why would the group listen to one rich gal? A good thriller.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. I saw the description for this book and instantly thought this was going to be the book. I enjoyed the plot and character development. The story felt original and was engaging. I will read more by the author.