Member Reviews

I'm so grateful to NetGalley and the author for this ARC! Wow. I don't even know where to start.

I saw an instagram ad from the publisher for this book, and the premise immediately sounded so appealing. I was invested in Julie's story from the first sentence of the book. I grew up reading stories like Pretty Little Liars and the Lying Game, and this was a thrilling yet fun way to return to the books I enjoyed as a child, with a darker and sinister twist to the plot. I devoured this story in two days and I wish there was another one! If you love tv shows like Yellowjackets and White Lotus, I would highly recommend this book. I would also be so interested in having a current relevant influencer pick up this book and read it. Not all of us are influencers, unfortunately, but the tasks and activities Julie describes in her day to day were believable, and can only make you wonder what goes on behind the scenes.

Endless stars

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I liked the first half to two-thirds of the book, despite having to suspend my disbelief that so many people could be fooled by Julie. It made sense later, but the last part of the book on the island was just to crazy and far-fetched for me and diminished my overall enjoyment of the book. The ending was a little quick - a great lawyer to make everything Ok. Thanks for the ARC of this book.

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What if you could step into someone else’s life—like, fully become them? Liann Zhang takes that "what if" and runs with it in Julie Chan Is Dead , delivering a thrilling story that explores identity, envy, and the consequences of social media.

Julie, our main character, uses her identity as an identical twin to, quite literally, steal her sister's life. While the mechanics of this are wild, what truly shines is Zhang’s ability to tap into a universal feeling—the curiosity (and sometimes envy) of walking in someone else’s shoes. Julie is as layered as they come, and her inner monologue is a testament to Zhang’s skillful writing. Julie’s mix of pride and guilt is palpable, making her both fascinating and frustrating in the best possible way. You’ll root for her and judge her simultaneously—a tricky balance Zhang nails in her writing.

The plot itself? Buckle up. About halfway through, the story swerves into uncharted territory, with turns that some other reviewers have compared to "being on an acid trip." While that description might be a bit extreme, it does capture the unpredictable nature of the book. You’ll definitely want to keep reading, if only to figure out what on earth is going to happen next. That said, the ending left me a bit underwhelmed. It wasn’t bad, per se—I didn’t see it coming—but it didn’t deliver the explosive “WOW” moment I had hoped for after such a wild ride. Still, the journey to get there makes up for it.

The writing style deserves a mention too—Zhang keeps things snappy with perfectly timed chapter lengths that encourage just one more chapter (and then one more). However, the frequent use of internet slang and Gen Z lingo felt a little overdone at times. While it added a layer of realism for some readers, it might alienate those who simply aren’t Gen Z.

Overall, the novel is a captivating and fresh take on the “grass is greener” trope. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly worth a read for its unique concept, compelling main character, and the sheer audacity of its plot. If you’re looking for a book that’s as entertaining and fun, this one’s a solid 4-star pick.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I tore through this in the span of a day - fast-paced and engagingly written, it was tough to put down! Zhang's strong suits are the descriptive, poignant writing, the biting commentary on social media, and the sense of unease as the MC is trying to navigate her newly stolen life as a high-profile influencer while trying not to get caught.

At about 60% the book did start to loose me a bit as it leaned into some horror aspects, which, again, were extremely well-written, but just isn't my cup of tea and I wasn't prepared for how far it would go (tw for animal death). But I did enjoy how bendy and chaotic the plot got and would definitely say this is a great read for fans of Yellowface and The Other Black Girl!

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When I picked up this book, I was hoping for something like YELLOWFACE mixed with MY FRIEND ANNA - a classic scammer story with themes around race, privilege, and fame.

But what we got instead was a bit of a cheesy, all-over-the-place story that glosses over the most interesting part of the plot (the identity switch) and abruptly moves the characters to a remote island and turns the story into a cult-y BLINK TWICE rip-off. There are so many directions the author could have gone in with this narrative, and I'm bummed that she chose this one.

That being said, I think Zhang's writing is strong - she can write horror really well. Where she lacks nuance and depth is in her characters - so many of the secondary parts were pure caricatures, wholly undifferentiated from one another and serving very little purpose in the story. I also seemed to lose the thread of Julie as a main character about halfway through - her personality became fuzzier, and the decisions I thought she would make change substantially over time. Perhaps that's the point? But it felt like more of a lack of strong characterization than a deliberate plot choice.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC!

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What a rollercoaster! What started off as tame tale of identity theft, turned into a dark and extremely fcked up story of how far we'll go for power and fame. I loved this book and the insane antics of both our FMC and the belladonnas. And her debut thriller? Amazing. Can't wait to read more!

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Combining the brilliance of Yellowface, the horror of Bat Eater, and the oppressive underlying cultish power of those at the top - Julie Chan is Dead is a fast-paced and climatic powerhouse of a novel that doesn’t let up until the last page.

Julie Chan isn’t anything special - that is, until her twin sister dies and she’s the only one to find her. With everyone around her assuming it was Julie who died, she decides to take Chloe’s place and embrace the life of a rich influencer and to leave her old life behind. However, when she begins to get too close to the top of the food chain, she discovers there are much more nefarious things controlling her new life than simply just a bad brand deal.

I especially loved how the life of influencers was portrayed in this novel - with only Julie (as Chloe) being aware of how ridiculous it is that everyone around her is complaining about how “hard” their jobs are - while also taking advantage of every bit of emotional clout she can and monetizing it for her own gain. I thought the knock-off name brands were also hilarious (especially “BetterTherapy” as opposed to “BetterHelp”). And it was fascinating to see how shallow the “friendships” Julie/Chloe had as influencers truly was - and the climax ultimately making her choose her morality or this new rich life that fell into her lap.

This book was a rollercoaster, and I could never be certain where exactly Julie would end up at the end.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Atria Books for providing this e-ARC.

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This book was a wild ride and I never expected those plot twists. I loved how weird the storyline got but I almost felt like this needs to have a sequel. There were still a lot of unanswered questions at the end. I think the writing fell flat at some parts where it explained too much? Whenever parentheses were added for context it just felt like explaining a joke.
Other than some small writing quirks, the book was very entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat.
It was definitely a unique story and l'm excited to see what else the author releases soon.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for recommending this arc to me. I am grateful that I got to be one of the first people to read this work.

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I don’t even know how to rate this. I liked it and hated it at the same time, but will absolutely recommend it.

The first part of the book is so different from the last part and the last part/climax is so messed up but also creative and will really get you thinking about what social media is doing to our brains. Funny enough I started reading this book during week two of my detox/step back from social media.

LOTS of trigger warnings here especially for the climax of the book. One of the most disturbing and disgusting scenes I ever read involving eating live animals(pretty graphic), cult, murders, decapitation, identity theft, sex slave, drugs, being drugged, being held hostage…I think that covers it but I might be forgetting some trigger warnings.

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

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Thanks to NetGalley, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

* What did I just read? Well, I’ll tell you. A very haunting story of twins who sadly had to be separated after the death of their parents, after many years of being separated mixed with a few catch ups that weren’t what they looked like on the outside, to end with a dead twin… Why is this haunting? Because it’s something that could actually happen and I find those books to be the most haunting.

* Chloe and Julie couldn’t be more different, even though they’re identical. Julie, taken in by her aunt and lived a life that was below middle class, Chloe adopted by a wealthy family who only wanted one girl, lived a life of luxury. Separated by states and funds, the girls lives went in two very different directions until Julie received a call .. she rushed to Chloe’s aid in New York and things just aren’t what they seemed. Pushed into the limelight, Julie does something that drastically changes her life. She dies.

* The story is an easy read, and I really want to like the twins, I really do, but when one of them says things like “Burn her.” & “I cry, not for her death, I cry for my loss.” And The writing is easy and it flows great. The pace, is good and it’s easy getting lost inside the instagram, TikTok, sponsorships and pr unboxing live videos that earn $$$ because being an influencer is extremely popular these days. The familiarity is there for sure.

* The second half of the book took quite a turn. Midsommer meets law & order, either way, this was a good read. Great variety of characters with a good twist. 4 stars for me.

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I was shocked at how much this book fits into its plot! I never wanted to put it down because I just needed to know what happened next! I cannot wait to have the physical copy for my shelves.

Tw for death of all kinds, verbal/financial abuse from relatives, on page bloody/live meat eating, and more

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Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an ARC!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽

THIS BOOK. I read it in 24 hours and my mind is 🤯🤯. Like most other reviews, I will agree that this book is so WEIRD, and if you liked Yellowface, Bunny, etc, you’ll love it!!

Story follows Julie Chan, as she assumes the identity of her recently dead & super famous influencer twin, Chloe Van Huusen. What follows is thrilling, weird and so accurate about the current influencer culture.

This book is so fast paced, and really unputdownable! Pre order this of you haven’t already! Oh, and it’s always amazing to read Canadian authors!

4.5 ⭐️

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Thank you for giving me this as an arc copy!

3.5 stars rounded up. :)

I read this all in one day, which I can't say for that many books. So if you are looking for a book that you can't put down until the end, I cannot recommend a book that fits better than this.

The premise of an evil twin switching places with their other twin is such a cliche thriller twist. Reading it from the perspective of the evil twin was a lot of fun.

<spoiler>They did lose me in the second half though, not gonna lie. It goes down a Mona Awad route, which I don't think fits the story's plot. I would have preferred an ending where evil twin Julie gets her comeuppance as the story seemed to be laying out for itself in the beginning. </spoiler>

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Julie Chan’s life is a mess. She scrapes by working at a supermarket, stuck in a cycle of financial struggle and workplace mistreatment. Her employers practically force her into desperate choices, then threaten her for them. Life has never been kind to her. She had a twin once, Chloe, but they were separated at four years old after their parents died in a car crash. Julie ended up with an awful, greedy aunt, while Chloe was adopted by an affluent white family who treated her more like an accessory than a daughter.

Despite her questionable upbringing, Chloe thrived. She became an internet sensation, a rich and glamorous influencer, living a life Julie could only dream about. But then Chloe dies. And Julie, who is lonely, broke, and desperate, sees an opportunity. She takes Chloe’s phone, slips into her life (turns out Face ID isn’t so secure after all), and starts impersonating her online. At first, it’s simple: study Chloe’s posts, mirror her language, respond to DMs. But soon, the lines blur. How long can she keep this up? And more importantly, who was Chloe behind all of the filters and carefully curated content?

This novel pulls no punches in its critique of influencer culture, drawing unsettling parallels between internet fame and cult-like devotion. It forces readers to confront how we all craft versions of ourselves for public consumption in the same way that Julie does when she steps into Chloe’s digital shoes. The second half of the book takes a sharp, dark turn, revealing the truth behind Chloe’s death and the grim realities of her life off-screen.

If you enjoy thrillers that explore the sinister side of social media and the lengths people will go for wealth and relevance, this one will keep you hooked. It’s unsettling, thought-provoking, and disturbingly believable.

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Thank you Atria for my copy. Wow, I flew through this book! It was so hard to put down. Reading about Julie and Chloe’s complicated dynamic completely captivated me. All of the characters were so intricately flawed and it was engrossing to read their stories. If you’re looking for a thrilling book with a commentary on social media culture- this is it!

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This book was wild. There were times I wanted to give up and dnf, but I finished it because I wanted to see how things turned out. The ending was completely out of left field, and I think it is very original.
The reason I can't really give it a great rating is the main character, Julie. I found it very difficult to cheer her on. I'm sure she had challenges in her life, as have we all. I just found her very abrasive, and I do not appreciate the mocking and derisive way that she speaks about numerous groups of people. I also did not find her convincing as American. I think the author is Canadian, and you can tell in Julie's manner of speaking.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.

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2.75/5

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

The concept of this book was really interesting but I just couldn’t get into it. The ending was so far fetched and convoluted for my taste, and Julie as a main was just incredibly frustrating to read. There was definitely commentary made about influencers, social media, and race, but none of it felt actually in depth or particularly interesting to me.

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This book feels like two stories smashed together. The first half is more of a mystery, where we follow our flawed main character. We get a peek behind the shiny facade of influencer culture, and though she goes through loneliness, grief and guilt, she doesn't shy away from taking everything this new life offers her.

The second half goes off the rails into darker thriller (or even horror-ish) territory with huge "Bunny" vibes. If you enjoy unhinged "wtf, how did we get here?" type of books - this one is for you.

The core mystery isn't exactly mind-blowing, but the story moves fast and keeps you hooked with its take on influencers and how outsiders see them.

And the ending? It felt very on point. We live in a world where con artists become famous and land Netflix deals, and sometimes it seems they get more then they lose at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC of this book.

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I 👏🏻 Love 👏🏻 Influencer 👏🏻 Tropes

This debut was so fun! A combination of thriller and horror - you’ve got cults, you got influencers, you’ve got murder, you’ve got a twin who took the place of her dead twin… wait what?

This book has it all and I could not put it down. Getting a behind the scenes look at influencer culture was so entertaining, but boy did it take a dark turn! I think this book is going to be the talk of the summer, so mark your calendars!

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🙍🏻‍♀️↔️🙍🏻‍♀️ Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
Genre: Thriller
Length: 320 pages
Expected Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Julie Chan is living a very underwhelming and miserable life as a cashier with her horrible aunt, who adopted her around age 3 after her parents tragically died in an accident. Her identical twin sister, Chloe Van Huusen, was adopted by a very wealthy white family and she lives a lavish life as a social media influencer.
The twins were not in each other's lives until one day when Julie recieved a strange call from Chloe saying, 'I'm sorry'. Julie rushes to Chloe's fancy apartment only to find her dead, possibly of an overdose. The police arrive and in the scuffle, Julie decides to take over her twin's fabulous life.
Now, within millions of followers and the life Julie could have only dreamed of, she navigates a new path for herself. Her fellow social media 'sisters' take her (as a grieving Chloe) under their wing. When Bella Marie, the head of their influencer friend group, invites Julie and the other girls to her own private island for the week to 'unplug', Julie starts to wonder just what really happened to Chloe and whether or not she her secret are truly safe...

Opinion:
Whoa... this book was quite disturbing in many ways. It takes you into the world of influencers and how obsessive it can be. Also, there was so much gaslighting and controlling going on here. I started to really feel for Julie and by the end of the book, I wondered who really was the guilty party (you do find out) and just how far people are willing to go to find fame through their social media platforms. I think I'll stick to my book posts and stay out of the rest of that - thank you very much! Give this book a read if you are looking for some creepy cult vibes and a very shocking look behind the scenes of Internet fame! 😳 Also, I love a good twin switch trope!

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