The influencer life is to die for. Julie Chan Is Dead is a compulsively readable satirical thriller about the price of becoming a top-billing influencer, with a sharp dash of commentary on unconscious racism in today’s society.

Stylistically, I applaud the author for nailing the 'mean girls' energy, while maintaining self-awareness to critically poke fun at—or intentionally exaggerate—the self-congratulatory attitude of these characters. Comparing to Yellowface, which is far more nuanced and psychological, I was initially unsure about Julie Chan Is Dead's snarky humor and caricatured cast, but I grew to appreciate them as the plot spun into incredible chaos and fully embraced its dark comedy root.

Story-wise, I do think Julie Chan Is Dead missed an opportunity to be even more 'out there'. While scenes were appropriately depicted with violent punch and a dreamy haze, the overall plot felt a bit predictable—following the familiar arc of an outsider trying to uncover the truth behind an elite group’s rise to dominance, with a fairly expected outcome. I found myself craving a total reversal, something unhinged in the way of Rouge by Mona Awad (though I know I’m in the minority for loving). What’s on the page just scratched the surface of that potential.

Julie Chan Is Dead strikes a compelling balance between the uncanny and commercial appeal. It’s not as overt in its commentary as Yellowface, nor is it so deranged that readers will be left wondering what they’ve just read (though personally, I enjoy stories that challenge perception). Overall, this is an incredibly strong debut—and an easy recommendation!

Thank you Simon Schuster Canada and NetGalley for granting me early access to @theliannz’s Julie Chan is Dead. Happy Publication Day to this sharp, fast-paced, darkly humorous thrilling read!🎉

Separated as toddlers, identical twins Julie and Chloe find each other and meet for one day. What follows after is a series of anxiety-inducing diabolical events as Julie impersonates her deceased social media darling sister Chloe.

The book has elements of Yellowface and None Of This Is True, reminding readers of the perils of a too-accessible digital footprint. Loved the pacing as well as the originality of the storyline (love reading about women’s rights and wrongs!). If you’ve read and enjoyed Midnight Feast or Mexican Gothic, then you’ll like the use of the sketchy old money theme in this one. The book also touches on mental health, herd mentality, the quest for fame/clout, and one’s need for a sense of belonging.

4.25⭐️ A wild ride! If you’re in the mood for a cautionary tale on the dark side of social media and influencer life, then this book is for you! After all, all Julie Chan wanted was to be an influencer😏

I'm not sure what to make of Julie Chan is Dead. It kind of felt like two different books. It starts as the story of twins whose parents died in a car accident when the girls were very young. They were adopted and raised separately by very different families, and their lives diverged dramatically.

By the time they reach adulthood, one twin, Julie, is barely scraping by in a retail job, while Chloe has gained wealth and fame as an influencer. They had minimal contact growing up, but when Chloe calls for help, Julie rushes to her side, but arrives too late. Chloe is dead in her posh apartment.

With little forethought, Julie steps into Chloe's life and takes over her influencer lifestyle. Some aspects came to her easily, but she was unsure how well she passed among Chloe's friends (or frenemies?). She would find out on a trip with a few influencers in Chloe's circle.

This is where it gets weird.

The women travel via private jet to an island owned by Belle Marie, the leader of the group (they call themselves the Belledonnas). Sounds great, right? It gets culty and supernatural-ish and dark. I don't want to go into the events or conditions here and risk spoilers, but Julie is in WAY over her head in ways she couldn't possibly have imagined.

It's fast-paced; not knowing what came next kept me turning pages. The mystery kept me guessing. Julie's character developed well throughout the novel, while most other characters remained relatively one-dimensional. Overall, it was a good read, but if you pick it up, understand that you don't know what you're getting into any more than Julie did.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of "Julie Chan is Dead" from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Chan is Dead by Leann Zhang is a sharp, darkly funny thriller that delivers a biting commentary on identity, privilege, and the toxic world of social media. Julie, the bitter and broke twin of glamorous influencer Chloe Van Huusen, finds herself unexpectedly stepping into her sister’s luxurious life after Chloe dies under suspicious circumstances. With a twisted mix of resentment and opportunity, Julie impersonates her dead sister, navigating curated perfection, brand deals, and high-society drama—all while uncovering secrets Chloe took to the grave. It’s a brilliantly paced story that hooks you with its emotional depth and keeps you hooked with jaw-dropping turns.

Zhang’s debut is more than just a thriller—it’s a chilling reflection on the lengths people go to for relevance, and the lies that fuel influencer culture. Julie is a flawed yet fascinating protagonist whose voice feels raw and real, and the suspense only builds as she’s lured to a remote island retreat where things spiral into even darker territory. With its addictive premise and razor-sharp social commentary, Julie Chan is Dead is both entertaining and unsettling in all the right ways. A must-read for fans of psychological suspense and dark humor.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Julie Chan is Dead was an interesting "influencer" thriller mixed with themes from Bunny by Mona Awad. Julie Chan and her twin sister Chloe VanHuusen were separated at a very young age after the tragic death of their parents. Chloe was adopted by wealthy white parents in NYC where she was able to become a super powerful influencer. Julie was taken in by their aunt who was pretty abusive toward Julie and gave her no support. Chloe was found dead in her apartment by Julie, and the only logical thing to do is assume Chloe's identity to change her life overnight. Soon she sees the dark side of influencing - can she break free of it or will she give in keep the toxic cycle going? I would recommend this to anyone that loves these kinds of thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC.

This was an interesting read for sure. It started off strong for me with an interesting main character and premise. I enjoy an unlikeable, selfish, little unhinged main character. She was also a little funny which initially made me really like her. As for the premise, the “twin swap” idea has been done before, but this felt unique because it pulled in more modern qualities like social media. With one of the twins being murdered that added another layer to this story.

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with the weird way the story went towards the end. I started to really dislike our main character and every other character in the book. I couldn’t connect with them and really struggled to find something to root for in the story. Perhaps that was the point, but it lost me some. I did really enjoy all the commentary surrounding social media and its “cult-like” qualities. That message, I felt, was better written into the story than some of the other commentary the author was trying to make. Some commentary was very on the nose and I think it could be weaved in better to the story.

Overall, I think this is a very solid debut. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next!

4.5 ✧

Wow! I don't remember the last time I was so immediately sucked into a book, especially a thriller. From the first few chapters, Liann Zhang captured me. Overall, there was really great pacing throughout and there were twists that I can confidently say I didn't see coming. I was grossed out by descriptions, I laughed out loud, I was shocked, and at the end I had a big smile on my face - the only thought in my head "that was pretty good." This is a DEBUT! Stunning work. My eyes are peeled for Liann Zhang's second book.

Julie Chan is Dead is perfect for fans of Yellowface by RF Kuang, Bunny by Mona Awad, & Don't Blink directed by Zoe Kravitz (this last reference I think will give away too much so I hid it as a spoiler).

Thanks so much to Netgalley & Atria Books for this e-arc of Julie Chain is Dead!

This book was amazing, an awesome dark thrillers. Get ready to discover a lots of dark secrets with your twin.

A must for your thrillers recommandation of 2025.

What the actual f*** 🤯 Julie Chan and her sister were adopted as young kids into different families and worlds. Julie is now working a dead end job while her sister is a successful influencer. Julie finds her sister dead and assumes her identity. And you wouldn’t believe what happens after that! The influencer retreat she goes on was a wild ride! I kept wondering if she was going to get caught. And where the story would go. This was completely unhinged and at times a bit dark. But completely entertaining. It tackled topics like acceptance and jealousy. I highly suggest it, this was a highly anticipated release for me so I’m so happy it did not disappoint. I can’t believe it was a debut! I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

In Julie Chan Is Dead, identical twins Chloe and Julie are separated at a young age after the tragic death of their parents. Chloe is adopted by an affluent family, while Julie is raised by their aunt in much humbler circumstances. Years later, the two reunite, one famous and thriving, the other struggling to make ends meet. But everything shifts when, under mysterious circumstances, Julie assumes Chloe’s identity.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Liann Zhang does an incredible job portraying the dopamine-driven highs of social media validation and the addictive nature of likes, comments, and curated personas. The psychological toll of online fame and the hollowness behind it comes through sharply.

However, I struggled with the second half. While Julie’s exploration of Chloe’s privileged life was compelling, the thriller aspect became predictable and veered into the bizarre. I wish the story had taken a different route rather than leaning into those twists.

Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy.

Julie Chan is not dead!!

I really loved the beginning of this book, a case of stolen identity, where Julie Chan imitates her deceased sister, a hugely successful influencer. I flew through reading about her navigating brand deals, an extortionist aunt, and interacting with a slew of people she’s meant to already intimately know.

I slightly less liked the second half of the book that focused on a cult like group of influencers on a private island doing cult like things. For me, this cult plot line always feels like a bit of a copout for actual plot, where you can explain away a bunch of bizarre, crazy dialogue and actions with the characters being entrenched in a kooky cult. It very much felt like Bunny by Mona Awad, which is not a favorite of mine, and more recently Julia Bartz’s The Last Session

Not to say I didn’t really enjoy this book, I just wasn’t obsessed with the direction the latter half of the book took. It was a real page turner and extremely well written.

This first 3/4 of this book were enthralling and addictive but the last 1/4 was just bizarre. Not in an unexpected but fun way.

If you could step into the shoes of a rich and glamorous influencer overnight, would you? What would you sacrifice? This novel is a wild and thrilling ride into the world of the top social media influencers. Dance with the dark side of being chronically online. Just when you think you have the ending figured out, the author will surprise you again.Someone make this a tv show - Stat!

I would give 3.5 - 3.75 stars if I was able. I was provided with an advance reader copy via Net Galley.

This was a great, escapist thriller that is different from your typical domestic/psychological thriller these days. We follow Julie as she discovers her influencer identical twin's dead body and assumes her life. We get a lot of great commentary on influencer and internet culture from a very entertaining perspective in Julie. Of course, everything is much sinister than it originally appears, and Julie faces some seriously scary influencers as the book continues.

This is definitely not a perfect book - a lot of plot points make zero sense, and it does definitely go off the rails in the later third of the book. That being said, it is HIGHLY entertaining and a perfect summer thriller to plough through quickly!

Loved this one. A zippy ride through influencer culture, assumed identity, and girl gang cults. At times it felt a bit farfetched, but I was more than willing to suspend disbelief for this kooky book to find out how it ended. Not sure I loved the crazy cult sacrifice vibes once we got further in the island retreat, but overall this was a solid debut from an author that I can't wait to see more from!

I was hooked from the very first page this book was nothing like I expected, in the best way. It’s unhinged, darkly funny, and disturbingly relevant if you’ve ever scrolled too long on social media.

Julie Chan, a struggling cashier, slips into the life of her dead twin sister Chloe who is famous influencer with a life that seems perfect. But as Julie assumes her identity, she quickly realizes Chloe’s world is full of secrets and danger. The story takes a sharp turn during an influencer retreat that spirals into a tense thriller.

Trying to uncover what really happened to Chloe kept me reading late into the night. If you’re into fast paced, twisty reads with a flawed female lead and a touch of social commentary, this one delivers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a surprise little gem of a book! It's got it all! Even a touch of horror, which I don't normally read, but it fit right in here. Julie Chan is a cashier in a grocery store. Her twin sister Chloe is a big-time influencer. Julie goes to visit Chloe and finds her dead. She does what anyone would do in that situation and just assumes Chloe's life. Uh oh. All was not as it seemed and influencing definitely has a dark side. Who knew? I love anything that exposes the perfect influencer lifestyle, and this one does that in spades! The story is such a trainwreck and you cannot look away! Loved the ending! Just trust me and read this one!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Liann Zhang and Atria Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of April 29, 2025.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about Julie Chan is Dead. On one hand, I flew through the pages—it’s sharp, wildly original, and drenched in biting commentary about influencer culture, toxic relationships, and identity. On the other hand, I found myself wrestling with the tonal shift halfway through. What started as a smart, slow-burn psychological thriller took a sharp turn into chaotic, over-the-top territory that didn’t quite land for me.

Julie is a compelling and complicated lead—equal parts vulnerable and vicious—as she steps into the lavish world of her dead twin sister, an influencer she barely knew. The satirical edge is strong, and Zhang doesn’t hold back when critiquing curated personas, cult-like loyalty, or the dark underbelly of wealth and fame. The setting—a secluded island retreat—was tense and atmospheric, adding a claustrophobic sense of dread that kept me reading.

But by the second half, things became so unhinged that it was hard to stay grounded in the story. The absurdity seemed intentional, and while some readers may love the boldness, I found it more jarring than thrilling. Still, the book is undeniably clever, darkly funny at times, and thought-provoking in its exploration of envy, grief, and reinvention.

It didn’t fully work for me, but I can’t say it wasn’t an entertaining ride.

Thank you to Liann Zhang and Atria Books for my complimentary copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well well well. That was something. I've been reading a lot of heavier lit lately and needed a kind of pallette-cleanser. This did it! Fast paced and thrilling, it was hard to put down!

This just hit the shelves today. What a ride! I can definitely see why a lot of people are comparing this to Yellow Jackets. Julie finds herself sliding into the shoes of her recently deceased estranged twin, Chloe, who is a huge social media influencer. Julie has followed Chloe's life closely so taking over her life is not as hard as she thought, or is it? As Julie's life and personality become increasingly transformed by her online following, and her (Chloe's) close friend group of other influencers, will she be able to make it all work? And why is her friend group (the Belladonnas) so secretive about this vacation in June? what HAPPENS on these secretive annual trips?

So many social themes addressed here, the pitfall that is social media, its effects on mental health, group-think and cult-like behaviors, racism, wealth - all these to name a few. I was trying to keep this read light-hearted and not put too much thought into it. I will say that Julie does rollercoaster several times in her own views of right and wrong throughout the book.

I do think it was well written, a tad predictable, but not disappointing. Overall a fun read.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy of JULIE CHAN IS DEAD. This one is out April 29.

This one was so similar to another book I recently read that it just didn't work for me. I had a hard time keeping the two stories separate from each other which made this one tough to get through.