Absolutely loved this book about a twin that takes over her dead sister's life and gets into a lot of trouble finding out her secrets. Would highly recommend as a great beach read.

I went into this thinking it would be similar to Yellowface, but while the first few scenes are similar with Chloe’s death and Julie seizing the opportunity in a haze of confusion and grief, after that they diverge greatly and this leans heavily into the thriller side while I felt Yellowface leaned more into lit fic.

This one was basically like a car crash - I wasn’t really sure I liked what I was reading, and I didn’t like any of the characters, but I also couldn’t put it down (and as a certified book bee who likes to have 3-4 reads going at once, this doesn’t happen to me often). I’ve never been into the influencer culture, I thought it was an interesting peek behind the scenes that could have gone a lot deeper in examining some of the themes they touched on, like the homogeneity of the influencer type, race and sponsoring grief. I probably would have gotten more out of it, but it went more in the creepy thriller direction and never looked back. Still, a fun ride to the end that kept the drama going!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this DRC for review consideration.

Yellowface meets Yellowjackets is right! This book might not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me! I feel actually sick to my stomach having finished it in 24 hours. It is disturbing in the best way. The writing is fresh, and while I often find reading about influencer culture insufferable, that was not the case with Julie Chan is Dead. Such an excellent read!

Thank you Atria for my copy! I look forward to reading whatever Liann Zhang writes next!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and couldn’t put it down! It was such a fun and different story, unlike anything I’ve read before. I had no idea where the plot was going, which made it all the more exciting. The twists kept me hooked, and I just had to see how it would all unfold. Definitely a memorable and refreshing read!

I had no idea what would happen at all times. I thought this book was wild and absolutely unhinged.

The characters were truly all SO unlikable but in a way where even if they're terrible you still want to root for them.

I am so impressed with this book! Bravo.

This book was a wild ride and I had no idea where it was going at any point! There were certain scenes in particular I didn’t like (especially relating to animal cruelty), but I really loved how it ended

By now, you’ve seen tons of reviews about Julie Chan. Lucky you, you’re about to read one more!

This book was fun af. Dark and disturbing, but also super funny. And who among us doesn’t love a “rich people behaving badly” book?

And not just run-of-the-mill rich people—influencers. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re the perfect backdrop for that trope in the year of our lord 2025. 👸💸💎🛍️

TikToks and trauma, slaying and sleuthing, beauty and bloodshed…this is a great “break” for those of us who always read the darkest books. We deserve a side of comedy with our corpses and crimes. 🔪

4.5 This was CRAZY and I absolutely loved it. It got a little silly at one point, but that's okay. It went in a completely different direction than I anticipated, but I fully appreciated the twists and turns and it not being predictable (like at ALL lmao).

>>>>> for some fun illustrations, check out my blog :) <<<<<<

I was hooked right away - the plot grabbed me from page 1.
Initially the story felt farfetched… but halfway through? It clicked. (well done Liann)

I thought I had one of the twists figured out but it turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Smart and layered structure. The reveals are timed perfectly to keep the tension without overwhelming.

Sharp and timely commentary on social media and the chaos it breeds. I loved how it explored identity and online performance without being heavy handed.

The characters felt fresh and relevant and messy in a real and deliberate way.

The story definitely gives white lotus vibes - layered and dark and a little absurd in the best way. The story really dives in to exploring the dark parts of social media and influencer culture. I think this would make a great limited series.

The ending landed with a clean wrap up with no loose threads. it felt satisfying in a weird way.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC! I loved it.

This book was wild and it takes absolutely no time for things to go off the rails. Julie Chan lives a rather unremarkable life as a grocery store clerk in a small town. When she gets a late night call from her twin sister, who hasn’t been a part of her life since they were children, she immediately knows something is wrong. When Julie discovers Chloe’s body she sees it not as a tragedy but an opportunity. Why should Chloe’s life go to waste when it’s ripe for the taking.

I thought the wildest thing that would happen in Julie Chan is Dead would be Julie assuming Chloe’s identity after she dies. Boy was I wrong! It’s shockingly easy for Julie to integrate herself into Chloe’s world and adopt her life as her own. Not even those closest to her, the influencers known as The Belladonnas, detect anything is different. When their annual vacation comes up, Julie sees it as the ultimate test to prove she can pass as a Chloe. Once they reach the island, Julie realizes the world of influencing may be even darker than she expected. The blurb describing this as Yellowface meets Bunny is absolutely accurate, but throw in a little bit of Midsommar for added measure.

This is a debut?! I’m shocked. Zhang’s writing is quippy and hilarious. I probably shouldn’t have found this as funny as I did. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for a review copy.

This was delightfully unhinged! The first line of the book is “One thing needs to made clear: I did not kill my twin sister.” And from that line on, it was just wild. I swear, I sat through the last 25% with my mouth open. I highly recommend if you are looking for a fast read that is also a dumpster fire. . Its one of those book where you really don’t like the main character but you find yourself rooting for her nevertheless. lol.
Liann Zhang has done an excellent job 4/5


Thank you to net Galley for the EArc all opinions are my own

A ROLLERCOASTER. I love the point of view, I loved the world that Zhang build - it felt so removed from real-life but it is a reality (in a sense) for many. I found myself needing to pause from the overwhelm, much like with social media, in order to reset. I don't mean that I didn't enjoy every second of this book, but it truly did what it set out to do. It was wonderfully uncomfortable and beautifully written. I can't wait to see more from this author.

This was a wild ride. The blurb accurately describes it as "Yellowface" meets "Bunny", but I also got heavy "Midsommar" and "Natural Beauty" vibes. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a fast read that feels like a dumpster fire that you can't look away from! I appreciated the commentary on social media and race in this one too, despite the fact that I think it all got a little lost at certain points. It was an interesting experience to be inside Julie's head and I loved the unique take on a dynamic with twins. The basic plot sounds like something familiar, but I thought it very much felt like something new.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-arc!

Such a fun read! The end was a little weird but it was worth the read! Definitely recommend! I wouldn’t call it a thriller but defiantly a mystery.

Very fun and unputdownable read! The first half was very different than the second half but I enjoyed it all and had a great time reading it.

This reads like a mashup between Yellowface and Bunny, and unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. I throughly enjoyed the first portion of the book but the second part completely lost me as the book descended into madness.

When Julie discovers her twin dead, and the paramedics assume it’s her, she assumes her sisters identity and becomes Chloe Van Huusen and discovers the dark underworld in which her sister was involved in, and just how dangerous influencer cults can be. This was an unhinged and witty thriller that had me confused and shocked the whole way through. Liann Zhang has done an excellent job with this thriller, for fans of Yellowface and Blink Twice. 4.5/5

What the heck did I just read?? I will admit this type of book isn't usually in my wheelhouse of favorite books. But I needed a palate cleanser and it sounded fun and juicy. And the beginning was pretty fun. I had to suspend my disbelief a lot at the idea of Julie swapping lives with her now-deceased rich influencer twin Chloe. But I could deal with that.

I enjoyed seeing Julie slip into her sister's very-different-from-hers life and her efforts to interact with other influencers and create content. But once Julie leaves for a super private retreat run by a huge influencer, things went off the rails. Like really crazy. And I just couldn't.

I feel like the author could have continued the book in a "normal" kind of sort of believable way and it would have been fabulous. She could have even still made it a thriller. She is a great writer and I feel bad that her novel took a direction I just couldn't get on board with. But it does seem like it has an audience and some people are loving it, so maybe this is just a case of every book doesn't have to be for me!

It was interesting but I’m not sure if I liked it. Kinda felt like Bunny mixed with Midsommer. I will say it was not predictable.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a wild, darkly funny dive into influencer culture, toxic friendships, and twisted family ties. The satirical tone and cult-like dynamics were both disturbing and hilarious—an odd but compelling mix.

That said, the book felt split in two: a gripping, slow-burn first half gave way to an over-the-top second act that pushed absurdity to the limit. The tonal shift was jarring, and at times, it felt like I was reading two different novels. Still, Zhang nailed the claustrophobic setting and leaned all the way into the madness.