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.

Liann Zhang's "Julie Chan is Dead" is a sharp and compelling thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. The premise alone is intriguing: a down-on-her-luck supermarket cashier stepping into the impossibly glamorous life of her deceased influencer twin sister. Zhang masterfully contrasts Julie's gritty reality with the polished facade of Chloe's online persona, creating a fascinating dynamic as Julie navigates a world of luxury fashion and obsessive followers.
The initial transformation is seamless and almost intoxicating, but the allure quickly fades as Julie uncovers the darkness lurking beneath Chloe's perfect image. Zhang skillfully builds suspense, revealing layers of paranoia, manipulation, and sinister secrets that kept me eagerly turning pages. The setting of the private island retreat, populated by an elite and secretive clique of influencers, amplifies the claustrophobic tension and raises the stakes considerably.
What truly elevated this book for me was the ending. Without giving anything away, the narrative took a turn that I genuinely did not see coming. It was a bold and unexpected direction that added a whole new layer to the story and left me reeling in the best possible way. Zhang's ability to surprise and subvert expectations in the final act is a testament to her skillful storytelling.
While the pacing occasionally felt slightly uneven in the middle, the strong character development, particularly Julie's compelling journey, and the expertly crafted suspense more than compensate. "Julie Chan is Dead" is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that explores the dark side of fame and the complexities of identity. Highly recommended for fans of suspense with a penchant for the unexpected.

Woah! This was a wild ride in the best way. I normally find books that have an influencer angle to be a little cheesy and, at times, hard to read, but THIS was something different. Throwing in a cult, some horror, twins, and a private island really does the trick! Thank you, NetGalley!

This debut thriller is totally addictive, a sharp, modern mystery that explores the obsession with social media and the extreme lengths people go to for fame. It follows Julie Chan, who grew up in hardship while her twin sister Chloe was adopted into wealth and became a successful influencer. When Chloe suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances, Julie steps into her sister’s life, partly out of curiosity, partly out of desperation.

As she takes over Chloe’s identity, Julie begins to uncover disturbing secrets about Chloe’s relationships, a potential exposé, and the truth behind her death. Things escalate when she’s invited to an influencer retreat on a remote island where nothing is as it seems.

The first half of the book was my favorite, emotional, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. The second half gets a little wild, but it’s still fun, clever, and darkly entertaining. If you’re into twisty thrillers with commentary on influencer culture, this one’s a must read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really liked this book!! It’s very poignant and is crazy accurate about the wild stuff influencers have actually don’t in real life. It does well to talk about race and how that impacts success as an influencer.

It did get a little lucid dreamy toward the end, and I didn’t love how the mystery of Chloe’s death wrapped up, which is why I gave it a four star.

~ARC Reader~
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me access to this ARC!

Julie Chan is Dead is the story of a girl, Julie, discovering her super famous (and estranged) influencer twin, Chloe, dead in her apartment. When she calls the police, she decides in the moment to assume Chloe's identity and live the lavish life she's always envied. But somehow, trying to prove to the public, and Chloe's influencer friends, that she is who she claims to be is not the weirdest thing that comes from Julie's decision...

The first two-thirds of this book had me hooked. I was locked in as we explored toxicity of social media, and the addictive feedback loop it can create, the white-washing of influencing spaces, and the lack of depth in some of these online "friendships." And then we get to the island. And the story takes a hard turn for the supernatural. In doing so, I feel like we lost the thread of a really strong commentary we had going. <spoiler>The supernatural plot line wouldn't have actually bothered me all that much if Julie hadn't ended up swallowing it down as truth in the end. That really just killed the ending for me.</spoiler> And after the island I feel like we were just struggling to close the story and are left on a really odd cliff-hangar? Maybe that's just me though. Overall, I think this could have easily been a 5 star story if the ending had gone a different direction - but I would definitely read more from Liann Zhang. Their writing style was engaging and interesting all the way through, the plot just slipped at the end for me.

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang is a quick tale about twin sisters, one of whom flies under the radar while the other accumulates thousands of followers as an influencer. When one dies, the other steps in to replace her, and the story just rolls on from there. This book has one of those characters whom you hate to like because of the decision she makes. Read and enjoy!

This book is hard to summarize due to it being a amalgamation of three books in one: a psychological girls trip ala Bunny, a whodunnit with Listen for the Lie vibes, and a cautionary influencer/tech tale that reminded me of Aesthetica. I have read Yellowface and can see where a comparison could be made, but it didn't give me those vibes at all. Unfortunately, it doesn't stick to one of those enough to do it well and overall ends up a muddled, jumpy mess by the end.

One of the things this book does well is creates a complex, relatable, humanistic character in Julie Chen. Until the last 10-15% or so, her actions are all relatable and understandable. Her past is explained in just enough detail for the reader to understand why she would make the choices she would and just how addicting this new lifestyle could become for someone in her situation. And for a while, I cheered for her! Sure she's committing fraud, but she should get to experience the finer things for a bit until she ultimately gets caught. If all of these other weird white women get to to do it, so should she.

And then as the retreat comes, and as it leaned more into Bunny territory, I unfortunately couldn't help but compare it to that, and it just doesn't have the whimsy, weirdness, and pure magic that Bunny does. The women are never individually fleshed out, but also don't feel like a cohesive group. It's hard to explain, but when you have almost the exact same concept to compare it to, it's difficult to not go, "you're not that."

Also, the events with Iz just sat with me wrong. I feel like she should have had more of an impact on the end result of the story or on the weekend as a whole. She comes across as a strong character with a sense of self and independence, but we don't really get to see her demonstrate that except in one "angry black woman" outburst at the retreat. I feel like she would have been able to figure some of this out on her own and act on it in the same way Julie did, but better because she wasn't trying to pull off fraud at the same time.

Overall I gave it three stars. I did enjoy reading it. I read it fast and looked forward to reading it. I would read a book by this author again, but I think it did this book a disservice by comparing it to such unique books like Bunny and Yellowface right out of the gate, setting expectations too high to be met.

Every once in a while a book comes along that makes you sit back and go "Wow!". Julie Chan was that book for me.

I have deep admiration for authors who are willing to throw caution to the wind when it comes to their plotting. Unreliable narrator? Unlikeable characters? Social commentary? Wild plot ride on a private island? A book like this takes courage to pull off.

Moreover, the book works! Julie Chan is Dead is about our obsession with social media and external validation as well as the lengths people will go to achieve money and adulation. The protagonist, Julie, isn't the most likable of characters - she's bitter and awash in self-pity for a good chunk of the book - but she's very human. I've met people like her in real life, people who would sell their soul to be famous and beloved.

A lot of people will compare this book to Yellowface, but for me, it was more like Julia Bartz's The Writing Retreat. Like Bartz, Liann Zhang spins her mystery plot in unimaginable directions. I was hooked from page one.

If this is her debut, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced read. This review represents my honest, unsolicited opinion.

Very much enjoyed this debut thriller! I loved the use of social media, I liked the mystery throughout the book, I felt like it was page turning and kept me wanting to read more. I enjoyed the cult-like sisterhood which I feel could be very real in today’s society so it was a fun twist on it.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a sharp, witty debut that dives into grief and identity with a fresh perspective. The story balances humor and heart, unfolding through the unique voice of Julie, who navigates her feelings after her sister’s death. Some plot points feel a bit rushed, but overall, it’s an engaging read with relatable characters and clever writing.Lightsome yet meaningful, perfect for anyone into heartfelt stories with a punch of humor.

I recently read 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 and wow, what a wild ride! It’s a fabulous thriller debut that dives deep into envy, identity, and dark comedy. Julie's journey from supermarket life to stepping into her influencer twin's shoes after Chloe's untimely death is both chilling and captivating. The characters are unhinged, the vibes are cult-like, and it’s impossible to put down. I can’t wait for more from Liann Zhang.

This book follows Julie, a young woman who has not had a great life, and has spent that time pining after the life her twin has led as an influencer. When their parents died, Chloe was adopted by a well-off couple only looking for one child, and Julie was taken in by their aunt, who has taken it upon herself to remind Julie of how much of a burden that is to her for as long as she has lived under her roof. When Julie receives an alarming call from her twin, she travels across the country to ensure she is okay. Upon her arrival in New York, she finds Chloe dead and has to decide what to do next.

In the stress of finding her sister dead, she incorrectly corroborates the authorities' beliefs that Chloe is Julie. She goes along with this lie and finds herself deep in Chloe's life as an influencer. Julie seems to flourish in her newfound life as her sister, but this book demonstrates how looks can be deceiving in several ways. The more involved she gets with other women working in this career, the darker the influence of social media seems to get.

I sped through this novel and saw how many people would love it, but I did not enjoy many of the story's details.

This book kept me guessing; the last 20-30% was wild. Anyone who loves twisty thrillers that center on social media will adore this novel. I imagine that fans of The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers would quickly fall in love with it.

I had seen this book hyped all over social media, especially for having an unhinged FMC. I was ready for the chaos. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite land for me. I didn’t find Julie particularly unhinged, in fact, the people around her felt far more unhinged than she did. This definitely leans into satire in a fun and stylized way, and there were moments I enjoyed, but overall I was left wondering what I missed that made others love it so much. I know reading is subjective, and this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This book is weird and unhinged and I loved every minute of it. This book is really unlike anything I have read.

”Fuck being yourself; being someone else is so much better.”

This was absolutely wild. Sharp, subversive, and honestly kinda satisfying in a sick-and-twisted sort of way, Julie Chan is Dead might be the most intriguing book I’ll read this year. I can’t tell whether to call it thriller, horror, satire, or some combination of all three, but I pulled an all-nighter to finish it because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down.

”One thing needs to be made clear: I did not kill my twin sister.”

Julie Chan’s long-lost twin sister, Chloe, is a mega-famous influencer. So when Chloe turns up dead, Julie does what any broke, down-on-her-luck twin would do: pretends that she’s the one who died and assume’s Chloe’s identity (and massive fortune). But inside of Chloe’s picture-perfect life, Julie finds more than she bargained for: secrets, lies, extortion, cults, manipulation, and a precarious social hierarchy that could topple at any moment and ruin everything.

”Like anything good, it never lasts…”

At no point in time was I able to predict where this book was going or what would happen next. Some of it felt a little outlandish (like the weird culty religious rituals), but then some of it was so accurate and on the nose (like the sickening, staggering overconsumption culture promoted by influencers on social media) that maybe none of it was all that far off. And in the wake of how American society has responded to Luigi Mangione, the ending felt incredibly timely and relevant.

”I have this sinking feeling that everything I receive here is false and shallow, as authentic as a sponsored post.”

An absolutely outstanding debut, filled with brilliant social commentary. I’m so excited for more from Liann Zhang.

——

A huge thank you to Liann Zhang, Atria, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the third or fourth book I've read where there is a set of identical twins and one dies so the other takes over their life. This book is a twisty and wild ride and a combination of satire of the influencer industry, racial politics and flat out horror. Julie and Chloe are identical twins and were small girls when their parents died. Chloe was adopted by a rich, white family and Julie was taken in by a mean and money hungry aunt. They women rarely interact as adults but one day Julie (who works as a checkout girl at a grocery) receives a strange call from Chloe prompting her to go to Chloe's apartment where she finds her dead of unknown causes. She makes the decision to pretend to be Chloe and takes over her very busy influencer identity. I enjoyed reading about the sometimes hard work, these influencers have to do, the sheer numbers of events they attend would be enough to put me off this lifestyle. This is the first part of the story.

The second part is when a group of influencers who call themselves "The Belladonnas" invite Julie to a private island retreat as a way to recharge. Julie attends along with a number of other women and this is when the story gets really crazy. This part of the book reminded me a great deal of the Channing Tatum movie "Blink Twice" which had a similar story. The island part of the book is more in the horror realm, but I thought it was fun in a really crazy way. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review..

I was enjoying the book while it was a satire of influencer culture, but some of the twists at the end were a little too off-the-rails crazy for me. Regardless, a quick and addicting read. I can't wait to see what Liann Zhang writes next.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a glorious mashup of a reality show set on an island, every influencer you secretly follow, Mona Awad's Bunny, R F Kuang's Yellowface, the Glass Onion and the Prince and the Pauper.

Poor, bedraggled Julie Chan has been masquerading as her famous influencer sister who she found dead in her ritzy apartment. Why should Chloe have it all?

This sizzling thriller, crackling with wit and satire and race and class, unfolds as eight influencers take a week on a luxurious island getaway. Julie gets seduced by the glam and acceptance until something snaps - and then the story goes absolutely wild!

Read with a delectable treat and a mocktail/cocktail for full effect.

“I am strong.
l am brave.
I am a warrior.”

Julie Chan is just your regular girl, who happens to have an estranged, uber-famous social media star twin sister.

The book opens up with Julie working at the Superfoods grocery store, pilfering the occasional food item. We soon learn that Julie’s parents died in a car crash when she and her sister were 4, Julie sent to live with an emotionally abusive aunt and Chloe, her twin, being adopted by a wealthy family. Their upbringing and lives worlds apart.

They have a brief reunion, under false pretences and have no contact for 3 years until Julie receives a troubling call from Chloe. Unable to get ahold of her twin, Julie heads for New York to find out what’s going on. Once Julie arrives things quickly go sideways, leading to her taking her sister’s identity.

“Boohoo. Who the fuck cares?
How about you actually work and get to my level instead of complaining all the time?”

It’s startling how quickly Julie falls into Chloe’s life and soon forgets where she comes from. Becoming more and more addicted to the validation she gets from her social media followers, she loses touch quickly.

“I save people with my content. My followers literally tell me that every single day: Your livestreams keep me going. It saved me during my darkest times because there's always something to look forward to in the morning.
Hear that? save lives.
So, in the grand scheme of things, I'm a good person.
A great fucking person.
Everyone in my Chloe Crew tells me so.”

It’s no wonder she becomes addicted to the dopamine hit she gets every time she gets a comment on her posts. Constantly chasing that high to keep feeling good. Her whole life before assuming her new identity she was abused and neglected.

I love how the book hits on social media addictions, and the ensuing obsession with appearances from constantly being scrutinized on social media platforms. Another issue not spoken enough about of, how the algorithm works against people of colour, making them have to work twice as hard to get as much engagement.

“Kelly's knife grates hard against her plate. "You're nothing like Isla," she says to me, poking her fork hard into her chicken. Metal against porcelain. "So much more well-behaved."

THIS quote had me cheering for the Belladonna’s just desserts.

The ENDING! The speculative note of the last chapter is everything I could want. What’s real, who can say?

A great debut by Liann Zhang.

Thank you so much Atria Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.