3.5 ⭐️ This was a roller coaster of a story! Fast paced and engrossing! Loved the characters of Julie Chan and the Belladonna influencers. Dark, mysterious, and funny, sometimes over the top.

Julie Chan is in a stagnant job and living with an abusive Aunt after she and her twin were orphaned. Her twin Chloe was adopted by the rich Van Husens and enjoys a luxurious life as a successful influencer.

When Julie finds Chloe dead under mysterious circumstances, it becomes obvious to her what must be done. She takes her twins identity and her rich life. But all is not what it seems and Julie finds herself In a real mess!

I enjoyed the twists in the story, great writing, and the escapades of Julie Chan and the group of Chloe’s friends the Belladonnas.

My one critique is I felt it ended a bit abruptly. I wanted more!

Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the arc in exchange for an honest review! Y’all what a wild ride this was! I tore through the whole thing in just two days. Just like Julie I was addicted to my screen, wanting more and more. And I was right along there with her as she dug herself deeper and deeper into her lie, as she fell into the preying hands of her fellow influencers, and spiraled into a notifications and dopamine fueled addiction. The first half went as expected but the second half was a total trip. It was like the Ready or Not and Midsommar movies got together and had a baby that became an influencer. While the book isn’t exactly a groundbreaking new insight into how toxic influencer culture and social media can be it was fun as hell! I look forward to seeing what Liann Zhang comes up with next!

Liann Zhang's "Julie Chan Is Dead" follows Julie, a quiet supermarket cashier, who discovers her glamorous twin sister Chloe has died under suspicious circumstances. She impulsively decides to take over her sister's life and her carefully curated online persona by pretending to be Chloe. As Julie fumbles through her sister’s picture-perfect world, she uncovers a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous alliances.

Zhang gives us a compelling protagonist in Julie, whose outsider status brings both biting commentary and unexpected vulnerability, making her a protagonist readers will want to root for. Chloe, though dead, remains a magnetic force, and the cast of influencers surrounding her crackles with tension and duplicity. Setting the story at an island retreat also imparts a sinister sense of dread, in the vein of traditional "locked room/isolated location" mysteries.

This is a sharp thriller that skewers influencer culture while delivering an engaging page-turning mystery that is equal parts social satire and suspense, hooking readers from the first chapter. While some genre tropes do surface, Zhang’s smart prose and keen eye for the performative absurdity of being chronically online elevate the story, with well-plotted twists and scathing commentary. "Julie Chan Is Dead" is a dark and unsettling thriller that takes on the overly-filtered world of online influencing with a gripping and satisfying narrative.

Julie never has really known her twin sister, Chloe. They were raised apart but she has followed her popular influencer accounts. When she discovers Chloe’s dead body, she takes over her life and accounts.

This was a fun, but pretty wild and at times dark, story. It gets a little out there towards the end and reminded me a bit of Bunny so I think many will love this one. It’s a truly dark look at the world of influencers, to a satirical point. I loved how we saw how quickly Julie got wrapped up into the world.

“All I wanted was a new life as an influencer. And now… god, what did I get myself into?”

Julie Chan is Dead comes out 4/29.

What a FUN read! The first half of the story delivers some really interesting satirical commentary on consumerism, influencer culture, and social media addiction. Then...the plot goes off the rails. Some points were unhinged in a super entertaining way, and others were just plain ridiculous.

This book has a bit of an identity problem. It's not horror, nor is it a mystery. But it is also a little too gory and "out there" to be classified as lit fic. As a result, the overall message of the story came across as unfocused. Parts of this book were really strong. For example, the writing style and character development were executed quite well. However, the plot could have used some refinement and depth.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED this book. The depth of commentary on social media influencers, impersonation, cultural identity enveloped with humorous situations was amazing. Reminded me of some of the themes from Kuang's Yellowface, but a little less dark.

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and try to stay safe, sane and happy out there.

After Julie and Chloe's parents die in a car crash when the twin sisters are young, Chloe is adopted by a wealthy white family, while Julie is sent to live with her miserly aunt. Chloe grows up to become a successful social media influencer, while Julie is struggling in her minimum wage job. But when Julie discovers Chloe has died under mysterious circumstances, and realizes that everyone assumes she is Chloe and the dead woman is Julie, she seizes the chance to step into Chloe's glamorous life. But although Chloe's life seemed glittery and exciting from the outside, there's something sinister lurking beneath the glitz and glam of the social media lifestyle.

This was an extremely compelling book that I really loved like 80% of, and (as other reviews have alluded) the last bit goes off the rails a little in a way you are not expecting. The first portion of the book reminded me a lot of Yellowface, with a lot of commentary/critique on influencers, social media, how race and privilege intersect with all that. The ending got a little weird but that mostly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book and I was pretty satisfied with how it ended overall. There are NO likeable characters in this book, but they are all very compelling and you can't help reading anyway. Reading Julie's perspectives and justifications for her actions was like watching a trainwreck--you can't look away. Definitely a recommended title.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not my cup of tea. It was way too absurd. The wealthy influencer lifestyle is just not my thing - it feels fake, overdone and unrealistic. I thought that these influencers going to a secluded island when they barely know one another just seemed off the rails. The characters were fine, nothing amazing, but intriguing enough to keep me reading. Julie Chan and her sister Chloe were adopted to separate homes after their parents tragic death. They spend their childhood apart, until Chloe, a famous influencer, gets in touch and buys her poor sister Julie a house. That is where their relationship begins and ends. When Julie finds Chloe has died from an overdose, after a mysterious call, she decides to switch identities with her dead sister. Julie finds herself living Chloe's life of the rich and famous. An interesting idea, I just don't think that I was the target audience.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Julie Chan is Dead is a twisty, binge-worthy read that had me hooked from the start. Julie, the “down on her luck” twin, was adopted by her aunt while her sister was taken in by a wealthy family and grew up to be a high-profile influencer. Their paths couldn’t be more different—until tragedy strikes and Julie decides to step into her sister’s seemingly perfect life.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, and I’m so glad I didn’t read too much beforehand—this book is packed with surprises. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, another twist hit. Despite the dark premise of assuming her dead sister’s identity, Julie remains a surprisingly sympathetic and complex main character. You can't help but root for her, even as the lies stack up.

If you're into messy family dynamics, identity swaps, and stories that keep you guessing until the end, definitely add this one to your TBR!

I loved the first half of this book! Very Yellowface by Kuang vibes with someone stealing the life/fame of another person which is such a great premise for an amazing unlikable narrator. Lost me in the second half, unfortunately; I wish it had stayed more grounded in realism and not gone in the kind of odd direction it did. Still a decent read!

6.5/10 i didn’t know where this book was going to go, and i wasn’t expecting cult?? the book was good, but i thought the building of who killed chloe should have been much much more climactic. it felt like the book built well 50% of the way through, because you didn’t know where it was going to go, but then it went off the rails. i think it wanted a touch of mystery, touch of horror, touch of modern comedy, but it just kind of went balls to the walls everything at the end. the introspective aspect of social media and influencers was good, talking about how much and how quickly you can lose your soul and your grip with reality. but it definitely went too far into unbelievable territory. the development wasn’t super throughout, it started with developing julie really well, but then it fell off.

This was such a fun ride of a read. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on, I didn’t and I loved every page of it. If you liked the storytelling style of Yellowface but wanted higher stakes, then by god this is the book for you. Because, the stakes have never been higher for impersonating a dead woman like it is in Julie Chan is Dead.

I picked this up as an ARC because the cover and the premise of a twin stealing her rich influencer twin’s life after discovering her dead sounded like the kind of thrilling fun I needed. And I did need it. With everything going on in the world, this is such a fun exploration into the lives of influencers. It both meets and challenges the reader’s expectations of what they think goes into the life of an influencer, while at the same time challenging it’s own narrative of how we should think before we consume and the dangers of parasocial relationships.

I actually really enjoyed the economics on the waste of mass consumption and the sheer volume of stuff that is sent to influencers for brand deals and sponsored posts. I came into this book expecting to absolutely throw away all of the supposed ‘struggles’ of rich influencers. But I really enjoyed how this subtly and slyly tackles the issue of our need for mass consumption and validation through marketing. I did enjoy the way this discusses the ways in which people become completely addicted and reliant upon social media for their validation and how a person may fall victim to very unsavory things if they’re not careful all in the sake of belonging and stability. The strongest portions of this book were definitely in the addressing of social media as another footsoldier for white supremacy and white beauty standards, as in the way algorithms intentionally suppress and ignore BIPOC content creators in favor of rich white women who don’t actually add any value into other’s days beyond mindless consumption of the fantasy of being wealthy.

The voice and narrative style is extremely engaging and down to earth. Normally I don’t enjoy such laid-back styles of addressing a reader and using conversational writing styles as a narrative, but I found Zhang’s tone to be engaging and witty. It made this a hilarious and nail-biting read at the same time. The only reason this book does not get a 5/5 is because it used unalive as serious dialogue where a character is having an offline 1:1 discussion with another character. Petty hill to die on, but, I hate it even offline and I have someone say it to me with their chest. Please. Don’t censor yourself offline. You won’t be demonetized. Just. Say the words. You’re killin me smalls.

Anyways I think you should read this because it is a great and lighthearted read. So if you need a laugh and you’re stressed out pick up Julie Chan is Dead and have yourself a lighthearted laugh.

When you define your worth by the number of followers you have, what wouldn’t you do to continue making that number grow?

Described as Yellowface meets Bunny, which is a spot on description, this book is a critique on influencer culture. How fake social media can be, how white privilege plays into internet fame, and how fleeting it can all be. But add in a mystery with some mistaken identity, and it’s a stand out thriller.

I really enjoyed this. It was fast paced with interesting characters and a fun premise. Julie Chan might not be dead, but someone is. And it will change Julie’s life forever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

PS even though his description was very much the opposite, I pictured Mr Milchick from Severance for Victor

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang
Advanced readers copy provided by NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OH, Julie, Julie, Julie !
This book kicks off with our main character Julie, who has a calm life, working in a supermarket. One night, after work, her twin sister Chloe, who she’s only seen once since they were separated at four years old, calls her saying cryptic things, making Julie worried, so worried, she decides to go to New York, where her sister lives to see what’s going on. Thus kicking off our plot.
When Julie gets to Chloe’s apartment, she find her *SHOCK*, dead. When a reasonable person would just tell the police everything as it is, Julie decides to swap with her sister and simply steal her life, because she won’t need it anymore, right? Quickly, Julie settles into Chloe’s life, being sucked into the influencer lifestyle and getting addicted to views and peoples opinions of her.
Julie finds out she’s part of a group called the Belladonnas, run by the most famous influencer, Bella Marie. Julie is a fan of Bella Marie, and is keen to assure she likes her, now that she’s stepped into her sisters shoes. She is pleased when she’s invited to the Belladonnas annual trip to a private island.
Once on the island, Julie quickly realises things are not as they seem.
I have to say, this book really grabs you at the 40% mark. The beginning is slower, settling the reader into a false sense of comprehension. It really picks up it’s pace when the girlies are on their island trip.
This book really wasn’t what I thought it would be. The beginning was very reminiscent of Yellowface by R.F Kuang. But again, at the 40% mark, things took a dark turn that I really was not expecting. The pace picked up and we were brought into a world that felt very cultish, it felt like I was in a dreamlike state while reading.
You want to empathise with Julie, but dang, does she make it hard! Our main character is very unhinged and truly believes she’s doing the right thing by stealing her sisters life. At every turn, when she doubts herself for making the right choice, something happens that makes her believe that she did. She believes she’s a better Chloe, than Cloe herself. She soon finds out that she knows nothing about her sister, her life and her surroundings. That really made me feel a sense of unease through the whole reading experience, I never knew what to expect from someone so unpredictable. Although she made me nervous, I literally could not look away.
I think the thing I liked the least about this book was the ending. I felt like I needed more. More gore, something more visceral. I wanted one more final twist that would have had me shaking the house down boots.
Overall, I liked this read! It felt like a fresh take on the steal your life trope. I just wanted more from the ending.

Ohhhh this was all kinds of nuts, and I loved it! It definitely caught me by surprise. It hooked me immediately and I just couldn’t put it down. The last half was unhinged, and lost me a little, but overall a super fun ride. Liann Zhang is now on my radar, for sure. 💕

Influence, Perfect Little Monsters
Avail: April 29
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🚫
TR: Death of parents, overdose/drug use, indoctrination

Premise: Separated at age 4, Julie was raised by a neglectful aunt & is barely making ends meet while her twin Chloe was adopted by a wealthy couple & became a successful influencer. When Chloe dies & Julie steps into her life, she discovers dark secrets behind the glittering social media facade.

Thoughts: Julie’s twin dies in a clearly suspicious way. She steals her sister’s identity & wealth. She’s sucked into the influencer lifestyle & becomes addicted to the constant positive reinforcement. Add in that she’s one of only 2 POC in a clique of oblivious white women, and you know the author’s building to a Get Out kinda reckoning. Even with that set up, I did not anticipate the third act’s dark turn. Be prepared for a slide toward horror. The story arc & plot twists keep this a page-turner. But a deeper message creeps through, at times reading like a cautionary tale. While the forces at work among Julie’s influencer besties are fictional, the book’s exploration of influencer culture & toxicity is all too real. The speed with which Julie devolves from a critic of the influencer lifestyle to an addict of her online world is chilling in its plausibility. Prepare to read through slitted fingers. And maybe don’t read while eating. But the ending of this book? Brilliant.

Thanks to Atria & NetGalley for the gifted book in exchange for an honest review.

Received an ARC via NetGalley.

This was wild. I’ve had Yellowface on my list for a while but now I’ll have to bump it up.

This is the kind of story that sucks you in from the beginning and is impossible to put down. There was one scene in particular I did wish to put it down, bc it was pretty gruesome. But it’s definitely a wild ride while also being a critique on influencer culture and social media. While also being full of tension, it also was very funny.

Highly recommend.

I’m so disappointed bc I was sooo into this story for the first half as we follow Julie taking over Chloe’s life and then it unexpectedly completely shifts into a cult trope which is just so overdone recently and i literally groaned when i figured out that was the direction the story was going in. I’m so tired of ‘surprise’ cult stories and this was a missed opportunity for me!

Thank you Atria books for my gifted copy!

“I know I’m fucked up, but these people are a whole new level of fucked.”

Julie Chan is Dead is unhinged. I was sucked in from the start and this book truly went off the rails - in the best way - toward the end. I had nightmares about it last night. In it, I was in a daze, faces of my longtime friends looming and chanting over me. 🤐 I’ll say no more. The quote sums it up enough.

Liann Zhang is brilliant. This book was hilarious. It’s hard to find my type of humor in media, unless it’s a ridiculous meme, so it was refreshing to laugh along with the dark absurdity that is social media.

We get this wonderful glimpse of the dark underbelly of what it means to be an influencer. I can safely say I never thought it would be an easy thing. Can you imagine being on ALL DAY? Forcing a painful fake smile for brand deals? Cultivating perfection at every turn? Engaging constantly? The burnout must be brutal.

We see such flash and glimmer on our side of the screens, but I don’t think many of us really sit and think about how much work goes into being an online personality. And the internet is full of mean and horrible people. I truly could not make it.

But Julie Chan is Dead takes this darkness to another level. It makes the rumors of the Illuminati and fame seem real lol.

I really cannot recommend this book enough, especially if you’re looking for a rollercoaster to steadily take you to the top and then plummet you so hard your stomach pops into your throat.