A solid story that got really weird at the end. I could have done without the weird ritual on the island. Before that it was very believable, then that happened and I dropped a star.

I started reading this one with a lot of expectations, since it has been listed as an anticipated release this year (that should’ve been my first red flag…). The story was engaging for about 50%, but then it took a whole different turn (not for the better, IMO).

It became predictable, which in turn made it boring for me.

This being the author’s first novel makes it a great effort and I will read her future work.

This was quite an interesting book. It reminded me of Yellowjackets a bit. It’s definitely appropriate for our current social media culture, as the story focuses on a group of influencers doing some rather questionable things. Julie Chan is the main character and would give anything to be famous, but at what cost? This one is for people of various ages, teen or adult; and, though it gets a bit weird, it is not too scary or horrifying. Overall, a solid choice to recommend to others! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this title.

This is an updated version of the twins separated and raised in wildly differing environments trope. Julie Chan explored the depths the human soul is willing to plunge to in order to get what it wants, and to get revenge on those who wronged them. From the desperate scrabble to carve out a life all the way to the glittering fairy tale of social media influencing Zhang provided us with a tale of two sisters who must decide what price they are willing to pay for fame, while exposing the rot at the heart of the vapid influencer phenomenon.

This book was more dark and twisted than I expected and I think that’s why I loved reading it so much. It had all of the elements that I look for in a bingeable book and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

I cannot believe this is a debut! This book was so good! I was hooked right from the beginning. The story is part thriller, part horror with some dark humor mixed in. The pacing was perfect. I couldn’t put this book down. The storyline is unique, and I thought the author did a great job with the social media aspect of the story. I’m really looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you to Atria for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a weirdly addictive debut that features what it is like to live the life of a social media influencer. Liann Zhang is an intriguing new author, and her writing throughout this book flowed so smoothly that it was easy to start and finish this book in one sitting.
The beginning really hooked me, and I enjoyed the introduction of the characters, the setting, and especially the social media aspect—a unique factor that sets this book apart from similar stories with a stolen identity theme.
However, the plot really took a twist in the middle of the book, and it was honestly very weird. Maybe it was because I did not expect the book to have what happened because there was no mention of it in the book description, but I was surprised to say the least. From this point in the book onwards, the plot just becomes increasingly more unrealistic.
One thing I did like about this book, however, is the eerie atmosphere that Liann Zhang created. While not outright scary, this book carries an almost haunting essence that made me enjoy it that much more.
Despite the fact that this book was very weird, it was still a really fun and thrilling read. Like I said before, this debut has an addictive quality that makes it easy to keep turning the page and read on even when the plot becomes as bizarre as it does.
The book also really picked up at the end, so I am glad I finished the book. For me, the ending was so good—shockingly satisfying—and it perfectly wrapped up what Liann Zhang has to say about influencers and social media.
Sometimes weird books are good, and for me, Julie Chan Is Dead is good. Although the middle of the book had me questioning if I was going to enjoy the story overall, this debut really hit the mark for me. I am excited to see what Liann Zhang puts out next!

3.75/5⭐️

When you decide to switch places with your dead influencer twin, what could go wrong?! 👀🫣

Cults, murder, lies.

For me it was a bit too much of the influencer/ culty world so this didn’t hit 4 stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Every once in a while, I have a tough time rating a book. There are elements I loved (the first half of the book fell into this category), and elements I despised. I really don’t like where the author took the story in the second half of the book. It wrapped up nicely, I just wish the plot would have developed in a completely different way.

NetGalley Read

This was a weird book. It started strong, and I enjoyed seeing how Julie and Chloe's lives diverged. The themes around social media influencing, authenticity, and priorities were solid. I didn't find it too unbelievable when Julie took over Chloe's life - it did seem like her friends were pretty superficial. But then the second half of the book just got... well, weird. This one fully jumped the shark for me, and I think the second half kind of ruined the first half. I think this is a book that people will find a bit polarizing.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Unhinged is the best way to describe it. I didn’t enjoy it that much.

1) the first half felt like a knock off Yellowface (I’m sorry but I loved that book & it was more well done with the stealing identity plot line)
2) this book legit made me want to throw up, congrats for that being the first time it’s ever happened while reading. I skipped multiple pages completely.

Slogged through to finish it thinking there would be some kind of crazy twist but there was not. Idk I think people will love it but 10% of the book was explaining how many followers these characters had across their social medias

Julie Chan is Dead is a completely unhinged off the rails look at the Influencer world. The first half was somewhat entertaining but once I passed about the 65% mark it was just too ludicrous for me and ventured into disturbing. This is one I wish I hadn't finished and had just put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Make thrillers fun and unhinged again!

Julie Chan receives a mysterious phone call from her estranged twin sister (Chloe) that quickly cuts off. After not speaking for years, Julie decides to go do a well fare check on her sister and finds her.... very much dead. What's the next SUPER logical (completely illogical) step? Assume Chloe's influencer personality and step into the spotlight. Questions remain though: What happened to Chloe? Will Chloe's influencer friends recognize the fraud amongst them? Well, you'll have to read to find out!

I had so much fun reading this. It was satirical, dark, and (dare I say) funny. I had no idea what to expect when I dove head first into this novel and was pleasantly surprised. There were even moments that I caught myself saying "What in the Blink Twice is this s---?!" I LOVED IT.

Liann Zhang, where do I even begin? This debut novel was *chef's kiss* and I'm ecstatic to have been chosen to read this ahead of its publication.

If you want to step out of the normal thrillers, I highly recommend picking this up. You will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Julie Chan Is Dead, the debut novel by Liann Zhang is a darkly satirical thriller about identity, fame, and the cost of reinvention. Julie, a disillusioned supermarket cashier, discovers her estranged twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen—a glamorous and successful influencer—is dead. Julie seizes the opportunity to reinvent herself by assuming Chloe’s identity. As she steps into a world of curated perfection, luxury, and hidden threats, Julie realizes that behind the influencer persona lies a web of manipulation, secrets, and danger. Her transformation comes at a price, and someone may be watching—waiting for her to slip.

The writing is fast-paced, and the twists and turns are interesting to say the least. As writers of social commentary do, Zhang explores the dark sides of her main topic, the world of influencers. As “Chloe,” Julie gets first-hand experience and learns just how quickly someone can get sucked into the rabbit hole of content, comments, and likes and equally how quickly those endorphins help you forget about the truths in your own world. As the book progresses, the thriller becomes even darker. Zhang juxtaposes the darkness with humor, the unhinged with new possibilities, and the acceptance with loss.

This book may not be for everyone, but it gripped me. I enjoyed its commentary, its quirkiness, and even a perceived inside look at influencers. Parts made me laugh out loud, and others made me glad I wasn’t eating while I was reading. Good books make you think, and this one did that. I do look forward to future works by Zheng, but I do hope the next one skips the gory parts.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Liann Zhang’s debut novel, Julie Chan is Dead is an interesting look at society. Specifically she highlights “social media influencers”, their shallow existence of fishing for likes, followers, monetized websites and sponsorships, along with the tightrope they walk with their ardent followers.

Julie Chan is, in fact, not dead, but she is willing to ditch her meager existence and take over her successful influencer twin’s life after she finds her body on the floor of her apartment. This discovery is the first oddity of this book. Julie and her twin Chloe have been adopted by different families and have virtually no contact, so why does Julie go searching for Chloe? From the time Julie finds Chloe to the end of the book, Ms. Zhang’s story is horrifically bizarre. She paints the picture of an influencer cult whose participants seem like the programmed clones from The Stepford Wives.

I was intrigued by the story premise even though I am not sure that I can say I liked the story. I could not relate to any of Julie’s decisions or actions. I enjoyed the dark humor, but the influencer group was unhinged and their annual trip read more like a horror story than I anticipated. Another reviewer described (in a good way) the book as absurd, unbelievable and unhinged, but I think I’d describe it as being like a kitschy 1970s horror film.

Wow. This book was a wild ride.

Julie Chan, unsatisfied grocery cashier, assumes the identify of her estranged socialite twin when she finds her dead in her New York apt. Great premise! I highly enjoyed the first half of this book, but felt the second half took a weird turn for me. I would say this book is definitely written more for the twentysomething age group, so I was not the target audience.

It was a fun, fast read. If you are a fan of the influencer scene and want a dark view of what it takes in Julie's world to make it big, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for an honest review via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Publication Date: 29 April 2025

I was very excited for this thriller, and it did not disappoint! I love books that show the dark side of influencer culture, and this definitely does that. It takes an almost satirical turn to show how influencers will do anything hang onto fame and money. I also liked the mystery aspect of this book, and trying to figure out what happened to Chloe kept me guessing until the end was revealed. I also loved Julie, and even when she was doing some totally sketchy things, I was still rooting for her. The plot twist in this book will be divisive; people will either love it or hate it. I personally really liked it, and thought this was a very fun read.

When Julie and Chloe's parents die in a car accident, the young twins are split up. They never see each other, except when Chloe gifts Julie with a house and posts it on her social media. And she never hears from her again, until she receives a call from Chloe, saying she's sorry and that it was a "mistake" over and over. Julie has no relationship with Chloe, but goes to her aid...and finds her dead. Then casually assumes her life when people keep mistaking her for Chloe.

This story is a thriller, but also has humorous moments. Julie is very clearly not Chloe, and she's immediately thrust into fame, wealth, and the downsides that can come with that. She doesn't know who anyone is and spends hours researching people that she, as Chloe, should already know and be well acquainted with. Then the influencer trip arrives, and while she's excited, she can't help but feel nervous being on an island for a week with no communication with the outside world.

The big reason I enjoyed this story was that it was addictive. I literally could not put my Kindle down. Julie's character also undergoes a lot of growth: she starts out sad and resentful of Chloe. But once she takes over Chloe's life, she realizes things aren't exactly as they seemed. She's worried someone will know she's not Chloe, but then she realizes people aren't really her friends anyway, so it doesn't truly matter.

The last 30% of this book was absolutely insane. The action and creepiness just kept ramping up, and my jaw was on the floor several times. The author did a nice job of bringing the reader into the story, where you're like... "am I bought into this or is this nuts?" and we see Julie feeling the same way.

Overall, I loved this book. I thought it looked good, and it far exceeded my expectations. I would recommend this wholeheartedly.

Julie Chan was separated from her twin at a young age. Julie got sent to an aunt who was poor and mistreated her. Her sister Chloe was adopted by a wealthy family. Their lives could not have been more different. Then Chloe is found dead and Julie takes the chance to be Chloe to get the life she has missed out on.
Julie quickly learns to adapt in this new life but sees the cracks in the facade Chloe had built. Then Chloe/Julie is invited on a week long Island retreat for influencers and this is where the book takes some crazy turns. The twists were weird, dark and unexpected. I definitely was not ready for it!
If you love surprising twists then this book is for you.
Thank you @atria for the copy!

OMFG, Julie Chan! Julie Chan Is Dead is an outrageously absurd, disturbing, satirical, twisted cautionary tale of the dark side of social media and influencer culture. Julie and Chloe are twins who were raised separately after their parents died in a tragic accident. Julie Chan is a supermarket cashier living a pretty normal mundane life. Chloe VanHuusen her estranged twin seemingly has it all. Chloe was adopted by a rich family, has social media fame, adoring fans, friends, money, beauty and lives a charmed life. When Julie finds Chloe dead she seizes the opportunity to step in and take over Julie's glamorous life. This story was unhinged. I loved being in Julie's head. She was so chaotic and unpredictable. The author does a great job shinning a spotlight on race, class, privilege, identity, ambition and the lengths a person will go to for social media fame. It very much gave cult. This was a thrilling ride. I gasped and laughed out loud at these characters antics.

"I know I'm fucked up but these people are a whole new level of fucked!" but are they though Julie because you became one of them real quick and I still cannot say you actually learned anything in the end.

This is definitely my type of dark humor. Unpredictable at every turn. If you love a dark, twisted story that'll keep you on the edge of your seat then this is the one. It definitely gave Yellowface x R.F. Kuang as blurbed and I'll add Natural Beauty x Ling Ling Huang vibes. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Atria, Atria Marketing Team and Netgalley for the eARC!