The ARC of Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang got me thinking about what I would do if my life turned upside down and I took over the life of my dead, influencer twin. Tbhhhh I don’t think I’d be a good enough actress to pull it off 😬

But Julie Chan is. 👯‍♀️ Julie and her identical twin Chloe were separated young after the tragic death of their parents and their lives took on entirely different trajectories. Chloe had been adopted by the affluent VanHuusens while Julie had been taken in by their aunt. While Julie works as a supermarket cashier, Chloe lives a luxurious life as an influencer. When Julie does a wellness check on her twin only to find her dead, she ends up taking the opportunity to switch lives with her sister and get a taste of the lifestyle she’s always wanted.

This book is definitely one for the Yellowface and Bunny fans. 🤳🏽🐇 I know that sounds like an INSAANE combo but that’s exactly what this story is. I breezed through this ARC so quick because every chapter had me hooked. I wanted to keep watching the train wreck that had become Julie’s life and all her lies and couldn’t look away even when things began to spiral. And it definitely SPIRALLED. Even the “regular” lives of the influencers felt like a fever dream in this book and I ATE IT UPPPP!!

An amazing debut book by Liann Zhang and so so excited for its publication in a week’s time. 🫶🏼 thank you @netgalley @atriabooks and @theliannz for this e-ARC.

Wow what a fantastic debut! I was so intrigued by the summary and description of this thriller that described it as a razor-sharp, diabolical thriller and that is 100% accurate! I love reading books where the main character or characters are unhinged and this did not disappoint. The plot was all over the place and out of control but in a good way. There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming and I felt so engaged in this story that I had to keep reading well into the night. I love how this was a different type of thriller than what I’m used to reading as it reveals the darker side of social media and the influencer life. I highly recommend reading this one and I will for sure be on the lookout for more books by this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

This book was such a twisty mash up of things I love! I'm always down for commentary on the social media life of our current culture and "seeing behind the curtain" of influencers so that part alone was great but then it really turned a different direction - almost into a horror novel there for a few pages - and ended with a bang. I will definitely be recommending this book and reading more from this author!

This thriller was addicting and funny at the same time. The plot was unique and engaging!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

A dark yet humorous commentary on the world of social media and influencers. I love a story that involves cults as they always fascinate me while of course simultaneously spook me out. This story is definitely a quick and twisty mystery and could be the perfect one to add to your summer reading list.

The book is centered around Julie who takes over her glamorous twin sister's life as influencer after finding her dead. As Julie adopts her life, her friends, and her following, she soon finds herself questioning the life her sister was really and how much she really knew about her. And when she is invited on an influencer trip that spirals out of control, she begins to piece her sister's past together.

I will say, this whole story was a bit unhinged & of course not realistic, but still entertaining nonetheless. There were a few things that happened at the end that I was really not loving and found myself saying, "Okay really?" but this could definitely be a quick read to binge by the pool or beach this summer.

3-3.5 stars for me!

Thank you to Atria Books for the chance to read and review this ARC

I had heard this book described as "Yellowface but set in the social media world instead of publishing," which was a significant reason I decided to pick it up. I loved that book, and I agree that this one shares a similar vibe, given its comparable plotline. Julie Chan discovers her estranged twin sister dead in her apartment and decides to assume her identity and take over her life.

The story then follows Julie as she navigates the world of an "influencer." Despite some missteps, she seems to adapt quite easily. However, the first half of the book and the latter half felt like two completely different novels. Once Chloe/Julie goes on a trip with her fellow influencer family, the Belladonnas, the tone of the novel shifts dramatically. This change is where I started to feel a bit bored, and the pacing lagged for me.

Overall, while this book was interesting and a quick read, it was just okay for me.

“We’ve all sacrificed. But some people sacrifice less and get more. And other people work themselves to the bone and get scraps. That’s the nature of life and social media is not an exception.” 📱🏝️

a special thank you to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster CA and Atria Thrillers for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Julie Chen is Dead by Liann Zhang!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.

📸 publication date: april 29th, 2025
review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (04/27/25)
an insane, horrifying, cult(y) thriller. if you support women’s (rights and) wrongs, this is for you!!!

as someone who enjoyed “the menu”, this felt so alluring!! i can’t get this book off my mind. julie is such a dynamic character (& a gaslighter) but iz is my favorite. i also loved looking into the true reality of influencers & their mindset, which can be so so tempting that anyone might want to pull a ‘julie’.

i could also tell how informed the author was writing this, like i could see the nature vs nurture on twins so clearly!

the book’s context are internet heavy which makes me it easy for me to follow but i can see it feeling cringe for others! i’d say the same thing with the pop culture references too!

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Julie Chan Is Dead By Liann Zhang
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
(3.75⭐ Rounded Up)

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Happy Pub Week to Liann Zhang and Julie Chan Is Dead! This off-the-rails thriller is an absolutely wild ride of twists and turns that will have your jaw on the floor. If you enjoy unexpected plot twists and unhinged storylines, don't miss this one -- and buckle up!

When I say this book was crazy, I mean it was bat-sh*t crazy. There were some jaw-dropping moments in this read that had me shook! And even though I finished this book a few weeks ago, I'm STILL thinking about some of those jaw-dropping moments.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, decides to take over the glamorous influencer world of her twin sister, Chloe, after she discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances. Julie and Chloe were identical twins separated as kids and grew up with polar opposite lives. So Julie seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied. At first, the transformation into Chloe is fairly easy. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but...and things start spiraling out of control.

Out of control is definitely a perfect way to describe the plotline in this one! It took a twisted and dark turn I didn't expect and there were some storylines that I had trouble stomaching. However, this was an unhinged thriller that definitely had me reading quickly to find out what would happen next. Influencer thrillers seem to be popular right now, and Julie Chan definitely reveals the darker side of influencer life.

If you're a fan of unexpected and unhinged, enjoy twists you just won't see coming, and like CRAZY storylines, this one is for you! Available Now!

#JulieChanIsDead #LiannZhang #AtriaBooks #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #influencerthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Big thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance reader copy of Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang.

Julie Chan Is Dead pulled me in right away with its premise.. twin sisters leading totally different lives, each with secrets to uncover. I was fully invested in the first half, eager to see how everything would unfold.

Around the halfway point, the pacing slowed down quite a bit. While I understand the intention behind the slower pacing and deeper character development, it became harder to stay fully engaged. It lost some of the intensity that made the beginning so compelling.

That said, I did enjoy it overall and would still recommend it especially if you like slow-burn mysteries with layered characters. 3⭐️

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.