
Member Reviews

I was hooked from the start. I love a book that has two clear halves where one little turn makes you think, wait a minute is this the same book?! Is Julie lovable? Honestly no, but her story is a good one worth reading.

t’s so interesting how there are so many documentaries and thriller books about influencers now 😅 and if you’re like me who watches almost every influencer documentary out there, you would definitely want to add this one to the list!!
Comes out next Tuesday!!
Okay. Here’s the plot.
Julie and Chloe are twins. They got separated after their parent’s deaths. Chloe ended up getting adopted by a very wealthy couple, she then becomes a very successful influencer. Julie and Chloe are estranged until one night Julie receives a weird phone call from her twin. Julie decides to go to Chloe’s apartment - where she then finds her twin dead. On a whim, she decides to make her life better by telling the police that Chloe was Julie. So now Julie is “dead” with the real Julie ending up pretending to be her influencer twin sister.
I know!! Some freaky Friday stuff 😂
This really was a very interesting read. You’d fly through the whole half of the book. The audiobook narrator was also amazing and she did such a good job making all the characters come alive!!
Then you get to the girls’ trip part and things definitely got wilder.😂 I knew it was going to have some cultish vibes but it was definitely interesting to see how it got there 😅
Overall, this was a fun one. Definitely a thriller about the influencer lifestyle! If you’d be reading this, please DM me. I’d love to talk about this book with you 😂
Thank you @atriabooks for the free book and thank you @simon.audio for the free audiobook!!!
💭 Have you guys watched the Bad Influence documentary on Netflix about kidfluencing?
☕️ We just binged it the other night and I can’t believe the main featured account is still active!

Liann Zhang’s debut thriller takes us behind the scenes of an influencer and had me on the edge of my seat! Even though the idea of Julie taking over her dead sister’s life had me wanting to turn away at times, I just couldn’t do it. The whole time I was reading about the influencers’ weeklong retreat I couldn’t put my finger on what story this reminded me of. Then it dawned on me, Nine Perfect Strangers vibes all the way! I’m still a little weirded out over how unhinged this story was but I also really enjoyed it. If you’re looking for something different to shake things up, then this could be your next read!
Thank you to Atria & NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This book is bananas in the best ways possible. I'm seeing people compare it to Yellowface, but somewhere around halfway through the book, it takes on a real Bunny vibe. I loved it.
The delightful and disconcerting strangeness of Julie's experiences as Chloe is precisely what's needed in a story focused on influencer culture--not just the influencers, but those consuming their content. Julie Chan ends up on both sides of that divide, first as consumer of content her sister and her influencer friends put out, and later as a content generator. Because we witness her on both sides of that divide, we're able to see what each party gets out of the exchange. Money for the influencers, yes, but also an addictive sense of validation. And then there's the complicating element of race: Chloe was raised by white parents and is largely surrounded by white friends, and her invitation into certain circles seems predicated on her race and her ability to minimize her racial identity. There's a fantastic scene about 2/3 of the way into the book in which a mid-level influencer is giving real talk about influencer culture that brings all these themes together. And by the end of the book, you might be reevaluating your relationship with those you follow on social media and questioning what they have to do to remain ascendant.
And what happens on Julie ("Chloe") and the influencers' island vacation may seem like a departure from the first half of the novel--after all, there's not a screen in sight--but it actually parallels much of what happens through Insta, TikTok, YouTube, etc. It prompts you to consider who has influence, who is shaped by that influence, and how that power is leveraged to create a sort of servitude to ones with influence.
This is such a strong debut. It's strange and fun and horrifying and incisive. Definitely check it out!

Thank you NetGalley, Liann Zhang, and Atria for this book. This was such a dark and hilarious book, and I loved every minute of it.
Right from the dedication I knew that would love this book. This thriller is dark and twisty and absolutely unputdownable. Julie Chan is an absolute hilarious and relatable character. Her witty inner monologue had me laughing the whole time. She is also so relatable. How many of us have felt like our lives were going nowhere and wished to trade places with someone who has more than us? Julie’s journey into the world of a New York socialite and the whole influencer culture was so interesting. While Liann took a comedic approach to shining a light the impact social media has on our culture, I thought her take on it was very insightful. It shows the fickleness of fans, the struggle to stay relevant, and need to constantly be generating new and relevant content.
The book is faced paced and honestly the story had me on the edge of my seat. The second half is absolutely wild and my jaw was on the floor for like the last 50 pages. Liann Zhang wrote a fantastic debut novel that tackles issues of race, culture, jealousy, acceptance, backstabbing, the list goes on, and she does it all with a comedic flair. This was such a fantastic book and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to read and review it. Thank you again NetGalley & the publishers for the opportunity.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of this debut novel by Liana Zhang. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!
Julie and her twin sister, Chloe, were separated when they were very young after their parents’ deaths. Chloe went to a stable couple while Julie was raised by a resentful aunt. Now, Julie works at a grocery store and barely gets by while Chloe is a powerful influencer. Even though they are estranged, when Julie gets a strange voicemail from Chloe, she drops everything to go to NYC to see if Chloe is okay. Instead, she finds Chloe dead. From there, it’s a slippery slope to just becoming Chloe. She’s soon in with Chloe’s friend group, led by the infamous Bella and whisked off to her private island, where things get really crazy.
Wow – what a wild debut so better buckle up for this one! I loved the premise, with identical twins changing places. Interesting how good someone else’s world can look from the outside. This book incorporates a satirical look at the evils of social media with a nod to cults and horror, all with the dark humor I love. I’m still thinking about one scene that will cause me nightmares forever! But it was addictive, and I couldn’t put this one down. Fabulous debut!

When Julie Chan was 4 years old, her parents died in a car accident. A rich white family adopted her twin sister, but Julie ended up with her mean aunt and cousin. Julie is an adult when she gets a mysterious call from her sister, who is now a famous influencer. What follows is Julie taking on her sister's life and a weird look into the lives of a group of influencers. This wasn't the book for me, but older teens and women in their 20s who are dazzled by influencers might like it.

Julie Chan is Dead is just the wild thriller / dark comedy / satire that will be perfect for summer. Sitting by the beach or pool this will keep you enthralled the entire time, and you won't see what's coming. Julie Chan is struggling. She works a dead end job as a grocery store cashier and over all is pretty miserable. When under strange circumstances she ends up finding the dead body of her long estranged identical twin sister Chloe (who is now a full fledged internet influencer) she has no reason not to step into her glamorous life. Julie quickly finds out that Chloe's life wasn't as perfect as it seemed from the outside. When she steps into the inner circle of influencer friends, things really begin to get strange and Julie begins to question everything she thought she knew about Chloe. Slightly unhinged and over-the-top, especially in the later half, Julie Chan is Dead will still be an immersive reading experience for most.

3.5 ⭐️, rounding up
Julie and Chloe are twins separated at the age of 4. Chloe, adopted into a wealthy, white family, ends up becoming a successful influencer, while Julie, taken in by her abusive and resentful aunt, scrapes by as a supermarket cashier. Julie holds a major grudge with her sister and her own life circumstances, before finding her twin’s dead body and taking over Chloe’s identity.
The first half of the book seemed very similar to Yellowface: young, beautiful, successful, maybe not-as-perfect-as-she-seems, Asian American woman dies unexpectedly, a jealous counterpart takes over her identity, and the suspense of keeping up the lie ensues. But around the halfway point, this one gets a little unhinged lol
This book was easy to read and entertaining. It was campy and over the top, especially towards the end. Murder, cult behavior, drugs, some animal cruelty (not terribly graphic, but still…TW!), this book kind of goes all over the place. There were very few likable characters and at about 70% I could not put it down! If read through a camp lens and not taken too seriously, I think this was a pretty good debut novel.
Thanks #Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved how the book got more intense as Julie delved more into becoming Chloe, especially a she learned more about Chloe and the danger that surrounds her.

You know that moment in a book when you think you know where it’s going—and then it just swerves off a cliff? Julie Chan Is Dead is that kind of ride.
Liann Zhang’s debut thriller kicks off with a sharp, compelling setup: Julie Chan is scraping by as a supermarket cashier, completely overshadowed by her identical twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen—a glamorous influencer living the life of curated perfection. After Chloe’s sudden (and suspicious) death, Julie, fueled by envy, grief, and a gnawing desire to finally belong, slips into her sister’s glittering shoes... and finds out they come with landmines.
The first half of the novel reminds me a bit of Yellowface—that same unease about identity, acceptance, and the lengths people will go to for validation. It explores jealousy, backstabbing, secrets, and the brutal social currency of popularity with laser precision. But then halfway through, the story detonates into something much wilder. The twists stretch the edges of believability, but I was too busy turning pages to care. It's the kind of fast, head-spinning drama that makes you gasp out loud.
Julie’s journey is both messy and heartbreaking. There’s a real ache underneath the glamour—the desperate need to be seen, to matter, even if it means stepping into someone else’s skin. The influencer world is painted as equal parts intoxicating and terrifying, with its beautiful rot just barely hidden beneath the surface.
It’s not a perfect book—some late-stage revelations veer into "wait, seriously?" territory—but it's so entertaining that I genuinely didn’t mind. Zhang keeps the tension ratcheted high, and her writing has a sly, confident energy that makes even the most outrageous moments somehow work.
Fast, fun, and just weird enough to stick in your brain after you close the cover. It’s an enjoyable read. Recommended.
Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy for review.

"But if I'm going to murder, I might as well murder right."
Since twins Julie and Chloe were separated at age 4, Julie's life has been hard and Chloe's life has been luxurious. At least, that's how it looks to Julie. So if her wealthy, successful, influencer twin is dead anyway, why let that luxury go to waste, right? Taking over Chloe's life is a no brainer. But what if Chloe's life isn't what it seemed? What if Chloe's death wasn't either?
Tropes and story components:
-Not as it seems!
-isolated locale
-toxic friendships
-cults
content warnings:
-This is a thriller. As such, there is murder, violence, death, etc.
-Miscarriage (graphic, on page)
-Idk how else to describe That Scene, but it needs a CW. Animal cruelty?
When I tell you this book was a WIIIIIILD ride....
I've never read a book like this. It was a smidgen unhinged, but damn if it wasn't a gripping story.
What I liked:
The writing is on the simpler side, so easy to read and understand and doesn't require tons of brain power. Still, though, the writing changes emphasis and approach so smoothly in a way that keeps you RIGHT with the main character. When she is drunk, the things noted on page were noted as a drunk person would notice them, etc. It was honestly a little disorienting, but in a good, compelling way.
Otherwise the story was a super unique experience overall, and I didn't know what would happen when-- full of surprises.
What I didn't like:
The sudden shift the book takes towards the end might trip some readers up-- it was somethin' else.
Otherwise, the main character was wildly unlikeable, but I don't mind that so much in a thriller.
THAT scene (If you REALLY want to know, then I'm sure other reviewers will have described it) was honestly upsetting. Made me gag.
Thank you to netgalley for an arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️ This book was wiiiiiiiild and I ate it up.
From the very first line, I was drawn into this story. Julie is kind of a sad character, and though her actions are pretty out there, I felt bad for her and was also kinda rooting for her (which seemed crazier to think the more I read, but so be it). As far-fetched as the plot was, it also felt believable in its own way, and I could almost see Julie’s reasoning behind her actions.
This book takes the “influencer” idea and turns it on its head (think horror & thriller-esque), and I absolutely loved it. There is a very slow but persistent creeping sense of unease, and the more Julie got enmeshed in this new world and her group of friends, the higher the stakes felt.
There were a couple mysterious threads throughout the book, and they kept me guessing what was really going on, and made it hard to trust anyone. The last 1/3 of the book felt particularly unhinged, which I was 100% here for.
You know a book is good when you think about it while you aren’t reading, and this book did that to me.

4.5 stars..this book had my attention from the very beginning. It was hilarious in my opinion and the belladonnas were something else lol. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

Julie Chan in Dead by Liann Zhang
Julie Chan is an average nobody who works at a convenience store but she also happens to have a famous influencer twin sister named Chloe VanHuusen. One day out of the blue Julie gets a call from Chloe and her whole life changes when she finds that Chloe has died. It is only natural for Julie to become Chloe and continue her empire, right? Like does Julie know just how deep into the influencer she would get and how many dark secrets she would uncover.
This book is witty and a fun thrill ride as the reader follows Julie take on the world of influencers. There are a lot of twists and turns too much to detail without major spoilers. Julie is a sarcastic narrator who looking at this new life with a critical eye but also fully embraces the benefits.
I highly recommend this one for those who like a novel with twists and turns but also isn’t as heavy as a read. It deep dives into the world of everything social media in an entertaining more modern horror story type of way.

After their parents died when they were just toddlers, twins Julie and Chloe were separated - one adopted by a wealthy white family, the other taken in by a resentful aunt. Chloe grew up surrounded by privilege and wealth, eventually becoming a powerful social media influencer while Julie watches from afar, working in a supermarket and becoming more and more resentful, especially after her twin popped up out of nowhere to gift her a house all for social media likes. When Chloe unexpectedly reaches out, seemingly in distress, Julie tracks her down, only to find that her twin is dead. But when she is mistaken for her twin, Julie decides to take over Chloe's life, assuming her identity and online career. Soon she is making new content, getting new sponsors, and capitalizing on what everyone thinks is her #grief. However, the deeper she gets, the more Julie starts to wonder just what her sister had gotten into before her death... and whether that death was really what it seemed to be.
Julie - and Chloe - are pretty unlikeable characters. The Belladonnas, a group of high-level influencers that Chloe was friends with before her death, are an equally unlikeable and shallow-seeming bunch of women Julie has to convince of her identity, lest all her lies come to light. However, things take a strange turn once Julie joins the rest of the Belladonnas in their annual June mystery trip to an island owned by the family of Belladonna leader, Bella Marie. Liann Zhang takes aim at the curated lives of social media influencers and highlights the ways in which social media can consume our lives and attention through parasocial relationships with creators who may not be what - or who - they claim to be. The ramping up of the weird once the group is on Bella Marie's island pushes the narrative into a new direction and amplifies the tension into a satirical thriller. While it took awhile for me to get into the story because of Julie's unlikeability, this one pays off in the long run.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Julie Chan is Dead early in exchange for a review.

The majority of Julie Chan Is Dead felt like it was building toward something really promising, but at a certain point, the story veered off the rails and became a bit unhinged. It’s possible this might have landed better for me if I hadn’t read a book with very similar vibes just a few weeks ago — by the time the chaos kicked in, I was already a little over it. I did enjoy the morally gray main character, who kept things interesting even when the plot started to lose me. That said, after reading several books lately that center around influencer culture, I’m realizing it’s just not a trope I connect with, which definitely affected my overall enjoyment.
I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, this was an interesting one. The first part of this book was so funny and captivating as you follow Julie who takes over her twin sister's identity and get immersed in the social media influencing lifestyle. Can she pull it off pretending to be her twin? Will her influencer "friends" catch on that she's a fraud? You want to keep reading to find answers to those questions and then this funny story turns into something more deep and very dark. I am still trying to figure out if the second part of this story had some kind of hidden meaning. I am going to be thinking about this one for a while.
I can totally see this become a popular summer read.
Thank you Atria Books and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story had an interesting premise featuring twins - one a successful influencer (Chloe), one a supermarket clerk, who barely performs her simple job (Julie).
When Julie discovers the death of her sister, she does what every normal person would do . . . she assumes the life of her dead sister. Uhhhh . . . . yeah.
So, is life better on the other side? On the surface, sure. Money is no longer an issue. She has an assistant who makes sure she always looks perfect. And who can forget all the free stuff influencers get.
For a while, Julie gets wrapped up in the madness of it all - suddenly people "care" about her and what she has to say. But how much of it is real?
Tnen there is Bella Marie and her posse of top list influencers. When Julie is invited to join a select few on a retreat, she is overjoyed. However, things really go sideways once they arrive. This is where the story becomes pure fiction, as Bella Marie takes on cult like behavior, to the extreme. This FINALLY seems to wake up Julie and reminds her that at one time, she was worried about Chloe. Looks like there was a good reason for that.
While I didn't care for any of the characters in this story, I don't think the author intended me to. There is some enjoyment in watching the mighty fall. And boy, do they fall big time.
Does Julie ever redeem herself? Maybe, but I'm not sure the experience made her a better person. Just better than some of the others in that influencer space.

I’d like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for honest feedback.
Julie Chan is Dead is a twisty, dark debut about two twins separated at a young age, living vastly different lives, and what happens when their worlds collide. This is such a unique book - I can’t think of a single other thriller quite like it!
I loved how this book unfolded - and even though the last few chapters threw me for a loop with their unexpected twists, I cannot deny the entertainment factor of this story. It also dives into the darker side of social media and influencing, which I found so refreshing just based on how our world is so obsessed with influencer culture.
This book also discusses privilege and there are many times in the book where discussions on race/white privilege are a catalyst for motives of characters and the actions they take. I think these conversations are extremely important and the way the book discusses race is very well done. I wasn’t expecting some of these conversations and the way they unfold in the story is important for both the characters and the plot but also for the audience to read as well.