This was a wild ride of a thriller novel that is an effective satire of influencer culture, racism, privilege, and the need for fame. I always love a soapy tale about influencers behaving badly, and JULIE CHAN IS DEAD did that and took it to levels I didn't expect. And while it went to really outlandish places, even when it went REALLY crazy I was still fully into it because Zhang always has a bit of a wink and a nudge in this story, with Julie Chan being both a bit unlikable while also being sympathetic. This was a fun and at times crazy read, and it will be the perfect summer poolside read that will keep you guessing.

3.5 stars

Julie and her identical twin, Chloe, were separated when they were preschool age after their parents died in a car accident. Julie went to live with her aunt and was constantly put down while Chloe was adopted by a rich white family and seemed to be given every advantage in life. Now a supermarket cashier, Julie is constantly recognized either as her twin or from the viral video Chloe made when she gifted Julie a house. Aside from their short time together during the video, the two don't speak. When Julie receives a strange call from Chloe, she tracks her down only to be greeted by her dead body. Julie finds herself stepping into Chloe's life and trying to piece together the parts that she should know as her sister. On a trip to a remote island with Chloe's group of influencer friends, Julie learns that Chloe's success may have come at a high price and needs to decide if she's willing to pay.

The best way to describe this book is F'D UP! Julie's life is a mess - she was emotionally abused by her aunt and is frequently obsessing over her sister's better fortune. She was a very unlikeable character in the beginning. I'm not sure if she grew on me and/or starting redeeming herself or if the others were just such much more awful that I started to like her better. Julie switching lives was the necessary crazy plot point for the story to happen, but it wouldn't even place in a competition for the most messed up thing to happen in the book! It is fairly slow until the girls get to the island for their remote retreat. After that, things start unraveling quickly and you should clear some time on your schedule to finish it.

The first half was interesting and had me wanting more . The second half I did not love and did not seem very believable .
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off in a very intriguing way, and just became more twisted the longer it went, to the point of bizarre. It's a good suspense, but also feels like possibly a parody on social media influencers and their followers. It's definitely quite a different take on things and I appreciated the originality.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun thriller that got more than a little bit unhinged towards the end. I love a thriller about stolen identity, so this was a very juicy premise--the less fortunate twin stealing her famous influencer sister's identity. I was really engaged in the story for the first half, and it was easy to see how stepping into her twin's life was so inviting for Julie. But once she gets more involved with a group of ultra successful influencers called the Belladonnas, things went a bit off the rails for me.

This book is about our obsession with social media. It shines a glaring spotlight on those living their lives almost entirely online and those who blindly follow them. The book has extremely dark undertones, which get even darker as the book goes along. Julie starts out as a likable, relatable character, but eventually, the character goes totally off the rails and is no longer either. Thus, in the end, there is no one to really root for. The book works well as a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media and of being obsessed with the online world over the real world. However, if you are more interested in a lighthearted, fun, happy read than a morality lesson, you may prefer reading something else.

I was hanging with this one during the first half of it (though I wouldn't say I loved it), but oh boy did this one fall apart in the second half. It was so far-fetched and outlandish in a way that I could not suspend disbelief and get on board with. And the ending.......oof is about all I can say.

this is an insane book. i went into this pretty blind to everything except the overarching concept and that is honestly the way to go into this book. PLEASE know nothing about it because you will have a much more enjoyable time!

Thank you Atria Books for my #gifted copy and thank you Simon Audio for my #gifted ALC of Julia Chan Is Dead! #AtriaPartner #atriabooks #simonaudio #JulieChanIsDead #LiannZhang

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐘𝐮-𝐋𝐢 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟰.𝟱★

This book was nothing like what I expected it to be like…and let me tell you, it was a wild ride! Julie Chan works as a cashier at a supermarket. Her twin sister, Chloe, is a famous influencer and has everything Julie does not, including money and the perfect lifestyle. The two are identical twins who were separated at a young age and barely speak with one another. But when Julie gets a strange message, she rushes to find Chloe dead in her apartment. Julie decides to capitalize on the moment switches identities to make it seem like Julie has died instead of Chloe. Now, Julie effortlessly takes over Chloe’s life and friend circle. At first, it seems too good to be true, but she soon realizes that life as Chloe is not so picture perfect. When she’s invited on a weeklong island retreat with a group of influencers, everything takes a turn for the worst and soon, Julie uncovers the truth behind her sister’s death and rabies she might be the next target.

This was such a wild ride! I really enjoyed this one and totally did not expect some of the twists and some of what happened on the secluded island with the influencers! Honestly, parts even felt like a horror novel at times! If you are looking for a new thriller that’s completely unhinged, this is it!

📱Fake Identity
📱Influencer Lifestyle
📱Secluded Island
📱Cult Vibes
📱Twists
📱Dark Humor

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Yu-Li Alice Shen. I LOVED the audio. The narrator was so perfect and I loved how you could feel her emotions and the dark humor in her voice. I could not stop listening to this one once I started binged this one in less than a day. I cannot recommend this one on audio enough!

Posted on Goodreads on April 22, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around April 22, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on April 29, 2025
**-will post on designated date

📸 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📸

PUB DATE- April 28th 2025

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 💫 3.5 Influential Stars

Well that was a fun unhinged ride that I was not expecting 👀

This book is a debut and what a wild 😜 read it was !

Julie Chan is Dead started off SO Strong 💪 and then it took a turn and almost became another story all together, but I definitely was curious to see how this was going to end !

Julie Chan is a slacker when it comes to being motivated in life with a dead end job …. Until she finds her twin sister Chloe dead 💀

Chloe is a very popular influencer and her and her twin sister Julie have been estranged for years .

Chloe is successful in the influencer industry and living her best life 🛍️ 💰

Julie has loathed her sister and she starts to wonder what it would feel like to slip into her dead sisters shoes 👠 what would a world full of money feel like ??

Can Julie pull off portraying Chloe ? Will people see through her ?

As time moves on Julie becomes more unhinged and unpredictable and learns that possibly her sister was murdered…will Julie be next ?

If you love the influential world and absurd story lines , YA Vibes , foolish characters and dark humour then add this one to your TBR 🙌🏼

Thank you NetGalley , @atriabooks and Liann Zhang for this fun ARC

QOTD- “In a world where book reviews are everywhere, do you feel like influencer recommendations have made you more adventurous in your reading choices?”

AOTD - Yes ! You have opened my eyes to sooo many great recs 🖤

This is mystery, psychological thriller was a wild ride from start to finish. Julie Chan is a supermarket cashier while her identical twin, Chloe, is a famous influencer. When Julie finds her twin dead, she does the only logical thing...assumes her identity. But Chloe's world is more complex and dangerous than Julie could have anticipated. A fast-paced debut novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. This book is for fans of Yellowface and Bunny.

Huge thanks to Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me an eArc of this book!

A fun thriller that got more than a little bit unhinged towards the end. I love a thriller about stolen identity, so this was a very juicy premise--the less fortunate twin stealing her famous influencer sister's identity. I was really engaged in the story for the first half, and it was easy to see how stepping into her twin's life was so inviting for Julie. But once she gets more involved with a group of ultra successful influencers called the Belladonnas, things went a bit off the rails for me. All in all, a fun thriller, but this was not my favorite story and I ending up feeling like I was a bit older than the target demographic. Fun read if you are really into social media focused thrillers..

What a fun read this one was!! I was immediately drawn in from the start! 🙌

It did take a very weird turn maybe two-thirds of the way through, but I think in the end it worked! It was a wild ride and I really enjoyed this debut! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria, and Liann Zhang for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

I read Julie Chan Is Dead, the debut novel by Liann Zhang, and honestly, I really enjoyed it. The story follows Julie Chan, who stumbles upon her identical twin sister Chloe—an Instagram-famous influencer—dead in her New York apartment. Instead of reporting it, Julie decides to take over her sister's life, all while dodging a blackmailing aunt, navigating the shady influencer clique known as the Belladonnas, and trying not to get exposed.
It was such an easy, fast read, and I actually found the satirical tone really enjoyable. A lot of satire tends to fall flat for me, but this one hit the mark—it was sharp, comical, and way too real at times. I appreciated that Julie wasn’t a "good" person. She’s bitter, jealous, and clearly resents the life Chloe got to live. But toward the end, we see little glimpses of humanity in her. She’s not entirely terrible—just shaped by her circumstances. And weirdly, becoming Chloe feels like a glimpse into who she might’ve been if she’d grown up privileged.
One of my favorite parts was watching her live out this fake influencer life. The characters she interacted with really showcased a specific type of influencer—the kind that gets endless attention and forgiveness, no matter what they do. The way Zhang wrote them felt uncomfortably real.
Then it all goes off the rails in the best way once they get to the island with the Belladonnas. It turns cult-like fast, but I wasn’t mad at it. Without that twist, it might’ve veered into typical thriller territory, and this gave it an edge I appreciated.
And no complaints on the ending. It made perfect sense for Julie’s character arc. If she weren’t a person of color, I honestly think she would've been forgiven without question—and the book kind of calls that out, which I liked.
I gave it a solid 4 stars and would definitely read more from Zhang. If you're into unhinged female leads, dark satire, and culty chaos, this one’s worth checking out.

Julie Chan has been raised in a poor family and her twin Chloe has grown up in a rich family. When Julie finds Chloe dead she decides to take over her life as a famous influencer. She seamlessly enters the world of social media and opulence. That is until things get beyond what Julie finds out there is a lot of darkness hiding behind her twins life of luxury.

This novel takes on dark and heavy topics like grief, complex family dynamics, poverty, widening wealth disparity, lack of representation for people of color in influencers, and what people are willing to do for the almighty dollar. What seemed like a mistaken identity thriller turns into a very dark horror story that somehow manages to keep the fun. I would recommend checking content warnings if there is anything you are not willing to read, but I do highly recommend Julie Chan Is Dead to Horror and Thriller fans.

This one was very much not for me. I really have trouble with books that go too far off the rails with unbelievable twists and that was the entire second half of this book, unfortunately. The comparisons to Bunny are definitely apt, although it felt more tethered to reality and less dream-like than Bunny (and therefore almost more absurd when crazy things started happening).

The first half of the book was more enjoyable for me, although I wish the author had delved deeper into the world of influencers / content creators and the parasocialism and toxicity of social media. There were also some keen observations on the privilege and whiteness in influencer spaces that came in the second half, but overall I think I would’ve enjoyed the book more if the author had pushed the commentary further. As it was, I found the first half somewhat trite and predictable and the vapid and naive tone of the narrator annoyed me. Intriguing premise, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

4 ⭐️
Expected publication date - April 29, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - The fucked up-ed-ness of this story. It takes a lot for me to say, "What the hell am I reading?" but I surely did a few times during this one.

WHAT I LIKED - The unexpected. As a person who despises social media, I don't usually care for books about influencers. But I thoroughly enjoyed this. And there were some unexpected twists.

WHAT I DISLIKED - The fact that I was trying to enjoy some Taco Bell while reading the "initiation." Just my luck.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? Definitely. It was a very quick read that kept me distracted while my first grandbaby was being born 😁

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

In this book, Julie Chan, aimless, finds purpose when she takes over her dead twin influencer's identity until a strange and potentially dangerous plot unfolds. I liked that this book gave a good look at the vapidness and insidiousness of social media. I also really enjoyed the elitist cult aspect of the story. I generally liked the concept of this book and thought the depiction of the addictive nature of social media was well done. I also really liked the elitist cult and thought it was well shown, but at times it felt like a different story from the first part. I didn't find any of the characters likable, which I believe was the point, but I found myself frustrated that Julie didn't learn anything. That said, you can look at her lack of growth as her giving in once more to her addiction.

Actual rating - 4.5⭐

"Why did I do this to myself? Am I insane? Okay. Maybe I am. I did take my sister's identity after she did. That's dictionary- definition insane.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang is a wild, clever, and unhinged ride that sends up influencer culture. 

Julie's life isn't going great, especially when she compares hers to that of her successful influencer twin sister Chloe. The two don't talk anymore as they were raised separately but when she receives a cryptic and worrisome call from Chloe, she can't resist checking in on her. When she finds her sister dead, she makes a split second decision to leave her sub-par life behind and take over Chloe's life of success. She has no idea and is in no way prepared to face the truth about her sister's life. As Julie (as Chloe) integrates herself into Chloe's life and into her exclusive group of influencers friends, she learns more about her sister's choices and what sacrifices will be necessary for her to keep up the charade. 

I could not put this book down. Just like we're addicted to likes on social media, I was addicted to finishing this book! The protagonist is completely original, and the author carefully takes the reader from questioning her decisions to agreeing with her and back again. The plot and the way every thing comes together is so cleverly thought out; this is a smart, biting thriller. 

The writing itself is brisk, smart, and always darkly funny. Zhang does a stellar job of pulling the audience in and showing us the ups and downs of influencer life, while making a parody of just how ridiculous it all can be. The balance of comedy, thriller, and some horror elements will satisfy anyone who is looking for a bold, relevant thriller and isn't afraid of a thriller that is a bit over the top. It's begging to be made into a movie. 

In the end, I had no idea where this one was going but it really took me on a ride I won't soon forget.

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC read. This was definitely a fast paced book for me. I really enjoyed the twin twist and cult trope mixed together. One of the things I loved about it was how it also spoke to the dangers of social media and what it can do to us as a person, while that may not have been the authors intention, it is what I picked up on. This book is a warning to all young readers that everything you see on social media may not be real.
Another thing I really enjoyed was how the women picked each other up, well, until I realized it was a cult of curse. It really felt like the main character just needed to feel loved and accepted hence why she falls into the cult like environment easily.

This was a good book and I’d recommend to others. It is not a thriller though. I am not sure how it landed in that category, but just a heads up to readers!