Wow what a crazy story. This books takes you through some ups and downs of being an influencer but it takes it even further where I didn’t even expect it to go!

Thanks Net Galley and Atria books for providing the ARC!

What a clever witty book! Julie and Chloe (twins sisters) were separated very young. Chloe went on to become a famous influencer while Julie struggles to make it through the day. When Chloe is found dead in her apartment, Julie takes this opportunity to step into her life!

This book was fun although I did find the second half a huge departure from the first half so beware! It gets super wild and crazy. I think this is truly a tale of greed and envy as well as the dangers of social media. A lesson in being content with whatever we do have!

I love, love, loved this book up until about the halfway point. Then...it didn't just jump the shark, it invented sharks, put them in a blender, then crammed them down your throat while forcing you to participate in calisthenics.
Or...something.

This novel started out frothy and entertaining but veered off about halfway through into something darker. In some ways that made it more interesting, but it was jarring. That said, it's a page-turner. This is a first novel, and very entertaining. Liann Zhang has a promising future ahead of her.
#Atria #Netgalley

3.75

the first half of this book had me on the edge of my seat. seeing julie immerse herself more in chloe's life was crazy, especially with how she was becoming everything she hated about chloe while also trying really hard to convince herself (and the readers) why she deserves to act that way.

the second half took a turn i definitely wasn't expecting. i'm not sure how to feel about certain aspects of the plot... it fell a bit flat to me, and seemed to come off as shock-value.

overall, i enjoyed it!

Overall, this book was really good! The beginning started off really strong - it was fast-paced and I didn't have to push myself to stay interested. That being said, the second half of the book did fall a little flat for me. Once I got into the second half, it felt like too much was going on all at once, but I did still really enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers!

Wow, this book definitely turned me off from ever wanting to be an influencer-ever! When Julie finds her twin sister, Chloe, dead on her floor following a mysterious phone call, Julie kind of.... just slips into her life. At first, she's thrilled with having a luxurious place to live, six figure brand deals, and and endless supply of high end skin creams, as well as access to Chloe's credit cards and glam team. When the shine wears off, however, Julie realizes what a perilous position she has put herself in- she is being blackmailed by her aunt, the possible cult (the Belladonnas) with their mysterious God/demon Eto are getting stranger by the day, and she has to remember to pretend to be someone she's not. Although those is considered a mystery/thriller, it absolutely has a dark side and could be also classified as a horror story. The thought of being an influencer is horrific in itself to me, but eating baby mice and swearing my firstborn in order to obtain followers is.... unimaginably horrific. Alllllll that said, I really enjoyed this book- I ate it up, hardly putting it down over the course of the weekend before Christmas. I'll definitely be recommending and handselling this one, and I cannot wait to see what Liann Ziang writes next!

What a fun read! It reminded me of Yellow Face, in the way of stolen identities and secrets, but was such a better execution of those themes!

This book was definitely unexpected. I enjoyed the beginning and the fast paced style, however the last half of the book was not for me. I felt like it was trying so hard to tick all the boxes that it fell flat and I was quickly uninterested.

A suspenseful thriller that explores the dark side of social media and the lengths that some will go to for fame. Julie Chen is the forgotten twin raised by a money hungry aunt. What happens when she stumbles upon her rich influencer twin’s dead body?
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved the first half of this book and was really drawn in. And then things took a turn the second half and it was just too much for me. I wish the vibe of the first half could have continued through the end.

Julie Chan is Dead was thrilling! I could not put this book down! I had to know what would happen next and loved seeing it all unfold. It reminded me of Yellowface in the best way possible and also had the call is coming from inside the house vibes.

It started off super strong and I couldn’t put it down. I was loving reading about the glamourous life of the influencer culture. I was also curious how Julie would pull off being Chloe. However, once they went to the island it started getting a little too odd for my tastes - but I had to finish what I started

Julie Chan Is Dead opens with a sharp and satirical lens on influencer culture. Julie, a supermarket cashier, discovers her twin sister, Chloe Van Huusen—a popular influencer—dead in her New York apartment. Seizing an opportunity, Julie assumes Chloe's identity and is quickly swept into a world of adoring fans, lucrative brand deals, and a famous influencer clique known as the Belladonnas.

This novel captures the absurdities of modern internet culture with references to the "clean-girl aesthetic," impulse shopping for a dopamine hit, and doom-scrolling on Reddit. While I generally shy away from books that involve social media, these examples underscored the story's themes very well. A moment that made me laugh was when Julie, pretending to be Chloe, records a video about "Julie's" death, and says, "Grief is not easy to deal with alone. If you or a loved one is suffering from a loss like I am, please seek counseling for support. This video is sponsored by BetterTherapy."

However, the book takes a sharp turn about a third of the way through, veering into cult horror. I wasn't too deeply connected to the story to begin with, but this shift left me feeling even more disengaged. I didn't mind the mystery surrounding Chloe's death, but having it all tied to spirituality, in that the god Etos, worshipped by the Belladonnas, granted them millions of followers in exchange for sacrifices pulled the narrative in too many different directions.

In many ways, this book channels social commentary similar to Yellowface and explores identity and comparison like in I Am Not Jessica Chen. The initial satire hooked me, but the story ultimately lost its way.

This story made me literally laugh out loud a few times. It also made me feel uncomfortable a time or two.

The basics: Julie receives a call from her estranged twin, Chloe, but she’s not able to understand what Chloe was saying. She decides to go look for Chloe, just to make sure she’s safe. She discovers that Chloe is dead, and Julie makes the decision to take over Chloe’s life. What follows is a life of luxury among other influencers. Plus, there are a few secrets that her hero is keeping.

Overall, I found this book to be entertaining. It also made me angry to see the commentary of Chloe/Julie’s influencer crowd. And no, not all of us would trade places with them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a gripping, darkly clever debut thriller that explores the dangers of envy, identity, and the dark side of social media. The novel keeps you on edge as Julie digs deeper into her sister’s life, discovering the twisted layers hidden beneath the surface of fame and beauty. As the truth unravels, Julie begins to question if stepping into her twin’s life is worth the danger it brings, and whether she may become the next victim in this deadly game of deception. With sharp writing, a relentless pace, and a chilling look at the world of social media influencers, a must-read for anyone who loves psychological thrillers with a dark twist.

Julie Chan is Dead has the same compulsive readability as Yellowface - where you rapidly thumb through pages about characters you despise and yet can’t stop continuing to read about them. Similarly, the tension between being white and “model minority” Asian isn’t the main point of the novel, but is a major point of tension between the main character and her influencer friends.

The first half of the book had me hooked - we find Julie placed in an impossible situation and learning to thrive by impersonating her dead sister. She gets high off of feeling important and making tons of money from doing very little of substance. She wonders at various points about whether what she’s doing is right.

The second half of the book took a wild turn — I’m still figuring out how I feel about it. I wish it was a little less grotesque and exaggerated because I think it did take a bit away from the more serious commentary of the first half about influencers and social media. But it did feel a bit more like a closed room thriller at that point.

Still overall an unputdownable book, and I would read Liann Zheng’s next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria and Liann Zheng for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for this copy. Julie Chan is Dead but not really because she has taken over her twin sister’s influencer life. This book was crazy, sad, and psychotic.

A group of mega influencers think Julie is really Chloe her mega popular twin sister who is the only Asian in a group of white women who are the crème de la crème of influencers. After finding Chloe dead in her apartment, Julie slips into her sister’s life. Julie - Chloe - and these women share their whole lives online and make big money for it. Chloe aka Julie thinks she finally has friends and love. Her sheltered life and abusive aunt have made her life a living hell. Once the Bellas take her under their wing Julie finds herself in a cult with a group of rich white women who will do anything to stay true to themselves and their beliefs.

Once the women go on their annual island trip things go from strange to crazy real fast. From worshipping each other to making sacrifices to their god these women do insane things to keep their group and popularity alive.
These girls are messed up!! Outstanding debut!

“When we finally free ourselves from those protective yet toxic echo-chambers, open our eyes to the wounds we caused, it’s only human to feel regret and guilt, to want to make things right, even if it means confronting an ugly reality”

4.5 ⭐️’s

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! First off let me say, if MidSommar and Yellowface are your vibes then this book is completely up your alley. I am not a massive fan of books that use modern day themes or language, but with the extremely eye opening commentary of social media that this book centers around, it fits perfectly with the narrative. Julie is actually hysterical, I mean her inner monologue was so refreshing and honest that I could not stop reading.

This book was broken into two parts, the first half being Julie discovering her estranged mega-influencer identical twin sister is dead after an eerie phone call. Julie does what any logical person would do, steal her sister’s identity! The second part of this book is the most campy-cult/horror-esque piece of writing and I loved it! I did predict one of the twists, but this read kept me hooked. For her debut novel, this book was wonderfully done and really hits hard on social media commentary, mental health, and so much more 📱💗🎞️

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Julie Chan Is Dead” is a dark, gripping thriller that dives headfirst into the curated world of social media influencers, exploring the blurred lines between perception and reality as well as admiration and obsession, both with social media followers and with the influencers’ desire for fame. Liann Zhang’s debut novel uses the story of estranged twin sisters Julie and Chloe to craft a chilling story about privilege, power, and the dangers of chasing a "perfect" life.

The story begins with Julie struggling to make ends meet, envying the glamorous life of her estranged twin sister, Chloe, a famous influencer. When Chloe dies unexpectedly, Julie seizes the opportunity to take over her twin’s life, stepping into her shoes—both figuratively and literally. But as Julie immerses herself in the elite world of influencers, she uncovers sinister secrets behind Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life. The deeper she digs, the darker things become, revealing a toxic influencer cult known as the Belladonnas and unraveling a web of lies and power plays. There is also an unexpected supernatural element with a god who supposedly will grant your wish for a price.

Julie is a deeply flawed character, and while her naivety and impulsive choices can be frustrating, her journey is undeniably compelling. Her descent into Chloe’s world is equal parts thrilling and disturbing as she begins to grapple with the consequences of her choices and the harsh realities behind the influencer lifestyle. Some aspects of Julie’s ability to adopt the influencer lifestyle of her sister require you to suspend your disbelief, but it’s really interesting to see the underside of that particular lifestyle. The Belladonnas, a tight-knit group of elite influencers, are portrayed as both alluring and grotesque, embodying the dark side of social media fame. Iz, one of the standout characters, serves as a critical voice, highlighting the greed and detachment of influencer culture while being equally complicit in her pursuit of wealth for her children.

Liann Zhang masterfully critiques the parasocial relationships formed between influencers and their followers, exposing how curated perfection feeds into obsession and exploitation. The book also explores deeper themes of power and the moral cost of ambition. Zhang’s sharp commentary is both timely and thought-provoking, offering a scathing look at the modern obsession with internet fame, which I really enjoyed and thought of as a highlight of the book. The book’s pacing, however, can be uneven at times. The opening chapters, while intriguing, feel light-hearted compared to the dark, intense turn the story takes later. The ending, while shocking and memorable, veers into the surreal and over-the-top, which I was not expecting, especially with the cult aspects. Some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more to add depth to the story, but Julie’s transformation and the relentless twists more than make up for these shortcomings.

Overall, “Julie Chan Is Dead” is a wild, unsettling rollercoaster that peels back the glossy veneer of influencer culture to reveal the darkness lurking beneath. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers as the book offers a unique and addictive take on the price of fame.