3.75/5

Get ready for a fast-paced thriller that pulls back the curtain on the glamorous world of influencers—where secrets are currency and deals can turn deadly.

Perfect for a poolside or vacation read, this book will keep you glued to the pages (and off your phone).

At first, the story seems to follow an average girl who just wants out of her current life working at a grocery store, but as Julie eagerly steps into her sister's shoes, she's plunged into a world of deception, power plays, and dark twists. I’ll admit, the first 25% had me wondering if this was going to be a DNF, but once the main plot begins and the key players step in, the tension skyrockets, making it impossible to put down.

If you enjoy the mystery and drama of Pretty Little Liars, the eerie psychological tension of Get Out, or the unsettling, surreal vibe of Bunny, this is a must-read.

Looking forward to whatever Liann Zhang writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This was truly a wild ride from beginning to end. I love Liann's voice, I couldn't put it down. The ending really took a turn I was not expecting though.

I went into this book mostly blind and MAN was it a wild ride. The lunacy of social media, cults, murders - what more could you want? It was a little far-fetched (ok, a lot far-fetched), but still deliciously fun.

Thank you, #Partner @atriabooks and @netgalley, for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 5/15/25.

This was a fast-paced read, and such a train wreck (in a good way), that it was impossible to look away from. I would almost categorize this as a thriller/horror, and yes, it does get very strange the last 30% of the book, and I enjoyed it. It was awesome to get a glimpse of the lives of influencers that do it for a living, I definitely don't think I could do it!

Julie Chan and her twin sister Chloe VanHuusen were separated at a young age. They grew up totally opposite of each other. Julie is working at a grocery store, barely making it while Chloe is a famous influencer. When Julie gets a strange phone call from Chloe, Julie decides to take a trip to check on her estranged sister, but to her suprise, she finds her dead in her apartment. They are identical twins, so Julie has the thought of living Chloe's life instead of her own, but Chloe's life is not at all what Julie was expecting.

When Julie’s parents died, her evil aunt took her in while a wealthy couple adopted her twin Chloe. While Julie worked dead end jobs and endured her aunt’s cruelty, Chloe led a charmed life as a social media influencer. A strange phone call from Chloe motivates Julie to check on her twin and she finds Chloe’s body, giving her the opportunity to step into her dead sister’s designer shoes. But the Belladonnas, a tight knit group of influencers led by Bella Marie, can make or break Chloe’s brand as well as potentially blow Julie’s cover.

JULIE CHAN IS DEAD makes for a fun read and would make a great movie or miniseries. My favorite thing about the book is Julie’s perspective, particularly her humorous tone and her way of seeing the world. Watching her attempt to fool Chloe’s followers and the Belladonnas makes the book hard to put down. Julie is given plenty of motivation for taking over Chloe’s lifestyle so I couldn’t help but root for her. I liked her genuine connection to a couple of the Belladonnas and how she evolved as Chloe 2.0.

I am torn about the plot twist which took the plot into a bizarre direction, but I really liked the ending.

Zhang’s experience as an influencer shines through as the characters endorse products and manage their social media accounts with the help of their assistants. JULIE CHAN IS DEAD is a solid debut. I look forward to reading her next novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Atria Books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. I really wanted to like this book - and I did - for about...the first 50%. I loved the intensity of Julie and seeing into the eyes of someone who is thrown into the social media influencing world, but once they went to that island? I don't know - it felt rushed and not really developed.

Liann Zhang’s Julie Chan is Dead is a razor-sharp, intoxicating thriller that plunges readers into the glossy, curated world of influencers—only to peel back the filters and expose something far more sinister. Darkly satirical and deliciously twisted, this debut is wonderful, blending psychological suspense with biting social commentary.

Julie Chan has always lived in her twin sister’s shadow—until Chloe VanHuusen, a wildly successful influencer, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Seizing the opportunity to step into her sister’s shoes, Julie quickly discovers that influencer life is more than just picture-perfect brunches and skincare sponsorships. As she navigates an exclusive island retreat with Chloe’s elite circle, the cracks in her sister’s carefully constructed world begin to show, revealing buried secrets, hidden betrayals, and a lurking danger that suggests Chloe’s death wasn’t an accident.

Zhang’s writing is hypnotic and immersive, pulling readers into Julie’s transformation with eerie ease. The novel masterfully explores themes of identity, envy, and the unsettling power of social media. The influencer world is portrayed with a sharp, almost surreal edge—glamorous yet grotesque, a space where authenticity is an illusion and the line between admiration and exploitation blurs.

The tension escalates with every chapter, culminating in a climax that is as shocking as it is satisfying. If there’s one drawback, it’s that Julie’s morally gray choices might make her a challenging protagonist for some readers—but in a story about deception, ambition, and self-reinvention, that’s exactly what makes her so compelling.

Julie Chan is Dead is an addictive, chilling, and wickedly entertaining debut that will leave readers questioning just how much of what we see online is real—and how far someone might go to maintain the illusion. Liann Zhang is a fresh, fearless voice in thriller fiction, and this novel is one that lingers long after the final page.

Wow, what a wild ride this book was!

What isn't to love about a peek behind the curtain of toxic influencer culture? It goes without saying that there is a lot to punch up about when it comes to influencers and influencer behavior and I loved the satirical component of this novel that didn't shy away from exposing and leaning into how toxic it truly can be. Everything is "for the content."

That said, the second half of the book REALLY started to drag for me. I got to about 50% in and found myself losing interest quickly. I even started picking up other books so I could re-engage my brain with something that was more entertaining or thought provoking. In my opinion, we could have made the latter half a bit more interesting.

Pleasantly surprised by how off-the-rails this one got–so happy I went into this blind.

After her parents died in a car accident, Julie Chan lives a pitiful life with her terrible aunt and terrible retail job. When she gets a worrying phone call from her rich influencer twin sister, Chloe, Julie flies over to find her in person but discovers her dead. At that moment, Julie gets the crazy idea to take over her twin’s identity and lavish influencer lifestyle.

Since this is a story largely about social media, I was half-expecting to read a bunch of cringey moments, but came to appreciate them as evident satire. I also appreciated the worldbuilding–it was so fun to experience the extravagant parties and food vicariously through Julie. There was a ton of detail about influencer culture and it reminded me of Debut or Die (webtoon), which went super deep into the K-pop stan lifestyle.

Aside from influencer culture, Zhang also tactfully incorporates discussion on race, family, wealth, friendship. Even with all these heavy themes, the story progressed naturally. I was thoroughly engaged and could not put this down.

What I didn’t expect was the way Zhang naturally fit in this ubiquitous unsettling feeling which drove an effective buildup to the climax and tied nicely to the ending. There are a few scenes that can get quite absurd/disturbing (think Sayaka Murata/horror), so I really wouldn’t recommend this for the lighthearted. If you can handle that + enjoy fast-paced, plot-packed stories about identity like Yellowface, I’d say give this a shot!

Interested to see what Liann Zhang comes up with next. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. This was a fun read. I found it to skew a little younger but still kept wanting to turn the page.

It’s rare to find a book that makes you question identity, reality, and the roles we play in life, but this one did exactly that. From the very first page, I was drawn into a story that felt both unsettling and fascinating—a tale of stepping into someone else’s shoes, of becoming and replacing, of blurring the lines between self and other.

What struck me the most was how the book toyed with the idea of authenticity. Is identity something fixed, or is it simply a performance? Are we ever truly ourselves, or are we just playing parts assigned by circumstance? As I turned the pages, I found myself questioning not just the characters’ motives but my own assumptions about identity and reality.

The writing was immersive, the tension carefully woven, making me feel like I, too, was caught in this strange, almost dreamlike game. By the end, I wasn’t sure what was real and what was an illusion—but maybe that was the point. It’s a book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, making you rethink the roles we all play in life.

Have you ever wondered what'd happen if you could steal your twin's perfect Instagram life? Liann Zhang's debut novel takes this delicious premise and runs it straight into psychological thriller territory.

When Julie Chan finds her identical twin sister dead, she makes a choice that changes everything: instead of calling the cops, she steps into her sister's carefully curated life as social media darling Chloe Van Huusen. But trading up from nothing to everything comes with a price, and Julie soon learns that her sister's picture-perfect feed hid some seriously dark secrets.

Zhang, a former skincare influencer turned author, knows this world inside out. She weaponizes that knowledge to craft a story that starts as a wickedly funny takedown of influencer culture before taking a hard left turn into something much darker. Think Single White Female meets Black Mirror, with a dash of Gone Girl thrown in for good measure.

Fair warning: this isn't it if you're looking for a cozy mystery. The mid-book pivot from social satire to psychological horror will either thrill you or lose you completely. But that's exactly what makes this book impossible to put down – you genuinely have no idea where Zhang is taking you next.

For readers who loved the wild rides of Bunny and Yellowface, this debut hits all the right notes. It's a sharp, unsettling look at identity in the age of Instagram, where the line between real and fake is about as reliable as a filter's beauty effects.

4/5 stars – A bold, twisted debut that'll make you think twice about every perfect social media post you see.

First of all, it's crazy how I could see the story unfolding in my head like a Netflix true crime series. It has all the captivating plot points that hook you from the beginning and make you binge read it all in one sitting. I was literally unable to put it down until I gathered all pieces of the puzzle. That being said, I DID NOT EXPECT any of the plot twists from the second part of the book. Though I have to admit that I liked the mystery of the first part more than the craziness of the second.

Secondly, I feel that this novel is super relevant in this day and age. It tackles many complex themes like social media, influencer culture, racism, cults, etc. It's actually not that hard to imagine that a situation like this happened or will happen someday. However crazy it may seem, it's almost believable.

Thirdly, am I the only one who feels unsettled in the end? It feels like Julie rid the world of some monsters, and in doing that, became one herself. But what makes it truly unsettling is the fact that I can see exactly how and why she became like that. Fame, influence, love (even superficial) is like an addiction that few people can resist.

All in all, I think this is a pretty strong debut novel and I'm grateful to have read it before its release. Especially in a time when I only read fantasy and romantasy, this felt like a welcome palate cleanser.

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Release date: 29 April 2025

☆FINAL RATINGS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¼ /5
☆POV: Single POV, First Person
☆GENRE:
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Contemporary fiction
☆TROPES:
- Morally grey FMC
- fake identity
- rich sister - poor sister
- deal with the "devil"
☆TRIGGER WARNINGS:
- death
- drugs
- murder
- cult sacrifices & rituals
☆CHARACTERS: 👥️👥️👥️ /5
☆WRITING: ✍️✍️✍️½ /5
☆PLOT: 📜📜📜 /5
☆MYSTERY: 🔎🔎🔎½ /5
☆ROMANCE: ✖️
☆CLIFFHANGER: ✖️

After reading "I Am Not Jessicca Chen" by Ann Liang, I felt this was a failed attempt at a copycat. Ann Liang's book had two strong female characters and a great supporting minor characters and the plot had so many layers... I was rooting for Jenna Chen in Ann Liang's novel and it will be definitely be a favorite read for 2025.

Julie Chan however (IMO) is very unlikely as a main character and tries to step into her dead twin sister's life as her doppleganger in everyway. The reveals were also predictable. I honestly skim read this to get to the good parts and to see if how it ended... I was disappointed. SMH

Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Liann ZHang and Atria book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 4/29/25

What a wild ride... 🤯

Julie Chan is Dead starts as an entertaining story of stolen identity and influencer culture, then takes a sharp turn into a bloody cult nightmare... and I enjoyed every minute of it. An impressive debut!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Julie Chen Is Dead started of VERY strong. The introduction to the twins and their respective lives was quick and the taking over of Chloe’s influencer role was actually believable and interesting. The book so accurately portrayed the high of social media likes and interactions, it quickly became a culty, creepy ride. Then, when the “retreat” started, the story took a turn into almost horror territory with animal abuse and sexual misconduct and super weird stuff.
It’s engrossing and interesting but goes completely off the rails and the initial believability completely fell off. So it’s hard to describe how I feel overall because it’s kind of like two different books in one. I think it’s a good read- twisty and turny, but definitely suspend the disbelief to really fall into the story.
3.5 rounded down

I downloaded this book as I was looking for a light fun read, and on most points it delivered. Julie Chan's twin sister is a famous social media influencer. The twins were separated at the age of four and raised by different families, until they reconnect in their adult years. When Julie's twin Chloe is found dead Julie makes a snap decision to become her much wealthier and successful sister. What could go wrong?

This was a fast read -- I finished in a day. It was light at parts, but also became a little unhinged as well, as Julie is learning more about Chloe's social media best friends and being brought into their world. I found that the characters lacked depth (which is perhaps to be expected in a book about people shilling themselves on social media?) but the lack of depth makes this book a quick wild ride that I don't think will make it super memorable (for me).

I don't regret reading it -- it delivered on entertaining me which is what I wanted -- but I don't think it is the most well developed book with strong characters. But if you're up for a quick book with a sort of crazy plot, this could be the book for you!

I received Julie Chan is Dead as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. The novel was a dark comedy that explored the concept of a stolen identity in the social media world. Julie Chan is a twin whose parents died when she was younger in a tragic accident. She was raised by her aunt while her twin sister was raised by a wealthy family. Fast forward to modern day and Julie gets a mysterious call from her twin (who she did not have a relationship with) and decides to fly to NYC to see if she was ok.

What ensues is a quick paced story that did make me laugh. However, it seemed like there were too many storylines and hot topics that the author tried to shove into one novel- influencer lifestyle, racism, murder, drug abuse, stolen identity, mysterious injuries, cults, wealth disparities, and more. Many of the characters were unlikable and it was hard to find someone to root for. By the end, it felt like many of the storylines were in the book for purely shock value.

what in the bat shit crazy ass story did i just read…

thank you to netgalley & atria for this arc! this was such an interesting and mind blowing read… the beginning starts out pretty regular degular but still gave me the heeby jeebies. you can’t help but feel bad for julie and the way her life has turned out, but also want to smack her in the head. it was very entertaining and scary to see how much fame and fortune can get to someone’s head. you can feel how twisted julie becomes and the way she transforms herself into the monster she was criticizing in the beginning. the mystery behind chloe’s life added another tension to the story i really enjoyed!

when i tell you that after the 60% mark, it felt like i was in an a24 film, i’m not kidding. it was quite literally a fever dream that hit me like a truck. like what the fuck was that???? i deadass was in another dimension.. cringing, scoffing, and physically repulsed by what was happening.

such an eerie and disturbing plot - need to really think about this and break down more deeply!

4.5 rounded up to 5
This was a great thriller/horror. I love the social commentary on the influencer world. The book's second half goes a little off the rails, but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!