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!

Julie Chan Is Dead is about a woman named Julie who finds her estranged social media influencer identical twin dead. Julie decides to continue to live life as her twin and absorb herself into the world of influencing through the Belladonnas, a group of influencers who will do anything for followers and money.
I unfortunately thought this book was going to be more of a thriller and instead it showed how wild and crazy influencing can been. Some parts of the book were too much for me. I think some trigger warnings should be known prior to reading, such as eating a live animal and miscarriage. I also had a hard time with many characters in the book, there was little growth of the characters throughout.
The book is fast paced with short chapters, and I enjoyed how the author wrapped up the story at the end. This is a book for those who are interested in social media/influencing and how unhinged it can become!
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for my earc. This was 3.5 star read for me downgraded to a 3 star.

A book about an influencer pretending to be someone she's not? The plot kicks off when Julie Chan steps into the designer heels of her recently deceased estranged twin sister who happens to be a mega famous social media influencer. Julie’s only mildly concerned about impersonating someone she barely knew. Cue Elle Woods shrug — “What, like it’s hard?”

As a reader, this book sent my anxiety through the roof—but I think that was intended. I was constantly on edge, convinced Julie was going to be exposed at every turn. The tension ramps up especially once she becomes indoctrinated with a group of young, female influencers #girlboss #blessed and gets invited to a mysterious, off-the-grid social media detox retreat.

The focus of the second half of the novel is the girls trip and it takes a sharp left turn into the unexpected—think culty, creepy, and horror light vibes. The shift in tone swan dives into full-on WTF is happening territory. I genuinely had to stop a few times just to process the madness. I'm not entirely sure what genre this book would be marketed as, but cuckoo-bananas is a good descriptor.

With a sharply satirical edge, this book offers tongue-in-cheek social commentary on influencer culture and the unhinged lengths people will go for internet fame—and trust me- it gets dark with a capital D. This debut feels best suited for fans of new adult fiction, though it skews a bit young at times. Still, it's a wild ride and a fun, twisty, easy debut for your summer TBR.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this juicy tale. I ate this book up in one day. It was so salacious and fun to see some of the extremes that influencers may feel they need to go to. It's a bit of a generalization of influencer culture but it's as addictive as getting stuck scrolling social media or binge watching Gossip Girl. Things took a turn close to the 70% mark which is why this isn't a 5 star for me. While reading, you have a feeling this is where it's going and dang did it go there! Still very much enjoyed the journey of this story, but thought the ending could have been better.

Julie Chan has a sister, Chloe who is a famous influencer, they are actually twins. Chloe reached out to her for content, ended up gifting her a home just for Likes, and whatever these influencers are into. Julie didnt have it easy growing up, even though she had her aunt who cared for her Chloe made it look like she was living her best life. Them chloe reaches out, and Julie goes to her and shes dead.

After that happens, the journey that Julie embarks on it a wild one. Because we all know when it comes to social media that not everything is as it seems and the life of the influencer is hard work. It gets cult-ish, and really spooky, and Julie is working OVERTIME to keep her true identity locked out. Until she gets invited to go away with some other well known influencers and thats where the spooky and cult-ish things start to happen.

If this is the dark side of influencing I don't want it!!!!! lol. It was a pretty wild book.

This was a fun one! Think Yellowface and Bunny.

Julie is a cashier at a grocery store and is often mistaken for her twin sister, Chloe.
Julie and Chloe were separated as children, but Chloe (a very famous influencer) shows up with her good Samaritan hat and her camera crew to do a "good deed" for her sister, then immediately cuts her off. Shortly after, Julie finds Chloe dead.

We know where this is going.
Julie is going to pose as her extremely rich, famous sister and escape her mediocre life. She has immersed herself into a world she was not prepared for. Scandals, obsession, and a glimpse into the life of a mega influencer.

There is a part in the book with diet tea... And you'll know what I'm talking about when you get there. That had me laughing out loud.

I recommend you check this out when it publishes April 29.

4 Stars

Note to self: never trust a cute cover again.
I never read book tags, so based on the cover, I totally expected a fluffy mystery chick-lit. Haha.
Instead, the author completely blindsided me with the direction this story took. From the middle to the end, it was one “Wait, what?!” moment after another. And that one particular scene? If you’ve read it, you know. I legit gagged and felt my skin crawl. (Not a complaint, though. Totally worth it.)

I loved every minute of this ride. Julie, our protagonist-slash-villain(?), was such a complex, sassy character. She actually made me snort-laugh more than once.
All in all, a super enjoyable and unputdownable read.

Note: Thank you, Atria Books, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Part mystery, part horror novel, Julie Chan is Dead was an interesting meld of both genres, though at times it tended to drag, especially in the middle. I definitely will be reading more from this author in the future.

This was wild. I think it sits on the fence of horror and thriller. If I had to pick a side of the fence, I’d put it on the horror side. This was hilarious and unsettling at the same time. The entire plot was crazy and I enjoyed every minute. This was so hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out on April 29, 2025. Don’t forget to add it to your TBR.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang
*arc via NetGalley*

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Supermarket cashier Julie Chan discovers her estranged twin sister Chloe, a famous influencer, dead! Julie takes over Chloe’s life, but beneath the luxury and fame, she finds a web of dark secrets, fake personas, and a chilling mystery about her sister’s death.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
This book starts off with a bang - funny, fast-paced, and totally outrageous. Julie was easy to relate to, and I was on her side from the start.

Once the influencer world took center stage, the story lost a bit of its momentum for me. The pacing slowed, and I found myself drifting a little, wondering if the thriller part was ever going to show up.

And then, around 60% things got wild. The weird little hints we’d been getting started to snap into place, and suddenly it turned pitch black and totally unhinged and I kind of loved it. Honestly, I just wish that shift had come earlier because the dark, twisted bits were where the book really shined for me.

The ending was pretty wackadoo and totally unrealistic, but it suited the satirical vibe and I closed the book smiling.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
If you’re into dark humor, influencer satire, and thrillers that don’t take themselves too seriously, this debut is a great time.

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@AtriaBooks for access to this advanced readers copy

All while reading this book, I could see it on Hulu. It’s fast, clean with no dragging and funny. Julie is not the hero you are used to (or period) and Chloe has unexpected layers.
I didn’t want to be parted from this book for too long. My weekend was a blast with it. I am excited for it to come out and again for when someone picks this up as a limited series.