Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for sending the advanced readers copy to me. I loved this book and the way the author so eloquently delivered the truth of social media. Though I did expect what happened pretty early on, I loved how this story unfolded. This is the perfect summer read. It feels like you’re gossiping with everyone else.

Imagine you and your twin sister were separated as children and raised in completely different environments: you, in relative poverty, by a neglectful and resentful relative; your twin, in complete luxury. She becomes a rich, famous influencer; you are working shifts at a grocery store. If you had the opportunity to step into her life, would you do it? What if doing so involved an actual dead body?

This is a pretty enticing hook for a story, so I was surprised when I had a hard time getting into the story and kind of had to force my way through it. Part of it is likely that the character of Julie felt inconsistent; cutthroat but hesitant, furious but passive, disaffected but righteous. The book's setup is obviously outlandish, but the plot goes WAY beyond outlandish into crazypantstown as the story progresses. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had stayed a little more grounded in reality. If you're looking for a sendup of influencer culture, this book would probably feel very satisfying. I'm not that online so the whole thing honestly felt a little insane? But in a readable way, at least!

(My ARC was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

It took almost half of the book to figure out if I was having a good time or not and I think it was because of the satirical nature of it all and I couldn’t tell how seriously the book was taking itself. We’ve seen this set of archetypal characters before in stories like Nine Perfect Strangers, Bunny, and Yellowface. Until Yellowface it was frequently a story of rich white women hurting other rich white women, but what does it look like when well meaning liberal presenting rich white women start to pull in minorities they see as tokens? Chaos, negativity, and a few hundred years of we’ve been here before. I still found myself really enjoying the story Zhang was weaving and I’m excited to read more from her.

Julie Chan is Dead started out really strong for me. I loved the first half of the book which offers a glimpse into the life of influencers. The book takes a dark turn in the second half and becomes more cult focused, which I found to be extremely over the top and didn't work for me at all. There's also a scene involving a mouse that I found to be absolutely disgusting and almost caused me to not finish the book.

Liann Zhang takes you into the world of influencers in her debut novel. It is a thriller that is filled with humor, but there is also a darker side that will have you rooting for Julie Chan’s success. Julie and Chloe were identical twins. When they are orphaned, Chloe is adopted by the wealthy Van Huusens while Julie is sent to live with their aunt. Chloe grows up with all of the advantaged afforded by wealth. Julie’s aunt is resentful, letting her know at every opportunity that she is not wanted. As a supermarket cashier, Julie is thrilled when Chloe reaches out to her. Elation turns to disappointment when she discovers that Chloe, as an influencer, is only there to make a video of her generosity to her loser sister. When Julie later gets a call from Chloe, she is in trouble. With the last of her savings, Julie travels to New York, only to find her sister dead in her apartment. She calls the police, but when they arrive she identifies the body as her sister Julie and assumes Chloe’s identity. While waiting for the police to arrive, she discovered Chloe’s closet of designer clothes and the money that she receives for being an influencer. They are identical twins, so why shouldn’t she step into her sister’s shoes. That is when the trouble begins. She can fool some people by blaming subtle changes on the grief she feels from losing her sister, but she can not fool her aunt. Now she is being blackmailed for a huge monthly payment and facing exposure if she doesn’t pay up.

Invited to a launch party by Bella Marie Melniburg, a woman who came from old money and can make or break an influencer, Julie is asked to join her inner circle. Every year there is a retreat for the group on the Melniburg’s private island. Julie begins to feel like the group is a family and it is a time to relax together and wind down. However, after meals she begins to feel a strange euphoria and begins parroting the words of Bella Marie and the group. When Iz, the newest member, begins to question the group dynamic she suddenly disappears. The introduction of bizarre rituals and Bella Marie’s controlling actions alert Julie to how dangerous this island is. Zhang’s writing is often witty, putting Julie in some humorous situations. She builds tension on the island, leading to an explosive conclusion and its’ repercussions. This is a commentary on social media that is not to be missed. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Publishing for providing this book.

Julie and Chloe are polar opposites. Chloe was adopted by a wealthy white couple and spirited away to a life of luxury. Julie was raised by a stingy aunt, a mean cousin, having to find her own way through poverty. When Julie finds her estranged, influencer twin sister dead, she steals Chloe’s brand, her identity, her name and becomes Chloe. But in doing so, she becomes infatuated with the Belladonnas— seven rich women following Bella Marie, an extremely wealthy nepobaby. This book started as thriller and then delved into a fucked up horror culty book, I was obsessed. The only way to describe this is Yellowface x the scene in Midsommer where all the women cry together in a chant.

Julie Chan Is Dead was a fun and fast read, and I found myself easily swept up in the story.

What I enjoyed:
- From the very first chapter, Julie Chan Is Dead is a page-turner. The drama is present from the beginning, and it sucked me right in.
- I generally enjoy stories that expose the "other side" of social media--the not-so-perfect lives of influencers--and Liann Zhang puts a fun twist on this plot.

What I wish had been different:
- Zhang's writing shines when she leans into the dark, weird, Mona Awad-esque aspects of the story, and I wish she had done more of this. The second half of the book starts to push the boundaries of reality, and I wish she'd just really gone for it and pushed harder. Instead, her authorial voice never felt fully established. It felt a lot like Yellowface meets Bunny (both of which have been mentioned repeatedly in the marketing campaign for this book), but in a way that didn't fully work.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

4 stars for this debut!!! JULIE CHAN IS DEAD was such a fun, engaging, witty, hilarious read and honestly such a fun spin on the "influencer" world!!! The chapters are short, which are also GREAT on audio! I really loved how different this story was, although the book felt like 2 parts to me! Once it became unhinged, it felt like a totally different read, but no necessarily in a bad way! I enjoyed it, and thought it was a solid debut! I will absolutely read more by Liann!!!

What a wild ride this one was! 😱 I could see this book getting mixed reviews but I thought it was very fun, hilarious at times, and quite unhinged!

It’s hard to talk about the book without spoilers, but the story follows Julie, who grew up separated from her twin sister, Chloe, after their parents died when they were young. Chloe has gone on to become a successful influencer, and has even used Julie to increase her following. One day, Julie gets a concerning call from Chloe which sets her on a path of unearthing the inner workings of the influencer world that Chloe has been involved in.

I read some reviews before getting into this and was prepared for some messed up plot twists. I was 75% in and wondering when things would get weird. But then the story took a turn and I completely understood where these reviewers were coming from 😅

This was a fun, satirical look at the cult of influencing (iykyk). I enjoyed it in the same way that I enjoyed watching The Substance - I was simultaneously grossed out and very entertained. An impressive debut, but one that would be hard to universally recommend.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twins separated at birth. One becomes famous, one is left struggling. Then one dies, the other steps in. Why not?

This was a super darkly fun and fast read with A LOT of crazy characters. Things quickly spiral into a whole lot of WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED HERE?! IS SHE REALLY GOING TO DO THAT?! I would definitely recommend for your next beach read. Liann Zhang, I am a fan!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for the ARC!
Pub Date: April 29, 2025.

Julie Chan lives a bleak, overlooked life—until her glamorous twin sister, Chloe, a famous influencer, is found dead. When a twist of fate lets Julie slip into Chloe’s world, she finds herself basking in fame, fortune... and deception. But an invite to an exclusive influencer retreat quickly turns sinister. As eerie events unfold and Julie starts questioning what’s real, one thing becomes chillingly clear: she might be next.
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Now this was a debut that took me on a ride! With a title like Julie Chan Is Dead, I was already intrigued—and what unfolds is a story that starts off as a sharp, edgy thriller poking at the influencer world... then spirals into something completely unhinged.

I had seen reviews warning about the whiplash in the second half, but honestly? Nothing could have prepped me for how wild, dark, and borderline surreal it got. What started as commentary on influencer culture suddenly nosedives into something way darker—bordering on horror, maybe even supernatural? 👀

The vibe reminded me of Julia Bartz’s The Writing Retreat—that slow, sinister unraveling where you keep questioning what’s real and what’s not.
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It's a 4/5 ⭐ read for me.

This isn’t your average social media takedown story—it’s juicy, disturbing, and unapologetically over-the-top. Sure, it may lean into influencer stereotypes, but it also opens up real conversations about digital identity, obsession, and performance.

A bold pick for book clubs that like to dissect twists and debate WTF just happened. 😂

If you’re into genre-blending thrillers with an unpredictable second half that will leave your jaw on the floor—add this to your TBR.

Following the death of her twin sister / popular influencer, Julie transforms and takes on the life she’s always envied as she impersonates Chloe. Things aren’t as picture perfect as they seem and Julie finds herself in a dark, questionable spiral.

Umm, what?? I feel like Liann unlocked a dimension I wasn’t ready for (but also probably not that far from the truth 👀). From the start, the premise is wild (#EMOTIONAL). Death and identity fraud isn’t the best combo but props to Julie for milking the system. With Julie descending into the addicting world of likes and views, things around her deteriorate as she realizes that fame and money come with their own baggage.

Things further spiral into a whole new level of influencer culture and unhinged-ness because WHAT THE HECK??? The second half of the book felt like a weird fever dream that requires an NDA to experience. That one scene also had my insides crawling and I’m still trying to erase it from my memory 🐁 (iykyk 😭).

I’m not sure what Liann fed this book but I found myself speeding through the pages (with a slight hint of terror) and was thoroughly engrossed. This felt like both an ode to beloved creators from the past and a big satirical jab at the crazy influencer space today -- with a mix of Yellowface and Bunny. Overall, this was hilarious, unhinged, concerning, and EXTREMELY messy (aka a great debut)!

Thanks Simon Schuster, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the arc!

A fabulous look at what winds up being a not-so-fabulous life. Not just a look at the cost of fame and what it does to the soul, it's a rollicking ride that hooks you from the first sentence.

oh what a ride this was! i support women’s rights and woman’s wrongs 🙂‍↕️ apparently i have a love for unhinged women now and im not complaining ! i loved the commentary on influencers and internet fame and how all of that can becoming so intoxicating you’d do anything to keep it. and i mean anything. i loved the culty, ritualistic, unhinged behavior that was going on between our mc, chloe, and the rest of the characters. i expected the big reveal but i was hooked as to how it was all going to wrap up. this was an amazing debut and i can’t wait to see what liann zhang writes next

What a story! This book was so wild, twisty and turny - it was so hard to put down. This story took a crazy turn about 50% of the way through that I’m still wrapping my head around. This was a unique story I definitely won’t forget!

Twisty, fast-paced, and relevant for today's social media influencer world. I can definitely see why this one is getting so much hype! It didn't quite hit for me personally, but I was still invested enough that I had to finish it.

Wow. I am trying to wrap my head around what I just read. What I thought initially was a thriller, perhaps murder mystery, morphed into something I never expected. It is absolutely an indictment of social media and the influencer culture. How we have become a society measuring worth based on numbers of followers, views and likes. How people are willing to do anything and everything to “make it” in the influencer world. Yes, what happens in the book is extreme but the terrifying part about it is that it’s doesn’t seem that far off.

The book is very well written, the plot takes you in completely unexpected directions and it has a deeply important underlying message. My issue with it is that I did not like any of the characters. Not even Julie Chan. I am that reader that has to be able to connect with a character on some level to be truly tied to a book or story. So while I enjoyed this book and appreciate what it achieves, the depth of my connection to it was stifled by the extreme unlikeability of all the characters. I will definitely read this author’s next one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Luann Zhang and Atria for the ARC!

A darkly satirical debut novel that explores the perils of influencer culture and identity. Julia Chan is a struggling cashier who discovers her estranged twin, a successful influencer, dead in her apartment. Instead of reporting the death, Julie assumes her sister's identity and many hijinks ensue!

Julie Chan is Dead is a fantastic book that kept me fully engaged from the first page until the very end. This book should put Liann Zhang on the map, because this is the perfect debut book; it left me wanting to read more of her work.

Julie Chan has a twin sister, Chloe, who is a popular influencer and lives a glamourous life. All the while she's struggling to make it as a supermarket cashier. They were separated at a very young age only for Chloe to come back and use Julie in a video that made her look like a hero. This is why when Julie finds Chole dead, she takes a chance and decides to take over her life, despite the sketchy circumstances of her sister's death.

At first Julie loves living the influencer life and relishes all the perks. However, she soon finds out that it's not all it appears. She's struggling to fit in properly and is finding it hard to keep it together on a weeklong island retreat with an extremely exclusive bunch of influencer friends. Things soon get extreme and it doesn't take long to come to the conclusion that something bad is going on and it might be connected to Chloe's death. Now she's against the clock, because she fears she might be next.

I must admit that no matter how wrong Julie was, there was a small part of me that was rooting for her. She had it rough and her sister wasn't not a good person, so it was hard to feel sorry for Chloe. The first 3/4 of the book was awesome, but when Julie went on the trip, things took an INSANE turn. I was not expecting what happened and it got a bit over the top for me. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

📌About the Book:
Julie is broke, working at a grocery store and barely making ends meet. But then she decides to go visit her long lost influencer twin, Chloe, in NYC, but finds her dead in her apartment. When a video goes viral of Julie crying in the hallway, everyone assumes she’s Chloe! At first Julie tries to tell the truth but then she begins to slide into Chloe’s life and be friends with Chloe’s friends, and Julie gains the affirmation and acceptance she’s craved her whole life.

But then Julie aka Chloe is invited on a trip with a bunch of other influencers and she begins to wonder if being accepted into this group is worth it…especially when one of the influencers disappears on the island.

💭My Thoughts:
This was a fun book to read! It was silly and funny, and intense, but definitely makes you wonder how much truth there is to this whole influencer thing…when all the influencers look and act the same…it makes you wonder how authentic what we see online is.