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This is the end of unhinged thriller I am always looking for.

Julie Chan grew up completely different from her identical twin sister Chloe. Chloe seems to have it all. Loving parents, a brownstone in New York and has become a lucrative influencer. The complete opposite of Julie who grew up with a horrible aunt and struggles to make ends meet. One day Julie gets a call from Chloe that sounds very weird so she goes to her house and finds Chloe dead so naturally… she steps in.

This did not go where I thought it would in the best way. The dark side of influencer groups! I definitely recommend it and recommend watching the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives soon before or after lol what a fun combo.

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC

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I really enjoyed the first half of this book, and getting a little look at influencers-with their sponsorships, negotiations, etc. But as many of the reviews here stated, then it started getting super unhinged. I don’t think this is a spoiler, but it got as crazy as the women were eating mice crazy.

However, it did put in a lot of other factors with social media that’s interesting to discuss, like making thousands from sharing tragedies to desperately trying to hold onto fickle followers. The ending was a bit abrupt as well…

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Unbelievable debut for Ziann Zhang. I was entranced by the twins dynamic and it felt very much in the theme of Bunny once Julie gets into the other influencers clutches. I think it was a great commentary as well into the parasocial relationships it creates when we have the lines blur together for those who seem to have it all, and those who would go to great lengths to keep their stance in this type of society. There was a part in the book that made me so unsettled and god it was iconic to a T.

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A fun entry in the growing genre of thrillers about influencers. Some aspects strained credulity, but I was hooked from the beginning.

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This book was such an odd surprise! I loved the way it started and continued but the ending felt a bit weird and off putting considering how great the story started!

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Julie Chan is Dead started off strong, drawing me in with a premise that felt fresh and oddly timely. I happened to be watching The Secret Loves of Mormon Wives while reading, and the parallels between the two—wealthy housewives, social media content creators, exclusive events, and performative friendships—made for a compelling beginning.

Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last. The story soon took a darker, more bizarre turn that reminded me of the movie Blink Twice with Channing Tatum—stylized and surreal, but ultimately not in a way that resonated with me. What began as a sharp, glitzy exploration of influencer culture unraveled into something murky and unsatisfying.

While the premise had potential, the execution left me feeling underwhelmed. The plot’s shift into stranger territory made it hard to stay engaged, and I found myself reluctant to pick the book back up, dragging my reading experience out for nearly two weeks. By the end, it felt lackluster—an interesting concept that couldn’t quite deliver on its promise.

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Loved loved the first half of setting the scene and building up the mystery of what happened. The second half on the island lost me a little bit. It just seemed off/like a different person wrote the second half of the book almost? Still a great read!

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I picked this up because it looked like an interesting thriller, and I kept reading because I couldn't figure out how the author would write her way out of the situation that Julie Chan was in! I enjoyed the book - I believed the journey of the main character, and found myself rooting for her even through the climax of the book. The situations were luxurious and creepy and scary, and the descriptions of the people and places really made the story come alive. And the ending! She landed it even though I wasn't sure how that would happen.

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This story was addicting from the beginning! We all live in the day and age of influencers and social media so to have a thriller like this surrounding these two twins was so fun.

I think the characters were relatable and likeable and then also unlikable, there were so many layers to each of them and that made the story deeper and more interesting.

I was trying to figure out the mystery the whole time and was surprised by the players each chapter, from Chloe's parents to Julie's aunt it was all a fun mystery to unravel.

Well done!

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Julie Chan is a grocery store cashier. She was separated from her identical twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, at a young age. Chloe is a popular influencer. The only time Julie and Chloe have seen each other since childhood is when Chloe bought Julie a house in a video that went viral. When Julie discovers Chloe’s body under mysterious circumstances, she jumps at the chance to live the life she’s always dreamed of. It’s all too easy for Julie to transform into Chloe. However, Julie quickly realizes that Chloe’s life was anything but the picture-perfect life she seemed to have as an influencer. Julie jumps at the chance to attend a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. Unfortunately, things quickly spiral out of control, and Julie may be the next target.

I was immediately drawn into the premise of this book, a twin stealing the other twin’s identity. I have to say I loved this book and the characters until about 70% of the way through. I was certain I was going to give this one at least 4 stars. However, once Julie and the group of influencers arrived on the island, things took a turn. The story becomes completely unhinged at this point. Honestly, it felt like I was reading a story written by a different author. I would rate the last 30% of the book 2 stars. So, overall, I would rate this book 3/5 stars. If you enjoy completely unhinged thrillers, this one is for you!

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What exactly does it say about me that I love unhinged FMCs so damn much? This was bonkers, but so fun to read. It actually reminded me of Yellowface, which I also enjoyed and devoured. This book hits on the topic of Influencers and their behind the scenes. It was weird, wild and creepy in all the best ways.

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Julie and Chloe, twins, lost their parents when they were young and eventually were adopted into separate families, Chloe to a White family and Julie to her Chinese aunt. They did not grow up together or have any contact, yet the bond was still palpable between them. Unfortunately, death brought them together, as Julie finds Chloe deceased in her apartment. By taking over Chloe’s online accounts, Julie falls prey to the addictive nature of getting more likes, thumbs up, stars, etc. and the constant barrage of affirmations from her adoring followers. Being initiated into the “it” group of White women, Julie forms a whole other opinion that this is not the life for her. This book goes a little off the rails when Julie is inducted into a cult, and then takes matters into her own hands which, ultimately, grants her a greater audience of popularity than she had previously. This book was an entertaining debut, albeit a tad unrealistic.

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

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If you were hooked by Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, you absolutely need to pick up Julie Chan Is Dead, a razor-sharp and unforgettable debut by Liann Zhang.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her estranged twin sister Chloe VanHuusen had everything—millions of followers, brand deals, designer clothes, and an enviable life curated for the algorithm. That is, until she’s found dead.

In a moment of desperation—and opportunity—Julie slips into Chloe’s role, assuming her identity and stepping into a glittering world of influencer retreats, luxury products, and parasocial relationships. But the deeper she goes, the more she realizes that Chloe’s life wasn’t just filtered perfection—it was dangerous. As secrets start to unravel and threats close in, Julie begins to question whether she’s living a dream or walking straight into a nightmare.

What I love about influencer thrillers is how they tap into our collective obsession with image, identity, and internet fame—and Julie Chan Is Dead delivers all of that and more. It's biting, clever, and often unsettling in the best way. Some scenes were more graphic than I usually go for, but I couldn’t look away. The pacing is tight, the twists are genuinely surprising, and the ending left me reeling. Zhang masterfully blends dark humor, social critique, and psychological suspense into a truly compelling read.

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars.

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#JulieChanIsDead #LiannZhang #NetGalley #ARC #ThrillerReads #SocialMediaThriller #InfluencerFiction #AtriaBooks #DebutNovel #BookReview #YellowfaceVibes

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Well, it got very weird very fast. I’m still not sure if I actually enjoyed it or if the twist just kept me captivated.

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I have very complicated feelings about this book. I was enjoying it, then I was hating it, then I was enjoying it again; was it an incredibly insightful book or incredibly weird (or both?); was it exaggerated satire or a realistic behind-the-scenes view of the influencer life? I'm still very befuddled about my reading experience, and I think this is a book that will take up rent in my brain for a while, so . . . that's a good thing?

My initial draw to the book was the whole Julie-taking-over-Chloe's-life thing, as well as my enjoyment of You Will Never Be Me, a book I read earlier this year about influencers. Unlike that book, though, this one was bizarre and had me going "Whhhhaaatttt?" more than once. I'm not on social media, so part of me was "This is too crazy to be true . . . right?"

This book started as a four star read and I was really excited about pitching it as a purchase for my high school library (yay, Canadian content!), then plummeted into a two star read (dangerously close to a one star read after the whole mouse thing), then redeemed itself a tiny bit with the ending, which really can only be interpreted as satirical. Again, super complicated feelings.

On the plus side, Liann Zhang is a WRITER. I was really impressed with her writing as a debut author.

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Delighted to include this title in the April edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

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Wow! I sat on this book for way too long and now I’m kicking myself! I absolutely devoured it and it was so weird and so wild in all the best ways! I loved how twisty this story was and how it unfolded. I was falling down the rabbit hole the entire time and I loved it! Julie is a character that is written well and you follow along, knowing you’re in it, but unable to get out.

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This book is so weird and creepy and totally unhinged, but I was entertained the entire time. I enjoyed it overall but would never want to read it again. It had a definite ick factor.

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“I know Chloe normally looks put together, but compared to a corpse, I must look okay right?”
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Julie Chan has always been envious of her twin sisters, Chloe’s life. While Julie rotted under the care of her abusive aunt after her parents died, Chloe was adopted by a wealthy white couple and grew up with mommy. Chloe became an influencer, and Julie followed from afar. When Chloe dies, Julie jumps into the spotlight, but realizes something is amiss.
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This books goes off the hinges real quick! Not your typical run of the mill. This one will keep you glued to your seat for the entirety of the ride!

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This is a twisty, fast-paced read with a killer premise — a down-on-her-luck cashier steps into the life of her dead influencer twin. It’s juicy, dramatic, and full of dark secrets.

I loved the setup and commentary on influencer culture, but the mystery didn’t fully deliver for me. The middle dragged a bit, and I wanted more depth from the plot and characters.

Still, it’s an entertaining ride if you're into identity swaps, drama, and glamorous chaos!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

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