Any books about influencers/social media always pique my interest, especially if it comes in the thriller category, so Julie Chan Is Dead was a must read! The first half of the story was super gripping and I genuinely had no idea where it was going to go. I loved learning about Julies character and her fractured relationship with influencer sister Chloe.
I enjoyed the concept of people going to any lengths to become famous and be 'seen' and 'liked' by others, however, I feel some parts really did go a bit too far. I think some bits were quite unnecessary, as we understood the concept.
The second half of the book, although still bingeable, wasn't as enjoyable, but this may be because I didn't necessarily enjoy the direction it took, which I know others will enjoy.
Thank you very much to Netgalley for the opportunity of an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is such an unhinged little book and I loved it. I was not expecting in which way this book headed, but I absolutely loved this look at the influencer lifestyle. Highly recommend especially if you spend anytime whatsoever on the socials.

Thank you to Tandem Collective Global and Bloomsbury for the advance copy. 5 stars from me.

Instagram review to follow soon.

In the nicest possible way . . ..

WHAT HAVE I JUST READ???

When I say that I devoured this book, I am not kidding.

If you like books that are a little on the "bathing crazy" side, this is the book for you.

A critique of the world in which we live and the role that social media, influencers, and the fame that goes with this world. In particular, the dark side of this and the lengths that people will go to for the dopamine hit that one can get from those little notifications on our phones.
There are two very distinctive halves of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed both.

As a debut, I feel confident that this is an author to watch for future thrillers / dark comedies.

This is thought-provoking, and I think you're either going to love it or hate it.

I loved it.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke. When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.

Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.
~~~~~
This was such an interesting read, and definitely didn't read like a debut. Seeing the mystery unfurling around Chloe was really gripping and the social commentary on influencers and social media and "cult-like" followers was really clever. I loved the dark sense of humour used and the writing style really built tension.

The second half of this book took a turn I absolutely did not expect. It was wild, and if you accept that and go with it's really good fun! Took me totally by surprise and I had no idea where it was going but it was still really good if taking a turn I absolutely did not expect. It really uses extremes to drive home the point and is an interesting take on wealth and how it changes people and their mindsets and their perspectives on life! It definitely got a bit darker so do beware of that but still kept that thriller aspect.

Overall an unusual read, that almost felt like two stories in one, but an enjoyable thriller and social commentary!

Liann Zhang’s Julie Chan Is Dead is a glittery, sharp-edged thriller dipped in the pink haze of curated influencer perfection—and then stabbed right through the filter.

When Julie finds her estranged twin Chloe dead, she doesn’t mean to become her. But one 911 call delay turns into a full-on identity heist, and suddenly she’s inhaling spirulina, mastering the art of flat lays, and mingling with the glossy, slightly menacing world of the Belladonnas—Chloe’s fellow influencers. But someone’s watching, and even identical twins have secrets they can’t share.

The concept alone had me hooked—it's such a smart take on influencer culture, parasocial identity, and that oh-so-human ache for reinvention. Julie is a fascinating protagonist: not exactly likeable, but always compelling. You get her hunger, her hesitation, her guilt wrapped in aspiration.

That said, the first half felt a bit slower than I wanted. Lots of setup, lots of detox juice, not quite enough murder-y tension. But once the story finds its groove? I gobbled it up like a PR-boxed cupcake. The stakes tighten, the Belladonnas sharpen their claws, and the secrets start leaking through the ring light glow.

And that ending? I was NOT ready.

If you’re in the mood for a dark, stylish story about identity theft in the age of aesthetics, this one's for you. Just… don’t forget which twin you are.

This was the best way to spend a long weekend: parked on the sofa, reading a book from cover-to-cover without ever wanting to move an inch. Julie is the pauper to her twin sister, Chloe's princess. While Chloe was adopted by an affluent white couple who could afford to send her to private schools, Julie grew up with an aunt who resented her existence. When Chloe passes away and Julie is the only who knows, why shouldn't she step into Chloe's newly vacated - luxurious - shoes? Why shouldn't it be Julie's turn to live a #blessedlife? Even Chloe's lock screen can't tell Julie is an imposter.

This book is about the addictiveness of social media and the toxicity that comes from rabidly chasing external validation. It's a total binge read, that gets more and more unhinged as the plot progresses. I've read a fair few barmy thrillers in my time and even I couldn't predict some of the turns this one took. The author's experience as a youtuber added a lot of verisimilitude to her writing: she's equal measures nostalgic, affectionate, cynical, and brutally honest about what it means to be a social media influencer. This is a totally fun read and I recommend it to anyone who has ever felt like they spend a little bit too much time online. However much you doom scroll, you aren't in this deep!

#BBNI2025

I very much enjoy the idea of this one, I don't usually read thrillers but everyone's reviews for this book have definitely made me intrigued.

I will definitely come back to this book soon when I have some time.

Julie Chan has nothing, her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse. In a similar paradigm to Yellowface, Julie takes on the identity of her long lost, deceased, twin. Who happens to be a famous influencer. Similar Idea but totally different execution, Julie Chan is Dead it totally unhinged in all the right ways.

Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for the chance to read this book in advance!

Wow. Okay, this book was not what I was expecting!

And that's (mostly) a good thing, don't worry! It was just not what I thought I was going to read from the blurb (and I'm not saying anything more - don't want to spoil people). It was definitely a page-turner... It starts off basically as the blurb says: Julie takes advantage of her rich, influencer sister's death by, well, pretending to be her. So far, so... weird, but WAIT.

It gets so much weirder! It makes you think of the influencer world in a bit of a different way actually...

Really, I can't say more without spoilers! But, this will definitely be a page-turner, have you thinking and wondering... I'm surprised I managed to eke it out over two days! Well done Liann Zhang!

I was gripped start to finish by this startling book! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

To say I could not put this down, would be accurate. It was such a gripping read! I had no idea where this was going to go and I was so shocked and couldn’t look away from the conclusion!

This is a striking exploration of influencer culture and the extent to which people will go for fame, adoration and wealth. We see a shocking look into the minds of influencers who feel so far removed from reality. Bringing this into focus is Julie. Julie works in a shop, she isn’t well off and her only family is toxic. Everything changes though when she decides to take on the identity of her estranged (and deceased) identical twin sister. A famous and successful influencer.

This was so stressful and intense as we watch Julie attempt to masquerade as her sister, living through every moment where we think she will be exposed, seeing the challenges she has to face to keep up the ruse. But also, watching how she changes, how the lies and new lifestyle start to mould her, how she starts to believe the narrative she’s selling.

I honestly thought this was brilliant. It’s so incisive, so tense, so brutal! It was a shocking commentary on selfishness, influencer culture and societal divides and the exploitation of others. What an incredible read!

3.25/5

Overall, I had plenty of fun with this one, even if it being tagged as ‘horror’ was a bit of a stretch. It was incredible readable and moved at a good pace, with a pretty satisfying climax to boot.

The premise to this one drew me in and the opening was very strong. You get a real sense of Julie and her relationship with Chloe within a few pages, and the catalyst for this story comes early enough to really get you hooked.

I thought the humour was particularly well done; the narrative was sharp, witty, a little snarky and perfect for the world of influencers.

The thriller elements were solid as well. Plenty of twists - some of which I saw coming but lots I didn’t - and admirable amount of plates set spinning before everything fell into place.

However, my favourite part of this impressive debut was the final third, where it turns into some sort of cultish, almost folk horror mixed with a suitably trending way the rich narrative. Kind of like Blink Twice mixed with the Wicker Man. That part of the story felt both the most outrageous but also the most comfortable, and was certainly the most entertaining.

This will probably skew more towards younger adults - but I don’t see it as YA - though anyone who is perennially online will find something to enjoy here. I noted in the acknowledgements that it’s already been optioned for TV/film and can see it working really well as an adaptation.

So, yeah, I guess some likes, shares and general positive vibes from me on this! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy!

I was completely obsessed with this book. From its execution to plot, it was utterly unputdownable. There are lots of things related to social media in this book, including protagonist Julie who used social media as a coping mechanism. Her descent into Chloe's world was well-written and I could not stop reading. Furthermore, the mystery surrounding Chloe's death was a great reveal. Together with the author's background in criminology, it made JULIE CHAN IS DEAD a fantastic read! Can't believe it's a debut novel!

“Julie Chan is Dead” plunges readers into a whirlwind of chaos, dark humour, and razor-sharp commentary on social media culture. It skilfully straddles the line between thriller and satire, inviting readers to dissect the absurdities of influencer life while also reminding us just how far someone might go for a taste of it.
The premise is as gripping as it is twisted: Julie Chan discovers her identical twin sister, Chloe, dead and, instead of calling for help, decides to assume Chloe's glamorous life as a successful influencer. What could possibly go wrong? This question hung in the air with foreboding as I followed Julie’s descent into the world of glamour, deceit, and unexpected notoriety.
Zhang's writing is brisk and engaging—an absolute page-turner that left me breathless. The juxtaposition of Julie's mundane reality against the hyper-curated existence of the "beautiful Belladonnas" immerses you in a bizarre social media landscape. As I read, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was experiencing a form of literary doom scrolling; I was both horrified and mesmerised by the absurdity of it all.
Julie is not designed to be likeable, and I found that to be one of the novel's most brilliant aspects. It challenges the traditional notion of what makes an engaging protagonist. She's deeply flawed and self-serving, yet that only deepens the intrigue. Zhang's portrayal of her makes you question your own emotional connections with the influencers we idolise; just how much of what we see is constructed, curated, or outright false?
The themes of identity and the consequences of our digital lives permeate the narrative. It’s a social commentary wrapped in a thrilling plot that made me reflect on my own relationship with social media. “Julie Chan is Dead” compels readers to interrogate that unsettling reality.
And oh, the humour! The way Zhang infuses dark comedy into the chaos is masterful. I found myself laughing out loud—sometimes in disbelief at Julie's audacity and other times at the painfully relatable absurdities of influencer culture. The outrageous scenarios that unfolded had me both cringing and cackling, proving that sometimes, laughter is the only way to cope with the extremes of modern life.
Ultimately, this book is a wild ride, one that demands discussion.
“Julie Chan is Dead” left me questioning much more than just the fate of its protagonist. It’s a contemporary horror-comedy for our times, and as I closed the final page, I was not only entertained but also profoundly aware of the deeper undercurrents influencing our lives today. If you're looking for a book that’s as deliciously unhinged as it is thought-provoking, this is it.

Julie Chan is gone, but her image lives on, multiplied and manipulated in the feeds of a thousand followers. When news of her death rocks the internet, the real mystery begins. Who was the real Julie behind the filters? Why are so many girls trying to look just like her? And who is the outsider who refuses to play along? Twisted, bold, and razor-sharp, this story pulls back the curtain on influencer culture and asks what we're really chasing when we chase fame. Fast, sharp, and a little disorienting in a good way. I kept second-guessing what was real and who I was supposed to trust. It's chaotic but smart, and that balance really worked for me.

I really liked this one. I think the character voice and narration was so fantastically executed and made this as enjoyable as it was

#BBNI2025

Omg this was brilliant and I loved the first chapters!
Can't wait to come back to this when I have more time because I know I am going to like it.
Yellowface vibes for me, buy original and so good

Well, it makes sense that the author spent some time as a 'skincare content creator'!

This was pretty much what I expected in the first half, and then a record scratch change half way on the influencer island led it somewhere completely different. It made me think of Tyra Banks' Modelland, RF Kuang's Yellowface, of course, and a very fun and silly podcast I listened to called Murder on sex island.

It's surprisingly long but a fast and fun read with darkness and humour throughout.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a darkly hilarious thriller about a nobody who steals her influencer twin’s life—only to realize it might get her killed. Packed with razor-sharp satire on social media fame, this book is a bingeable but with detox teas and fake smiles. While Julie’s choices sometimes made me cringe (girl, why?), the story’s twists and wicked humor kept me hooked. Perfect for a quick, entertaining read—just don’t expect to trust Instagram ever again. 3.5/5 stars!

(Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!)

This one wasn't for me. But it may be for you, if you like a:

📱Thriller
📱Twisty, dark read
📱Estranged identical twins
📱Identity theft
📱Influencers
📱Social media
📱Debut novel

First of all I would like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I didn’t know what to expect when I requested this book as the plot sounded intriguing and I wasn’t disappointed. One word to describe this book is unhinged and left me speechless at points because of the utter chaos that came from it.

This book will make you second guess influencers and question reality because I felt like I had fallen down some kind of weird conspiracy rabbit hole whilst reading this book, I’ve recommended it to my friends as it’s one you need to discuss with someone because there is so much to say!

I can’t wait to see what else this author comes up with because as a first novel this is absolutely incredible.