Oh, this is quite the book! The best one I've read in a while, actually. I love a murder mystery but this book flips the genre on its head, with a lot less mystery than I expected. Not once did I speculate that the story was going in the direction it was, but it was nice to see something original for a change, and not a rehash of what we have already read, albeit love, many times before.

Julie Chan Is Dead is a sharp, satirical dive into the world of influencers, identity, and internet performance—with a thriller twist that kept me intrigued, if occasionally overwhelmed.

Liann Zhang delivers a fresh and timely narrative, and I loved how the story explored the unsettling duality of online personas. Chloe stepping into her twin sister’s hyper-curated influencer life felt equal parts eerie and fascinating. The commentary on grief, sisterhood, and the absurdity of social media fame really hit, and Zhang’s voice is biting, smart, and full of personality.

That said, the second half of the novel veered into chaotic territory, and while I appreciate bold storytelling, some of the surreal turns pulled me out of the emotional core. I also found myself wanting a bit more depth in Chloe’s internal journey—especially given the premise’s potential for rich character work.

Still, this is a book I’d recommend to readers who enjoy a genre-blending read with social commentary, psychological tension, and a touch of the bizarre. It’s not your average thriller, and that’s exactly its strength and, at times, its challenge.

Well thisbwas an absolute game of two halves! The first half was excellent, really enjoyed Julie slipping into Chloes life. Sadly the second half on the island got a little bit weird!

I loved this book at first. It was such a fun, interesting premise, and I really liked how the character of Julie was set up, and her foray into Chloe's life. The ending felt weird, like it suddenly shifted into ludicrous fantasy, and it just fell quite flat.

Julie Chan is Dead is not the book you think it is.

Sure, when it begins, you'll run headfirst into into thriller/stolen identity territory, as Julie visits the twin she doesn't really talk to (separated as infants), finds her dead, then decides to become her.

But then it turns into a book about influencers - at least for a little while. For Julie's twin sister was Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer in own right, earning enough to run a team and get freebies left, right and centre. We dive deep into this world, which isn't as glamorous as it sounds - though Julie is constantly worried about her real identity being discovered.

Then she gets an invite to a super-secret vacation from the biggest and bestest influencer of them all. They fly to a private island and now the novel takes a new turn towards completely crazy. I can't say too much without going fully into spoiler territory, but there are drugs, promises, and even talks of gods and mice.

You're definitely kept on your toes in that last third or so of the book, but it's hard to say whether the manic energy it evokes is good, bad, or just entertaining. It's definitely a rollercoaster. And it's unexpected - which is always refreshing, right?

A memorable read.

As always, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang.

From the very beginning Julie Chan Is Dead had me hooked. Before I had even started the book I had wondered 'just how crazy is this book going to get considering how crazy the premise itself is?' And oh boy, Liann Zhang did not disappoint. I think I can only describe this book as a roller coaster one that shoots fast up an incline as Julie discovers her twin sisters death and then rockets even faster down a steep descent into madness. A decline so deep that at one point I felt physically nauseous.

Our story follows Julie, a working class convenience store worker who gets a mysterious phone call from her estranged rich influencer twin sister shes seen only once since their parents death when Chloe used her to further her own career and discovers her dead. Upon learning her own face can unlock Chloe’s phone and filled with a sense of resentment and entitlement to all Chloe has by the sheer chance she got adopted by a rich white family, Julie decides that Chloe shouldn’t be the only one to have fun and replaces her sister. But Chloe’s life was not as it seems and now Julie must juggle keeping up appearances both online and to Chloe’s friends, The Belladonnas - a group of rich white influencers that had taken Chloe under their wing.

The social commentary on this book was one of the aspects I truly loved, I think at this point in time I couldn’t think of a single aspect of this book I would criticize.

To me this book is almost as if Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker had a baby. With Julie’s mix of guilt, resentment, entitlement and deception fitting with June's character in Yellowface and the aspects of grief to a point of almost being haunted, struggles with mental stability, and the more descriptive horror aspects of the book reminded me of Cora from Bat Eater.

For her first ever novel, I truly believe that this is such a strong debut into the publishing world for Liann Zhang and I would happily read whatever she may write next.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the gifted ARC of Julie Chan is Dead—one of the most addictive debut thrillers I have ever read!

This book is fast-paced, dark, twisted and thoroughly enjoyable. It dives into the dark side of social media, shedding light on the lives of high-profile influencers and the dangerous consequences of curated perfection. The exploration of authenticity, the fake standards imposed by social media and the lengths people will go to for love and acceptance are key themes that make this story so relevant.

The first half of the book is pure perfection—addictive, engaging, and hard to put down. I dare you to try just one more chapter! You’ll be up late reading, so be warned: don’t start this book late at night!

The second half takes a chilling, disturbing and twisted turn. It reminded me of The Menu (the horror film with Ralph Fiennes)—dark, gross and seriously unsettling, but it worked for me! This second part is not for the lighthearted, so be prepared for a jarring ride.

Overall, I loved this debut—intense, gripping and bold. Liann Zhang has left me eager to read more and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

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.