Look, I do not want to be one of those doom-mongers decrying that TikTok ruined reading, but TikTok did, in fact, ruin reading in more ways than one. Julie Chan is Dead is a Frankenstein's monster of various popular trends, themes and styles, lagging just behind enough the fashion for none of it to land in any meaningful way.

As I went in, I knew nothing about this book, apart from the fact that it has something to do with social media and influencing, and that it had less of a serious and sombre tone than something like Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli. The premise mixes together Yellowface and How to Kill Your Family, as Julie, a long-estranger working class Asian American girl assumes the identity of her twin sister Chloe, a popular influencer who was adopted as a child by a rich white couple.

The premise is ridiculous enough to clearly signal that Julie Chan is Dead is supposed to be a satire. But satire is meant to be punching up, not down. In this story, trying to keep up with another popular trend, 'let's support women's wrongs', Julie is incredibly unlikable, naïve, rash and stupid, making poor decision after poor decision (many of them quite out of character for the street-smart and crafty woman she is supposed to be). I started off thinking the object of the satire will be Chloe and her social circles, but as this retelling of Yellowface kept the structure of tis already popular counterpart, the object of the satire immediately became Julie herself, relegating Chloe to being blandly and saintly dead (as the only time we meet her in her diaries, she actually comes across as sympathetic and likable). The whole premise is unrealistic, but I found the idea that Julie can keep producing content of the same quality and at the same pace as Chloe laughable. Influencing might not be the hardest job in the world, but it does require skills, and we are told again and again that Julie posts content she makes herself (spontaneous selfies etc), without much of an effect on her following (there is one throwaway comment about it, but it focuses on the vibes of her content, not on the quality of her pics).

Around the 50% mark, the book makes a U Turn to absorb yet another popular TikTok genre - the weird girl soft horror. The novel tries to serve Mona Awad, but the problem is that even Mona Awad does not always write Mona Awad well, and the switch from tongue in cheek How to Kill Your Family clone to Bunny-light is quite jarring. The second half of the narrative still operates according to the worldbuilding and narrative rules of the first, showing a world where everyone is a complete idiot (to make the premise work in the first place), and that takes all the sails out of any menace the Belladonnas, this book's Bunnies, present. This part of the story also requires Julie to be somewhat sympathetic, something the first half of the narrative decisively trounced. Don't forget introducing a Black character just so she can make an America Ferrara worthy speech about privilege levels in content creation with the gusto of an Instagram infographic, whilst not having any further personality, agency or active role in the story.

Was there anything good about this book? It is very easy to read, and despite finding it quite frustrating, I never once thought of DNFing it. The very end I guess was alright, the lukewarm satire landed there better than it had before. Maybe this is my one rage-read of the year.

This was such a fun thriller that took quite a sharp turn in direction the last third that left me gobsmacked as it wasn;t what I expected when I came into this book. The book does explore the world of influencers and drops some commentaries about race and privlage; but not as much as one could hope for. I actually expected more from the influencer space than was given but I still throroughly enjoyed the experienced reading this book.
Julie was a complicated character with enough resentment and lonliness that her actions could be explained and feasable. She was needy enough to be desperate and manipulated to be part of the Belladonnas. So while her actions gradually became more wild, I understood her motivations and reasonings.
While reading this book did I have to suspend my disbelief a bit, sure. But it was a delicous read to experience.

A razor-sharp exploration of identity, ambition, and the dark side of influencer culture — I couldn’t look away.

A similar premise to R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface, but set in the glittering and cutthroat world of elite influencers.

Julie Chan was separated from her twin sister, Chloe, at just four years old after their parents died in a tragic accident. Chloe was quickly adopted by the wealthy Van Hussen family, while Julie ended up with their selfish, truly awful aunt.
Their lives barely crossed paths again, except when Chloe used Julie for content… until Julie finds Chloe dead in her apartment. Faced with a choice, Julie steps into her twin’s life. As "Chloe," she joins the ultra-exclusive Belladonna influencer group... but that's when things start to turn dark.

This book was just as addictive as a scroll through social media — I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Julie is definitely problematic, but is it bad that I found myself rooting for her?

I absolutely loved it!

I feel like there’s a bit to unpack here…
The first half of the book, loved it, can’t fault it, a great deep dive into the world of an influencer and social media, providing a satirical view on the internet performance we all take as real life.
The second half, well I didn’t expect any of it! Dark, twisted and wholly unsettling, albeit, a little weird in parts! Unsure how I rate this if I’m honest so I’ve gone with a generous 4, where it might’ve been a 3.5 if the first half hadn’t been quite as good.

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!