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.

A slickly funny, dark social media satire, Julie Chan is Dead is Prince and the Pauper by way of Yellowface, in which the estranged twin of a popular influencer takes on her identity to solve her sister's mysterious passing. Cynical and emotive in equal measure, Julie Chan is anchored with enjoyable self-centered characters and an enjoyable mystery at its heart.

This is perfect for fans of yellowface, disorientation and the assumed/ stolen identity plotlines .This is also a seethubg almost satirical take on influencer culture and how perception can be shaped and it's very relevant to society in those terms. The book does take several dark and twisty turns, which I did not anticipate and towards the end it veers into kind of almost bonkers plotlines with a cultish Island, which I'm not sure how I feel about. But overall it's a very quick and engaging read.

This was a fun and fast-paced thriller, I enjoyed how entertaining I found it. We follow Julie, a Chinese American young woman who grew up with her greedy aunt while her twin sister Chloe was adopted by a wealthy WASP family. When Chloe, who has become a very successful influencer, dies, Julie decides she won't tell anyone and will just take her place and her life. What could go wrong?...
Elements of the book reminded me of other thrillers I read recently enough about influencers and the beauty industry, "Natural Beauty" by Ling Ling Huang for example (just came out too), and its cultish culture. It reads more like a horror book than a thriller, there's body horror in it and it was definitely far-fetched but I enjoyed it as a fun, quick weekend read.

I’m almost a little annoyed at myself for enjoy Julie Chan is dead as much as I did. Intending only to read the beginning for the Bloomsbury Big Night In readathon, I found it so engaging that I sped through it in record time. I wouldn’t consider myself the biggest follower of influencers, but Julie Chan’s assumption of her dead sister’s identity, on the background of their vast differences, made for the kind of drama I absolutely needed to rubberneck to.

Plot twist? Check. Twisted AF? Check. Dark and weird? Check, check!

In addition, author Liann Zhang delivers a sharp satirical view of influencer culture, and insightful commentary on white-washing, privilege, and internalised racism.

Gosh, I just loved this book. So much drrrrama! I kind of want a sequel, but also kind of not - I like to have room to imagine for myself what should happen to Julie… and what probably would.

I enjoyed this one! It definitely takes a sharp turn in the second half which turns it into a completely different book

Goodbye Julie, Love Chloe is a wickedly smart and compulsively readable thriller that sinks its teeth into influencer culture, identity, and obsession—with style, bite, and a whole lot of nerve. Think You meets The Talented Mr. Ripley, wrapped in ring lights and sponsored skincare.

When Julie Chan stumbles upon her estranged twin Chloe’s lifeless body, she means to do the right thing. Really. But one swipe into her sister’s phone opens a door she didn’t expect: Chloe’s curated, expensive, envy-inducing life. And Julie? She walks right through it. Because who would know the difference?

Thus begins Julie’s twisted rebrand into Chloe 2.0—a detoxed, filtered, and hashtag-ready version of herself. But as she navigates the glittering, backstabbing world of The Belladonnas—a tribe of sleek, high-profile influencers—Julie learns that looking the part isn’t enough. Someone knows she’s not who she claims to be. And the longer she plays pretend, the more dangerous the game becomes.

Authoritatively sharp and outrageously fun, this novel is more than just a thriller—it’s a biting commentary on the dark allure of curated identity, online performance, and the fragile line between self-invention and self-erasure. Julie is a captivating antiheroine, deeply flawed yet oddly sympathetic, and her descent (or ascent?) into this new life is as addictive to read as any true-crime binge or viral Instagram reel.

While the pacing occasionally dips in the middle (in between unboxings and influencer events), the tension always simmers just beneath the surface, waiting to pounce. And the ending? Deliciously satisfying.

If you love your thrillers stylish, savage, and a little unhinged, Goodbye Julie, Love Chloe is the book to add to your TBR.

Skincare. Influencers. And...murder. This is the story of Julie Chan is Dead. After a mysterious call from her estranged twin sister Chloe, Julie heads to New York only to find her dead. What follows is a wild roller coaster after Julie decides to assume the life of her much wealthier, widely adored sister, at least according to Chloe's followers. Julie isn't likeable, and she's not supposed to be—that's not what makes a good influencer. She's supposed to seem likeable, and that's the crucial difference. As the book progresses, it's easy to understand why Julie was primed for this, perhaps better than she even believed. As Julie continues to take on this life that doesn't belong to her, the narrative and Julie herself spiral. If you watch enough reality TV, where we end up isn't a stretch—it's not hard to understand how things escalated. And boy, escalate they did.

No matter how extreme things got, how many poor choices were made primarily by the main character and certainly by the secondary ones, cringe-worthy things were said, I could not stop reading. And I suspect that's entirely the point. Zhang cleverly emulates the experience of scrolling through social media on the page. Reading this book might even be the literary equivalent of doom scrolling, raising some questions in this era of social media that need asking: why are we unable to untether ourselves from our phones? Why do we latch onto parasocial relationships with strangers? How many likes and follows are we away from losing ourselves and what we believe to be reality?

I loved how the book teased apart so many contradictions and binaries of influencer and social media culture. It begins to unpack how influencers are simultaneously dehumanized but are also (re)platformed even in the face of scandal and reprehensible behaviour. This novel has a lot to say about this niche and also somehow pervasive world of influencing, especially how groupthink and echo chambers are exacerbated by the currency of social media likes, shares and follows. One dissenting opinion can cost you the social currency you've spent years tirelessly building and, like the extremes in this novel, potentially much more. With so much to lose including oneself, I think Zhang is asking why bother at all? Is that worth it? Before one is tempted to say it's not that deep, this context is a necessary lens, especially if you're like me, who is still processing the ending of this book. Because Julie is almost impossible to root for. And yet.

Julie Chan is Dead is the perfect horror comedy for the attention economy era. If you've ever questioned stan culture, are an avid watcher of reality TV and love to analyze its mechanics, this is the one for you. It is truly a contemporary novel of our times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc of this book!

This book was so close to a 5 star read. This is one of those books that I didn't want to put down, thought about it throughout the day, and looked forward to the moments I could pick my kindle up and read again. For the guys and gals who haven't read a thriller/mystery before but want to dip their toe in, this is a great one! It's gripping, tense and mysterious. It starts out quite light hearted and easy to read, but wow does it get disturbing! I had to knock off half a star for the mouse incident (iykyk) because I think that was just too far for me and felt completely unnecessary. I understand the vibe the author was trying to go for (desperately trying to not give spoilers!) but I think this could have been done in a less horrific way.

This is a disturbing, creepy, tense and mysterious thriller. It's very well written and I absolutely flew through it. Definitely recommend, but read with caution!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Pubslihing (UK & ANZ) for the arc!

🌟✨️/5

Me: No one can test the limits of my suspension of disbelief like Freida McFadden
Liann Zhang: Hold my beer

Julie Chan Is Dead was a wild, wild ride but not in a good way. I was looking forward to reading this take on racism, influencer culture and the toxic relationships that come with it and of course, my favorite trope: rich people doing bad things (and hopefully suffering towards the end). Unfortunately, this turned out to be a huge mess.

The first half mostly delivered on what it promised. Yes, Julie was insufferable, but I suppose that's the point of the book. Some parts almost gave me Yellowface vibes. It felt rooted in real life, I could believe that influencers could do these things. That said, I did not expect it to be almost slow paced. Personally, it didn't feel like unputdownable, addictive, fast paced thriller it was touted as.

The second half...oh, the second half. It felt like it was written by a completely different person and couldn't decide of it was a normal thriller or horror. The author suddenly decided to pull of Bunny and the result was ridiculous. I can't say exactly what made me intensely loathe this book because of spoilery reasons but feel free to DM me if you've read this and would like to talk about it. Let's just say that it left a bad taste in my mouth.

You my be thinking that I just don't get it, that the absurdity was intentional on the author's part and it's a critique of influencer culture. Look, I get it...I just didn't like the way it was executed, especially because I didn't know that THIS was what I was getting into. And of course, getting the point a book is trying to make and disliking said book are not mutually exclusive. I didn't completely hate the ending, though.

I disliked both halves of the book for different reasons. I understand why it's getting glowing reviews and I'm sure it'll find its audience but it's just not me.