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Julie Chan Is Dead: A Novel

INSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

For fans of Bunny and Yellowface, this razor-sharp debut thriller blends biting satire with chilling suspense, as a young woman steps into her deceased twin’s influencer life—only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything—except a pulse.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier barely scraping by, 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, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL).

When Julie discovers Chloe’s body, she doesn’t call the police. Instead, she slips into her dead sister’s meticulously curated life: luxury fashion, high-end skincare, and a devoted online following who never noticed they weren’t quite the same.

At first, the transformation is seamless. Julie relishes the perks of influencer fame, but quickly learns that behind Chloe’s flawless feed lay secrets far darker than she imagined. Her sister’s final days were shadowed by paranoia, manipulation, and something far more sinister.

Now, trapped on a private island retreat with Chloe’s inner circle—an elite clique of influencers obsessed with status and secrecy—Julie is forced to keep up the act while being haunted by her sister’s untimely death. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.

Darkly funny, fiercely paced, and full of sharp commentary on identity, fame, and the cost of visibility, Julie Chan Is Dead is a twisted thrill ride where fitting in could be fatal—and the people behind the posts are the real danger.

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Published Apr 29, 2025

320 pages

Average rating: 7.06

33 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

allisonconti
Feb 05, 2025
8/10 stars
3.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

"Julie Chen is Dead" by Liann Zhang delivers a biting, satirical jab at influencer culture with a twist so sharp it might just leave a mark. The story kicks off with Julie, a regular grocery store clerk, discovering her ultra-famous influencer twin, Chloe, dead. In a moment of envy and impulse, Julie decides to assume Chloe’s identity, letting the world believe that *she's* the one pushing daisies.

The first half of the novel offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes chaos of influencer life—where tragedy and trauma are just content fodder for likes and sponsorships. Zhang masterfully peels back the glossy filter to reveal the messy reality, and it’s hard to look away. Like many readers, I was reminded of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, though this book leans even harder into the absurd.

Then—BAM—the plot takes a hard swerve into cult-horror territory. The sudden shift cranks up the pace, making it nearly impossible to put down, but it also feels like two wildly different books mashed into one. Both halves had the potential to shine on their own, but the drastic tonal pivot left me scratching my head and struggling to connect with Julie. As an anti-hero, she’s less "lovably flawed" and more "what even are you doing, girl?"

The novel dabbles with racial commentary in the influencer world, which was fascinating but felt underexplored. Instead, the cult-horror plotline takes center stage, delivering jaw-dropping moments (looking at you, mouse scene—IYKYK). While the shock factor is high, it sometimes feels like it hijacks a deeper conversation for sheer drama.

Julie Chan is Dead is a wild ride you can devour like a popcorn bucket at the movies. If you loved Yellowface, dig cult-horror, or just want something unputdownable, buckle up and dive in.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for a honest review. Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang is scheduled to be released on April 29, 2025.
datewithathriller
Apr 22, 2025
8/10 stars
What a fun read this one was!! I was immediately drawn in from the start! 🙌 It did take a very weird turn maybe two-thirds of the way through, but I think in the end it worked! It was a wild ride and I really enjoyed this debut! 👏 Thank you to NetGalley, Atria, and Liann Zhang for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

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