Julie Chan Is Dead

By Liann Zhang

Book Overview

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 fa ade.

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1668067897
• ISBN13: 9781668067895
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great horror comedy!

What would you do to be a social media star? Well, in this book, due to the tragic situation of her twin's death, Julie finds out! And what a wild ride it was. Not only does it give you a good look into what it takes to be an influencer but how the highs of likes and followers are super addictive and that can cloud thinking and lead to choices that might not be so wise. Add in a dash of something like Stepford wives and something darker (way darker) for a riveting read that drew me right in to see if Julie can get out of the mess she did not know she was stepping in when she took over Chloe's life and gets tangled in with the Belladonnas (aptly named for sure!). It is a nice balance of horror and comedy and I really enjoyed reading this! Being influencer famous can take you down odd and dark paths, at least in this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read an advance copy of this thrilling and exciting read!