skurtyka89 's review for:

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is a blend of thriller, horror, mystery, dark comedy and suspense. It really doesn’t fit in to a specific genre. I was surprised (and at one point very disgusted) at the unexpected horror elements, but the overall story captured me from the beginning and I could not put it down. The first half of the book was gripping and immersive. The second half went a little over the top, very mind-bending and weird. But the author did a great job keeping enough of the mystery and suspense elements hanging throughout the book that I had to keep reading to find out what had happened and what was going to happen. As a debut, this “dark side of social media” book was unexpectedly (in a good way) sharp, entertaining, fresh, and riveting. I can’t wait to read what comes next from this author. 
Ps Beware the content warnings 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Dementia, Car accident, Abortion, Gaslighting, Classism

This book has ALL the content warnings - a lot more than I expected! (eg. Cults)