A review by libraryofavirgo
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 What happens when you find your estranged twin dead in her apartment? Well, if she’s a famous influencer, you obviously take over her life. Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier no more; but now Chloe Van Hussen, a lifestyle influencer with millions of followers. That is, if Julie can keep up the ruse of Chloe. 
 
I truly do not think I can find the right words to express just how much I love this book—immediate favorite, 5 stars, no criticism. I wish I could read this again for the first time. I love weird books; it is my niche, and this delivered on a magnitude that I have not been able to find for a very long time. I will be chasing the high of this for the foreseeable future. Normally, the modern-day setting in books is off-putting for me, but Zhang executed this perfectly. The influencer culture and what social media has become over the years was so eloquently displayed and laid bare; the act of being swept up in personas designed specifically for the public, the game of numbers, and the push for content at any cost. This is something that all of us who have grown up in the age of the internet can relate to, especially those of us active in the (book) influencer community. Satirical commentary and callouts aside, this is a wild and breathtaking horror thriller. I am a sucker for a good twist, and by god did this surpass all of my expectations. I have so many hyper-specific thoughts and opinions I am dying to share, but alas, I strive to remain spoiler-free in all my reviews and thus will refrain. 
 
I akin the feeling of reading this to exactly how I felt while reading Bunny by Mona Awad, an all-time favorite of mine, of which this book has found itself a permanent place among. I cannot recommend this book enough. 
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