Review by minimicropup - Julie Chan Is Dead

minimicropup 's review for:

Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

4.0

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-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

Sometimes it felt like it was trying to do too much across genres, especially near the end, but I still enjoyed this. Check it out if you liked Bunny for the jaded MC + strange cliques and mysticism, but also like things to be a little grounded.

Energy: Jaded. Fumbling. Opportunistic.

🐕 Howls: The pacing stumbled when the plot took a turn into a supernatural/fantanstical territory. Narration was sometimes too jaded (or maybe that was just on audio).

🐩 Tail Wags: The snarky, slightly satirical, but still believable tone. How the characters interpret drama and events because they’re so self-absorbed. Watching the MC navigate the life of her dead twin sister.

Scene: 🇺🇸🏝️ Manhattan, NY, USA. Private Caribbean island.

Perspective: Our MC was estranged from their twin after they were separated as children. Their twin went to live with a wealthy adopted family, while our MC was raised by their resentful aunt. Then our MC finds themselves in an unexpected situation where they can truly walk in their twin’s shoes.

Timeline: Linear. 2020s. ☀️ Summery.

Narrative: Invisible in the room, listening to the main character (first person).

Fuel: Mysterious death. Suspense and stolen identity conundrums. Culty cliques and remote setting. What happened to Chloe? Will Julie be found out? What was her sister’s life really like? Who are her friends and what is really going on within this exclusive club of influencers?

Cred: Satirical (and a little fantastical)

Mood Reading Match-Up:

Stolen sandwich. Instagram. PR products. Private jets. Affirmations. Beach bungalow. Chopping wood.

Conversational, detailed, vivid writing style
Brooding, pitiful, cynical, morally ambiguous characters
Estranged twins identity entanglement
Self-care satire meets influencer culture
No-tech island retreat
Poor communication kills
Imposter syndrome and stolen lives
Vanity, comparison, and curated identities
How far would you go to belong?
Death under mysterious circumstances
Supernatural elements and ancient religions
Critiques of consumerism, exploitation, social media, fame, and privilege

Content Heads-Up: Alcohol (mention). Animal cruelty/death (baby mice). Blood. Confinement. Corpse (discovery). Depression (medicated). Drugging. Extortion. Food horror. Hit and run. Intoxicated driver (fatal; recalls). Loss of parents (orphaned; as child). Loss of sibling. Miscarriage (on page). Murder. Pregnancy (on page). Suicide (mention). Toxic caregiver. Vomit.

Rep: Chinese Amercian. Filippino heritage (peripheral). Cis. Hetero. Queer. Pale and tan skin tones.

📚 Format: Libro.fm

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Content Warnings