A review by sterlingeatsbooks
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

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

3.0

This honestly read like two entirely different books.

We follow Julie Chan, a girl who was separated from her twin when they were young and lives a mediocre life. Her twin, Chloe, is a famous influencer, but doesn't want anything to do with Julie. When Julie receives a mysterious call from Chloe and checks in on her, she finds her dead in her apartment. The only logical next step is for her to take her sister's place and step into her life.

There were aspects of this book that I really enjoyed. The tension of wondering if Julie will get away with it, the focus on all of the dark aspects of social media and influencer culture, etc. However, halfway through the book it completely switched gears to an island cult vibe. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love a book about cults, but it felt completely out of left field. Overall, I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't memorable.
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