Book Feature: "Julie Chan Is Dead" by Liann Zhang
A hilariously deranged satire that cuts with a glitter-coated knife
A hilariously deranged satire that cuts with a glitter-coated knife, "Julie Chan Is Dead" by Liann Zhang is both a laugh-out-loud take on influencer culture and an important critique of privilege, power, and perception.
When Julie Chan stumbles upon her estranged twin sister’s lifeless body, she doesn’t call the police—she picks up the ring light. Stepping into Chloe VanHuusen’s picture-perfect influencer life, Julie trades in grocery store name tags for sponsored skincare, retreat invites, and a built-in following. But beneath the curated content and perfect aesthetics lies a festering pit of secrets, and Julie quickly learns that in this world, influence can be deadly. No spoilers but the climax drama is enough to fuel a whole new Bravo franchise.
This book is unhinged in the best way with the exception of one particular scene and you'll know it when you get to it...I almost crawled out of my skin but I still loved every moment of it. It’s quirky, devilish, hilarious, and reads like a dark comedy that wandered into a true crime series and refused to leave. Julie Chan is absolutely criminal—literally and figuratively—but somehow you still find yourself rooting for her. Maybe it’s the biting social commentary on race, power, and money, or maybe it’s the fact that someone's called a Hard C (which made me HOWL with laughter)—either way, I'm enamored with this novel. Zhang's satirical approach is prickly with a sprinkling of absurdity in a way that feels all too real, painting the influencer industry as the gloriously ridiculous beast it is.
Brass tacks—I came for the synopsis and stayed for the writing. Zhang crafts clever lines about fiery assholes (literal assholes) and zingy wordplay about supporting women's rights AND WRONGS. I spent the entire novel chuckling to myself, often laughing audibly, and living in a constant state of prose praise.
"Julie Chan Is Dead" is a rollercoaster of ridiculousness, revenge, and relevance, all wrapped in a designer robe and delivered with a wink.
OUT TODAY 4/29/25!
Thank you to Liann Zhang, Atria Books, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.
