Debut energy and influencer chaos incoming…
Julie Chan is stuck in a dead-end job, living a life worlds away from her estranged, glamorous twin sister Chloe VanHuusen—an influencer with millions of followers. When Chloe is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Julie makes a split-second decision to step into her sister’s shoes and take over her curated life. At first, it’s surprisingly easy—designer wardrobes, sponsored posts, and influencer trips included. But as she settles into Chloe’s world and joins her elite group of influencer “friends” on a luxury island retreat, it becomes clear that something darker is at play. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and Julie quickly realizes that the price of perfection might just be her life.
I really enjoyed this debut—it’s sharp, unsettling, and wildly entertaining. That said, the pacing dragged in a few places, and I found myself wishing we could have reached the June timeline reveal a bit faster. The influencer satire was spot-on and full of biting humor; Julie’s inner commentary had me shaking my head at her increasingly chaotic choices (seriously, someone take the detox tea away). The introduction of light sci-fi/fantasy elements left me a bit conflicted—not bad, just unexpected—but I appreciated the genre-bending risk. This book has all the messy energy of Bunny, and while it never reaches full “fever dream,” it leans into the same absurdity-meets-reality lane in a fresh way. The mystery surrounding Chloe kept me hooked, and the deeper commentary on online identity and desperate validation felt all too real. It’s a dark, stylish, and thought-provoking read—perfect if you’re craving something different that’ll leave you questioning everything behind the filtered screen.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★
Julie Chan is Dead is out now. Huge thank you to Atria for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
