Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang – Book Review

Synopsis

After finding Chloe’s body under suspicious circumstances, Julie steps into her glamorous influencer life without much effort. Same face, better wardrobe, and millions of followers ready to adore her. But it does not take long for Julie to realize Chloe’s world of picture-perfect posts and brand deals was way more twisted than it looked.

My Thoughts

🛑 NOTE: Content warnings are listed at the end of this review. They reveal key elements of the story, so skip them if you want to go in blind. However, I want to give an extra heads-up. There are two topics that I personally cannot handle in books: child abuse and animal cruelty. This story includes scenes of animal cruelty starting in Chapter 50, and it is referenced again later.

Now onto the review.

Julie Chan is Dead is a clever and darkly funny exploration of our obsession with validation, curated identities, and the illusion of success. I loved the concept right from the start. The way Liann Zhang built the world of Julie’s new “perfect” town gave me serious cult and Stepford Wives vibes. It was eerie and captivating.

The book tackles tough subjects like racism, nepotism, and privilege, and it highlights how addictive external praise can become. I especially loved how it showed the dependency we have on our phones. There is a line that stuck with me: “How can I tell what’s real without a record?” It was a haunting commentary on how technology warps our perception of reality.

The witty humor added a punch to some very real and uncomfortable truths, especially around toxic positivity and how fake smiles can hide so much pain. I appreciated how the author called out the shiny, influencer lifestyle without making it cartoonish.

That said, a few things held me back from loving this book as much as I hoped. The first half was slow to build. It took a while for the tension and mystery to really sink in, though the second half definitely delivered more twists and urgency. I also felt that while topics like racism were introduced, they were not explored as deeply as they could have been.

And I cannot ignore the animal cruelty scenes. Personally, I felt like they were unnecessary and could have been replaced with another plot device. It pulled me out of the story and left a bitter taste that overshadowed a lot of the book’s important messages. I tried to separate my feelings from that part while writing this review because the overall satire and ideas were strong.

If you like dark humor, dystopian cult vibes, and books that shine a light on modern society’s flaws with a wicked grin, Julie Chan is Dead is worth checking out. Just be sure to read the content warnings first.

The Vibes It Brings

📱 Social media obsession and validation
🏡 Stepford Wives style cult vibes
😂 Dark wit and biting humor
🌱 The grass isn’t always greener lessons
☀️ Toxic positivity bubble bursting
🔪 Creepy mystery and slow-burn tension
👩‍💻 Dependency on technology
🧠 Satirical take on modern society

Final Thoughts

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the copy of this book. Julie Chan is Dead is a darkly funny and unsettling look at the curated realities we build and the dangers of chasing external validation. It offers a chilling portrayal of how easily truth can be buried under a sea of likes, fake smiles, and self-delusion. While the pacing could have been tighter and some topics could have been explored more deeply, the sharp commentary and eerie atmosphere kept me hooked.

Despite certain discomforts, like animal cruelty elements, Zhang’s unraveling story will appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers layered with humor. It is a story that will make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even rethink how often you reach for your phone. Just make sure you check out the content warnings if you have sensitive triggers.

Rating 3.5 stars
Add to your TBR on Goodreads

Content Warnings

• Animal abuse, death, and cruelty
• Miscarriage
• Drug use
• Murder
• Cult and sacrificial themes
• Suicidal ideation
  
  

If you are looking for an unputdownable thriller, check this one out…

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