Published by Atria Books Genres: Contempory, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
Twisted, dark, gripping, and thought provoking. Julie Chan Is Dead is an interesting book that not only looks at the quest for fame and likes, but also sibling relationships, jealousy, and acceptance. In the digital age, being an influencer equals BIG bucks if you capture the right audience and create the best content. This book also shows how fickle fans of influencers can be and how you are only as good as your last post/podcast/photo/endorsement, etc.
Julie Chan works in a supermarket and in the shadow of her twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, who is a popular social media influencer. Julie was also on her sister’s stream one time when Chloe gifted her a house for likes. When Julie goes to her Chloe’s luxury apartment, she finds her twin sister dead! Julie decides to take her sister’s place and assumes Chloe’s identity and luxurious lifestyle! How hard can it be? They are twins after all! When Julie is invited and shows up for a weeklong island retreat with a group of top influencers, she will begin to see that all that glitters is not gold!
This was a dark commentary(ish) book that takes being a social media influencer to a whole new level. As I mentioned this book tackles many things such as relationships, the need for acceptance, belonging, popularity, jealousy, secrets and backstabbing. I found this book to be an enjoyable fast read which kept me engaged and invested in the plot. This book took a turn that I did not see coming but I rode with it and enjoyed the ride.
This was a well thought out and captivating debut novel. I enjoyed the twists, turns and reveals in this book.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
