Julie Chan is Dead

Author Liann Zhang
Narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Publish Date 1 May 2025
Run Time 9 hours and 39 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Fraud, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Social media / social networking, Thriller / suspense fiction.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang, read by Yu-Li Alice Shen.

'Outrageously fun. Both a propulsive, heart-pounding ride and a layered examination of social media, status, and obsession' Grace D. Li, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

Julie Chan didn’t mean to steal her identical twin’s life. She meant to call the police when she found the body. She meant to dial 911.

Except when she unlocked Chloe’s phone to make that call, she also gained access to her estranged sister’s sponsorship deals, her followers, her wealth, her whole life.

And Julie’s not prepared to give it back. Not yet. So it's goodbye Julie, love Chloe x

Now all Julie has to do is keep her head down and blend in with the beautiful Belladonnas, the tribe of influencers who had welcomed Chloe in to their inner circle before she died.

Julie's going to breathe, detox, workout. Curate each post. Filter each picture. Spend whole days filming unboxing videos.

But someone out there knows that even identical twins have their differences...

'Diabolically fun' Monika Kim, author of Sunday Times bestseller, The Eyes are the Best Part
'Edgy, vicious, and impossible to put down' Amber Cowie, award-winning author of The Off Season

Critics Review

Liann Zhang's debut is an accomplished psychological thriller but it's even better as a caustic satire about the lore, lingo and lifestyle of the stars of Instagram and TikTok . . . If the aim is to do for influencers what Yellowface (another tale of impersonation) did for publishers, it's one she achieves with verve

Sunday Times, Thrillers of the Month

An absolute masterpiece

Stylist

If you enjoyed Yellowface, you'll enjoy this nail-biting life-swap ride through the glossy influencer scene . . . Wry, compelling and deliciously dark

Daily Mail

You'll finish it in one sitting

Best

Dark and twisted

Red

Engrossing and diabolically fun. Zhang's wonderful debut made me cringe, laugh, and cover my eyes. I was hooked until the very last page

Monika Kim, author of Sunday Times bestselling The Eyes are the Best Part

Packed with sharp satirical points and twisted humour . . . A gloriously unpredictable thriller

Voice Magazine

A wildly fun ride

A diabolical thriller with a storyline that is just as striking as its bold yellow and pink cover... shines a harsh light on influencer culture and exposes the ugly truths through cutting satire

Buzz

[A] fiercely entertaining debut

Bookanista

A great read . . . very funny and the premise wonderful even before the unexpected and utterly fantastic plot is revealed

Irish Independent

Outrageously fun. Julie Chan is Dead is both a propulsive, heart-pounding ride and a layered examination of social media, status, and obsession

Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

A pacy examination of the power of influencers and the dangers of fame in a world of privilege. Readers who liked the probing of Rebecca Kuang's Yellowface, and the millionaire world of Rachel Paris's See How They Fall, should find this intriguing

New Zealand Listener

I devoured this sharp and wickedly funny novel about the intoxicating and corruptive promise of love and connection telegraphed by influencers. With prose that crackles off the page, Liann Zhang skewers our brave new world where everything and anything is leveraged for likes

Ling Ling Huang, author of Natural Beauty

Zhang offsets the novel's fast and entertaining first two acts with a gonzo final third, displaying impressive audacity for a newbie. It's a marvel

Publishers Weekly, starred review

As mesmerizing as it is grotesque, Julie Chan is Dead exposes the rotten insides of the influencer industry with sharp insight and dark humour. It perfectly captures the absurdity of our permanently online modern age

Sophie Wan, author of Women of Good Fortune

A darkly funny rollercoaster of a read, layered with biting satire and sharp cultural observations. The moment I finished this remarkable debut, I wanted to call my best friends and unpack my feelings about characters who felt unsettlingly real - whose situations seemed both impossibly farfetched and just strange enough to be true. This novel walks a tightrope between satirical fun and unsettling tension, and I couldn't put it down. Perfect for fans of Yellowface, and the cure for any reading slump

Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Bottles

Clever, insightful, and biting, Julie Chan is Dead, with its searing look at the influencer industry, lightning fast plot and unhinged cast of characters, is the definition of a read-in-one-sitting thriller. Chilling and immersive, this one is sure to leave a mark

Ashley Tate, author of Twenty-Seven Minutes

Edgy, vicious, and impossible to put down, Julie Chan is Dead is a genre-elevating thriller about the temptations and terrors of influencer culture. With unforgettable scene craft and a stunningly rendered narrative voice, Liann Zhang has debuted to the top of my reading list

Amber Cowie, award-winning author of The Off Season

A razor-sharp, diabolical thriller that peels back the glossy veneer of influencer culture to reveal its darkest depths. Twisty and provocative, Liann Zhang's debut is a chilling exploration of the price of online perfection and adoration. If you loved Yellowface, this is the novel for you - gripping, timely, and crackling with tension

Karma Brown, author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.

Julie Chan is Dead

Titles Purchased

Price p/Title

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Critics Review

About xigxag