JULIE CHAN IS DEAD

by Liann Zhang

When I bought Julie Chan Is Dead at Hudson News in the Billy Bishop airport in Toronto, I was looking for a light read for my trip home to Boston.  Reading the book’s flap copy, I thought it would fit the bill.  And, although I am not recommending the book as a great piece of literature, I do recommend it as both an outstanding commentary on today’s phenomenon of social media influencers and a real page-turner.

Julie Chan and her identical twin sister Chloe are adopted at a young age by different families after their biological parents die.  In fairytale fashion, Chloe gets adopted by a wealthy family and lives what appears to be the life of a princess—and she is a successful social media influencer.  Julie is raised with her tightfisted aunt and cousin, who succeed in convincing her she is worthless—and she works as a cashier in a grocery store.  After years of no communication between the twins, Chloe contacts Julie, makes a video of their meet-up and disappears again.  Shortly thereafter, Julie receives a troubling call from Chloe which leads her to travel to New York City to see if Chloe needs help.  She finds her twin dead in her fabulous apartment and makes the split-second decision to assume her identity.

As Chloe, Julie is welcomed into the inner circle of New York’s most successful influencers and immediately falls under their spell.  She is living her best life when she’s invited to a week-long vacation on a private island in the Caribbean.  Much to her horror, she realizes this group of successful influencers is more like a cult than just a group of friends.  Zhang’s scenes on the island are some of the most memorable scenes I’ve ever read in a book and will stay with me forever.  Described by reviewers as “darkly funny,” Julie Chan is Dead is both clever commentary on social media and compelling psychological thriller.  Indulge yourself with Julie Chan is Dead and enjoy! (Liz)