Liann Zhang: Julie Chan is Dead

In her debut novel Liann Zhang asks the question would you take over your Twin's Life?

Julie Chan has nothing, is nothing, lives a mundane life that is really going no where. This is complete contrast to her twin Sister Chloe, who has become a social media influencer and seems to have everything going for her. Julie and Chloe have not been in contact since they were separated at a young age, other than one video Chloe made using Julie. When Julie receives a call from Chloe out of no where, Julie feels she should go to Chloe. What she finds is Chloe's dead body and everyone thinking that she is Chloe. Does Julie dare to become Chloe, go into the life that has coveted from afar. But once Julie becomes Chloe she realizes that being an influencer is harder than one thinks, and that Chloe's life is not all it seems.

I personally love reading debut novels, to hear the new voices that are coming out in the literary world. The premise of this book had me hitting read extremely fast and even questioning if i had a twin and had the opportunity to take over their life would i? This is a theme that Zhang explores in the first part of the book, can Julie truly becomes Chloe and make those around her believe that she is actually Chloe as they have grown up so differently. There is also the need for Julie to try to find out why Chloe died and what better way to do it than pretend to be her, you can find friends and enemies a lot easer that way. I was in I was invested and then, What the actual F*** happens halfway through this book? 

This book takes a huge left turn that I was not expecting, but was warned something was going to happen but not what it was and I don't think i ever would have predicted that the book would take this turn. This is to the point where the books feel like two different books, that Zhang had two ideas (and I think great ideas) that Zhang decided to meld them together, but didn't quite make it.

Am I upset about this strange turn of events, Yes and No. Yes, because this book became something I was not expecting it to be and seemed so different from the beginning of the book and what i thought I was going to get. But then No at the same time as Zhang took a risk with this and deciding to go this way.

I liked that this book highlights what it takes to be a social media influencer, and I don't think that Zhang is far off in the first half of the book. The amount of content they are making and expected to make, how they feel the need to share everything in their life and that those who portray "healthy lives" are nothing but unhealthy (both physically and mentally).

Julie felt like such a real character to me, her life and her jealousy over Chloe's life and missing the twin that she had before they were separated as children. I cant blame Julie for the choices she makes or what she feels, it felt raw and real.

I was not a fan of the ending of this book either. You can tell Zhang tried to do something a bit different and normally I'm all about that, but it just didn't work here.

I would try another book by Zhang as I think the book was well written and the ideas she presented, just not together in one book. I think once Zhang can focus on just one amazing idea she will have a killer book.

Cheers!!!

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