In Julie Chan Is Dead, debut novelist Liann Zhang uses her background as a former skincare content creator to introduce readers to Julie, a down-on-her-luck cashier who steps into the glamorous, dangerous life of her estranged influencer twin after discovering her body under mysterious circumstances. What begins as a darkly alluring identity swap quickly spirals into a surreal, high-stakes thriller exploring internet fame, self-erasure, and the secrets we keep behind the filter.
I emailed with Zhang about writing in the age of social media, the blurred line between self and performance, and what it means to inherit someone else’s digital life.
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