Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

I started this because it is a debut novel, and to get my Goodreads ribbon in this category, I chose this one. This book is a somewhat jaded look at what it is to be an influencer--I think it is well written and insightful--my rating is more related to my profound lack of interest in that dimension of the modern world rather than a reflection on the writing or story telling. The story follows Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier, as she assumes the influencer lifestyle of her deceased identical twin sister, Chloe Van Huusen. Though twins, the two were separated at a young age as their birth parents died in a car crash; Chloe was adopted by wealthy white parents from New York City, leaving Julie to be raised by her aunt who is straight out of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Since their parents’ death, the twins have only met once in person. Given Chloe’s soaring popularity online, it is unsurprising that their reunion was completely staged for a YouTube video, earning Chloe tens of thousands of dollars. For Julie, who comes from more modest circumstances, this day was more about being used than loved and did not serve to make them friends much less siblings. Then Julie cannot reach Chloe for quite some time and ends up going to her apartment and finding her dead. Julie sees an opportunity to ditch her hum drum and financially unrewarding life to assume Chloe's and she gets to see how the influencer lives--which is not as glamorous as it might first appear.