Julie Chan Is Dead

“Chloe is my vice. I’m addicted to the way I grow hateful. Crave how it fills me with vitriol.”

This quotation describes the negative emotions that unfold when Julie consumes Chloe’s social media content. Julie is self-aware enough to know that it is bad for her to look at this content, but she also cannot resist doing so. This awareness mirrors the addictive nature of influencers and social media in general: These platforms are engineered to make them difficult to resist even though they tend to foster negative self-perceptions.

“Isn’t this karmic justice unfolding before me? Reparations for my hardships in the shape of a new glittery, influencer life?”

This quotation captures Julie’s self-justifying rationale as she decides whether to assume Chloe’s identity. Julie knows that what she is doing is wrong, but she finds a way to argue that she deserves it. The quotation develops Julie’s character by revealing her tendency to always cast herself in a favorable light and refuse to accept any responsibility or blame.

“I wanted her, and I wanted to be her.”

This quotation describes how Julie idolizes Bella Marie prior to meeting her after assuming Chloe’s identity. Before seeing the inner workings of the world of influencers, Julie operates as a fan. She forms her first impressions of Bella Marie because she simultaneously worships and desires her. The quotation also serves to develop the hints of queer desire between Julie and Bella Marie that surface throughout the novel.

“I’m enamored with this new world I’ve claimed for myself. All these new, genuine connections.”

This quotation ironically captures Julie’s naivety and self-delusion shortly after she enters the world of influencers. Because Julie is treated warmly when she first assumes Chloe’s identity, she fails to realize that these interactions are completely artificial and self-serving. The statement is doubly ironic in that Julie is living a lie, meaning that none of her connections can be authentic or genuine, and events soon make clear that connections fostered through social media are inherently inauthentic.

“If you or a loved one is suffering from a loss like I am, please seek counseling for support. This video is sponsored by BetterTherapy.”

When Julie records and posts a video of herself scattering her sister’s ashes, she includes this sponsored content, which renders the video financially profitable for her. The quotation reveals The Commodification of Personal Tragedy, as the economic incentives of social media require influencers to commodify all aspects of their lives, including intimate emotional experiences. Julie is quickly absorbed into this culture and willingly exploits all aspects of her life without reflecting on the toll this takes on her psyche.

“A growing portion of my audience says that I don’t feel like Chloe anymore. That something about me has changed. That my vibe is different. That I’m less authentic.”

This quotation describes Julie’s dismay as she begins to lose followers after a few months of impersonating Chloe. Julie wrongly assumes it will be easy to capture Chloe’s appeal but she underestimates the careful self-presentation that is required for an influencer to maintain their hold on their followers. This looming crisis renders Julie more vulnerable in the lead-up to the Belladonna retreat.

“Technology is crucial to my existence. I’m not even sure if I have an identity outside of the internet. She’s stripping away my livelihood!”

This quotation captures Julie’s distress when she finds out that she will have no internet access during her time on the island. Julie has rapidly been sucked into the influencer mindset and finds it upsetting to imagine being cut off from the ability to post and share content. Ironically, she is not concerned about safety or what would happen in the case of an emergency, but primarily about making money and feeding her ego.

“It makes sense how Bella Marie got to her level. She literally has the world at her fingertips. A quintessential nepo kid.”

Speaking to Julie, Isla reveals her skepticism about the Belladonnas and the world of influencers in general. Isla can see clearly that Bella Marie was born into wealth and privilege, which gave her the ability to achieve subsequent fame and power. This quotation highlights The Pernicious Effects of Unearned Privilege and foreshadows the subsequent conflict that will erupt when Isla challenges the other influencers and calls out their privilege.

“Take it from me: this is your chance to break into the industry, to get sponsorships that will pay for your children’s tuition and then some. A weeklong beach vacation is hardly a sacrifice, even if they get on your nerves a little.”

Julie speaks this quotation to Isla, encouraging her to ignore her misgivings about the retreat. Julie can see the financial gain that will come from being associated with the Belladonnas, and thus she is willing to risk a sinister setting. Even though Julie has hesitations herself, she encourages Isla to conform to the group ideology.

“It’s almost like Bella Marie purposefully finds people who need her, people who are down on their luck, vulnerable, and uplifts them.”

As Julie reflects on the Belladonnas and how they each rose to fame, she begins to see how Bella Marie has secured their unwavering loyalty. Like the charismatic leaders of many cults, Bella Marie exploits individuals at their most vulnerable. The quotation shows that Julie is capable of discerning what is happening amongst the Belladonnas, but she tends to dismiss her own insights because of The Need for Love and Belonging.

“As soon as you lose your grip on the attention ecosphere, you slip and fall into a void of obscurity, reduced to another bullet point in a long list of dated internet references.”

Julie muses on how all influencers are ultimately vulnerable and how this insecurity fuels her to be constantly vigilant. While there are many privileges associated with being an influencer, no one can ever feel truly secure that their followers will not simply lose interest. The obsession that Julie and the other Belladonnas have with succeeding at any cost stems from the knowledge that they could lose everything at any moment.

“I’ll never be applauded for mediocrity because I’m not a stereotypically beautiful white girl.”

Isla loses her patience and explicitly states how her experience as a woman of color is different from those of the white women who mainly comprise the Belladonnas (with the exception of Julie). Isla is irritated that the other Belladonnas fail to recognize how their beauty gives them the ability to interest others by merely existing. She also wants the others to recognize the specific challenges she faces and is frustrated when they refuse to do so.

“There’s nothing equal about social media. Sure, once in a blue moon it uplifts creators from underserved backgrounds, but that’s like finding a unicorn amid a stable of horses.”

Isla vents her frustration about the lack of awareness displayed by the other influencers. She challenges the myth that social media empowers marginalized individuals and communities: Instead, she argues, social media reproduces the same inequalities present in the offline world. Isla upsets the Belladonnas because she forces them to confront their own privilege, while they prefer to see themselves as hard workers who have earned everything they have.

“They accept me. As Julie. They knew I was a fraud but they still welcomed me into their arms, held my hands, danced with me.”

This quotation captures Julie’s astonishment when she learns that the Belladonnas have known all along that she is not actually Chloe. Although this information should be disturbing and reveal the amoral nature of these women (as well as the fact that they never truly cared about Chloe), Julie initially feels acceptance and love. These comments show how deeply Julie is enthralled by the sense of belonging to a community and receiving unconditional love.

“We will never judge or admonish you for your courage and determination. You are just like all of us.”

Bella Marie speaks this quotation when Julie becomes overwhelmed with guilt for having stolen her sister’s life. Bella Marie ascribes positive attributes to Julie’s decision and prevents Julie from having to reflect on her true motivations, such as greed and jealousy. The Belladonnas offer the seductive appeal of protecting Julie from having to face her true self and the enormity of what she has done.

“Maybe Julie doesn’t like to chop wood.”

Bella Marie speaks this quotation when the other women are confused that Julie does not seem interested in having sex with Viktor. The quotation playfully alludes to the possibility that Julie may not be sexually interested in men, since “wood” can sometimes be used as a euphemism for an erection. At various moments in the text, there are hints of queer desire between Julie and Bella Marie, which becomes one more way in which Bella Marie secures her power and control.

“It doesn’t matter what I truly think, what logic or reason is ticking in my brain, holding me back. I must sacrifice it all into the fire, let it burn away.”

This quotation captures Julie’s confusion during the fire ritual, shortly after she is first introduced to the notion of Eto. Although Julie is skeptical and even disturbed by these revelations, she realizes that she values fitting in. The language of abandoning her reliance on her individual ability to think critically mirrors an expectation of many cults: She must completely surrender to the will of the group and its leader, even when it makes no sense to her.

“At one point, I desired their connection, their friendship, their empathy and group synergy. But I have this sinking feeling that everything I receive here is false and shallow, as authentic as a sponsored post.”

This quotation captures Julie’s increasing disgust and horror as she begins to be less enamored with the Belladonnas. Julie realizes that they don’t truly value or care for her, and she uses a simile likening their affection to a sponsored post. Social media advertising often blurs the line between genuine reactions and sponsored performances, and this mindset spills over into relationships, which can likewise become transactional.

“They turn to each other and giggle, their dainty little fingers covering their mouths as if this video is oh so sweet, beaming as they watch their friend bawl for her lost child.”

Julie describes the grotesque moment in which the Belladonnas react with pleasure to the video in which Angelique describes her pregnancy loss. All the Belladonnas care about is how this video will perform with fans, and the metrics (and associated profits), rather than any sense of genuine emotional loss. The loss of a pregnancy is treated as a positive event because it might translate into more followers, illustrating The Commodification of Personal Tragedy.

“Whatever you offer, Eto will collect as payment. Even though the timing is out of our control, it is inevitable. But the offering must be grand. Eto will not accept something too small or easy.”

This quotation introduces the ritual in which Julie is required to pledge something that she values to Eto, as a sacrifice in exchange for success as an influencer. Bella Marie gives Julie instructions, emphasizing how seriously she must take this ritual. The quotation shows that the Belladonnas take these rituals extremely seriously and genuinely believe in the notion of sacrifice. It also shows how ruthlessly they long for wealth and success.

“I pray that Eto is real. I need to believe this wasn’t all for nothing.”

This quotation captures Julie’s confusion and shock immediately after she kills Bella Marie and the Belladonnas. Although she is initially resistant to the idea of a supernatural being, she realizes that she has fulfilled the promise of sacrificing her beloved friends. The quotation shows Julie trying to rationalize her terrible actions and find meaning after doing something she did not believe she was capable of.

“A white woman like Bella Marie would never be brought to justice through regular means. It was a cruel means to a good end.”

This quotation reveals the retrospective narrative that Julie invents to explain why she assumed Chloe’s identity. Julie exploits categories of racial privilege to rationalize why she had to take matters into her own hands and positions herself as someone sympathetic. The quotation shows how Julie is determined to control the narrative and refuses to accept any blame for her actions.

“I recognize the blight of cruelty infecting me, but I’m not dissuaded.”

This quotation captures Julie’s thoughts as she decides to manipulate Viktor into going public with a carefully controlled narrative that casts Julie in a favorable light. Julie recognizes that she is exploiting Viktor, but she is willing to do so because it benefits her cause. The quotation shows how manipulative Julie can be and suggests that she is not as different from the Belladonnas as she likes to imagine.