Hey, it's Empire's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh. Today's novel, Julie Chan is Dead,

is a bit of a send-up of influencer culture. It comes from someone who knows a thing or two about

that world. Leanne Zhang spent her teen years trying to make it big as a skincare influencer.

In this interview with Empir's Aishaosko, Zhang says she has complicated feelings looking

back at that world.

Yes, it can be shallow and vapid, but there's also some real connections that can be made

between you and your fellow influencers.

That's ahead.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods, NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Julie Chan is in a dead-in job, scanning groceries, and constantly getting mistaken for her.

Chloe Van Hewson, famous influencer and Julie's identical twin.

They are somewhat estranged, separated as young children after the deaths of their parents.

Two decades later, a mysterious phone call from Chloe leads Julie to make a bold,

illegal, and morally questionable move. That's the start of Leanne Zang's debut novel,

Julie Chan, is dead. She's here now. Welcome to the program. Thank you so much for having me.

This is the thing about the book. Julie Chan is not dead. Chloe is.

Tell us how this happens.

Yeah, so basically one of them, Chloe, gets adopted by a very rich, affluent white couple in New York City, and the other one goes to their aunt.

...