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erikaraz's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Fun story of an immigrant family surviving in Toronto. Great cast of characters all making mistakes and finding their purpose and reflecting on family and loyalty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Deportation
Minor: War
reading_rebellion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised at home much I enjoyed this book after picking it up on a whim.
It follows a Vietnamese immigrant family, two second generation children, a family member, and their family nail salon in Toronto. The neighborhood they've lived in for over two decades is being rapidly gentrified and pushing out the local businesses.
There's the first gen parents, Phil and Debbie, who've worked at the salon for over 20 years.
You have the second gen children who have been assimilated into Westernized culture, privilege and have a complicated connection to their family's customs, heritage and neigborhood.
There's Justin, the youngest, who's been working at a swanky tech wellness company for many years and Jessica, the eldest, who is returning to Toronto reluctantly after leaving for Los Angeles 8 years ago.
There's also Twi, Justin and Jessica's cousin, who just arrived in Toronto from Vietnam to work in the salon to help support her family in Vietnam.
This book follows each character's POV over the course of a year at the salon, their neighborhood and life changes. Excellent book on the immigrant experience and generational differences.
It follows a Vietnamese immigrant family, two second generation children, a family member, and their family nail salon in Toronto. The neighborhood they've lived in for over two decades is being rapidly gentrified and pushing out the local businesses.
There's the first gen parents, Phil and Debbie, who've worked at the salon for over 20 years.
You have the second gen children who have been assimilated into Westernized culture, privilege and have a complicated connection to their family's customs, heritage and neigborhood.
There's Justin, the youngest, who's been working at a swanky tech wellness company for many years and Jessica, the eldest, who is returning to Toronto reluctantly after leaving for Los Angeles 8 years ago.
There's also Twi, Justin and Jessica's cousin, who just arrived in Toronto from Vietnam to work in the salon to help support her family in Vietnam.
This book follows each character's POV over the course of a year at the salon, their neighborhood and life changes. Excellent book on the immigrant experience and generational differences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, War, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Reading this book was like watching a soap opera. Every time one of the characters takes action, I would think there’s no way they’re making that decision, it just seems overdramatic and outside of reality. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it kept me wanting to see what would happen next, and where all these choices would lead.
There are also about 5 POVs in this book, and usually I like a multiple POV read, but unfortunately, this fell a bit short for me because we never really got beyond the surface level of each character, leaving me feeling a bit disconnected from the story.
I think the elements of this book that shone the most were:
- Debbie and Phil’s stories of being refugees from Vietnam
- Dustin and Mackenzie’s relationship
- Vietnamese culture
- Commentary on gentrification
Overall, I thought this one was somewhere between okay and good. I was expecting a lighthearted romcom, and what I got was a contemporary drama, so I think that influenced my enjoyment of this book a bit.
It’s not one that will stick with me, but it still would be worth picking up if any of these elements intrigue you.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an digital advanced reading copy of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an digital advanced reading copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Classism
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Grief, and War
rachreads925's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Xenophobia and War