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erikaraz's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
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
- 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
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.
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
kelly_e's review
- 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
3.25
Author: Mai Nguyen
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: July 4, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lighthearted • Simple • Entertaining
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Vietnamese refugees Debbie and Phil Tran have made a good life for themselves in Toronto, but their landlord has just jacked up the rent of their family-run nail salon, Sunshine Nails, and it’s way more than they can afford. When Take Ten, a glamorous chain offering a more luxurious salon experience, moves into the neighborhood, the Tran family is terrified of losing their business—and the community they’ve built around them.
But daughter Jessica comes to their rescue. She’s just moved back home after a messy breakup and an even messier firing. Together with her workaholic brother, Dustin, and recently immigrated cousin, Thuy, they devise some good old-fashioned sabotage. But as the line between right and wrong gets blurred, relationships are put to the test, and Debbie and Phil must choose: Do they keep their family intact or fight for their salon?
💭 T H O U G H T S
Sunshine Nails originally popped onto my radar when it was included on the Canada Reads 2024 longlist. When it wasn't included on the shortlist, I figured I would read it at some point, but it didn't become a priority until it was selected as April's pick for my in-person book club. I had definitely seen mixed reviews and was anticipating more of a humourous tone than what it actually is.
Told through multiple POVs, Mai Nguyen delivers an ode to nail techs while exploring the Asian Canadian immigrant experience in her debut novel. The writing is overly simple and the story is quite relatable. I appreciated a novel that offers a thriving immigrant family at the center of it. The generational differences were oftentimes real and comical. Through a less prominent thread the theme of gentrification is also explored.
The audio narration features a full cast of characters, which gave the story another dimension and really brought the family to life. It was best for me to read along with my eyeballs just so I was able to keep track of who was who.
Overall, Sunshine Nails was a quick, easy read with uplifting qualities. There is a decent amount of social commentary, yet Nguyen weaves it into the narrative without it being too preachy.
Unfortunately, I will be missing the book club discussion, but I look forward to seeing people's thoughts on the designated post afterwards.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• immigrant stories
• family drama
• Kim's Convenience
⚠️ CW: racism, classism, alcohol, alcoholism, DUI, xenophobia, infidelity, drug use, suicidal thoughts, vomit, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Jessica never understood the power of gossip until she worked at the nail salon. It gave people who had nothing to talk about a reason to engage with one another, to create closeness through the exchange of closely guarded information."
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
DUImegj23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Car accident
spicycronereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The story is split across five points of view of a first generation Vietnamese Canadian family - the parents Phil and Debbie, siblings Dustin and Jessica, and cousin Thuy. As a result of such a divided narrative, we seem to get only the most superficial insights / character arcs.
That said, there are many things to like about the novel. There are some interesting glimpses into the Vietnamese immigrant community in Canada and some lovely moments of family connection and love.
There is a lot of racial diversity which makes the diverse representation quite prominent. The five MCs are all Vietnamese. Dustin’s girlfriend is South Asian, and there is an entire community of aunties, uncles, cousins, etc whom we glimpse briefly. We see some class struggle and the effects of gentrification as well.
I read a review that praised how the novel deals with racism. In my opinion it doesn’t actually address the racist things that happen in the story. They happen and then the narrative quickly moves past them. Maybe that is to illustrate just how banal the casual racism and micro-aggressions are, but it left me wanting more.
There is no spice to speak of. A few, very brief scenes where characters are intimate. The details are not quite closed door but not open either, so maybe cracked door? This is not a romance novel and the romantic relationships are in the background in favor of the family dynamics.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel. We had a great book club discussion about it. I recommend it to those interested in complex family dynamics or the Vietnamese immigrant experience in North America. 3.25 ⭐️
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Alcohol
kdailyreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
daniellekat's review against another edition
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol
minor: driving under the influencetenderbench's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity and Classism
rachreads925's review
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Xenophobia and War
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy