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A review by reading_rebellion
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
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