I have read some 'heavy' books lately, so i was happy to see Sunshine Nails come up as my next read. The cover just screams summer with its red and yellows, don't you agree? I initially thought it was going to be more cutthroat, as it is about a mom-and-pop salon going up against a shiny new salon across the street. But rather it is a bit of a comedy but still has a message to get across.
Canada has always been a melting pot that accepts immigrants and their customs much easier than it seems America does. And this novel does a great job of showcasing the Vietnamese culture. Whether it be work or home life, the author doesn't cheat any of the characters by making them a stereo type. Every character has a part to play and they evolve perfectly compared to the pace of the novel. As this is an easy read and page turning just enough to make it last all day as you read by the pool.
Well, back to the Salon is looking kind of empty as regular customers try out the new salon. So as the shop empties, the house fills up as the family comes together. Though there is no great time to embrace or fight gentrification, or worry about the sole income the family shares, Jessica --the prodigal daughter--gets kicked right where it counts and ends up back home just in time to help the family save itself and hopefully save its salon, Sunshine Nails.

Vietnamese refugees Debbie and Phil Tran have built a comfortable life for themselves in Toronto with their family nail salon.
But when an ultra-glam chain salon opens across the street, their world is rocked. Complicating matters further, their landlord has jacked up the rent and it seems only a matter of time before they lose their business and everything they've built. They enlist the help of their daughter, Jessica, who has just returned home after a messy breakup and a messier firing.
Together with their son, Dustin, and niece, Thuy, they try to hold onto their small business. Relationships are put to the test as the line between right and wrong gets blurred.

I enjoy multi-POV and messy family drama but this book didn’t live up to the synopsis and cover for me. I was expecting more hijinks but instead it was a more depressing tone. We didn’t get enough depth to the characters so it’s hard to connect with them and not really enjoyable. Debbie was the best character with Phil being the absolute worst. I really enjoyed the discussion on gentrification, racism and classism in this book though.

A cute, debut novel about a Vietnamese-Canadian family that owns a nail salon in a gentrifying Toronto. There’s heart, wit, humor, & above all, family ties & loyalty. It held a lot of potential, but the it fell short with uneven writing. The brother’s voice wasn’t separate from the other characters & didn’t add to the plot/story. This story came from the authors background and I don’t want to lessen the importance of the story, but I didn’t vibe.

If you're looking for some brain candy or a family drama (or just trying to find a good debut for a reading challenge), then you should pick up "Sunshine Nails." Taking place in Toronto, this one features a Vietnamese-Canadian family as they struggle to keep their nail salon afloat when a fancy chain salon moves in across the street. The two children Dustin and Jessica and niece Thuy are really the main characters, with alternating characters which really adds a lot of depth to the story. It took me a bit to get into the narrative style, but I loved all of the characters.

There are a couple of layers to the story - immigrant parents who sacrificed everything to get to Canada, children who recognize their parents' sacrifices and don't want to let them down but want to find their own paths in life, gentrification of a neighborhood, community, and family. Coincidentally, I finished this book during my drive to Canada (for a birthday party of a relative). Though there isn't really anything that tied it directly to Toronto or Canada - I felt like this story could have taken place in any big coastal city. It still was a charming story, I laughed out loud at points, and wanted to keep spending time with the characters. I look forward to reading future books by Mai Nguyen! Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc , this story of Sunshine nails was so very cute!! I enjoyed the plot and the characters development. This was a feel good Summer read ! #netgalley

A heartwarming, funny, feel-good family drama about the Trans, a Vietnamese Canadian immigrant family who own a nail salon in Toronto and fear the increasing gentrification of their neighborhood will be the end of their business.

Told in alternating perspectives from the four members of the family, this was a great debut novel about starting over, making a new home and finding what makes you happy. Great on audio with a full cast of narrators and perfect for fans of authors like Kim Thuy, Ann Choi or Ann Shin.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. 10/10 recommend, especially for anyone who loved the show Kim's Convenience store or just can't resist a gorgeous yellow cover with a story that won't disappoint!

_happy pub day_

I was thrilled to dive straight into this book.
The cover and synopsis grabbed my attention so I had to see what was inside.
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen is a wonderful debut.
I enjoyed this drama filled read with it’s amazing characters and fun writing.
Our Vietnamese Canadian family is struggling to keep their family nail salon up and running when another nail company moves across the road.
Full heart and humor you can not, not love the Tran Clan.
I was immediately drawn into their world and didn’t want to leave it so soon.
This was a fun and exciting story and I can’t wait to read more titles by Mai Nguyen.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Finished my advanced digital copy of Sunshine Nails on the weekend, just in time for its official release today! Such a good book about a family who immigrated from Vietnam to live the Canadian dream. But starting from nothing in a country where you are only valued for your physical labour, and are stereotyped and racially profiled by the majority does not make for an easy life. Especially when not only trying to survive, but to also help loved ones still in their home country. What lengths would you go to to keep your family business alive when a multimillion dollar international company opens directly across the street and starts stealing your clients? The Trans would do almost anything for family and the ones they love, but will it be enough?
I highly recommend Sunshine Nails as the perfect summer read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m always so excited to read a book by a Vietnamese author. It’s like I feel an automatic bond with a stranger. Sunshine Nails looked like a heartwarming story that I was ready to dive into.
The character development was good. You could remember who each person was and their core personalities traits and motives.
The storyline itself was a little fluid at times and which made it hard to follow what the purpose was and where it was going. Described as humorous and light hearted, which I didn’t really feel it was either, I would categorize this book as contemporary fiction. You really only got a small glimpse into the lives of the Trans and the hardships they have to survive.
I took such a long time to read this book. It’s my own fault because I found it difficult to dive into. As a daughter of a first generation Vietnamese American, the struggles and the components of discrimination hit too close to home and made me sad.
I felt the ending was appropriate and I would read Mai Nguyen’s work in the future. .

Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read Mai Nguyen’s debut novel. Happy Publication Day!!

Sunshine Nails
Mai Nguyen
Pub Date: July 4, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I could not put this book down! I found it to be so engaging and well written and I could literally not get enough. I stayed up way later than I normally would to read and finish this book!

Sunshine Nails is a small nail salon in Toronto, which is owned by Debbie and Phil Tran, two Vietnamese immigrants. When Take Ten, a large chain nail salon opens across the street, the Tran family and the hard work they’ve put into Sunshine Nails is threatened. On top of that, their community is further threatened over land speculation and higher rent costs. At the core of this book is the lengths one family will go to save their business and everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve.

I enjoyed how each chapter was from the point of view of one of the five main characters. I felt like this style made this book flow so well and made me really connect with each character. I just loved all of the characters and felt like each one brought something different to this family-centered book! Overall, this book is about family and gentrification and immigration and I just devoured this one! If you are looking for an amazing character driven book, this is it!

Looking for a new book for your book club? This is it!

Read if you like:
💅🏼Family Drama
💅🏼Multiple POVs
💅🏼Character Driven Books
💅🏼Immigration Stories
💅🏼Nail Salons
💅🏼Books About Gentrification

Posted on Instagram on July 1, 2023 (Currently Reading): http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
Posted on Goodreads on July 4, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- July 8, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on July 4, 2023
**-will post on designated date

This was SO endearing, charming, delightful and just simply a fantastic read.
I loved the characters, the way in which they all were written and introduced to us. The story was so damn delightful…I just found myself rooting for them!

This one was a good read. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the individual chapters that focused on one character at a time. Also enjoyed the Toronto setting!

For twenty years, Vietnamese immigrants Debbie and Phil Tran have owned the Sunshine Nails nail salon. It hasn’t always been easy, but it was theirs and it provided for their family. Now their Toronto neighborhood is falling victim to gentrification and their very livelihood is threatened when a trendy, upscale salon moves in directly across the street. Meanwhile, their daughter Jessica has returned home after losing her job in California and has reluctantly started working at the salon. Along with Jessica’s brother Dustin and cousin Thuy, the Trans must band together if they have any hope of saving the salon.

I wasn’t prepared for how much I enjoyed this book! The characters are so authentic and endearing. The prose is smart and witty, and the storyline is heartwarming and a little wacky at times, but in the best way. You can’t help but sympathize with the lengths Debbie and Phil will go to in order to save the salon that represents the financial independence they dreamt of as immigrants. Even though I didn’t always agree with Debbie’s actions, I admired her grit and her dedication to her family. The author skillfully weaves messages about gentrification, overt and subtle racism, and resilience are into the story of the charming and complex Tran family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me with an AR. of Sunshine Nails by Mia Nguyen. In exchange I offer my honest review.

This book was absolutely delightful. Equally insightful as well as entertaining, author Mia Nguyen brings to life the daily struggles and challenges faced by many immigrants who work so hard to achieve their dreams of financial independence, freedom and success. Written with keen observations and authentic knowledge, this book will have you cheering for Phil and Debbi Tran, owners of Sunshine Nails and their children Jessica and Dustin.

Perfect for long hot summer days, this book is a breeze to read 😎
Available July 4, 2023.

A light, easy read with some strange activities.

The storyline is easy - a big name salon opens across the street from a small, family owned one and there is friction. The characters are interesting. The storyline follows as the family tries to keep their salon open and they come up with some strange ways in desperation to fight.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

A nice debut for a beach or pool-side read. SUNSHINE NAILS takes an interesting look at gentrification from the perspective of an immigrant family. While a relatively quick and breezy read, ultimately, I found myself skimming about 2/3 of the way through. The story became quite plot driven at the expense of character depth and I never fully connected with any of the characters. I wanted to know more about Jessica and her journey, but the alternating POVs prevented that from happening. Overall, it was a fine story, just not one that engrossed me as I hoped it would.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Few things feel as good as sitting at the pool and flying through a good book cover to cover. And what a way to kickstart a long weekend💅🏻

Big thanks to @atriabooks and #NetGalley for the ARC - the perfect poolside read that comes out on Tuesday💅🏻

What a debut by @bymainguyen!! This was such a smart, witty and nuanced look at a Vietnamese Canadian family whose pride and joy is their business, Sunshine Nails. Parents Debbie and Phil are a Vietnamese immigrants who opened up the salon and have done everything in their power to keep it thriving and provide for their family. Their daughter Jessica moves home just as a very fancy, very bougie mail franchise opens across the street from Sunshine Nails and everything is flipped upside down 💅🏻

Equal parts ridiculously entertaining and tender hearted, it’s a look at both the realities of immigrant families and gentrification. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I reflected. And I really really enjoyed it💅🏻

Bravo, @bymainguyen!! Cannot wait to read what you write next!!

Will post this review on Goodreads, retail sites, my bookstagram @scottonreads and twitter @sarahncotton

This was a really lovely debut! The story focuses on a Vietnamese-Canadian family who are long-time owners of a nail salon in Toronto’s Junction area. The Trans face a slew of challenges in their business after the landlord doubles their rent and an upscale nail chain opens across the street.

As parents Debbie and Phil figure out how to keep the business afloat, each member of the family navigates their own personal battles. Daughter Jessica has just returned from LA after losing her job and a messy breakup. She hasn’t lived at home in years and is unsure of what comes next in her career and her life. Niece Thuy is a gifted nail artist who has dreams for her life and education in Canada but needs to provide for her family back home and doesn’t feel appreciated at Sunshine Nails. Son Dustin lives at home and is working a thankless job in tech.

The setting holds a special place in my heart as my family lived in the Junction for about 20 years; we witnessed the changes and gentrification of the area during that period, and I appreciated how this was incorporated into the plot. This book has a lot of humour & heart, with charming characters navigating generational differences - a great summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I first heard about this book via literary agent Carly Watters' Instagram and her Zoom query/pitch class. As a small business owner, the premise intrigued me: a Vietnamese-Canadian family whose Toronto nail salon is threatened by the arrival of a new, glossy, high-priced competitor salon across the street, and the lengths they’ll go through to save their family business. .

Based on the whimsical, colorful cover, I expected this book to be a fun, quick read — and on one level, it was. But there also were so many layers to peel back here. Beneath the fast-paced writing and the many humorous moments lies a deep well of insight: about what it means to be an immigrant family in North America; about gentrification and the evolution of neighborhoods; about how far one will go to ensure a better life for the next generation; about the struggle of small business owners to separate their identity and worth from their work. (That theme resonated most profoundly for me, causing me to tear up more than once.)

Peppered among these themes are abundant references to Vietnamese food, culture and beliefs, which I loved. It added such richness to the story. I came away feeling intrigued and curious to learn more.

Read this book if you like:
💅🏻 Fast-paced reads
💅🏻 Humor with heart
💅🏻 Immersion in another culture
💅🏻 Stories about close-knit families
💅🏻 Light-hearted revenge plots

I read this book as an ARC on @netgalley. Official pub date for this book is July 4. Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the early look!

Sunshine Nails is an engaging debut that delves into the lives of a Vietnamese Canadian family in Toronto and their unwavering determination to protect their nail salon from the threat posed by a new upscale establishment. As the Tran family faces escalating challenges, including rising rent and a landlord determined to displace them, they enlist the help of their daughter Jessica, recently returned home after a series of personal setbacks. Together with their son Dustin and niece Thuy, they embark on a campaign of sabotage, blurring the lines of morality and testing their relationships.

Overall, it was a cute family drama that's sure to keep you entertained. I felt like this one was a bit of a slow burn that really picked up the last 30% of the book.