I absolutely loved this book! I honestly couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed that it was set in Toronto. Canadian locations always make me happy. The characters were interesting and felt like they could be real people. The plot was well paced and fresh. I think I blasted through this in like 24 hours? I also enjoyed the writing style. It was easy to read and flowed nicely. I’d definitely recommend it for someone looking for more of a chicklit read, as opposed to romance!

Thank-you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Mai Nguyen for the eARC!

I was so excited when I read the premise of this book but, unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I think perhaps the multiple POVs were a bit of a detriment, as I felt like I did not really get to know any of the characters on a deeper level for the most part. If I had to name a MAIN main character, I suppose it would be Jessica and, unfortunately, I really really REALLY disliked Jessica for the vast majority of this book.

Overall I would say it was an OKAY book. I finished it and am not mad that I did, but I would not re-read it nor do I think I would ever think of it when it came to recommending books to people.

One thing that I really loved about Sunshine Nails was that it added to a section of CanLit that isn't always well-represented: that of the chicklit variety. It was fun to read about Toronto as a setting and the story was cute, despite the fact that it was easily predicted. The relationships within Jessica's family were quirky and awkward enough to feel totally believable. Overall, I recommend Sunshine Nails to readers who are into something light and easy.

Mai Nguyen’s characters feel real, like old friends. She and I do not share a cultural background, but I still immediately saw reflections of my family and relationships in her writing

Such a great story. I really enjoyed learning about a different culture then my own and feeling some of the thing they go through. I'll be looking for the next book by the author

Of course as a Torontonian, I am partial to stories set in my city. But that is not the only or the main reason I enjoyed Sunshine Nails so much! Mai Nguyen manages to bring the world of family ran nail salons alive. Sunshine nails manages to be light hearted while exploring the greater impact of gentrification which has been a huge issue in Toronto for a while now!

There is a particular kind of joy for a reader when they recognize the streets and landmarks and little details mentioned in a story. I loved getting to know Tran family and their journey. As someone’s who’s been a client at a Vietnamese ran nail salon for many years, a number of aspects of this story resonated and felt so familiar. Not to mention how often under-appreciated many immigrant dominated services are!

I loved the thoughtfulness of exploration of these important topics but at the end of the day it was the sense of family and community that made this such a fun, enjoyable read! Mai Nguyen is a talented storyteller and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the concept for this book, and the cover & description drew me in instantly. I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I still enjoyed it for the most part, but there wasn't anything that really stood out for me.

This was the first book by this author for me, but I am open to reading more :)

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

This debut novel set in Toronto was a really enjoyable read for me! There are some funny moments, lots of pop culture references; it's fun, but also very heartfelt! What I particularly enjoyed was the emphasis on familial love and loyalty. The multiple POVs allow for a better understanding of what each character is experiencing, and it was really interesting to see what was most stressful to each family member. I think one very relatable aspect was the societal expectations certain cultures put on their young generation: the idea of not disappointing or embarrassing one's parents in front of their social circle is all too common. Debbie and her gutsiness was probably one of my favourite parts of the book; never underestimate a middle-aged woman! Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick but meaningful read.

Such a fun debut! The thing that stood out to me the most was the multiple POVs throughout this novel! You'd think that this would make the book hard to follow, but it is done so well that it makes the book feel exciting and unique! I also loved the family relationships throughout!

I always enjoy books that describe local Toronto landmarks, so Sunshine Nails was enjoyable from that perspective.
I did find the pacing a bit slow, so it was a bit hard to be completely engrossed throughout. I’m glad though I gave it a chance. Also, I loved the book cover of this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC of this novel!

Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen went above and beyond my expectations! This was a downright funny, quirky book about family, culture, and hard work. The story shone a light on the struggles of immigrant families who leave behind their home country and loved ones in search of a better life, while also raising their kids to preserve their culture. At times, this story was heartbreaking as well, learning about the lengths a family is ready to go to in order to save their family business and not lose face in an increasingly gentrified neighbourhood in Toronto, ON.

I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for a light read that also has a deeper meaning. For fans of the TV show Kim's Convenience, this story also has similar vibes and sense of humour!

⚠️ Potential trigger warnings: racism, trauma, gambling, substance use (may not be an exhaustive list)

🙏 Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the gifted electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, shoutout to our Canadian authors and so glad to get a Canadian read situated in Toronto (being able to map the story in my mind with the Toronto I know is always a great experience)! I met Mai Nguyen for her book launch in Toronto and she is such a sweet human.

"Sunshine Nails" is a heartwarming and humorous debut novel that weaves a delightful tale of family, resilience, and the unwavering determination to protect what matters most.
Debbie and Phil Tran, Vietnamese refugees who have carved out a comfortable life in Toronto through their family-run nail salon, Sunshine Nails, suddenly find themselves facing an impossible challenge—the exorbitant rent increase imposed by their landlord. With the arrival of the upscale Take Ten salon across the street, their business and the tight-knit community it represents are at risk.
"Sunshine Nails" brims with unforgettable manicures and even more unforgettable characters. The multiple POVs provides added depth and perspective to the dynamics and experiences of these characters. Readers will be drawn into the captivating world of the Trans, where humor, love, and the bonds of family shine brightly. The novel skillfully navigates themes of cultural identity, community, and the resilience needed to start anew.
Mai Nguyen crafts a compelling narrative that effortlessly balances humor and heartfelt moments. The story beautifully encapsulates the immigrant experience, while delving into topics like gentrification, entrepreneurship, and the balance of personal ambition and familial duty. "Sunshine Nails" is a charming and relatable read that reminds us of the enduring power of family ties and the importance of fighting for what truly matters.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

Okay, so I gave it an extra star because this book is based in Toronto, Canada and there are very few books with a setting close to where I live!

Told from multiple points of view, we follow the Trans family as they deal with the changes in their daily lives. I felt this book tried to do too much from too many different perspectives which made it confusing. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, so I didn't sympathize with any although I understood where they were coming from. After a while each character's voice just started reading the same so I focused more on the story than the characters. The characters all have issues which was probably why the story was as broken as it read.

The story wasn't interesting. There were a lot of problems and circumstances mentioned in this book but none were really solved. They were just glossed over. Such as, one character who left their career and life savings behind just because of a cheating partner. Like I really wanted to slap some sense into them. A breakup isn't the end of life and to just leave everything for a cheater isn't worth it.

I did enjoy the part where a new salon was opening. I think that added the missing spice the book was missing as well as described gentrification correctly. I also enjoyed reading about Debbie & Phil's struggle as refugees and trying to keep their family together.

I think everyone has a different way of trying to keep their family together. In this story, I personally felt they were all trying to cover for each other's shortcomings instead of discussing and fixing it together. Works great in the short term but not so much the long term. I would have loved to see some positive character development in this direction but it felt lacking and more negative than anything.

Overall, this was okay. It's not something I expected from one of my most anticipated reads as it fell flat for me. I would have loved it more, maybe if the story focused on just the nail salon because that did interest me enough to keep reading and find out what will happen. The rest was all too common and uninteresting. Definitely a fast paced read to still keep on your radar, if you're looking for a family drama with Vietnamese Canadians in multiple points of views.

First up kudos on this debut novel by this up and coming new Canadian author! 🇨🇦

This novel is essentially the story of the Tran family. They live in Toronto, Canada and are immigrants from Vietnam. They have owned their nail salon, "Sunshine Nails" for twenty years. Now a big and trendy nail salon is opening across the street and threatening their livelihood. The story centres on the parents, Phil and Debbie. Phil gambles and gets the family in trouble. Debbie is always worrying but usually saves the day. Their daughter Jessica has recently returned from LA after a breakup with her boyfriend. Their son, Dustin is hard working but is being taken advantage of by his current employer. Their niece, Thuy has emigrated from Vietnam and now works in the salon and lives with Phil and Debbie.

I liked the story and especially enjoyed the parts about the foods and customs of the Vietnamese people. I was expecting more drama surrounding the new nail salon opening but the story seemed to focus more heavily on the actual family and the problems they encountered. I just expected a little more from this book but in the end it was a pretty good story. I would read something else from this author in the future.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.

Enjoyed the culture of this novel and the setting. Found the parents to both be unlikeable characters. This family could do with some more communication.

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 a digital advanced readers copy of this book.

When a successful bougee nail salon opens across the street from the Tran family salon in Toronto, they are terrified of what this means for them. As time progresses, and they begin to lose their customers to the new salon, each family member begins to take matters into their own hands to save their shop.

This was a very quick read, and I enjoyed my time reading. This is such a character driven family story. I loved the multiple POVs in this, and learning more about each of them. Each family member had their own problems they were trying to deal with. A lot of them had me giggling and hoping that the messes they found themselves in would resolve quickly. They made a lot of SILLY decisions, that had me shaking my head at times, but overall I wished the best for them. The book explores gentrification and the immigrant experience. I listened to this on audiobook, and I honestly think that is the best way to experience this book. Each family member had their own narrator, which brought their characters to life.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this drama filled story with a unique cast of characters!

The cover of this book defies the depth of what's contained on the pages. I thought I was getting a fun rom-com but instead what I got was a thought provoking story about so many important topics + themes; the immigration experience including the dreams + reality that come along with that; gentrification; entrepreneurship; and perhaps most importantly, the strength + resiliency of family.

This debut was excellent, and was filled with food, fun banter + a great plot. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks so much to thd publisher + NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.