The Manicurist's Daughter is a powerful and inspiring memoir that will resonate with readers who are seeking to connect with their own stories and explore the complexities of the human experience. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love.

I was not at all prepared for this memoir to be as deep or as sad as it was. The story was interesting and I was happy that Susan was able to find the closure that she was looking for with both of her parents. I just could have used a bit of a warning of how sad the situation was/is.

When Susan was 11 years old, her mother, a Vietnamese refugee who opened two successful nail salons through sheer will and determination, died during a tummy tuck procedure. In this memoir, The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu, the author embarks on a journey to find out what made her mother go to such ominous lengths for perfection. She discovers not only about her mom's and family's past but comes to terms with her own feelings of inadequacy and desire to find her purpose in the world.

I didn't know what to expect when I received this book for review. I thought that I would try it even though I wasn't sure if it appealed to me. From the first chapter, though, I was engaged with the story that the author was telling.

Despite the good things about her childhood, the untimely death of her successful, formidable, and beautiful mother colored everything the author did. It wasn't discussed, and it always troubled her. When she becomes a mother herself, it seems clearer than ever that she needed to find out why her mother thought she wasn't good enough and needed a dangerous surgery to feel good about herself.

Throughout the book, you learn about her upbringing, her relationships with her three siblings as the youngest child, the Vietnamese culture that is interwoven with American culture, and how Susan ends up coping with all the different and challenging family situations. Some of these situations and her feelings about them propel her to do things like join a cult and change course after earning degrees from Ivy League colleges toward the art of performance much to her father's disappointment.

I loved that any time she described a traditional dish or a family member or friend used a Vietnamese term, the author immediately gave you the translation or description. Sometimes, it would be in italics. I found that extremely helpful and connected me more with the book. I feel like more books that describe an unfamiliar culture or define terms right there is so much more helpful than a glossary that you may forget to check or a footnote that messes with your reading momentum.

The story starts out with present day when the author is writing the book and then faces some health challenges. I understood why it started out that way, especially with the author's trepidation about doctors and going to the hospital. However, I never felt that that portion of the book was resolved or explained to come full circle at the end of the book. That may have been my only issue with the book.

Otherwise, I really felt that you get to know the author so clearly and can empathize with her. She's a woman like anyone else who has family issues, issues stemming from wanting to be perfect, and demands from her parents to forge a particular path that may not be for her. I think many women face that. It was triumphant to see her go through a lot of trials and find her way even if it wasn't where she started. I'm glad that I took the chance to read this book.

This book tells the story of Susan Lieu's search to get to know her mother, many years after her death. It speaks of her parents harrowing escape from Vietnam and the start of their nail salons in America. The reader follows Susan's life from childhood to motherhood as she tries to process the death of her mother, the man who was responsible, and the family who has seemingly gone on like nothing happened.

I loved being able to read about a life experience that was vastly different than my own. I learned a lot about Vietnamese culture through the lens of Susan. This book was very easy to read and seamlessly moved back and forth between her childhood and her adulthood. Anyone who has had issues with their own family would enjoy hearing how Susan overcame the generational trauma, grief, and body shaming she endured.

Thank you to Celadon Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was an eye-opening memoir, and I really appreciate the author sharing her story with us readers. I liked the discussion of beauty standards throughout and how the author wove her childhood and mother’s death with her adulthood stories.

I listened to the audiobook, but thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted book!

What a great memoir! The narrative made me think deeply, cry, laugh, and crave Vietnamese cuisine! I highly recommend this book. My personal favorite parts from the book are: the clam digging, the vivid memory of the poignant meal at Sizzler, all the wonderful cuisine described in the book, the mountain adventure the author took with her husband and her inner dialogue during the trip was so funny (😆), and the vulnerability explored by the author throughout the story. I’m including a quote from the author from an interview that sums up the takeaway from reading this novel describing it perfectly: “I believe healing from intergenerational trauma happens first on an individual level, and reading is an intimate experience to help unpack complicated feelings on family and the immigrant experience.” This book will help others have more compassion for their elders as well as themselves. I can’t wait to read more from @susanlieu !

This is a beautiful story about grief, about intergenerational trauma, about family relations. I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. I would love to see one of Lieu's shows one day!

Memoirs are hard for me to review. They are so personal to the author, and the reader can only hope to learn and/or empathize. I struggled to finish Lieu's debut. It was repetitive and I had a hard time relating to the author. I found the whiny, self-absorbed tone grating.

That said, there were some very interesting, and at times, harrowing refugee and immigration stories. How her parents escaped with her and her siblings was nothing less than amazing. Learning some of their cultural ways was eye-opening, especially in regards to the love of food alongside continual body shaming. There were also some glaring cultural differences as to how people process grief and healing.

I want to thank Celadon Books and NetGalley for advancing an eCopy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this memoir! It provided rich descriptions of the author's Vietnamese heritage; from food, to traditions, and even the language, which really helped the reader feel immersed in the culture and experiences. The grief was palpable but Lieu channeled thise emotions into what was ultimately an uplifting story about strength + finding one's own way. Overall, a string debut. Looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really didn’t think a book could impact me like this one did. Susan tells her story about losing her mother abruptly and the life she lead after that loss. Her grief and anguish through the years were very clear and there were times I was tearing up while reading along. When she made peace with her father, I had such a big smile that my face hurt. I feel like any of us who have unsolved issues with our fathers could completely understand the peace that would provide.

Reading this one promoted me to read more about Susan. I watched a TedTALK by her that I really needed to hear (How to Make Peace with Your Belly Fat) and I have her solo performance saved to my bookmarks. Her being a fellow Seattlite is also an added plus 😉

Highly recommend this book. I can’t say enough good things about it!

I read The Manicurist’s Daughter: A Memoir by Susan Lieu and I loved this one! This book is based on the author’s 2019 one-woman show — 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother — as she delves into her Vietnamese American family’s refugee experience and her mother’s untimely death at the hands of an uninsured plastic surgeon. ⁣This book is compelling and captivating and I am now Susan Lieu’s biggest fan!! Plus, her audiobook narration work is fantastic!!

I enjoyed Susan Lieu’s story. Her story was interesting and I’m glad she wrote The Manicurist’s Daughter. There will be a lot of people with similar stories and this will let them know they aren’t alone.

I am a huge fan of memoirs and this one definitely had the emotional impact I look for in a good memoir.

The author was raw, courageous, and brutally honest. I loved the way she incorporated so much about the Vietnamese culture.

The writing was done beautifully and I found Lieu to be such a talented story teller. Her journey through grief felt very relatable.

4 stars.*

I downloaded this one and promptly forgot about it. I'm so glad I found it!

The Manicurist's Daughter is a memoir of a woman seeking answers years after her mother, a Vietnamese immigrant who built a successful nail salon business, dies of complications during plastic surgery.

It is a story of familial love, seeking mother-love, self-awareness, and roots.

I loved Susan Lieu's voice and her honesty and willigness to dig into the really difficult parts of her family history are remarkable.

One of my favorite memoir of 2024.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I wish I had been able to listen to this one versus reading (although the cover art is absolutely fantastic). It felt like Susan was telling you her story over coffee, which is exactly how a memoir should feel. I love that she spared no detail of family dynamics and drama.

The manicurist’s daughter by Susan Lieu was a complicated book for me. While I usually enjoy memoirs, I found myself disliking Susan in the beginning while still feeling compelled to read her memoir. Perhaps we grew up with the same type of family but had different responses and her response was so unlike mine that I couldn’t help but share some of the same sentiments as her siblings and relatives. I think Cậu Chín summed it up really well when he said that she was stubborn and created some of her own problems. At times, she did come off as whiny and as a dog with a bone that she just wouldn’t let go of. I’m happy I decided to finish this book even though I wanted to put it down so many times. I’m happy to see that Susan found a balance, not only with her family but with herself. She found peace. Her story reminds me that everyone copes with their problems differently and that just because someone’s grief/coping doesn’t look like yours, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Everyone needs the time and freedom to deal with their problems, but also love and support, (and sometimes a reality check).

This was such an emotional roller coaster! Besides being incredibly well written, the story was moving and told in an engaging way.

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to seeing what is next for them. I enjoyed the writing style as well as their attention to detail that made the characters pop and the story come to life. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. A story of grief, trauma and how we see ourselves. A story that is emotional and just trying to find your place in this world. It will open your mind to different cultures and how you view it. I enjoyed how the characters are relateable, connectable and a determination like no other. They kept the story engaging and had me turning pages fast. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the story. This is an easy and entertaining story that you don't want to miss. A fast paced story that is not soon forgotten. I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book.

I felt that premise of this book was incredibly important, unattainable beauty standards that women face and the pressures of community. However, despite understanding the importance of the premise, I found myself struggling to stay invested in the story. This may be a me problem as many others seem to have connected with this book.

Thank you Celadon Books for the opportunity to review this arc.

Didn’t ever click for me which is too and because it seemed totally up my alley. I tried so many times but alas. Thank you for the copy to review!