Sunshine Nails

A Novel

By: Mai Nguyen

Narrated by: Carolina Ðo, David Lee Huynh, Quyen Ngo, Vyvy Nguyen, Trieu Tran

This “insightful, moving story with striking depth” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author) follows a Vietnamese Canadian family in Toronto who will do anything to protect their no-frills nail salon after a new high-end salon opens up—even if it tears the family apart.

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. 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 devise some good old-fashioned sabotage. Relationships are put to the test as the line between right and wrong gets blurred. Debbie and Phil must choose: do they keep their family intact or fight for their salon?

“Sharp, witty, and warmhearted, [Mai] Nguyen’s debut tackles gentrification, small business ownership, prejudice in the workplace, and—most importantly—the depth of familial ties, and the power of a good manicure” (Shelf Awareness).

Very relatable

Great read and very relatable for Asian Americans. Loved the story line and the narrators did well in conveying the story.

Easy listen

Not much really happens in the story. And character development not awesome. Very superficial knowledge of each character

Loved It!

Awesome from start to finish.
Good story line of everyday life the narrators did a wonderful job.
I truly loved it!

Great Characters

I loved this wonderful story about immigrants trying to live the American dream. The characters were well developed. This book had a good ending but I would like a continuation of this story, and isn’t that what a great book does - has you thinking about the characters long after the book has ended. The narrators were fantastic. More, by this author and narrators, please.

Read It!

I really enjoyed the story. Sometimes simple everyday life IS a beautiful story. Loved the narrator's and their characters.