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Sunshine Nails

Sunshine Nails, by Mai Nguyen, tells the story of the Vietnamese Tran family and their nail salon as they facing the rising rents and sneaky new competition from rapid gentrification in Toronto. When an upscale new salon opens right across the street, running shady new promotions that echo Sunshine Nails’ promos, just with a higher budget, the Trans all try to find ways to save their salon.

As I read the novel, I had the overall vibe that things would work out well for the Trans, but I didn’t see exactly how. I overall knew they weren’t going to lose all their money to the massive rent hikes, or the gambling, loan sharks or blackmail schemes the Trans come up with to get back on top of their increased rents and reduced customers, but I didn’t see any clear path to keeping the salon open.

Through the Tran family’s struggles and setbacks, the novel addresses gentrification and immigrant experiences, but the overall mood is somehow more of a comedy. Some of their plans to save the salon and the family have a heist movie feel, which keeps a lighter tone, even with very realistic dangers for the family business. Father Phil is certain he can win enough money through gambling to pay off the back rent, despite some pretty dramatic losing streaks. Of course, he’ll have to risk the money they do have… Meanwhile, mother Debbie stumbles into a certain shocking secret that will make great blackmail.

But Sunshine Nail isn’t entirely a comedy. The book also reveals the reasons Debbie and Phil had to leave Vietnam, and there’s an constant awareness of the culture gap between the parents and the kids. in this family. The book also shows the struggles their niece Thuy faces trying to establish herself in Toronto while her family back is sure she’s making loads of cash and should be helping them more. And almost anywhere we look, affordable housing and shopping is gentrifying into expensive neighborhoods and chains.

There were a few moments that felt too heavy-handed, like a huge neighborhood protest to save a beautiful old building, or daughter Jessica suddenly discovering her passion for nails and her latent dream of opening her own salon. I wanted a little more from Jessica’s story arc, partly because her boomerang storyline and her relationship mistakes were so interesting. For me, these slightly forced moments detracted a bit from the overall story, but it’s still a fun read and a timely novel.

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Steve Tracey says:

July 31, 2024 at 10:40 am

Thanks for another fine review. I loved this novel with its acetone-sharp satire and exploration of themes of gentrification and generational expectations. I agree it resolved too tidily, but the sunniness didn't bother me, it's there in the title I suppose. This was a great listen on audiobook.