SUNSHINE NAILS is a character-focused tale of the Trans, a Vietnamese-Canadian family, led by husband and wife Phil and Debbie and consisting of siblings Jessica and Dustin, as well as their cousin Thuy. What’s most striking about this novel is the character work that went into it. The characters feel fleshed out, believable, and real. The only exception is Phil and Debbie’s niece Thuy; I was initially intrigued by Thuy and her perspective on things, being that she recently emigrated to Canada to work in Phil and Debbie’s nail salon. As the story progresses, though, Thuy falls by the wayside and doesn’t get enough development, especially compared to the other characters. 

SUNSHINE NAILS talks about the harmful nature of white guilt, especially its impact on small businesses, specifically those run by immigrants and those in other marginalized groups. I found this to be poignant and precise, and it definitely made me take a step back and reflect. This novel also confronts the question: What is the American Dream and who is it for? SUNSHINE NAILS mixes societal commentary on gentrification, the American Dream, and “subtle” racism with humor and evolving family dynamics through brevity and quick pacing.