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Book club questions for “Sunshine Nails” by Mai Nguyen explore the themes of family, resilience, and the challenges of gentrification in this heartwarming debut novel.
This touching debut novel had me hooked from the start. I loved following the journey of the Tran family, Vietnamese refugees running a cozy nail salon in Toronto. The way they tackled the challenges of gentrification while staying true to their roots was simply heartwarming.
Can’t wait to discuss it with my book club and hear what everyone else thinks.
This post contains the book club questions for Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen for discussion with your book club. At the bottom of the post, I have also attached the book club questions in a downloadable PDF for your convenience.
I hope you find it useful! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
About the Story
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen is a heartwarming and engaging debut novel that follows the story of the Tran family, Vietnamese refugees living in Toronto, who run a modest nail salon.
Their world is turned upside down when a glitzy chain salon opens across the street, threatening their livelihood. With their business at risk and tensions rising, they unite to protect their family and salon from the challenges of gentrification.
The novel beautifully explores the complexities of immigrant experiences and the strength of community bonds. With a touch of humor and tender moments, “Sunshine Nails” is a captivating tale of family, resilience, and the power of unity.
About the Author
Meet Mai Nguyen, the author of “Sunshine Nails” published by Atria Books and Simon & Schuster Canada. She’s a talented non-fiction writer whose work has been featured in renowned publications such as Wired, Washington Post, Marie Claire, Maclean’s, and Toronto Star, among others.
With two National Magazine Award nominations under her belt, Mai holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University. Originally from Winnipeg and raised in Halifax, she now resides in Toronto.
By the way, her name is pronounced like “My Nwin.”
Book Club Questions for Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
I have also attached a free printable PDF of the book club questions for Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen at the bottom of this post!✨
- The Tran family faces challenges with the opening of a high-end chain salon across the street from “Sunshine Nails.” How did you feel about the Tran family’s response to this threat to their business? Were their actions justified, and did you sympathize with their predicament?
- Gentrification is a prominent theme in the novel. How does the author explore this topic through the lens of the Tran family’s nail salon? How does their immigrant experience add depth to the narrative?
- Each member of the Tran family has their own struggles and desires. Which character’s perspective did you connect with the most, and why? How did their individual storylines contribute to the overall narrative?
- Relationships are put to the test as the Tran family faces challenges. How did you feel about the conflicts that arose between family members? Were there moments where you found yourself torn between understanding their actions and disagreeing with them?
- What were your initial thoughts about Savannah, the owner of Take Ten?
- The Tran Family consists of two generations—the parents, Debbie and Phil, and their adult children, Jessica and Dustin, along with their niece, Thuy. How does each generation differ in their values, beliefs, and aspirations?
- Humor is sprinkled throughout the novel, providing several lighthearted moments. Which scenes made you laugh the most, and how did they contribute to your perception of the characters?
- Explore the significance of the golden Buddha statue at the salon to the Tran family. What symbolic meaning do you think it holds for them?
- At the beginning of the story, both Dustin and Jessica seem to lack direction. How do their characters evolve and mature as the plot unfolds?
- Compare Phil and Debbie’s approaches to resolving the family’s financial challenges. Did one of them appear more drastic or extreme to you? Why?
- Jessica’s high school friendships play a crucial role throughout the narrative, impacting the conflicts between Sunshine Nails and Take Ten. Discuss the significance of these relationships and how they evolve as the story progresses.
- Thuy’s decision to work at Take Ten is pivotal in the plot. Share your thoughts on her choice and the events that influenced her decision.
- Although the story is set in Toronto, does SUNSHINE NAILS possess universal themes that could apply to any other city? Explain your reasoning.
- The novel explores themes of loyalty, love, and forgiveness. How do these themes manifest in the story, and what lessons do the characters learn throughout their journey?
- The author delves into cultural identity and the immigrant experience through the Tran family’s background. How did the portrayal of Vietnamese traditions, food, and customs enrich the storytelling?
- Debbie and Phil Tran’s journey as Vietnamese refugees is a significant part of the story. How did their past experiences shape their present-day decisions and the way they approached challenges?
- “Sunshine Nails” features multiple points of view, offering insights into each family member’s thoughts and feelings. Did this storytelling approach enhance your reading experience? How did it contribute to your understanding of the characters and their motivations?
- The novel touches on the undercurrent of racism in society. How do you think the Tran family’s experiences as immigrants reflect broader issues related to racism and discrimination?
- Each character brings a unique perspective to the story. Did you find yourself relating to any particular character? If so, who and why?
- Reflect on your emotional response to the conclusion of the book. What do you believe the Tran family learned throughout their journey? Are you satisfied with the resolutions for each family member?
- Overall, what did you think of “Sunshine Nails”? Did you enjoy the light-hearted yet impactful narrative, and what were your favorite aspects of the book?
Selected Reviews for Sunshine Nails
“Nguyen debuts with a glittering story of a family nail salon in Toronto…Nguyen imbues her characters with humanity and nuance, making hay from all their imperfections. Readers are in for a treat.”—Publishers Weekly
“Sunshine Nails manages to be lighthearted and funny while it also shrewdly addresses complex topics, like gentrification and anti-Asian racism. I loved the Tran family and their bright, compelling story.” —Emily Austin, author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
“Filled with heart and humor, Sunshine Nails is an insightful, moving story with striking depth, taking on gentrification, family expectations, and generational differences. You will be rooting for the Tran family through every risk and sacrifice they make to save their salon, and ultimately themselves. Mai Nguyen has proven herself to be a real standout.” —Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Carrie Soto is Back
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed the book club discussion questions and reading guide for Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen!
Here are some more of my book club recommendations related to this book:
Bad Summer People by Adrienne Brodeur
None of them would claim to be a particularly good person. But who among them is actually capable of murder?
Jen Weinstein and Lauren Parker rule the town of Salcombe, Fire Island every summer. They hold sway on the beach and the tennis court, and are adept at manipulating people to get what they want. Their husbands, Sam and Jason, have summered together on the island since childhood, despite lifelong grudges and numerous secrets.
Their one single friend, Rachel Woolf, is looking to meet her match, whether he’s the tennis pro―or someone else’s husband. But even with plenty to gossip about, this season starts out as quietly as any other.
Until a body is discovered, face down, off the side of the boardwalk.
Stylish, subversive, and darkly comedic, this is a story of what’s lurking under the surface of picture-perfect lives in a place where everyone has something to hide.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
In this spellbinding debut novel, two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family’s library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection—a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power.
For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements—books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.
All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna’s isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .
In the great tradition of Ninth House, The Magicians, and Practical Magic, this is a suspenseful and richly atmospheric novel that draws readers into a vast world filled with mystery and magic, romance, and intrigue—and marks the debut of an extraordinary new voice in speculative fiction.
My Magnolia Summer by Victoria Benton Frank
Escape to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where family bonds and hidden secrets run deep. In this gripping tale of self-discovery, Victoria Benton Frank introduces us to Maggie, struggling to find her place in the world when she receives a phone call bringing her back to her hometown of Sullivan’s Island.
In New York City winter never seems to loosen its hold and for South Carolina transplant Maggie (born Magnolia after the fairest summer flower) the balmy beach weather of April back home on Sullivan’s Island feels like a distant memory. Until a phone call from her sister, Violet, changes everything.
Gran, the treasured matriarch, has fallen into a coma after a car accident caused by Maggie’s troubled mother, Lily. But once Maggie returns, she finds that her hometown of Sullivan’s Island holds even more secrets. The Magic Lantern, the restaurant owned and run by generations of women in her family, is now rudderless, and her sister seems headed for a savage breakup.
Once she is between the marsh grasses and dunes of South Carolina, she feels herself changing like the Atlantic tides, rediscovering the roots she left behind, and a new and different version of herself—one who can see how a minor crash into the back of a very handsome farmer’s truck may become fortunate. Or perhaps it’s even… fate?
When the three generations of South Carolina women join forces—the family pillar Gran, troubled Lily, impulsive Violet, and redoubtable Maggie—anything is possible.
With stunning descriptions of the magic of the Lowcountry, this novel will transport you to a world of treasured family traditions and unexpected twists of fate.
Happy reading! ❤️