Pick a Color: A Novel

by Souvankham Thammavongsa

From Giller Prize and O. Henry Award winner Souvankham Thammavongsa comes a revelatory novel about loneliness, love, labor, and class, an intimate and sharply written book following a nail salon owner as she toils away for the privileged clients who don't even know her true name.

“I live in a world of Susans. I got name tags for everyone who works at this nail salon, and on every one is printed the name 'Susan.'"

Ning is a retired boxer, but to the customers who visit her nail salon, she is just another worker named Susan. On this summer's day, much like any other, the Susans buff and clip and polish and tweeze. They listen and smile and nod. But beneath this superficial veneer, Ning is a woman of rigorous intellect and profound complexity. A woman enthralled by the intricacy and rhythms of her work, but also haunted by memories of paths not taken and opportunities lost. A woman navigating the complex power dynamics among her fellow Susans, whose greatest fears and desires lie just behind the gossip they exchange.

As the day's work grinds on, the friction between Ning's two identities—as anonymous manicurist and brilliant observer of her own circumstances—will gather electric and crackling force, and at last demand a reckoning with the way the world of privilege looks at a woman like Ning.

Told over a single day with razor-sharp precision and wit, Pick a Color confirms Souvankham Thammavongsa's place as literature's premier chronicler of the immigrant experience, in its myriad, complex, and slyly subversive forms.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Canada, Adult, Adult Fiction, Aapi

Audible Audio

First published September 30, 2025

About the author

Souvankham Thammavongsa is the author of four poetry books, and the short story collection HOW TO PRONOUNCE KNIFE, won the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize and and was New York Times Editors' Choice, out now with McClelland & Stewart (Canada), Little, Brown (U.S.), and Bloomsbury (U.K.). Her stories have won an O. Henry Award and appeared in Harper's Magazine, The Paris Review, The Atlantic, Granta, NOON, Journey Prize Stories 2016, Best American Nonrequired Reading 2018, and O. Henry Prize Stories 2019. She was born in the Lao refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, and was raised and educated in Toronto where she now lives.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the inverse of my new favorite trend (authors writing a great novel and then a sophomore short story collection)

(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Mai H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the cover, to the subject matter, to the Southeast Asian rep, I knew this would hit. Even though I'm Vietnamese American and Souvankham is Laotian Canadian, there is something so deeply intrinsic in our shared stories.

This isn't a memoir. And it doesn't have to be. But the familiarity of nail salons, racism, and unhappiness really grated me. And spoke to me. This is a bit of a short read, and yet, it packs a large punch. I keep meaning to read HOW TO PRONOUNCE KNIFE, and now I'll move it up the tbr.

📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Little, Brown and Company

[Ian Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and insightful character study, and a gentle exploration of the immigrant experience. Full of warmth, humour, and perceptive observations of human behaviour and identity, while also exploring isolation and otherness.

Ning has several roles: she is boss and mentor in her small nail bar, she is an ex-boxer, she is an immigrant, she is a friend, she is part of a community, and she is alone. These roles overlap and interact as the story is told over the period of a single day in her nail bar.

It is quiet and slow-paced, but powerful and reflective.

There is a theme of segregation and separation. Ning requires that all of the women working in the nail bar wear black, have their hair cut in the same style, and have “Susan” on their name badges. So they become invisible and interchangeable to their customers. And while they speak English to their customers, they talk between themselves in their own language - often in front of, and about, those same customers. They are all seasoned observers of people’s wants and needs, as a variety of people come and go throughout the day. But they stand apart from them.

And Ning separates herself from the women working for her in the nail bar. She is an ex-boxer and it’s unclear why she left boxing, but her ex-coach has left a powerful legacy on how she relates to other people - showing no vulnerability that could be taken advantage of. Even so, the relationships amongst the women are supportive and have moments of tenderness. And while Ning stands alone, she also craves a closeness that she won’t allow herself, and denies that she needs.

Is the whole book a a metaphor for the immigrant experience? With the “Susans”, there is sense of segregation, but with a common bond; with Ning, her prior life as a boxer leaves her with a cultural legacy that has no context in the world she now inhabits.

Or perhaps it’s just a story about a group of women who work in a nail bar.

Thank you #NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the free review copy of #PickaColour without obligation. All opinions are my own.

This review also on TikTok

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re a woman of a certain age, there is almost zero chance you haven’t experienced Anjelah Johnson’s comedy routine about the nail salon . . .



I was allllll ovvvvver snagging what I thought was the flipside of this bit told from the manicurist’s perspective (and because I’m an idiot, I also couldn’t remember if this was fiction or nonfiction before starting and y’all know your girl don’t read no blurbs to figure it out). Spoiler alert: it was fiction. And I looooooooved the interactions between the employees and also the owner feeling the need to be a bit of a hard ass in order to keep her shop afloat . . . . but then there was all the boxing bullshit and the missing finger and booooooooooooooooooooo! Let me get to know the "Susans" more or give me more insider info of watering down bottles of polish with thinner in order to save some money or how Karen-y the Karen customers can be - not this crappy sidestory that wasn’t even necessary.

2.5 Stars

[Jeanie ~ MyFairytaleLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this sometimes funny and sometimes heartbreaking look at a day in the life of a shop owner. If you’ve ever had a pedicure and the workers are speaking in a language you don’t speak and they are laughing, they’re likely laughing at you! Ning works hard and her shop is her whole life. Her “Susan’s” feel like family, but they are not. Both her sense of humor and her loneliness come through in this unique story.

Thank you to @netgalley and @souvankhamthammavongsa for an ARC of this gem! I’m excited to get my hands on an audiobook copy when it’s released.

[Liz Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sharp commentary on visibility, or rather, invisibility

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Pick a Color” by Souvankham Thammavongsa is an entertaining novel that takes place in one day at a nail salon. It’s a powerful story told through the eyes of the owner who has journeyed from boxing, to abused nail tech employee, to owning her own salon. The insight into how the customers are treated as well as the immigrant point of view is stunning. The inside discussions in a foreign language where the customers cant understand were disturbing but perhaps honest, as we really see how the customers treat their technicians. Honestly, for me this was quite an eye opener and I think it will be the same for anyone who has visited a nail salon. A slice of life from an immigrant perspective. A very good read!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[BAM who is Beth Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Provably 2.5

I mean, the book was fine, but it never really landed for me. Ning is clearly meant to be a complex character — a former boxer turned nail stylist — but I never quite understood her. The toughness we’re told she once had doesn’t line up with how submissive and uncertain she is with Rachel, and the disconnect made it hard to believe her or root for her.

The story felt more like a sketch than a full portrait: I could see what Thammavongsa was trying to do — a study of identity, power, and transformation — but Ning never came alive as a real person. And the ending seemed designed as a full-circle moment, but since I’d never felt truly connected to Ning, it didn’t land emotionally. Beautifully written in parts, but overall it just fell flat for me.

[Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this book was contained in one setting (the nail shop) with limited little calls to memories and experience outside of the shop. The interior world of the main character is interesting and complex, yet I love how simplistic and clear the prose is.
I felt immersed in the world of the nail shop, their interactions in another language, the sameness that is expected of The Susan’s and how these prototype visuals feed into the expectations that people might have of immigrants working in the service industry..
This book was highly observed and very compelling.. I wanted to read more depth other characters and especially the relationship with the other salon, I felt that could’ve been developed more. It. Says a lot that I was sad to get to the end of this book, I would’ve loved a few more chapters.

N.B this book was kindly provided as an advanced copy from Netgalley

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

maybe even a 4.5. i could've read way more of this 😭

[Elena L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ning is a manicurist of a nail salon who has two identities. In this salon, all workers are named 'Susan' and they have the same appearance and behavior.

Thammavongsa delivers a quiet yet powerful character study - Ning is a brilliant observer which through her eyes we analyze human identity and behavior. By touching on immigrant experience, the story exposes how the society is often in need of approval and affected by loneliness, segregation, otherness and love.

The women (workers) have distinct relationships that demand one to read deeper - the observation on the details, the skin, nail,... makes one, alongside the characters, feel alive besides solely trauma. One will try to find some meaning and at the same time, can contemplate one's own fragility.

This book is mostly vibes and while I appreciate the small joys, the execution feels quite elusive, acquiring a meandering touch that can feel distracting. I recognize the author's attempt to add texture to Ning's contemplation through her identities, however the exploration of the other identity feels under developed. I think the characterization is the highlight of this novel, yet the slice-of-life glimpses kept me at arm's length.

PICK A COLOR is a reflective novel that will benefit those who enjoy reading between the lines.

[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Little Brown . All thoughts are my own]

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when an author is able to take a simple thing and give it depth. This book follows a single day in the life of a nail salon owner. It was funny, sad, warm, and lonely all at the same time. I love the concept of 'the Susan's' and how all the different customers are described. I like the snippets of Ning's life that we get exposed to: her boxing career, her previous jobs, etc. I also loved the writing style, as it made the book super bingeable.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short read at under 200 pages, but it lingers. This story follows a day in the life of a nail salon owner, but it’s about so much more than that.

Thammavongsa cleverly plays into the familiar stereotypes, the quiet suspicion that the staff are talking about you, the small talk, the way the workers are seen as interchangeable. They’re all called 'Susan', expected to look the same and act the same, because that’s more comfortable for the customer.

But beneath the surface is a sharp, layered exploration of identity, invisibility, and what it means to be overlooked while being in plain sight (mentioned as a missing finger quite a lot!).

Funny, uncomfortable, and quietly powerful, this book lets you in on the joke, and then makes you question why you ever laughed.

[Uta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this e-arc!

This is my second book by this author and once again a riveting piece of deep reflection, awareness and all together thought-provoking.

The story takes place over a day in a nail salon through the eyes of the owner Ning who reflects on her life, her workers and her daily experiences with customers.

Thammavongsa’s writing is beautiful in weaving themes that are palpable off the pages. Masterfully weaving together themes of love, loneliness, labour and class its that story you cannot look away from and one that will perhaps stay with you for a long time. The intimacy of Ning’s viewpoint and experience was captured so descriptively and was also emotionally charged. Thammavongsa’s humour shown through even in such a story to me that felt like a slow heartbreak of memories, life now and the unpredictability of the future.

Short, thought-provoking and insightful read all together!

Happy Reading!

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sparse novel that takes place over a single day in a nail salon. Beneath the simplicity lies a surprisingly intimate and emotional portrait of the narrator that could only be accomplished by a skilled writer like Souvankham Thammavongsa. I will be very surprised if this book is not shortlisted for the Giller.

[Paul Lemcke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thinking, as a guy, I'm reading a novel about a day in a nail salon, so this book is obviously not written for me. But it's really not about a beauty salon, but about what it's like to work closely with a group of like-minded people who provide a service to the public. Lots of inside jokes and nasty comments that will never be heard by the client because they don't speak (presumably) Thai. Lots of sexual innuendos that give the manicurists something to laugh at. The owner, Ning, is a retired boxer so she finds plenty of parallels between boxing and running the salon. In the end, this was just an entertaining read, and it didn't feel like chick-lit to me.

[Sheila Garry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A day in a nail salon. Told from the manicurists point of view. She didn’t have much to say and I didn’t learn anything I hadn’t already guessed.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella follows Ning, a retired female boxer who now runs a nail salon. Set over the course of a single day, it traces the course of Ning's repetitive life as she listens to her customers' problems, observes what their fingers, toes and faces say about them, and gossips secretly with her employees in their own language. I don't have a great deal to say about this one. I very much admired Souvankham Thammavongsa's short story collection, How To Pronounce Knife, and so I wonder if she's simply stronger in short form. While I do traditionally struggle with novellas, I don't think that was the problem here. Pick A Colour certainly didn't need to be any longer; indeed, I was glad that Thammavongsa didn't give everything away, letting us fill in the gaps about why Ning might have left boxing and why she has a missing finger. But although it's well-written, I found it forgettable even as I was reading.

I received a free proof copy of this novella from the publisher for review.

[ReadThruTheNight · Rating 5 out of 5]

To her clients, Ning is simply Susan, a nail salon worker, concealing her past as a retired boxer. On this summer day, the Susans meticulously attend to their clients, listening, smiling, and nodding, while Ning's intellect and complexity remain hidden beneath the surface. As she navigates the intricate web of relationships among her fellow Susans, Ning's dual identities will eventually collide, sparking a confrontation that challenges the way the privileged world views a woman like Ning. With precision and wit, Pick a Color illustrates the intricacies and complexities of being an immigrant in SUCH a brilliant way. Five stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that is so simple — a day at a nail salon, told from the perspective of the salon’s owner — that it requires perfect execution. And Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa is exquisitely executed. Short and subtle, with every word feeling carefully chosen to create the atmosphere of the salon and the character of Ning, who in the salon is called Susan by her customers, and her staff, who are also called Susan by their customers.

I was really moved by this novel. I found it so poignant and thoughtful, from the power dynamics between the “Susans” and their customers to those between Ning and the rest of her employees. The hints of Ning’s past life as a boxer add depth to the story, and the push and pull between her life in the salon, her self outside of it, and the stories she makes up for banal conversation with the clients are so interesting.

Souvankham Thammavongsa is a brilliant writer; I enjoyed her short story collection How to Pronounce Knife a few years ago, and after this debut novel I’ll definitely be looking forward to whatever she writes next.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in a single day, we learn about Ning’s life as a former boxer and her current job as a nail salon owner. It’s both funny and poignant. From waxing, threading, manicures and pedicures, it always starts with Pick a Color.

I didn’t like how all the workers in the salon dressed the same (all black), had the same haircut, and all went by the name Susan. For customers it meant their nail tech was always there but It implies they are all the same and interchangeable.

I also didn’t like that the workers spoke about the customers, right in front of them, but in their native language. I’ve seen it happen and I often wonder “Are they talking about me?”

The story felt realistic. I LOVED the cover.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quiet story that takes place over just one day in a nail salon, the characters are believable, and full of feeling, even when not much is being said out loud.

I really liked the single-day narrative and the setting in the nail salon, not that I spend a lot of time in nail salons like these but I've been a couple times and now I shall wonder if they are talking smack about their customers! The author did a great job touching on identity, beauty, and the immigrant experience without being heavy handed.

[Maddie Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not read this if you’ve ever been fearful that your nail tech is talking about you

[Phoebe Odell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A far too long short story.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️’s

[Bron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a master class in subtlety. It’s full of small, memorable details that hint at the nuance of owning a business, employing people, working with customers, and experiencing prejudice. I was expecting something loud and mocking, perhaps a run through of outrageous client interactions, but what I experienced instead was a collection of moments, an entire business day, actually, that portrayed the main character’s life so much better than I could have imagined. There’s technique to be found in elevating the mundane to create meaning and I’m here for it.

[Gracie Kunik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a day in the life of a nail salon owner and I found it so fascinating as a snapshot of the different people they encounter throughout the day in terms of a people watching thing but also just about the immigrant experience. Also felt very melancholic and also a little gay yearn-y which was random but girl I’m not complaining!!!


Before reading: Judging a book by its cover has never felt so right (just got approved for this ARC)

[Nicole]

A slice of life novel from a person we encounter everyday but don’t take the time to truly consider. Our main character is fully realized with her chosen family of employees at her nail salon and brief flashbacks to her life before she opened her shop. We’re offered a taut, compelling peak into this single day at the salon from open to close & by the end of the day I was wishing I could visit.

[jarica · Rating 2 out of 5]

wasn’t really a fan of the writing style

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punchy writing. Astute observations. Not a plot heavy novel - it takes place in a nail salon over the course of a single work day. When the salon techs speak in their own language, that their clients don't understand, they're wickedly funny, gossiping about the foibles and the privilege of their clients. While written all in English, the shift of when they're speaking to a client vs each other is made apparent.

There's a lot left unsaid by the narrator, salon owner, Ning. She's caustic one moment, kind the next. There's inferred trauma. How did she get into boxing and why did she switch careers. Why is she missing a finger. Why is she alone?

Follow up to her 2020 Giller Prize winning short story collection How to Pronounce Knife, Souvankham Thammavongsa may likely be picked to win this year's Giller Prize with Pick a Colour and deservedly so.

"Clients like it when you've got some man to complain about. Does it work? Keeps them off my back. They don't know what to make of a woman alone, and content. Weird, they say. It's how people think."

"Looking at the two of us, them sitting on a chair above me, and me down low, you'd think I'm not in charge. But I am. I know everything about them, whether or not they tell me. You look at something long enough, and you begin to see everything in its details. And you'd be surprised what people tell you when they think you are a stranger And they are never going to see you again."