This impressive novel shows how war, colonialism and migration play out in a small room where everyone's name tag says Susan . . . There are developing moments of sympathy and even affection . . . and beautifully understated sadness . . . Highly crafted, layered and clever

Sarah Moss, Guardian

Exceptional . . . A compact novel which prioritises atmosphere . . . The vibes are as immaculate as the manicures provided within . . . Outlines the ordinary in incandescent detail . . . A ferocity bubbles underneath the story's sleek surface . . . In these subtle societal observations, the novel reads as quietly revolutionary, and its well-crafted characters and impeccable prose distinguish Thammavongsa as a particularly thrilling talent . . . A winner of numerous awards, this work suggests further high-profile accolades in her future . . . She is one to watch, and this debut is a certifiable knockout

Laura Cassidy, Irish Examiner

Bitey . . . Lets us into the secret yet ubiquitous world of nail salons, skilfully opening up the experience of those who work there . . . Thammavongsa captures the role of beauty salons as modern confessionals . . . There's darkness laced into the mundane comings and goings . . . Richly observational, this us-versus-them tale illuminates a rarely seen slice of life

Ceci Browning, The Times

A taut, tricksy novel . . . A feat of economy . . . Thammavongsa treats us to a buffet of minor characters … The author's strategy is subtle but assured . . . Punches above its weight. Thammavongsa's minimalism conveys a range of tones and psychological nuances as she grapples with the stubborn prejudices of class. She feints like a prize fighter, tipping in clues to her protagonist's past . . . Pick a Colour expands beyond the frame of a character study, but on its own terms, beholden to no reader's expectation . . . Wily and caustic, the book condemns petty Western narcissisms yet allows for bursts of radiance

Hamilton Cain, Washington Post

Tender and funny . . . With a poet's power to help us see anew, Thammavongsa illuminates the humour and joy of this workaday life, exchanging class clichés for the glow of dignity and the human mystery

Michael LaPointe, TLS, Books of the Year

The author of the short-story collection How to Pronounce Knife returns with a knockout first novel . . . Thammavongsa's minimalism draws a cutting distinction between her savvy characters and the vapid customers who seek manicures, pedicures and facials, flipping scripts on race and class supremacy. The Susans speak truths in a tight, beautiful narrative, striking with a cobra's coiled energy

Hamilton Cain, Time, The 100 Must-Read Books of 2025