Recap of salon book club with Susan Lieu at Glowy

What if the most powerful book club wasn’t in a library—but in a nail salon?

Recently Stories from the Beauty Parlor transformed Glowy Nails in Berlin into a living, breathing book club space—building on something that has always existed there: conversation.

Beauty salons have long been more than service spaces. They are female-led (and used) third spaces where stories are exchanged, identities negotiated, and communities quietly built. Places where female self care meets politics, and personal stories reveal shared struggles and resilience.

Inspired by this, our global book club read Susan Lieu's book "The Manicurist Daughter" whose stories explore family, migration, and the legacy of Vietnamese nail salon labor. The author herself even joined us online all the way from the US sharing with the Vietnamese-German founder of the Glowy salon making this special book evening so special.

In a world where so much community has moved online, and the distrust in big institutions is growing, these vibrant, physical spaces matter more than ever. They remind us that some of the most important discussions don't require a stage—just a circle of trust. The question isn’t how to "create" community.  It’s how to recognize and nurture the ones already there.

Special thanks to Maria Sturm (@maria__sturm) for capturing these beautiful moments!