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The Shampoo Effect
READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY
“Funny, drama-fueled, and full of Jackson’s breezy wit. . . Brilliant.” —Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Sisters
“The platonic ideal of a beach read.” —The New York Times
An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship, from the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
“Funny, drama-fueled, and full of Jackson’s breezy wit. . . Brilliant.” —Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Sisters
“The platonic ideal of a beach read.” —The New York Times
An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship, from the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Jenny Jackson
2 books2,112 followersJenny Jackson is the author of The Shampoo Effect, a Read with Jenna pick, and Pineapple Street, a New York Times bestseller and Good Morning America pick. A graduate of Williams College and the Columbia Publishing Course, Jenny is Vice President and Editorial Director of Fiction at Alfred A. Knopf. She grew up in Ipswich, MA, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,641 reviews
July 5, 2026
Jenny Jackson’s The Shampoo Effect is one of those stories that starts off feeling light, almost deceptively so, and then quietly gets under your skin in the best possible way.
At the centre is Caroline, a woman trying to keep her life (and expectations) neatly in order—emphasis on trying. She’s dating Van, and at first it all feels promising, the kind of relationship that could actually go somewhere… until it very suddenly doesn’t. A couple of months in, Van drops the kind of news that completely unravels things: his ex—and best friend—is pregnant with his baby. And just like that, Caroline is no longer in the relationship she thought she was in, but in the emotional aftermath of it. And so we follow this love/friendship triangle as it unravels in messy, uncomfortable, and painfully human ways, where everyone insists they’re doing the “right thing” while things continue to fall apart in very predictable, very human fashion.
What follows is Caroline trying to navigate the fallout, her own feelings, and the awkward reality of watching someone else’s life-changing situation collide with her own expectations. There’s a quiet dry humour running through it all—the kind that doesn’t announce itself, but slips in through the cracks of conversations, missed signals, and people saying one thing while clearly meaning another. Everyone is, in their own way, slightly overwhelmed but determined to act like they’re absolutely fine.
The characters are brilliantly drawn—Caroline especially is someone you can’t help rooting for, even when her decisions make you want to gently question her life choices. Van is equally well-written in that frustratingly believable way, and the ex adds another layer of complication that turns everything upside down without ever feeling forced, or particularly tidy, which feels very intentional.
Genre-wise, it sits firmly in contemporary fiction with sharp emotional realism and understated humour, but it has a dry, observational edge that makes even the most chaotic moments feel oddly grounded.
What really stands out is Jenny Jackson’s writing. It’s sharp without being showy, funny in a restrained, understated way, and quietly observant in a way that catches you off guard. Nothing feels overdone, but everything lands exactly where it should.
And that’s really the magic of it—you think you’re just reading a straightforward story about relationships, and then suddenly you’re completely invested in Caroline’s world, willing things to work out for her even when they absolutely should not be working out at all.
A funny, honest, quietly devastating read that really gets under your skin and stays there.
At the centre is Caroline, a woman trying to keep her life (and expectations) neatly in order—emphasis on trying. She’s dating Van, and at first it all feels promising, the kind of relationship that could actually go somewhere… until it very suddenly doesn’t. A couple of months in, Van drops the kind of news that completely unravels things: his ex—and best friend—is pregnant with his baby. And just like that, Caroline is no longer in the relationship she thought she was in, but in the emotional aftermath of it. And so we follow this love/friendship triangle as it unravels in messy, uncomfortable, and painfully human ways, where everyone insists they’re doing the “right thing” while things continue to fall apart in very predictable, very human fashion.
What follows is Caroline trying to navigate the fallout, her own feelings, and the awkward reality of watching someone else’s life-changing situation collide with her own expectations. There’s a quiet dry humour running through it all—the kind that doesn’t announce itself, but slips in through the cracks of conversations, missed signals, and people saying one thing while clearly meaning another. Everyone is, in their own way, slightly overwhelmed but determined to act like they’re absolutely fine.
The characters are brilliantly drawn—Caroline especially is someone you can’t help rooting for, even when her decisions make you want to gently question her life choices. Van is equally well-written in that frustratingly believable way, and the ex adds another layer of complication that turns everything upside down without ever feeling forced, or particularly tidy, which feels very intentional.
Genre-wise, it sits firmly in contemporary fiction with sharp emotional realism and understated humour, but it has a dry, observational edge that makes even the most chaotic moments feel oddly grounded.
What really stands out is Jenny Jackson’s writing. It’s sharp without being showy, funny in a restrained, understated way, and quietly observant in a way that catches you off guard. Nothing feels overdone, but everything lands exactly where it should.
And that’s really the magic of it—you think you’re just reading a straightforward story about relationships, and then suddenly you’re completely invested in Caroline’s world, willing things to work out for her even when they absolutely should not be working out at all.
A funny, honest, quietly devastating read that really gets under your skin and stays there.
April 10, 2026
The Shampoo Effect - a big night of partying, followed up with a beer in the morning and being instantly drunk again, like the second squirt of shampoo produces oversized suds. This also applies to the dynamics of this friendship group that writer Caroline Lash joins when she arrives in Greenhead, where she falls for its New England charm as well as as for Van Whittaker. Despite the issues they have and of course, their decades long friendship, Caroline is determined that none of the groups antics will spoil her new romance. However, much as she might wish this when Bailey, Van’s ex on/off girlfriend of many years, discovers she’s pregnant with his baby, this could well wreck Caroline’s dreams.
Dysfunction thy name is this group! They really do the daftest, wildest things but that’s what makes this an entertaining read. It’s totally character driven and there are quite a few to wrap your head around but the author has created unique personalities making it easy to distinguish them. They all have something secretive they’ve buried in the New England sand but little by little they emerge. There’s nothing too earth shattering but that makes it a more authentic and realistic read. The dynamics are intriguing, the outsider in Caroline is the catalyst that throws things off but many tensions are pre-existing. The issues emerge quicker than they might without her.
I like the fact the novel is told from several points of view so their inner dialogue is clear and revealing. None of the adults are especially endearing but their offspring are. Of them all, Fran is probably my favourite character- she has a lot to deal with and I admire how she deals with her family issues.
One of the most enticing aspects of the book is the New England setting. It’s many years since I’ve been and it makes me want to jump on the next flight. It’s used most effectively in the storytelling.
Overall, I enjoy this latest novel from Jenny Jackson and the ending leaves me with a satisfied smile on my face.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K./Cornerstone for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Dysfunction thy name is this group! They really do the daftest, wildest things but that’s what makes this an entertaining read. It’s totally character driven and there are quite a few to wrap your head around but the author has created unique personalities making it easy to distinguish them. They all have something secretive they’ve buried in the New England sand but little by little they emerge. There’s nothing too earth shattering but that makes it a more authentic and realistic read. The dynamics are intriguing, the outsider in Caroline is the catalyst that throws things off but many tensions are pre-existing. The issues emerge quicker than they might without her.
I like the fact the novel is told from several points of view so their inner dialogue is clear and revealing. None of the adults are especially endearing but their offspring are. Of them all, Fran is probably my favourite character- she has a lot to deal with and I admire how she deals with her family issues.
One of the most enticing aspects of the book is the New England setting. It’s many years since I’ve been and it makes me want to jump on the next flight. It’s used most effectively in the storytelling.
Overall, I enjoy this latest novel from Jenny Jackson and the ending leaves me with a satisfied smile on my face.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K./Cornerstone for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Currently Reading
July 15, 2026
┊pre-read┊started july 14th
i've been anticipating this one for a while now! it sounds messyyy. it's a lit fic kind of summer over here ♡
reading this with my fable book club ☺︎
i've been anticipating this one for a while now! it sounds messyyy. it's a lit fic kind of summer over here ♡
reading this with my fable book club ☺︎
July 3, 2026
teetering between 3-3.5 so rounding to 3 for GR. i liked this a lot more than PINEAPPLE STREET, but don’t think it’s the kinda book that will stick w me long term and be super memorable.
if you’re looking for an easy summer read, this is it! this was an easy summer binge by the pool. you follow a group of friends that have a lottttt of drama and a girl new to town who stirs a lot of things up.
what i liked is the friend group was all in their thirties so life looked a lot different yet they were still feeling like their young and wild teenage selves. as someone in their 30s that’s super relatable and i liked how the author explored that messy part of your 30s.
the beach setting was fun and i enjoyed the drama but overall i think for my taste i wanted some more from the plot. i wish she took it even further with the newcomer that stirred everything up iykyk 👀 i was waiting for one more reveal or something more wild/fun at the end to happen and wrap this one up.
pro tip: i reco this one on audio 🎧
love this cover!!
if you’re looking for an easy summer read, this is it! this was an easy summer binge by the pool. you follow a group of friends that have a lottttt of drama and a girl new to town who stirs a lot of things up.
what i liked is the friend group was all in their thirties so life looked a lot different yet they were still feeling like their young and wild teenage selves. as someone in their 30s that’s super relatable and i liked how the author explored that messy part of your 30s.
the beach setting was fun and i enjoyed the drama but overall i think for my taste i wanted some more from the plot. i wish she took it even further with the newcomer that stirred everything up iykyk 👀 i was waiting for one more reveal or something more wild/fun at the end to happen and wrap this one up.
pro tip: i reco this one on audio 🎧
love this cover!!
July 9, 2026
4.25 Whelp, I loved it. The "shampoo effect" is a great metaphor for the layered depth, complex emotions, and overall messiness of this tight-knit group of friends with so much shared history. It’s real, messy, and a total pleasure to read.
I was fortunate enough to have both the audio and physical copies. While the narrator is fantastic, this one just might be best enjoyed in print—the physical presentation, fonts, and titles add so much unique charm and personality to the experience. I look forward to diving into Pineapple Street!
I was fortunate enough to have both the audio and physical copies. While the narrator is fantastic, this one just might be best enjoyed in print—the physical presentation, fonts, and titles add so much unique charm and personality to the experience. I look forward to diving into Pineapple Street!
July 15, 2026
5 Stars
RTC
Man do I love messy characters, with messy families, and in this case, a messy group of childhood friends. This was my second book by Jenny Jackson...and the second book of hers that I polished off in one sitting. Which I think is a testament to the quality of her writing. It just hits for me.
Full review to come.
RTC
Man do I love messy characters, with messy families, and in this case, a messy group of childhood friends. This was my second book by Jenny Jackson...and the second book of hers that I polished off in one sitting. Which I think is a testament to the quality of her writing. It just hits for me.
Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Just like her debut novel Pineapple Street, Jenny Jackson has once again crafted a strong narrative that I absolutely loved!
The Shampoo Effect is essentially the perfect summer read! It's a feel good story that's truly funny, with just the right amount of drama.
The story shifts perspectives between each character so you get to know each. The characters are very well written and so relatable that they remind you of your own group of friends. Modern relationships, the struggles of adulting and parenting as a millennial, and making new friends as an adult are just a few of the compelling themes covered.
I listened to the audiobook format which is narrated by one of my all time favorites, Marin Ireland. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson will be available on June 30. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
The Shampoo Effect is essentially the perfect summer read! It's a feel good story that's truly funny, with just the right amount of drama.
The story shifts perspectives between each character so you get to know each. The characters are very well written and so relatable that they remind you of your own group of friends. Modern relationships, the struggles of adulting and parenting as a millennial, and making new friends as an adult are just a few of the compelling themes covered.
I listened to the audiobook format which is narrated by one of my all time favorites, Marin Ireland. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson will be available on June 30. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
November 23, 2025
Jenny Jackson is my new favorite author. She tells simple stories with a lot emotion, a big cast of characters, and a lot of honesty. I loved this book about how it took a complete stranger to get a group of friends to look at their lives and make some tough admissions. I can’t wait for her next book.
July 7, 2026
4.5⭐️
Okay before I get into all the reasons I loved this book, I just have to say: as a fellow New Englander/girly raised in Maine... Jenny Jackson fkn NAILED what wealthy, nepo babies with interpersonal drama are like in New England... down to their hobbies/mannerisms/incestuous friend groups and general demeanors.
Like, absolutely perfect. It felt like I was reading a book about the wealthy kids I grew up partying with and hanging out around, so absolute kudos for that. 👏👏
SECONDLYYYY though, The Shampoo Effect was EVERYTHING I expected (and more) from a salacious, summer, litfic novel. It brought the vibes, the setting, the atmosphere, the drama, the sex and most importantly: THE SUMMER.
Centered around a group of best friends entering the beginning of their midlives in MA, this book was sugar soaked and brimming with heart. The drama was great, the plot perfectly paced, and the characters well developed over a long period of time.
This book was everything I expected (and didn't get) out of The Wedding People last year and WHY YES IT DID restore my faith in summer litfic. A mashup of Carley Fortune's summer frothiness, Gossip Girl-esque interpersonal drama (but make it New England nepo baby), and the introspection/character development of Coco Mellors... I love love loved this book.
I actually think I have a book hangover and need something else like this immediately. Like right now, because I am sad it's over ☹️☹️☹️
(Also, my girl Bailey is perfect and may she never change 😘🤞)
Okay before I get into all the reasons I loved this book, I just have to say: as a fellow New Englander/girly raised in Maine... Jenny Jackson fkn NAILED what wealthy, nepo babies with interpersonal drama are like in New England... down to their hobbies/mannerisms/incestuous friend groups and general demeanors.
Like, absolutely perfect. It felt like I was reading a book about the wealthy kids I grew up partying with and hanging out around, so absolute kudos for that. 👏👏
SECONDLYYYY though, The Shampoo Effect was EVERYTHING I expected (and more) from a salacious, summer, litfic novel. It brought the vibes, the setting, the atmosphere, the drama, the sex and most importantly: THE SUMMER.
Centered around a group of best friends entering the beginning of their midlives in MA, this book was sugar soaked and brimming with heart. The drama was great, the plot perfectly paced, and the characters well developed over a long period of time.
This book was everything I expected (and didn't get) out of The Wedding People last year and WHY YES IT DID restore my faith in summer litfic. A mashup of Carley Fortune's summer frothiness, Gossip Girl-esque interpersonal drama (but make it New England nepo baby), and the introspection/character development of Coco Mellors... I love love loved this book.
I actually think I have a book hangover and need something else like this immediately. Like right now, because I am sad it's over ☹️☹️☹️
(Also, my girl Bailey is perfect and may she never change 😘🤞)
Want to Read
July 14, 2026 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ — preread
my BOTM copy arrived today!! YAY can't wait to start this one in the coming weeks <3
this book is a July BOTM pick!! if you would like to join and use my referral code, i can get a free book and you get a book for just $5! https://www.mybotm.com/hxfx2nddyjs (not sponsored btw, just for fun!)
my BOTM copy arrived today!! YAY can't wait to start this one in the coming weeks <3
this book is a July BOTM pick!! if you would like to join and use my referral code, i can get a free book and you get a book for just $5! https://www.mybotm.com/hxfx2nddyjs (not sponsored btw, just for fun!)
July 9, 2026
How fitting that I’m DNF-ing this on America’s 250th Birthday because it’s clear this author hates
America
Men
Sports (especially football)
Traditional Marriage
Republicans/Conservatives
I can’t imagine my life ever being so consumed by politics that I’d have to insert it into my life’s work.
I wasn’t even 10% in before I heard about Republicans and immigration, which truly had nothing to do with the book — just a jab the author had to throw in there.
Anyways…
Alexa please play Obsessed by Mariah Carey.
America
Men
Sports (especially football)
Traditional Marriage
Republicans/Conservatives
I can’t imagine my life ever being so consumed by politics that I’d have to insert it into my life’s work.
I wasn’t even 10% in before I heard about Republicans and immigration, which truly had nothing to do with the book — just a jab the author had to throw in there.
Anyways…
Alexa please play Obsessed by Mariah Carey.
July 2, 2026
I normally like character driven stories with loads of drama, but this one just fizzled out for me, and became too alcohol and sex obsessed. I liked Pineapple Street, and like Jenny Jackson’s writing and wit. I like how she can make the minutiae of day to day both relatable and interesting. I liked the premise and the “shampoo effect” in relationships.
Sadly, though, there was a relative sameness of all the characters, which flattened everyone, and the constant digs at conservative humans was annoying, trite, and boring. I really only liked one character. The story started off funny and engaging, but there was just too many stretches of nothing.
I will certainly forget this book and these shallow characters by tomorrow, and that is both a bad thing and good thing.
May 23, 2026
I wanted so much more from this book! It felt like I was just following along with a modern day American WASPy group of friends, where nothing *really* that interesting happens… Sure, it touched on the realities of what could happen in relationships, friend group dynamics, but in a way that was sort of forgettable. It just kind of felt like neighborhood gossip that was interesting, if maybe you knew the people, but otherwise not so much…? I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters, and I don’t think the story will stick with me
June 26, 2026
4.25 stars "An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship."
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenfield, Massachusetts, she disrupts a lifelong group of friends when she catches the eye of the dreamy Van Whittaker. Caroline is not welcomed by Van's group of friends. When she is betrayed by them, she plots a revenge that is one for the ages.
I absolutely loved this book. It is witty and full of drama and juicy group behavior. It examines what happens when deceit, loyalty, ambition and secrets abound. It is astute and highly observant in how people behave when they know someone for a long time - the shampoo effect. This was completely entertaining and immersive. Be prepared to be transported to New England beaches, bars and homes. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR!
The audiobook performance by Marin Ireland (9 hours 57 minutes) is perfection. She brings the drama and character studies to life!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, PRH Audio and Jenny Jackson for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenfield, Massachusetts, she disrupts a lifelong group of friends when she catches the eye of the dreamy Van Whittaker. Caroline is not welcomed by Van's group of friends. When she is betrayed by them, she plots a revenge that is one for the ages.
I absolutely loved this book. It is witty and full of drama and juicy group behavior. It examines what happens when deceit, loyalty, ambition and secrets abound. It is astute and highly observant in how people behave when they know someone for a long time - the shampoo effect. This was completely entertaining and immersive. Be prepared to be transported to New England beaches, bars and homes. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR!
The audiobook performance by Marin Ireland (9 hours 57 minutes) is perfection. She brings the drama and character studies to life!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, PRH Audio and Jenny Jackson for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 📚🎧
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was an ARC I picked up from work. I enjoyed the book, but I don't think the synopsis matched the actual vibe. I was anticipating something more biting, but this was pretty mild overall.
I expected a more plot driven story, but considering the breakup occurs over half way through the book, and the subsequent fallout happens about 75% into the book, this was much more character driven. The "secrets" revealed, is really just one secret, the rest is simply a sharp critique of the group's lives and relationships.
The synopsis makes the group seem wild with constant drinking and partying, but nothing sordid every really happens. The biggest "scandal" is Bailey getting pregnant, which is a catalyst for nothing because the group just continues on as usual.
I think the multiple perspectives helped mix it up and keep the story moving. I would have enjoyed one of the men's perspectives as well, particularly Van's, but maybe that would have been too many points of view.
Again, even though this seemed to be marketed as more of a drama, it felt very low stakes, and the ending made me smile. Based on the release date, I do think this would be a fun summer read with its beach setting, relationships, light tension, and reflection.
I expected a more plot driven story, but considering the breakup occurs over half way through the book, and the subsequent fallout happens about 75% into the book, this was much more character driven. The "secrets" revealed, is really just one secret, the rest is simply a sharp critique of the group's lives and relationships.
The synopsis makes the group seem wild with constant drinking and partying, but nothing sordid every really happens. The biggest "scandal" is Bailey getting pregnant, which is a catalyst for nothing because the group just continues on as usual.
I think the multiple perspectives helped mix it up and keep the story moving. I would have enjoyed one of the men's perspectives as well, particularly Van's, but maybe that would have been too many points of view.
Again, even though this seemed to be marketed as more of a drama, it felt very low stakes, and the ending made me smile. Based on the release date, I do think this would be a fun summer read with its beach setting, relationships, light tension, and reflection.
July 6, 2026
Thoughts while reading:
This feels just like Pineapple Street!
...ah duh, it's the author of Pineapple Street.
Yup, there it is -- the group of rich coastal people who are not particularly likable, nor deserving of their positions, nor happy, plus one 'outsider,' who's equally rich and born into this lifestyle, but is *slightly* edgy in that she pretends she's not interested in status, money, etc. (but *phew* he's a researcher and not just a tour guide -- crisis averted, wouldn't want to have to prove the aforementioned humility!).
Ja idk, Caroline is no more likable to me than the others, but I can tell she thinks she is...
ICKKKKKKKK this is the nightmare when your lover is friends with his bestie he's hooked up with.
NOOOOO. NO. nooooooooooooooo. Okay, fine, I saw that coming. *side eye*
This is fun and messy, but not really that messy, because everyone has a trust fund (or a partner/parent/etc with money and status) to fall back on.
Overall this felt identical to the reading experience of Pineapple Street, but with a new quiet plot (bf knocks up his bff with benefits) and a newish cast (same characters, new names).
Y'all I pictured this cast as sticks of Philadelphia cream cheese with crayon faces drawn on.🤣 I'm not kidding.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Caroline sucks, Van is annoying, and Bailey is too selfish to be in her 30s already. No one should be with anyone, everyone should be in therapy! The end.
It delivered. A fun, trashy, Hamptons-vibe beach read, for those times you wish you weren't a biracial, multinational, overly introverted weirdo. You know what, guys? I'm good.😅 I don't want to be included, don't invite me to the wedding.🙏🏽
This feels just like Pineapple Street!
...ah duh, it's the author of Pineapple Street.
Yup, there it is -- the group of rich coastal people who are not particularly likable, nor deserving of their positions, nor happy, plus one 'outsider,' who's equally rich and born into this lifestyle, but is *slightly* edgy in that she pretends she's not interested in status, money, etc. (but *phew* he's a researcher and not just a tour guide -- crisis averted, wouldn't want to have to prove the aforementioned humility!).
Ja idk, Caroline is no more likable to me than the others, but I can tell she thinks she is...
ICKKKKKKKK this is the nightmare when your lover is friends with his bestie he's hooked up with.
NOOOOO. NO. nooooooooooooooo. Okay, fine, I saw that coming. *side eye*
This is fun and messy, but not really that messy, because everyone has a trust fund (or a partner/parent/etc with money and status) to fall back on.
Overall this felt identical to the reading experience of Pineapple Street, but with a new quiet plot (bf knocks up his bff with benefits) and a newish cast (same characters, new names).
Y'all I pictured this cast as sticks of Philadelphia cream cheese with crayon faces drawn on.🤣 I'm not kidding.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Caroline sucks, Van is annoying, and Bailey is too selfish to be in her 30s already. No one should be with anyone, everyone should be in therapy! The end.
It delivered. A fun, trashy, Hamptons-vibe beach read, for those times you wish you weren't a biracial, multinational, overly introverted weirdo. You know what, guys? I'm good.😅 I don't want to be included, don't invite me to the wedding.🙏🏽
July 6, 2026
3.75 stars
I was looking for a good cleanse after my last true crime read and "The Shampoo Effect" delivered.
Coastal New England with WASPy people, whom you do not like. The challenges of midlife, parenthood and friendship. Late night parties and very questionable decisions. This was indeed soapy. There was a lot of eye rolling and and a bit of cringe; yet somehow it kept me turning the pages.
I previously read, Pineapple Street, by this author, which i enjoyed as well. JJ constantly delivers a solid read that doesn't need to be taken too seriously. The ultimate beach summer read.
I was looking for a good cleanse after my last true crime read and "The Shampoo Effect" delivered.
Coastal New England with WASPy people, whom you do not like. The challenges of midlife, parenthood and friendship. Late night parties and very questionable decisions. This was indeed soapy. There was a lot of eye rolling and and a bit of cringe; yet somehow it kept me turning the pages.
I previously read, Pineapple Street, by this author, which i enjoyed as well. JJ constantly delivers a solid read that doesn't need to be taken too seriously. The ultimate beach summer read.
July 4, 2026
One thing about me is that I love saying I want to read something light and fluffy and fun….. and then am so disappointed and underwhelmed that it is in fact light and fluffy and fun
July 9, 2026
I keep wondering whether this book is actually a satire of today’s twenty‑ and thirty‑somethings. Caroline, a young woman taking her first serious steps in the publishing world, starts off with a bit of success but never really feels confident in it. On top of that, she gets tangled in a professional relationship that crosses some boundaries. Hurt and embarrassed, she hides away in a small town.
There she meets a guy — a quirky, eco‑obsessed idealist — and falls for him. She spends a year with Van and his friends, and honestly, nothing much happens during that time. The reader just gets to know their little environment through the eyes of this group. And it turns out that all these people are, at their core, pretty unpleasant. They don’t like themselves, they don’t like others. They can’t stand the older generation or any of the values it represents.
Sports are for idiots because sports equal masculinity, and masculinity is toxic. Marriage is an outdated concept that never worked anyway. And so on, and so on. The sheer amount of this kind of nonsense becomes overwhelming. And this young generation not only believes all of it — they also feel morally superior, enlightened, standing higher on some imaginary ladder of purity than every generation before them.
But when Caroline finally shows them what she sees as an outsider, they suddenly realize their little group isn’t holy at all, and their world isn’t actually better. The scales fall from their eyes, and these overgrown children finally start to grow up.
Plot‑wise, not much happens. The whole thing drags on, it’s slow, and it’s honestly exhausting to read. None of the characters are likable; they’re all unpleasant. There are also plenty of side characters who seem irrelevant at first, though later you realize their small appearances shed light on the main cast.
And even though it’s not a light read — even though you slog through it — it’s still worth it. It’s worth thinking about what we can do so that the next generations turn out different: kinder, more grounded, more satisfied, with a clearer moral compass, a bit more humility, and maybe even a genuine fondness for the country they live in.
There she meets a guy — a quirky, eco‑obsessed idealist — and falls for him. She spends a year with Van and his friends, and honestly, nothing much happens during that time. The reader just gets to know their little environment through the eyes of this group. And it turns out that all these people are, at their core, pretty unpleasant. They don’t like themselves, they don’t like others. They can’t stand the older generation or any of the values it represents.
Sports are for idiots because sports equal masculinity, and masculinity is toxic. Marriage is an outdated concept that never worked anyway. And so on, and so on. The sheer amount of this kind of nonsense becomes overwhelming. And this young generation not only believes all of it — they also feel morally superior, enlightened, standing higher on some imaginary ladder of purity than every generation before them.
But when Caroline finally shows them what she sees as an outsider, they suddenly realize their little group isn’t holy at all, and their world isn’t actually better. The scales fall from their eyes, and these overgrown children finally start to grow up.
Plot‑wise, not much happens. The whole thing drags on, it’s slow, and it’s honestly exhausting to read. None of the characters are likable; they’re all unpleasant. There are also plenty of side characters who seem irrelevant at first, though later you realize their small appearances shed light on the main cast.
And even though it’s not a light read — even though you slog through it — it’s still worth it. It’s worth thinking about what we can do so that the next generations turn out different: kinder, more grounded, more satisfied, with a clearer moral compass, a bit more humility, and maybe even a genuine fondness for the country they live in.
July 8, 2026
Well, I am definitely now a Jenny Jackson fan. After seeing this was selected as a @readwithjenna pick for July, I knew I needed to give it a try. What I was not expecting was to binge it in a sitting, unable to put it down for even a second. This, my friends, is the epitome of the summer beach read in all its messy glory. And I cannot recommend it enough.
There is a certain level of nostalgia Jackson brings— those longstanding friendships/relationships you just cannot seem to quit no matter how emotionally fraught and complex. For all the bad, there is also good. And watching this particular group of friends, with the additional outsider working her way in, was both joyful and heartbreaking as you see the effects of being that intertwined, especially once the long-buried secrets begin to surface.
In many ways, this book is a character study, with the character being these types of friendships, and what happens when they are tested. But it’s also full of biting humor, witty repartee, and a touch of social commentary, making it very easy to digest poolside. I am now endlessly excited to read Jackson’s debut, PINEAPPLE STREET, very soon.
🎧 One final note— this audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Marin Ireland, is so well done. I cannot recommend this format enough, or even better, an immersive read to fully escape into the pages of this one.
Read if you like:
▪️friendship fiction
▪️messy and complicated relationships
▪️juicy secrets exposed
▪️bingy books for summer
▪️ensemble casts
Thank you Pamela Dorman and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
There is a certain level of nostalgia Jackson brings— those longstanding friendships/relationships you just cannot seem to quit no matter how emotionally fraught and complex. For all the bad, there is also good. And watching this particular group of friends, with the additional outsider working her way in, was both joyful and heartbreaking as you see the effects of being that intertwined, especially once the long-buried secrets begin to surface.
In many ways, this book is a character study, with the character being these types of friendships, and what happens when they are tested. But it’s also full of biting humor, witty repartee, and a touch of social commentary, making it very easy to digest poolside. I am now endlessly excited to read Jackson’s debut, PINEAPPLE STREET, very soon.
🎧 One final note— this audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Marin Ireland, is so well done. I cannot recommend this format enough, or even better, an immersive read to fully escape into the pages of this one.
Read if you like:
▪️friendship fiction
▪️messy and complicated relationships
▪️juicy secrets exposed
▪️bingy books for summer
▪️ensemble casts
Thank you Pamela Dorman and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
July 6, 2026
I’m mad at myself for finishing this 😂
July 15, 2026
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It's tea time - served ice cold on the beach. The gossip and drama in this book are so juicy that I devoured it in 48 hours.
Writer Caroline Lash has just been selected for a writers' fellowship and moved to Greenhead, Massachusetts. Quickly, she falls head over heels for Van Whittaker, a local floppy-haired, kayak-loving heartthrob. The only problem is that she doesn't really fit in with his friends. They grew up together, and with all of their inside jokes, she's an outsider. Augusta is snobby; Fran is indecisive; and Bailey is Van's perfectly gorgeous ex-girlfriend. And when Bailey discovers she is pregnant with Van's baby, Caroline is cast out of the group. Bent on revenge, she makes a bold decision that will change this group's dynamics and the town for years to come.
I was absolutely caught up in this book. The plot twist that happens a little over halfway through the storyline was absolutely EPIC. Jenny Jackson is a mastermind at crafting juicy, funny, cunning storylines. Rarely do I laugh out loud when reading, and I was delighted at the well-timed, hysterical, petty banter of these characters. I found the ending to be a great book club conversation piece. Such a fun summer read. Can't wait to read more of Jenny Jackson's future work!
Thank you, NetGalley, Jenny Jackson, and Viking Penguin |Pamela Dorman Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Writer Caroline Lash has just been selected for a writers' fellowship and moved to Greenhead, Massachusetts. Quickly, she falls head over heels for Van Whittaker, a local floppy-haired, kayak-loving heartthrob. The only problem is that she doesn't really fit in with his friends. They grew up together, and with all of their inside jokes, she's an outsider. Augusta is snobby; Fran is indecisive; and Bailey is Van's perfectly gorgeous ex-girlfriend. And when Bailey discovers she is pregnant with Van's baby, Caroline is cast out of the group. Bent on revenge, she makes a bold decision that will change this group's dynamics and the town for years to come.
I was absolutely caught up in this book. The plot twist that happens a little over halfway through the storyline was absolutely EPIC. Jenny Jackson is a mastermind at crafting juicy, funny, cunning storylines. Rarely do I laugh out loud when reading, and I was delighted at the well-timed, hysterical, petty banter of these characters. I found the ending to be a great book club conversation piece. Such a fun summer read. Can't wait to read more of Jenny Jackson's future work!
Thank you, NetGalley, Jenny Jackson, and Viking Penguin |Pamela Dorman Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2026
I loved The Shampoo Effect, a soapy, drama filled story about a group of friends, mostly in their 30s, trying to grapple with relationships —romantic and platonic, work, and parenthood.
The Shampoo Effect is a contemporary story with authentic dialogue, characters who are far from perfect, and a beach setting that gives a strong sense of place, even when the story moves outside of the summer season.
This was an ideal beach read, offering bingeworthy, entertaining drama and a story balancing humor with a little depth. It was fun to soak up. While I enjoyed Jackson’s debut novel, Pineapple Street, The Shampoo Effect was even better — 4.5 stars
The Shampoo Effect is a contemporary story with authentic dialogue, characters who are far from perfect, and a beach setting that gives a strong sense of place, even when the story moves outside of the summer season.
This was an ideal beach read, offering bingeworthy, entertaining drama and a story balancing humor with a little depth. It was fun to soak up. While I enjoyed Jackson’s debut novel, Pineapple Street, The Shampoo Effect was even better — 4.5 stars
July 12, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down
I saw a lot of people comparing this to Elin Hilderbrand, so I knew I had to get my hands on it! And while I do see some similarities, I think it was missing the charm that Elin creates.
There is some drama and it’s a quick read, but I just finished it wishing there had been…more. More depth, more emotion, something.
Overall it was fine, but I don’t think this story will stick with me.
I think it could make for an entertaining tv series.
I saw a lot of people comparing this to Elin Hilderbrand, so I knew I had to get my hands on it! And while I do see some similarities, I think it was missing the charm that Elin creates.
There is some drama and it’s a quick read, but I just finished it wishing there had been…more. More depth, more emotion, something.
Overall it was fine, but I don’t think this story will stick with me.
I think it could make for an entertaining tv series.
July 2, 2026
(3.5)
Fun, soapy, wry. A sly look at couples and friends in Greenhead, Mass, where a nepo baby writer moves after publishing a piece in the New Yorker and finds herself contending with small town politics. I love the insidery look at both worlds: the glamorous world of New York publishing, cold and cutting, vs. the small town insular meanness of the Mass clan. The friendships were jocular and lived in, but ultimately the book traded in a few of my personal least favorite tropes that I will not spoil here, and the ending was a bit too hopeful for my taste. (Sorry!) A perfect beach read at the end of the day!
Fun, soapy, wry. A sly look at couples and friends in Greenhead, Mass, where a nepo baby writer moves after publishing a piece in the New Yorker and finds herself contending with small town politics. I love the insidery look at both worlds: the glamorous world of New York publishing, cold and cutting, vs. the small town insular meanness of the Mass clan. The friendships were jocular and lived in, but ultimately the book traded in a few of my personal least favorite tropes that I will not spoil here, and the ending was a bit too hopeful for my taste. (Sorry!) A perfect beach read at the end of the day!
July 6, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
I loved this book so much. It took me awhile to finish it, since I was on vacation. Ironically, this is the perfect vacation summer read.
It’s the perfect book about middle-aged people doing middle-age things, discovering love, being a parent, having reckonings with where their futures may lie.
For superior to Grant Ginder’s So Old, So Young, Jenny Jackson writes a fun, character driven novel about getting older and finding happiness.
I loved this book so much. It took me awhile to finish it, since I was on vacation. Ironically, this is the perfect vacation summer read.
It’s the perfect book about middle-aged people doing middle-age things, discovering love, being a parent, having reckonings with where their futures may lie.
For superior to Grant Ginder’s So Old, So Young, Jenny Jackson writes a fun, character driven novel about getting older and finding happiness.
July 11, 2026
4 stars. Read with Jenna - July ’26 pick. What starts as an easy-breezy summer romance quickly turns into messy friendships, complicated marriages, old grudges, and spectacularly bad decisions — basically, adults acting like they never left high school. Fun and juicy, but I liked Pineapple Street more. 📖🎧
Read
April 13, 2026This is a rich people's book for thirty somethings, perfect for a summer vacation! I really enjoyed Jenny Jackson's Pineapple street (great on audio!), and I was positively excited to read her latest novel. The Shampoo effect did not disappoint;
Caroline Lash, daughter of a best-selling author from NYC, leaves her job after her short story in placed in the New Yorker. She takes up a writer's residency in a picturesque small beach town in Massachussets and falls in love with Van, and thus gets entry into his close-knit friend-group. The group has been in each other's lives since childhood but they are also confused in how their new roles in real life could fit into the friend-zone. The group spends their time hanging out, sunbathing in the beach, chilling with each other, but inspite of being together for many years, all is not transparent between them.
What I enjoyed:
- I enjoyed Caroline's POV as the outsider to the friend group and also the person who has to move out when her relationship with Van goes through rocky times. I enjoyed her mind, I loved the way her author-mind worked trying to fictionalize real life characters and subplots into a story that could be placed in a literary magazine. I loved her insecurities and how they came out, and loved (in a strictly literary enjoyment sense), how mean the girls in the group talked behind her back. But occasionally Caroline felt more like a narrator and less of a character we want to be invested in.
- Great choice to mix up POVs so we know what everyone's thinking!
- I thought the endings were well done and realistic! All characters get an ending, some of which are predictable which makes you let out a huge sigh of relief. The fact that you feel the endings are alright in spite of many characters being unlikeable is testament to Jenny Jackson's talent in crafting good characters.
- I really enjoyed reading about Fran, who is fiercely independent and doesn't want to to tied down to marriage to the father of her children. She might be my fav character in the novel. I enjoyed how she and her husband talk in the end about how people (and partnerships) evolve, how she becomes the daughter who gets clarity about how to deal with her financially irresponsible parents, how she understand how to communicate her worries, and how she might be the most grounded person in the group.
- I loved how this novel tastefully acknowledges privilege and the choices privileged people often make.
What didn't work well enough for me:
- You expect something scandalous but the scandals (or the way they are narrated) do not hit the high spot. I was still invested in the story though. And I really wanted to know how things end.
- Caroline Lash often becomes a medium to tell the story, which means I could not get into her own insecurities or grief or struggles as a writer trying to go the non-nepo way.
What to expect?
- many unlikeable characters
- Even though the setting is the lives of rich people, the 'richness' is mostly limited to the family/parents of the friend group we are following. So we see less of that, but get hints of privilege, and more of growing up in terms of relationships, principles, embracing new roles in personal life etc.
- Is this plot heavy or character-sketch heavy?—A mix of both.The basic plot = unveiling secrets, personalities, insecurities, beliefs, betrayals within the friend group.
- LOVED the Acknowledgements where the author talks about John Updike and things that are relevant to this novel and inspired her plot. Love it when authors give us a glimpse into how the idea formed.
Overall, great read and perfect for summer!
Check out the Most anticipated books of 2026
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own
Blog | Instagram | Threads | X (Twitter) | Newsletter
Caroline Lash, daughter of a best-selling author from NYC, leaves her job after her short story in placed in the New Yorker. She takes up a writer's residency in a picturesque small beach town in Massachussets and falls in love with Van, and thus gets entry into his close-knit friend-group. The group has been in each other's lives since childhood but they are also confused in how their new roles in real life could fit into the friend-zone. The group spends their time hanging out, sunbathing in the beach, chilling with each other, but inspite of being together for many years, all is not transparent between them.
What I enjoyed:
- I enjoyed Caroline's POV as the outsider to the friend group and also the person who has to move out when her relationship with Van goes through rocky times. I enjoyed her mind, I loved the way her author-mind worked trying to fictionalize real life characters and subplots into a story that could be placed in a literary magazine. I loved her insecurities and how they came out, and loved (in a strictly literary enjoyment sense), how mean the girls in the group talked behind her back. But occasionally Caroline felt more like a narrator and less of a character we want to be invested in.
- Great choice to mix up POVs so we know what everyone's thinking!
- I thought the endings were well done and realistic! All characters get an ending, some of which are predictable which makes you let out a huge sigh of relief. The fact that you feel the endings are alright in spite of many characters being unlikeable is testament to Jenny Jackson's talent in crafting good characters.
- I really enjoyed reading about Fran, who is fiercely independent and doesn't want to to tied down to marriage to the father of her children. She might be my fav character in the novel. I enjoyed how she and her husband talk in the end about how people (and partnerships) evolve, how she becomes the daughter who gets clarity about how to deal with her financially irresponsible parents, how she understand how to communicate her worries, and how she might be the most grounded person in the group.
- I loved how this novel tastefully acknowledges privilege and the choices privileged people often make.
What didn't work well enough for me:
- You expect something scandalous but the scandals (or the way they are narrated) do not hit the high spot. I was still invested in the story though. And I really wanted to know how things end.
- Caroline Lash often becomes a medium to tell the story, which means I could not get into her own insecurities or grief or struggles as a writer trying to go the non-nepo way.
What to expect?
- many unlikeable characters
- Even though the setting is the lives of rich people, the 'richness' is mostly limited to the family/parents of the friend group we are following. So we see less of that, but get hints of privilege, and more of growing up in terms of relationships, principles, embracing new roles in personal life etc.
- Is this plot heavy or character-sketch heavy?—A mix of both.The basic plot = unveiling secrets, personalities, insecurities, beliefs, betrayals within the friend group.
- LOVED the Acknowledgements where the author talks about John Updike and things that are relevant to this novel and inspired her plot. Love it when authors give us a glimpse into how the idea formed.
Overall, great read and perfect for summer!
Check out the Most anticipated books of 2026
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own
Blog | Instagram | Threads | X (Twitter) | Newsletter
July 8, 2026
Bookclub Book… Eh 🙃🫠
Reading this book felt like listening to a story from my annoying coworker about people I don’t know or care about and the story never gets better or interesting.
Reading this book felt like listening to a story from my annoying coworker about people I don’t know or care about and the story never gets better or interesting.
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