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The Shampoo Effect
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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 (“Laugh-out-loud-good.” —Harper’s Bazaar)
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 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.
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 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
Expected publication June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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
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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
November 25, 2025
The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Comes out Jun 30, 2026.
Caroline is a nepo-baby fledgling writer from NYC who meets and falls for local guy Van while on a writers residency in a picturesque Massachusetts beach town. It’s told from her POV and that of the women in Van’s friend group - a tight-knit group that have been friends since childhood. Events unfold, secrets are revealed, and all the relationships are thrown into turmoil. Sounds like the set-up of a Hallmark movie, but it’s much smarter and less predictable.
There were mixed reviews of the author’s last book (Pineapple St) but I liked that and I like this one. I thought it was smart, funny, and did a good job depicting the challenges of old friend groups and marriages as people grow and evolve. It’s really hard to break old patterns and I thought Jackson did a good job with the nuances of old friends. I felt like I knew all these women and was rooting for them all by the end. Read it in one day.
Caroline is a nepo-baby fledgling writer from NYC who meets and falls for local guy Van while on a writers residency in a picturesque Massachusetts beach town. It’s told from her POV and that of the women in Van’s friend group - a tight-knit group that have been friends since childhood. Events unfold, secrets are revealed, and all the relationships are thrown into turmoil. Sounds like the set-up of a Hallmark movie, but it’s much smarter and less predictable.
There were mixed reviews of the author’s last book (Pineapple St) but I liked that and I like this one. I thought it was smart, funny, and did a good job depicting the challenges of old friend groups and marriages as people grow and evolve. It’s really hard to break old patterns and I thought Jackson did a good job with the nuances of old friends. I felt like I knew all these women and was rooting for them all by the end. Read it in one day.
December 17, 2025
4.5! Regardless of what critics say, Jenny Jackson’s writing is immediately captivating from the first page. I found myself far more invested in Caroline’s perspective at the beginning than in the other POVs, which made me wonder whether Jackson is subtly self-inserting through this character. That said, the multiple points are reminiscent of Pineapple Street, a novel I loved. While the longer chapters aren’t my personal preference, the novel excels in its portrayal of a perfectly constructed love triangle and its thoughtful exploration of the varied challenges that arise in marriage and parenthood. This novel would make a great beach read for next summer!
Thank you, NetGalley!
Thank you, NetGalley!
March 26, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this upcoming summer read “ The Shampoo Effect”. I was very curious why the author titled her book the shampoo effect which most people use as a term for drinking the morning after heavily drinking so you feel better… When I realized that she talks about the shampoo effect based on a group of friends and how they view each other exactly the same way as they had since high school and how even when they try to have different experiences with each other they keep going back to their old ways that feel normal to them, I was blown away… The shampoo effect is all about having opinions about every single person that you see and know, and preconceived notions. Caroline is an outsider to this friend group and comes to Greenhead to write a novel. When she becomes ingrained into this friend group by dating one of them, she starts to see that even though this group is insanely close, they always revert back into their old ways , traditions , etc. This book will make you think about every relationship you have and if you actually want them to ever evolve , or if you’re fine with a “ rinse and repeat” relationship.
March 10, 2026
I liked this one! Not a lot of “cliff hangers” or mystery but it kept me interested to the point that it was difficult to put down.
December 18, 2025
Definitely worth a read; pubs 6/30/26!
BRB.
BRB.
April 19, 2026
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson is one of my all time favorites. I fell in love with her writing and wanted to live inside the book. An easy 5 stars, and I even purchased it after reading it from the library. So I was very excited for her second novel, The Shampoo Effect.
And from the beginning, I felt like we were back! Right back into Jackson’s exquisite writing. I immediately connected with Caroline, the first character we meet, and her harried trip to coastal MA.
But this wasn’t another 5 star read for me. I loved the writing throughout but the story felt long at times. I didn’t connect with some of the narrators as much as others, and by starting with Caroline I felt like I was on her side for the rest of the book. I wanted more of her and I wanted more to happen earlier because there was so much world building before any action. That on its own isn’t bad if the world is interesting and this mostly was but not wholly, if that makes sense.
But I can’t give a book with such great writing anything less than 4 stars. Even though I don’t see myself coming back to this the way I will to Pineapple Street, I still enjoyed my time reading it. I definitely want to visit Ipswich, MA where the book is based and read the famous novel at the center. I look forward to what Jenny Jackson writes next!
Thank you Viking Penguin and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
And from the beginning, I felt like we were back! Right back into Jackson’s exquisite writing. I immediately connected with Caroline, the first character we meet, and her harried trip to coastal MA.
But this wasn’t another 5 star read for me. I loved the writing throughout but the story felt long at times. I didn’t connect with some of the narrators as much as others, and by starting with Caroline I felt like I was on her side for the rest of the book. I wanted more of her and I wanted more to happen earlier because there was so much world building before any action. That on its own isn’t bad if the world is interesting and this mostly was but not wholly, if that makes sense.
But I can’t give a book with such great writing anything less than 4 stars. Even though I don’t see myself coming back to this the way I will to Pineapple Street, I still enjoyed my time reading it. I definitely want to visit Ipswich, MA where the book is based and read the famous novel at the center. I look forward to what Jenny Jackson writes next!
Thank you Viking Penguin and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2026
5⭐️ for the Shampoo Effect. If you loved Pineapple Street, there’s no doubt you’ll love this one by Jenny Jackson too.
The story opens with the cutest, funniest “meet cute.” Truly, I was giggling while I read it. From there, I fell in love with Caroline, Van, Fran, Colin, Augusta… the book’s perfectly imperfect characters.
Jenny Jackson has a gift for making the silly, seemingly irreverent details important. I laughed out loud many times throughout the book (Hissy and Prissy… the ordeal it is to feed the swans). And still the characters have such depth. So much depth that I had goosebumps as each character’s story came to a close.
Don’t pass up an opportunity to read The Shampoo Effect this summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an advanced reader copy of this book.
The story opens with the cutest, funniest “meet cute.” Truly, I was giggling while I read it. From there, I fell in love with Caroline, Van, Fran, Colin, Augusta… the book’s perfectly imperfect characters.
Jenny Jackson has a gift for making the silly, seemingly irreverent details important. I laughed out loud many times throughout the book (Hissy and Prissy… the ordeal it is to feed the swans). And still the characters have such depth. So much depth that I had goosebumps as each character’s story came to a close.
Don’t pass up an opportunity to read The Shampoo Effect this summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 4, 2026
This was such an enjoyable read! A realistic look at the intimacies of close friendships and adulthood. I love multiple POVs when done right and this was done right. I can’t wait for this to come out in June, this will be a perfect beach read!!
April 16, 2026
This was airy and funny and made me want a beach so bad. I liked the characters here, and there were the right amount of deeper questions asked for a book of this type. It may not be a book I return to often, but i couldn’t wait to reach for it the whole time I was reading it.
April 5, 2026
Such a fun read- highly recommend for summer !
May 20, 2026
Ohhh this was MESSY! I throughly enjoyed.
April 14, 2026
I always love a character driven story and this one was sooo good because I love all of the characters and feel like I’m a part of their friend group. The writing was funny & sweet & very realistic and I wanted more of this
January 14, 2026
"The Shampoo Effect" was such an engrossing read that I devoured it in just three days. Jenny Jackson has a real gift for creating characters who feel immediately relatable and interesting, and that strength shines throughout this novel. The story is told through alternating points of view, and I never once felt bored or tempted to skim, which is no small feat in a multi-narrator setup.
This is a wonderfully frothy book and exactly the kind of read you want to bring to the beach. Caroline, Bailey, Augusta, and Fran are all distinctly drawn, each with lovable qualities and very real flaws. Those imperfections are not only funny but also integral to the plot, helping the story unfold in a way that feels organic and engaging. The balance between humor and emotional insight makes the reading experience especially satisfying.
I have seen some readers note that Jackson’s earlier work leaned more heavily on character than plot, but here I think she strikes the perfect balance. "The Shampoo Effect" blends strong character work with a compelling, well-paced storyline, and the ending in particular felt spot-on. This is a book readers will be eager to pack for vacation, and I cannot wait to read more from Jenny Jackson.
Thank you to Jenny Jackson, Viking Penguin, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderfully frothy book and exactly the kind of read you want to bring to the beach. Caroline, Bailey, Augusta, and Fran are all distinctly drawn, each with lovable qualities and very real flaws. Those imperfections are not only funny but also integral to the plot, helping the story unfold in a way that feels organic and engaging. The balance between humor and emotional insight makes the reading experience especially satisfying.
I have seen some readers note that Jackson’s earlier work leaned more heavily on character than plot, but here I think she strikes the perfect balance. "The Shampoo Effect" blends strong character work with a compelling, well-paced storyline, and the ending in particular felt spot-on. This is a book readers will be eager to pack for vacation, and I cannot wait to read more from Jenny Jackson.
Thank you to Jenny Jackson, Viking Penguin, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read this book through an ARC from NetGalley. Someone needs to explain the title.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
5/5
“The Shampoo Effect” by Jenny Jackson is a social fresco serving as a satirical representation of exclusive friend groups stuck together since childhood, and while believing they know everything about one another, they reveal to know nothing at all. The toxicity of all relationships is exuberant in its nature, and Jackson manages to enhance it perfectly well through both an external lens, a character serving as an outsider to the main group’s perspective, and through outstanding writing.
The novel’s plot is relatively simple — our heroine, Caroline, is on a writer’s retreat in Greenhead, where she meets Van, the man who completes her body and soul. They are perfect for one another, and they click extremely well from the very beginning. It’s not just that they have great chemistry, but they understand one another at a deeper level, sharing morals, philosophies, a sense of humour and a lifestyle. Months after they become serious, they find out Bailey is pregnant with Van’s child. This results in the unleashing of several dramatic twists, which I will further develop on, including the perfect couple’s break-up.
As such, we have the other perspectives; Bailey, Augusta and Fran.
Bailey is a horrible human being, at least by my standards. However, she is an extremely well-written horrible human being. A very tacky, vulgar and narcissistic woman who can’t see outside the love she holds for herself — and by extension her child, as he is an extension of her — Bailey is a nouveau riche stereotype to the very core; I personally got the impression she got pregnant simply because she was left out of the group, both her female friends having children, and because she wanted to pose as a strong, independent woman who needs no man, even if she could have said man if she were to move her little finger only by one millimetre. Her stereotype is extremely well-portrayed, and it’s her actions which trigger the novel’s dramatics. Firstly, because she decides to keep the baby and, secondly, because of the ups and downs of her relationship with Van. Ultimately, a woman like Bailey is glorified as a girlboss, and she always gets what she wants. Her ending is extremely realistic. Perhaps the sole punishment Bailey has in this entire novel is that her narcissistic self has a child who looks nothing like her but is almost the father’s clone.
Augusta, a sheltered wife and mother, comes from generational wealth and has an even richer emotional baggage. She is a perfect wife and mother, and her existential crisis consists of the fact that she learns she has been oblivious to a truth which everyone else around her has known all her life. She is humiliated by the fact, her ego suffering a great stain and now Augusta has to face not only her own obliviousness but also understanding how to navigate the changes that finding out the truth has brought to her life. She is also extremely condescending, believing only she knows everyone else, being horrible to Caroline while trying to push Bailey and Van together, even when they are toxic for and to one another.
Fran, the voice of reason within the group, and the one who has to discover how to put herself first. She is the reflection of the middle class in the novel, or even upper middle class — for she and her partner are raising their kids with nothing amiss, despite the fact that they both work around the clock to maintain that level. Fran’s character arc is objectively perhaps the only remotely relatable one, her issue being learning how to put herself on the first place in her life, learning self-respect and self-love. It is honestly an interesting journey and also adds the layer of the burn-out someone who has to (over)work to maintain a certain status has.
I wish Van had a perspective as well, for his character arc is by far the most interesting — he meets literally the love of his life, his soulmate in Caroline, but the sudden fatherhood overwhelms him. He knows and wants to put his child first; he is genuinely a flawless father. However, external factors and his own actually healthy moral axis push him to break up with the woman he loves, for he cannot be the perfect partner for her. He tries to make it work with Bailey, but he is seen and is treated as a joke — not only by her, but by their entire circle of friends. He deserved what he got; he was Immature in handling his relationship with Caroline, despite fully knowing the fact that she is the one right for him. The only one who is right for him. He rejected the only person who actually knew him in favour of people who have been only vaguely aware of his existence for his entire life.
Caroline’s evolution as a writer and her process of writing is well portrayed. Suffering and heartbreak is truly the best source of inspiration one can have, as tragic as that sounds. I enjoyed her journey and even more so her resolution, especially the hopeful yet bittersweet note.
I think I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed “Book Lovers” and “Happy Place” by Emily Henry and the general social debauchery painted by Sally Rooney in her novels. A very fun read full of twists and turns.
5/5
“The Shampoo Effect” by Jenny Jackson is a social fresco serving as a satirical representation of exclusive friend groups stuck together since childhood, and while believing they know everything about one another, they reveal to know nothing at all. The toxicity of all relationships is exuberant in its nature, and Jackson manages to enhance it perfectly well through both an external lens, a character serving as an outsider to the main group’s perspective, and through outstanding writing.
The novel’s plot is relatively simple — our heroine, Caroline, is on a writer’s retreat in Greenhead, where she meets Van, the man who completes her body and soul. They are perfect for one another, and they click extremely well from the very beginning. It’s not just that they have great chemistry, but they understand one another at a deeper level, sharing morals, philosophies, a sense of humour and a lifestyle. Months after they become serious, they find out Bailey is pregnant with Van’s child. This results in the unleashing of several dramatic twists, which I will further develop on, including the perfect couple’s break-up.
As such, we have the other perspectives; Bailey, Augusta and Fran.
Bailey is a horrible human being, at least by my standards. However, she is an extremely well-written horrible human being. A very tacky, vulgar and narcissistic woman who can’t see outside the love she holds for herself — and by extension her child, as he is an extension of her — Bailey is a nouveau riche stereotype to the very core; I personally got the impression she got pregnant simply because she was left out of the group, both her female friends having children, and because she wanted to pose as a strong, independent woman who needs no man, even if she could have said man if she were to move her little finger only by one millimetre. Her stereotype is extremely well-portrayed, and it’s her actions which trigger the novel’s dramatics. Firstly, because she decides to keep the baby and, secondly, because of the ups and downs of her relationship with Van. Ultimately, a woman like Bailey is glorified as a girlboss, and she always gets what she wants. Her ending is extremely realistic. Perhaps the sole punishment Bailey has in this entire novel is that her narcissistic self has a child who looks nothing like her but is almost the father’s clone.
Augusta, a sheltered wife and mother, comes from generational wealth and has an even richer emotional baggage. She is a perfect wife and mother, and her existential crisis consists of the fact that she learns she has been oblivious to a truth which everyone else around her has known all her life. She is humiliated by the fact, her ego suffering a great stain and now Augusta has to face not only her own obliviousness but also understanding how to navigate the changes that finding out the truth has brought to her life. She is also extremely condescending, believing only she knows everyone else, being horrible to Caroline while trying to push Bailey and Van together, even when they are toxic for and to one another.
Fran, the voice of reason within the group, and the one who has to discover how to put herself first. She is the reflection of the middle class in the novel, or even upper middle class — for she and her partner are raising their kids with nothing amiss, despite the fact that they both work around the clock to maintain that level. Fran’s character arc is objectively perhaps the only remotely relatable one, her issue being learning how to put herself on the first place in her life, learning self-respect and self-love. It is honestly an interesting journey and also adds the layer of the burn-out someone who has to (over)work to maintain a certain status has.
I wish Van had a perspective as well, for his character arc is by far the most interesting — he meets literally the love of his life, his soulmate in Caroline, but the sudden fatherhood overwhelms him. He knows and wants to put his child first; he is genuinely a flawless father. However, external factors and his own actually healthy moral axis push him to break up with the woman he loves, for he cannot be the perfect partner for her. He tries to make it work with Bailey, but he is seen and is treated as a joke — not only by her, but by their entire circle of friends. He deserved what he got; he was Immature in handling his relationship with Caroline, despite fully knowing the fact that she is the one right for him. The only one who is right for him. He rejected the only person who actually knew him in favour of people who have been only vaguely aware of his existence for his entire life.
Caroline’s evolution as a writer and her process of writing is well portrayed. Suffering and heartbreak is truly the best source of inspiration one can have, as tragic as that sounds. I enjoyed her journey and even more so her resolution, especially the hopeful yet bittersweet note.
I think I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed “Book Lovers” and “Happy Place” by Emily Henry and the general social debauchery painted by Sally Rooney in her novels. A very fun read full of twists and turns.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed Pineapple Street, so I was excited to read Jackson’s newest novel. Though I confess I kept mixing it up with Lake Effect, which came out in March. I guess they’re sort of similar in that both books are more vibes than plot, but I enjoyed this one more and found the characters less frustrating!
This novel follows a close-knit group of friends, and the outsider who unexpectedly finds herself part of their circle. That’s pretty much it. Reading the first chapter, I assumed Caroline would be the main character, but all of the women share the role equally. Caroline is a writer, daughter of a very famous writer, and when we meet her she’s accepted an 18-month fellowship writing retreat…thing. She’s posted up in a small cottage in Greenhead, Massachusetts, where she meets a guy named Van. They fall fast and hard for one another, but there’s a complication - Van and his friend Bailey slept together before he and Caroline even met, and Bailey is pregnant. Caroline knows it’s going to be weird, but she really likes Van, so she just kind of rolls with it. Bailey and Van agree that they don’t particularly want to be a couple, so Caroline finds herself uncomfortably inserted into this extremely tight friend group.
It’s a bit reminiscent of So Old, So Young, now that I think about it. This group of people who have all known one another since high school, and most of the couples have been together about that long. They’re all sort of messy, but holding it together…not toxic exactly? But definitely dysfunctional. There’s Fran and RJ, who have kids but never actually got married (Fran didn’t want to take on RJ’s debt, but as the novel progresses, it’s HER family who ends up in dire financial straits). They allegedly have an agreement where only one of them is allowed to be high/drunk/on shrooms at once…but it seems like it’s always RJ’s turn these days. Augusta and Collin are sort of the golden couple (she’s the least friendly to Caroline, while Fran seems to actually like her). But their marriage has its own cracks. Her brother Eben and his husband Max are also floating around, but we never actually hear from either of them as POV characters, so I confess I kept forgetting who they were when they were mentioned. And then there’s Bailey. She grew up in a tacky nouveau riche house she’s christened Budweiser Manor (her dad worked for the beer company). She’s beautiful, of course, and immediately makes Caroline feel inadequate. Bailey could easily be a caricature, but she has some real depth which I appreciated. She’s the kind of person who enjoys the chase more than the relationship - once she *has* someone, she loses interest (I forget if she and Van ever officially dated, or if they were just friends with benefits for years).
We hear from all four women throughout the novel, as Caroline and Van grow closer and Bailey eventually gives birth, and all of the simmering secrets and resentments between the group come to light. Again, it’s definitely more vibes than plot, but I ended up really digging it.
This novel follows a close-knit group of friends, and the outsider who unexpectedly finds herself part of their circle. That’s pretty much it. Reading the first chapter, I assumed Caroline would be the main character, but all of the women share the role equally. Caroline is a writer, daughter of a very famous writer, and when we meet her she’s accepted an 18-month fellowship writing retreat…thing. She’s posted up in a small cottage in Greenhead, Massachusetts, where she meets a guy named Van. They fall fast and hard for one another, but there’s a complication - Van and his friend Bailey slept together before he and Caroline even met, and Bailey is pregnant. Caroline knows it’s going to be weird, but she really likes Van, so she just kind of rolls with it. Bailey and Van agree that they don’t particularly want to be a couple, so Caroline finds herself uncomfortably inserted into this extremely tight friend group.
It’s a bit reminiscent of So Old, So Young, now that I think about it. This group of people who have all known one another since high school, and most of the couples have been together about that long. They’re all sort of messy, but holding it together…not toxic exactly? But definitely dysfunctional. There’s Fran and RJ, who have kids but never actually got married (Fran didn’t want to take on RJ’s debt, but as the novel progresses, it’s HER family who ends up in dire financial straits). They allegedly have an agreement where only one of them is allowed to be high/drunk/on shrooms at once…but it seems like it’s always RJ’s turn these days. Augusta and Collin are sort of the golden couple (she’s the least friendly to Caroline, while Fran seems to actually like her). But their marriage has its own cracks. Her brother Eben and his husband Max are also floating around, but we never actually hear from either of them as POV characters, so I confess I kept forgetting who they were when they were mentioned. And then there’s Bailey. She grew up in a tacky nouveau riche house she’s christened Budweiser Manor (her dad worked for the beer company). She’s beautiful, of course, and immediately makes Caroline feel inadequate. Bailey could easily be a caricature, but she has some real depth which I appreciated. She’s the kind of person who enjoys the chase more than the relationship - once she *has* someone, she loses interest (I forget if she and Van ever officially dated, or if they were just friends with benefits for years).
We hear from all four women throughout the novel, as Caroline and Van grow closer and Bailey eventually gives birth, and all of the simmering secrets and resentments between the group come to light. Again, it’s definitely more vibes than plot, but I ended up really digging it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What stands out most in The Shampoo Effect is the same quality that made Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson so memorable: her incredibly specific, almost hyper-observant writing style. She has a gift for taking the most ordinary, mundane moments and turning them into something meaningful—something that reveals character in a way that feels both intimate and sharply funny. It’s genuinely impressive.
When I read Pineapple Street, I laughed constantly. I loved how ridiculously specific every page felt. I’m a very fast reader—I typically get through 100–120 pages an hour—and I read a lot (usually a novel a day). But I noticed I read this book much more slowly than usual. That wasn’t because it dragged; it was because I was savoring it. I found myself lingering over sentences, appreciating their structure, and really taking in the character work.
The story follows Caroline, a 28-year-old woman whose mother is a famous author. Caroline works in publishing but ultimately resigns to focus on her own writing. Lacking major life experiences to draw from, she pulls inspiration from her everyday life. She begins a relationship with Van, who has that familiar “golden retriever” energy often seen in book boyfriends. Much of the novel centers on Caroline trying to find her place within Van’s friend group, while the narrative also zooms in on the women within that circle.
There’s Bailey, Van’s ex, who feels like a grown-up version of what Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield from Sweet Valley High might have become—blonde, polished, and a little over-the-top. Her family is described as “nouveau riche,” complete with a large, somewhat tacky mansion. Then there’s Augusta, who comes from old money and is married to her brother’s best friend; much of her storyline explores marriage, motherhood, and the expectations that come with her background.
That said, while I loved Jackson’s writing, I found myself agreeing with some of the lower-rated reviews in a way I didn’t with Pineapple Street. The characters there were firmly in the 1%, and here it feels like that scope has only slightly widened. These are still extremely privileged people, and as a result, the stakes often feel low. There isn’t a strong sense of conflict driving the narrative forward.
My biggest critique is that I wanted the story to mean more. Beautiful writing alone isn’t always enough. This isn’t quite “rich people behaving badly”—it’s more a detailed portrait of a very insulated, Martha’s Vineyard–adjacent social bubble. It captures everyday life within that world, but I was hoping for a deeper thematic thread that would leave a stronger emotional impact, especially for a sophomore novel.
That said, I will absolutely continue reading anything Jenny Jackson writes.
Recommend? Maybe. If you loved Pineapple Street, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC.
When I read Pineapple Street, I laughed constantly. I loved how ridiculously specific every page felt. I’m a very fast reader—I typically get through 100–120 pages an hour—and I read a lot (usually a novel a day). But I noticed I read this book much more slowly than usual. That wasn’t because it dragged; it was because I was savoring it. I found myself lingering over sentences, appreciating their structure, and really taking in the character work.
The story follows Caroline, a 28-year-old woman whose mother is a famous author. Caroline works in publishing but ultimately resigns to focus on her own writing. Lacking major life experiences to draw from, she pulls inspiration from her everyday life. She begins a relationship with Van, who has that familiar “golden retriever” energy often seen in book boyfriends. Much of the novel centers on Caroline trying to find her place within Van’s friend group, while the narrative also zooms in on the women within that circle.
There’s Bailey, Van’s ex, who feels like a grown-up version of what Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield from Sweet Valley High might have become—blonde, polished, and a little over-the-top. Her family is described as “nouveau riche,” complete with a large, somewhat tacky mansion. Then there’s Augusta, who comes from old money and is married to her brother’s best friend; much of her storyline explores marriage, motherhood, and the expectations that come with her background.
That said, while I loved Jackson’s writing, I found myself agreeing with some of the lower-rated reviews in a way I didn’t with Pineapple Street. The characters there were firmly in the 1%, and here it feels like that scope has only slightly widened. These are still extremely privileged people, and as a result, the stakes often feel low. There isn’t a strong sense of conflict driving the narrative forward.
My biggest critique is that I wanted the story to mean more. Beautiful writing alone isn’t always enough. This isn’t quite “rich people behaving badly”—it’s more a detailed portrait of a very insulated, Martha’s Vineyard–adjacent social bubble. It captures everyday life within that world, but I was hoping for a deeper thematic thread that would leave a stronger emotional impact, especially for a sophomore novel.
That said, I will absolutely continue reading anything Jenny Jackson writes.
Recommend? Maybe. If you loved Pineapple Street, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
jenny jackson has officially cemented herself as my go-to for a certain kind of book. the kind where everyone's a little too rich, a little too messy, and behaving in ways that would make their therapists weep. The Shampoo Effect delivers exactly what it says and i mean that as the highest compliment.
let's talk about caroline lash. caroline. CAROLINE. an ambitious young woman insinuating herself into a tight-knit Greenhead, MA friend group? the way i sat up straighter. the second she fell for van — fleece-wearing, kayak-paddling, border-collie-energy van — i knew we were in for it. and then bailey shows up and the whole group starts to crack and i was just. eating. it.
what jackson does so well (and what she also did in pineapple street) is write characters who are deeply, almost embarrassingly human. they're petty. they're insecure. they're clinging to the dynamics they had at 22 while pushing strollers around a marsh. the multi-pov was the move here — getting inside van's, bailey's, augusta's, and fran's heads in addition to caroline's gave the whole thing this kaleidoscopic quality where nobody's the villain and EVERYBODY'S the villain depending on the chapter. very succession-coded in that respect, even though tonally it's lighter.
also: the new england setting?? marshes, houseboats, that very specific old-money coastal energy?? she nailed it. you can practically smell the salt and feel the sand in your tote bag. i'm a sucker for any book that treats setting like a character and greenhead absolutely is one.
is it groundbreaking literary fiction? no, and it's not trying to be. but it's sharper and more observant than the typical breezy summer read — there's actual interiority here, actual ache underneath all the late-night parties and toddler chaos. the "dawn of midlife" framing hit harder than i expected. growing up despite yourself is its own little tragedy and jackson gets that.
knocking off a star because the back half moves SO fast i wanted a beat to sit with some of the fallout, and a couple of the side characters could've used a little more room to breathe. but honestly? minor.
perfect beach read for people who want something dishy with a little bite. if you liked pineapple street, magnolia parks, or anything coco mellors has ever written, clear your weekend.
thank you so much to penguin/random house and netgalley for the arc!! 🩷
let's talk about caroline lash. caroline. CAROLINE. an ambitious young woman insinuating herself into a tight-knit Greenhead, MA friend group? the way i sat up straighter. the second she fell for van — fleece-wearing, kayak-paddling, border-collie-energy van — i knew we were in for it. and then bailey shows up and the whole group starts to crack and i was just. eating. it.
what jackson does so well (and what she also did in pineapple street) is write characters who are deeply, almost embarrassingly human. they're petty. they're insecure. they're clinging to the dynamics they had at 22 while pushing strollers around a marsh. the multi-pov was the move here — getting inside van's, bailey's, augusta's, and fran's heads in addition to caroline's gave the whole thing this kaleidoscopic quality where nobody's the villain and EVERYBODY'S the villain depending on the chapter. very succession-coded in that respect, even though tonally it's lighter.
also: the new england setting?? marshes, houseboats, that very specific old-money coastal energy?? she nailed it. you can practically smell the salt and feel the sand in your tote bag. i'm a sucker for any book that treats setting like a character and greenhead absolutely is one.
is it groundbreaking literary fiction? no, and it's not trying to be. but it's sharper and more observant than the typical breezy summer read — there's actual interiority here, actual ache underneath all the late-night parties and toddler chaos. the "dawn of midlife" framing hit harder than i expected. growing up despite yourself is its own little tragedy and jackson gets that.
knocking off a star because the back half moves SO fast i wanted a beat to sit with some of the fallout, and a couple of the side characters could've used a little more room to breathe. but honestly? minor.
perfect beach read for people who want something dishy with a little bite. if you liked pineapple street, magnolia parks, or anything coco mellors has ever written, clear your weekend.
thank you so much to penguin/random house and netgalley for the arc!! 🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
The Shampoo Effect follows Caroline Lash who arrives in Greenhead to work on her writing. She soon falls for the New England way of life as well as Van Whittaker. Caroline meets Van’s friends, Augusta who is uptight and married to Colin, Fran who has to deal with all of her family’s problems and is married to RJ and Bailey who is an attractive, confident woman pregnant with Van’s baby. Caroline desperately tries to fit in with Van’s group and joins them on houseboats and beaches. Caroline knows she is the odd one out though and as friendships and marriages start to fracture, Caroline isn’t sure where she fits in Van’s world and how they can be together when he’s having a baby with someone else.
For the first 15% of this book I really struggled to connect with this so I left the book and didn’t pick it up again until a week later. I’m so glad I gave this a second chance because I loved this so much and this is a new favourite book for me. I loved each POV and there is something to connect to with Caroline, Bailey, Augusta and Fran. This book is such a summer read and I had the best time reading this. I didn’t love this author’s debut book, Pineapple Street and I think this author has made a huge improvement in their writing and character development. I urge everyone to give this a go and every time I think of this book I just feel so much joy and comfort. I will be recommending this book and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long while.
‘Back in high school, when they all started drinking and going out, they became obsessed with “the shampoo effect.” When they had a big night of partying and followed it with a beer the next morning, they could get drunk again in an instant, the way a second squirt of sham‑ poo in the shower produced outsized suds. It was because the alcohol hadn’t been fully metabolized, because instead of starting with a blood alcohol content of zero they were really starting with .03 or something. Fran thought about the shampoo effect at moments like this, and the way it applied to so many interpersonal dynamics—the way that in these old relationships nobody was ever really working from a clean slate, new feelings were built on old feelings.’
The Shampoo Effect follows Caroline Lash who arrives in Greenhead to work on her writing. She soon falls for the New England way of life as well as Van Whittaker. Caroline meets Van’s friends, Augusta who is uptight and married to Colin, Fran who has to deal with all of her family’s problems and is married to RJ and Bailey who is an attractive, confident woman pregnant with Van’s baby. Caroline desperately tries to fit in with Van’s group and joins them on houseboats and beaches. Caroline knows she is the odd one out though and as friendships and marriages start to fracture, Caroline isn’t sure where she fits in Van’s world and how they can be together when he’s having a baby with someone else.
For the first 15% of this book I really struggled to connect with this so I left the book and didn’t pick it up again until a week later. I’m so glad I gave this a second chance because I loved this so much and this is a new favourite book for me. I loved each POV and there is something to connect to with Caroline, Bailey, Augusta and Fran. This book is such a summer read and I had the best time reading this. I didn’t love this author’s debut book, Pineapple Street and I think this author has made a huge improvement in their writing and character development. I urge everyone to give this a go and every time I think of this book I just feel so much joy and comfort. I will be recommending this book and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long while.
‘Back in high school, when they all started drinking and going out, they became obsessed with “the shampoo effect.” When they had a big night of partying and followed it with a beer the next morning, they could get drunk again in an instant, the way a second squirt of sham‑ poo in the shower produced outsized suds. It was because the alcohol hadn’t been fully metabolized, because instead of starting with a blood alcohol content of zero they were really starting with .03 or something. Fran thought about the shampoo effect at moments like this, and the way it applied to so many interpersonal dynamics—the way that in these old relationships nobody was ever really working from a clean slate, new feelings were built on old feelings.’
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I had to sum this one up in a single sentence, I’d call it an intimate look at a group of messy millennials being forced to confront adulthood whether they’re ready for it or not. But that barely scratches the surface, because besides the chaos, humor, and questionable life choices, there’s a lot more going on.
This is very much a character-driven slow burn.
While its very much an ensemble cast, Caroline, as the lead FMC, is such an interesting layered character. At first, it’s easy to dismiss her as a privileged nepo baby, someone who seems to have one foot in the publishing world thanks in part to her famous author mother. Then she comes across as a little self-important, believing one successful article might be enough to launch her into literary stardom. But the deeper I got, the more my feelings shifted. Watching her try to find her place within a tight-knit friendship group that clearly saw her as an outsider made her much harder to judge. So when an article she writes exposes buried secrets and threatens to tear the group apart, you’re left questioning whether Caroline acted out of revenge or simply doing what writers do best, turning her observations into print.
Told through multiple points of view, the story gives you a front-row seat to all the cracks, tensions, and dysfunction this group has been desperately trying to keep hidden.
What you’ll find
✨Messy friendships – lifelong bonds tested by jealousy, secrets, and shifting loyalties.
⭐️Small-town drama – a close-knit seaside community where everyone knows everyone’s business.
✨Complicated relationships – love triangles, exes, pregnancies, and emotional fallout.
⭐️Sharp social commentary – privilege, ambition, class, and the realities of growing up.
✨Multiple POVs – an inside look at the cracks, dysfunction, and hidden tensions within the group.
This one sits perfectly in the beach read category for me. It’s easy to sink into, moves at a steady, engaging pace, and drops you into a beautiful seaside setting filled with complicated, messy lives you can’t help but follow.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book that will be published in June.
This is very much a character-driven slow burn.
While its very much an ensemble cast, Caroline, as the lead FMC, is such an interesting layered character. At first, it’s easy to dismiss her as a privileged nepo baby, someone who seems to have one foot in the publishing world thanks in part to her famous author mother. Then she comes across as a little self-important, believing one successful article might be enough to launch her into literary stardom. But the deeper I got, the more my feelings shifted. Watching her try to find her place within a tight-knit friendship group that clearly saw her as an outsider made her much harder to judge. So when an article she writes exposes buried secrets and threatens to tear the group apart, you’re left questioning whether Caroline acted out of revenge or simply doing what writers do best, turning her observations into print.
Told through multiple points of view, the story gives you a front-row seat to all the cracks, tensions, and dysfunction this group has been desperately trying to keep hidden.
What you’ll find
✨Messy friendships – lifelong bonds tested by jealousy, secrets, and shifting loyalties.
⭐️Small-town drama – a close-knit seaside community where everyone knows everyone’s business.
✨Complicated relationships – love triangles, exes, pregnancies, and emotional fallout.
⭐️Sharp social commentary – privilege, ambition, class, and the realities of growing up.
✨Multiple POVs – an inside look at the cracks, dysfunction, and hidden tensions within the group.
This one sits perfectly in the beach read category for me. It’s easy to sink into, moves at a steady, engaging pace, and drops you into a beautiful seaside setting filled with complicated, messy lives you can’t help but follow.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book that will be published in June.
May 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this sophomore novel from Jenny Jackson, even more so than PINEAPPLE STREET. It’s a little too early in the year to predict if it will make my Top 10 of the year. Even if it doesn’t make that list, I think it will definitely be in my Top 20.
Caroline Lash is the daughter of a bestselling novelist in NYC. When her writing lands in The New Yorker, she quits her job and gets a writer’s residency in a beach town in Massachusetts. Once there, she starts dating environmentalist Van and infiltrates his friend group. At that point, the POV rotates from Caroline to his female friends Augusta, Fran, and Bailey. When there’s a life shake-up, things will be forever changed with this group of friends.
🩷 I found all of these characters interesting. Yes, they are all well-off and have the privilege that comes with it. Even more than that, they each have strengths and weaknesses that I think are captured well.
🩷 The friend group dynamics feel very real.
🩷 The writing was very propulsive. Despite this being very much a character-driven book instead of a plot-driven book, I was turning the pages quickly.
⛔️ I personally don’t like this title. The title is explained within the novel, but I still don’t like it.
⛔️ There’s a secret that one of the friends is keeping from their spouse that comes to light later in the novel. I’m a bit suspicious that a secret to this extent could have stayed hidden for so long.
This is a great summer novel. (Doesn’t the cover indicate it would be perfect for your beach bag?? 🙂) It has depth, but it’s not overly literary. To me, this had a similar vibe to THE RACHEL INCIDENT, which I loved.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes June 30, 2026.
#jennyjackson #theshampooeffect #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is a certain pleasure in a novel that knows exactly what it is, and Jenny Jackson's The Shampoo Effect arrives on the shelf with the confidence of a conditioner that promises to work on the third wash. Lather, rinse, repeat: boy meets girl, sparks fly, complications ensue. For readers who enjoy the genre, this is a perfectly serviceable bottle of something familiar.
At the novel's centre is a heroine whose self-doubt follows her like a cloud, understandable, given the social weather around her. A possessive, entangled friendship group crackles with shared history and unspoken allegiances, while a fiercely competitive mother adds another layer of pressure to an already strained sense of self. It is fertile ground, and Jackson populates it with characters who feel recognisable, if not always surprising.
The romance itself is well-handled in the early chapters, with an easy chemistry that makes the pages turn. The friendship dynamics, for all their familiarity, are drawn with enough specificity to hold interest. Where the novel stumbles is in its predictability; a reader versed in the genre will see each beat arriving from some distance away, and the emotional stakes rarely climb high enough to compensate.
Jackson does reach for something more contemporary in her treatment of social media backlash; a timely thread that injects genuine tension into the second half. The problem is that this particular plot device has become a well-worn staple of modern fiction, and readers who have encountered it once or twice before may find it offering diminishing returns. It is current without quite being fresh.
Enjoyable and easy to read in a weekend sitting, The Shampoo Effect will find its audience among those who want an emotionally warm story with a modern sensibility. Those seeking something that confounds expectation may be left reaching for a different shelf.
At the novel's centre is a heroine whose self-doubt follows her like a cloud, understandable, given the social weather around her. A possessive, entangled friendship group crackles with shared history and unspoken allegiances, while a fiercely competitive mother adds another layer of pressure to an already strained sense of self. It is fertile ground, and Jackson populates it with characters who feel recognisable, if not always surprising.
The romance itself is well-handled in the early chapters, with an easy chemistry that makes the pages turn. The friendship dynamics, for all their familiarity, are drawn with enough specificity to hold interest. Where the novel stumbles is in its predictability; a reader versed in the genre will see each beat arriving from some distance away, and the emotional stakes rarely climb high enough to compensate.
Jackson does reach for something more contemporary in her treatment of social media backlash; a timely thread that injects genuine tension into the second half. The problem is that this particular plot device has become a well-worn staple of modern fiction, and readers who have encountered it once or twice before may find it offering diminishing returns. It is current without quite being fresh.
Enjoyable and easy to read in a weekend sitting, The Shampoo Effect will find its audience among those who want an emotionally warm story with a modern sensibility. Those seeking something that confounds expectation may be left reaching for a different shelf.
May 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The cleverness of the title alone made me curious about The Shampoo Effect and you really have to read the book to understand what it symbolizes.
The story follows Caroline, a young writer and the daughter of a famous author who moves to a coastal Massachusetts town where she meets Van and becomes entangled in an intense lifelong friend group, only to discover how much history, resentment, loyalty, and emotional baggage exists beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect lives.
The setting was easily one of my favorite parts of the book and the writing itself is genuinely so beautiful. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs and thought the characters were compelling in their own messy, frustrating ways. It started so strong that I was completely invested and excited to see where everything would go and I wanted to know more but unfortunately, that “more” I kept waiting for never fully happened for me. I wanted more substance, more emotional weight, more tension and drama holding the story together...just more depth overall.
The middle especially felt dull and dragged at times, and I found myself wanting to skim through certain sections because the story started to feel flat rather than emotionally gripping. This is the story of outsider vs insider, friendships, buried resentments, belonging, toxic dynamics, and growing up. The writing is what kept me reading even if it didn’t completely deliver the emotional impact I hoped for.
A big Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the gifted ARC. All opinions are mine.
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The cleverness of the title alone made me curious about The Shampoo Effect and you really have to read the book to understand what it symbolizes.
The story follows Caroline, a young writer and the daughter of a famous author who moves to a coastal Massachusetts town where she meets Van and becomes entangled in an intense lifelong friend group, only to discover how much history, resentment, loyalty, and emotional baggage exists beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect lives.
The setting was easily one of my favorite parts of the book and the writing itself is genuinely so beautiful. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs and thought the characters were compelling in their own messy, frustrating ways. It started so strong that I was completely invested and excited to see where everything would go and I wanted to know more but unfortunately, that “more” I kept waiting for never fully happened for me. I wanted more substance, more emotional weight, more tension and drama holding the story together...just more depth overall.
The middle especially felt dull and dragged at times, and I found myself wanting to skim through certain sections because the story started to feel flat rather than emotionally gripping. This is the story of outsider vs insider, friendships, buried resentments, belonging, toxic dynamics, and growing up. The writing is what kept me reading even if it didn’t completely deliver the emotional impact I hoped for.
A big Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the gifted ARC. All opinions are mine.
NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shampoo Effect is, in my opinion, a perfect book for readers who enjoy literary fiction centered on a group of friends (and not all of them likable) and their daily lives, for a certain period of time. It has a loooot of drama, gossip, cute moments with kids, a beach setting and a protagonist who is a writer. And this writer will eventually write a story that will spill all the tea behind the 'perfect' facade these people try to display to everyone else.
I loooved this book! Usually I don't care for all the characters when a book brings a wide range of characters or POVs. But in this case, I loved following the flawed lives of every single character on this book. I could empathise with all of them, for different reasons and in different moments. Jenny Jackson's writing is so enganging that I felt completely immersed in these characters' lives. If I have one complaint is that, to me, this book felt too short. I wanted more of it. More of these fascinating (yet, flawed and messy) characters.
Caroline Lash is easily my favourite character in this book, and her relationship with her mother - who is a famous writer - was so addictive to follow.
A couple years ago I read this author's debut novel and I liked it. I didn't connect strongly to the characters or struggles in that book, but I enjoyed Jackson's writing. With this book, her sophomore novel, in my opinion she is even better.
I highly recommend this book to any readers who are into literary fiction with messy, flawed characters with juicy secrets to hide.
Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loooved this book! Usually I don't care for all the characters when a book brings a wide range of characters or POVs. But in this case, I loved following the flawed lives of every single character on this book. I could empathise with all of them, for different reasons and in different moments. Jenny Jackson's writing is so enganging that I felt completely immersed in these characters' lives. If I have one complaint is that, to me, this book felt too short. I wanted more of it. More of these fascinating (yet, flawed and messy) characters.
Caroline Lash is easily my favourite character in this book, and her relationship with her mother - who is a famous writer - was so addictive to follow.
A couple years ago I read this author's debut novel and I liked it. I didn't connect strongly to the characters or struggles in that book, but I enjoyed Jackson's writing. With this book, her sophomore novel, in my opinion she is even better.
I highly recommend this book to any readers who are into literary fiction with messy, flawed characters with juicy secrets to hide.
Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.
I went into this novel kind of blind, meaning I didn’t really know the plot. I liked the author's other novel, Pineapple Street, and requested the ARC of this one. I enjoy Jenny Jackson’s writing style, she keeps me interested in the story and wanting to stay engaged. Each chapter is told from a female character’s point of view. This book has four main female characters, each completely different. I enjoyed the character development so much.
The story dealt with love, friendship, money, family dynamics, addiction, and sexuality. The story started strong but I wasn’t sure who the protagonist should be. I quickly realized each character had their own story, they intertwined with each other to form the larger story. In the middle, I got concerned. The story felt like it was going to get preachy with the gender identity and sexuality aspects. I feel like that subject is thrown into plots nowadays for the sake of being politically correct. This, in my opinion, was well written, very relevant to the story, and I found that aspect very interesting. The end of the story was wrapped up beautifully. It felt like a real family/friendship story with all the flaws. The characters developed and came out stronger because of their struggles. I absolutely loved the way this novel ended.
I read the acknowledgements at the end. The famous author is loosely based on John Updike and his book Couples. This novel got me interested in reading his book. I definitely recommend The Shampoo Effect and will request that it be purchased for the library.
I went into this novel kind of blind, meaning I didn’t really know the plot. I liked the author's other novel, Pineapple Street, and requested the ARC of this one. I enjoy Jenny Jackson’s writing style, she keeps me interested in the story and wanting to stay engaged. Each chapter is told from a female character’s point of view. This book has four main female characters, each completely different. I enjoyed the character development so much.
The story dealt with love, friendship, money, family dynamics, addiction, and sexuality. The story started strong but I wasn’t sure who the protagonist should be. I quickly realized each character had their own story, they intertwined with each other to form the larger story. In the middle, I got concerned. The story felt like it was going to get preachy with the gender identity and sexuality aspects. I feel like that subject is thrown into plots nowadays for the sake of being politically correct. This, in my opinion, was well written, very relevant to the story, and I found that aspect very interesting. The end of the story was wrapped up beautifully. It felt like a real family/friendship story with all the flaws. The characters developed and came out stronger because of their struggles. I absolutely loved the way this novel ended.
I read the acknowledgements at the end. The famous author is loosely based on John Updike and his book Couples. This novel got me interested in reading his book. I definitely recommend The Shampoo Effect and will request that it be purchased for the library.
May 12, 2026
3.5 or 4? I'm not sure where I land. And I'm not sure what niche this book lands in either. In some ways, it is very much a literary fiction. In other ways, it's sort of a summery beach read. I didn't find it satisfying from either of those perspectives, which was surprising, given how much I was enjoying it at the 30% mark.
The Shampoo Effect follows a group friends in New England who have known each other since high school. The story starts from the POV of an outsider: Caroline moves to town for a writing retreat, meets one of these friends (Van), and falls in love with him. Unfortunately for her (and for him, really), his on-and-off girlfriend Bailey, from back in school, finds out she's pregnant from an 'on again' night that occurred before Caroline ever showed up.
Everyone else in this book also has their story. Bailey's friends August and Fran are also married with children, and each has their own marital woes. It's an ensemble book but only from the POV of the women, which normally, I would be 100% on board with. But strangely enough, I felt I needed more of the men in this story?? They actually had a whole lot of potential, and I think learning more about them would have made the women's side feel even richer.
My biggest gripe about this book is just that about 50% of the way through the book I was asking myself...so what? It's slow-paced, with great character details, but it felt like things were leading somewhere, and it just took way too long to get where it was going. Plus, I wasn't even really happy with where it went in the end. There were points where it veered far to close to becoming cliche, and though it managed to avoid it, it was still just...too close.
Not a bad book - I just wanted more!
Thanks to the publisher for the eARC.
The Shampoo Effect follows a group friends in New England who have known each other since high school. The story starts from the POV of an outsider: Caroline moves to town for a writing retreat, meets one of these friends (Van), and falls in love with him. Unfortunately for her (and for him, really), his on-and-off girlfriend Bailey, from back in school, finds out she's pregnant from an 'on again' night that occurred before Caroline ever showed up.
Everyone else in this book also has their story. Bailey's friends August and Fran are also married with children, and each has their own marital woes. It's an ensemble book but only from the POV of the women, which normally, I would be 100% on board with. But strangely enough, I felt I needed more of the men in this story?? They actually had a whole lot of potential, and I think learning more about them would have made the women's side feel even richer.
My biggest gripe about this book is just that about 50% of the way through the book I was asking myself...so what? It's slow-paced, with great character details, but it felt like things were leading somewhere, and it just took way too long to get where it was going. Plus, I wasn't even really happy with where it went in the end. There were points where it veered far to close to becoming cliche, and though it managed to avoid it, it was still just...too close.
Not a bad book - I just wanted more!
Thanks to the publisher for the eARC.
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