The Shampoo Effect A Novel by Jenny Jackson

A Juicy, Witty Novel of Friendship, Secrets, and Small-Town Chaos from the Bestselling Author of Pineapple Street

In The Shampoo Effect, New York Times bestselling author Jenny Jackson delivers a dazzlingly funny, sexy, and astute story of love, money, friendship, and the messy business of growing up — even when you’re already supposed to be an adult.

When ambitious young writer Caroline Lash arrives in the picturesque coastal town of Greenhead, Massachusetts, for an 18-month residency, she falls hard for local guy Van Whittaker and his tight-knit crew of lifelong friends. Soon she’s swept into their world of late-night parties, houseboat hangs, sun-drenched days with small children, and the easy rhythm of old friendships that feel like family.

But when Van’s ex-girlfriend Bailey discovers she’s pregnant with his child, the delicate balance of the group shatters. Caroline is cast out — and in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak, she does something that exposes long-buried secrets and works the entire town into a lather.

Dazzlingly funny and full of Jackson’s signature breezy wit, The Shampoo Effect is a frothy yet sharp portrait of midlife friendships, the pressures of modern parenting, and what happens when an outsider shakes everything up.