July 2026

I loved Jenny Jackson's debut, PINEAPPLE STREET, so I was excited to read her new novel, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT. This time the setting is seaside Massachusetts in a town called Greenhead, which is inspired by Ipswich, where Jenny grew up. Caroline is there for a writing fellowship and plans to get a long work of fiction done. Her mother is a bestselling thriller author, and Caroline has worked at a publishing house. But now she wants to be on the other side of it, as an author in her own right.

On the ferry ride over, Caroline encounters a young man, Van Whittaker, who she later learns has lived in Greenhead his entire life. Their whole “meet-cute” scene leads to another casual meeting and then some dates. Van has a close-knit group of friends who also are lifers in town. Through him, she comes to know them and is treated like an outsider right from the very start.

Things get complicated when Caroline learns that Bailey, a woman in the group who is pregnant, is carrying Van's baby. It was part of a hookup that has been going on for years. Bailey has always wanted to be a mom but not a wife. So Van is single but tied to her as the father of her child. It is portrayed as no big deal, until it is not.

The characters are well drawn, and we see Caroline's complicated relationship with her mother’s fierce independence, Augusta's traditional old-money conservatism, and Fran's exasperated, low-maintenance personality (partly inspired by Jenny's best friend). Rotating points of view give us a lot of insight into each woman and what makes her tick. We also get to see the men behind these women. Or are they just beside them?

There is an oh-so-gentle nod to John Updike that Jenny mentions in the Author's Note. 

The title did perplex me, but as Jenny described it, it made sense. It comes up a couple of times in the book --- and it works! To me, this is a perfect summer read. It is smart but also has the right vibe to keep you in a summer frame of mind.