The Shampoo Effect: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
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“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.
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Community Reviews
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson.
Jenny Jackson’s, The Shampoo Effect, delivers a contemporary and witty coming-of-age story about fresh starts and old baggage. As writer Caroline Lash seeks a fresh start away from the influence of her famous novelist mother in New York, Caroline accepts an eighteen month writing fellowship at a famous writer’s beach house in Greenhead, Massachusetts.
There, she falls for environmental scientist Van Whittaker, a local kayaking enthusiast who wears a great deal of fleece, constantly picks up litter and debris everywhere he goes, and has the personality of a “Border collie” (87). His easy-going nature draws Carolyn in, but his incredibly tightknit childhood friend group (which includes his ex-girlfriend, Bailey) ices Carolyn out, and when Bailey announces a surprise pregnancy, their entire group dynamic is thrown into chaos.
The book's title stems from the idea that the second lather of shampoo is always richer and frothier than the first because of the built-up residue. In Greenhead, every interaction between old friends and new lovers is weighed down by years of history, secret history, and compounding emotional drama.
While Jackson’s sharp prose and vivid coastal backdrop initially charm, the main drawback is that the narrative pacing drags significantly throughout the middle chapters. Additionally, the central romance between Caroline and Van is so very disappointing given Van’s noticeable absence of passion and commitment toward Caroline throughout their relationship. Compounding this, the characters consistently interact without healthy moral or ethical boundaries, making questionable choices that reveal an appalling lack of respect for one another and themselves in general.
Thankfully, by the end, the shampoo effect brings about the needed growth in the characters, enabling them to communicate their newly realized needs to one another and the group itself, creating healthier adult relationships.
I wouldn't say this was the best book I ever read but it is definitely the book I will compared to all the Ann Pachetts style books to say THIS is how it should be done. I loved the flow of the storyline, the alternating chapter perspectives, and how it all tied together for a satisfying end. Under the premises of a close knit group of east coast friends (who have known each other throughout childhood and school) are on their traditional coastal summer getaway. It all starts as 1 brings in an outsider as their new girlfriend and she tries to socialize and mingle into the group only to discover that their history is more cliquey than she anticipated. How she goes to handle it and how the couples face their realities, is what makes this a great beach or chalet read. It was entertaining, and flowed like a storyline that empathizes you to each character.
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