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The Shampoo Effect
- Author
- Jenny Jackson
- Narrator
- Marin Ireland
- Publisher
- Cornerstone
- Publish Date
- 2 July 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 58 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK
A VOGUE 'BEST BOOK OF 2026
When writer Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, she falls immediately for its scenic beaches and New England charm – and even harder for Van Whittaker, a gorgeous, fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast.
She meets his friends: Augusta, old money and uptight; Fran, drowning in everyone else’s problems whilst keeping two kids (and an inebriated husband) afloat; and Bailey, who is sexy, confident . . . and inconveniently pregnant with Van’s child.
Determined nothing will dull the shine of her new romance, Caroline joins the friends as they run wild through Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, gossiping on beaches while their children paddle, and playing risky games.
It seems the fun will last forever – until it doesn’t. As decades-old friendships and marriages begin to fracture, Caroline’s place in their world is called into question. And with all the group’s most tightly held secrets at stake, who knows what might come out?
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, and old friends finally growing up – despite all their best efforts.
'The platonic ideal of a beach read: fun and fast-paced' New York Times
'An absolute DELIGHT . . . a must, must, must for your summer reading list' ELIN HILDERBRAND, New York Times bestselling author of THE FIVE STAR WEEKEND
‘A delicious, unputdownable portrait of a group of friends navigating love, marriage, and young parenthood…I loved it.’ BELLE BURDEN, bestselling author of STRANGERS
© Jenny Jackson 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
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I devoured The Shampoo Effect. Jackson has a rare knack for capturing the intensity of old friendships and the way love, jealousy, money, and history combust until everyone is behaving (deliciously) badly. It's funny, drama-fueled, and full of Jackson's breezy wit, but what stayed with me most was how honestly and insightfully it captures the grit beneath the gloss of these characters. A brilliant story of marriage, motherhood, and the difficult work of breaking old patterns to become someone new
Coco Mellors, New York Times bestselling author of BLUE SISTERS
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A gorgeous story
Woman and Home
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I binged The Shampoo Effect and am now bereft and also jealous. Jenny Jackson has written a book that's so breezily readable and laugh-out-loud funny while excavating the deepest truths about motherhood, family, and forgiveness. What an unforgettable cast of characters. What an accomplishment.
Catherine Newman, author of WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS
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An absolute DELIGHT. This book has everything I love in a beach read: a coastal setting, multiple points of view, compelling storylines, and a delicious specificity to the writing that makes every single sentence feel fresh and alive. Jenny Jackson’s The Shampoo Effect is a must, must, must for your summer reading list.
Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of SWAN SONG
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Funny, sharp, and charming
Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of ONE ITALIAN SUMMER
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The Shampoo Effect is a delicious, unputdownable portrait of a group of friends navigating love, marriage, and young parenthood. Jackson's characters are fully drawn, complex and flawed, each traveling a true arc of growth, arriving in the final pages at a deeper understanding of the ties that bind them to one another. I loved it
Belle Burden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of STRANGERS
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Juicy
Good Housekeeping
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One of the smartest, funniest, and most astute novels I've ever read . . . presented by Jenny Jackson with a combination of great humour and profound wistfulness. I loved this novel. You will, too.
Chris Bohjalian, author of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT and THE AMATEUR
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Warm, witty, sharp and clever – it's the perfect smart summer book. Absolutely delicious!
Daisy Buchanan, author of CAREERING
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Smart, funny, and perceptive, Jenny Jackson captures the messiness of modern relationships with rare precision. THE SHAMPOO EFFECT is an addictive, beautifully observed read.
Louise O'Neill, author of ASKING FOR IT
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Jenny Jackson
- Narrator
- Marin Ireland
- Duration
- 9 hours 58 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781804957608
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Cornerstone
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Contemporary lifestyle fiction, Family life fiction / Stories about family, Narrative theme: love / relationships
Synopsis
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICKA VOGUE 'BEST BOOK OF 2026When writer Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, she falls immediately for its scenic beaches and New England charm – and even harder for Van Whittaker, a gorgeous, fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast.She meets his friends: Augusta, old money and uptight; Fran, drowning in everyone else’s problems whilst keeping two kids (and an inebriated husband) afloat; and Bailey, who is sexy, confident . . . and inconveniently pregnant with Van’s child.Determined nothing will dull the shine of her new romance, Caroline joins the friends as they run wild through Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, gossiping on beaches while their children paddle, and playing risky games.It seems the fun will last forever – until it doesn’t. As decades-old friendships and marriages begin to fracture, Caroline’s place in their world is called into question. And with all the group’s most tightly held secrets at stake, who knows what might come out?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, and old friends finally growing up – despite all their best efforts.'The platonic ideal of a beach read: fun and fast-paced' New York Times'An absolute DELIGHT . . . a must, must, must for your summer reading list' ELIN HILDERBRAND, New York Times bestselling author of THE FIVE STAR WEEKEND‘A delicious, unputdownable portrait of a group of friends navigating love, marriage, and young parenthood…I loved it.’ BELLE BURDEN, bestselling author of STRANGERS© Jenny Jackson 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
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