Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann
Release date: 2 July 2026
Back cover blurb: 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?
I adored Jenny Jackson's debut, Pineapple Street, and was super excited for her second novel. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! A beautifully written novel about love and friendship...
When you are young adults and still friends with those you went to school with and have spent half of your life with, it seems like your friendship group is inpenetrable. And to a certain extent, it might be.
When Caroline Lash, daughter of the famous author Gwendoline Lash moves to Greenhead on a writing retreat she is doing so solely because she doesn't want to be accused of nepotism. She is not her Mother. They are very different people.
On the train to New England, Caroline first crosses paths with a man she later learns is Van Whittaker. Local to Greenhead, and essential to Caroline. She quickly falls head over heels for him. He is just so different from any other man she has met, or dated.
Quickly they become inseperable, and then he introduces her to his friends. Bailey, Fran, Augusta, Colin, Eben, Mark and RJ. These people have known each other since they were tiny. Their friendship group wants to be welcoming, you can tell this by how nice they are being. But ultimately they make Caroline feel like an outsider.
Which let's be honest. She is.
She doesn't know Greenhead, wasn't bought up there. And these guys have a lot of history. Some more than most. Particularly Van and Bailey, who hooked up during in High School, and have continued on and off ever since.
And then Van drops a bombshell.
Bailey is pregnant and Van is the Father. He is adamant that they are not in love. They slept together just one time recently prior to Caroline's arrival in Greenhead. They're not in a relationship, and don't intend to be. Caroline shouldn't feel threatened.
But she does..
Is this the start of everything unravelling? Or has Caroline found her happy ever after?
The Shampoo Effect is available now Amazon online and all good book shops.
Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgally in exchange for an honest review.