The Shampoo Effect

Brought to you by Penguin. When writer Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead from New York City, 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. Van has always run with the same crowd: Augusta, old money and uptight; Fran, drowning in everyone else’s problems whilst keeping two kids (and a perpetually stoned 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 as their children play, and initiating risky games with one another, both physical and emotional. 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 will come out in the wash? A dazzling novel as juicy as it is incisive, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT is a hilarious, emotionally generous look at friendship, sexuality and relationships today. © Jenny Jackson 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026