Book ~ "The Shampoo Effect" (2026) Jenny Jackson

From Goodreads ~ 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. 

Caroline is a 28-year-old writer who leaves her job in New York and moves to a small coastal Massachusetts town for an 18-month writing fellowship. She is the daughter of a successful novelist and is trying to establish herself as a writer independently of her mother. Caroline meets Van, a local environmental scientist. The two begin a relationship and Caroline becomes involved with Van's close-knit circle of lifelong friends, which includes Bailey, Van's former girlfriend; Augusta, who is married to Colin; Fran, who is married to RJ; and Eben, Colin's brother and one of Van's closest friends.

Caroline's relationship with Van changes when Bailey reveals that she is pregnant with Van's child. The pregnancy is the result of Van and Bailey reconnecting shortly before Caroline began dating him. Van and Bailey attempt to establish a co-parenting arrangement, which leaves Caroline feeling isolated. As she becomes more shut out from the group, she writes a story based closely on these people and events surrounding her, changing names and details but leaving enough for the people involved to recognize themselves. When the story is published, it attracts a lot of attention but its success exposes secrets. 

I thought this story was okay, not great. It could have been tighter as it seemed to drag. It's written third person perspective in Caroline, Bailey, Augusta and Fran's voices (the chapters are labeled). I didn't really care about any of the characters. As a head's up, there is swearing, drug use and adult activity.