Mini Reviews: New Beach Reads

 

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Pineapple Street

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "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.

 

Caroline Lash is relocating to the close-knit seaside community of Greenhead, MA, after winning the opportunity to serve as a residency writer. While there, she falls for Van, an environmentalist and super outdoorsy kind of guy, despite their differences, as she is a city girl through and through. The more she hangs out with Van, the more she is privy to his friend group, all their hangouts, whether at beaches or bars, and their secrets, too, as they are dysfunctional. Things are smooth sailing until Van realizes that his ex-girlfriend, Bailey, is pregnant with his baby. But he assures Caroline that he wants to be with her and will platonically support his lifelong friend and on-again-off-again girlfriend, Bailey. There's more drama amongst their friend group, and things get challenging between Van and Caroline, leaving her to question whether they have what it takes to make this work. The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson is pure beach read fun. If you love a dysfunctional friend group and lots of drama, look no further. 
 
Jackson alternates points of view from each friend in The Shampoo Effect, so readers get a behind-the-scenes look into the character's lives and their problems. Each character is dealing with issues, whether it be Bailey's pregnancy, Augusta's marriage issues, Fran's parenthood strife and issues with aging parents, and more. They have always tackled these issues together as friends, but the arrival of Caroline upends their close-knit group. It's always fun when an outsider comes into the circle and really shakes things up, and that is what happens in The Shampoo Effect. While a lot of it felt like rich people problems, that is exactly what I wanted on a hot summer weekend. 
 

 

 

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren 

Pages: 352

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: July 24, 2026 

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love and Other Words,

The Paradise Problem, The Unhoneymooners

and Twice in a Blue Moon 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

 

 
Dr. Emery Martin is living a perfect life at first glance. She is married to her love, Luca; she is working a meaningful job with medical-grade lasers; and she is living in Southern California. Except her job isn't really with lasers, and she hasn't even told her husband. Emery works at a San Diego lab that is working on bringing animals back from the dead; it's top secret, so she can't even talk about it with Luca. Her obsession with work is taking its toll on their marriage, and Luca is starting to get frustrated. On the night of their anniversary dinner (which she forgot about!), Luca gets into an accident, and Emery witnesses it. She administers this drug (which hasn't been tried on humans yet) and saves Luca's life. But at what cost? He wakes up and has no recollection of her. Emery makes it a goal to appreciate him this time around and get him to remember the special love they shared. But things are never easy as that! Christina Lauren's The Romance Revival is a departure from their normal romance novels, as this involves a lot of STEM elements, some sci-fi, and even some aspects of a thriller.
 
One thing I always appreciate about Lauren's novels is the chemistry she creates between her characters. I really loved the romance between Emery and Luca in The Romance Revival. I enjoyed the way they met and their blossoming love. Luca is a fantastic male lead, and I know many of Lauren's fans will thoroughly enjoy him. While I didn’t mind the STEM details in the novel, there were times when they felt a bit over-the-top and unbelievable. This was especially true during the cat-and-mouse chase towards the end of the novel. I appreciate that Lauren tried something new here; while I enjoyed the adorable romance, I felt that other aspects of the novel fell short. Additionally, the cover led me to expect more beach read elements than were actually present. Am I right in thinking that? I still look forward to reading more of Lauren's romances in the future.

 

 

Have you read The Shampoo Effect or The Romance Revival? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.