Jenny Jackson joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel, THE SHAMPOO EFFECT, which was announced as July's "Read with Jenna" Book Club pick on the day of this interview. Set in a seaside Massachusetts town inspired by Ipswich, where Jenny grew up, the book explores themes of friendship, romantic entanglement, generational differences, imposter syndrome, and coming of age in one's 30s.
Jenny talks about her writing process and balancing her role as Vice President and Editorial Director of Fiction at Alfred A. Knopf with her writing career. Carol notes the book's layered, unfolding mystery quality, with readers constantly wondering about character connections and motivations. Jenny knew key character traits from the start — Caroline's complicated relationship with her mother, Bailey's fierce independence, Augusta's traditional old-money conservatism, and Fran's exasperated, low-maintenance personality (partly inspired by her best friend). Rotating points of view is central to Jenny's authorial voice and thematic goals, and the characters' backstories were largely established before writing.
Jenny discusses how the book captures shifting attitudes toward sexuality and parenting across generations. And she also shares the origins of the title. Carol selected THE SHAMPOO EFFECT as a Bookreporter Bets On pick, just as she did Jenny's debut novel, PINEAPPLE STREET.
Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews:
Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/d554V2bGHSQ
Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0
Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE
Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs
Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ
Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw
Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A
Devi S. Laskar: https://youtu.be/FR-6fGxBUS4
Allison Pataki: https://youtu.be/5I4q_OFCiTg
Patricia Finn: https://youtu.be/QhZagqICgU4
Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events:
Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ
Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE
Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc
Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY
Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto
Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0
Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/
FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter
Website: https://www.bookreporter.com
Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald
Edited by Jordan Redd Productions
