The Shampoo Effect

I loved this one.

The Shampoo Effect was such an easy, enjoyable read, but underneath the fun is something that hit a little harder than I expected: those high school wounds that somehow have a way of following us long after we graduate.

And as the kids say… close the yearbook. 😂

The character development was one of my favorite parts of the book. Caroline especially got to me. There were moments when I almost felt her pain, that awful combination of embarrassment, hurt and insecurity that comes with being bullied when you're young and striving to find your place in the world. I found myself feeling genuinely bad for her, even years later as she was trying to figure out who she was outside of those experiences.

Then there’s Van.

I understood that he was in a complicated, conflicted situation, and I could see why he made some of the choices he did. But did I love the way he handled it?

No, Van. No, I did not. 

And honestly, that’s part of what made the book work for me. The characters aren’t perfect. They make questionable choices. They carry old baggage. They make you want to reach into the book and say, “Okay, we need to talk about this.”

And let's just talk about Bailey, Fran and Augusta. Not sure we want to be 'in' that group. 

But despite some of the heavier emotions underneath it all, this still felt like a fun, light read, the kind you can fly through on a weekend, take on vacation or toss in your bag for an afternoon by the pool.

So cheers to celebrating friendship, celebrating getting older and wiser -so, let's break out Prosecco for this one! 🍾 

Pour the Prosecco.

Something bubbly, bright and uncomplicated feels exactly right here. This isn't a book that needs a serious, brooding glass of Cabernet. It needs bubbles, a comfy chair and maybe a friend nearby so you have someone to say, “Okay, but VAN…” to when you finish.

Cheers, friends! 🥂