THE SHAMPOO EFFECT
by Jenny Jackson

Caroline Lash is the daughter of a famous, celebrated writer, and she can't help but wonder whether her own modest success as a writer is the result of talent—or her mother's connections. When Caroline accepts a fellowship in a small Massachusetts town, she begins dating a local man whose close-knit circle of lifelong friends quickly draws her into a world of complicated relationships, old loyalties, and plenty of drama.

What follows is a smart, engaging, page-turning story about the dynamics of belonging and the consequences of being an outsider. Caroline's arrival prompts those on the inside to question the lives they've built, while forcing her to reconsider her own assumptions and limited worldview. The Shampoo Effect is an entertaining and insightful novel about friendship, privilege, ambition, and the ways one unexpected person can change everything.

-Karina

MAIN CHARACTERS

by Bobby Palmer

I thoroughly enjoyed this modern love story with its unique writing twist--third parties witness and comment on the passion and struggles our couple endure, but the reader is never allowed into the main characters' heads. How well can strangers infer, and those who know us best, truly understand what is going on in our hearts?

-Laura

SUNLIGHT FINDS YOU

by Laura Moriarty

Sunlight Finds You is a beautiful new novel that will break your heart, but in a way that feels authentic and without excess.

After the sudden death of her mother, seventeen year old Nora and her family move to St. Petersburg, Florida. Here she finds family, friends, and young love. What begins as a sweet high school love story, falls deep into layers of betrayal, secrecy, shame, and regret. The book spans nearly two decades and it is rich with flawed love, messy humanity, and rays of hope.

I really enjoyed Sunlight Finds You, and I think those who loved The Caretaker, Broken Country, and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, will love this one too.

-Katie

THE AMATEUR

by Chris Bohjalian



Mira is a young woman with a bright future ahead of her; she’s a fabulous golfer and headed to Yale but her life spirals downward when a golf ball she hits at the practice range kills a young caddy at her club. This novel is told as a memoir written by Mira 50 years after the accident that changed her forever. Part courtroom drama, part coming-of-age and an examination of power, privilege and blame. Don’t miss this winner by one of our favorite authors!

-Di

THE BRIGHT SIDE

by Sarah Damoff



The Burning Side is a beautifully written, emotional story about marriage, family and the things we carry through the hardest moments. Told in alternating perspectives, we hear from April, a woman crushed by recent motherhood, her husband Leo, who suffers from a difficult upbringing and childhood guilt and April’s spirited Mom, Deb, who is grappling with her husband's recent Alzheimer's diagnosis. When April and Leo’s house goes up in flames, they escape to April’s parents' house knowing that their marriage is on the verge of collapse. With wonderful character depth and relatable life events, I found myself totally engrossed.

-Morley

TENDERNESS

by Rowan Beaird

I loved this! A wedding on a remote island off the coast of Virginia, with the family and guests on edge, as the bride has recently left the cult, Synanon. Gorgeous writing, suspense, family bonds—you don’t want to miss this.

-Diana

*Join us on for an in-store event with Rowan Beaird on 9/16/2026: https://lakeforestbookstore.com/event/2026-09-16/store-event-author-rowan-beaird

MONSTER OF A LAND

by Lauren Hough



Lauren Hough is a fascinating and unconventional guide to America. Raised in a cult, she traveled the world, served in the U.S. military, worked as a cable technician, and now travels the country in a camper she built inside a used van, accompanied by her dog, Woody Guthrie. Her perspective is refreshingly different—at times compassionate, confused, wistful, and always deeply observant. Along the way, she encounters people and places most of us would never experience firsthand, offering an intimate and often surprising look at the country and the people who inhabit it.

Despite the book's more poignant moments, Monster of a Land is far from a downer; Hough's sharp humor provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This is a thought-provoking, unconventional travelogue that challenges readers to see the world through a different lens.

-Karina

SHOULD THE WATERS TAKE US
by Stephanie Soileau

This beautiful debut follows one family in the Louisiana bayou. When an offshore oil rig explodes, it unleashes an environmental catastrophe. At the same time Boy Broussard is teetering on the edge of economic ruin and suddenly parenting his teenage daughter. Soileau intersperses this story with the fascinating four century-long history of how the French (and specifically the Broussard family) went from France to Acadia and finally to the bayou. Chock full with colorful, well written characters (and throw in one ill-timed hurricane), you have a fast paced, gripping story of loss and resilience.

-Laura

ETNA

by Paul Yoon

This slim novel really packs a punch, and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s a war story, but told from the perspective of a dog; one that is taken from his home to be trained to detect IEDs and other ordnance. Etna is able to “speak” to other dogs and even some humans, and has a highly advanced sense of smell, both of which aid him as the war ends and he begins his journey back to the coast. It seems to be the summer of odysseys and I’m here for them all! This reads like a fable, with lessons of home, trust, loss and most importantly, hope. This book is on every list with starred reviews and it was an A+ for me.

-Di

PLANT LADY

by Minyoung Kang

I love a good translation and could not put down this lively ride of a book! Yoohee owns a celebrated neighborhood plant shop where she helps women overcome their unfortunate encounters with men—and coming off of the cult favorite movie, Obsession, I was hooked.

-Diana

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

by Shari Lapena

Jill and Ted love the life they're leading in their fancy brownstone, but when a bad investment threatens to leave them with nothing, they panic. They decide together that the death of a wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Twists and turns ensue. Can they get away with murder and if they can... is it all worth it?

-Erin

TRASH!: A GARBAGEMAN'S STORY

by Simon Paré Poupart

I will never overload my yard waste bag or trash can ever again! Paré-Poupart’s story is WAY more than getting the trash from the curb to the hopper. He makes us part of the collection team-the friendships, the rivalries, and the danger. He also asks us to consider OUR relationship to the people who “take out our trash” and confront the journey our trash makes after it leaves our bins. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY describes this perfectly, “enlightening, unpretentious, and gently political.”

-Anne

THE CRUELEST GAME

by Matthew Futterman

Told from the viewpoint of an insider, you’ll find out more of the mental and physical stress of your favorite tennis players than you can imagine. Extensive interviews dig into who they are, why they struggle and who they need around them to overcome those struggles. Perfect for US Open watchers!

-Beth

YOUNG ADULT SUGGESTIONS

THE FARAWAY INN

by Sarah Beth Durst

To heal her broken heart, Calisa is shipped off to Vermont for the summer to help her great-aunt

run a charming local B&B. But the getaway is far from peaceful. Calisa arrives to find a crumbling house and a frosty Auntie Zee, who wants her gone immediately. Refusing to go home defeated, Calisa bargains for just three days to prove she can be an asset. But keeping her job is the least of her worries. Between a guest who is perpetually dripping water, a late-night potion maker, and a lizard with wings, Calisa quickly realizes this is no ordinary inn. Delightfully whimsical and fiercely heartwarming, this enchanting magical novel is the perfect captivating escape for junior high and high school readers alike.

-Karina

COOKBOOK SUGGESTIONS

EATING AT HOME

by Trinity Mouzon Wofford

When I see a cookbook pop into my feed several times, (thank you @heritagegoodandsupply and @folkloremerton) it’s a MUST review and purchase - sensible, hearty and cozy takes on home cooking and finding your groove. Don’t miss Roasted Radishes, Balsamic Tuna with Chopped Veg and Brothy Cavatelli and Beans.

-Diana