Contrived? A little But gay man’s ‘women’s fiction’ tale is worth a read Terri Schlichenmeyer | Bookworm Sez 416 pages The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Someone else’s life is always better than yours, warts and all, and you wanted what she got, partly because she got it first. Greener grass often goes with sour grapes, but, as in the new novel, The Clover Girls by Viola Shipman, it ultimately depends on how well you tend your garden. V, formerly known as Veronica, felt fat. She was sure that her husband, David, was embarrassed by the weight she’d put on since the kids were born and she’d had to give up her modeling career. Yes, she was once a cover model, lithe and beautiful. Now, she had an extra 15 pounds, but no career, no forward-looking future and no friends.