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The Clover Girls (Center Point Platinum Fiction
Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel, and Emily met at Camp Birchwood as girls in 1985, where over four summers they were the Clover Girls &; inseparable for those magical few weeks of freedom &; until the last summer that pulled them apart. Now approaching middle age, the women are facing challenges they never imagined as teens, struggles with their marriages, their children, their careers, and wondering who it is they see when they look in the mirror.
480 pages, Library Binding
First published May 18, 2021
1668 people are currently reading
10856 people want to read
About the author
Viola Shipman
21 books3,574 followersDear Reader:
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,213 reviews
June 11, 2025
A wavering middle-of-the-road novel, with many parts that I vacillate between liking and disliking. A great premise with a not-so-great execution.
First, I had a hard time really investing in the story as I found the overall premise that these girls who met and formed a fast friendship back in their teen years and hadn’t seen each other or even really kept in contact since, were now claiming to be best friends and that their solid friendship had provided so many positive benefits. While I think such friendships can happen and can be maintained over time and distance, I didn’t feel it here. By the end of the book, I felt like only one of the four friends had really made the effort to maintain the friendship across time and miles.
Also, I could not identify with “friendships” like these. I have no patience for the drama and contrived niceties. Yes, there was mean behavior, but it also happened 30+ years ago, why are they still hanging onto it? At one point, it is stated that friendships are forever but so are rivalries. Throughout the book, even as they relive their camp memories, I wondered if they were friends or rivals, and why the polar opposites were the only options?
Another huge problem for me is that I know the theme is friendship, but I am still mystified as to the main point the author wanted to make. The novel tries to be too much and brings in mentions of stereotypes, growing up and losing the fun of childhood, unhappy adults, losing your dreams, body positivity, losing a sibling or parent, and other assorted happenings and troubles. Some of these come up recurringly but none of them are ultimately a major secondary theme. Every time a new subject was introduced, it made the story swing away from a main point and I wondered why it was even introduced in the first place. A clear focus with supporting material would have made for a smooth, relevant flow.
The 80’s references were a fun throwback but not totally awesome as they started to irk me after a while. If I had liked the story more as a whole, I don’t think they would have bothered me at all. I liked that the girls relived their camp memories but wondered just how fun it was with only three people.
I agree with another reviewer that this often felt like a “Pure Michigan” ad. There are so many Michigan mentions, you cannot forget that this is set in Michigan.
Those were my main disappointments and they comprise the bulk of my review, but I did enjoy much of the story. I liked the premise of remembering camp days and earlier friendships, I liked the idea of a true friendship that lasts a lifetime, I liked much of the positive thoughts and feelings regarding friendship and growing up to be who we want to be. I loved the approach to and treatment of the closing scene with Liz and her mom. It was a very fitting end for both Liz and the entire storyline, and there were tears on my part too.
I came away with the impression that I should believe camp was fantastical, and that the girls learned so many profound life lessons there and their own influence on others was substantial and beneficial. They were a force for good and everything goes their way in life. But I don’t believe that; the author did not sell me on that. I liked all of the components, just not how they were tied together. The story was here and there and brought in too many undeveloped and/or unnecessary threads and at times, even detracted from the image the author was trying to portray.
In the end, my takeaways are pretty general and most certainly not what the author intended:
We all define friendship in different ways.
Like life itself, friendships are complicated.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2 because I couldn’t accept the premise presented here.
First, I had a hard time really investing in the story as I found the overall premise that these girls who met and formed a fast friendship back in their teen years and hadn’t seen each other or even really kept in contact since, were now claiming to be best friends and that their solid friendship had provided so many positive benefits. While I think such friendships can happen and can be maintained over time and distance, I didn’t feel it here. By the end of the book, I felt like only one of the four friends had really made the effort to maintain the friendship across time and miles.
Also, I could not identify with “friendships” like these. I have no patience for the drama and contrived niceties. Yes, there was mean behavior, but it also happened 30+ years ago, why are they still hanging onto it? At one point, it is stated that friendships are forever but so are rivalries. Throughout the book, even as they relive their camp memories, I wondered if they were friends or rivals, and why the polar opposites were the only options?
Another huge problem for me is that I know the theme is friendship, but I am still mystified as to the main point the author wanted to make. The novel tries to be too much and brings in mentions of stereotypes, growing up and losing the fun of childhood, unhappy adults, losing your dreams, body positivity, losing a sibling or parent, and other assorted happenings and troubles. Some of these come up recurringly but none of them are ultimately a major secondary theme. Every time a new subject was introduced, it made the story swing away from a main point and I wondered why it was even introduced in the first place. A clear focus with supporting material would have made for a smooth, relevant flow.
The 80’s references were a fun throwback but not totally awesome as they started to irk me after a while. If I had liked the story more as a whole, I don’t think they would have bothered me at all. I liked that the girls relived their camp memories but wondered just how fun it was with only three people.
I agree with another reviewer that this often felt like a “Pure Michigan” ad. There are so many Michigan mentions, you cannot forget that this is set in Michigan.
Those were my main disappointments and they comprise the bulk of my review, but I did enjoy much of the story. I liked the premise of remembering camp days and earlier friendships, I liked the idea of a true friendship that lasts a lifetime, I liked much of the positive thoughts and feelings regarding friendship and growing up to be who we want to be. I loved the approach to and treatment of the closing scene with Liz and her mom. It was a very fitting end for both Liz and the entire storyline, and there were tears on my part too.
I came away with the impression that I should believe camp was fantastical, and that the girls learned so many profound life lessons there and their own influence on others was substantial and beneficial. They were a force for good and everything goes their way in life. But I don’t believe that; the author did not sell me on that. I liked all of the components, just not how they were tied together. The story was here and there and brought in too many undeveloped and/or unnecessary threads and at times, even detracted from the image the author was trying to portray.
In the end, my takeaways are pretty general and most certainly not what the author intended:
We all define friendship in different ways.
Like life itself, friendships are complicated.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2 because I couldn’t accept the premise presented here.
July 25, 2021
To explain why I loved my time listening to this book just might ruin the experience for me!
BEST JUNK FOOD - WOMAN’S READING !!!
MY definition of JUNK: don’t need it! Might add a few pounds. Not Dr. recommended-
But tastes yummy going down. Perhaps a little guilt - but not too much!
JUNK in my life is PART OF LIFE’S PLEASURES!!
My biggest surprise- this book is written by a MAN…
Mr. Viola knows about women - deeply knows a woman’s inner voice equally - maybe more so - than women themselves.
Afraid to say…. I’m a new fan! I’ll read this guy again.
Did I cry? Of course!!! Was it worth it? YES!
Is it sappy? YES?
And buzz off … if you’re going to make fun of me!
I liked it - easy on the ears — and even our two love birds in the yard were happy listening with me.
For those who totally enjoyed the book
“Annie Freeman’s Traveling Funeral” by Kris Rash ( a book I always recommend to my close girlfriends) — might enjoy this too.
For classic literary readers ( I like these books very much too)…. > in fact usually more so than woman’s fiction - written by a man or woman —-
But I can’t explain it — I simply am moved by the book and myself for allowing myself to be moved!
Not always a snob! Lol
Thank you Mr. Viola for entertaining me - telling the truth -
I’m a new fan. Jumping right onto your wagon.
Whatever it is these books of yours are doing to peoples blood stream. …. It’s okay with me!!!!
BEST JUNK FOOD - WOMAN’S READING !!!
MY definition of JUNK: don’t need it! Might add a few pounds. Not Dr. recommended-
But tastes yummy going down. Perhaps a little guilt - but not too much!
JUNK in my life is PART OF LIFE’S PLEASURES!!
My biggest surprise- this book is written by a MAN…
Mr. Viola knows about women - deeply knows a woman’s inner voice equally - maybe more so - than women themselves.
Afraid to say…. I’m a new fan! I’ll read this guy again.
Did I cry? Of course!!! Was it worth it? YES!
Is it sappy? YES?
And buzz off … if you’re going to make fun of me!
I liked it - easy on the ears — and even our two love birds in the yard were happy listening with me.
For those who totally enjoyed the book
“Annie Freeman’s Traveling Funeral” by Kris Rash ( a book I always recommend to my close girlfriends) — might enjoy this too.
For classic literary readers ( I like these books very much too)…. > in fact usually more so than woman’s fiction - written by a man or woman —-
But I can’t explain it — I simply am moved by the book and myself for allowing myself to be moved!
Not always a snob! Lol
Thank you Mr. Viola for entertaining me - telling the truth -
I’m a new fan. Jumping right onto your wagon.
Whatever it is these books of yours are doing to peoples blood stream. …. It’s okay with me!!!!
July 2, 2021
I’ve reviewed Viola Shipman’s novels before, and they are always a refreshing treat. They are comfort reads, and I think The Clover Girls may just be my favorite.
Four friends attend summer camp together in the 80s, forging a bond that unfortunately falls apart. One of the friends has asked them to all meet up again; she needs their help and wants their friendships back. But they aren’t little girls anymore. Will they recover the bond that was lost?
The Clover Girls is such a beautiful and loving portrayal of lost friendship. I also loved the 80s backdrop, and the whole thing made me nostalgic for the magical summers I spent with my extended family. Thank you for this gem, Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Four friends attend summer camp together in the 80s, forging a bond that unfortunately falls apart. One of the friends has asked them to all meet up again; she needs their help and wants their friendships back. But they aren’t little girls anymore. Will they recover the bond that was lost?
The Clover Girls is such a beautiful and loving portrayal of lost friendship. I also loved the 80s backdrop, and the whole thing made me nostalgic for the magical summers I spent with my extended family. Thank you for this gem, Wade Rouse/Viola Shipman!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 9, 2021
I like the idea of the book--three former best friends return to the camp where they met after their fourth close friend dies--but the execution is clunky. Dialogue doesn't flow or sound natural. The political themes are too heavy-handed (Rachel's storyline?...please). I think the worst part is that the girls/women are actually really mean to each other. With friends like these, you know? The only character I identified with and felt much of anything positive toward was Liz. Rachel and V were awful, and Em was way too angelic to be believable. A meh read for me all around.
May 20, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE CLOVER GIRLS by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) is an emotionally charged inspirational women’s fiction standalone by an author who has become a must read for me. I also must have a box of tissues by my side as I do.
Elizabeth “Liz”, Veronica “V”, Rachel “Rach” and Emily “Em” meet at Camp Birchwood for four summers starting in 1985 where they become known as The Clover Girls. So different and yet inseparable until the last summer when deception drives them apart.
Liz, V and Rach each receive a devastating letter from Emily asking them to reunite at the now closed Camp Birchwood one last time. After marriages, divorce, children, grandchildren and careers, Emily is asking them to revisit their dreams and repair their friendships.
Maybe not all friendships were meant to last forever.
This story has two timelines that intertwine to tell the story of The Clover Girls in the 1980’s while at summer camp and in the present with their careers and/or families in crisis. The friendship, rivalry and betrayal in the 1980’s timeline set up lasting repercussions that follow all the women into their adult lives, their reunion and search for forgiveness in the present. The author gives the reader believable characters and memories from the 1980’s that are spot on. This story reminds us all that life is fleeting and should never be taken for granted.
I highly recommend this story of friendship and forgiveness!
THE CLOVER GIRLS by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) is an emotionally charged inspirational women’s fiction standalone by an author who has become a must read for me. I also must have a box of tissues by my side as I do.
Elizabeth “Liz”, Veronica “V”, Rachel “Rach” and Emily “Em” meet at Camp Birchwood for four summers starting in 1985 where they become known as The Clover Girls. So different and yet inseparable until the last summer when deception drives them apart.
Liz, V and Rach each receive a devastating letter from Emily asking them to reunite at the now closed Camp Birchwood one last time. After marriages, divorce, children, grandchildren and careers, Emily is asking them to revisit their dreams and repair their friendships.
Maybe not all friendships were meant to last forever.
This story has two timelines that intertwine to tell the story of The Clover Girls in the 1980’s while at summer camp and in the present with their careers and/or families in crisis. The friendship, rivalry and betrayal in the 1980’s timeline set up lasting repercussions that follow all the women into their adult lives, their reunion and search for forgiveness in the present. The author gives the reader believable characters and memories from the 1980’s that are spot on. This story reminds us all that life is fleeting and should never be taken for granted.
I highly recommend this story of friendship and forgiveness!
February 11, 2021
Moving story of friendship. A must read!
June 16, 2021
I HATED this book. The writing is sophomoric, all the characters need slapped, and the over stuffing of the book with 80s and pop culture references is super cheesy. No one thinks or talks like these chicks. I could not wait for it to be over. Kudos to me for powering through.
April 15, 2021
I picked this book up because I had read The Recipe Box and enjoyed that sweet story. This one is about four girls, Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily, who met and bonded at Camp Birchwood in northern Michigan. They were best friends and met every summer at camp for several years. Then something happened to their friendship that drove a wedge between the girls. Now as the women are middle-aged and each is facing major life challenges, Liz, V and Rachel each receive a letter from Em with some sad news and she asks that all the girls reunite at Camp Birchwood one last time for a week.
This book is a touching look at friendship, betrayals and forgiveness. It is well written and a sweet story. The narrators are Liz, V, and Rachel and goes back and forth between present and past. Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse - he chose his grandmother's name as his pen name. I am surprised that he, being male, does so well writing female characters.
Thanks to HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing through Netgalley for and advance copy.
This book is a touching look at friendship, betrayals and forgiveness. It is well written and a sweet story. The narrators are Liz, V, and Rachel and goes back and forth between present and past. Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse - he chose his grandmother's name as his pen name. I am surprised that he, being male, does so well writing female characters.
Thanks to HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing through Netgalley for and advance copy.
May 12, 2021
I won this book on a giveaway and was very excited to read this chick lit. I think everyone wishes they had a great, lifelong friend – much less, FOUR great, lifelong friends.
Unfortunately, most of the writing in this book is just cheesy. The drama roller coaster left my head spinning, and the coincidental perfection of some situations working out was too much. For example: how does a full-on relay race get organized, with personalized flags and all the right equipment, in an extremely rural area, in about 20 minutes??
One of the most compelling, unputdownable features of this book is the alternating chapters between characters and eras – we go from the 80’s to present day (REALLY present – 2021!!). Initially, I had a hard time keeping each of the four Clover Girls separate in my mind – their descriptions were a little too much, too fast. And the intensity of the conversations seemed far-fetched, as if they were shoveling emotions down each other’s throats all the time. The flip-flop between teary nostalgia and current day pissed off made my head spin.
But, despite the fact that the author is a man trying to capture the nuances and complexities of female friendships, the emotion between the friends is, at times, raw and heartbreaking. This book was good for a tearjerker, but also gave my eye-rolling a good workout.
Unfortunately, most of the writing in this book is just cheesy. The drama roller coaster left my head spinning, and the coincidental perfection of some situations working out was too much. For example: how does a full-on relay race get organized, with personalized flags and all the right equipment, in an extremely rural area, in about 20 minutes??
One of the most compelling, unputdownable features of this book is the alternating chapters between characters and eras – we go from the 80’s to present day (REALLY present – 2021!!). Initially, I had a hard time keeping each of the four Clover Girls separate in my mind – their descriptions were a little too much, too fast. And the intensity of the conversations seemed far-fetched, as if they were shoveling emotions down each other’s throats all the time. The flip-flop between teary nostalgia and current day pissed off made my head spin.
But, despite the fact that the author is a man trying to capture the nuances and complexities of female friendships, the emotion between the friends is, at times, raw and heartbreaking. This book was good for a tearjerker, but also gave my eye-rolling a good workout.
March 12, 2021
Viola Shipman has done it again! If you are a fan of the 80’s, you will LOVE this book. He nailed it in every way! What a great story and I felt like I travelled back in time to when I was in the 80’s. Wow what a treat! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I love all his books and always look forward to reading his latest one.
September 17, 2021
⭐⭐⭐.7 rounded up
My first Viola Shipman and it was such a delightful story, I have been looking forward to my next read.
Note: It is interesting that author Wade Rouse chose his grandmother’s name Viola Shipman as his pen name. He states he grew up with her in the Ozarks and her extraordinary life was filled with beauty, hope as well as tragedy and is his inspiration for so many of his stories.
Here is a link for more info.
https://waderouse.com/about/
I really am not a Chick Lit/romance fan, however since we are still being on the safe side due to this nasty virus is nice to read a sweet story. Plus the water is always calming ~ Lake Michigan may not be the ocean but I have seen it and it certainly looks like an ocean with smaller waves!
This story starts when four girls Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel, and Emily meet at summer camp in 1985 and the first thing they find is a four leaf clover. Their initials E-V-E-R has them declaring that they will be friends forever Four-ever. The camp counselors called them “The Clover Girls”. In addition, to their initial, finding the four-leaf clover, they love green!
The Clover Girls! Friends -4-EVER!
They continued to meet every summer at Camp Birchwood. However, after several fun years something happen that changed their friendship and they no longer met at camp.
Now 2021 they are middle-aged and each facing challenges. Liz, V, and Rach receive a letter from Em asking if they would meet at Camp Birchwood. The rest you need to read ~ I won’t spoil it!
This story flashes back to their summers at the camp; so lot 80s references, it is about friendship ~ good times and sad times.
I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgements ~ a fun insight to the motivation for the story. I liked the quote the author mentions that is from his mother “A good friend is like a lightning bug. They light up your life when you need it and least expect it”.
Aww yes! I can remember the joy of seeing the first lighten bug light up and shout to everyone to come see!! Unfortunately we don’t have lightening bug here in California but they are still a great – fun memory!
This story needs to be discussed and is perfect for books club. Has great ‘Discussion Questions’ in the back.
Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (US & Canada) for this early release granted to me for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 18, 2021
My first Viola Shipman and it was such a delightful story, I have been looking forward to my next read.
Note: It is interesting that author Wade Rouse chose his grandmother’s name Viola Shipman as his pen name. He states he grew up with her in the Ozarks and her extraordinary life was filled with beauty, hope as well as tragedy and is his inspiration for so many of his stories.
Here is a link for more info.
https://waderouse.com/about/
I really am not a Chick Lit/romance fan, however since we are still being on the safe side due to this nasty virus is nice to read a sweet story. Plus the water is always calming ~ Lake Michigan may not be the ocean but I have seen it and it certainly looks like an ocean with smaller waves!
This story starts when four girls Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel, and Emily meet at summer camp in 1985 and the first thing they find is a four leaf clover. Their initials E-V-E-R has them declaring that they will be friends forever Four-ever. The camp counselors called them “The Clover Girls”. In addition, to their initial, finding the four-leaf clover, they love green!
The Clover Girls! Friends -4-EVER!
They continued to meet every summer at Camp Birchwood. However, after several fun years something happen that changed their friendship and they no longer met at camp.
Now 2021 they are middle-aged and each facing challenges. Liz, V, and Rach receive a letter from Em asking if they would meet at Camp Birchwood. The rest you need to read ~ I won’t spoil it!
This story flashes back to their summers at the camp; so lot 80s references, it is about friendship ~ good times and sad times.
I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgements ~ a fun insight to the motivation for the story. I liked the quote the author mentions that is from his mother “A good friend is like a lightning bug. They light up your life when you need it and least expect it”.
Aww yes! I can remember the joy of seeing the first lighten bug light up and shout to everyone to come see!! Unfortunately we don’t have lightening bug here in California but they are still a great – fun memory!
This story needs to be discussed and is perfect for books club. Has great ‘Discussion Questions’ in the back.
Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (US & Canada) for this early release granted to me for an honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 18, 2021
June 30, 2021
Oh Viola I wanted to love this book like I loved other books you’ve written. Is it because I never went to summer camp? Is it because I never felt invested in your camp friendships. Why were they friends? Seemed the book was all about why they weren’t. Perhaps if you kept the narrative in the past and then brought us to the future I would have enjoyed so much more than the juggling back and forth in timeline. Perhaps if I was turned off by the letter written in 1985 gushing about being BFFs when I knew the phrase BBF didn’t become a ubiquitous phrase until the mid 90’s! Sadly, I started skimming and then half way through decided to skip to the end…backtracked a little and said enough is enough!
April 21, 2022
**Spoilers** if you care.
I haven't given a book this low rating before, but I had to. I thought it would be semi-redeemable for me because it was set in northern Michigan and I love that part of my home state, but no... even the location couldn't save this story for me. At some point, I felt like this was a Pure Michigan ad... "Michigan sunrise" the "waters of Lake Michigan" blah blah blah, I GET IT WE ARE IN MICHIGAN.
The premise of this story is ludicrous... I know how hard it is to coordinate dinner out with my friends, we are all busy with our careers, lives, and families. Yet, SOMEHOW, a dearly departed friend whom no one had seen in decades passes away and asks to have her ashes spread... okay, but then requests that all stay a week to reintroduce themselves to each other. That is not a reasonable request, especially when the falling out happened so long ago and hadn't been dealt with prior.
Reading much like a Lifetime Movie, this book had distinct good characters (Emily RIP) and distinctly bad characters (Ralph the conservative politician). The way the characters were painted felt 2 dimensional, and their past grievances were nothing more than middle school and high school issues, backstabbing friends looking to be the popular one. What really frustrated me about this book is that each of the surviving ladies pointed out how the time at camp had formed them into who they are today. You mean to fill me with nonsense that you haven't grown one iota in that time? Maybe camp had an impact but I pray to God that you've had other milestones to help you grow into a fully fledged adult. And if not, you've got some maturing to do even if you are 50, as the book indicated.
With all the ongoing apologies for past wrongs that each lady doled out to the other two, they kept on being childish and hung up on old behaviors (I am talking to you V and Rach about the color war and Lizz finally winning something.) Grow up, it's a game.
How over the course of this unlikely story all of the ladies decide that they want the camp and that they will turn it into something magical. (You mean to tell me you each have the financial means to do this?) Lizz's mom conveniently dies so she doesn't feel torn about hospice and her fading mom (I thought I would be emotional as it closely described my own dad's passing, but nope, felt no connection to the character and the sadness the author tried to shove down my cynical throat.)
Let's move onto V's "supportive" husband, which sounded at first like a complete jerk and only furthering his career and wanting his perfect spouse and perfect family. Which was true, but then he does a complete about-face, AFTER he storms off to his lodge in Fishtown when V doesn't go with him. So fast forward to B is back in California licking her wounds and feeling unwanted and sentimental, in strides hubby. She finally confesses that she has no friends and not since camp (again, have you made NO CONNECTIONS in 3-4 decades, sigh. So pitiful.) All of a sudden he grabs his pad of paper and begins to sketch, he is suddenly fully on board with helping his wife and being supportive and making the camp ah-mazing. (you have the funds to back these efforts? Have you read their business plan? When did you dump your complete paranoia and suspicion of these friends).
The final, final nail in the literary coffin for me was the letter home from a girl at camp in the future - summer 2022. It mirrors the squealy enthusiasm of the original letter penned by Emily in 1985. "OMG our names spell EVER, like FRIENDS 4EVER!!!!!"
I found out that this book was actually written by a man, now am I judging it more harshly because how would he have a first-person perspective on the lives of teen girls, young female professionals and the trials and tribulations of middle-aged women? Was it because this book felt flat and tied up too perfectly? I felt he did an injustice writing this story. Women are petty yet can you truly get it without tons of interviews and in-depth study in order to being a true expert?
I don't know, but I am glad to be done with it.
JUST GAG ME WITH A SPOON.
I haven't given a book this low rating before, but I had to. I thought it would be semi-redeemable for me because it was set in northern Michigan and I love that part of my home state, but no... even the location couldn't save this story for me. At some point, I felt like this was a Pure Michigan ad... "Michigan sunrise" the "waters of Lake Michigan" blah blah blah, I GET IT WE ARE IN MICHIGAN.
The premise of this story is ludicrous... I know how hard it is to coordinate dinner out with my friends, we are all busy with our careers, lives, and families. Yet, SOMEHOW, a dearly departed friend whom no one had seen in decades passes away and asks to have her ashes spread... okay, but then requests that all stay a week to reintroduce themselves to each other. That is not a reasonable request, especially when the falling out happened so long ago and hadn't been dealt with prior.
Reading much like a Lifetime Movie, this book had distinct good characters (Emily RIP) and distinctly bad characters (Ralph the conservative politician). The way the characters were painted felt 2 dimensional, and their past grievances were nothing more than middle school and high school issues, backstabbing friends looking to be the popular one. What really frustrated me about this book is that each of the surviving ladies pointed out how the time at camp had formed them into who they are today. You mean to fill me with nonsense that you haven't grown one iota in that time? Maybe camp had an impact but I pray to God that you've had other milestones to help you grow into a fully fledged adult. And if not, you've got some maturing to do even if you are 50, as the book indicated.
With all the ongoing apologies for past wrongs that each lady doled out to the other two, they kept on being childish and hung up on old behaviors (I am talking to you V and Rach about the color war and Lizz finally winning something.) Grow up, it's a game.
How over the course of this unlikely story all of the ladies decide that they want the camp and that they will turn it into something magical. (You mean to tell me you each have the financial means to do this?) Lizz's mom conveniently dies so she doesn't feel torn about hospice and her fading mom (I thought I would be emotional as it closely described my own dad's passing, but nope, felt no connection to the character and the sadness the author tried to shove down my cynical throat.)
Let's move onto V's "supportive" husband, which sounded at first like a complete jerk and only furthering his career and wanting his perfect spouse and perfect family. Which was true, but then he does a complete about-face, AFTER he storms off to his lodge in Fishtown when V doesn't go with him. So fast forward to B is back in California licking her wounds and feeling unwanted and sentimental, in strides hubby. She finally confesses that she has no friends and not since camp (again, have you made NO CONNECTIONS in 3-4 decades, sigh. So pitiful.) All of a sudden he grabs his pad of paper and begins to sketch, he is suddenly fully on board with helping his wife and being supportive and making the camp ah-mazing. (you have the funds to back these efforts? Have you read their business plan? When did you dump your complete paranoia and suspicion of these friends).
The final, final nail in the literary coffin for me was the letter home from a girl at camp in the future - summer 2022. It mirrors the squealy enthusiasm of the original letter penned by Emily in 1985. "OMG our names spell EVER, like FRIENDS 4EVER!!!!!"
I found out that this book was actually written by a man, now am I judging it more harshly because how would he have a first-person perspective on the lives of teen girls, young female professionals and the trials and tribulations of middle-aged women? Was it because this book felt flat and tied up too perfectly? I felt he did an injustice writing this story. Women are petty yet can you truly get it without tons of interviews and in-depth study in order to being a true expert?
I don't know, but I am glad to be done with it.
JUST GAG ME WITH A SPOON.
April 22, 2021
I was really looking forward to reading this novel. First of all, I enjoy Viola Shipman's comfort reads a lot. Second, this one has a different premise in comparison to her previous novels, as it focuses on three women and goes back and forth between time periods. As usual, it did not disappoint!
This was a sweet story about friendship and nostalgia. I love that Viola placed it at a camp during the summer. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there and I could practically smell the campfire and feel the early morning cool air before the day heated up. Even though I didn't have the kind of friendship that the Clover Girls had at their camp (I somehow ended up with girls like "The Birches", with the exception of my already established best friend), it made me think of retreats I went on, where I first connected with a friend I've been close with for 30 years now.
I loved all the eighties references, especially with the music. Some parts of the story even made me cry. I liked seeing the women as adults and what their lives were like now and seeing them try to turn things around for themselves. I also enjoyed the subtle shout-out to Randy Rainbow and even the one mention of Drake (being a Degrassi fan and all).
Like Viola's novels tend to do, this one also got sappy and overly introspective at times, but everything else that was going on balanced it out. I feel like they could tone down the sap and still have an incredible story. Some parts felt predictable, but I still enjoyed the story and wanted to see where it would go. It was hard to get a full grasp of ages, since I wasn't sure how old they were when Emily started at the camp in 1985 (she sounded like she was twelve or thirteen) and it seemed like Liz would still be too young to have teenage grandchildren, unless she had her kids in her late teens. I was placing them at early fifties in 2021.
Viola has created another winner with this novel and it's one of her best! Get swept up in nostalgia this summer and become friends with Veronica, Rachel, and Liz. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know them as much as I did!
Movie casting suggestions:
This was a sweet story about friendship and nostalgia. I love that Viola placed it at a camp during the summer. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there and I could practically smell the campfire and feel the early morning cool air before the day heated up. Even though I didn't have the kind of friendship that the Clover Girls had at their camp (I somehow ended up with girls like "The Birches", with the exception of my already established best friend), it made me think of retreats I went on, where I first connected with a friend I've been close with for 30 years now.
I loved all the eighties references, especially with the music. Some parts of the story even made me cry. I liked seeing the women as adults and what their lives were like now and seeing them try to turn things around for themselves. I also enjoyed the subtle shout-out to Randy Rainbow and even the one mention of Drake (being a Degrassi fan and all).
Like Viola's novels tend to do, this one also got sappy and overly introspective at times, but everything else that was going on balanced it out. I feel like they could tone down the sap and still have an incredible story. Some parts felt predictable, but I still enjoyed the story and wanted to see where it would go. It was hard to get a full grasp of ages, since I wasn't sure how old they were when Emily started at the camp in 1985 (she sounded like she was twelve or thirteen) and it seemed like Liz would still be too young to have teenage grandchildren, unless she had her kids in her late teens. I was placing them at early fifties in 2021.
Viola has created another winner with this novel and it's one of her best! Get swept up in nostalgia this summer and become friends with Veronica, Rachel, and Liz. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know them as much as I did!
Movie casting suggestions:
Veronica: Molly Ringwald (for meta reasons, of course!)
Liz: Moira Kelly
Rachel: Elisabeth Shue
June 17, 2021
In 1985, four girls from different backgrounds head out to summer camp in a northern Michigan resort town. At Camp Birchwood, Emily, Veronica, Elizabeth and Rachel form an immediate bond. As their initials spell out, they hail that they will be friends 4-E-V-E-R. But it didn’t turn out that way. And in present day, Veronica, once a successful model, struggles with the loss of her independence and a troubled marriage. Elizabeth (Liz) is divorced, feels she never fulfilled her potential and watches the decline of her ill mother. Rachel, a former actress, is a political consultant whose right-wing extremist persona has made it hard for her to form any meaningful personal connections. Their best days are behind them. Each of the women receive a letter from Emily, who we learn early on, has passed away. While dying of cancer, she made arrangements for her ashes to be brought back to the now shuttered camp with the hope that in bringing the group together, old wounds can be healed.
The Clover Girls is an extremely touching story about friendship and forgiveness. The three women need to find a way to forgive each other and forgive themselves if they have any chance of restoring their relationships. Viola Shipman is a pen name for author Wade Rouse. His ability to write such insightful female characters is quite a testament to his talent. I spent some of my best summers at a wonderful camp in New York State and decades later, my bunkmates remain some my closest friends so this book hits very close to my heart. It will have you thinking about your own friendships, your own hopes and dreams and the passage of time. And the people you have lost.
Rachel aptly comments, “Why do we have such incredible friends when we’re young, and then we lose touch with them? We rarely recreate those same bonds. Do we grow up and get too busy, or are we just scared of sharing our true selves as adults? What happens to friendships? And, as a result, what happens to us?”
Pack some Kleenex.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The Clover Girls is an extremely touching story about friendship and forgiveness. The three women need to find a way to forgive each other and forgive themselves if they have any chance of restoring their relationships. Viola Shipman is a pen name for author Wade Rouse. His ability to write such insightful female characters is quite a testament to his talent. I spent some of my best summers at a wonderful camp in New York State and decades later, my bunkmates remain some my closest friends so this book hits very close to my heart. It will have you thinking about your own friendships, your own hopes and dreams and the passage of time. And the people you have lost.
Rachel aptly comments, “Why do we have such incredible friends when we’re young, and then we lose touch with them? We rarely recreate those same bonds. Do we grow up and get too busy, or are we just scared of sharing our true selves as adults? What happens to friendships? And, as a result, what happens to us?”
Pack some Kleenex.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
May 7, 2021
I love all things Friendship and I really love books about friendship, the good the bad and the ugly. Shipman has given us a book to treasure and it makes the perfect gift to give all your friends.
I will never look at a yard of clover the same way ever again.
I loved the '80's get ready to be transported back to the good ole days with this one.
I have read all of Shipman's novels and I will be honest this is the best one by far.
I gave this book 4.5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
I will never look at a yard of clover the same way ever again.
I loved the '80's get ready to be transported back to the good ole days with this one.
I have read all of Shipman's novels and I will be honest this is the best one by far.
I gave this book 4.5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
May 12, 2021
THE CLOVER GIRLS by Viola Shipman is only my fourth book read by him, but he broke my heart over and over again and he owes me a box of tissues. I cried more than five times and I’m not ashamed of that. THE CLOVER GIRLS had me tearing up and trying to breathe past the huge lump in my throat over and over again. Okay so Viola Shipman is a pen name and the author is actually a man so I’m not crazy calling Viola a him!😂
I enjoyed the flashback scenes and getting to know how the friends endured hardships and good times over the years apart. THE CLOVER GIRLS is full of strong and unique women learning about their history together and how strong the ties that bind us all really are. Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood as girls in 1985, where over four summers they were the Clover Girls—inseparable for those magical few weeks of freedom—until the last summer that pulled them apart. Now approaching middle age, the women are facing challenges they never imagined as teens, struggles with their marriages, their children, their careers, and wondering who it is they see when they look in the mirror. This story was enjoyable from the first page until the very last. I didn’t want to leave this book. I went to sleep thinking about these women and when I woke up I couldn’t wait to get back to them. Such a great story with great characters. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
THE CLOVER GIRLS is a beautiful but heartbreaking story. I became so emotionally invested in all of the characters and felt like they were lifelong friends. When they were sad, I felt sad. When they were happy I found myself smiling. I love when an author can do that to me and Viola Shipman did it perfectly. THE CLOVER GIRLS is filled with love, life, hope, sadness, happiness, and learning to carry on when our loved ones pass on. Be prepared not to do anything else until you finish reading this beautiful story. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
I enjoyed the flashback scenes and getting to know how the friends endured hardships and good times over the years apart. THE CLOVER GIRLS is full of strong and unique women learning about their history together and how strong the ties that bind us all really are. Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood as girls in 1985, where over four summers they were the Clover Girls—inseparable for those magical few weeks of freedom—until the last summer that pulled them apart. Now approaching middle age, the women are facing challenges they never imagined as teens, struggles with their marriages, their children, their careers, and wondering who it is they see when they look in the mirror. This story was enjoyable from the first page until the very last. I didn’t want to leave this book. I went to sleep thinking about these women and when I woke up I couldn’t wait to get back to them. Such a great story with great characters. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
THE CLOVER GIRLS is a beautiful but heartbreaking story. I became so emotionally invested in all of the characters and felt like they were lifelong friends. When they were sad, I felt sad. When they were happy I found myself smiling. I love when an author can do that to me and Viola Shipman did it perfectly. THE CLOVER GIRLS is filled with love, life, hope, sadness, happiness, and learning to carry on when our loved ones pass on. Be prepared not to do anything else until you finish reading this beautiful story. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
February 1, 2021
I picked up my first Viola Shipman book because it was about Michigan. I grew up there and have fond memories of spending summers at Lake Michigan. Now after reading all of his books, I can tell you without a doubt that he is a fantastic writer who always tells a story that will tug at your heart and leave you feeling good about life. He is one of those few authors whose books I will buy without even knowing what the book is about because I KNOW that it will be fantastic.
The Clover Girls has dual timeline from the summer of 1985 and the summer of 2021. Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood in 1985 and the four summer that they were at camp - they were The Clover Girls and they were inseparable. Their motto was Friends For-EVER and they were trendsetters at the camp and later as camp counselors. Their last summer pulled them apart and they haven't talked to each other for years. They are all in their 40s now and wondering where their lives have gone when they each get a letter from Emily. She asks her old best friends to go to Camp Birchwood together one more time to see if they can regain the love and trust that they had in each other when they were younger. Will they be able to reconnect over their past or have they all changed so much and held so many grudges against each other that they will be unable to become friends again?
I LOVED this book. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Most importantly it brought back long forgotten memories of spending long summer days with my friends when I was a kid. The clover girls are so well written that they felt like friends from my past. Not only is this a book about friendship but it's also a book about how women look at themselves and how important it is to gain back the power that they once had. This is going be THE book of the summer of 2021. You don't want to miss it!
The Clover Girls has dual timeline from the summer of 1985 and the summer of 2021. Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily met at Camp Birchwood in 1985 and the four summer that they were at camp - they were The Clover Girls and they were inseparable. Their motto was Friends For-EVER and they were trendsetters at the camp and later as camp counselors. Their last summer pulled them apart and they haven't talked to each other for years. They are all in their 40s now and wondering where their lives have gone when they each get a letter from Emily. She asks her old best friends to go to Camp Birchwood together one more time to see if they can regain the love and trust that they had in each other when they were younger. Will they be able to reconnect over their past or have they all changed so much and held so many grudges against each other that they will be unable to become friends again?
I LOVED this book. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Most importantly it brought back long forgotten memories of spending long summer days with my friends when I was a kid. The clover girls are so well written that they felt like friends from my past. Not only is this a book about friendship but it's also a book about how women look at themselves and how important it is to gain back the power that they once had. This is going be THE book of the summer of 2021. You don't want to miss it!
July 20, 2021
Elizabeth, Veronica, Emily and Rachel met at Camp Birchwood in Michigan the summer of 1985. They vowed to be friends 4EVER, and spent the next several summers bonding and dreaming of their futures. They dubbed themselves the Clover Girls and were role models for their fellow campers. But their last summer together their friendship is destroyed by lies and betrayals.
They all moved on with their lives, but when they each receive a letter from Emily written just pryor to her death, the memories of their idyllic summers together begin to surface. Emily has requested that Elizabeth, Veronica and Rachel reunite at the now closed Camp Birchwood and spend the week healing the hurts between them and remember the true value of friendship and forgiveness.
I loved the 80's references and having the opportunity to reminisce over a simpler time. A great reminder of the value of close friends and the need to nuture those relationships.
They all moved on with their lives, but when they each receive a letter from Emily written just pryor to her death, the memories of their idyllic summers together begin to surface. Emily has requested that Elizabeth, Veronica and Rachel reunite at the now closed Camp Birchwood and spend the week healing the hurts between them and remember the true value of friendship and forgiveness.
I loved the 80's references and having the opportunity to reminisce over a simpler time. A great reminder of the value of close friends and the need to nuture those relationships.
March 4, 2021
I am torn between how this book it is written (I think - good) and how I feel about what is being written about (not so good - friends that did not act as I think friends should). The book is about four friends from childhood, re-connecting as adults.
While I enjoyed reading this book, constantly in my mind is the fact that these girls became friends during their youth, since they were placed in the same housing unit in summer camp. They were “friends”, but not what I would consider to be a friend. You do not take actions that will cause your friend harm at any age. This book forgives the harm with the excuse that it was caused by being young and I do not agree with that. So, throughout the book, I had to try to keep my personal feelings about this, to not interfere with the actual writing of the book. This book is fiction, and as in many fiction books, the reality is not “real-life”. I had to let go of my real-life feelings that the bonds of these friendships were broken long ago, and maybe were never very strong. I think only one of these four friends acted as a friend should. In letting my personal feelings go, I was able to get more involved in the story. I suppose if I felt so much emotion toward the character’s actions, the author has done a good job of creating this world in the book
I definitely enjoyed reading the adult, 2021 part of the book, more than the younger person, 1980’s sections. I’d rather read about how the adults are trying to deal with the current situation, more than how their younger selves acted.
This is the first book I have read by Viola Shipman. I have heard about his books through a friend for a couple years and I always want to explore his writing. I think it is amazing how he can create woman characters so well. Many times throughout the book, I thought, He really understand so much of a woman’s life. In addition, many sections spoke directly to my heart, especially how Liz is feeling about her mother in a nursing home and how her children do not care about or even know her mother. That is a sad state of life now that generations do not know each other, not due to being busy, but more by choice. I do agree with what the author said in the story, that friends can be more our family, than actual blood relatives.
I found myself confused at various points of the book and had to read several sentences over more than twice for them to make sense to me. (I have not had to do this with the many other books I have read.) I also found the political views of the author shining through the book, which I actually dislike so much. I read for an escape of real life and I do not want to read about politics (even underlying in a story) unless I choose to read that type of book. (This book is not promoted as a political book. It is a book on friendship.)
The story is told through the eyes of four characters. Several chapters are titled with a character’s name and the year of the events being told. That makes the reader aware of the point of view of what is being read, but throughout the book, the three main characters are speaking and often it is not clear who is speaking. I just went with it and honestly sometimes did not know who was making the statements.
I definitely want to try another of the author’s books to experience his writing again with a theme that I am more open to. I thought a lot about how many stars to give this book and be fair to the actual book and not my feelings about the subject matter. I think the book is written well, the characters are deeply developed, the settings described in detail and the plot is well thought out and flows great back and forth in the dual time lines.
I want to thank HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
While I enjoyed reading this book, constantly in my mind is the fact that these girls became friends during their youth, since they were placed in the same housing unit in summer camp. They were “friends”, but not what I would consider to be a friend. You do not take actions that will cause your friend harm at any age. This book forgives the harm with the excuse that it was caused by being young and I do not agree with that. So, throughout the book, I had to try to keep my personal feelings about this, to not interfere with the actual writing of the book. This book is fiction, and as in many fiction books, the reality is not “real-life”. I had to let go of my real-life feelings that the bonds of these friendships were broken long ago, and maybe were never very strong. I think only one of these four friends acted as a friend should. In letting my personal feelings go, I was able to get more involved in the story. I suppose if I felt so much emotion toward the character’s actions, the author has done a good job of creating this world in the book
I definitely enjoyed reading the adult, 2021 part of the book, more than the younger person, 1980’s sections. I’d rather read about how the adults are trying to deal with the current situation, more than how their younger selves acted.
This is the first book I have read by Viola Shipman. I have heard about his books through a friend for a couple years and I always want to explore his writing. I think it is amazing how he can create woman characters so well. Many times throughout the book, I thought, He really understand so much of a woman’s life. In addition, many sections spoke directly to my heart, especially how Liz is feeling about her mother in a nursing home and how her children do not care about or even know her mother. That is a sad state of life now that generations do not know each other, not due to being busy, but more by choice. I do agree with what the author said in the story, that friends can be more our family, than actual blood relatives.
I found myself confused at various points of the book and had to read several sentences over more than twice for them to make sense to me. (I have not had to do this with the many other books I have read.) I also found the political views of the author shining through the book, which I actually dislike so much. I read for an escape of real life and I do not want to read about politics (even underlying in a story) unless I choose to read that type of book. (This book is not promoted as a political book. It is a book on friendship.)
The story is told through the eyes of four characters. Several chapters are titled with a character’s name and the year of the events being told. That makes the reader aware of the point of view of what is being read, but throughout the book, the three main characters are speaking and often it is not clear who is speaking. I just went with it and honestly sometimes did not know who was making the statements.
I definitely want to try another of the author’s books to experience his writing again with a theme that I am more open to. I thought a lot about how many stars to give this book and be fair to the actual book and not my feelings about the subject matter. I think the book is written well, the characters are deeply developed, the settings described in detail and the plot is well thought out and flows great back and forth in the dual time lines.
I want to thank HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
May 3, 2021
Grab a box of tissues, a bottle of wine, turn off your phone and give yourself an evening alone to sit and read this work of art novel. There are truly not enough stars to give this book and have it be enough.
Em, Liz, V, and Rach are best friends.forever. They meet at summer camp when theyre kids and go back each and every summer. As they grow, their friendship is tested by both outside conflicts and internal friendship fights. As usually happens unfortunately, they began to always expect the bad in each other instead of seeing the good they knew was there. Because of this, one day their friendship is splintered and Em is left being the only one who keeps in touch with the other three. Rach, V, and Liz receive a letter from Em letting them know she's passed, and her last wish is for them to meet at camp to spread her ashes. What happens is a week of each of them finding out who they are as individuals and who they are as friends. With scenes from present day mixed in with scenes from their time at camp in the 80's, were given the whole picture of just what happened to these BFF's and can watch while they try and fix what's broken.
I can't tell you enough just how good this read is. Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse, and that makes this book even more amazing. Its honestly hard to read a good friendship book written by a woman that captures female friendship and emotions in such a raw real way. To find out that Wade did it shows just how much of an artist he truly is with a pen. He captures sometimes intense scenes with such honesty and truth you can see this actually happening in real life. The 80's scenes will also have you googling "where to watch The Breakfast Club" when you're done. You'll also think about unplugging more.and maybe writing a letter to a friend instead of texting, if you can find out where to buy a stamp anymore. 😉
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Viola Shipman, NetGalley, and Grayson House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Em, Liz, V, and Rach are best friends.forever. They meet at summer camp when theyre kids and go back each and every summer. As they grow, their friendship is tested by both outside conflicts and internal friendship fights. As usually happens unfortunately, they began to always expect the bad in each other instead of seeing the good they knew was there. Because of this, one day their friendship is splintered and Em is left being the only one who keeps in touch with the other three. Rach, V, and Liz receive a letter from Em letting them know she's passed, and her last wish is for them to meet at camp to spread her ashes. What happens is a week of each of them finding out who they are as individuals and who they are as friends. With scenes from present day mixed in with scenes from their time at camp in the 80's, were given the whole picture of just what happened to these BFF's and can watch while they try and fix what's broken.
I can't tell you enough just how good this read is. Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse, and that makes this book even more amazing. Its honestly hard to read a good friendship book written by a woman that captures female friendship and emotions in such a raw real way. To find out that Wade did it shows just how much of an artist he truly is with a pen. He captures sometimes intense scenes with such honesty and truth you can see this actually happening in real life. The 80's scenes will also have you googling "where to watch The Breakfast Club" when you're done. You'll also think about unplugging more.and maybe writing a letter to a friend instead of texting, if you can find out where to buy a stamp anymore. 😉
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Viola Shipman, NetGalley, and Grayson House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 21, 2021
I received an ARC through the Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review - I really wish I could say I loved it, but, I can't. I didn't like the way that the book opened and closed with the letter home from camp, because I grew up in the 60's and 70's, and the language and each girls' individual little "quirks" just didn't ring quite right with me. The grown up girls were not as "realistic", and Rachael was downright repellent as a character. The fact that the epilogue was set the very next summer, and the "cute" coincidence of the girls' names all starting with the E, V, E, R - well, that fell flat, too. The way the book bounced back and forth from flashbacks to the present day and back again was choppy, and just sounded "off". Maybe if I had gone to camps like this during my summers growing up, I might have felt a little differently, but, it seemed the camp activities and contests were extremely old fashioned and didn't feel right for that supposed time period, either - they would have been better set in the 40's-50's, I believe. I found the grown-up ladies "recreating" the games while they were drinking mass quantities of wine every night wasn't "cute" either, just sad. Don't get me wrong - I am not against drinking and having fun, but, they really took it a little far, passing out every night after the day's "cathartic" moments... The author's "name" rather fooled me. I might have picked this up off a store shelf, one day, read the cover blurbs and the author's note and all the comments about other books, realized that it was a man writing about girls and women and their lives and dreams, and put it right back. It just didn't grab me or make me want to find out why V and Rachel were so nasty, why everyone was estranged and why Em was gone - it reminded me of one of my favorite books, with a similar plot device, so you would think I would have liked this one, but, I can't honestly say that I did.
June 6, 2021
Well. I had high hopes for this one. Great premise - a reunion of disenfranchised adults trying to honor the loss of the "glue" that passed, who so greatly wished to help repair the splintered friendships that began (and ultimately ended) at summer camp. Very believable characters - but a little too heavy on the politics for a fun summer read. Being a conservative is far from the worse thing that one can be. I enjoy this author and will likely read future books - but didn't enjoy this one as much as I could have....
June 14, 2021
Not perfect but I enjoyed it immensely!
May 12, 2021
Elizabeth. Veronica. Emily. Rachel. - Yes, E V E R. Meeting for the first time at camp, they discover a four-leaf clover. These four become fast friends - perhaps friends forever. They became known at the camp, as campers, then counselors - as The Clover Girls.
How did these four become so close then go thirty years without ever seeing each other again? What happened that they are now in each other's lives once more?
Sadly, Elizabeth (Liz), Veronica (V) and Rachel each receive a letter from Emily. The news is heartbreaking - despite the decades that have flowed by. Emily has passed away and has last wishes that involve Liz, V and Rachel. She wants the three of them to meet up at Camp Birchwood, spread her ashes and spend a week together to iron out the differences that drove them all apart.
Liz, V and Rachel could not be more different as adults. Their lives have all taken different directions and spending a week in close quarters presents more than one challenge. The question that begs an answer is this: Are friendships meant to last forever? More importantly: Can what they lost be repaired and made even stronger, even though they no longer have Emily?
In this touching story of forgiveness, these three friends deal with the combination of pain and forgiveness. The story also teaches that money, power and success do not measure happiness. The story is told in two timelines - during their years at camp and how they recall events of those years. Not only do we get each of their viewpoints in this emotional story, but we get that of Emily's by means of letters that the girls read throughout the story. In fact, some of these letters from Emily literally had me in tears.
When I stopped and remember that the author, Viola Shipman, is the pen name for Wade Rouse, I became floored. His ability to write female characters, their emotions, and how they broke apart and what brought them back together was absolutely amazing. I previously read The Heirloom Garden by him. Now I have to read more!
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 14, 2022
I did not read this whole book. About 100 pages in, I wasn’t liking the characters and how political it was. So, I skipped to the end to find out how the story wrapped up.
August 29, 2021
Great book remind me of the days at GIRL Scout camp
May 23, 2021
The Clover Girls is a wonderful story, although heartbreaking story about the reconnecting of a group of girls who met during their first night of summer camp years ago. Be prepared for tears…yours!
Veronica (V), Rachel, Emily and Elizabeth (Liz) met at Camp Birchwood back in the 1980’s. Dubbed the “Clover Girls” because when they met they were all feeling lonely and lost, and found a four-leaf clover in a field that very night and knew they would be friends forever.
Through their camp years all their lives would have tragedies and mishaps which would mold them into the individuals they became. There were also fights among them and deceits and hurt which, although apologized for, perhaps were never really forgiven.
Now over thirty years later when they all have their own lives and have not seen each other in years, and perhaps are not in the best place they want to be, decisions each has made along the way maybe not the best, families not the closest, careers wished for years ago which never happened, and some regrets, they each receive a devastating letter from Emily which will throw the Clover Girls back together for the very last time.
According to Emily’s letter, her wish is for them to reunite one last time at the now defunct Camp Birchwood to say goodbye. If they are able to mend their differences and stay the week at the camp certain affairs will come to fruition. If not, they can say their goodbyes forever.
Now the women must decide to either work on their disastrous relationships and forgive each other and move on as the best friends they were, or walk away from each other. Unfortunately they must try to heal the wounds from those many years ago which have shaped them into who they are today.
Will they be able to accomplish what Emily’s letter has requested? Or are these women too involved in their current personal situations to even attempt reconciliations with each other. Perhaps with a little help from Emily, they can try and put their pasts aside and rather than go back to the girls they once were, become the strong and independent women with deep friendships Emily always knew they could be, but were too self absorbed to see years ago.
Once again Viola Shipman has created an uplifting and empowering story about a group of women whose lives are changed for the better. The story is filled with love, and some sadness, but with a theme of hope that not only can relationships change for the better, but one can change their own destiny at any age.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #Viola Shipman #TheCloverGirls for the advanced copy.
Veronica (V), Rachel, Emily and Elizabeth (Liz) met at Camp Birchwood back in the 1980’s. Dubbed the “Clover Girls” because when they met they were all feeling lonely and lost, and found a four-leaf clover in a field that very night and knew they would be friends forever.
Through their camp years all their lives would have tragedies and mishaps which would mold them into the individuals they became. There were also fights among them and deceits and hurt which, although apologized for, perhaps were never really forgiven.
Now over thirty years later when they all have their own lives and have not seen each other in years, and perhaps are not in the best place they want to be, decisions each has made along the way maybe not the best, families not the closest, careers wished for years ago which never happened, and some regrets, they each receive a devastating letter from Emily which will throw the Clover Girls back together for the very last time.
According to Emily’s letter, her wish is for them to reunite one last time at the now defunct Camp Birchwood to say goodbye. If they are able to mend their differences and stay the week at the camp certain affairs will come to fruition. If not, they can say their goodbyes forever.
Now the women must decide to either work on their disastrous relationships and forgive each other and move on as the best friends they were, or walk away from each other. Unfortunately they must try to heal the wounds from those many years ago which have shaped them into who they are today.
Will they be able to accomplish what Emily’s letter has requested? Or are these women too involved in their current personal situations to even attempt reconciliations with each other. Perhaps with a little help from Emily, they can try and put their pasts aside and rather than go back to the girls they once were, become the strong and independent women with deep friendships Emily always knew they could be, but were too self absorbed to see years ago.
Once again Viola Shipman has created an uplifting and empowering story about a group of women whose lives are changed for the better. The story is filled with love, and some sadness, but with a theme of hope that not only can relationships change for the better, but one can change their own destiny at any age.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #Viola Shipman #TheCloverGirls for the advanced copy.
May 18, 2021
I have read a few Viola Shipman books over the last year and thoroughly enjoyed them. When I saw this one was about four friends and summer camp, I jumped at this summer read. The story is about Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel and Emily, who met and bonded at Camp Birchwood in northern Michigan. The first year they were there, they bonded, even though they were very different from one another. They became the Clover Girls, naming themselves after the four leaf clover that Emily found. Their initials spell EVER, and they were sure they would be best friends forever, but things happened and a wedge was driven between them. They all kept in contact with Em, but not the others. They are now middle-aged and Em has plans for them. Liz, V, and Rachel receive letters from Em, explaining what has happened in her life and asking them to reunite at Camp Birchwood for one week. What she may not know, is that each of her friends is facing a challenge or crisis or their own.
I am always amazed the Viola Shipman, a pen name for Wade Rouse, is able to write female characters and their issues so well. The story is told in the present as well as in flashbacks to their summers at Camp Birchwood. I loved all the 80's references, Karma Chameleon anyone? As these three old friends spent time together reminiscing, they shared old hurts and feelings. They also talked about their present lives. As they shared, they were able to see what they really wanted out of life. Their adult lives were so different from each other and each of them had given something up or made some bad decisions. This story is about forgiveness, friendship, pain, self-assessment and dreams. We also see that they realize money, power, and fame does not necessarily make you happy. These ladies make some wonderful decisions in order to move forward in their lives. This was an emotional story, that had me run the gamut of feelings. I really enjoyed this one and the questions at the end of the book can be used for book clubs, discussions or to get an individual reader to think a bit more about this story. The narration of the audiobook was provided by Jennifer Jill Araya, Teri Schnaubelt, Vivienne Leheny, and Caitlin Kelly. Having this talented group of voice actors give each of the Clover Girls their own voice made this audiobook a wonderful experience. The expression and emotion were portrayed well and I definitely recommend either the book or audiobook to experience this excellent story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I am always amazed the Viola Shipman, a pen name for Wade Rouse, is able to write female characters and their issues so well. The story is told in the present as well as in flashbacks to their summers at Camp Birchwood. I loved all the 80's references, Karma Chameleon anyone? As these three old friends spent time together reminiscing, they shared old hurts and feelings. They also talked about their present lives. As they shared, they were able to see what they really wanted out of life. Their adult lives were so different from each other and each of them had given something up or made some bad decisions. This story is about forgiveness, friendship, pain, self-assessment and dreams. We also see that they realize money, power, and fame does not necessarily make you happy. These ladies make some wonderful decisions in order to move forward in their lives. This was an emotional story, that had me run the gamut of feelings. I really enjoyed this one and the questions at the end of the book can be used for book clubs, discussions or to get an individual reader to think a bit more about this story. The narration of the audiobook was provided by Jennifer Jill Araya, Teri Schnaubelt, Vivienne Leheny, and Caitlin Kelly. Having this talented group of voice actors give each of the Clover Girls their own voice made this audiobook a wonderful experience. The expression and emotion were portrayed well and I definitely recommend either the book or audiobook to experience this excellent story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
January 3, 2026
This is the first book that I have read from the author, Viola Shipman and was not aware until I was finished that it is the pen name of Wade Rouse. I was very impressed with the author's writing and will be reading more!
This book, The Clover Girls, was such a great story about the relationship between four women when they were teenagers and then between them as adults in their forties, after they meet again. The story is told with a dual timeline between summer of 1985 and summer of 2021. This is a story of growing up, growing apart and then reconnecting along with learning about their own-selves and what truly makes them happy.
I LOVED this book! It was great to read about women close to my age (over 50) and relate to their place in life. The story made me smile, it made me cry big fat tears, it brought some anger at times along with laughter. It brought back memories of being a child and camping with my family and the friends I made along the way. The Clover Girls was so well written that I felt like I was actually there. I could picture the camp, the lake, the trees, the campfire, I could feel the emotion. I was so sad when I turned to the last page, not because of how it finished, but because it was finished.
This is a book that I have recommended over and over again on social media and will continue to recommend after it has been published (May 18, 2021).
Thank you so much to Harlequin-Trade Publishing and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this true 5 star book!
This book, The Clover Girls, was such a great story about the relationship between four women when they were teenagers and then between them as adults in their forties, after they meet again. The story is told with a dual timeline between summer of 1985 and summer of 2021. This is a story of growing up, growing apart and then reconnecting along with learning about their own-selves and what truly makes them happy.
I LOVED this book! It was great to read about women close to my age (over 50) and relate to their place in life. The story made me smile, it made me cry big fat tears, it brought some anger at times along with laughter. It brought back memories of being a child and camping with my family and the friends I made along the way. The Clover Girls was so well written that I felt like I was actually there. I could picture the camp, the lake, the trees, the campfire, I could feel the emotion. I was so sad when I turned to the last page, not because of how it finished, but because it was finished.
This is a book that I have recommended over and over again on social media and will continue to recommend after it has been published (May 18, 2021).
Thank you so much to Harlequin-Trade Publishing and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this true 5 star book!
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