A solid book. I asked to read this release as I am very familiar with "SnowBirds" from living in the SunBelt for some years. That part of this story felt very well done & authentic. I overall liked quite a bit of this novel - a middle-aged, common-law couple going through the doldrums and one of them gets lost in the local mountains - for good? But I found both of them to be rather unlikeable, and that left me less invested in their actual outcome. Still, some interesting parts and very character driven, of course. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the advance reader's copy - I appreciate getting the chance to read & review it.

This is a good book, but I definitely don't think I'd compare it to Fleishman is in trouble. I guess similar vibes in that there's a missing spouse, but the writing feels entirely different. That's OK though; just felt like a weird comparison to me.

In Snowbirds, Kim and Grant have decided to spend the winter in Palm Springs. Well, Kim decided. And Grant feels like he has to go along with it. The couple has two adult daughters and seem to be going through a bit of a transition period as they age. They never actually got married and they spent a lot of their lives living apart due to jobs. While in Palm Springs, Grant develops a serious interest in hiking and one day, he goes on a hike and doesn't return. Is he missing or did he run away? Grant has a history of doing that, after all.

The book bounces around from the present where Grant is missing to when Kim and Grant first decide to depart for Palm Springs. We also get a lot of their backstory, as well as their experiences thus far in California, with the interesting cast of characters they meet.

I thought the end was a little bit disappointing in some ways (I think I was just expecting more), though I think others will be satisfied with it.

Shoulder Season is still my favorite Christina Clancy novel, but I'm glad I read this one and think a lot of people will enjoy it come it's pub day!

Kim and Grant have been in a non-conventional relationship for 30 years, have two adult twin daughters, and are in need of a change to save their relationship. The couple decides to leave the midwest winter and ‘snowbird’ in fabulous Palm Springs, California. I was immediately hooked with the mystery of what happened to Grant as he went missing while hiking in the Palm Springs mountains. The story involved timelines between their past history, the beginning of winter (their arrival in Palm Springs), and the present where Grant is missing. The cast of characters were fun and quirky but Kim and Grant weren’t exactly likable until the end. It was enjoyable to read about a grown-up relationship and characters that struggle to find identity and purpose in mid-life. The first half of the book moved a little too slow for me but eventually picked up with Grant’s journal entries and the search-and-rescue effort. The ending was wrapped up nicely in a bow, for which I appreciate, but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Overall, I would definitely recommend picking this one up when you need a break from the winter blues.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Release date is February 4, 2025.

The book started out okay, but the pace was way too slow, and I struggled to stay engaged. The characters were one-dimensional, and I never really connected with any of them. Sadly, I found myself skipping around and skimming. However, the descriptions of Palm Springs were nice.

What a perfect read. I devoured this book. It was an unexpected delight . The cover drew me in and I am so glad I gave it a chance.

An emotional roller coaster where fear and love struggle to create a safe place. After 30 years together the life lessons Grant & Kim faced while Grant was lost in the mountains of Palm Springs CA enable them to marry, knowing they are willing and able to be there for each other. .

The history of the community of Palm Springs is quite different from anywhere else. I enjoyed its uniqueness.

very good book and had lots of humor! would recommend to others as well. I loved the cover and felt it related perfect to the story.

I've been a huge fan of Christina Clancy's ever since reading her first novel, A Second Home. Her attention to detail and her personal touch is impeccable. I particularly love the ease in which she switches between genres and styles. This was not what I was expecting at all, yet I found it completely engrossing. Knowing Christina a little, I know that the subject matter in this book, particularly Palm Springs, is incredibly dear to her. As someone who visits the city, myself, I found it to be a beautiful love letter to PS. I loved the intimate portrait of a couple struggling with the longevity of a marriage and what it all amounted to. It's incredibly relatable and honest. The vulnerability in her storytelling was touching, and her writing is beautiful. This was a character study that will resonate with most people who read the book - it's haunting in a way.

The Snowbirds is a gripping domestic drama that explores the intricacies of a long-term relationship during a critical turning point. Kim and Grant, partners for 30 years and parents to grown twin daughters, have never married despite both having been through previous divorces. With recent turmoil in Grant’s life, Kim is determined to escape the harsh winter and spend the season in the warm, welcoming environment of Palm Springs. Yet, Grant’s reluctance to embrace this change creates a rift. As Kim seamlessly integrates into the vibrant Palm Springs community, Grant struggles to find his footing. The tension reaches a breaking point when Grant fails to return from a mountain hike, leaving Kim to question whether he is truly lost or if he has chosen to walk away from their relationship.
As the story unfolds, Kim’s journey through uncertainty reveals the couple’s shared past, their individual histories, and the personal challenges they face as they navigate this pivotal stage in their lives. The narrative weaves a compelling tale of love, loyalty, and the re-evaluation of priorities when life throws unexpected changes.
I found myself captivated by this story, deeply invested in Kim’s emotional journey as she awaited news of Grant. The writing was engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters were richly developed, with their layers peeled back gradually, adding depth and complexity. The story poignantly illustrates the difficulties of sustaining a long-term relationship and how shifting circumstances can prompt us to reassess what we truly want. Ultimately, it highlights the significance of choosing commitment and perseverance, even during the toughest times.

THE SNOWBIRDS explores the age-old question, “Is this all there is to life?” This is a heartfelt story of a decades long relationship between Kim and Grant. They find themselves at a crossroads in mid-life and wondering if their paths will diverge after all these years together, but unmarried. They head to Palm Springs to escape the midwest winter and seek clarity on their next steps in life.

I love the way Christina Clancy thoughtfully explored Kim and Grant’s backstories leading to their relationship crisis. As a reader I felt I had the full picture of each character: their shortcomings, what they brought to the relationship, and ultimately their different dreams.

As I was reading the book the quirky characters and the dialogue were giving me Steven Rowley/The Guncle vibes. After I finished and was reading the author's acknowledgements, I saw that Christina referenced her close friendship with Steven Rowley. I can certainly see the connection!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE:

Read this if you:
-have ever worried you are just going through the motions
-love the idea of a warm escape in the winter
-know the great outdoors can bring clarity

I was quickly disappointed with this book. The characters are all dry, flat, and cliched for the type of story that it is. I hoped to be wrapped in it, but I was annoyed by the characters and had to walk away.

Christina Clancy has a wonderful talent for creating quirky and endearing characters. This book was a joy to read, and it became especially colorful after the story lands in Palm Springs. The relationship story between the two lead characters was filled with tension throughout the book, so the comic relief provided by their Palm Springs adventures balanced the story well. Grant, the male lead character, is a philosophy professor who questions everything. This is a good reminder to us as readers to stay inquisitive, something we may forget when our day-to-day lives keep us so busy.

A Wisconsin couple navigating relationship issues while wintering in Palm Springs…. I enjoyed the descriptions of Palm Springs and thought the best characters were the ones from Palm Springs. I did not find any of the main characters likable. Kim and Grant are in their 50s, annoyingly selfish and can’t agree on how they want to live. Grant has a history of running off when he gets upset so when he goes missing we don’t know if he’s pulled a runner or is truly in trouble. The mystery of what happened to Grant was well done with glimpses from his journal. The “love story” part was hard to get through. Thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy!

When soul searching ends up requiring a search party, pretenses fall by the wayside.

The story centers on Grant and Kim, a midwestern couple, whose thirty-year relationship arrives at a crossroads. Grant wants to make their union official with marriage. Meanwhile, Kim is wondering if greater fulfillment lies elsewhere. Afterall, Grant has a tendency to walk away when times get tough. Kim is convinced she can't endure another bleak winter in the Midwest. She decides to spend the frosty season in Palm Springs and Grant reluctantly joins her. Reassessing a relationship in midlife once the kids are grown and careers have careened in unexpected directions makes for a relatable plot thread.

Grant's career as a philosophy professor adds a layer of interest with thought provoking dialogue. His troubled childhood has crippled his coping mechanisms. To move forward with Kim, he will need to incorporate behavioral changes. Will hiking be a journey to self-discovery? Or will it cost him everything?

Many readers will relate to Kim's character. She's done everything she "should" do and now is driven to explore the freedom of what she wants moving forward. She thrives in Palm Springs making friends and seizing opportunities. When Grant doesn't return from a hike, she must decide whether he's lost out there or has he willingly walked away again.

The dual timeline flips back and forth between life before he goes missing to the play by play currently taking place. We also get an epistolary glimpse through Grant's journal entries providing a window into his thoughts.

The vibrant supporting characters put the party in search party. I smiled while getting to know them. Their little colorful community was my favorite aspect. The first 25% moved slow, but soon picked up in a grand fashion. My curiosity was piqued for much of the novel. There's a lot to mull over while reading and that works for me. I like a little food for thought in novels and this one delivers that. The struggle to find identity and purpose in midlife morphing into a harrowing search for a partner is an incredible premise. There's a lot of solid discussion points in this one. However, the ending felt too convenient. Some will love this ending, but dramatic stories require a cost to become memorable (IMO). When things feel so tidy a bow should sit on top, I pretty much tap out at that point.

I found this to be a fun yet, forgettable read.

The Snowbirds is the story of an almost marriage, narrated by partners Kim and Grant, baring the problems which have dogged their long term relationship. Flashbacks alternate with the present day and the search for Grant, missing from a hike on a mountain near their winter retreat in Palm Springs. The past is complicated. Both Kim and Grant were divorced when they met and both have stayed in touch with their former spouses. The two fell in love almost instantly and Kim was considering a move to live with Grant while he finished his Ph.D studies and became a college professor. Before she could make a final decision, she became pregnant with twins and the move was assured. Alternating now with the growing desperation of the search is the growing desperation of their lives. Hurts are either multiplied or hidden as Kim and Grant are affected by childhood hurts. The search is a life changing event for a partnership that needs to continue refreshed or end.

The writing in The Snowbirds is superb, the characters not so much. Both Kim and Grant are self-centered and self pitying. I could not identify with either one but I did love Basil! 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Christina Clancy for this ARC.

It took me about halfway through to actually care about what happened between Kim and Grant. They've been together as a couple for 30 yrs and are contemplating marriage. I feel that they never grew as a couple by living in 2 different homes during the week and each one had different expectations. Did I like the book? Not really. I received a free copy from NetGalley and the publisher. These opinions are my own.

A great book about the mid-life challenges that most long term couples face, set in fabulous Palm Springs. Christina Clancy doesn’t miss a step with her latest.

I liked it. Solid writing, compelling characters.

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Grant and Kim arrived in Palm Springs, California from Wisconsin in the fall of 2022. Through alternating chapters, Kim tells the story of their long relationship, interspersed with updates from their move to Palm Springs. She takes us quickly to the current quandry: where is Grant?
The Snowbirds is a nicely written story about two pleasant Midwesterners and their somewhat complicated relationship. I loved the group of quirky (or creepy in one case) people in their supporting cast and also appreciated the detailed description of Palm Springs.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read The Snowbirds in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent characters with believable motivations and complicated relationships that unfold during one winter in Palm Springs. I loved spending time with them, and now want to retire and move to California. My sweet spot is beautiful writing with an element of suspense that drives the story forward, and this book was exactly that.