I enjoyed this book very much. It’s the story of empty nesters who escape the Wisconsin winter by traveling to Palm Springs. There is a good bit of intrigue when one of them disappears. Beautifully written, with realistic and relatable characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

The book starts off with Kim's long-term boyfriend, Grant, missing in the desert. Kim and Grant came to California for a little reset by escaping the cold midwestern winter. Kim is the peacekeeper while Grant is needy and expects Kim to just be there for him. Their relationship seemed toxic and especially so while reading the flashbacks. I didn't love either character and thought both to be insufferable. This book was a lot slower than I thought and while I did finish it, it was pretty forgettable afterwards.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC.

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. interesting way to combine a missing person story and a multi-decade marriage story. i thought the writing was well-done however more could have been done for the story itself.

This novel felt like reading a love letter to people everywhere wondering if it's too late to grow up/reinvent themselves ... and to Palm Springs. I enjoyed following alongside Kim and Grant as they navigated a new season of life and where it would take them as individuals and as a couple.

Perhaps for a slightly older demographic (as I am nowhere near being an empty nester) this was definitely a character-driven story of a 30-year relationship.

While a little different than what I generally gravitate toward, I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This was a nice read that I read in only a day and a half! I would highly suggest this as a book to move to the top of your TBR

A frustrating but sweet read (with a great ending). Grant and Kim finally learn how to communicate with one another after 30+ years. The setting in Palm Springs was so fun and eclectic!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is, at its essence, a novel about marriage and midlife identity crises. It is also, however, a love letter to Palm Springs. Well told and entertaining overall, but for me the middle seemed to drag a bit, and I became a bit weary of the protagonists, with whom I never quite identified.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Kim and Grant have been together for 30 years, yet never married. He's been a tenured professor at a small midwestern college, but Kim and their twin daughters have never joined him there, instead living in an aging house in Madison, WI that Kim bought. Now, with both in their late fifties, Grant's college has closed and the couple for the first time live together 24/7, and Grant asks Kim the same question he has asked for years, "Will you marry me?" And Kim asks a question, new to both of them, " Will you come to Palm Springs with me for the winter?" Being a Wisconsinite (a Sconie), I felt comfortable with the Madison setting and characters--- Palm Springs, not so much. But like another reviewer said, I am glad I read the novel. Author Clancy crafts a tale that strongly shows that despite being together for years, and despite still being in love, knowing one's partner is never easy or even possible.

Some part of me forgot who Christina Clancy was, and silly me I've read all the books she has written now! The Second Home and Shoulder Season were both solid reads for me, and now I absolutely loved The Snowbirds! The cover gave me all the Palm Springs vibes, but this is a story that packs depth, emotion, and the complexities of relationships into a unique storyline. There is a lot of mystery surrounding Grant's disappearance on his hike, and I thought the tension of the will he or won’t he be found mixed with the flashbacks to the past was the perfect combination. Through this method we found out a lot more about Kim and Grant’s past together and I for one was a little flabbergasted by what I heard.

I would recommend the audiobook as the best way to experience The Snowbirds because Graham Halstead & Karissa Vacker were nothing but perfection. Vacker voices Kim while Halstead is the voice of Grant’s journal, and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair to immerse me in the storyline and characters. The ending had a sweetness that I wasn’t fully expecting, and I was so happy to see Kim’s growth by the last page. I don’t know that I would have been able to put up with what she had, but I also understand where she was at since there were kids in the picture, and unexpected twins on top of it! This has a great blend of themes, and I was gripped from start to finish.

Read this if you are looking for quirky characters, complex relationships, and lots of self-reflection.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story offers an interesting perspective on marriage, particularly how couples navigate growing older and the changes that come with it. There is some depth to Kim and Grant’s dynamic as they try to rekindle their connection and work through their issues. I felt like the characters lacked depth, and I felt both Kim and Grant were not being honest and forcing the other to read their minds.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

A realistic story of an empty nester couple trying to navigate life and find their way back to each other, find themselves, and for the male - find his way home from a hiking trip gone wrong!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for an eARC and ACL

Had a hard time connecting to the characters in this story. The most interesting thing that kept me going was finding out what happened to Grant.

I had the hardest time getting into this one. Kim and Grant were such a toxic couple. Once Grant went missing it seemed like the story dragged on. as much as I wanted to love this one, it just wasn't for me.

I couldn't connect with this. I didn't care for the main characters and their weird family dynamic, so I think I'm not the right audience.

"The Snowbirds," by Christina Clancy, is a thoughtful exploration of midlife challenges and reinvention, wrapped in a narrative that balances humor, intrigue, and heartfelt reflection.

The story follows our two protagonists, Kim and Grant, a long-married couple navigating the disorienting transitions of middle age. Trying to escape their mounting struggles, they trade their cold Midwestern routine for the sunny, quirky world of a Palm Springs snowbird community. While Kim eagerly embraces new friendships and adventures, Grant finds himself adrift, setting the stage for a poignant and, at times, tension-filled examination of their partnership.

The plot unravels at an even pace, with Clancy building suspense and emotional depth as the couple’s differences come to the forefront. The idyllic setting of Palm Springs contrasts beautifully with the complexities of Kim and Grant’s evolving dynamic, offering both glamour and a subtle edge of unease. When Grant goes missing on a hike, the story takes a turn toward mystery, raising questions about love, commitment, and personal growth that will keep readers engaged. Though some plot points may feel familiar, the emotional authenticity of the narrative provides a compelling anchor.

Kim’s journey of self-discovery is both relatable and inspiring, while Grant’s struggles elicit a mix of empathy and frustration. The cast of eccentric neighbors at Le Desert adds a layer of humor and charm, balancing the novel’s heavier themes. While "The Snowbirds" doesn’t completely upend expectations, it offers an enjoyable and heartfelt look at the possibilities and challenges of life’s later chapters. Fans of character-driven stories with a touch of intrigue and humor will find much to enjoy here.

The Snowbirds, Kim and Grant, were a couple who had 2 daughters, been together for over 30 years, and seemed to know very little about one another. They are now empty nesters and Grant's job has disappeared as the college he worked for shut their doors. Kim decides they need to get away, and her ex-husband lets her use his condo in Palm Springs for the winter. Kim seems to fit in well with the quirky community, but Grant struggles. He finds a friend who is a hiker and they often go off for the day on hikes, while Kim spends time with her new friends. Is this a relationship that is going to survive? When Grant goes off on a hike alone one day, he doesn't return. It seems he is lost in the mountains, or has he left her?

Perhaps I should have read the description a bit closer before requesting this book, because it wasn't what I was thinking it would be. This story was more about a relationship unraveling, two people who lived together but separate lives, and weren't very agreeable to compromise. I found them both hard to like, but I think I preferred Grant. I did love the setting. I have never been to Palm Springs, and I felt like I was seeing it through the eyes of the characters. Both the quirkiness of the condo community and the beautiful surroundings made me want to visit sooner rather than later. The main plot of them reevaluating their lives and what was important to them, was hard to get into when I didn't really like the characters. There is a back and forth as we learn about their past through flashbacks, so I could see how they ended up where they were. The mystery of what happened to Grant was there, but didn't seem as much of an emergency as I thought it should. There you go, not my cup of tea, but solid writing. After all that, I say that this is only my opinion and if you enjoy a relationship story with a mystery thrown in, they you might love this one, so give it a try.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy focused on many aspects of life, but truly represented a love story in all its messy rawness!

Kim and Grant's thirty year relationship is suddenly in crisis, so they head to Palm Springs in hopes of finding answers amongst the desert landscape.

Coming just shy of a full mid-life crisis, Kim is questioning herself, her career and her relationship with Grant. She was a beautifully relatable main character and a strong heroine to root for!

From the drab and depressing Midwest which represented feeling emotionally trapped, to the beauty, fun and excitement of Palm Springs, the surroundings changed to match Kim's outlook as Clancy perfectly captured these opposing settings with black and white precision.

Told from two timelines, the mystery subplot ramped the pacing up as the story progressed; the last few chapters quickly alternated viewpoints, perfectly mirroring Kim's panic!

Simply put, I loved Clancy's writing and the love she had for these characters.

Bonus: I enjoyed the references to Canada throughout the book! Second bonus: fantastic audiobook!

For fans of Susan Wiggs, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Kay Andrews and Elin Hilderbrand.

Equally good as the perfect getaway book to escape winter or as a beach read when those warm days hit!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy to read and review.

You can’t go wrong with a Christina Clancy book. This story of a marriage, two people Who love each other and her just trying to figure it out after years of marriage beautifully written deeply felt and surprising and all the right places I loved it.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I guess this author's work doesn't not click with me because I have not been a fan of any of her books. I didn't find myself wanting to read more and find a resolution to the character's stories. I don't always have to have something in common with the characters, but I would like to still be drawn into the pages, and this one did not do that for me. I liked the Palm Springs setting and wish the author described more about the location. I also liked the back stories but felt like both adults were selfish. This isn't one that I would necessarily pick up for me or a friend.

A look into the lives of two future to be snowbirds. Kim and Grant lead a different life, partners for 30 years. They have grown twin daughters and are now empty nesters, but then Kim has been a part time empty nesters for a while. Grant works as professor and lives in Mounds, WI and comes home to Kim on the weekends. When the college closes down and Grant is now permanently home in Madison, Kim isn’t sure if this is what she wants. Given the opportunity by Kim ex-husband to stay free in Palm Springs she pushes Grant into joining her.
Once there it was like living in a different world, nothing like the Midwest. Adjusting to a new life style and making new friends, has Grant finding a love for hiking. And Kim is questioning what she really wants in her life. To finally say yes to Grant’s many marriage proposals or what? And then she whole world is turned upside down when Grant doesn’t return from his hike.
This wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Living in Florida I know a lot about Snowbirds, but this was more a finding herself story. Was interesting in the beginning, but then it just dragged on for me. If it was my curiosity to find out what happened to Grant I might have DNF. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.