In the present-day storyline, there’s a mystery surrounding Grant, who goes missing after taking a hike—an activity he had only recently started. He’s gone for over three days, and while the book markets this as a thriller, it’s really not in that vein at all. I was intrigued by the mystery: Did he get lost? Did he leave intentionally? Or was something more sinister at play? That sense of uncertainty did a good job of holding the story together, but the resolution didn’t quite deliver for me. By the end, I was left feeling a bit detached from the characters and the snowbird setting, as if the emotional payoff never quite materialized.

This book sounded like it would be fantastic and the cover really drew me in, but I just did not enjoy this like I imagined.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This evocative and engrossing exploration of a long, loving relationship opens in Palm Springs. Grant Duffy, a newly avid hiker from the Midwest, is lost in the winter mountains surrounding the city. As his long-time partner, Kim Hastings, waits anxiously for word of his safety, she unspools their relationship in her mind, going over past events and present possibilities.

Kim and Grant are in their mid-late fifties, living in Madison, WI, and have been together over 30 years. They have never married, but have lived as a family, raising their twin daughters who now are young adults. Grant was a philosophy professor at an historic, small, Midwestern college, which has just closed, leaving him, at 59 years old, without a job. Kim, 55, who works for a non-profit, is due for a sabbatical, given to compensate for the low pay of her important work.

At her insistence, despite Grant’s reluctance, they go to Palm Springs for her time away from work.

Early on, it is clear there are bumps in their relationship. They have not actually lived together all these years, as Grant has stayed in the small town housing the college, which is over an hour away. Kim has raised the twins in Madison, with Grant home for weekends. She often feels like a single parent, and is not sure if she now can spend all the time with Grant alone. Also, Grant wants them finally to be married, though Kim still is not sure. Much as she loves him, she is more aware of and focused on the cracks in their relationship.

The novel explores what they both learn as Kim waits for Grant’s rescue or recovery. The Palm Springs condo where they live adds a cast of colorful but believable characters whose interactions help both of them learn and grow.

Occasionally episodes or events seem a little too predictable, but overall, there is a liveliness and thoughtfulness that make the story engaging and well worth reading.

This book was most certainly a reflective look at a long term relationship, but I might caution a younger lovebird from reading. This book follow Kim both in the past and present, exploring her partnership with Grant as he goes missing. There are certainly positive moments examined, but for the most part, it’s a bit melancholy with an occasional humorous respite. I think if I weren’t in the thick of early motherhood with my spouse, I might not find it so tough to read, but it’s certainly well-written all the same. My thanks to St Martin’s Press, Clancy, and NetGalley for the ARC.

At a major crossroads in their lives Kim and Grant decide to spend winter as snowbirds in Palm Springs. Grant has lost his job when the small college he teaches at closes, their twins are out of the house, and they are trying to decide if, after thirty years together, they should get married! Thinking time away and a new environment might help them work through their issues they take an offer to stay at a condo community called Le Desert. There they meet a quirky cast of characters. When Grant goes out for a hike and doesn't return Kim isn't sure if she should be worried or not. As the search for him drags on, we get glimpses of their past and tumultuous life.
I struggled between three and four stars on this one. The beginning dragged for me. I also struggled with Kim and Grant. They (although to be fair to Grant, the story is told from Kim's perspective) are not easy people to like. They make bad decisions and then wonder why things don't go well. The ending almost brought it to four stars, but ultimately I struggled too much initially to let it go to four.
It is set to be published next year on 4 February 2025. So save some of your Christmas money and plan to get it in February!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #TheSnowbirds

THE SNOWBIRDS by Christina Clancy is a simple story and an easy read, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! Christina Clancy is a fantastic writer, and I think the biggest knock against this book is the characterization of the main couple, the snowbirds. They are unlikeable characters in an extremely likeable and fun setting - Palm Springs.

Kim and Grant are one of those couples that have been together for more than 20 years, have grown children, but never tied the knot. They have led separate lives due to their jobs, but decided to try to reconnect for 6 months when a free condo in Palm Springs lures them away from the midwest winter. We go back and forth through time, as we learn more about their relationship, their marriages before they met, and raising their twin girls.

In the present though, we have a bit of a mystery in Grant going on a hike (something he only recently took on) and goes missing for 3+ days. It's marketing a bit as as thriller, but that is not the case at all. I did want to know what happened - did he get lost? Take off on purpose? Something more sinister? And I felt that was a good glue to stick the story together, but the ending didn't quite do it for me and I was left feeling a bit cold with the snowbirds by the end.

Remind me to never go to Palm Springs! I do enjoy a book about people searching for something and then maybe not finding it. In this case, one half of the couple found it more than the other but it was a reminder that changing scenery rarely solves a problem. The addition of not knowing if Grant went missing or ran away was intriguing and kept the plot moving.

This story about Kim and Grant's decade long relationship as they face a pivotal moment in their lives. Grappling with questions of what comes next, where to go, and how their choices will affect those around them, the quirky cast of characters adds depth and charm to this tale. This is a life story having you wonder "Is this all there is?"

It's an interesting take when the book starts with the happily ever after but then exposes the messy reality of being married and growing old together. But, its what you make of it.

I love Christina Clancy and I was so exited to read this one. For me the pacing of this book was too slow. The part that I really enjoyed was when they found Grant’s journal and those were my favorite portions of the book. This book was very grounded in Palm Springs and I just couldn’t connect to this setting or the two main characters Grant and Kim.. I just couldn’t get invested.This was an in depth character study and about long term relationships and commitment but for me too slow. I will continue to read this author because I loved Shoulder Season and The Second Home but this one was not a good fit for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Snowbirds was my first Christina Clancy book and it won’t be my last! I enjoyed her style of writing. This book had a lot of interesting characters and I often felt like I wanted to live in Palm Springs!

Definitely worth the read!

This one took me by surprise! Pace is slow at first but give it time. The main characters feel superficial but as you get deeper into the story you realize how much more depth they have. The quirky side characters also add some much needed humour.

I love a good past and present dual timeline to really keep me on my toes and this delivered. I was anxious to keep reading to figure out what happened to Grant. All in all, a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC!

I’ve read everything this author has written and this one seemed very different. I was pulled in by the Palm Springs references. I grew up near there and it a beautiful place. However this felt disjointed and there were things that felt weird to me. Married, not married and how long were they actually looking for him? I had to read the last part twice because I thought it ended too abruptly. Will I read another by this author? Absolutely. 3.5⭐️
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

After 30 years and raising a family together, Kim and Grant's relationship is in trouble. College professor Grant is rudderless after losing his job and Kim doesn’t know what to do with her empty nest. On a whim, they decide to rent a condo in sunny Palm Springs, where they discover a close-knit community of quirky residents. Kim blossoms, but Grant continues to struggle. When Grant disappears during a hike in the mountains, Kim wonders whether he’s really lost or simply left. This is a bighearted meditation on long-lasting relationships and finding yourself within them.

The Snowbirds is a heartfelt story, centering on Kim and Grant, a couple living in Wisconsin whose relationship is at a crossroads. Together for 30 years, but never married, when Grant loses his job as a philosophy professor and Kim decides she can’t take another Midwest winter, the couple decides to move to Palm Springs for the winter. Kim with excitement for a new adventure and Grant very begrudgingly.

Grant wants to finally make things official and get married, but now that their twins are grown and out of the house, Kim wonders if they are actually well-suited for each other anymore. Kim hopes the experience in Palm Springs will bring clarity to their relationship. The midlife tendency to ask oneself, Is this all there is? is a relatable theme.

When Grant disappears hiking one day, Kim is left to wonder if he’s actually missing or just taking a runner, as he has in the past. The story alternates between two time periods – before and after.

I enjoyed Kim’s journey of self-discovery and the peek into their lives that provided a better understanding of how they arrived at this position.

Overall, an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to readers who identify with the struggle to find meaning and purpose in mid-life.

Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Reviews to be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, and Amazon.com on pub day.

I think every marriage reaches a stage where you look at each other and realize that you've become more like roommates and less like lovers... And that is exactly what happens in The Snowbirds. While it is touching and emotional it is also filled with a true crime like feel that leaves you guessing. I think an added level of the "tension" in the book is that neither Kim or Grant are very likeable. Do we want them to work it out? Do want the resolution to be one sided? That is all part of the journey as you read.

The Snowbirds by Christine Clancy

You never know what you have until it’s gone.

The midwestern college where Grant teaches closes its doors. Their twin girls are grown and gone. To escape the Wisconsin winter—and reboot a tired, empty nest relationship—Kim and Grant head to Palm Springs. Ensconced in Le Desert, a condo community with a good supply of off-beat residents, Kim enjoys making friends and exploring her new area.

Although Grant struggles to find his footing, hiking becomes a favorite pastime.

Kim is used to Grant running when he is scared. But he’s never been gone this long before. He always comes back. Is he really lost in the Palm Springs mountains, or has he left her?

I raced through this novel and thoroughly loved the backdrop of Palm Springs, a city I know little about. Reading The Snowbirds makes me want to pack a bag, fly to California, and visit the area!

Thank You Net Galley for an advanced copy of the book.

This is my first book that I’ve read by Christina Clancy and I really enjoyed this book. The writing was really good and I really enjoyed the setting in the book. We follow Kim and Grant a married couple who escape to Palm Springs. There Grant goes missing although questions such as is he really missing or did he just leave? This is a great book to read especially during the holidays.

Christina Clancy's The Snowbirds (coming February 2025) is a witty and warm-hearted novel that'll keep you turning pages well past bedtime. At its heart is a fascinating premise: what happens when a couple who's mastered the art of "separate but together" for thirty years suddenly has to face their relationship head-on?

Meet Kim and Grant, who trade their Midwest winter blues for Palm Springs sunshine. But their escape to paradise isn't quite what they expected. Instead of poolside cocktails and easy living, they're forced to navigate the tricky waters of late middle age and their unconventional partnership. Clancy writes about these themes with humour and warmth, creating a story that feels both honest and hopeful.

The novel shines with sparkling dialogue and the glamorous backdrop of Palm Springs, but it's the deep dive into real, grown-up love that makes it special. If you enjoy character-driven stories about second chances and self-discovery, particularly ones that aren't afraid to mix laughs with life lessons, this book is for you.

★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Perfect for fans of Jonathan Tropper and Laura Dave who love their relationship stories with a side of wit and wisdom.

*The Snowbirds* is a beautifully written and heartfelt story about a long-term couple navigating the ups and downs of mid-life, set against the sunny backdrop of Palm Springs. With humor, honesty, and a relatable cast of characters, Christina Clancy explores the complexities of love, commitment, and self-discovery in a way that’s both tender and real—definitely a story you won’t forget!

This is my first exposure to this author. While I enjoyed the plot, the book just seemed to move too slowly. It wasn’t until about eighty percent into the book that it grabbed hold of me. Some people might enjoy the philosophy aspects of the plot, but it just wasn’t for me.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.