The book does a great job exploring middle-aged struggles and long-term commitment, with Palm Springs as a vibrant but complicated backdrop. The side characters add some charm, but the main relationship is frustrating. Grant repeatedly bails, expects Kim to sacrifice for him, and has emotional entanglements with his ex. Meanwhile, Kim doesn’t trust him (understandably), but their dynamic is so toxic that it’s hard to stay invested. The story also drags in places, especially in the past timeline.

There’s a quick mention of asexuality that reinforces a common misconception, which was disappointing.

Overall, The Snowbirds had potential but was weighed down by an unlikable relationship and slow pacing. If you like domestic dramas with a hint of mystery, it might be worth a shot—but go in knowing it’s more about relationship woes than suspense.

This story centers around Kim and Grant, an unmarried couple with 2 grown daughters who find themselves at a crossroads in their careers, their lives, and their relationship. It felt authentic and, at times, raw. Both MC's are struggling with their own baggage and demons as they relocate for the winter season to Palm Springs, a world away from their life in Wisconsin. The Palm Springs setting is vibrant and full of eclectic characters, which lends charm and color to the story, while the plot point of Grant going missing while hiking adds intrigue and mystery. I enjoyed this piece and will watch for more from this author.

Starts off feeling very deep and emotionally driven. The problem is that neither Grant or Kim are likeable characters. Out of courtesy, I did decide to finish it.

This one was not for me personally, but others MAY enjoy it. May need to check below trigger warnings.

TW - mentions of alcoholism, cheating, mentions of death (including parents, spouses), mention of cancer, mentions of divorce, detailed mention of self harm, mention of suicide

Kim and Grant have entered a new phase in their lives, so many changes have come and they are looking for a new start. They decide to move to a condo community and see how that goes. Kim jumps in feet first making new friends and exploring what the community has to offer. Grant can't seem to get comfortable in their new setting and is having a hard time adjusting. Kim wonders if their marriage will survive this life. When Grant disappears on a hike she worries that she'll never see him again and can't believe he might be truly lost to her. Follow along and go on Kim's journey of self discovery, will she find the answers she seeks and make changes or will all be lost.

4.5 rounded up

I have to say, the cover does not match this book. I went into this thinking it would be a nice light read but it ended up having a lot of substance!

Snowbirds really captured a woman who is at a crossroads. I loved how the author alternated chapters of Grant and Kim’s past relationship with the present. I loved seeing the nuances of their relationship and how they had gotten to where they are now. I felt like the author did a great job of showing both Grant and Kim’s sides. This is a book about Grant and Kim finding their way back to each other and I loved it! The writing was really engrossing and I felt very invested in the story.

The side characters and the setting of Palm Springs lightened the mood of the book. I really enjoyed The Jeans and Cassie and Melody and they all brought something different to the story.

This was my first from the author and I’m excited to check out her backlist!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

4 1/2 stars ⭐️
Christina Clancy is a new to me author and I am so glad I found her.

This books opens with Grant, the MMC, being lost on his day hike in Palm Springs. In order to understand how Grant got to where he was missing, the author takes us back and forth in time to tell the story of this quirky couple and their lives together. Kim and Grant have been together for 30 years but never married. They have twin grown daughters, Dort and March and ex-spouses that still very much involved in their lives.

Kim and Grant are in a transition phase of life - empty nesters that are are trying to figure out what is next - Kim is on a six month sabbatical and Grant has lost his college professor job. They begrudgingly agree to head to Palm Springs, CA to stay in Basil’s condo at Le Desert - Basil is Kim’s ex-husband who came out as gay shortly after they got married.

Their adventures in Palm Springs are so fun, interesting, and nothing like they had back in the Midwest. Getting to know these characters through their good times and bad times as well as all the emotional baggage they each have is so well written and heartwarming. I could relate to so many of the emotions that Kim was experiencing during this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.25/5)

Kim and Grant have been partners, never marrying and living mainly separately for 30 years, sharing twin daughters. With their daughters out of the house, Grant’s college closing, Kim talks Grant into moving temporarily to Palm Springs for the winter. Grant wants to finally get married, Kim isn’t exactly sure if this is what she wants. When Grants goes missing on a hike, Kim wonders if he’s really lost or just running away from his problems like he’s done in the past.

I looked forward to reading about a couple facing changes in their relationship as they near retirement age. Sadly, I couldn’t connect with either of them, finding both rather boring and self centered, unable to hear what the other is saying. Their story moved slowly. The secondary cast of characters were endearing, amusing and were a welcome addition to the story. I enjoyed Grant’s journal entries and getting a deeper look into him. I was ambivalent about the ending. Although this book wasn’t for me, if you enjoy slow burn, character driven novels in an idyllic setting, this book is for you. It was a nice escape from the bitter cold outside!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Slow-burning, reflective, and sentimental!

The Snowbirds is an honest, compelling tale that takes you into the life of Kim who, after thirty years and two kids with her partner Grant, is struggling with how she sees the rest of her life unfolding until Grant disappears one day on a hike and the reality of a life without him makes her reassess what she really wants.

The writing is rich and smooth. The characters are independent, discontent, and flawed. And the plot, using a past/present style, is an intriguing tale about life, love, family, friendship, parenthood, independence, introspection, marital tension, and new beginnings.

Overall, The Snowbirds is a simmering, insightful, mysterious tale by Clancy that reminds us that life is unpredictable and full of curve balls, and it’s how we approach and handle these highs and lows and ups and downs that truly make all the difference.

Kim and Grant are unconventional in the way they have never married but have been together for thirty years. When they get an opportunity to spend the winter in Palm Springs many of their simmering issues and traumas are forced into the light and they must examine their lives closely. As much as this is a deep dive into their relationship, both past and present there is also a really delightful cast of supporting characters. The story had a very slow build, and honestly it never really picked up the pace. As a middle-aged woman who has been married for 25 years, I did connect with the FMC, Kim—her fear of being abandoned by her husband resonated with me. I genuinely felt for her. While the through line of the story was the fact that Grant was missing and what happened to him, I also felt that Kim deserved so much more than what she ended up with.

bookscoffeebrews Book Review: THE SNOWBIRDS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Christina Clancy. @christinaclancyauthor
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press. @stmartinspress
Thank you @netgalley for my ARC.

This novel is a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery,
mid-life changes, and the complexities of long-term
relationships, told with a balanced mix of humor and
realism. Kim and Grant, an unmarried couple who’ve
been together for thirty years, find their seemingly
comfortable lives upended when a series of
events—including Grant losing his job and his mother’s
death—push them to confront what they really want
from life. In an effort to shake things up, they leave
their Midwest home for Palm Springs, California,
hoping a change of scenery will help them figure out
their next steps.

Kim thrives in their new environment, making friends
and embracing the Palm Springs lifestyle, while Grant
struggles to find his footing. As an introverted college
professor, he feels out of place among the city’s
larger-than-life personalities, which adds to his sense
of disconnection and uncertainty. The story takes a
dramatic turn when Grant disappears during a hike,
forcing Kim to reflect on their relationship, her own
desires, and whether their lives are still aligned—or if
it’s time to move on.

The novel tackles themes of identity, growth, and the
monotony that can creep into long-term relationships,
capturing these struggles with authenticity. The pacing
is mostly steady, though parts of the story felt
repetitive at times. However, this repetitiveness
seemed intentional, reflecting the cycles and routines
that often lead people to seek change. The humor,
carefully placed throughout the book, provided a
welcome contrast to the heavier, more serious
moments, adding depth to the emotional narrative.

With its realistic characters, thoughtful insights, and an
absorbing plot, this book is both relatable and
thought-provoking. While not without its slower
moments, it’s a compelling look at how people
navigate life’s crossroads and the sometimes
unexpected paths to self-discovery. A great read for
those who enjoy character-driven stories with a blend
of humor and depth.

#snowbirdsbook #Books #bookstagram #read

This novel is like no other I've ever read...in a good way. The protagonist, Kim, is an almost-senior woman who has never married Grant, her longtime partner and father of her two daughters. After temporarily moving to Palms Springs, Grant takes up hiking and disappears. The novel then works through Kim and Grant's relationship and the five times Grant has disappeared before. Kim has always refused to marry him, and now it might be too late. Were her choices over the years all mistakes?

This novel keeps you guessing until the very last pages: will Grant turn up or not? Has he lived through an ordeal in the desert or not? Along with going deep into choices we all make over the course of long relationships, this book had a "can't put it down" pace and excellent prose. Several minor characters just about stole the show at several points, offering some laugh out loud moments.

Highly recommended for women's book groups and female readers "of a certain age."

The Snowbirds was my first book of 2025! Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted eARC! The Snowbirds is available now.

"Is this all there is?" Grant and Kim both keep asking themselves. They've been partners for 30 years and have two grown daughters. Now, they find themselves at a crossroads. They decide to trade the cold Midwest winter blues for sunny Palm Springs. Their holiday isn't quite what they expected. They attempt to reconnect and decide their future. Things go even more awry when Grant goes missing on a hike.

This book is for people who enjoy a character-driven story with characters that aren't always likable. If you like messy characters, this is for you!

I enjoyed this book! And think it would spark lots of conversation and thus could be a good pick for a book club.

A very real "do we even like each other anymore?" romance.

A newly empty-nested couple decide to try being "snowbirds," leaving Madison, WI in winter for Palm Springs, CA. They're both at forks in the roads of their careers, and their relationship. They were never married, and now they have to decide if they even want to stay together.

This story was different from anything I've read before. It was hard to get into in the beginning, mostly because the characters were flawed and awful to each other, then it used a short-term flashback strategy to tell the couple's developments over their winter which got better as the book went on.

The Snowbirds was generally too slow of a pace and too windy for me. I wasn’t truly invested in the characters or what was happening until around 40%, but I was determined to not DNF an ARC.

It runs on an alternating timeline which was pretty confusing at first. Additionally, there are a TON of names of side characters, and I found it hard to recall who was who when they got mentioned out of the blue but hadn’t been referenced in awhile.

The style is not for me. But if folks like slow burn, mysterious, somewhat ramble-y, emotional reads, but may be a good one for them.

Kim and Grant have been a couple for thirty years. They’ve raised kids together but kept a “separate but together” partnership. They decide to escape the harsh midwest winter for sunny Palm Springs, where their relationship is put to the test when Grant goes on a solo hike and doesn’t return.

I think I liked the idea of this story more in theory than in execution, but it may have been a case of misplaced expectations. I really liked Shoulder Season by the same author, and maybe that’s why I was expecting more of a character study with the backdrop of a quirky condo community in Palm Springs. I knew Grant went missing, but didn’t expect it would be the hinge the story revolved around.

I didn’t feel emotionally invested in Kim and Grant as a couple. I was honestly annoyed at this petulant man who ran away every time something didn’t go his way. You’re wanting this woman to commit to you, so you disappear for a few days when she dares to show hesitation? Ick.
The story was a slow build, going back and forth between their past as a couple, and the present while they search for Grant. It was entertaining, but ultimately, I was underwhelmed by the ending.

🎧 Narration by Karissa Vacker and Graham Holstead was great. They really brought Kim and Grant to life and kept me listening.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

unfortunately this book was not for me. Grant is one of the most unlikable, obnoxious main characters I’ve read in a long time. And Kim just feels ridiculous for putting up with his baloney for 30 years.

Thank you @stmartinspress for my #gifted copy and thank you @macmillanaudio for my #gifted listening copy of The Snowbirds! #stmartinspress #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio #TheSnowbirds #ChristinaClancy

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟯.𝟱★

I thought the concept of this book was really great and found the set-up of the book really engaging. I am all about a book that focuses on later in life characters, and in The Snowbirds, the two main characters, Kim and Grant have a relationship that is in trouble. I thought the dual timeline really helped to develop the story and make this more of a page-turner. It also kept me more engaged with the story overall. I will also say this was beautifully written, and I would definitely check out more by the author in the future. With that said, while I felt for Kim and what she was going through with Grant missing, I had a very hard time connecting to both of the main characters. I appreciated how the book explored the concept of finding yourself, I just wish I enjoyed the characters more. Overall, it was a me problem, and absolutely nothing wrong with the book, so I definitely wouldn’t let that that discourage you from picking this one up.

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by both Karissa Vacker and Graham Halstead. I’ve always been such a huge fan of Vacker, and I think this was my first time listening to Halstead. I found Halstead to be really engaging and thought this one was excellent on audio!

Posted on Goodreads on February 13, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 13, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 13, 2025
**-will post on designated date

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.

Based on the premise—a husband goes missing on a solo hike—I expected this to be more of a thriller, but it’s much more the story of a long-term partnership as both partners contemplate what their future holds and whether there is a future together. Told with some long and some more recent flashbacks, we get a glimpse into a complicated relationship that was atypical and very interesting to follow along with. I think the end wrapped up a little too neatly but it was overall a good story and compelling without thriller-level drama.

The Snowbirds is another great novel from Christina Clancy! It centers around a couple - Kim and Grant - who have been together for thirty years but are not married. Grant was a professor at a nearby college until they closed down and Kim has raised their twin daughters so they have spent a lot of time apart in their relationship. When they have a chance to move to Palm Springs for the winter Kim is all in but she has to convince Grant to go. Kim really takes to the new environment right away. Meeting some very quirky characters in their condo complex and just taking in the warm weather. Grant isn't so sure until he takes up hiking. One day he leaves for a hike and doesn't come back. The story revolves around the search for Grant and flashes back to memories of Kim and Grant's relationship through the years. Highly recommend this book!

Kim and Grant have been together for 30 years, but never married. Originally it was so she could keep her alimony, but now that that’s done, Grant wants nothing more than to officially marry her. Their twin girls are out of the house, and Kim knows what will help them, they will spend some time this winter in Palm Springs at condo community. As Kim begins to feel like she has a life there, Grant goes missing on a hike. Kim can’t help but wonder if he is really missing, or maybe just left her?

This book made me want to be somewhere warm! I kind of love the way Kim and Grant kept their relationship, and honestly it’s kind of the way I would want a relationship if I had one. I liked that this book was more about the relationship between Kim and Grant than the fact that Grant was missing, though that was a storyline as well. I did this one on audio and I really enjoyed the narration. Also please bring me to Palm Springs to hang with Patrick and @mrstevenrowley!

Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy of this book!