In my head this was two old people dating in Florida for the winter, a funny romcom....

But in reality, it is a commitement phobic couple out in California for the winter. I didn't relate to them AT ALL and therefore took forever to read this book. It was good... just not what I was hoping for.

The cover is what drew me in to this novel. It started out OK and kept my interest. However at 35% it lost me. It failed to keep my interest and I didn't care for the main characters. So I ended up DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The writing was great! I struggled relating to the characters or even liking the characters but it was still a slow read!

Thanks for the review copy. I didn’t like the main characters much but had to know what happens with Grant. The writing was done well, though. I’m sure others will like it more than me.

I liked that this book started right away with Grant missing. So there is some suspense. Then it takes us back. I really liked the characters and the setting of this book. I think this felt like a real relationship with grownups making real choices. There was love and humor and great writing in this book.

The book was very slow for me. I couldn’t relate to the characters. I had hoped the story would pickup as I got further into the book. Sadly that did not happen. I don’t think it’s a bad book, it’s just not one that resonated with me. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book started off as one of those incredibly real, emotional reads. However it fell off quickly and I struggled to stay "involved" with the book. Grant and Kim weren't entirely unlikeable characters but I had zero connection to either of them and didn't care what happened.

This book started out fine to me. It kept me intrigued and waiting for what was coming up.
Sadly, a little before halfway through it failed to hold my attention and it just lost me. I never really cared for the characters, but I was curious to follow their journey, but then it got a little repetitive and slow, for my taste. I might consider giving this book another chance in the future, though.

2 stars
Starts off feeling very deep and emotionally driven. The problem is that neither Grant nor Kim are likeable characters.
At 36%, I just couldn't make myself care anymore. I skimmed to the end

I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher.

Okay, I have never read a book quite like this one. It was so honest, true, and real. The main characters were fantastic! I loved the journey they went on. Christina, Id love to sit with you and hear all about the process and behind story of writing this. It was just so good! Highly recommend. Add to your TBR list for February 4. -Kelsey Vogeney @little_blue_book_hutch

Thank you for this e-ARC!

This is my first novel from this author and I was quite impressed by it. I loved the characters and representation of grown-up relationships where it details the frustration, confusion, pleasures and complications of their lives.

Overall, I enjoyed this read which left a little emotional impact.

First, what a gorgeous cover! The inviting scene drew me to read this story. The Snowbirds are a couple that have been married for thirty years and have grown children. They spend time in the desert of Palm Springs and the book takes off from there. Some points were slow, but overall I was into the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sadly this is not for me. Lost me several times. I had high hopes for this one. Hopefully it will be a better fit for someone else. Thank you for the chance to
Read it.

I have read this author’s precious books and enjoyed them so was happy to get a copy from NetGalley. It’s a well written novel about an older couple navigating life after kids are grown and facing life decisions. The writing kept me engaged by seeing both viewpoints of the main characters and the descriptions of life and the characters in Palm Springs.

I enjoyed the concept of this story and found it very relatable. The writing was OK an dit certainly kept me turning pages and wanting to know what happens next. Thanks for the opportunity to read and good luck with the book.

This was a nice story about a couple who has been together for 30 years. It was a vacation-y book and the characters were all written well. I liked the drama and the humor and the story overall. It had good pacing and it was a fairly quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Snowbirds is a compelling drama about Kim and Grant, a couple of 30 years, facing a turning point. As they spend winter in Palm Springs, tensions rise when Grant disappears during a hike, leaving Kim unsure if he’s missing or has abandoned their relationship. The story explores their shared history, past relationships, and the challenges of long-term commitment. Engaging and well-written, it highlights the emotional complexities of staying together through life’s transitions.

A wonderful novel about a grown-up relationship. I love how Christina Clancy writes about the complications, pleasures, and frustrations of long-term, mid-life relationships. Her characters are thoughtful and ambivalent and, most important, feel real, which makes for an interesting ride as Grant goes missing from a hike in Palm Springs and Kim, his partner of 30 years, tries to figure out if something terrible has happened to him or if he's gone on one of his occasional emotional walk-abouts. Loved the Palm Springs setting as this midwestern couple figures out what it means to be truly committed to each other for the long haul. Clancy's writing is beautiful and goes down so easily; a pleasure to read!

The Snowbirds is a compelling domestic drama that delves into the complexities of a long-term relationship at a pivotal moment. Kim and Grant, together for 30 years and parents to grown twin daughters, face a significant crossroads. Both previously divorced, they have never married each other. Amid recent upheavals in Grant’s life, Kim is eager to escape the cold and spend the winter in the sunny haven of Palm Springs. However, Grant is hesitant, and while Kim quickly integrates into the Palm Springs community, Grant finds himself struggling to adapt. The tension escalates when Grant fails to return from a mountain hike. As the narrative unfolds, Kim grapples with the uncertainty of whether Grant is truly missing or has chosen to abandon their relationship. Through the ongoing search, the story reveals the couple’s shared history, their past relationships, and the personal challenges they face during this transitional phase.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found myself deeply invested in Kim’s journey as she anxiously awaited news about Grant. The writing was captivating, keeping me engaged throughout. I appreciated the depth of the characters, who were developed layer by layer, much like an onion. The narrative beautifully highlights the challenges of maintaining a long-term relationship and how life’s changes compel us to reassess our desires and priorities. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of choosing to stay committed, even when times get tough.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Summary: Kim and Grant have been a common-law couple for thirty years. Their daughters are adults now and living their own lives. Grant’s position as a college professor ended since the college closed, and rather than struggle through another bitter Mid-West winter, Kim has persuaded Grant to go to Palm Springs for the season. Once there, Kim quickly adapts and finds new interests and new friends, but Grant struggles to adapt to the changes in his life, his surroundings and his partner. Will their relationship survive the upheaval? When Grant fails to return from a solo hiking excursion, and efforts to find him are unsuccessful, Kim grapples with two difficult scenarios: either Grant is lost in the desert wilderness, or he has finally left for good.

Thoughts: I was completely engrossed in this gripping story of a couple at a crossroads in their lives and relationship. Palm Springs is sparkling, sexy and glamourous on the surface, but underneath is a hidden seedy side of homelessness and human vice, as well as a harshly challenging natural environment. Kim and Grant have a “successful” thirty-year partnership and two adult children. Underlying this however, they both have their personal demons which has led to periodic episodes of intense relationship strife during which Grant unceremoniously walked out. When he disappears yet again in Palm Springs, Kim isn’t sure if he has intentionally left or if he is lost and endangered in the heat and wilderness. This engaging novel is an intense look at the challenges of committing to a long-term relationship, the roles we take on and choices we make, and the unsettling questions that arise when we know our lives are more than half over. I enjoyed it so much and would recommend to any reader that enjoys a domestic drama with some tension and mystery.