The book follows the evolving relationship between Kim and Grant, a middle-aged couple. It was a refreshing take about life and love through an older couple and somewhat relatable. The couple take a trip to Palm Springs - and when Grant goes missing on a hike, Kim begins to reflect on their past relationship. There are some pivotal moments - examining past decisions, confront current challenges. I enjoyed the setting of Palm Springs as we often vacation there and felt like I was there.

For those who enjoy stories about family drama with a touch of mystery, this one is for you. There are a lot of relatable moments, but the story did feel like it was missing a certain UUMPH. There were times when the pacing felt a bit too slow, and while the dynamics were rich, I found myself wishing for a bit more excitement or drama to really push the narrative forward. The end did have a good conclusion and I did enjoy it.

It proves that no relationship is linear and offers a compelling reminder that love is about growth, communication, and sometimes, the courage to rethink everything. The audiobook version will captivate anyone who loves stories about personal transformation, family drama, and the intricacies of deep, evolving relationships. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio book copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this book but it was a bit too slow for me.
I liked the premise but ultimately it just didn’t grab my attention enough to really be captivated.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy was such a fun and unique story!
I just loved her previous titles and her newest title was no different.
An emotionally gripping novel that is thought-provoking and emotional.
A beautiful written novel that was very entertaining and so enjoyable.

Kim and Grant have become empty nesters, and decide to become snowbirds. As they transition to this part of their journey, they wonder what it is they want in this next chapter of their life. While they are spending the winter in Palm Springs, Grant takes up hiking, and Kim starts her journey of discovering who she is now and what she wants.
Grant went hiking one day, and didn't come home when he was supposed to. When Kim reported him missing, a search was started. She met Brady who was heading up the search, and he had a lot of questions, that made Kim really think. While Grant was lost, he wrote in his journal, and that was found. But not Grant. Kim read his journal, and they both did a lot of soul-searching.
I can't tell you if Grant was found or not, but sometimes life takes you off autopilot, and makes you see what is happening now, in hope of them seeing what has been in front of them that they haven't been seeing. I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, and it is a wonderful read.

It’s time to fly some place warmer! ☀️
Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of the Snowbirds {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 2.4.2025
Pages: 304
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5

“Women excel at remaking ourselves because we do it all the time. As women get older, they want men to change while men just want women to stay the same. We change all the time because we actually think about life as we go through it and we respond to it, we experience many Renaissances.”

I really wanted to love The Snowbirds, but something just felt off. I’m not sure if it was the characters, the storyline, or a combination of both, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The story had a very slow build, and it never really picked up the pace. I did connect with the FMC, Kim—her fear of being abandoned by her husband resonated with me. I genuinely felt for her. While I didn’t want Grant to die, I also felt that Kim deserved so much more than what she ended up with.

By the time the book concluded, I was left with a bit of a sour feeling. The ending just didn’t sit right with me.

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
The Snowbirds is narrated by one of my absolute favorites, Karissa Vacker (seriously, she’s the best!), along with Graham Halstead, who’s also lent his voice to The Favorites, The Charm Offensive, and Eight Perfect Murders. I really enjoyed their narration, and I have to say, Graham’s portrayal of Grant was exactly how I imagined his voice to sound.

Read if you enjoy:
✌🏼 Dual timeline
‼️ Marriage in crisis
🫶🏼 Mature characters
🐌 Slower pace

I’ve read Christina Clancy’s prior two books and loved them. Her books are like coming home for me. Maybe because she always sets them, at least in part, in Wisconsin, my home state, but I think it's more that she incorporates the importance of relationships and the simple ways of life into a bigger narrative.

In 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬, Kim and Grant have been together for over thirty years, not married but as partners with kids. Their relationship is about to be put to the test when Kim wants to winter in Palm Springs, away from the cold and snow of Wisconsin.

We know up front that Grant goes missing while hiking in the mountains. The book retraces Kim and Grant’s relationship, explaining how they met, why their exes are still present in their lives, and why they haven’t married. It even gives us clues as to what Grant might be running from.

If you're over forty or have been in a long-term relationship, you’ll be able to relate to this story. I loved following Kim and Grant on their adventure into a chapter of self-discovery - even in middle-age. I found myself nodding my head, laughing out loud, and, at times, feeling a little sad. Once again, Clancy has caused me to reflect upon my own relationship and not take it for granted.


Thank you @stmartinspress for the gifted ebook arc. #thesnowbirds #stmartinspress #SMPinfluencer #christinaclancy

As much as this seems like it could be a classic missing persons story it’s actually much more about Kim and Grant’s relationship and how it’s evolved over the years. They are unconventional in the way they have never married but have been together for thirty years and they also spend lots of time apart. When they get an opportunity to spend the winter in Palm Springs many of their issues and traumas are forced into the light and they must examine their lives closely. I thought the author did a really great job at exploring middle aged issues and struggles and even though I’m a bit younger than Kim and Grant, I could relate to many of their woes. 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 who brought levity to the story. I really enjoyed my time with this one and recommend it to anyone who likes family dramas and a light mystery.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is a captivating tale of a couple escaping the harsh Midwest winter for the sunny shores of Palm Springs, only to discover their relationship at a critical juncture. This novel is a journey in itself, offering a candid and genuine depiction of love, family dynamics, and self-discovery, all conveyed through exquisite prose and well-developed characters.

I have mixed feelings about this book. When I started reading the e-book I really struggled and wanted to give up but then, McMillan Audio very graciously gave me the audio book and I went from there. This wasn’t a 'I can’t wait to sit down and read this' type of book. So I continued with Kim and Grant's story by listening to it.

This story starts with the disappearance of Grant after what was supposed to be a day trip of hiking in the mountains. But Kim is giving off vibes as to whether he is truly lost or something else has happened. The book goes back-and-forth in time to a year previous and present day, with time reflected on the early years of their relationship. Now Kim's initial thoughts into his disappearance begin to make sense. It was an interesting story that showed their developing relationship, struggles and hidden feelings.

For me this just felt flat, I had a hard time feeling any emotion towards Kim, Grant and their story. Which, of course, makes it hard to have an invested interest. Those are my feelings, but others seem to have loved it so it could just be a situation here.

The Snowbirds releases today. My thanks to St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

This is a review of the audiobook.

I absolutely loved Shoulder Season so I was super excited for this release, but unfortunately I just found it to be a little too slow moving for me. I found myself skimming parts to keep it moving - I did like the ending though!

A really good read from an author I’d never heard of before. The story was centered around an older couple who are going through relationship problems and a bit of wondering whether this life they’ve built is really all there is. I loved the characters and the environment. In fact I started looking into Palm Springs as a possible getaway after finishing the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have been recommending it friends and family non-stop.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this around the 20% mark. There was so much going on in the story but it just didn’t capture my attention from the start. It was too slow moving for me and I didn’t connect to the story or plot.

The Snowbirds is the story of a middle aged couple vacationing in Palm Springs for the winter, where they begin reflecting on life, decisions made, and the commitment needed for a long lasting relationship. While hiking in the mountains, Grant, the MMC, goes missing and the story is told through Cassie’s, the FMC, flashbacks and the police rescue mission.

This story was a great reminder that sometimes we have to be lost before we can find not only ourselves but our true love. It has a diverse cast of fun and quirky characters and makes you feel like you are the one visiting Palm Springs. I enjoyed that it is a realistic and relatable love story with characters closer to my age. However, I did feel like it started out a little slow and it ended too abruptly. Overall, it was an easy read, and a solid love story that will make you reflect on your own life and relationships.

The narration was fantastic! The narrators did a great job with dialect, inflection, and pacing. They gave the characters their own unique voice and brought the story to life. The voice of Hobie was hilarious and spot on with what I envisioned.

Thank you @macmillan.audio, @stmartinspress , and @netgalley for the #gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Publish to Goodreads on 2/4/25.

This is an ARC review thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press.

I absolutely enjoyed this book! If I could describe it as a scene, it would be: a nice spring afternoon, sitting on the front porch, listening to the birds chirping and a small breeze. The plot was great and it was thoroughly written. It was not cheesy and was refreshing to have the main couple going thru their own issues in life. The characters were all relatable which made the book even more enjoyable! The author had me guessing the whole time what would happen next. Definitely recommend.

THE SNOWBIRDS by Christina Clancy is a heartfelt story of love, family and the journey to find out what is really important in life. It is about a middle-aged couple who find themselves at a crossroads in their careers but also in their relationship. Kim and Grant have been together for thirty years, but have never married. Their twin daughters are grown and on their own. Because of their jobs, Kim and Grant have lived separately for long periods of time, but when the college where Grant works is closed down, they are thrust back together and not everything is as rosy as they would hope. They decide to escape the cold winter of the Midwest and spend the winter at Kim’s ex’s condo in Palm Springs. When Grant goes missing on a mountain hike, Kim is faced with a devastating situation. Is Grant truly lost on the mountains or has he purposely left Kim for good? This is a thought-provoking and emotional story that explores long-term relationships and the commitment required to keep them alive. There are lots of thoughtful elements in this story and even a touch of humor. I enjoyed this engaging story of self-discovery and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This novel is a book about self-discovery, told with humor and realism. Kim and Grant are an unmarried couple, living together for thirty years but never taking the commitment plunge into marriage. They seem to be content enough with their lives until Grant loses his job, his mother dies and Kim seems to be seeking some kind of change. They decide to leave the Midwest behind and go to Palm Springs, CA as a compromise for making any other life-changing decisions. Once there, Kim is happily making new friends while Grant seems like a lost soul, floundering with other bigger than life personalities when he has always been mostly an introverted college professor. I thought the novel approached the changes that accompany mid-life in a unique and interesting way. When Grant disappears on a hike, Kim is faced with deciding how she will go forth with her life and if Grant will be a part of it, if he is ever found. There is a humorous and serious side to this novel that appealed to me as a reader. The plot is moderately paced and sometimes dragged for me as I thought that there were parts that were repetitive. But that also seemed to add to the general tone of the story since the repetitiveness of life is what leads people, including the main characters, to seek out something new and different. The humor was interspersed at just the right places when the serious parts were getting a little weighty. This is a novel with realistic characters, an absorbing plot and a thought-provoking message. This book lends itself to discussions among friends and book clubs.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. (Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”)

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is a story of a couple who flees the Midwest winter in Palm Springs and finds their relationship at a crossroads. For thirty years, Kim and Grant had a great “separate but together” partnership, raising their twin daughters together. However, when the realities of middle age have reared its ugly head, flying south for the winter seemed to be the perfect solution. Kim immediately feels at home at the Le Desert community while Grant struggles. When Grant goes missing while on a hike, Kim faces two possibilities: Grant is truly lost or he has finally left her. As the search for Grant proceeds, Kim searches their life together and asks the question what does it take to truly commit to someone for a lifetime. Will Grant be found? Is their life together over?
In The Snowbirds, Ms. Clancy sets out to explore “the redemptive power of finding ourselves and being found” with “compassion and humor” starts out great and what it means to truly commit to someone. However, while the story started out great, as the story jumps into the search for Grant and flashbacks to their life together, it quickly falls flat as Kim and Grant are hard to relate to and even unlikeable, especially in the story’s flashbacks. It is hard for me to relate to the “separate but together” partnerships, which can happen in unmarried and married couples. Overall, I was bored. I didn’t really care for Kim and her search for Grant. While I may not be the right reader for this type of story, there are readers out there who might connect with the characters and their relationships.

The Snowbirds will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on February 4, 2025

I really wanted to like this one but found myself struggling getting connected to the characters and following the book. I loved the descriptiveness and about 60% I got into it, but still was hoping for much more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Everything about this book from the cover to the synopsis sounded like the perfect winter read for me. Unfortunately I found the story as a whole to fall flat for me. The beginning quickly pulled me in, but I found the pacing to be too slow, the story to be too long and the back and forth between present and past to be jarring at times. After reading more and getting to know Kim, I had little sympathy and started to get fed up with her. The side characters were great and the setting was fabulous as I also dreamed of a warm getaway from the cold Midwest. There was just a lot missing for me and so I unfortunately did not love this one.

I've enjoyed all of Clancy's books and this one started out very promising, however, halfway through I had to give up & skip to the last 3 chapters. Her characters were well developed, but the story just started dragging and I felt it was going nowhere fast. Thanks for the ARC, but I've moved on to Jane Rosen's new book - "Songs of Summer" – and I cannot put it down!!!