Kim and Grant have been together for many years - unmarried, but together. They’ve grown through multiple jobs and children, but Kim is ready for a new adventure. Despite Grant’s hesitation in moving to California, he goes along for the ride and eventually finds that he especially enjoys hiking in remote areas.

When Grant doesn’t return from a hike, Kim is forced to face her uncertainty about her life, with or without Grant.

A great story about long-term partnerships and long-term happiness.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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4.5 stars

I loved this one! I was a fan of Christina Clancy's previous novels, but this was my favorite by far. The setting of Palm Springs was very aesthetic and I adored all of the side characters. The plot was a deep exploration of the relationship between longtime partners, Kim and Grant, and how they never fully opened up to one another. Once Grant goes missing on a solo hike, they both reevaluate everything. I was rooting for this couple by the end, and loved how it all wrapped up. This was a superb lit fic with a touch of mystery. Lots of description of feelings and the imperfection of life, and less focused on plot, which is exactly what I adore in a novel.

The Snowbirds is a warm, witty, and deeply human story about family, second chances, and finding joy in unexpected places. Christina Clancy perfectly captures the charm of seasonal snowbird life while weaving in characters so real and relatable you’ll wish you could join them on the beach. It’s heartfelt, funny, and brimming with the kind of wisdom that lingers long after the last page. A perfect book-club pick and a delightful escape!

More of a character story than a plot-driven mystery, I like this one a lot. Kim and Grant have been together for 30 years, each doing their own thing within their relationship, and this comes to a head when they are in Palm Springs for the winter. Kim is excited for the new potential, new friends, and activities, and this is literally the last thing Grant wants to do. Which makes Kim wonder if they were ever meant to be in the first place. But then Grant goes missing on a hike in the mountains, and Kim has a new reality to face: either he is lost or he really left her this time. The setting was perfect for this one, and a few side characters really made this story. It was on the slower burn side, which I expected, and the audio helped with that. Karissa Vacker always knocks it out of the park, and Graham Halstead equally did an amazing job. I thought Christina Clancy did family drama well here, and I was captivated from the start, culminating in an incredibly satisfying ending.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

THE SNOWBIRDS takes the push-and-pull of what it means to be in a long-term relationship—from the little concessions to the deep joys to the big sacrifices we ultimately make—and transports a Midwestern couple to a warm oasis in winter, in a move that seemed like a good idea at the time... to one of them. When Grant never returns from a hike in the desert, Kim is left grappling with regret and replaying everything she could have done differently during the hours, days, and even years before—and maybe still would, if only she had the chance. Brimming with authenticity, THE SNOWBIRDS was a suspenseful, thought-provoking read about what it really means to push our relationships (and ourselves) out of our comfort zone.

The Snowbirds is about a couple Kim and Grant who decide to flee winter and go to Palm Springs. In Palm Springs they find out that their relationship is at a turning point. This read was also a mystery when Grant goes missing after going on a hike. It was written well and had me intrigued from the beginning. Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any reader who likes mystery or contemporary reads. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy.

I loved this Palm Springs set novel! A beautiful book about Kim and Grant, a middle-aged couple who are unsure about their relationship and where life will take them. Reflective and hopeful, I adored this story!

I enjoyed reading this story. I always enjoy reading books that have main characters that are in my age range... over 50. There just is not enough of them. It is so much easier to relate and connect to the character.
There were a few times along the storyline that things were a bit slow moving. I found it the most difficult at the beginning when reading the ebook. I borrowed the audio and listened and found it much easier to get through the slower spots. Unfortunately, that still didn't help in my dislike of the two main characters, Kim and Grant.

Thanks for the opportunity.

.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the DRC of The Snowbirds. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was enjoying this book but the more I read, the more I couldn't stand Grant. Why does Kim bother to put up with this type of treatment? He runs off when she needs him most and he acts like a petulant child when no one pays attention to him. The worst part is that Kim blames herself for his behavior meanwhile he's living the life he wants Monday through Friday and she barely asks anything of him. No wonder she is hesitant to marry him.

Aside from Grant, I did like the cast of side characters introduced and enjoyed how the Palm Springs community welcomed Kim and Grant in.

I really enjoyed this newest book by Christina Clancy. I LOVED the setting in Palm Springs. The main characters Kim & Grant are an interesting duo that have been partners for many years, but have never married. As the book goes along, more is revealed about that state of their relationship, and that was a sad plot line for me. In the present tense once their in Palm Springs Grant takes up hiking and there’s a whole subplot mystery of him going missing! My favorite parts were the Palm Springs setting and the quirky cast of characters they meet while there. Overall, a fun quick read.

Wintry, atmospheric drama - The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy delivers a haunting, emotional journey through grief, family, and self-discovery. Clancy’s poetic prose and nuanced characters linger long after the final page.

I was disappointed in how little I enjoyed this book. I just could not find myself invested in the story or the characters. It was a little too lightweight and no depth to the story. Maybe that is the way Chick Lit is headed any more. Though I hope not! I think there are still plenty of authors who can present a wonderful story in that genre. I typically enjoy dual timeline books, this one was missing something. I did not like either of the two main characters … Kim and Grant. While I did not care for this one, there are enough positive reviews, that if this seems like it would appeal to you, then I would encourage you to give it a try. You may enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Chick Lit
Contemporary
Fiction
Mystery
Mystery Thriller
Romance

Interesting, quirky read about a couple who snowbird to Palm Springs and their unusual relationship with each other and others leads to some soul searching and other interesting outcomes.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the Author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5 stars

I have mixed feelings about The Snowbirds. The premise was genuinely intriguing, and there were moments where the story showed real promise. However, I found it difficult to connect with the characters on a deeper level, and much of the narrative felt a bit scattered—especially through the first three-quarters of the book.

That said, the final stretch was the most compelling for me. By the end, the pieces came together and offered a sense of clarity that had been missing earlier. It’s a thoughtful story with interesting themes, just not quite my cup of tea.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own and freely expressed.

This was okay. It wasn't a page turner for me, and I didn't find the main characters very likable (which I need in books). It's a relationship story about an odd relationship that didn't seem very healthy, combined with a mystery-will Grant, the missing partner, be found? I was a little bored.

Once again my habit of picking books based on vibes backfires; I thought this was going to be a romcom but is actually a marriage in crisis. The couple are empty nesters from Wisconsin who head to winter in Palm Springs for the first time, hoping a new place will help them make tough decisions about the next chapters of their lives. Then one gets lost on a hike alone. I did enjoy the audiobook! Would recommend if you like books about marriages in crisis or with older characters trying to figure their life out.

I’ve read all of Christina Clancy’s books and think she’s such a gifted historical fiction writer. The Snowbirds had a slower pace than her earlier work, but I still really enjoyed it. The story follows Kim and Grant, who have been together for thirty years but never married, as they escape a harsh Midwestern winter for Palm Springs. Their "separate but together" partnership faces new challenges as they adjust to life in a quirky condo community. Kim embraces the change, making new friends and exploring her adventurous side, while Grant struggles to find his footing. When Grant goes missing during a hike, Kim is forced to confront the realities of their relationship and her own desires for the future. It’s a quiet, thoughtful book that really captures what it means to grow older with someone—and sometimes grow apart. Not as plot-driven as her other novels, but a really strong portrait of a relationship at a crossroads.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is a beautifully written novel.
It captures the complexities of love, family, and identity with warmth and insight.
I have not read anything by this author before, and I will read more.
Clancy has an impressive ability of bringing her characters to life, creating people who feel real, flawed, and deeply human.
At times very real, so be prepared for some triggers.

What stands out most to me after reading this novel is what it means to grow older while still yearning for growth and reinvention. That it’s never too late to ask questions, take risks, or discover who we really are.

The Snowbirds is a quietly powerful novel that stays with you.
I would love to see this one brought to film.

Thankyou to author Christina Clancy, St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and give an honest review.
Charlene @lastnownext

The Snowbirds is a slow-burn mystery/thriller that mixes a bunch of different elements while showing the ups and downs of the main couple's relationship over the years. It’s also about how life can change in a snap and the journey of finding yourself again.

I really enjoyed how the author wove together Grant’s disappearance with Kim’s reflections on their relationship. It created a cool dynamic.

The main characters were pretty unlikable, which sometimes took away from the story, but I still found myself hooked. Normally, I don’t get into stories with unlikable characters, but the writing was so gripping that I couldn’t help it.

Sometimes, the slow burn was a bit too slow for me, and I looked forward to the chapters about Grant’s search.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars
Kim and Grant are at a crossroads in their relationship. They've been together for 30 years but never got married. Will a summer in Palm Springs give them the perspective they need to decide where to go from here?
I really enjoyed this novel. I always like reading about characters that are a little closer to my age and stage of life. Kim was a very likable main character with nuanced feelings and concerns about her life. The setting in Palm Springs was fabulous. There was such atmosphere! Several times, I looked up different settings online to get a better feel for the surrounding scenery.
The characters processed the messiness of life together, and Clancy weaves in humor and tenderness as Kim and Grant reconcile their future together.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.