The Last Thing He Told Me meets Fleishman Is in Trouble in this page-turning story of a couple who flee winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads. This book really hooked me at reality of mine myself.

I'm shocked to write this as a 4-star review, because for the first ~30% I was positive I would skim to the end. Kim and Grant are completely unlikeable as characters. Honestly, I wanted to shake them and scream, "JUST TALK TO ONE ANOTHER!" I'm here to tell you that the book got soooo much better after that point and I really came to enjoy it. Grant's journal made me like him more. Kim's relationships with the Le Desert residents made me like her more. The supporting characters are the kind of quirky, Stars Hollow-esque vibe that I love. Palm Springs itself was a fun character, and I absolutely LOVE when authors make the setting of the story into its own character. Now I need to visit Palm Springs!
I will be recommending this to others, with the caution to power through the first third because it does get so much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

I really struggled to get interested in this book. The first third of the book did not build suspense for me in a way that made me want to find out if Grant would return and why he went missing. The structure of the final third of the book, when we finally got a dual-perspective through his journal, was much stronger.
Neither character was likable so they were a difficult pair to root for. The references to Madison were kitschy and there were far too many, especially considering the novel takes place in Palm Springs.

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

A decent book, easy read, nice character development. But not for me. It was marketed as a romantic thriller and while there is some mystery there it is just not quite that. It is more of a cozy humor.

Interesting story told in a dual timeline of sorts. It was slow to capture my interest but ended up a pretty decent story. A Midwestern couple decides to winter in Palm Springs, where a quirky cast of secondary characters may change their lives in a dramatic way forever

A really interesting story of a complicated relationship and what it takes to make a relationship work. Even though it wasn't a traditional marriage, I did enjoy reading about these older characters and their relationship story. It was sort of a coming of age 2.0 story. I also really enjoyed the extended cast of characters that they met in Palm Springs. I enjoyed this one!

I thought this would be an easy, somewhat mindless book but it ended up being so much more! Entertaining, funny and thought-provoking, this book has it all. Perfect for winter reading!

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.