Kim and Grant have been married over 30 years, with their two daughters all grown up. Grant has just lost him teaching job at a college because it closed. Kim's ex-husband has offered them to use his condo in a quirky community in Palm Springs. As Grant is trying to figure out his new life, he takes up hiking. He ends up going missing and Kim starts to reevaluate her life as they search for Grant.

This was a fun book, with the quirky community and interesting characters.

When I read the blurb about this book, I was expecting much more of a mystery. Grant and Kim are at a crossroads in their marriage after 30 years together. Kim wants to go to Palm Springs for the winter and get away from the Midwest for a spell. She hopes this will allow them to rediscover each other and allow them to move into the next phase of their married life. Soon after they arrive, though, Grant goes missing while hiking. The rest of the story is told in alternating timelines: the past, highlighting their relationship up to the present, and the present and search for Grant.

For this novel to have fully worked for me, I would have to have fallen in love with Kim and Grant in the past storyline, but even then, they seemed ill-suited for each other. I struggled to connect to the characters even though the problems in their marriage were realistic and believable. This may have been a wrong-time read for me. I can appreciate Clancy's writing style, and I do want to read more from her in the future because even if Kim and Grant weren't for me, other characters with realistic life problems might be.

I chose to read this novel on the strength of Christina Clancy's debut, "The Second Home" which I absolutely loved.

Once again this author writes a tale of complex family dynamics and strong and unique characters. However, I'm sad to say that I did not enjoy this one near as much.

Kim and Grant were just so different. Their lifestyles, aspirations, and family dynamic were so dissimilar to mine, that I found I could not connect with the characters enough to be fully invested in their lives.

Kim and Grant reside in Wisconsin and have done for the three decades they have been together. Now, Grant has lost his job as the college he worked for has closed its doors. Kim, feeling that this is an opportunity too good to pass up, accepts her ex-husband's offer of his condo in Palm Springs to escape the winter weather.

"If you're not at home in your heart, then you're not at home anywhere."

The condo community was quite quirky and unexpected. Kim seems to embrace the warmth and community, while Grant tagged along unwillingly, at least at first. Then he makes a friend who introduces him to hiking and his new interest brightens his spirits. Then, while hiking alone, Grant goes missing in the treacherous mountains surrounding the city. Kim is unsure if he is in danger, or if he has left her. For this is not the first time Grant has run away from Kim...

Grant seemed self-absorbed and immature. I didn't even care that much whether he would be found, only that I wondered if he was actually lost or had run away. Both Grant and Kim were insufferable in their own ways.

I felt that the pacing of this novel was a tad to slow for my liking. It plodded along much like Kim and Grant's relationship. They never married. Commitment was something neither of them was keen on despite the fact that they had two children together. Their life together was in turns volatile and fragile. Now, in late middle age and empty nesters, they find themselves spending far more time together than they ever have before.

When after days of Grant being missing, and search parties out looking for him, Grant's backpack and journal are discovered. Reading this gives Kim new insight into the man she has shared her life with. It causes Kim to reevaluate her life and her hopes for the future.

This was a thought-provoking novel on what we think we 'should' do as opposed to what we 'want' to do. Selfish? Or, life-affirming? Also, it is about finding within yourself the ability to embrace change.

Does Kim have the love, commitment, obligation, and resilience needed to move on with her life? This novel was a reflective look at a long term relationship - one that I as a reader could never really become invested in. I suggest you read the previous books written by this author to fully appreciate her writing.

The Snowbirds felt raw and real throughout the story. Both MC's are struggling with their own internal struggles and problems as they move for the winter. They move to Palm Springs and meet lots of characters and add lots of vibrant color to their lives. There’s a twist of mystery at a point. A fun and easy read. I’d like to see what else Christina Clancy comes out with. This was enjoyable and different.

Grant and Kim leave the Wisconsin cold behind and spent the winter at a condo in Palm Springs. Surrounded by a bunch of quirky characters, they try to figure out what their future will look like. A dangerous situation brings everything important into focus.

Author Christina Clancy’s newest novel takes place largely in Palm Springs. But in many ways, it’s about Wisconsin, “where home is and was.”

“The Snowbirds” is about a midlife couple from Madison who, facing relationship and job troubles, decide to spend a winter in sunny Palm Springs, California.

During a recent interview about the book at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè, a brief snow flurry came through. Clancy spoke of the harsh weather with reverence.

“Today it’s miserable outside, but also cozy,” she said. “You could just never leave.”

It sounded like something Kim or Grant might say, the couple at the heart of “The Snowbirds,” as they argue about escaping Wisconsin winter for warmer weather. Grant, a philosophy professor who recently lost his job, is reluctant to leave.

“First, I don’t golf. Second, I don’t play tennis,” he says. “Third, I burn easy.” Yet Kim, his long-term partner and co-parent, aches for a change. She gets more than she bargained for when, after they get there, Grant goes missing in the mountains.

“I wanted to write about being lost,” Clancy said. Her characters wrestle with this theme in various ways.

Hobie, an enigmatic guide, muses that “the thing about fear is it’s also a form of pleasure… The darkness becomes desire.” Kim wonders, “Are we all secretly longing to be utterly removed from the world?”

And Grant, prone to disappearing acts, embodies the push-and-pull between escape and connection. The characters weave in and out of each other’s lives as the narrative moves between their adventure in California and their history in Wisconsin.

Clancy often writes characters from Wisconsin. Her first novel, “The Second Home,” features characters from Milwaukee, and her second, “Shoulder Season,” takes place in 1980s Lake Geneva at a Playboy Club.

With the first and third book, Clancy wanted the characters to be from Evanston, Illinois, “but it wasn’t working. When I decided they were from Wisconsin, things snapped into place.

“Where I come from informs the novel.”

Really enjoyed this! Read the full interview: https://captimes.com/entertainment/books/madison-author-christina-clancy-follows-the-sun-in-the-snowbirds/article_a20ed06e-dcdd-11ef-8ba2-7be4a3165ee7.html

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.