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The Snowbirds
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.
Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their "separate but together" partnership is running up against the realities of late middle age: Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.
When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying outcomes: either Grant is truly lost, or this time he’s really left her.
Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be—and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.
Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their "separate but together" partnership is running up against the realities of late middle age: Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.
When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying outcomes: either Grant is truly lost, or this time he’s really left her.
Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be—and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
287 people are currently reading
20979 people want to read
About the author
Christina Clancy
3 books685 followersChristina Clancy is the author of Shoulder Season and The Second Home. Her short stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times "Modern Love" column, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Magazine, and in literary journals like Glimmer Train Stories, Hobart, Pleiades, The Minnesota Review and on Wisconsin Public Radio. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and formerly taught English at Beloit College.
Born in Denver and raised in Milwaukee, she currently lives with her very tall husband and very small dog in Madison, Wisconsin, and in Palm Springs, California.
You can find out more on her website, http://www.christiclancywrites.com
Born in Denver and raised in Milwaukee, she currently lives with her very tall husband and very small dog in Madison, Wisconsin, and in Palm Springs, California.
You can find out more on her website, http://www.christiclancywrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 592 reviews
January 14, 2025
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 (heavily implied)
I received a physical arc of The Snowbirds from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to the publisher and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.
The Snowbirds started off as a promising book. It follows a middle aged woman whose long term boyfriend went missing on a hike. It covers both the search process as well as the rocky relationship the two lovers have been on for thirty years. I was initially captivated by the descriptions, the way the story was told, and the mystery surrounding Grant’s disappearance.
This intitial captivation didn’t last long as after only about a third into the book, it sunk in how deeply toxic and troubling Grant and Kim’s relationship is. Grant expects Kim to constantly upend her life to achieve his career goals, he has somewhat of an emotional affair with his ex, and he disappears on multiple occassions without explaining himself to Kim. Kim wasn’t great either though as she doesn’t have any trust in Grant (which I don’t entirely blame her for, but it was definitely something that needed to be worked through with a marriage counselor) and she appears to not even want to be around Grant most of their time. Their relationship was really only built on an accidental pregnancy that happened when they were both young. It wasn’t a healthy relationship, so it became challenging to keep reading the book.
It also began to drag at several points. There isn’t a strong plot in the past timeline, so it meanders along and gets really dull at numerous points. I ended up feeling really bored while reading this book for the last two thirds of the story. If it had focused more on the present timeline when Grant was missing and/or if the relationship had been a bit healthier, I think this book would’ve been a lot better.
I also wanted to note really quickly that there’s a sentence in this book that mentions asexuality, but it seems to heavily imply that asexual people are “pure” and don’t have sex. This is a misconception about asexuality that isn’t true, so I hope the finished copy of this book (or future editions) delete that line. It was unnecessary and just further perpetuates stereotypes about asexuality.
The Snowbirds unfortunately wasn’t for me and honestly I’m not quite sure which audience will love this story as I know that the unhealthy relationship between Kim and Grant will turn a lot of people away from this book.
I received a physical arc of The Snowbirds from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to the publisher and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.
The Snowbirds started off as a promising book. It follows a middle aged woman whose long term boyfriend went missing on a hike. It covers both the search process as well as the rocky relationship the two lovers have been on for thirty years. I was initially captivated by the descriptions, the way the story was told, and the mystery surrounding Grant’s disappearance.
This intitial captivation didn’t last long as after only about a third into the book, it sunk in how deeply toxic and troubling Grant and Kim’s relationship is. Grant expects Kim to constantly upend her life to achieve his career goals, he has somewhat of an emotional affair with his ex, and he disappears on multiple occassions without explaining himself to Kim. Kim wasn’t great either though as she doesn’t have any trust in Grant (which I don’t entirely blame her for, but it was definitely something that needed to be worked through with a marriage counselor) and she appears to not even want to be around Grant most of their time. Their relationship was really only built on an accidental pregnancy that happened when they were both young. It wasn’t a healthy relationship, so it became challenging to keep reading the book.
It also began to drag at several points. There isn’t a strong plot in the past timeline, so it meanders along and gets really dull at numerous points. I ended up feeling really bored while reading this book for the last two thirds of the story. If it had focused more on the present timeline when Grant was missing and/or if the relationship had been a bit healthier, I think this book would’ve been a lot better.
I also wanted to note really quickly that there’s a sentence in this book that mentions asexuality, but it seems to heavily imply that asexual people are “pure” and don’t have sex. This is a misconception about asexuality that isn’t true, so I hope the finished copy of this book (or future editions) delete that line. It was unnecessary and just further perpetuates stereotypes about asexuality.
The Snowbirds unfortunately wasn’t for me and honestly I’m not quite sure which audience will love this story as I know that the unhealthy relationship between Kim and Grant will turn a lot of people away from this book.
February 10, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up for the setting (again, LOL!) There were parts of “the SnowBirds” that I really, really liked but primarily that was due to it’s setting in Palm Springs and my understanding of the Coachella Valley. I lived there not long ago and it’s incredibly detailed and authentic (and I even learned a thing or two). I also found the search for missing hiker, Grant very compelling and well-written, and I had to keep reading to see if he makes it. I loved the quirky “Le Desert” condo complex too & it’s wacky residents. But I had a lot of issues with the two MC’s here - Grant and his “partner” of 30 years, Kim, who have two grown kids together, two ex-spouses and a life in Wisconsin, but never legalized their union & only lived together some of the time due to their various career and commitment issues. Grant in particular is a man-child at almost 60. Kim is unlikeable in her own way. I just found myself totally ambivalent as to their relationship arc, which was kinda the main plot.
September 4, 2024
*** 9/3/24 *** Finished! Coming soon with a 2/4/25 pub date, this is really a relationship story about Kim and Grant (and their twin adult daughters), with a mystery glaze on top - will Grant be found or not??? And we have a side mystery about whether Kim and Grant will get married/stay together. And even a 3rd mystery about what location they might choose to live in.
Like many interesting books, this one has its share of memorable characters, including Kim's first husband, a very famous, very rich and very gay man, as well as his wealthy mother (all books need a very rich character or two to provide 'houses to borrow' and well paying jobs when needed). We also meet the Palm Springs crew, most of whom ooze personality, and Grant's first and ever-present wife.
The writing was very good and the portrayal of Kim felt very authentic. The book kept my attention between plot, character development, and mystery reveals, and I finished it in 2 days. With that said, the last 5% or so was 4.5 stars rounded up.
*** 9/1/24 *** Thank you, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, for an advanced copy of this combo relationship/slow burn mystery novel by Christina Clancy. I've never read this author before, but am really enjoying this book, told from the POV of Kim, who is a 50-something mother and partner to Grant. Women in that age range will empathize with Kim's telling of her story - balancing career aspirations, love, family, her own personal desires and life preferences - against a backdrop of how she was raised, financial needs, and others' needs. I really like the structure and writing, which feels authentic.
We know from the beginning of the book that Grant goes missing after presumably starting a hike - a new hobby he adopted when Kim basically insists they "winter" in her ex's home in sunny Palm Springs after many winters in Wisconsin. I read that the author is from WI, which I love, as I grew up near there and have visited the state many times. But is Grant really lost? Did he want to disappear? What is the truth of Kim and Grant's relationship, and how will they decide on a future? Who knows? I'm 50% in and will review when complete.
Like many interesting books, this one has its share of memorable characters, including Kim's first husband, a very famous, very rich and very gay man, as well as his wealthy mother (all books need a very rich character or two to provide 'houses to borrow' and well paying jobs when needed). We also meet the Palm Springs crew, most of whom ooze personality, and Grant's first and ever-present wife.
The writing was very good and the portrayal of Kim felt very authentic. The book kept my attention between plot, character development, and mystery reveals, and I finished it in 2 days. With that said, the last 5% or so was 4.5 stars rounded up.
*** 9/1/24 *** Thank you, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, for an advanced copy of this combo relationship/slow burn mystery novel by Christina Clancy. I've never read this author before, but am really enjoying this book, told from the POV of Kim, who is a 50-something mother and partner to Grant. Women in that age range will empathize with Kim's telling of her story - balancing career aspirations, love, family, her own personal desires and life preferences - against a backdrop of how she was raised, financial needs, and others' needs. I really like the structure and writing, which feels authentic.
We know from the beginning of the book that Grant goes missing after presumably starting a hike - a new hobby he adopted when Kim basically insists they "winter" in her ex's home in sunny Palm Springs after many winters in Wisconsin. I read that the author is from WI, which I love, as I grew up near there and have visited the state many times. But is Grant really lost? Did he want to disappear? What is the truth of Kim and Grant's relationship, and how will they decide on a future? Who knows? I'm 50% in and will review when complete.
February 27, 2025
(3.75 stars)
The blurb of The Snowbirds appealed to me because that’s exactly what I am! In this story, the snowbirds are from Madison, Wisconsin and go to Palm Springs, California. In my case, it’s New Jersey and Florida. (Yep, cliché!) But this story is about Kim and Grant, not me!
Grant and Kim are in their 50s and have been together for around 30 years but never married. They have twin adult daughters who have left home and made their parents empty nesters. A crisis comes about when Grant’s liberal arts college closes its doors and he loses his tenured professorship. It’s no easy task to get a new tenure-track professorship in philosophy at his age. At the same time, Kim’s nonprofit organization offers her a sabbatical, coinciding with foot/ankle surgery. When her ex-husband offers his Palm Springs condo for the winter, Kim jumps at the chance. Grant needs more convincing but they wind up driving to California to become the titular snowbirds.
When they get to Palm Springs, they meet a quirky variety of people. One of them suggests that Grant take up hiking, which he does, and he gets quite good at it and gets in good shape that way. But on New Year’s Day, he heads out for a solo hike, after an argument with Kim, and he doesn’t come home. This forms the “action” of the book, but make no mistake, this is a character-driven book. We gradually get their backstory, with clearly labeled/dated flashbacks, which helps us understand why they are the way they are.
The Snowbirds is mainly told in the first person POV by Kim, with a few excerpts from Grant’s journal. On the audiobook, a female narrator, Karissa Vacker, does most of the book and a male narrator, Graham Halstead, does Grant’s journal entries.
I thought I’d relate to this couple more than I did, but I couldn’t wrap my head around why Kim was so opposed to marrying Grant after all those years together. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed the journey with Kim and Grant.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.
The blurb of The Snowbirds appealed to me because that’s exactly what I am! In this story, the snowbirds are from Madison, Wisconsin and go to Palm Springs, California. In my case, it’s New Jersey and Florida. (Yep, cliché!) But this story is about Kim and Grant, not me!
Grant and Kim are in their 50s and have been together for around 30 years but never married. They have twin adult daughters who have left home and made their parents empty nesters. A crisis comes about when Grant’s liberal arts college closes its doors and he loses his tenured professorship. It’s no easy task to get a new tenure-track professorship in philosophy at his age. At the same time, Kim’s nonprofit organization offers her a sabbatical, coinciding with foot/ankle surgery. When her ex-husband offers his Palm Springs condo for the winter, Kim jumps at the chance. Grant needs more convincing but they wind up driving to California to become the titular snowbirds.
When they get to Palm Springs, they meet a quirky variety of people. One of them suggests that Grant take up hiking, which he does, and he gets quite good at it and gets in good shape that way. But on New Year’s Day, he heads out for a solo hike, after an argument with Kim, and he doesn’t come home. This forms the “action” of the book, but make no mistake, this is a character-driven book. We gradually get their backstory, with clearly labeled/dated flashbacks, which helps us understand why they are the way they are.
The Snowbirds is mainly told in the first person POV by Kim, with a few excerpts from Grant’s journal. On the audiobook, a female narrator, Karissa Vacker, does most of the book and a male narrator, Graham Halstead, does Grant’s journal entries.
I thought I’d relate to this couple more than I did, but I couldn’t wrap my head around why Kim was so opposed to marrying Grant after all those years together. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed the journey with Kim and Grant.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.
February 2, 2025
Part missing person mystery but more so a study in a couple's decades long relationship and the ups and downs they go through raising twin daughters together and navigating their close connections to their exes. I found this slow moving and at times a bit boring but it was sprinkled with enough insights and introspections on life to make me stick with it. It also helped that the audiobook was narrated by Karissa Vacker who truly makes the listening experience enjoyable. I don't think I would have made it through a print copy reading of it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 11, 2024
2 stars
Starts off feeling very deep and emotionally driven. The problem is that neither Grant or 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.
Starts off feeling very deep and emotionally driven. The problem is that neither Grant or 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.
August 23, 2024
You can’t go wrong with a Christina Clancy book. This story of a marriage, two people Who love each other and her just trying to figure it out after years of marriage beautifully written deeply felt and surprising and all the right places I loved it.
August 24, 2024
Christina Clancy is an auto buy author for me - her books are brilliant, and her latest might just be her best!
January 21, 2025
Review coming soon.
February 4, 2025
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.
February 9, 2025
I absolutely loved Christina Clancy's last book, Shoulder Season, so I was thrilled to see she had a new one.
This was absolutely fantastic on audio. Terrific narration by Karissa Vacker, Graham Halstead!
I was completely transported to the amazing city of Palm Springs (which is now on my list of destinations to visit.) I loved the relationship in this one, it was so real and complex and I personally enjoyed the age and maturity of the characters.
With great supporting characters, who were entertaining complex and so unique, this one really stands out. It has cemented Christina Clancy as a must read author and I'm here for her next one!
This was absolutely fantastic on audio. Terrific narration by Karissa Vacker, Graham Halstead!
I was completely transported to the amazing city of Palm Springs (which is now on my list of destinations to visit.) I loved the relationship in this one, it was so real and complex and I personally enjoyed the age and maturity of the characters.
With great supporting characters, who were entertaining complex and so unique, this one really stands out. It has cemented Christina Clancy as a must read author and I'm here for her next one!
January 25, 2025
Kim and Grant, a couple that have been together for thirty years, are at a crossroads. Grant is in a particular place of upheaval after losing both his mother and his job. With their twin girls also all grown, empty nest syndrome has begun to rear its ugly head. Now Kim finds herself itching to leave behind the cold, midwestern winters in exchange for the warmth of the sun. This is how the couple end up making the ever popular late in life trek to Palm Springs, Florida.
Kim takes to life in their new community like a duck to water, but Grant flounders in finding his place, never big on the migration to begin with. Then one day, Grant goes out on a hike in the mountains and doesn’t return. This causes Kim to reflect on their life for the past three decades, and what a life without him going forward might look like.
If I’m being honest, I had a hard time getting into this book. When I read the blurb I expected more of a quirky couple finding renewed purpose in a new landscape of colorful characters. It opens with the fact that Grant has gone missing, flashing back on the life that they had. The flashbacks themselves didn’t leave me loving either Kim or Grant, and actually left me wondering why they stayed together for so long to begin with. As soon as I saw the direction the story was going I bailed. Maybe it got better, but I too decided to migrate to greener pastures, so to speak.
Kim takes to life in their new community like a duck to water, but Grant flounders in finding his place, never big on the migration to begin with. Then one day, Grant goes out on a hike in the mountains and doesn’t return. This causes Kim to reflect on their life for the past three decades, and what a life without him going forward might look like.
If I’m being honest, I had a hard time getting into this book. When I read the blurb I expected more of a quirky couple finding renewed purpose in a new landscape of colorful characters. It opens with the fact that Grant has gone missing, flashing back on the life that they had. The flashbacks themselves didn’t leave me loving either Kim or Grant, and actually left me wondering why they stayed together for so long to begin with. As soon as I saw the direction the story was going I bailed. Maybe it got better, but I too decided to migrate to greener pastures, so to speak.
January 27, 2025
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.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
November 9, 2024
The 2 main characters were the worst. Such a terrible relationship that I wasn’t even rooting for them. Thought this would be a cute read but hard no from me.
March 6, 2025
Not for me. I forced myself to finish simply because the author set the story in two places I know. Dumb, yes, I tortured myself for locations.
The two main characters are loathsome, the issues they have in their relationship are of their own making and neither one knows what it means to communicate.
And again, with jarring timeline shifts.
I will pass on Clancy's other books.
The two main characters are loathsome, the issues they have in their relationship are of their own making and neither one knows what it means to communicate.
And again, with jarring timeline shifts.
I will pass on Clancy's other books.
August 10, 2025
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.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.
June 7, 2025
Writing style and storyline GREAT, characters absolutely INSUFFERABLE
January 8, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to win this ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway. This book started out a little slow for me to get into but in the end I ended up rating it 4 stars. It was a very good story about how life can change in an instant and how you never really know what anyone else is going through. It shows how two people work through some situations with some help from all their old friends, new friends and new community to come to the best conclusion for them. This was my first Christina Clancy book but I will have to look into reading some more of her stories. Thank you.
September 1, 2024
"I don't know about that," Thomas said, raising his glass to make a toast Grant did not participate in. "You'll have a hard time working on your relationship in a place where everyone starts drinking at three in the afternoon." Christina Clancy, The Snowbirds
Thank you #stmartinspress and #netgalley #gifted for this advance copy of:
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy
Pub Date: February 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A thoughtful, humorous and heartfelt story of a decades long relationship of Kim and Grant. They are at a crossroads in their lives - what to do next, where to go next and how will that impact those around them. This cast of characters are funny, sensitive and downright genius in the evolution of this couple and their recent temporary move to Palm Springs. Is it too late for each to find themselves and also find the spark that brought them together in the beginning? More than a love story, this is a life story. Of lost youth, next chapters and the age-old question, 'is this all there is?"
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #justbooksbookstagram #booksbooksbooks #heyjudereads #alwaysreading #netgalley #thesnowbirds #reader #reading #lovetoread #booked #bookish
Thank you #stmartinspress and #netgalley #gifted for this advance copy of:
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy
Pub Date: February 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A thoughtful, humorous and heartfelt story of a decades long relationship of Kim and Grant. They are at a crossroads in their lives - what to do next, where to go next and how will that impact those around them. This cast of characters are funny, sensitive and downright genius in the evolution of this couple and their recent temporary move to Palm Springs. Is it too late for each to find themselves and also find the spark that brought them together in the beginning? More than a love story, this is a life story. Of lost youth, next chapters and the age-old question, 'is this all there is?"
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #justbooksbookstagram #booksbooksbooks #heyjudereads #alwaysreading #netgalley #thesnowbirds #reader #reading #lovetoread #booked #bookish
February 13, 2025
I'm not sure if we're supposed to hope that Grant never comes back, but that's how I felt. He was extremely unlikable and not in a fun way. I was kind of hoping that Kim would get to move on with her life without him. That said, Kim was only marginally better.
Despite how much I didn't like the two main characters, there were things I did enjoy about this book. First of all that cover is amazing! It was also well written with very vivid details. It kept me invested, needing to know the outcome, and some of the side characters were entertaining.
The narration was also another good part. Karissa Vacker and Graham Halstead both did a wonderful job.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Despite how much I didn't like the two main characters, there were things I did enjoy about this book. First of all that cover is amazing! It was also well written with very vivid details. It kept me invested, needing to know the outcome, and some of the side characters were entertaining.
The narration was also another good part. Karissa Vacker and Graham Halstead both did a wonderful job.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 18, 2025
I loved Christina Clancy's first two books so I was excited to receive this ARC from Edelweiss. This one is about a couple, Grant and Kim, that have been together for thirty years. They are not married and have twin adult daughters. They decide to winter in Palm Springs and Grant gets lost on a hike. So Kim is looking back on their relationship for the past thirty years while Grant is being searched for. Grant is someone who runs when things get tough. So is Grant really lost or did he just flee? I have to say that I am not sure if Grant and Kim should stay together after finishing book. Maybe with therapy. They both have issues to work on. Most of the time Grant was away working and would just see his family on weekends and now Grant and Kim will spend all winter together because he has just lost his job. I wanted to know how it would all end but part of me was thinking that it shouldn't take a tragedy to make you see how much you love someone, but unfortunately I guess it can take a tragedy to see things clearly.
-...the only thing worse than letting a good relationship die is letting a bad one go on forever.
-If we weren't careful, we might discover that we actually enjoyed relaxing, and we would become lazy and...old.
-...the only thing worse than letting a good relationship die is letting a bad one go on forever.
-If we weren't careful, we might discover that we actually enjoyed relaxing, and we would become lazy and...old.
February 4, 2025
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.
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.
September 16, 2024
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.
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.
August 10, 2025
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.
January 23, 2025
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy was a nice book that didn’t resonate with me. I marked it as a 3, but it was somewhere between that and 2.5. I finished it, won’t look back and won’t read again.
But all of this may have been a me thing because there’s nothing inherently wrong with the book, but I had expectations of depth and development and was left wanting.
Kim and Grant have been an unmarried couple for 30 years coming together after an accidental pregnancy resulting in twins. My problem with this one was I disliked both characters. There wasn’t a thing in the world that I liked about either of them, and they didn’t like each other. I’m sorry, author, but if I don’t have a character to root for, the words are noise.
Told in past and present alternating chapters, we get insights into their relationship while the current timeline features a missing Grant who disappeared while on a solo hike. Or did he? His history of absences makes the present timeline a mystery, and Kim explores her feelings about him.
I was not the target audience.
But all of this may have been a me thing because there’s nothing inherently wrong with the book, but I had expectations of depth and development and was left wanting.
Kim and Grant have been an unmarried couple for 30 years coming together after an accidental pregnancy resulting in twins. My problem with this one was I disliked both characters. There wasn’t a thing in the world that I liked about either of them, and they didn’t like each other. I’m sorry, author, but if I don’t have a character to root for, the words are noise.
Told in past and present alternating chapters, we get insights into their relationship while the current timeline features a missing Grant who disappeared while on a solo hike. Or did he? His history of absences makes the present timeline a mystery, and Kim explores her feelings about him.
I was not the target audience.
February 2, 2025
THE SNOWBIRDS is the story of a couple who flees winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, and finds their relationship at a crossroads.
I found myself very engrossed in this story and the complex dynamics between the characters. While reading, I tried stepping into both Kim’s and Grant’s shoes to understand why they weren’t on the same page. Kim embraces winter in Palm Springs and Grant really struggles to find his footing.
When Grant goes missing, Kim has to ask herself if he is really lost or if he has chosen to leave her.
Christi’s writing brought to life this enthralling story. I always love reading about the complexities in relationships, whether it’s romantic partners or family. The dual timeline made it all the more intriguing and allowed for more context.
I found myself very engrossed in this story and the complex dynamics between the characters. While reading, I tried stepping into both Kim’s and Grant’s shoes to understand why they weren’t on the same page. Kim embraces winter in Palm Springs and Grant really struggles to find his footing.
When Grant goes missing, Kim has to ask herself if he is really lost or if he has chosen to leave her.
Christi’s writing brought to life this enthralling story. I always love reading about the complexities in relationships, whether it’s romantic partners or family. The dual timeline made it all the more intriguing and allowed for more context.
March 22, 2025
Some part of me forgot who Christina Clancy was, and silly me I've read all the books she has written now! The Second Home and Shoulder Season were both solid reads for me, and now I absolutely loved The Snowbirds! The cover gave me all the Palm Springs vibes, but this is a story that packs depth, emotion, and the complexities of relationships into a unique storyline. There is a lot of mystery surrounding Grant's disappearance on his hike, and I thought the tension of the will he or won’t he be found mixed with the flashbacks to the past was the perfect combination. Through this method we found out a lot more about Kim and Grant’s past together and I for one was a little flabbergasted by what I heard.
I would recommend the audiobook as the best way to experience The Snowbirds because Graham Halstead & Karissa Vacker were nothing but perfection. Vacker voices Kim while Halstead is the voice of Grant’s journal, and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair to immerse me in the storyline and characters. The ending had a sweetness that I wasn’t fully expecting, and I was so happy to see Kim’s growth by the last page. I don’t know that I would have been able to put up with what she had, but I also understand where she was at since there were kids in the picture, and unexpected twins on top of it! This has a great blend of themes, and I was gripped from start to finish.
Read this if you are looking for quirky characters, complex relationships, and lots of self-reflection.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary eBook and advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I would recommend the audiobook as the best way to experience The Snowbirds because Graham Halstead & Karissa Vacker were nothing but perfection. Vacker voices Kim while Halstead is the voice of Grant’s journal, and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair to immerse me in the storyline and characters. The ending had a sweetness that I wasn’t fully expecting, and I was so happy to see Kim’s growth by the last page. I don’t know that I would have been able to put up with what she had, but I also understand where she was at since there were kids in the picture, and unexpected twins on top of it! This has a great blend of themes, and I was gripped from start to finish.
Read this if you are looking for quirky characters, complex relationships, and lots of self-reflection.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary eBook and advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 4, 2025
It’s time to fly some place warmer! ☀️
Thank you, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, 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
______
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Thank you, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, 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
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
January 30, 2025
Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #TheSnowbirds by #ChristinaClancy. Grant and Kimberly have been together for thirty years, not married-just partners. They have twin girls who have moved out and started their own lives. They have decide to go to Palm Springs for the season and are staying in Kim’s ex husband’s home. Both not know what the future holds, they embrace the new environment in this new city and try to blend in. Grant starts hiking everyday and unfortunately gets lost on one of his trips. A frantic Kimberly starts reminiscing their lives and wonders if she will ever see Grant again. Can they have that second chance to make things right?
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