The Snowbirds

In the sparkling latest from Clancy (Shoulder Season), a 50-something Wisconsin couple reevaluate their lives during a winter in Palm Springs, Calif. Kim, on sabbatical from a nonprofit, and Grant, a former philosophy professor who lost his job when his college shut down, have been together for 30 years. When Kim’s gay ex-husband, Basil, invites them to spend the winter in his Palm Springs condo, Grant is initially hesitant, but he eventually agrees, and presses Kim to finally marry him. In the desert, they meet a motley group of new friends, including aging playboy Hobie, who gets Grant hooked on hiking. But after Grant sets out on a solo hike and doesn’t come back, Kim sn’t sure whether he’s left her or is in trouble. Eventually, a search is mounted, and Kim realizes how much Grant means to her. Clancy’s colorful supporting characters (especially Basil’s eccentric mother and Kim and Grant’s twin daughters) add ballast to the skillful plotting. It’s an enjoyable tale of love in middle age. Agent: Marcy Posner, Folio Literary. (Feb.)