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What Happened to the McCrays?
From New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange, a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey
When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. Kyle left suddenly two and a half years ago, abandoning people who depended on him: his father, his employees, his friends—not to mention Casey, his wife of sixteen years and a beloved teacher in town. He plans to lie low and help his dad recuperate until he can leave again, especially after Casey makes it clear she wants him gone.
The longer he’s home, the more Kyle understands the impact his departure has had on the people he left behind. When he’s presented with an opportunity for redemption as the coach of the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion in unexpected places. Kyle even considers staying in Potsdam, but that’s only possible if he and Casey can come to some kind of peace with each other.
Full of love and hope, What Happened to the McCrays? takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it.
When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. Kyle left suddenly two and a half years ago, abandoning people who depended on him: his father, his employees, his friends—not to mention Casey, his wife of sixteen years and a beloved teacher in town. He plans to lie low and help his dad recuperate until he can leave again, especially after Casey makes it clear she wants him gone.
The longer he’s home, the more Kyle understands the impact his departure has had on the people he left behind. When he’s presented with an opportunity for redemption as the coach of the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion in unexpected places. Kyle even considers staying in Potsdam, but that’s only possible if he and Casey can come to some kind of peace with each other.
Full of love and hope, What Happened to the McCrays? takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2025
1384 people are currently reading
73189 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Lange
5 books2,139 followersTracey Lange was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in psychology before owning and operating a behavioral healthcare company with her husband for fifteen years. While writing her debut novel, We Are the Brennans, she completed the Stanford University online novel writing program. She currently lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, two sons, and beloved German Shepherd.
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January 14, 2025
NOBODY writes about broken people and estrangement better than Tracey Lange!
And, this one is NOW AVAILABLE!
See that yellow house with the black shutters? (Gorgeous book cover) That is where high school sweethearts Kyle and Casey McCray lived before he suddenly left, two and a half years ago.
But what happened to the McCrays that could possibly make him leave the wife he had adored for 16 years?
And, how will he face her, and everyone else who he abandoned in his small town now that he must return to help his Dad recuperate after suffering a debilitating Stroke?
Potsdam may not offer a lot in the way of opportunities, but it does have a community of caring people who rally together after tragedy just as vehemently as they cheer on the local middle school hockey team!
And, as Kyle learns some truths about what happened THEN, and SINCE THEN, while helping his Dad-the hockey team that needs a temporary Coach- and even his ex wife-he will realize that he doesn’t want to leave again…
But to STAY he will need to make peace with the PAST, and especially with Casey.
And, I was desperately rooting for him to succeed!
Tracey Lange has once again created relatable characters who don’t always make the best choices, but who are always doing the best that they can at the time. And, somehow, despite some mistakes, we are able to remain open to both sides-as we learn what has caused their pain and the decisions they made-despite the heartbreaking consequences that these same decisions may have caused.
Poignant, heart rending, and HOPEFUL, take time to SAVOR this wonderful story and have tissues ready!
I can’t wait for the author’s next book! I always move them straight to the top of my TBR list as she has quickly become a FAVORITE author. All three of her novels have earned a well deserved FIVE STARS from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bonus: A wonderful dog named Star! 🐶
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn which offered much to discuss! Will this book earn all the stars from them too? Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
Review for “We Are the Brennans”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for “We Are The Connellys of County Down”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank You to Celadon Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!
And, this one is NOW AVAILABLE!
See that yellow house with the black shutters? (Gorgeous book cover) That is where high school sweethearts Kyle and Casey McCray lived before he suddenly left, two and a half years ago.
But what happened to the McCrays that could possibly make him leave the wife he had adored for 16 years?
And, how will he face her, and everyone else who he abandoned in his small town now that he must return to help his Dad recuperate after suffering a debilitating Stroke?
Potsdam may not offer a lot in the way of opportunities, but it does have a community of caring people who rally together after tragedy just as vehemently as they cheer on the local middle school hockey team!
And, as Kyle learns some truths about what happened THEN, and SINCE THEN, while helping his Dad-the hockey team that needs a temporary Coach- and even his ex wife-he will realize that he doesn’t want to leave again…
But to STAY he will need to make peace with the PAST, and especially with Casey.
And, I was desperately rooting for him to succeed!
Tracey Lange has once again created relatable characters who don’t always make the best choices, but who are always doing the best that they can at the time. And, somehow, despite some mistakes, we are able to remain open to both sides-as we learn what has caused their pain and the decisions they made-despite the heartbreaking consequences that these same decisions may have caused.
Poignant, heart rending, and HOPEFUL, take time to SAVOR this wonderful story and have tissues ready!
I can’t wait for the author’s next book! I always move them straight to the top of my TBR list as she has quickly become a FAVORITE author. All three of her novels have earned a well deserved FIVE STARS from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bonus: A wonderful dog named Star! 🐶
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn which offered much to discuss! Will this book earn all the stars from them too? Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
Review for “We Are the Brennans”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review for “We Are The Connellys of County Down”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank You to Celadon Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!
January 20, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
My 900th NetGalley review. Hoping to hit 1000 this year.
4.5 Stars
Family dramas (when it isn't my own family) are my favourite stories and this one packs a punch. After more than two years Kyle McCray goes home because he has to help his dad recover from a stroke. Across the road lives his ex-wife Casey and her brother Wyatt. We are then taken on a journey from Kyle's teenage years to the present and in between we find out why he and Casey divorced and what actually happened to the McCrays.
This was my first book by the author and I can understand why this and her previous novels have done so well. This book is about a marriage, a family and a community and Lange wrote about all three perfectly. Having been born and raised in Toronto, Canada I played hockey throughout my childhood and her depiction of the game was spot on. The answer to the question, what happened to the McCray's was figured out by me pretty early on but when I got to the reveal it still hit me hard. I love it when an author can do that. This is a very emotional story and I felt what all the characters were going through in their different ways in my heart and in my soul.
Poignant, heartbreaking, and hopeful, What Happened to the McCrays is a story of loss and acceptance of that loss while trying to heal from the inside out. It is also a story I will be thinking about for a long time. Although I loved the story and the writing, the ending was a little too perfect for me, so four and a half stars rounded down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
My 900th NetGalley review. Hoping to hit 1000 this year.
4.5 Stars
Family dramas (when it isn't my own family) are my favourite stories and this one packs a punch. After more than two years Kyle McCray goes home because he has to help his dad recover from a stroke. Across the road lives his ex-wife Casey and her brother Wyatt. We are then taken on a journey from Kyle's teenage years to the present and in between we find out why he and Casey divorced and what actually happened to the McCrays.
This was my first book by the author and I can understand why this and her previous novels have done so well. This book is about a marriage, a family and a community and Lange wrote about all three perfectly. Having been born and raised in Toronto, Canada I played hockey throughout my childhood and her depiction of the game was spot on. The answer to the question, what happened to the McCray's was figured out by me pretty early on but when I got to the reveal it still hit me hard. I love it when an author can do that. This is a very emotional story and I felt what all the characters were going through in their different ways in my heart and in my soul.
Poignant, heartbreaking, and hopeful, What Happened to the McCrays is a story of loss and acceptance of that loss while trying to heal from the inside out. It is also a story I will be thinking about for a long time. Although I loved the story and the writing, the ending was a little too perfect for me, so four and a half stars rounded down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
March 10, 2025
I'm gonna get booed for this review.
My expectations were high going into this -Likely too high.
Guy meets girl, they date, then marry, then divorce. But Kyle has now returned, 2 years after the divorce, to their small town as his father has suffered a stroke. History is reopened like a festering sore. Emotions revisited.
It’s a nice story, yes. Neatly packaged, yes. And for those who like that, this will win them over. For me, well, it was a hard act to follow after my last two 5⭐️ reads.
I found this to be predictable, drawn out towards the end with characters who are just so loved by everyone, they disappointed me!
Will I remember it? Maybe….maybe not.
3.5⭐️
My expectations were high going into this -Likely too high.
Guy meets girl, they date, then marry, then divorce. But Kyle has now returned, 2 years after the divorce, to their small town as his father has suffered a stroke. History is reopened like a festering sore. Emotions revisited.
It’s a nice story, yes. Neatly packaged, yes. And for those who like that, this will win them over. For me, well, it was a hard act to follow after my last two 5⭐️ reads.
I found this to be predictable, drawn out towards the end with characters who are just so loved by everyone, they disappointed me!
Will I remember it? Maybe….maybe not.
3.5⭐️
December 19, 2024
All the stars and then some!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Looking for a family drama to lose yourself in this weekend? This is THAT book!
For the past two years Kyle and Casey McCray have been estranged, with Kyle moving across the country. But when his father falls ill, Kyle must make his way back home. And face the demons that have been haunting him.
There is so much love and history between this couple. I adored their stories and felt the profound pain they carried.
Can they heal themselves and make their way back to each other? Or are they destined once again to live separate lives.
This was such a beautifully crafted and emotional read. It’s been a long, long time since a book has brought me to tears. This one managed to on several occasions.
This book will definitely be making its way onto my favorites shelf! Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books.
Looking for a family drama to lose yourself in this weekend? This is THAT book!
For the past two years Kyle and Casey McCray have been estranged, with Kyle moving across the country. But when his father falls ill, Kyle must make his way back home. And face the demons that have been haunting him.
There is so much love and history between this couple. I adored their stories and felt the profound pain they carried.
Can they heal themselves and make their way back to each other? Or are they destined once again to live separate lives.
This was such a beautifully crafted and emotional read. It’s been a long, long time since a book has brought me to tears. This one managed to on several occasions.
This book will definitely be making its way onto my favorites shelf! Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books.
December 11, 2025
This is my favorite one yet 😉
January 19, 2025
I absolutely love Tracey Lange's writing! She is now 3 for 3 with me & officially an auto buy author! Her characters, her storytelling, and all the emotions they each bring out. What Happened to the McCray's? was exponentially sadder than I was prepared for. Even so, I simply could not put this one down. I wanted to stick it out to witness these characters grow and heal, and find whatever their version of happily ever after looks like.
•Small town
•Third person/dual POV
•Past and present timelines
•First love
•Second chance at love
•Complicated family dynamics
4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley & Celadon Books as well as Macmillin Audio for advance copies of this beautiful story in exchange for my honest review.
•Small town
•Third person/dual POV
•Past and present timelines
•First love
•Second chance at love
•Complicated family dynamics
4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley & Celadon Books as well as Macmillin Audio for advance copies of this beautiful story in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2025
5+ my heart in pieces, but I loved it stars
*now available
This one broke my heart and then put it back together. My favorite read of the year.
Heartbreaking. Family. Hockey. Parenthood. Guilt. Hopeful. Grief. Mental Health. Love. Small Towns. Somehow, these elements combine to create a book that feels like my favorite of the year. I have given two earlier books by this author 5 stars, but this is my favorite of hers.
As the title implies, this book is about the McCray family and much more. It opens with a scene of Kyle McCray on his way home to Potsdam to care for his father after a stroke. We learn what kind of man he is by how he treats a situation with a waitress in a diner: calmly diffusing things but showing he could use force if necessary.
Kyle and Casey found each other in high school. Many in town think too young. Casey was all set to head to college when a family tragedy strikes. She gives up her dream of college for a while. And Kyle moves in to take care of her and her brother Wyatt. Casey eventually becomes a middle school teacher and her kids adore her.
Kyle is a stand-up man. He was a star hockey player who went on to coach. He trained to become a mechanic and took over the local repair shop. He’s beloved in his community. He’s always anxious about money, though.
We don’t know why Kyle abandoned his family, friends, work, and community and suddenly left town over two years ago. He knows that he will get an unfriendly welcome from many in town. It’s clear that he needs to help his Dad rehabilitate.
The rest of the book is a masterful storytelling model. It shows us pieces of the past, including how Kyle and Casey fell in love, married, and built a life in town. We learn how Kyle takes care of the people he loves, and Casey internalizes her feelings. We learned what tore Kyle and Casey apart, and I hoped they might make their way back together.
Kyle is talked into coaching the middle school hockey team, and at first, they are truly awful. This is one of my favorite parts of the book, showing how sports and time can transform players' lives and those around them.
Sadly, Casey keeps pushing Kyle away and we only learn late in the book about her painful journey that broke my heart. I think I cried about four times in this book, so I recommend keeping the tissues handy. I was completely invested in this story, these characters, and they are memorable. This author write about family and relationships in an authentic and compelling way. Can you tell I loved this book?
This one made for a great book discussion with Jayme and Marilyn, be sure to see how they felt.
My sincere thanks to Celadon for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
*now available
This one broke my heart and then put it back together. My favorite read of the year.
Heartbreaking. Family. Hockey. Parenthood. Guilt. Hopeful. Grief. Mental Health. Love. Small Towns. Somehow, these elements combine to create a book that feels like my favorite of the year. I have given two earlier books by this author 5 stars, but this is my favorite of hers.
As the title implies, this book is about the McCray family and much more. It opens with a scene of Kyle McCray on his way home to Potsdam to care for his father after a stroke. We learn what kind of man he is by how he treats a situation with a waitress in a diner: calmly diffusing things but showing he could use force if necessary.
Kyle and Casey found each other in high school. Many in town think too young. Casey was all set to head to college when a family tragedy strikes. She gives up her dream of college for a while. And Kyle moves in to take care of her and her brother Wyatt. Casey eventually becomes a middle school teacher and her kids adore her.
Kyle is a stand-up man. He was a star hockey player who went on to coach. He trained to become a mechanic and took over the local repair shop. He’s beloved in his community. He’s always anxious about money, though.
We don’t know why Kyle abandoned his family, friends, work, and community and suddenly left town over two years ago. He knows that he will get an unfriendly welcome from many in town. It’s clear that he needs to help his Dad rehabilitate.
The rest of the book is a masterful storytelling model. It shows us pieces of the past, including how Kyle and Casey fell in love, married, and built a life in town. We learn how Kyle takes care of the people he loves, and Casey internalizes her feelings. We learned what tore Kyle and Casey apart, and I hoped they might make their way back together.
Kyle is talked into coaching the middle school hockey team, and at first, they are truly awful. This is one of my favorite parts of the book, showing how sports and time can transform players' lives and those around them.
Sadly, Casey keeps pushing Kyle away and we only learn late in the book about her painful journey that broke my heart. I think I cried about four times in this book, so I recommend keeping the tissues handy. I was completely invested in this story, these characters, and they are memorable. This author write about family and relationships in an authentic and compelling way. Can you tell I loved this book?
This one made for a great book discussion with Jayme and Marilyn, be sure to see how they felt.
My sincere thanks to Celadon for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
January 15, 2025
4.5⭐
Two and a half years after he left his friends and family in Potsdam, New York, forty-two-year-old Kyle McCray is called back home after his father suffers a stroke.
Returning home means facing everything and everyone he left behind - his father Danny, his ex-wife Casey with whom he had been together for twenty years, his former brother-in-law Wyatt whose concern for his sister has prevented him from moving away on his own and his friends and colleagues. Casey tries to hold him at arm’s length, but her concern for Danny with whom she shares a close bond makes it difficult to keep a distance. Kyle initially intends to leave once his father recovers, leaving everyone to get on with their lives, but he is unable to stay aloof and begins to realize how his departure impacted those close to him. As Kyle is roped in to coach the middle school hockey team, he will have to adjust to working with Casey, a teacher who is also involved in managing the team, but it won’t be easy for either of them.
As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about Kyle and Casey, their backstory and the events that resulted in the collapse of their marriage and follow them as they navigate their feelings for one another, their grief over all they have lost and much more.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful, What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a beautifully written novel that touches upon themes of love, family, grief and second chances. The narrative is presented in dual timelines - “Then” and “Now,” with the past timeline covering the history of Casey and Kyle’s relationship from when they were teenagers up to the events that prompted Kyle to leave and the significant events that occurred between then and “Now,” and the present timeline following Casey and Kyle after Kyle’s return.
Presented from the perspectives of Kyle and Casey, the narrative allows us to understand our main characters and their innermost thoughts and emotions in great depth and you cannot help but feel invested in their journeys – both as individuals and as a couple. The secondary characters are also well-developed and each of them has a significant role to play, including Star, the family dog whose reactions to Kyle and the shifting dynamics within the family are sensitively depicted.
Author Tracey Lange writes with deep insight and compassion as she tackles issues such as grief, mental health and much more. The author’s strength lies in her characterizations and the deep insight, maturity and compassion with which she writes about complex human emotions. Each of these characters is flawed and relatable and their struggles, regrets, guilt, pain and hope inspire pause and reflection.
Overall, I found this novel to be an incredibly moving story that left me with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat. Definitely recommended for those who enjoy character-driven fiction. Please note that there are certain sensitive issues tackled in this novel that might prove disturbing for some readers.
I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, who have done a brilliant job of breathing life into these characters making for a satisfying immersion reading experience.
This is my third Tracey Lange novel and definitely my favorite of the three. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Two and a half years after he left his friends and family in Potsdam, New York, forty-two-year-old Kyle McCray is called back home after his father suffers a stroke.
Returning home means facing everything and everyone he left behind - his father Danny, his ex-wife Casey with whom he had been together for twenty years, his former brother-in-law Wyatt whose concern for his sister has prevented him from moving away on his own and his friends and colleagues. Casey tries to hold him at arm’s length, but her concern for Danny with whom she shares a close bond makes it difficult to keep a distance. Kyle initially intends to leave once his father recovers, leaving everyone to get on with their lives, but he is unable to stay aloof and begins to realize how his departure impacted those close to him. As Kyle is roped in to coach the middle school hockey team, he will have to adjust to working with Casey, a teacher who is also involved in managing the team, but it won’t be easy for either of them.
As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about Kyle and Casey, their backstory and the events that resulted in the collapse of their marriage and follow them as they navigate their feelings for one another, their grief over all they have lost and much more.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful, What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a beautifully written novel that touches upon themes of love, family, grief and second chances. The narrative is presented in dual timelines - “Then” and “Now,” with the past timeline covering the history of Casey and Kyle’s relationship from when they were teenagers up to the events that prompted Kyle to leave and the significant events that occurred between then and “Now,” and the present timeline following Casey and Kyle after Kyle’s return.
Presented from the perspectives of Kyle and Casey, the narrative allows us to understand our main characters and their innermost thoughts and emotions in great depth and you cannot help but feel invested in their journeys – both as individuals and as a couple. The secondary characters are also well-developed and each of them has a significant role to play, including Star, the family dog whose reactions to Kyle and the shifting dynamics within the family are sensitively depicted.
Author Tracey Lange writes with deep insight and compassion as she tackles issues such as grief, mental health and much more. The author’s strength lies in her characterizations and the deep insight, maturity and compassion with which she writes about complex human emotions. Each of these characters is flawed and relatable and their struggles, regrets, guilt, pain and hope inspire pause and reflection.
Overall, I found this novel to be an incredibly moving story that left me with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat. Definitely recommended for those who enjoy character-driven fiction. Please note that there are certain sensitive issues tackled in this novel that might prove disturbing for some readers.
I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, who have done a brilliant job of breathing life into these characters making for a satisfying immersion reading experience.
This is my third Tracey Lange novel and definitely my favorite of the three. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
March 9, 2025
4 - 4.25 Stars
I really enjoy this author’s writing. This is my third read from her and they have all been solid 4+ stars so far. She writes very nuanced, layered familial dynamics against great settings. And that was true here as well.
I loved the town of Potsdam and the community of characters. I also really liked the way that the story unfolded. I don’t care for books that start in the present and flashback to the past, forcing you to make your way back to the present the entire way. But this bounced back and forth at a good clip so the reader never felt stuck in either timeline.
I loved Kyle and Casey’s relationship. Wyatt was such a great character. And the kids were all great too. Solid read all around. Some grief trigger warnings though for those who might be sensitive to that at the time of reading.
I really enjoy this author’s writing. This is my third read from her and they have all been solid 4+ stars so far. She writes very nuanced, layered familial dynamics against great settings. And that was true here as well.
I loved the town of Potsdam and the community of characters. I also really liked the way that the story unfolded. I don’t care for books that start in the present and flashback to the past, forcing you to make your way back to the present the entire way. But this bounced back and forth at a good clip so the reader never felt stuck in either timeline.
I loved Kyle and Casey’s relationship. Wyatt was such a great character. And the kids were all great too. Solid read all around. Some grief trigger warnings though for those who might be sensitive to that at the time of reading.
November 20, 2024
What Happened to the McCrays is a sweeping story about the power of love, never giving up on those we love, and the importance of forgiving ourselves.
Tracey Lange has a knack for warming my soul during the cold winter days. Her heartwarming family stories never fail to lift my spirits. Like her prior works, Tracey pulls the reader into her complex characters' lives and makes you feel as if you know them. I love how Lange writes about small-town USA and in this one, the town of Potsdam is a character itself.
I listened to the audiobook of What Happened to the McCrays which was narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format. If you haven't already, I also highly recommend checking out Tracey Lange’s prior works, The Connellys of County Down and We Are the Brennans.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange will be available on January 14, 2025. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for the gifted audiobook!
Tracey Lange has a knack for warming my soul during the cold winter days. Her heartwarming family stories never fail to lift my spirits. Like her prior works, Tracey pulls the reader into her complex characters' lives and makes you feel as if you know them. I love how Lange writes about small-town USA and in this one, the town of Potsdam is a character itself.
I listened to the audiobook of What Happened to the McCrays which was narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format. If you haven't already, I also highly recommend checking out Tracey Lange’s prior works, The Connellys of County Down and We Are the Brennans.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange will be available on January 14, 2025. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for the gifted audiobook!
January 6, 2025
Tracey Lange reigns as the queen of family drama, crafting stories that grab your heart and refuse to let go.
Her characters? Oh, they’re flawed, messy, and so heartbreakingly real, that you’d swear they were sitting right next to you, spilling their secrets.
Love, Loss, and Second Chances
Lange skillfully weaves a story of a fractured marriage, forcing her characters to confront the ghosts of their past in a way that’s both raw and deeply human. From the first page, I needed to know what happened to the McCrays. Why did Kyle leave his wife, Casey, and his small hometown? And what would happen now that he’s returned to care for his father after a debilitating stroke?
At the heart of the story lies the love between Kyle and Casey—a love that you can feel still lingers, despite what drove Kyle away. The way their story unfolds is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Lange peels back their past layer by layer, making you wait (sometimes agonizingly!) for the truth. And when those reveals finally come? They hit with the force of a freight train.
The Layers of Love and Pain
Lange has an incredible ability to convey the weight of everything unsaid—regret, hope, and unspoken love hang in the air making it easy for you to slip into their shoes, and live their pain. You can feel the years of tension between Kyle and Casey, the heartbreak simmering just beneath the surface.
And those quiet moments. They carry so much emotional weight. Lange shines brightest there.
Tough but Tender
There are tough, heartbreaking scenes—ones that could be triggering. The emotions build naturally, pulling you deeper into the story. The balance between raw pain and the deep love shared among the characters is masterful. My heart melted at the love between Kyle and Casy, even as it broke for the pain they endured.
Audiobook vs. eGalley: A Perfect Pair
I was fortunate to experience this story in both audiobook and eGalley formats, and I can wholeheartedly recommend both. The narrators brought so much heart to the audiobook, making it easy to follow and deeply engaging. Their voices added a layer of warmth and authenticity that complemented Lange’s prose perfectly.
Tracey Lange’s writing is a delicate balance of heartbreak and hope, weaving deep emotional truths into every page. What Happened to the McCrays? is a story of love, loss, healing, and redemption that lingers long after the final chapter. It’s tender, raw, and unforgettable—a must-read (and must-listen) for anyone who loves a family drama that feels achingly real.
I received both audiobook and eGalley from the publisher through NetGalley
Her characters? Oh, they’re flawed, messy, and so heartbreakingly real, that you’d swear they were sitting right next to you, spilling their secrets.
Love, Loss, and Second Chances
Lange skillfully weaves a story of a fractured marriage, forcing her characters to confront the ghosts of their past in a way that’s both raw and deeply human. From the first page, I needed to know what happened to the McCrays. Why did Kyle leave his wife, Casey, and his small hometown? And what would happen now that he’s returned to care for his father after a debilitating stroke?
At the heart of the story lies the love between Kyle and Casey—a love that you can feel still lingers, despite what drove Kyle away. The way their story unfolds is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Lange peels back their past layer by layer, making you wait (sometimes agonizingly!) for the truth. And when those reveals finally come? They hit with the force of a freight train.
The Layers of Love and Pain
Lange has an incredible ability to convey the weight of everything unsaid—regret, hope, and unspoken love hang in the air making it easy for you to slip into their shoes, and live their pain. You can feel the years of tension between Kyle and Casey, the heartbreak simmering just beneath the surface.
And those quiet moments. They carry so much emotional weight. Lange shines brightest there.
Tough but Tender
There are tough, heartbreaking scenes—ones that could be triggering. The emotions build naturally, pulling you deeper into the story. The balance between raw pain and the deep love shared among the characters is masterful. My heart melted at the love between Kyle and Casy, even as it broke for the pain they endured.
Audiobook vs. eGalley: A Perfect Pair
I was fortunate to experience this story in both audiobook and eGalley formats, and I can wholeheartedly recommend both. The narrators brought so much heart to the audiobook, making it easy to follow and deeply engaging. Their voices added a layer of warmth and authenticity that complemented Lange’s prose perfectly.
Tracey Lange’s writing is a delicate balance of heartbreak and hope, weaving deep emotional truths into every page. What Happened to the McCrays? is a story of love, loss, healing, and redemption that lingers long after the final chapter. It’s tender, raw, and unforgettable—a must-read (and must-listen) for anyone who loves a family drama that feels achingly real.
I received both audiobook and eGalley from the publisher through NetGalley
November 16, 2024
I'm all for books about family and their excessive drama, which initially pulled me into Tracey Lange's latest.
I gave We Are the Brennans three stars, didn't leave a review, but after reading about the McCrays, I now know why. It was a forgettable drama. There is an actual mention of the Brennan's bar in this book, which is neither here nor there.
What Happened to the McCrays? is essentially a long drawn out novel about Casey and Kyle, a couple who faced tragedy, as he returns back to Potsdam, after is it two, three, four years? I feel like the author isn't really sure herself. He reconnects with his ex Casey after his father recovers from a stroke.
What happens next is a long drawn story of redemption, sadness, and healing. The tragedy itself is supposed to be a bit of a mystery, but despite the details, there were chapters of events that didn't need to happen. The hockey coaching story is left by the wayside, Casey's brother Wyatt who is in a wheelchair but is a successful woodmaker has what could have been a more memorable role, and other pieces of the story that if fully fleshed out, would have been a more relatable family drama. Claire Lombardo and Ann Napolitano are experts at creating small family stories into big long heaps of uncertainty, grief, and eventually healing.
Unfortunately, Lange does not do what those authors do, instead, we end up reading two chapters on Kyle and Casey holding duffle bags to leave their sadness behind. These were not memorable characters to me, which is really what makes these family dramas unique. The fine details on everyday life were left out, and sad to say, despite the tragic storyline, my attention span went out the door myself.
I gave We Are the Brennans three stars, didn't leave a review, but after reading about the McCrays, I now know why. It was a forgettable drama. There is an actual mention of the Brennan's bar in this book, which is neither here nor there.
What Happened to the McCrays? is essentially a long drawn out novel about Casey and Kyle, a couple who faced tragedy, as he returns back to Potsdam, after is it two, three, four years? I feel like the author isn't really sure herself. He reconnects with his ex Casey after his father recovers from a stroke.
What happens next is a long drawn story of redemption, sadness, and healing. The tragedy itself is supposed to be a bit of a mystery, but despite the details, there were chapters of events that didn't need to happen. The hockey coaching story is left by the wayside, Casey's brother Wyatt who is in a wheelchair but is a successful woodmaker has what could have been a more memorable role, and other pieces of the story that if fully fleshed out, would have been a more relatable family drama. Claire Lombardo and Ann Napolitano are experts at creating small family stories into big long heaps of uncertainty, grief, and eventually healing.
Unfortunately, Lange does not do what those authors do, instead, we end up reading two chapters on Kyle and Casey holding duffle bags to leave their sadness behind. These were not memorable characters to me, which is really what makes these family dramas unique. The fine details on everyday life were left out, and sad to say, despite the tragic storyline, my attention span went out the door myself.
May 30, 2025
Still trying to catch up so just a quickie review.
The title of this book is perfect since from the beginning I was desperate to know what actually happened to the McCrays.
There is something about Tracey Lange's writing that mesmerizes me. Every time I had to put this book aside, I just wanted to get back to it as soon as possible. She writes family struggles so well and makes the reader feel so much for the characters and what they are going through. I loved Kyle and Casey as well as the strong community vibes of Potsdam. This book is both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. It gets all the stars from me. I loved it!
The title of this book is perfect since from the beginning I was desperate to know what actually happened to the McCrays.
There is something about Tracey Lange's writing that mesmerizes me. Every time I had to put this book aside, I just wanted to get back to it as soon as possible. She writes family struggles so well and makes the reader feel so much for the characters and what they are going through. I loved Kyle and Casey as well as the strong community vibes of Potsdam. This book is both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. It gets all the stars from me. I loved it!
January 2, 2026
Breaking my heart through this one, these characters, the little town, the dog.... When second chances are possible, you move through each day with hope and assurance situations will get better. A painful look at high school sweethearts, married for 16 years then a tragic event separates them. For 2 years, they have searched for redemption. Kyle, an auto-mechanic, and Casey, a beloved teacher in the small town of Potsdam, N.Y. Their separation is told from past and present dialogues. The writer keeps the reader glued to find out what tore this couple apart. Loving both characters and not passing judgment on their decisions, but waiting for that final reveal.
Kyle left 2 years ago, but was summoned to come home to care for his ailing father who suffered a stroke after Casey found him on the floor. It was hard for both to accept the other one back in their life. There is a lot of pain in their past, learning to forgive and accept their regrets and confront their future was like watching spring bloom after a winter chill. The story reveals the resilience of family and the importance of a community accepting who and why they are.
Narrators Stephanie Nemeth Parker and William DeMerrit did an excellent job. This author is talented and excited to see what her next creation will be.
Kyle left 2 years ago, but was summoned to come home to care for his ailing father who suffered a stroke after Casey found him on the floor. It was hard for both to accept the other one back in their life. There is a lot of pain in their past, learning to forgive and accept their regrets and confront their future was like watching spring bloom after a winter chill. The story reveals the resilience of family and the importance of a community accepting who and why they are.
Narrators Stephanie Nemeth Parker and William DeMerrit did an excellent job. This author is talented and excited to see what her next creation will be.
July 17, 2025
Thoughts
I NEED SOMEONE TO TURN THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE RIGHT NOWWWW😭😭😭 Guys this book???? Oh my heart!!! Follows Kyle and Casey who have adored each other for 16 years... From high school sweethearts to marrying one another until one day he walks out two and a half years ago. Now after being notified about his dad's health he has to come back and face his past and everyone he's abandoned. This read is written in a way that'll make you feel for both sides, understand both sides and root for him harder than ever! The way they navigated their pain, the confrontations ... I LOVED EVERY SINGLE BIT of the ride! This is my first experience with this author and I've fallen in love!!! Will definitely be reading more from her. If you enjoy plots that explore broken people, coping with grief with a sprinkle of hope then pick this up alongside tissues of course
I NEED SOMEONE TO TURN THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE RIGHT NOWWWW😭😭😭 Guys this book???? Oh my heart!!! Follows Kyle and Casey who have adored each other for 16 years... From high school sweethearts to marrying one another until one day he walks out two and a half years ago. Now after being notified about his dad's health he has to come back and face his past and everyone he's abandoned. This read is written in a way that'll make you feel for both sides, understand both sides and root for him harder than ever! The way they navigated their pain, the confrontations ... I LOVED EVERY SINGLE BIT of the ride! This is my first experience with this author and I've fallen in love!!! Will definitely be reading more from her. If you enjoy plots that explore broken people, coping with grief with a sprinkle of hope then pick this up alongside tissues of course
January 20, 2025
i really enjoyed this audiobook! it had dual POVs and narrators for the FMC vs MMC and kept me interested. loved hearing both sides and getting to know the inner workings of each characters’ mindset and emotion during really challenging situations.
this book is a genre bender—at its root i think it’s a family drama, but it also has some second chance romance and even a bit of mystery and suspense building up to the big twist/resolution that drove the two main characters apart.
if there was one issue i had it’s that the surprise took a bit too long to get there. i would have liked that closer to 50-60% but understand why it was held until the end. it was absolutely heartbreaking :(
this book deals with a lot of really hard situations and trigger warnings… namely around grief and loss. these characters went through so much and yet still found ways to push through and give people grace and find happiness and forgiveness. those themes were amazing!
all in all definitely recommend this one. i think i like it a bit more than WE ARE THE BRENNANS and will continue to read her work moving forward!
this book is a genre bender—at its root i think it’s a family drama, but it also has some second chance romance and even a bit of mystery and suspense building up to the big twist/resolution that drove the two main characters apart.
if there was one issue i had it’s that the surprise took a bit too long to get there. i would have liked that closer to 50-60% but understand why it was held until the end. it was absolutely heartbreaking :(
this book deals with a lot of really hard situations and trigger warnings… namely around grief and loss. these characters went through so much and yet still found ways to push through and give people grace and find happiness and forgiveness. those themes were amazing!
all in all definitely recommend this one. i think i like it a bit more than WE ARE THE BRENNANS and will continue to read her work moving forward!
July 31, 2024
If you are familiar with me you know I love a good family drama, a “maybe you can go home again” type of storyline and . . . HOUSE COVERS . . .
This one delivered all three and let me tell you the squeak I squeaked when this arrived from the publisher as a surprise package with the nicest note saying “we know you have enjoyed this author previously, so we wanted to make sure to get you a copy of her latest release.” How nice is that?
This is the story of Kyle, who has to return home after several years of being away in order to assist his father who is trying to bounce back from a stroke. He also will have to find some resolution with Casey – his ex-wife who he left behind those years ago and who just so happens to live right across the street. Lange’s previous books have been a little more lighthearted than this one, so be forewarned going in this is a little heavier. But oh my the feeeeeeeeels! I am an official superfan and will happily read whatever this author comes up with – whether I am fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy or if I have to be first in line on pub day. So good.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This one delivered all three and let me tell you the squeak I squeaked when this arrived from the publisher as a surprise package with the nicest note saying “we know you have enjoyed this author previously, so we wanted to make sure to get you a copy of her latest release.” How nice is that?
This is the story of Kyle, who has to return home after several years of being away in order to assist his father who is trying to bounce back from a stroke. He also will have to find some resolution with Casey – his ex-wife who he left behind those years ago and who just so happens to live right across the street. Lange’s previous books have been a little more lighthearted than this one, so be forewarned going in this is a little heavier. But oh my the feeeeeeeeels! I am an official superfan and will happily read whatever this author comes up with – whether I am fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy or if I have to be first in line on pub day. So good.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2025
**Many thanks to NetGalley, @CeladonBooks, and Tracey Lange for an ARC of this book!**
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark." - Pierce Brown
Kyle McCray had his reasons for leaving the small town and close knit community of Potsdam, NY, his family, and his wife, a woman who has he loved for SIXTEEN years, Casey. But Kyle didn't exactly warn his friends, family, and wife that he would be leaving...and despite trying to bury his pain, for the last two and a half years, he's been dreading the day where he has to face the music and return to town. Unfortunately for Kyle, that day has arrived: he receives word that his father has suffered a stroke, and Kyle can't imagine not being by his side...so he sets off to return to Potsdam and all of the the messy situations he tried to leave behind, bracing himself for the vitriol he feels he's sure to receive.
When he arrives and begins to fall back into the familiar patterns of his old life, however, a flurry of complicated emotions run through him...and he starts to see that perhaps he was more needed and valuable to those around him than he ever knew. Although Casey is a successful and beloved middle school teacher in town, she's had a Herculean task thrown at her: SHE has been attempting to lead and coach the middle school hockey team, who needs a lot of help, to say the least. Not only that, but Kyle's father Danny is still very close to Casey...and her brother Wyatt has connections to Kyle that he can no longer ignore either. So when Kyle gets offered the opportunity to put his career as an auto mechanic aside and help lead the hockey team to glory, he hesitantly agrees. After all, he and Casey made a good team for so many years...there had to be a REASON for that, right?
But as their feelings become more muddled, vacillating between the pain of their estrangement and the enduring quality of their love, and Kyle is forced to finally deal with the grief he tried so hard to leave behind, will he discover that everything he has been desperately searching for was right at home, waiting for him to step up and shape up? Or will he choose to flee once AGAIN when the pain seems too deep, too enduring, and too large a burden for anyone to bear...even with the possibility of reconciliation, redemption, and forgiveness FINALLY within reach?
Tracey Lange has found her lane, and hasn't strayed...and I am SO grateful for it. As much as I love flexibility and authors testing the boundaries of what they 'can' and cannot effectively write, there are instances where an author has such a defined groove and niche that I can hardly imagine them writing another KIND of book...and Lange is one of those authors. Her stories always center around family: intricate, complicated, grounded, and REAL...with flaws aplenty. Her protagonists tend to be aching for redemption and forgiveness from one another...but more importantly, from THEMSELVES, and this is what makes her stories so impactful, emotional, and relatable. All of them deal with some sort of homecoming, a revisiting of what it means to be yourself after tragedy strikes and the struggle to FIND that person amidst guilt, grief, and a tangle of complicated emotions...and What Happened to the McCrays? is no exception. With a book that effectively has TWO protagonists in Kyle and Casey, you as the reader aren't supposed to choose who was 'right' in this situation...because you'll come to see how both Kyle and Casey share the blame for what happened to their marriage, and how grief, frustration, and miscommunications got each of them there.
Lange has said she was inspired to write a book about divorce this time around, and despite the natural angst and bitter pain that often accompanies this concept in our minds, WHTTM manages to be both a story of love lost AND found throughout. Weaving back and forth effortlessly between past and present, Lange explores the nuance of a relationship born so early in life and how these roots could remain both steadfast and shaken, leaving this couple in a sort of extended limbo, with both life and livelihoods hanging in the balance by journey's end. At times, I found myself begging Casey to leave the past in the past...and others, I was heartsick hoping for reunion. THIS juxtaposition, along with the added pressures of small town living, complicated dynamics between Casey's family and Kyle, and the added pressure of wrangling a group of middle school kids to small-town glory all combine for a whirlwind of emotion and drama...but NEVER veers into melodrama.
And THIS is exactly HOW Lange shines, and why her books have such an effortless feel. The echoes of pain that reverberate throughout the pages here are familiar to every reader, whether or not you personally have dealt with divorce, the declining health of a parent, or the tragedy that befell this couple years prior. You don't need to have lived the specific experiences to have lived the depth of the pain...and the moments of joy, love, and light feel even more triumphant and earned by the time you have traveled from A to Z. Each one of Lange's books is a fully formed journey...and even if this particularly journey seems as though it HAS to be circuitous, I can promise you: it is anything BUT predictable.
We think of home as a place, a building with an address, set in a town or city, in a state, or perhaps grounded in a country and all that comes with it. But oftentimes we can return to a place that USED to be home and find that it no longer even feels familiar. Has the place actually changed...or are we trying to tread a path that only exists in memory? Although I won't reveal whether Kyle and Casey have a happy ending or go their separate ways, when it comes to Tracey Lange's success with her third novel, all hockey fans know that scoring that third triumphant goal can only mean one thing:
It's officially a HAT TRICK! 🏒🏒🏒
4.5 stars
"Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark." - Pierce Brown
Kyle McCray had his reasons for leaving the small town and close knit community of Potsdam, NY, his family, and his wife, a woman who has he loved for SIXTEEN years, Casey. But Kyle didn't exactly warn his friends, family, and wife that he would be leaving...and despite trying to bury his pain, for the last two and a half years, he's been dreading the day where he has to face the music and return to town. Unfortunately for Kyle, that day has arrived: he receives word that his father has suffered a stroke, and Kyle can't imagine not being by his side...so he sets off to return to Potsdam and all of the the messy situations he tried to leave behind, bracing himself for the vitriol he feels he's sure to receive.
When he arrives and begins to fall back into the familiar patterns of his old life, however, a flurry of complicated emotions run through him...and he starts to see that perhaps he was more needed and valuable to those around him than he ever knew. Although Casey is a successful and beloved middle school teacher in town, she's had a Herculean task thrown at her: SHE has been attempting to lead and coach the middle school hockey team, who needs a lot of help, to say the least. Not only that, but Kyle's father Danny is still very close to Casey...and her brother Wyatt has connections to Kyle that he can no longer ignore either. So when Kyle gets offered the opportunity to put his career as an auto mechanic aside and help lead the hockey team to glory, he hesitantly agrees. After all, he and Casey made a good team for so many years...there had to be a REASON for that, right?
But as their feelings become more muddled, vacillating between the pain of their estrangement and the enduring quality of their love, and Kyle is forced to finally deal with the grief he tried so hard to leave behind, will he discover that everything he has been desperately searching for was right at home, waiting for him to step up and shape up? Or will he choose to flee once AGAIN when the pain seems too deep, too enduring, and too large a burden for anyone to bear...even with the possibility of reconciliation, redemption, and forgiveness FINALLY within reach?
Tracey Lange has found her lane, and hasn't strayed...and I am SO grateful for it. As much as I love flexibility and authors testing the boundaries of what they 'can' and cannot effectively write, there are instances where an author has such a defined groove and niche that I can hardly imagine them writing another KIND of book...and Lange is one of those authors. Her stories always center around family: intricate, complicated, grounded, and REAL...with flaws aplenty. Her protagonists tend to be aching for redemption and forgiveness from one another...but more importantly, from THEMSELVES, and this is what makes her stories so impactful, emotional, and relatable. All of them deal with some sort of homecoming, a revisiting of what it means to be yourself after tragedy strikes and the struggle to FIND that person amidst guilt, grief, and a tangle of complicated emotions...and What Happened to the McCrays? is no exception. With a book that effectively has TWO protagonists in Kyle and Casey, you as the reader aren't supposed to choose who was 'right' in this situation...because you'll come to see how both Kyle and Casey share the blame for what happened to their marriage, and how grief, frustration, and miscommunications got each of them there.
Lange has said she was inspired to write a book about divorce this time around, and despite the natural angst and bitter pain that often accompanies this concept in our minds, WHTTM manages to be both a story of love lost AND found throughout. Weaving back and forth effortlessly between past and present, Lange explores the nuance of a relationship born so early in life and how these roots could remain both steadfast and shaken, leaving this couple in a sort of extended limbo, with both life and livelihoods hanging in the balance by journey's end. At times, I found myself begging Casey to leave the past in the past...and others, I was heartsick hoping for reunion. THIS juxtaposition, along with the added pressures of small town living, complicated dynamics between Casey's family and Kyle, and the added pressure of wrangling a group of middle school kids to small-town glory all combine for a whirlwind of emotion and drama...but NEVER veers into melodrama.
And THIS is exactly HOW Lange shines, and why her books have such an effortless feel. The echoes of pain that reverberate throughout the pages here are familiar to every reader, whether or not you personally have dealt with divorce, the declining health of a parent, or the tragedy that befell this couple years prior. You don't need to have lived the specific experiences to have lived the depth of the pain...and the moments of joy, love, and light feel even more triumphant and earned by the time you have traveled from A to Z. Each one of Lange's books is a fully formed journey...and even if this particularly journey seems as though it HAS to be circuitous, I can promise you: it is anything BUT predictable.
We think of home as a place, a building with an address, set in a town or city, in a state, or perhaps grounded in a country and all that comes with it. But oftentimes we can return to a place that USED to be home and find that it no longer even feels familiar. Has the place actually changed...or are we trying to tread a path that only exists in memory? Although I won't reveal whether Kyle and Casey have a happy ending or go their separate ways, when it comes to Tracey Lange's success with her third novel, all hockey fans know that scoring that third triumphant goal can only mean one thing:
It's officially a HAT TRICK! 🏒🏒🏒
4.5 stars
April 5, 2025
Complicated. Emotional. Moving. Heartening. Memorable.
Kyle McCray abruptly left his hometown of Potsdam, N.Y., over two years ago. He is called back to help with his father's rehabilitation from a debilitating stroke. As soon as his father can manage on his own, Kyle plans to leave. Casey, his wife of sixteen years, wants Kyle to leave soon, too...
What Happened to the McCrays is Tracy Lange's third novel, and I have read and loved all three of them. She writes heartwrenching yet hopeful stories about families in crisis. This one focuses on the fractured marriage of Kyle and Casey and how their estrangement has impacted not only their family and friends but also the community.
Lange's writing style is straightforward, clear, and uncomplicated, making reading effortless. The chapters are short, which I love, helping the pages flip quickly. This story explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, relationships, and the importance of community support in the healing process.
What Happened to the McCrays is another well-written, character-driven story from this author, and in my opinion, her best one so far—highly recommended!
5⭐
Thank you to Celadon Books and Tracey Lange for the DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Kyle McCray abruptly left his hometown of Potsdam, N.Y., over two years ago. He is called back to help with his father's rehabilitation from a debilitating stroke. As soon as his father can manage on his own, Kyle plans to leave. Casey, his wife of sixteen years, wants Kyle to leave soon, too...
What Happened to the McCrays is Tracy Lange's third novel, and I have read and loved all three of them. She writes heartwrenching yet hopeful stories about families in crisis. This one focuses on the fractured marriage of Kyle and Casey and how their estrangement has impacted not only their family and friends but also the community.
Lange's writing style is straightforward, clear, and uncomplicated, making reading effortless. The chapters are short, which I love, helping the pages flip quickly. This story explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, relationships, and the importance of community support in the healing process.
What Happened to the McCrays is another well-written, character-driven story from this author, and in my opinion, her best one so far—highly recommended!
5⭐
Thank you to Celadon Books and Tracey Lange for the DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
January 23, 2025
4.5 stars 🌟 "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky
This quote applies to life as well as Kyle motivating the middle school hockey team from where he played growing up. Tracey Lange shows why she is an expert in contemporary fiction with family drama. In What Happened to the McCrays? we learn through present and flashbacks what led to the breakdown of Kyle and Casey's marriage of almost twenty years.
Kyle moved to Spokane from upstate New York over two years earlier. He returns home to Potsdam with the news that his father Danny suffered a stroke.
What follows is a story of love, loss, and hope with emphasis on second chances and forgiveness. This is a poignant and heartbreaking story of family, love, and community. It is so relatable because it is literally about ordinary people and the extraordinary things they can do to positively impact those around them when they just take the shot! Loved it and highly recommend.
This quote applies to life as well as Kyle motivating the middle school hockey team from where he played growing up. Tracey Lange shows why she is an expert in contemporary fiction with family drama. In What Happened to the McCrays? we learn through present and flashbacks what led to the breakdown of Kyle and Casey's marriage of almost twenty years.
Kyle moved to Spokane from upstate New York over two years earlier. He returns home to Potsdam with the news that his father Danny suffered a stroke.
What follows is a story of love, loss, and hope with emphasis on second chances and forgiveness. This is a poignant and heartbreaking story of family, love, and community. It is so relatable because it is literally about ordinary people and the extraordinary things they can do to positively impact those around them when they just take the shot! Loved it and highly recommend.
December 22, 2025
Kyle McCray returns to his hometown after receiving news that his father has suffered a stroke. His estranged wife and friends aren’t happy about his return, still angry with him for leaving town a few years ago. When a an opportunity opens up as the hockey coach at the local middle school, Kyle decides to take it, determined to make amends with those he left behind.
This is a very quiet read, with themes of love, loss, forgiveness and second chances, perfect to settle in with on a cold winter’s day. From the moment I started it, I was completely immersed in the lives of the McCrays, hardships and all.
These characters will break your heart; their pain will be your pain. They are multi-faceted, flawed characters, each dealing with their own life struggles, and it’s hard not to feel incredibly connected to them by the final page. I desperately rooted for Kyle and Casey to find their way back to one another even when it didn’t seem possible. If you are looking for a book that will break your heart and then put it back together, it’s this one.
🎧 This slow burn story is absolutely fantastic on audio. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt are pitch perfect and only help to enhance the already gorgeous prose.
Read if you like:
▪️literary fiction
▪️family dramas
▪️second chances
▪️character driven stories
▪️small town life
▪️Adirondacks
Thank you Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
This is a very quiet read, with themes of love, loss, forgiveness and second chances, perfect to settle in with on a cold winter’s day. From the moment I started it, I was completely immersed in the lives of the McCrays, hardships and all.
These characters will break your heart; their pain will be your pain. They are multi-faceted, flawed characters, each dealing with their own life struggles, and it’s hard not to feel incredibly connected to them by the final page. I desperately rooted for Kyle and Casey to find their way back to one another even when it didn’t seem possible. If you are looking for a book that will break your heart and then put it back together, it’s this one.
🎧 This slow burn story is absolutely fantastic on audio. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt are pitch perfect and only help to enhance the already gorgeous prose.
Read if you like:
▪️literary fiction
▪️family dramas
▪️second chances
▪️character driven stories
▪️small town life
▪️Adirondacks
Thank you Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.
January 18, 2025
Let’s begin by lauding the author for a great choice of title. What did happen to Kyle and Casey McCray? Tracey Lange uses secrets, suspense, and a skillful use of time jumps to invest us in this emotional, slow-burn family drama.
Kyle McCray returns to Potsdam, NY to care for his father who’d just suffered a stroke. He’s on edge about it all, because it means seeing his ex-wife Casey and all his former friends again after his sudden departure two and a half years ago. Casey has carried on as a teacher and manager of a youth hockey team, but something’s not right with her. For her and their friends, it’s not just awkward, it’s painful. But Kyle’s going to be there a while, so they all have to just deal with it.
I have a hard time summarizing the plot more than that, because it’s predicated on many critical happenings from the “Then” time frame. As we wallow in the “Now,” we’re wondering why there’s such sadness, even animosity, between Kyle and Casey. There must have been some kind of tragedy, or accident, or crucial misunderstanding…right? But I can’t tell you what happens and why I think it’s great, because it’ll give away way too many spoilers! The reader unfamiliar with this style may get frustrated, but the last third makes it very worthwhile.
Let me put it this way: love was there, love went away, and now there’s a glimmer of hope love can return. And because this isn’t structured or styled like your garden-variety romance, the issue of the textbook happy ending is in doubt. The text is a little heavy on third-person introspection, but the desire to know what happened, along with the emotional “will-they-won’t-they,” is more than enough to hold the reader’s interest.
Just like in her previous works, Lange demonstrates her skill in character development. Anne Lamott says to spend time with one’s characters, so Lange must’ve locked herself in a bunker with them. Or she must have based them on real people. (Though I doubt it.) Either way, all characters are multi-faceted, complex, and interesting, right down to the friends and the youth hockey players. She has a way of writing from the middle-class, every-person perspective, giving everyone relatable problems like fixing the car or taking out loans. That has a way of driving home the emotional issues they face with a refreshing realism.
I can’t remember if I’ve been to Potsdam, but her portrayal of the remoteness and hardscrabble setting of upstate New York is right up there with Richard Russo. There was a little struggle between spreading one’s wings into the bigger world or sticking close to home. Lange delivers this subplot with plenty of detail and feeling.
No, it’s not a thriller, so there’s no scene with the McCrays dangling from that…that part of the helicopter? You know? The bottom? But What Happened to the McCrays excels in its ability to slowly, carefully, suspensefully reveal the deep cracks in a powerful love. It does even better to give us a satisfying ending, one that…well. Can’t tell you.
If literature is supposed to help us connect with new perspectives and explore both exciting and heartbreaking emotions, this book will open you to a section of the heart rarely seen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. What Happened to the McCrays? was released January 14, 2025 and is now available at most retailers.
Kyle McCray returns to Potsdam, NY to care for his father who’d just suffered a stroke. He’s on edge about it all, because it means seeing his ex-wife Casey and all his former friends again after his sudden departure two and a half years ago. Casey has carried on as a teacher and manager of a youth hockey team, but something’s not right with her. For her and their friends, it’s not just awkward, it’s painful. But Kyle’s going to be there a while, so they all have to just deal with it.
I have a hard time summarizing the plot more than that, because it’s predicated on many critical happenings from the “Then” time frame. As we wallow in the “Now,” we’re wondering why there’s such sadness, even animosity, between Kyle and Casey. There must have been some kind of tragedy, or accident, or crucial misunderstanding…right? But I can’t tell you what happens and why I think it’s great, because it’ll give away way too many spoilers! The reader unfamiliar with this style may get frustrated, but the last third makes it very worthwhile.
Let me put it this way: love was there, love went away, and now there’s a glimmer of hope love can return. And because this isn’t structured or styled like your garden-variety romance, the issue of the textbook happy ending is in doubt. The text is a little heavy on third-person introspection, but the desire to know what happened, along with the emotional “will-they-won’t-they,” is more than enough to hold the reader’s interest.
Just like in her previous works, Lange demonstrates her skill in character development. Anne Lamott says to spend time with one’s characters, so Lange must’ve locked herself in a bunker with them. Or she must have based them on real people. (Though I doubt it.) Either way, all characters are multi-faceted, complex, and interesting, right down to the friends and the youth hockey players. She has a way of writing from the middle-class, every-person perspective, giving everyone relatable problems like fixing the car or taking out loans. That has a way of driving home the emotional issues they face with a refreshing realism.
I can’t remember if I’ve been to Potsdam, but her portrayal of the remoteness and hardscrabble setting of upstate New York is right up there with Richard Russo. There was a little struggle between spreading one’s wings into the bigger world or sticking close to home. Lange delivers this subplot with plenty of detail and feeling.
No, it’s not a thriller, so there’s no scene with the McCrays dangling from that…that part of the helicopter? You know? The bottom? But What Happened to the McCrays excels in its ability to slowly, carefully, suspensefully reveal the deep cracks in a powerful love. It does even better to give us a satisfying ending, one that…well. Can’t tell you.
If literature is supposed to help us connect with new perspectives and explore both exciting and heartbreaking emotions, this book will open you to a section of the heart rarely seen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. What Happened to the McCrays? was released January 14, 2025 and is now available at most retailers.
January 8, 2025
A five for me!
Just like the Brennans and the Connellys before them, you’ll want to meet the McCrays.
Kyle and Casey McCray seemed to have it all. High school sweethearts, happily married for sixteen years. But then, without warning, Kyle leaves—disappearing from town, his job, and the wife he still deeply loved. No one really knows why.
Now, two years later, Kyle is called back home. His father has suffered a major stroke and needs help regaining his strength, walking, and getting to physical therapy sessions. Though Kyle isn’t ready to face the past, he knows he can’t turn his back on his father.
When Kyle sees Casey again, all his feelings for her resurface, stronger than ever. He also discovers that the town doesn’t resent him as he feared; most people are understanding and forgiving. When the chance to coach the local teenage hockey team comes up, Kyle jumps at it. Hockey is his passion, and mentoring these kids becomes a path to healing—not just for them, but for himself too.
I loved every part of these characters. They felt so authentic—flawed, yes, but never malicious. Their humanity and kindness shone through on every page.
I can’t wait for the author’s next novel. I’m officially a fan!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Celadon Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Just like the Brennans and the Connellys before them, you’ll want to meet the McCrays.
Kyle and Casey McCray seemed to have it all. High school sweethearts, happily married for sixteen years. But then, without warning, Kyle leaves—disappearing from town, his job, and the wife he still deeply loved. No one really knows why.
Now, two years later, Kyle is called back home. His father has suffered a major stroke and needs help regaining his strength, walking, and getting to physical therapy sessions. Though Kyle isn’t ready to face the past, he knows he can’t turn his back on his father.
When Kyle sees Casey again, all his feelings for her resurface, stronger than ever. He also discovers that the town doesn’t resent him as he feared; most people are understanding and forgiving. When the chance to coach the local teenage hockey team comes up, Kyle jumps at it. Hockey is his passion, and mentoring these kids becomes a path to healing—not just for them, but for himself too.
I loved every part of these characters. They felt so authentic—flawed, yes, but never malicious. Their humanity and kindness shone through on every page.
I can’t wait for the author’s next novel. I’m officially a fan!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Celadon Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
April 27, 2025
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a novel about survival. Emotional survival. How do you heal and survive after a young child died? How do you deal from emotional guilt? Run away? Run and run. Then 180 back home. A story of guilt, redemption, and survival. Just be warned there is one place the tears will roll.
May 23, 2025
In What Happened to the McCrays?, Kyle returns to his hometown in upstate New York to help care for his dad after he has a stroke. Kyle had left home abruptly following an incident that rocked his marriage and he hasn’t seen his estranged ex-wife, Casey, since leaving.
Kyle and Casey attempt to navigate their lives, now having some overlap again, but Casey generally favors avoidance and Kyle is surprised as he realizes the impact of his absence the longer he stays in town. As they each try to move forward, they’re ultimately forced to confront the painful past.
I loved this book. The ending was admittedly, a tad neat, but I was all in on the story, rooting for Kyle and Casey, both characters I really liked, and rooting for the middle school hockey team. At moments, I got the slightest Beartown vibes from this story. I also enjoyed most of the secondary characters in this book. I’ve liked all 3 of Lange’s family drama novels, with What Happened to the McCrays? becoming my new favorite!
Kyle and Casey attempt to navigate their lives, now having some overlap again, but Casey generally favors avoidance and Kyle is surprised as he realizes the impact of his absence the longer he stays in town. As they each try to move forward, they’re ultimately forced to confront the painful past.
I loved this book. The ending was admittedly, a tad neat, but I was all in on the story, rooting for Kyle and Casey, both characters I really liked, and rooting for the middle school hockey team. At moments, I got the slightest Beartown vibes from this story. I also enjoyed most of the secondary characters in this book. I’ve liked all 3 of Lange’s family drama novels, with What Happened to the McCrays? becoming my new favorite!
January 22, 2025
Love, family, and community; what makes them and what breaks them, and the possibility that after it all, can we have redemption and heal from it all? That's what this book is about.
I chose this book because I've read Tracy Lange's other two books and thoroughly enjoyed them. She always portrays typical families that have problems and are never perfect. To me, that's important because I have never met a perfect family, and often books portray the larger than life perfect families. Her characters are always well rounded and have depth.
Kyle and Casey were high-school sweethearts who were married for 16 years until they're torn apart by a tragedy. Kyle leaves town until he's called back to take care of his dad after a stroke. Potstown is the last place he wants to be after he abandoned the entire town and everyone he loved. To try and redeem himself, he takes the job coaching hockey at school. Can he be forgiven and mane amends? This is a story about healing, love, and redemption.
Pre-read:
Having had a run of mediocre reads,I chose this one because her other books were great. Fingers crossed 🤞
I chose this book because I've read Tracy Lange's other two books and thoroughly enjoyed them. She always portrays typical families that have problems and are never perfect. To me, that's important because I have never met a perfect family, and often books portray the larger than life perfect families. Her characters are always well rounded and have depth.
Kyle and Casey were high-school sweethearts who were married for 16 years until they're torn apart by a tragedy. Kyle leaves town until he's called back to take care of his dad after a stroke. Potstown is the last place he wants to be after he abandoned the entire town and everyone he loved. To try and redeem himself, he takes the job coaching hockey at school. Can he be forgiven and mane amends? This is a story about healing, love, and redemption.
Pre-read:
Having had a run of mediocre reads,I chose this one because her other books were great. Fingers crossed 🤞
June 7, 2025
Another Tracey Lange book done and done beautifully 🤍💛🖤 She really knows how to capture the human emotion over real life traumas that happen to a lot of families. I cried, felt sad, and happy at the same time.
Can’t wait for her next family novel!
Can’t wait for her next family novel!
January 7, 2025
the setup…
Kyle McCray is back in town. He left Potsdam over two years ago and has returned because his father just had a stroke and needs help. Kyle is reluctant to run into the people he left behind, in particular his ex-wife Casey. They were married for sixteen years and he still loves her. But reactions of others are mixed, some unexpectedly really happy to see him and others a little frosty, including Casey. What indeed happened to tear the McCrays apart?
the heart of the story…
It’s unclear initially why Kyle and Casey broke up or why he felt the need to leave town. She’s a middle school teacher and he’s an auto mechanic who owned his own operation there in Potsdam. The story unfolds in multiple timelines from the onset of their relationship through present day. The pacing was wonderful as the insights were well timed as I slowly began to understand the fractures. It was heartbreaking at times, absolutely lovely at others. But it was their reconnection over middle school hockey that brought the serious heart vibes when Kyle came to the rescue of the hapless team (he was a high school hockey star).
the narration…
Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMerrit delivered subtle but powerful performances, not getting in front of the eloquence of the words or over dramatizing. It was pretty special.
the bottom line…
This felt like an anatomy of a breakdown of a relationship when tragedy strikes and everything changes. It’s not any one person’s fault, just grief and trauma that create disconnections. There was nothing easy about Kyle’s and Casey’s reunion and I was rooting hard for them. But it was those middle schoolers that stole my heart, (I even enjoyed the hockey!) their innocence providing a balm. Such a painful but lovely story, told with so much authenticity.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Kyle McCray is back in town. He left Potsdam over two years ago and has returned because his father just had a stroke and needs help. Kyle is reluctant to run into the people he left behind, in particular his ex-wife Casey. They were married for sixteen years and he still loves her. But reactions of others are mixed, some unexpectedly really happy to see him and others a little frosty, including Casey. What indeed happened to tear the McCrays apart?
the heart of the story…
It’s unclear initially why Kyle and Casey broke up or why he felt the need to leave town. She’s a middle school teacher and he’s an auto mechanic who owned his own operation there in Potsdam. The story unfolds in multiple timelines from the onset of their relationship through present day. The pacing was wonderful as the insights were well timed as I slowly began to understand the fractures. It was heartbreaking at times, absolutely lovely at others. But it was their reconnection over middle school hockey that brought the serious heart vibes when Kyle came to the rescue of the hapless team (he was a high school hockey star).
the narration…
Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMerrit delivered subtle but powerful performances, not getting in front of the eloquence of the words or over dramatizing. It was pretty special.
the bottom line…
This felt like an anatomy of a breakdown of a relationship when tragedy strikes and everything changes. It’s not any one person’s fault, just grief and trauma that create disconnections. There was nothing easy about Kyle’s and Casey’s reunion and I was rooting hard for them. But it was those middle schoolers that stole my heart, (I even enjoyed the hockey!) their innocence providing a balm. Such a painful but lovely story, told with so much authenticity.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
January 28, 2025
Without a doubt, this book will be on my favorite reads of 2025 and it's only the first week of January.
This is the third book i've read by Tracey and it's easily my favorite (although I think all of her books are solid reads). What Happened to the McCrays is a story about love and loss....grief and second chances. Tracey really knows how to write about PEOPLE and writes characters who feel grounded in reality and could live right around the corner from you. This is a heavy book but it's done in such a way that just gave me the full spectrum of emotions from sorrow to hope to love.
Kyle and Casey..the two main characters are dealing with tremendous loss but now are trying to come to terms with their second chance. This story has a small town feel, with some youth hockey league dynamics that are wholesome, and really lovely. This story also had fantastic secondary characters which is also what I look for in a standout story.
I think this book is best gone into blind. The story is such a great mix of family dynamics...a mix of back of forth POV's and timelines and it all flows very well and made me emotional on multiple occasions.
Tears were shed, the ending felt just right and I wanted to hug this book after I finished it. READ IT.
*this is a book that has some heavier triggers, so please be aware of that going into it. I'm always available for questions, but leaving the triggers here would definitely spoil the plot for those who want to go in blind.
This is the third book i've read by Tracey and it's easily my favorite (although I think all of her books are solid reads). What Happened to the McCrays is a story about love and loss....grief and second chances. Tracey really knows how to write about PEOPLE and writes characters who feel grounded in reality and could live right around the corner from you. This is a heavy book but it's done in such a way that just gave me the full spectrum of emotions from sorrow to hope to love.
Kyle and Casey..the two main characters are dealing with tremendous loss but now are trying to come to terms with their second chance. This story has a small town feel, with some youth hockey league dynamics that are wholesome, and really lovely. This story also had fantastic secondary characters which is also what I look for in a standout story.
I think this book is best gone into blind. The story is such a great mix of family dynamics...a mix of back of forth POV's and timelines and it all flows very well and made me emotional on multiple occasions.
Tears were shed, the ending felt just right and I wanted to hug this book after I finished it. READ IT.
*this is a book that has some heavier triggers, so please be aware of that going into it. I'm always available for questions, but leaving the triggers here would definitely spoil the plot for those who want to go in blind.
February 26, 2025
Sometimes you want vanilla cake and this was vanilla.
Sometimes you need an easy read where you know the ending before you finish the first chapter. This was this book.
I am a big fan of Tracey Lange’s and I have given all of her books a 4 star rating. They are comforting and provide an easy read and this book was no exception.
You know what you are getting.
There was a quick reference to The Brennan’s,(her previous work) which I found interesting. Other than that, I did struggle a bit with some parts. The perfect sentences and the perfect ending made it seem a little too sweet. Back to the vanilla comment…..
3.5 stars. ⭐️
Sometimes you need an easy read where you know the ending before you finish the first chapter. This was this book.
I am a big fan of Tracey Lange’s and I have given all of her books a 4 star rating. They are comforting and provide an easy read and this book was no exception.
You know what you are getting.
There was a quick reference to The Brennan’s,(her previous work) which I found interesting. Other than that, I did struggle a bit with some parts. The perfect sentences and the perfect ending made it seem a little too sweet. Back to the vanilla comment…..
3.5 stars. ⭐️
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