When it comes to family dramas, author Tracey Lange does not disappoint! "What Happened To The McCrays" is no different.

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.

Casey is still immersed in everything he is connected to there. Profound losses of those who leave and those who are left behind are explained with grace and sensitivity. The questions of what could have been, what is, and how to move forward are addressed in the story. Sadness and just the right dose of humor, made this an overwhelming 5 star read for me.

I can’t recommend this book enough. One of the best books that I’ve read. I was fully invested in this family journey. I was rooting for Casey and Kyle throughout the story hoping they can work out their differences. The town and its characters that Lange created were so relatable. Highly recommend if you enjoy Family Sagas.

Many thanks to Net Galley for this ARC.

This is a family drama that really connects with you. You feel like you are part of this family right from the beginning. The characters are very realistic and easy to connect with. You can feel the love between them as well as the pain they are in. This story has it all when it comes to the emotions it makes you feel. This could easily be my family as well as anyone's family. Life comes at you hard sometimes and everyone handles it differently and that is what you see here. So grateful for the opportunity to read this book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this opportunity.

3.5 ⭐️
The moment I read The Connellys of County Down, I went to Tracey Lange’s Goodreads page and immediately added What Happened to the McCrays? There was no cover, no synopsis, no release date, just the name of a new book I knew I already wanted to read.

There has been a slew of family drama books in literary fiction for some years but Lange is still one of the best to do it. She captures the nuances of family life, grief, pain, while also encapsulating the joy and community that is necessary to tell a story like this. And that is why she’s the best. It’s not a mirage of deep seated grief without the dual perspective that needs to accompany it, hope.

Just like One Tree Hill isn’t about basketball, and Ted Lasso isn’t about football, What Happened to the McCrays isn’t a book about hockey so please don’t let this fool you into not reading it. It’s an overarching plot line that lends to the true story between Casey and Kyle and the community bound to them. Through the endless, unconditional love thrust upon them they are able to grow separately and together.

With that being said, I wasn’t completely enamored with these characters as I was with County Down but I wasn’t disappointed either. It could be the time I’m reading it, the specific characters that I just didn’t connect with as deeply but it also didn’t take away from this beautifully written story. I will always recommend Lange to anyone who wants a story about people because that’s what she does best.

I adored Tracey Lange's latest book, What Happened to the McCrays, and I will, no doubt, recommend it to everyone I know. The story is exquisite and the characters are beautifully written and inspiring. I was drawn to the love story, the back story and the whole story and spent my days wondering what the characters would be up to next. Ms. Lange has a flawless way of bringing her fictional creations to life and immersing the reader into their lives. I hope the McCrays will live on with a possible sequel, but until then, I hope as many people as possible will meet them and enjoy their story as much as I did.

This story follows Kyle and Casey in third person. Kyle returns home after a period of absence to help his father after a medical crisis. He left under ambiguous circumstances two and half years ago seemingly abandoning his family, friends, and community. Casey is Kyle’s ex-wife, a beloved teacher in town and caretaker of the middle school hockey team currently in need of a coach. Despite her early academic aspirations, Casey stayed in Potsdam to be there for her wheelchair bound brother, Wyatt. I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading this one. It’s expertly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt who did a great job giving the Casey and Kyle characters a voice.

I know that my opinion on this one will be unpopular. This genre is usually one that I avoid since it doesn’t appeal to me. However, I absolutely adored The Connellys of County Down and We Are the Brennans. Their boisterous large complicated Irish families with business issues and complex family dynamics really appealed to me. This is not that. This story was ultimately about a divorced couple that just didn’t communicate with each other well enough to overcome a family tragedy and a few of the people around them that suffered the consequences as a result.

I think this story will resonate with a lot of people, especially parents, but it just wasn’t for me. There is a mention of a connection with the Brennans at one point. Most of this story is about Casey and Kyle, how they came to be in this position, the blame they put on themselves, and the effects that it had on other members of their family, Danny and Wyatt. I was especially annoyed with Casey for most of the book for her choices and letting Kyle take the blame for a lot of things that weren’t necessarily on him. The feeling that Kyle deserved better really affected my opinions on this one. Please make sure if you are sensitive to check the trigger warnings on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celadon Books. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Do not start reading this book expecting a light, happy read. It is sad, and it hits hard, but in the end, it is a story about hope. The way everything was revealed was beautiful, and respectful.

Having thoroughly enjoyed previous books by this author, I was excited to receive an ARC. A beautiful, heart-breaking story about family and relatable characters.

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is another beautifully written story!
Lang is a wonderful storyteller with the gift of creating relatable, memorable characters.
This is an absorbing and engaging read,
I swear with each book Lange’s writing gets better and better if that is even possible!

Thanks for the review copy. I also bought a physical copy for my personal library. Such a great book but some parts may be triggering for others.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Even though I rated her previous books 4 and 5 stars, I can safely say this is her best one yet. My gosh, the emotional upheaval. It made me cry, and that doesn't happen often. Yet it's so hopeful! And often very funny. The hockey stick tape scene alone - absolutely hilarious - I'll be thinking about that one for a long time. Heck, I'll be thinking about this whole book for a long time. Even if you guess how the tragedy is going to happen, it really packs a wallop when you get there. All of the side characters are fantastic, especially the middle school students. And Wyatt! Can Wyatt get his own book please? Put this on your TBR list.

Woah. Let me find my heart because at 78% of this book I lost it.
It has been a long while since I read a book that broke me. That I was so invested in the story that all I could do was hope for the best. The family drama, the love, the lost, the possibility of second choices. I fell in love with Kyle and Cassie, and my heart broke for them both.
I could not imagine going through what they went through.
There is so much more I want to say but won't because I wouldn't want to spoil this story for anyone. So grab your tissues, and Read this Book!
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I knew from the epigraph of this book that I was going to like it. Wow! What a powerful story! I love these characters so much. I was along for the ride the whole rooting for them. It is a powerful story of grief, love and forgiveness. This will be a top book of the year for me.

Main Characters:
-- Kyle McCray – 42-year-old auto mechanic, lives in Spokane, originally from upstate New York, his mother left his father when Kyle was 12, Casey was his high school sweetheart and they were married for 16 years, left Potsdam and divorced two-and-a-half years ago
-- Casey McCray – 40-year-old middle school teacher in Potsdam, manages the hockey team, still lives in her childhood home that she had shared with Kyle when they were married, also still shares the home with her brother, their father died in a car accident when they were young, and their mother died just before Casey was set to start college
-- Wyatt Higgins – Casey’s younger brother, paraplegic in a wheelchair since the car accident that killed his father, does woodworking in a shop that he also uses as a separate residence attached by a ramp to his and Casey’s childhood home
-- Danny McCray – Kyle’s father, retired firefighter who still trains new recruits, suffered a stroke and needs therapy to get his full speech and mobility back

Trigger warning: grief, attempted suicide

I will start by saying that I am solidly in the minority on this book as many of the reviews I have seen are 5 stars. This book is a very slow burn and not in a good way as far as I’m concerned.

Told in dual timelines of Now and Then, the story relays the details of Kyle’s return home to help his father through his rehab after a stroke as well as giving us flashbacks to his relationship with Casey. It’s an amazing love story, one that developed over time. Kyle and his dad help watch over Wyatt when Casey and her mom have to be away, just in case he needs help maneuvering his wheelchair. The relationship with Kyle and Wyatt actually developed before the relationship with Casey. When Kyle helps Casey after an upsetting date one evening, their love story really begins.

We are presented with Kyle early on as someone kind and protective but also with a bit of a temper when it comes to protecting people. We discover that Kyle moved in with Casey and Wyatt after their mother died, and he and Casey married several years later. From everything we see, Kyle and Casey had an amazing relationship, full of love, understanding one another and what each of them needs from the other.

But when the story opens, Kyle is leaving Spokane to drive home to Potsdam to help his dad. He is worried about seeing Casey. He is worried about whether he will be accepted by the people in his small town because of the way he left. Even his relationship with his dad seems to be strained. So it really does beg the question: What happened to the McCrays?

The author offers hints along the way about some sort of tragedy that apparently ripped Kyle and Casey apart. By the time the reveal comes, we know what the tragedy is even though we don’t find out the details until quite a bit later. It is said that a tragedy will either bring a couple closer together or rip them apart, so Kyle and Casey’s split is understandable and believable. But I feel like this could have been executed so much better.

For example, there is a running theme of Casey forgetting her keys, her wallet, her phone. I assumed that would have something to do with what happened, but apparently it’s just a cute character flaw? Honestly, the number of times it’s mentioned makes Casey look like a flake. It does make for one cute moment at the very end of the book, but it wasn’t worth the buildup.

Hockey plays a huge part as a theme in the story. Kyle was a star hockey player in high school, Casey manages the middle school team now, Kyle steps in to coach the team. It’s a lot of hockey…which is fine. But what became increasingly annoying was the constant mentions or variations of Gretzky’s quote “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It’s a fantastic quote, a great motivator, so one mention (maybe two) so you can lead into the variation of the quote. But it was over and over and over. Even just Gretzky’s name was mentioned 13 times in the book.

The overarching mood is also really depressing. There are sweet moments, little smiles, what looks to be progress. By the end of the book, though, which has a decent if predictable happy ending, it was so depressing that I can’t believe they truly got to the happy.

***SPOILERS*** SPOILERS***SPOILERS***

One of the things I really don’t like is the way that Casey allowed Kyle to be villainized. The tragedy they faced was the loss of their son Charlie in a horrible accident. Casey blames herself because she was inside the house reading an e-mail when Charlie fell off a lift while he waited for her to come outside. Kyle blames himself because he took Charlie up on the lift before, and he thinks Casey blames him as well. Casey never tells Kyle that it wasn’t his fault! For four years, he believes that Casey blames him!

About a year-and-a-half after Charlie died, Kyle and Casey planned a trip to get away. The morning they were supposed to leave, Casey basically tells Kyle he should go by himself. What he believed she was telling him, and what it seemed like she really was telling him, was that he should leave. She couldn’t be around him anymore. So he left. And she didn’t tell anyone that she basically told him to go. She let Wyatt hate Kyle because of the way he left. She let Kyle’s relationship with his dad become strained because of the way he left. And even though Kyle continued to stay in touch, eventually Casey was the one who stopped responding and then sent divorce papers. But she let people believe that Kyle left by choice.

Grief impacts everyone differently. I know that from personal experience. But the way she let Kyle become the villain was not ok. The further I read, the more selfish she seemed. I really didn’t like her at the end of the book, so by the time I got to the happy ending, I felt like she didn’t really deserve it.

After being gone for more than two years, Kyle McCray is headed home to small-town Potsdam, New York after his father has a stroke. And Kyle is not expecting a warm welcome from his hometown after he abruptly left Casey, his wife of sixteen years, his employees, his father, and the town itself. Once he's home Kyle realizes he is going to be there longer than expected to help his father with his rehabilitation and the memories from his life in Potsdam resurface and Kyle is forced to face his decisions and his past.

I loved this book. The dual POV between Kyle and Casey, combined with the flashbacks kept me turning the pages. Tracey Lange's ability to portray family dynamics with such complexity and authenticity is awe-inspiring. The tension between the characters together with the underlying thread of hope is such a compelling combination. The trial and tribulations associated with marriage and loss and community came together beautifully in this heart-wrenching story. I found myself pulling for both Kyle and Casey, sometimes individually and sometimes as a couple. I was flying through this book, ignoring all real-life responsibilities, while also not wanting it to end. I also liked the quick nod to We are the Brennans, which was another five-star read for me. I loved this book and am suffering a serious book hangover now that it's over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the way the "then" and "now" portions of the book went back and forth to answer the question that the title possesses. As a middle school teacher and mom of two hockey-playing boys, it was awesome to see those pieces in the story. You will be rooting for the characters in this book just like I was.
Note - There is swearing in this book. I didn't feel it was excessive and it fit the situations in the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

What Happened to the McCrays? 🏠

Mini Review ⬇️

ARC - Pub Date Jan 14

This book really surprised me, I loved it and didn’t want it to end ♥️ It is also giving old-school Nicholas Sparks vibes IMO, which I really enjoyed 😊

Whatever you are thinking this story is about I can guarantee you it’s more. Your heart breaks for every character in this book and you are just left hoping for a new beginning and healing for this family ❤️‍🩹

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE McCRAYS?
by TRACEY LANGE

This is appoint story about the resilience of family, the importance of community and the magic of middle school hockey .

This novel takes an intimate look at both sides of the failed marriage, and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it .

These characters are so believable as the story deals with heartbreak and loss. It is very sad in parts.

I love her writing, and this is the second book by this author I have read .

She will probably be an autobuy author for me in the future .

This was published January 13, 2025, so it is available now .

Wow. What an incredible story Tracey Lange has written about the power of grief and community. This is a must read. I laughed and cried my way through this book. I definitely couldn’t read it in one sitting as I needed to take time to let the emotions really sink in. It was quite a journey reading this book. The characters were so real and full of raw emotion, believable enough that you could walk into the book yourself. Finishing this book today, I reflected on how thankful I am for my own support network and community.

The healing process through grief looks different for everyone and this book really delved into how it can look for these great characters. Some people need their community to support them, but also to support their community as a way to cope. Some people retreat while others throw themselves into staying as busy as possible. I loved the journeys each character took to heal and come out on the other side, recognizing it’s a process. Tracey Lange is masterful at her character development in this way.

Tracey Lange delivers another emotionally gripping tale with What Happened to the McCrays, a sweeping story of forgiveness, family bonds, and the hidden scars of the past. Known for her knack for richly drawn characters and small-town dynamics, Lange once again immerses readers in a world where the setting itself feels alive—both comforting and unforgiving.

Set in a tight-knit community where secrets are currency, the novel follows the McCray family as they grapple with a tragedy that shattered their lives decades earlier. When an unexpected event brings old wounds to the surface, the family must confront the ghosts of their past and decide whether they can rebuild what was lost.

Lange’s ability to craft complex characters shines in this poignant narrative. Each member of the McCray family is vividly drawn, their struggles raw and relatable. The small-town setting becomes a character of its own, amplifying the tension with its unyielding judgment while offering moments of solace and redemption.

This is a story about the weight of family legacies, the long road to forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit. Fans of The Connellys of County Down will find much to love here, as Lange continues to prove her mastery of heartfelt, nuanced storytelling. What Happened to the McCrays will leave readers both heartbroken and hopeful—a testament to the power of healing and second chances.

I think this may be Tracey’s best story yet. Emotional and intense, it follows her prior novels of intense family dramas. The grief in this one was palpable as we learn Kyle & Casey’s story.. what brought them together and tore them apart. I enjoyed the dual POV, as well as “then” and “now”. I loved Wyatt, the loyalty of their dog, and the additional characters (Dad, Mateo, to name a few). I loved the meaning of Kyle’s tattoos, and the focus on mental health and navigating the bad times just as much as good. Will’s role in this book was heartwarming and such a special touch.

Side note, Coach reminded me so much of Whitey from One Tree Hill.. just with hockey instead of basketball.

Can’t wait for the next one by this author.