I have become a huge Tracey Lange fan. She has the ability to create characters that I immediately am drawn to. They’re just that real.
In this story, Kyle McCray has left his hometown of Potsdam, leaving behind his father and ex-wife. Then, he gets a call that his father has suffered a stroke and he needs to return home. Given how he left everyone in the lurch, he knows it’s not going to be an easy homecoming. The reader is only slowly told the facts on why he left. I loved that Lange doesn’t try to create a good guy/bad guy situation. Everyone has their reasons and they’re all understandable. It’s a strong family drama that also incorporates the whole small town vibe, with folks needing to rely on each other. As Lange says in her Acknowledgement, “One of the themes of this book is the importance and power of community.”
It deals with grief, and the different ways people respond to it. It also covers guilt and how we hold ourselves to impossible standards. The ending got a little sappy but overall it worked.
I was lucky to get a whole box of this book from Celadon Books as a book club giveaway. We’ll be discussing this on Monday and I can’t wait.

Lange delivers another outstanding family drama that is poignant, heartbreaking, and utterly compelling.

Kyle and Casey are divorced, and Kyle has moved across the country. However, when his father suffers a stroke, he returns to the small town he grew up in, where he must confront his ex-wife. As the layers unfold, we discover the beginnings of their love story and marriage and what caused its end. Lange is a masterful storyteller. This is beautifully written and layered. I rooted hard for them to reconnect.

Lange draws you in with relatable characters, situations, and a mix of heartache and hope. The characters, particularly MCs Kyle and Casey, are richly developed. But I also enjoyed the secondary characters, as they all face their own struggles. The community plays a significant role in the character's lives, and this one was tight-knit and lovely. I really came to care for this cast and was moved to tears more than once.

The audiobook is immersive and very well done, with excellent dual narration. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt embody their respective characters beautifully. The story has many complex and raw emotions that Lange writes compassionately while the narrators breathe life into them and add nuance. I could not stop listening and thought about this book for days after I finished. This is one of my top reads of the year!

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the gifted review copies!

yle McCray begrudgingly returned to his hometown to care for his father. In doing so, he was forced to face everyone he left behind upon his quick exit. Kyle was especially nervous to see his ex-wife, Casey, as he knew complicated emotions had wreaked havoc on their relationship. When the hockey team’s coach quit, Kyle was given the perfect opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.

I dove right into this story as I was excited for a new Tracey Lange release! Her writing style is familiar, comforting, and I loved the subtle tie-in to We are the Brennans. Lange’s characters again felt realistic and were faced with life’s common challenges and heartaches. Overall, this was a good listen and I felt for the main characters and their struggles. Had there been a bit more character development with Charlie’s character, I would have felt even more connected to the characters and their story.

Thank you to Celadon Books for a gifted ALC of this title.

What Happened to the McCrays is a contemporary novel about a man who returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father and confronts the people he left behind, including his former wife.

Kyle McCray left his hometown in New York over two years ago to start over in Washington, but he’s unexpectedly called home to help his father recover from a stroke. His extended stay means he’ll have to face his failed marriage to his high school sweetheart and everyone else he left behind. His ex-wife, Casey, has tried to move on after a devastating loss and Kyle’s departure, but the local middle school hockey team desperately needs a coach, and Kyle is their best option.

Tracey Lange does a terrific job of writing about complicated families and couples. There is a lot of loss in this book, which can be difficult to read at times, but it’s a beautiful story about moving on after grief and finding your way back to each other.

Kyle McCray goes to his New York State hometown when his father suffers a stroke. He plans to lay low since he left town years ago, abandoning his father, friends, employees, and wife.

If you loved the Brennan’s, you’ll definitely enjoy this one as well. Both are quiet stories about families, with a lot of hidden depth that takes time to get to. Personally this was on the slower side for me, so it wasn’t my favorite. I felt the same about the Brennan’s. I know many people enjoyed both of these so I am definitely the odd one out.

“Small towns don’t forgive easily. Even when they do, they never forget.”

What Happened to the McCray’s comes out 1/14.

This book took a long time to get where it was going and I nearly put it down several times, but it was worth trudging through. It’s about the various aspects of grief and the various ways we choose to help ourselves through.

I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and hope that those people needing this eye opener will read it.

Tracey Lange has this amazing way of connecting the reader to her characters. Not only did I feel a part of their lives, I felt myself rooting for all the characters in the situation. She takes an interesting family situation and pulls you in. I was on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what had happened to the McCrays in the past to lead them to the current situation that they are in. Highly recommend!

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.

Title: What Happened to the McCrays?
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: January 14, 2025

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Celadon Books and Macmillan audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Messy • Poignant • Sincere

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Tracey Lange is an auto-read author for me, so it will come as no surprise What Happened to the McCrays? was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. I've loved her two previous novels, so I certainly had high hopes for this one as well, and it did not disappoint!

This story felt so real - the characters and their relationships were complex and messy, the small town community was entirely plausible, and the emotions made everything relatable. It is a love story, yet it is also so much more. A story of guilt and redemption. A story of marriage and hockey. A story of small towns and found family. A story of grief and hope. I felt Casey and Kyle's pain so intensely, and eventually their hope too. The secondary characters accompany them beautifully in a solid display of community and support. Everyone had their place, even the dog, Star.

Alternating between Kyle and Casey's perspectives, the novel is told through a present day timeline as well as flashbacks to the past. It's this structure which builds an air of mystery and slowly reveals the pain and trauma one layer at a time.

The dual narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt brought the entire story to life and made these characters unforgettable. It was a truly immersive experience with so much added emotion.

What Happened to the McCrays? was everything I was hoping it would be! Tracey Lange has delivered yet another phenomenal family drama filled with raw emotion and real characters. It certainly required the tissues. This book was the perfect way to kick of my reading in 2025 and an early contender to appear on my 2025 favourites list. I adore her writing style and will continue to pick up everything she writes!

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• this author's previous books
• Beartown
• themes of grief

⚠️ CW: medical trauma, medical content, suicide attempt, self-harm, mental illness, depression, blood, injury/injury detail, death, death of parent, child death, partner death, grief, infertility, cursing, bullying, abandonment, pregnancy, divorce, accident, car accident,

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Thank you for being different."

"But he didn't play for the future, he played for how alive it made him feel in the moment."

"'Sometimes you've taken all the shots you can', he said. 'And then it's time to let someone else carry the puck for awhile.'"

"Pain and happiness weren't mutually exclusive, they could coexist in the same moment, in the same memory."

I read and loved Tracey’s previous two books, and was so excited to read an early copy of WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS?

I can’t stop thinking about this book that I finished it two weeks ago. I went into this one knowing little about it. The way the story unfolds is perfection and kept me hooked. I was left heart broken and in tears at times and thought the emotional surprises that kept coming really made the story one that is not easily forgotten. The ending was the absolute best.

I loved everything from the characters, relationships, the middle school hockey team, to the small town and how they supported each other.

5 stars and also jumped at the chance to order it from BOTM

When Kyle McCray's father has a stroke, he returns to Potsdam, NY after a 2 1/2 year absence. His return opens every wound he knew it would, but he nonetheless finds it difficult to leave. The middle school ice hockey team needs him as a coach, his former brother-in-law needs his counsel, and his father needs a chauffeur. The one person who doesn't seem to need him is the one he needs most--his ex-wife, Casey.

Tracey Lange has an incredible knack for creating flawed families the reader cares deeply about. As the reader pulls away the layers of onion to reveal what indeed did happen to the McCrays, their heart will break just as Kyle's and Casey's did. Incredibly sad but also hopeful, this novel will draw you in. And once again, Lange evokes a working-class town. #WhatHappenedtotheMcCrays #NetGalley

This book was so much more than I was ready for. It had the family drama, the mystery, found family, and second chances. It kept me guessing throughout the beginning which really made me want to binge read. I finished this in 48 hours and don’t regret it. It was emotional and raw. The grief shown by both Casey and Kyle was palpable even though they both showed it differently. The story line of Kyle becoming coach and forced to work with Casey was a great subplot because it allowed for some humor to be injected into a pretty heavy story. Definitely a solid 4.5 stars from me and I will be recommending to my friends.

What Happened to the McCray's by Tracey Lange, wow, what an emotional journey!

The character development in this book is excellent. Lange really knows how to create complex, relatable characters that you root for, even when their lives are falling apart. The way she weaves their backstories and motivations is incredible, and you can't help but get attached to them. As the plot unravels, you are constantly wondering what exactly did happened to the McCray family. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Lange’s writing just keeps getting better and better. Her ability to capture the struggles of broken people, the complexities of family dynamics, and the rawness of human emotions is unmatched. She is truly a master of writing about life's messiness.
At its core, this book is about life’s complications and how we learn to deal with them. It’s about forgiveness—of others and ourselves—and about never giving up on the people we care about. A beautiful reminder of hope.

As many of you know, I’m a sucker for books that leave subtle references to past book and Lange does this once again in this book. Lange also hits on one of my other loves, books that I can travel with! Potsdam, NY isn’t far from me, maybe it’s time for a road trip! Plus a booksgram meet up with some upstate New Yorkers!

Would I recommend this book? Yes! If you enjoy family drama, excellent character development, or a story about real life, this is for you. You’ll find yourself drawn into the lives of the McCray family and their journey of healing and self-discovery.

I was captivated from the first chapter.
The characters, family dynamics, small town, and relationships all felt so real. As did the depictions of grief, love, guilt, community, loss, joy, pain, resilience, and forgiveness.
The story is told with the perfect blend of familiarity mixed with the unknown - details and events are slowly doled to out through hints and flashback scenes - giving a low level of suspense that had me desperately wanting answers, rooting for these characters, and unable to put the book down.

When Kyle is forced to return to the small town he abandoned several years ago, he is faced with his own misdeeds as well as the misunderstandings he left in his wake. In true fashion for this author, it is quite a bumpy road for the characters and the ending isn’t quite a perfect world. But this one felt a bit less fraught than her previous books and things seemed to come together a bit easier for all involved. Maybe something a little less turbulent is what we all need right now because Ms. Lange remains a must read author for me.

I loved this novel so much. It’s about family, love, grief, community, resilience, and hope. Beautifully written, I forgot where I was while I read this novel, as I was transported inside the pages of this emotional story.

This is my favorite novel by this auth0r and it is beautiful, taking the reader on a journey of dealing with the challenges of life, the disappointments, the heartbreak, as well as the good times. I loved the theme of community and belonging and how these can provide hope and much needed strength. The small-town setting and the middle school hockey team reminded me of Beartown by Fredrick Bachman but this novel has its own wonderful unique voice.

Highly recommend this haunting, heartfelt novel.

My thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Dear What Happened to the McCrays,
I just love Tracy Lange's writing. She has a beautiful knack for finding the heart in each of her characters, even after impossible circumstances. The slow and careful way that your story was unraveled had me just needing to know more about what happened between Kyle and Casey. My heart broke over and over for the pain and heartbreak that they both went through. I couldn't imagine trying to survive all of the loss that all of the McCray's have gone through. Everything in their marriage felt inevitable but it didn't make a second of it less sad. I loved you, because you made me feel all the things.

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.

5 stars, 4 cries, 0 notes ✨ I’m a fan of Tracey Lange - definitely enjoyed the Brennans and the Connellys - but the McCrays’ story is in its own league.

Nobody writes fierce, stubborn love quite like Tracey Lange. Each relationship in the McCrays’ small hometown is unique and heartbreaking, imperfect and often estranged, from spouses to siblings to parents and children to neighbors.

Lots of heavy content and themes to unpack in this one, but at its core, it’s a story of a family and a town fighting through heartbreak together and picking each other back up again and again. Can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This was one of my most anticipated books and I loved it.

Casey & Kyle's story was filled with weight + warmth + emotion + vulnerability.

TRACEY LANGE is an expert at writing family dramas, this time taking us to Potsdam, NY, inside a close community, a failed marriage and middle school hockey team.

Kyle McCray makes the reluctant return to the home he left without even a goodbye over two years ago. HIs father just suffered a debilitating stroke and needs his help. And while Kyle is well aware that he won’t receive a warm welcome, the person he’s most nervous to see is Casey, his wife of sixteen years.

Kyle plans to lie low, help his father and get back out of town as soon as possible. But things don’t go according to plan. And Kyle quickly learns he can’t avoid his past when he’s just walked right back into it.

This is so much emotional weightiness and gravity to this story, which is told in dual perspectives and dual timelines. We see the evolution of Kyle and Casey’s relationship, starting in high school through the moment Kyle leaves. The authenticity of their relationship permeates the pages and their love story managed to break my heart and put it back together.

There is an outstanding cast of supporting characters who help shape this story and while there is weight to the story, there are also moments of levity and tenderness.

It’s an engrossing story. You might want to have the tissue box handy. I’ve been a fan of LANGE since I read her debut WE ARE THE BRENNAS (which I will never stop recommending). PS - Nice to *see* you Mickey Brennan.