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.

I really liked this book. It’s the second one of the authors of read and I’m definitely going back and reading the one i missed. Even though this was a bit more of a romance than I care for it was done in well. I liked the family drama that was there. I predicted the ending a quarter of the way through, but that’s okay. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest opinion.4⭐️

I absolutely loved Tracy Lange’s first two books but this one did not resonate with me in the same way. It was difficult to get in to and very scattered.

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.

This book was genuinely brilliant. Tracey Lange's characters are so beautifully and masterfully crafted, that each of her stories is genuinely immersive. I love the dual timeline and the dual perspectives, I felt that it deepened the plot significantly and made me truly invested in Casey & Kyle; individually and their relationship. This is a beautiful story about family, grief, trying again, and obviously, hockey.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to netgalley. Tracey Lange has done it again, a moving story about a family. Here we follow Kyle who is returning to his small town after receiving a call about his father. When he returns, he realizes all he left behind including his ex-wife Casey. I liked the dual timeline of showing Kyle and Casey’s history and what made them eventually break up through the shared experiences. Learning about what happened in their relationship was sad but eventually helps them find themselves.

Who could not root for Casey and Kyle in this book? It has some hard subject matters to deal with but it’s beautifully written and a page turner until the end. One of my favorites so far for 2025. Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great book written by Tracey Lange. I have read all of her books love them all. She is a master at story telling. I like the dual timeline: Then and Now. She is great at writing stories about broken people. She slowly reveals what broken the characters. Her novels have me on the edge of my seat, and I can't put them down. I keep reading to find out what happened and how the story is going to end. When I finish reading her books, I feel like I have new friends. Her characters are fully developed and are likeable. I love Lange's writing style.

Also, in What Happened to the McCrays, she alludes to characters her first novel. Danny McCray knows the Brennans, characters in We Are the Brennans. I highly recommend this and all of her novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for a chance to review this book.

Tracey Lange's new novel is a fictional family drama set in the real small, college town of Potsdam in upstate New York, where hockey is revered as are small town values.

You have timelines from 20 years ago, 16 years ago, two and a half years ago, and present day. The story is presented to us through a few different characters' POVs.

The story begins as main character Kyle is returning home after a two and a half year absence. He has been alerted that his Dad has suffered a stroke and will need his help. Kyle doesn't feel welcomed back to his hometown after leaving not only abruptly but also mysteriously, two and a half years ago.

Kyle's ex-wife, Casey, is still a very much beloved part of the close-knit, hockey loving community, serving as an adored middle school teacher and an esteemed hockey manager/overseer extraordinaire.

Slowly, the mystery of Kyle's abrupt departure unravels and as readers, we are entrusted with puzzle pieces containing grief, love, a failed marriage, misunderstanding, and self-inflicted blame.

If you enjoy peering into a family saga as they try to solve and reconcile past traumas, look for What Happened to the McCrays. It hit shelves January 14,. Thank you, NetGalley and Celadon Books, for this view into this family's saga.

What Happened to the McCrays is a beautifully written story about life, family, and mostly about grief - how it can tear us apart, but also bring it back together; about how grief never goes away, but we can learn to live with it.

Poignant but full of hope, this book tells a story of second chances and finding your way home. The characters are well defined in their brokenness, making it feel very relatable.

TW: death, self harm

**Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**