I loved this book so much. Emotional, heartbreaking, yet beautiful. I lost track of the amount of times I had to reach for the tissues. Tracey Lange is such a good storyteller, and has a knack for capturing big emotions in her family dramas. The past and present timelines, and dual POVs were very well done. The characters, relationships, the ending - I loved it all and can't recommend enough.

This novel is told from the perspective of two characters, Kyle and Casey, both in the present day and flashbacks. The book opens with Kyle getting a call that his father has had a stroke, and somewhat reluctantly returning to his hometown in upstate New York that he abruptly fled several years before. Casey, meanwhile, has never left their hometown and is not too thrilled to hear Kyle is back. And that’s all the book tells you to start so that’s all I’m going to tell you too, as part of the beauty of the book is through both present and past storylines, slowly learning what the answer is to the title question.

In some books, withholding information from the reader feels manipulative, but not in this one. Rather, each slowly unfolding revelation of what happened is layered so beautifully upon one another that it just increases the emotional impact of this often sad book, multiple times causing me to gasp or cry. Tracey Lange really is a master of the family drama novel - don’t ask me to pick a favorite of her books, because I really don’t know if I can! And since o always say it take three books before I can declare an author not just an author I love but a favorite author, with this third excellent book, Tracey is firmly on mg list!

4.5 stars

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

I became a fan of Tracey Lange's novels when I read "We Are The Brennans", her first book. What Happened to the McCrays? is a captivating, riveting family drama dealing with loss, forgiveness and relationships. The story is told in two timelines- Then and Now. The flow between the timelines is flawless.
I loved this tearjerker book revolving around flawed characters doing their best to accept and move forward after a tragedy. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I adore Tracey Lange’s books. Like superfan mode! ⁣
Tracey Lange’s new book What Happened to the McCrays is a touching story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey. Full of love and hope, the book takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and the ones who must finally confront the awful pain of their past…or risk being consumed by it. ⁣Tracey Lange writes a great character about people who are broken and separated from the ones they love, but who are returning back home and trying to put the pieces back together of a shattered relationship. I will read everything she writes!!

The female main character was extremely selfish and unlikeable and, despite her having had a tough life full of tragedy, it was really hard to root for her. She was portrayed as being kind and generous with her time, and while it was explained that that was partly for her to escape her pain, it wasn’t believable based on the way she treated everyone else. There were some sweet moments but they did not make up for the rest.

This book had a good plot but it was somewhat predictable. I enjoyed this book much better than her two previous novels. It felt like a genuine story. However, the quality of the writing is just not there for me. The author overused the inspirational quote by Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100 % of the shots you don’t take.” to the point of irritation for me. When she had dialogue with the hockey teens it was cringy with them using phrases like “ no cap”. It just didn’t feel authentic and genuine to how a real teenager would use those phrases. Most people are gonna love this story. For me there is nothing innovative or different in the writing. I’m not sobbing along with the characters even though their story is sad. I’m not deeply emotionally invested. It lacks the kind of descriptive writing that takes me below the surface and the details of the story to the heart of the characters.

Full of heart.

4.5 stars rounded up.

They may say you can always come home, but returning to his hometown of Potsdam, New York to take care of his father who suffered a stroke is no easy feat for forty-two-year-old Kyle McCray. Two and a half years ago, Kyle abruptly left behind his now ex-wife, Casey, after sixteen years of marriage, along with her brother Wyatt and the only town where he had ever lived.

With masterful storytelling that weaves between Kyle's present-day homecoming and the difficulties of confronting one's demons on the one side and Kyle and Casey's decades-long love story as well as the events that eventually unraveled their marriage and led to Kyle's abrupt departure from Potsdam on the other side, "What Happened to the McCrays?" is the quintessential small-town novel. In author Tracey Lange's Potsdam, community support is strong, the sports team (in this case, middle school hockey) is beloved, there are quirky side characters, and most of all, there is a whole lot of heart, and the reader cannot help but root for both Kyle and Casey in their brokenness.

"What Happened to the McCrays?" is a novel about tragedy, grief, and healing, utterly heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful at the same time.

With exquisite writing and complex characters, this is the kind of novel that stays with you in long after you finish it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"What Happened to the McCrays?" is available now.

Something happened two and a half years ago that triggered Kyle McCrays sudden departure from his hometown of Potsdam, New York. His father’s stroke has brought him back out of a sense of duty, much to his dismay. He is the only relative left in the McCray family. He is faced with some difficult reunions which includes his ex wife, Casey.
From page one I was all in with this book. What Happened To The McCrays is about a marriage, a family and a community that was affected by a tragedy. Grief and communication, or lack there of, is a theme. I felt connected to all the characters. They were real and so were their emotions. I am giving this book five stars.

One thing I think that should be addressed first about this book is that it does touch on some very heavy subject matter. I did not see trigger warning word of caution in the beginning of the book. I did read an advanced copy so maybe there will be something in the published but that I just am not aware of. This book focuses a lot of healing after a very traumatic loss, and I can see it being hard for some readers.
However, even with the heavy subject matter I loved this book. I feel like it was written very well. It shows how grief can tear people apart, but sometimes it can also put them back together.

I don’t know how Tracey Lange does it but she writes these flawed and damaged characters that I end up caring very deeply about. Instead of feeling weighed down by their emotional load, I always end up hopeful. This is a story of loss, grief, love, and community (with a dash of hockey). And Wyatt stole the show for me. I would love to read his story.

📚 What Happened to the McCrays?
✍ Tracey Lange
📖 Contemporary Fiction
⭐5/5

🙏 Thank you to Celadon Books, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of What Happened to the McCrays?. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: I found this winding story about the unraveling of a marriage poignant and moving. I cried...a lot... and though I wouldn't classify this as a romance, I'm not sure I've wanted a couple to make it as much as I wanted Casey and Kyle to make it in a LONG time. Both characters (and the community around them) had experienced and persevered through so much adversity together and their love truly seemed like the flower growing in the cracks of the sidewalk of their lives. I loved that this book centered around a community that rallied around each other during their times of need and that youth hockey was what brought the town of Potsdam together. The dual timeline writing served its purpose well in this one and I craved the bits and pieces of Casey and Kyle's origins to put pieces of their puzzle together. This was an emotional ride for me and it dealt with some heavy topics- but it was beautifully written and I found myself glued to the pages until the very end.
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Read if you love:
*family dramas
*poignant takes on grief and community
*blue-collar town locales
◾
See also: The Half Moon, Same As It Ever Was, We Are the Brennans

Wow! What a beautiful story, although a tear-jerker and so heartbreaking in many ways. Kyle and Casey have been in love since he was 18 and she was 16. They are happily married and live in a very tightly knit community. But when tragedy strikes their home, Kyle ends up leaving for over two years without ever having said goodbye to his father, good friends, neighbors, or even Casey.

Casey has her brother, Wyatt, who is wheelchair bound but he's there for her in all the ways that count. Everyone should have such a brother. Even Kyle's dad loves Casey and she loves him. She is there for him when he ends up hospitalized. When Kyle finally gets word of his father's situation he does go home. Imagine how awkward and difficult to face an entire community of people you never even had the decency to say goodbye to. Some were happy to see him again but obviously some were not.

The characters are truly realistic, believable, likeable, likely you'll find things about the situations and/or the characters themselves that resonate with you. I know I did. Although I've ever experienced a tragedy like Kyle and Casey did, I have experienced loss, sorrow, wondering "did I cause it?" and needing others to comfort me and vice-versa.

I had both the audiobook and e-book and listened to it as I read which did take longer to read, but I think this is a book I wouldn't/didn't want to rush through. I wanted to feel as I read it and I did just that. I savored it and took my time. The narrators, Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, did an excellent job of narrating and bringing to life the voices of all the characters.

Among these characters and their stories you'll find a sense of community, loss, grief, bitterness, resentment, anger, love, genuine concern and caring, forgiveness, and finding out what "home" really means.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing company for a free e-book and audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

I picked this book up one night and read to about 70% because I could not put it down. I stopped because 1- it was way past my bedtime and 2- my heart needed a breather 🥺
•
Kyle McCray abruptly left home over two years ago, but is returning due to his father having a stroke and needing assistance. As he returns to his small town he prepares for the reunions awaiting him, mostly with his next-door neighbor and ex-wife Casey. They were married sixteen years, and via dual perspective with a "then" and "now" timeline, the story of their love and how it all went wrong is slowly unraveled.
•
I love the way this author writes about family, relationships, and broken/imperfect people. I've seen others mention that the main theme is a spoiler of sorts, so I won't go into it either but do know it's a heavy and sad subject. So don't pick this book up if you're needing a lighthearted read. There are hopeful moments involving redemption, forgiveness, and the sense of community coming together, but overall I wouldn't say this one left me feeling happy. So just keep that in mind especially if you're a mood reader! 🤍

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Release day is here for What Happened to the McCrays?, and let me just say: this book hit me like a slapshot to the heart (in the best way)! 🏒💛

Thanks to @netgalley and @celadonbooks, I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this gem, and wow, what a ride.

Tracy Lange delivers a tender, poignant exploration of family, redemption, and—surprisingly—the transformative power of middle school hockey. Set against the chilly backdrop of Potsdam, New York, Kyle McCray’s return home feels like peeling back layers of old, complicated wounds. His journey to reconnect with the town he abandoned—and the ex-wife who’s very very broken—is nothing short of captivating.

Kyle is flawed but oh-so-human, and Casey? She’s the kind of character you cheer for even when she’s making you tear up. Their fractured dynamic is raw and real, a testament to Lange’s knack for writing characters you want to root for, even when they’re messy and maddening.

And let’s not forget the hockey team—those scrappy middle schoolers steal the show. The way their struggles mirror Kyle & Casey’s own redemption arc is nothing short of magical. 🥅✨

While the pacing dipped here and there, the emotional payoff more than made up for it. This is a book that balances heartbreak and hope with a deft touch, reminding us all that second chances—whether on or off the ice—are worth fighting for.

Perfect for fans of small-town dramas, complex family dynamics, and, of course, the underdog spirit of hockey 🏒

Favorite Line: “Pain and happiness weren’t mutually exclusive, they could coexist in the same moment, in the same memory.”

⚠️ 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

I was hooked on this book immediately! I love Tracey Lange’s family dramas. This one has lots of tragedy, but I fell in love with all the characters and their small town. I really liked the way she structured the story with the “now” and ”then” chapters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[arc review]
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
What Happened to the McCrays? releases January 14, 2025

“Sometimes you’ve taken all the shots you can. And then it’s time to let someone else carry the puck for a while.”

What Happened to the McCray’s is a story about love, loss, guilt, and forgiveness. It’s also about support, community, hockey, and marriage. But ultimately, what you need to know is that it’s Lange’s best work yet.

I’d recommend reading this if you enjoy character-driven novels and/or Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

cw: loss of a child, grief, detailed suicide attempt

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange. Kyle McCray comes home to small town Potsdam NY when his father is in the hospital. We slowly learn about why he left home, and why he and his wife Casey (who lives across the street from his father and was his childhood sweetheart), are broken up. Hockey plays a big part in this story, which I enjoyed. The tragedy that is revealed a good way into the book is heartbreaking, and it’s understandably hard for anyone to get over. This is a good but very sad family story, with a hopeful ending. Always enjoy a novel by Tracey Lange, and was very happy to get the advanced copy of this. #whathappenedtothemccrays #traceylange #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

Once again, Ms. Lange has created an interesting novel filled with lots of family drama! What Happened to the McCrays follows the same pattern as her earlier novels with its focus on an estranged family member returning home and the resulting drama.
In this case, it's Kyle, returning to Potsdam, NY to help care for his father after he has a stroke. For the last 2.5 years, he's been living primarily in Spokane, WA, trying to move forward with his life after leaving Casey, his now ex-wife, but someone who's been an integral part of his life since they were teenagers.
Their story unfolds slowly in chapters alternating between Now and Then, and, of course, we gradually learn their full story. There is a tremendous amount of sadness in this book, primarily around early and sudden death. But the story is interesting, the main characters are fully developed and I liked a lot of the secondary characters (especially Rosie), although the hockey players seemed a little more mature than I would have expected from middle schoolers. If you know anything about Potsdam, NY or hockey, you'll likely enjoy the book even more!
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon for the opportunity to read What Happened to the McCrays. I received a complimentary copy of this book and opinions expressed are completely my own.

A good story gives you an escape while you are reading. A great story will transport into the book hold you there while inviting you to live in it and leave you with memories of the people you 'met' and the events you 'lived'. This s the very definition, though my own, is what Tracy Lange has proven she can write.

What Happened to the McCrays is a book of imperfect people leading imperfect lives, who learn and love and laugh a little while learning to live with the choice they have made and the fallout of from them. These are people like your neighbors, coworker, and family who are trying to define themselves and then trying to reconcile with decisions that once seems so simple and obvious. Powerful, moving, insightful, emotional, these are the concepts which all work together seamlessly to make this book Real. This was the perfect snowy weekend read because I was able to step into the book and the just stay there. The characters are so carefully written that they live and breath on the page. These are characters that you feel you know in real life because they lead complex, messy lives that are filled with hopes and dreams, some of which have been achieved and others that have failed. These are people with regrets, people who want to make things rights, people who are still discovering and learning how to live their lives. Kyle and Casey are that pair you will root for, cheer for, mourn with, and give them advice.

For me, that's the mark of an author to follow, when you stop thinking of their creations as characters on the page an start thinking of them as complex living people.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital arc I read.

Special thanks to Tracey Lange for sharing her imagination and talent with me.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. I started it on that format & then was able to finish up with the physical book. I truly just can't say enough good things about this story & how well-written it was. The character development was absolutely beautiful. I felt everything the characters were feeling, and my heart just ached throughout the story. I was entirely captivated and didn't want to put the book down, even though it was a medium-paced book. Usually I struggle with that pacing in a book but not with Tracey's novels! They are one-of-a-kind, and I'm telling EVERYONE to read What Happened to the McCrays?