[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?

After his dad has a debilitating stroke, Kyle returns to the home and people he left 2.5 years ago. He must face his dad, his wife of 16-years, his former mentor, and friends who he seemingly abandoned without saying a word.

Wow. This book was nothing like I expected and it hit me hard. I sobbed like a baby through a good portion of the book and it had me in my emotions in the best way. The characters were complex and broken, but so realistic. I loved the build of the story and how it kept you wanting to know more about what happened, without repeatedly alluding to big secrets (which is something I hate in books.)

The ending was slightly predictable, but I was so happy with it. This is my first book by this author but I immediately picked up her other two once I finished this one.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I will forever be a fan of anything Tracey Lange writes. I read We are the Brennans and really enjoyed getting lost in the family dynamics and this was no different. It was so tender, heartfelt and heartbreaking i just couldnt take my eyes off of the pages. Amazing story!

Thank you Netgalley, Celadon Books and Tracey Lange.
What a beautiful heart-wrenching story of young love, marriage, family drama and heartache.
I absolutely love Tracey Lange's writing, storytelling.
She knows how to pull at heartstrings. Loved her characters.
Highly recommend
5 stars

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)
Format: audiobook and ebook
Genre: contemporary fiction, family drama

After loving The Connellys of County Down last year, I was overjoyed to receive advanced copies of this book! Tracey Lange really knows how to craft characters and show how layered relationships can be, whether it’s family dynamics or romantic relationships. What Happened to the McCrays is no exception!

I did a mix of ebook and audio for this one. It’s written in 3rd person, but the book is dual POV and jumps from past to present. The audiobook has dual narration, which was perfect for telling the reader both sides of this marriage and how it fell apart. These characters were broken and messy at times but so real. They also had redeeming qualities and character development, which is important to me as a reader. I enjoyed the small town setting and the aspect of the middle school hockey team as well. These kids provided a lightheartedness to the book and were a big part of the narrative since hockey is huge in this town.

If you’re looking for a family drama on audio, this one is a must! Take care and look up content warnings if needed however.

Thank you to Celadon for my eARC and Macmillan Audio for my ALC! What Happened to the McCrays? is out today.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of What Happened to the McCrays. Tracy Lange has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She writes a great story about complex family issues that many people can relate to. Kyle McCray is a good guy we learn this immediately. He is living in Spokane when he gets a call from the hospital saying his dad Danny has had a stroke and he needs to come home to care for him. Kyle left Potsdam a few years ago and not in the best circumstances. As Kyle falls back into his old life a lot of family drama unfolds. Pick this one up if you like a good relatable family drama. Five stars

I went into this book completely blind, and I highly recommend everyone do the same.
This was my first read by Tracey Lange, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll absolutely be reading her backlist.
This book is deeply emotional and focuses on family and community. It's set in a small New York town that feels like its own character.
As someone who loves well developed side characters, I was excited by how well they were written in this book. The story beautifully tackles themes of love, loss, healing, forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. Tracey's writing style is both moving and impactful.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional and memorable read. I absolutely loved it!

| RATING | 5

| FOR READERS WHO LIKE |

• Contemporary/ Literary Fiction
• Redemption ARC
• Second Chance Romance
• Small Town
• Healing and Forgiveness
• Dual Timeline

| FAVORITE SCENE |

After finally uncovering the truth about Casey, Kyle returns home to find his father sitting alone at the kitchen table. The weight of betrayal is all consuming for Kyle as he struggles with his conflicting thoughts and emotions. Attempting to make sense of everything, he questions his father, asking if he truly believed that Kyle left Potsdam because he thought it was best for Casey.
His father’s response completely shattered me. It was raw, honest, and moving, beautifully capturing the complexity of love, sacrifice, and the deep pain of choices made for the sake of others.

Will and Loagn's dedication at the awards ceremony.

| FAVORITE QUOTE |

** The quotes referenced are from an advanced reader's copy and may not reflect the final version. Please refer to the finished copy for accuracy. **

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky

"I've watched you punish yourself for four years, Casey. And that's not living. It's just waiting to die."


Thank you so much, NetGalley and Celadon Books, for the advanced copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.

Yes it's a familiar plot but Lange has created characters you will come to care about. Casey and Kyle were together forever until a tragedy drove them to part. Now, Kyle has come back to Potsdam because his dad is ill and they've got to face one another. Hockey of all things is the catalyst for them to communicate as Kyle takes on the middle school team Casey, a teacher, has been managing. You won't know what really happened until very late but by then it won't matter as much as what these two decide to do with one another. And, what Wyatt, Casey's younger brother, decides about his own future. Lange is a good storyteller and she kept me reading not only because I wanted to know more about Charlie but also because while I could see it coming I wanted to know how this would end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

It is almost impossible to fully convey just what an incredible author Tracey Lange is. First it was We are the Brennans, then The Connellys of County Down, and now What Happened to the McCrays? Lange writes stories that go straight to your heart, embed themselves into your very soul.

Kyle McCray left his business, his home, his family – his entire life - in Potsdam, New York two and a half years ago, never intending to return. The McCray family has suffered a lot of tragedy over the years, and they endured. But what drove Kyle away may be the thing that breaks them beyond repair. Not everything is fixable; time alone does not heal all wounds.

It’s obvious from the start of the story that although broken, Kyle is still a good man. He regrets abandoning those who depended on him, but the regret and guilt he feels over what caused him to leave is larger. It’s not a regret he can carry alongside him; it’s right in his face every day, every minute, every second, and he can’t get around or through it. Going home is unthinkable – until he learns his father has suffered a debilitating stroke. He has to go home, but he is expecting anger and the cold shoulder from everyone, especially Casey, the wife he walked out on.

Casey is as broken as Kyle; but she didn’t run away from her responsibilities. She stayed, she’s coping, but she’s a shell of the woman she used to be. She’s hanging by a thread and it doesn’t look like she can hold on much longer. Her guilt and pain and regrets are threatening to overtake her will to carry on.

It’s a while into the story before we find out just what happened to tear apart this family. Your heart will already be breaking for Kyle and Casey, his father Danny, her brother Wyatt and everyone in town they used to be close to, but when you learn the reason for all this guilt and grief and regret your heart will shatter.

The home Casey and Kyle shared is right next to his father’s home, and Potsdam is a small, close-knit community so of course Kyle and Casey will cross paths. Frequently. Painfully. Even though she wants him gone and he did not want to return, they’ve known each other since childhood, been together since high school. Old memories of sweet and tender times are strong, but is this new devastating memory horrible enough to smother the good memories forever?

Lange has written a remarkable story of love, loss, regret and forgiveness. While forgiving others and wanting the best for them may be possible, forgiving yourself and believing you are worthy of happiness again may not be. What Happened to the McCrays? is riveting, compelling, heart-wrenching, with such a strong pull you won’t be able to put it down. The characters are so well-written, so full of depth and emotion that you are carried along with every scene, first wondering what it was that went wrong, then hoping there can at least be the beginning of fragile communication, and then fervently wishing the misunderstandings could be cleared up, the hearts could be healed, the love could shine through. I was so pleased to receive an advance copy of What Happened to the McCrays? from Celadon Books via NetGalley because of how much I enjoyed her two previous books. Author Lange writes such powerful stories of families and circumstances and strength; I recommend everything she writes. And publisher Celadon Books never fails to provide impactful, meaningful fiction and non-fiction; I know when I receive a book from Celadon as a Celadon Reader that I am in for an engrossing, totally satisfying read. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Such a fabulous novel. While it was filled with heartbreak and grief it was also so inspiring and hopeful. This will be another favourite for me this year.

Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a stroke and he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York. There is no warm welcome, as he left over 2 years ago and some will definitely still harbour a grudge. One of those was his wife of 16 years, Casey.

As we see the story unfold, the author expertly weaves the current time along with the backstory, while revealing devastating secrets hidden.
Through being roped into coaching the middle school hockey team, Kyle begins to connect with the community again, only to realise the damage he has left in his wake. This was a devastatingly beautiful novel and I cried more times than I can count. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is one I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this gifted review copy. I am so thankful I was able to read this one early. It was sensational, 5🌟

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

This is the third book that I have read by Tracey Lange. It is her best book so far, but all her books are good. Her novels are about families - real families, not the perfect ones. Tracey writes about how families are messy, conflicted, and complicated.

I read this book in about twelve hours today including interruptions and distractions, but I couldn't put it down. It was so, so good!

Another one that shoots the puck in the goal?!? Is that correct, hockey-speak? But, it is appropriate for this book!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5911022781 - posted 1/14/2025

Books by Dorothea blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/my-next-ebook-and-review-what-happened.html- posted 10/11/2024

I must admit that I thought I was getting myself into a thriller. I was even more convinced after the first chapter, even the title of the book didn’t make me think twice but it makes me laugh now how off I was. Tracey is a first time author for me and I had not read the synopsis prior to starting the book.

‘What Happened To The McCrays’ is a heart breaking, community driven and frustrating novel (but in a good way). It is beautifully written and captures all the heart wrenching parts in such a detailed and emotional way that you cannot help but shed a tear or two.

The book caught me by surprise once I was a few chapters in. A part of me was just waiting for a dead body to show up at some point but it took a few chapters to understand that this was the story about grief and how it holds you down and how it affects all those around you. I found myself rooting for the main couple the entire time. It’s just one of those books where you wish for a clean conclusion even if it takes them forever to get there.

I wouldn’t say that I haven’t read similar story lines before but I can say that it hasn’t been written the way Lange wrote it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Caledonia for the e-book!

When we meet Kyle, he is preparing to return to his hometown to care for his father. Something is making him anxious about this return. We then find out that he has a special relationship with Casey, his neighbor. From there, we get hints about things that people keep a secret. Casey seems to hold back so much more than everyone around her thinks. While all the characters are trying their best to live a good life, there are things in their past that they can't seem to let go of. Communication is a massive issue for all, and they all seem unable to open up and voice their feelings.


Thanks to Celadon Books and Net Galley for the arc!

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.

I’m absolutely blown away by Tracey Lange’s third novel, What Happened to the McCrays. Like her other books — which I also enjoyed greatly, it’s filled with love and happiness, grief and regret. This one felt less like an ensemble though and more a deep dive into the failed marriage of two people who, by all rights, should still be together. The way Tracey gradually revealed their story, the “what happened to the McCrays”, built intrigue and kept me absolutely hooked. She has a way of creating a world and characters that feel so real I can’t disconnect from them, even when I’m not still reading. In fact, when I finished this book, I almost just picked it up and read it again — I craved more time with the characters. I do hope Tracey will take us back to Potsdam in the future.

Make sure to check out content warnings before reading this one. If you haven’t read Tracey’s books before, they’re great for fans of Mary Beth Keane and J. Ryan Strandal. I hope you read it and connect with it as deeply as I did!

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Update to say that 2 months later, I can't stop thinking about it. It's a must read!

a book hasn't made me feel so many emotions in a long long time. everything about this was beautiful and perfect and I couldn't put it down. a new favourite book by far 🥹

if you enjoyed beartown, this one's for you!