Tracey does it again! Although fiction, her books do not feel like it in the best of ways. The way she makes her characters come to life, how the setting makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall, and even writes about heavier topics that can't help but draw you in and cheer for the underdog. These things certainly ring true for "What Happened to the McCrays?". Congratulations on a job well done with this book, Tracey! It's a winner in so many ways!

"What Happened to the McCrays?" is a touching story about a man named Kyle who returns to his hometown after his father suffers a stroke. He left abruptly years ago, causing hurt and abandonment to his family and friends. As he helps his father and coaches a middle school hockey team, Kyle begins to understand the impact of his actions and seeks redemption.

The buzz surrounding this book is well-deserved! Prepare to be emotionally moved by this captivating story that may even bring tears to your eyes.

The writing in this book is exceptional, as we are taken on a journey through past events with each chapter. The narrative jumps between two timelines, allowing us to fully understand the events that transpired.

The characters are intricately developed in both timelines, with their unresolved emotions and struggles adding depth to the story. The central message of the book is clear - confronting the past is essential for moving forward. Kyle and his wife Casey must come to terms with their history in order to progress.

One aspect that stands out is the strong sense of community in the small town, offering support and understanding to the characters.

Although I am new to this author, I am eager to explore more of their work in the future. If you appreciate stories that delve into themes of resilience, community, and the complexities of relationships, this book will resonate with you. I highly recommend adding it to your "to be read" list - it truly is a touching and memorable read.

Thank you, Celadon Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love this author's work. This "slice of life" is so well done. I felt so many things for all the characters and because they are so well developed I just felt like I spent a few months living in the town. I could see that all the characters had light and dark and that made the story so multi-dimensional. I loved the representation tho I felt there could be more. Further, the dual POV and the dual timelines worked really well and helped carry the story. I got confused when both of the "getaways" were lined up but I think this was very effective and made my heart hurt more for the circumstances.
My bones to pick with this story (why it is not a 5 star) are this: the first is: I think flipping his ballcap was mentioned at least a dozen times. So much so it became a running joke with my friend throughout this reading. It was excessive. As someone who binged the book in 2 days - it really was obvious to me. The other bone to pick was how quickly Casey "realized" that she was not living in a way that would have made Charlie proud, and not honoring his legacy. This felt like a rush to get the story wrapped up, and an "easy out" and a non-planned for conclusion. I think we could have gotten there. Between Wyatt, Danny, Kyle and her friend - they could have repeated this message in their various ways. Instead of a "one and done". Which I didn't find effective.
That being said: auto-buy/read author FOR SURE.

Tracey Lange is one of my favorite authors. Since I had read (and enjoyed) her first two novels, I was thrilled to get approved to read her latest book early that’s entitled “What Happened to the McCrays?”

Kyle McCray has been living in Spokane, Washington for over a year. He returns home to Potsdam, New York after being notified his father, Danny, has suffered a stroke. He will need help during his rehabilitation and recovery. While home, Kyle has to face those he left behind two and a half years prior. People like his now ex-wife, Casey, her brother, Wyatt, and Casey’s best friend, Angie.

The description is slightly misleading. Yes, Kyle left Potsdam two-and-a-half years earlier, but not exactly for the reasons implied in the write-up. As I read the book, I was trying to reconcile the Kyle being presented to me by the author versus what had been mentioned about him in the description. Things become clearer, though, partway through the book which version of Kyle is the accurate one.

This book alternates at times between “then” and “now” and the narrators are both Kyle and Casey. The further along the book got, the more I dreaded reading the “then” parts. I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall, I loved this book. The author has a way with writing her characters and their interactions with each other that I adore. Also, this book is a standalone, but I recommend people read her first two books because of how good I found them. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

How much grief can a heart withstand before it shatters into a million pieces? In WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? Tracey Lange spins a mesmerizing tale of the unraveling of a marriage. She examines profound loss and the collateral damage left in its wake.

This family drama centers on childhood sweethearts, Kyle and Casey. Through alternating timelines of THEN and NOW, we bear witness to all the stages of their relationship from first love to estrangement.

This is a moving novel about broken people struggling to survive. It focuses on the healing power of community and the possibility of redemption. It is a highly emotional journey filled with both devastation and hope. Ms. Lange gives us characters that are highly flawed and beautifully human. My soul wept with and for Kyle and Casey.

This story unfolded slowly; revealing itself at a pace that allowed me to process all the feelings associated with each new facet. It’s a book that will touch your heart and leave you changed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Tracey Lange is an automatic read author for me. This book had me hooked from the beginning. Needs a few trigger warnings, but I was sucked in and could not stop reading!

When you first pick up this book, you will feel as if this is a typical suspense story and that you have it all figured out, but you're wrong. It goes from zero to sixty real fast, with no lack of emotion and suspense.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was written very well, but also very deep & sad. For that reason I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would! I did feel some intrigue while reading and was eager to find out all the secrets! I'm giving this 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 since the writing was so good! Thank you to Celadon Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

The author does a wonderful job writing a book about real people. Real people that love and hurt and suffer and rejoice. Real people with real lives that navigate the ups and downs of living. This book was a tear jerker but it was also book of hope. I felt it all the way to my heart and could not put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the complimentary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion and my own words

trigger warning: death of a child

This book was not what I thought it would be. It was so much more. Kyle returns home when his dad suffers a stroke. He left a little over two years ago when his marriage broke up after a tragic event. He doesn’t get a very warm welcome, especially from his ex-wife Casey. But the longer he is there, their lives again become entwined as Kyle helps out with the middle school hockey team where Casey teaches. But with so much heartache, could any hope be possible for Casey and Kyle to rekindle their love? The turn of the plot surprised me. It pulled at my heartstrings. I wept. It was so moving but sad. How does anyone handle grief and what is the right way? This is a story that will touch you and you will remember. Many thanks to #netgalley #traceylange #whathappenedtothemccrays for the opportunity to read and review this book. 4.5/5 stars.

This book had me on an emotional roller coaster the entire time I was reading! I kept wondering how much more could these families and certain character deal with! This author really knows how to show broken, flawed, and real people/families and I absolutely adore it! The characters know they are messy and flawed and at the same time they are still deeply loved and cared about by their families and community. I absolutely loved the upstate NY references and the mention of the Buffalo Bills! GO BILLS!

My favorite part of the audiobook was the characters were very easily recognizable by voice, which can be hard when there are multiple timelines and characters that age over the course of the book!

I definitely would recommend this book to people that love a messy and at times wholesome, close-knit small town domestic drama, that’ll have you wanting to call a loved one and tell them you love them!

⭐️WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS?, out JAN 14th⭐️

Special thanks to @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for the g i f t e d audiobook and @celadonbooks for the review copy of this book!

Tracey Lange you might just be my new favorite author. I thought I loved The Connelly's of County Down the best? Oh, no, this book stole the top spot and my heart. Omg I'm not sure how I'll recover from this. My heart....gosh is broken but full. I don't know, maybe I needed my eyes to dry before writing this but I just needed everyone to know that they must RUN out to read this book. Bring some tissues because you'll need them. I should have known when I saw the opening quote from none other than my favorite book of ALL TIME (She's Come Undone) that I was about to be in for a special treat and wow....I was right. Thank you for this book and for introducing me to characters I'll put right up there with Dolores Price. This is that GOOD. ❤️📚😭

THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this beautiful book in exchange for my honest review. I already bought a hard over copy I loved it so much.

thank you to Celadon Books and Net Galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

There is something about the way that Tracey Lange writes small town, family drama that just gets me every time. While her first two books were enjoyable for me, "What Happened to the McCrays" exceeded my expectations and, in my opinion, is Lange's best. The way she examines the break down of a marriage, navigating grief, and putting your life back together post tragedy....I can't help but feel many that have experienced this would find it realistic and true. 5 stars from me.

This book tackles very heavy topics, so please do check trigger warnings prior to reading.

Tracey Lange does family drama well. She’s found her literary niche.

This story connects a divorced couple, Kyle and Casey, who are forced back into close proximity when Kyle comes home to take care of his father as he recovers from a stroke. While the story is interesting, and we do in fact want to find out what happened to the McCrays, I found my attention wandering at times and found it easy to put the book down. Without giving any spoilers, there are instances where the author reveals something (once subtly, once blatantly) to the reader, and I felt cheated that I had easily figured out a part of the story that could have been kept as a mystery and later revealed in more dramatic fashion.

I did enjoy the book overall and felt the author captured small town upstate New York well.

Tracey Lange does it again. Another 5⭐️ read! She’s three for three and continues to cement her status as one of my favorite authors. I’ve been anxiously awaiting her latest book and I won’t be surprised if it ends up on my year-end favorites list. Another outstanding family drama plus a supportive community, and middle school hockey. What happened to the McCrays is not what you think. Publishes this Tuesday. (Jan 14) And if you haven’t read her first two books, read those at some point as well this year.

I don't give 5 stars to many books but this book by Tracey Lange deserves it.

What happened to the McCrays was a great story about family, community, tragedy and love.
The cover shows the house where it all happened. This is my first book by this author but I loved her writing style and will definitely be reading more.

I felt connected to all the characters in this book and didn't want the story to end.

Highly recommend this book to my friends and followers. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC.

Without a doubt, this book will be on my favorite reads of 2025 and it's only the first week of January.

This is the third book i've read by Tracey and it's easily my favorite (although I think all of her books are solid reads). What Happened to the McCrays is a story about love and loss....grief and second chances. Tracey really knows how to write about PEOPLE and writes characters who feel grounded in reality and could live right around the corner from you. This is a heavy book but it's done in such a way that just gave me the full spectrum of emotions from sorrow to hope to love.

Kyle and Casey..the two main characters are dealing with tremendous loss but now are trying to come to terms with their second chance. This story has a small town feel, with some youth hockey league dynamics that are wholesome, and really lovely. This story also had fantastic secondary characters which is also what I look for in a standout story.

I think this book is best gone into blind. The story is such a great mix of family dynamics...a mix of back of forth POV's and timelines and it all flows very well and made me emotional on multiple occasions.

Tears were shed, the ending felt just right and I wanted to hug this book after I finished it. READ IT.

*this is a book that has some heavier triggers, so please be aware of that going into it. I'm always available for questions, but leaving the triggers here would definitely spoil the plot for those who want to go in blind.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
Disappointing. Though there were poignant moments, the story felt long & drawn out. Hard to feel emotionally invested.

With thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this e-ARC.

Tracey Lange does it once again. What Happened to the McCrays? is a heart wrenching and emotional novel that leaves the reader satisfied but wanting more. Always want more of her beautiful writing and authentic characters. This one did feel a bit slower than her other two novels and for me that almost changed a 5 star to a 4 star only because I thought it was a bit too slow at times. What Happened to the McCrays? tackles some heavy moments, death of a loved one, recovering from the grief, etc. so I understand the need to take the plot a bit slower to engulf the magnitude of the trauma and the decisions of the characters thereafter, I just lose interest sometimes when storylines don't have continuous movement. This is really a me thing, not the book thing. So, a five-star read it is, maybe with an asterisk. But anyway, a lovely novel. I highly recommend to everyone. The characters will stay with you long after the last page.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

A story of loss, second chances and so much more.

Once upon a time, Kyle and Casey were happy together, they’d been married for the sixteen years that had passed, until one day there was an accident which changed everything. Kyle left town without thinking about how it would impact Casey’s life, or his own. After his father had a stroke, he knew he must return.

And so he returns to Potsdam, a small New York town which he left years ago, when he could no longer face the event which changed his life.

There is a sense of tension, at times, sadness and regret as the story evolves over time, but there is also a feeling of hope, redemption, and love, as well.


Pub Date: 14 Jan 2025


Many thanks for the for the ARC provided by Celadon Books