This was an absolutely beautiful book. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS was an emotionally deep, winding story about love and loss, how grief shapes a person, and the ways we can sometimes be lucky enough to start again. Very sad and moving she is excellent writer. Also look for an easter egg for fans of We Are the Brennans.

What Happened to the McCray’s?
Tracey Lange
Pub: 1/14/25
4.5☆

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook.

Nobody delivers complicated family drama quite like Tracey Lange.

I loved this one and ALL the feels it had me feeling. It was beautifully written, compelling, and at times utterly heartbreaking. I was so caught up in Kyle and Casey’s story of love, loss, hope, and healing. So much beautiful healing that had me wholeheartedly rooting for these two. I also loved that the community and hockey played such integral roles in their journey.

What I enjoyed;
✨ Family Dynamics
✨ Small Town
✨ Second Chances
✨ Past/Present Timelines
✨ Dual POV
✨ Hockey

The dual narration of Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt was outstanding! This story is overflowing with emotion and they beautifully brought that to life. If you’re an audio fan, this is a must listen.

I love this audiobook! I read the book several months ago and it is one of my favorites of this year. Tracey Lange is an outstanding author and the narration on this book is stellar.

No one writes working class characters quite like this author and I will continue to devour everything she writes.

When his father suffers a stroke, Kyle McCray find himself reluctantly back in his small hometown of Potsdam, New York. Kyle hasn't seen his father, his friends, or his ex-wife, Casey, since he left. He wants more than anything to get his father back on his feet quickly and leave again as quickly as possible. But when his father's recovery ends up being much more serious than previously expected, Kyle will be forced to face the people he left behind and come to terms with the events that caused him to leave.

What Happened to the McCrays is a story about redemption, grief, and moving on. Lange's books are brilliant, character driven stories that truly resonate with readers. Filled with complex family drama (the good kind), second chances, and small-town hockey - this story will invoke all the emotions.

Tracey Lange is officially an auto read author for me and each of her books just gets better and better. I ended up primarily listening to this on audio, and 10/10 recommend the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Memeth-Parker and William DeMerit.

TW: Child Death

What Happened to the McCrays? comes out January 14, 2025. Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting:
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I really loved this book, and the narration just made it that much better. I thought the two narrators really complemented each other nicely.

The story is sad and sweet and heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time. There is something that I love about Lange's writing that just feels so homey yet interesting. The characters feel like someone you would know in your everyday life.

I highly recommend checking this one out.

I’m a Tracey Lange Stan and I’ve loved all 3 of her books so far, but this may have bumped We Are the Brennans down from the #1 spot.

Tracey Lange has an incredible talent for crafting raw, heart-wrenching stories about love, family, and grief. Her storytelling is so compelling, and no two families ever feel the same. She has a gift for bringing these families and their situations to life.

This is a story about a divorced couple from a small town being forced to see each other again due to a family emergency after a few years apart. You spend the book getting to know the main characters, getting to experience them falling in love and getting married, and then ultimately, the tragic fallout.

I thought I guessed what went wrong multiple times and boy, was I off. This was a painful read with massive triggers (to list them would be a spoiler, but please proceed with caution). I thought the reveal in We Are the Brennans was heartbreaking but that was nothing compared to this story. My heart actually hurt and I cried for these characters. By the end, my heart was more or less healed and this is a powerful story that moved me. This will stay with me for a long time.

This had the perfect winter setting and it’s definitely a timely release. I recommend reading this as soon as it publishes on 1/14/25. ❄️

I also loved the dual narration on audio—it added so much to the experience and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook. 🫶🏻

Tracey Lange is a first purchase author for me after reading her previous work. She really gets how to write a book with family, feelings, and atmosphere. Throughout listening I felt connected to Kyle and Casey and feeling for them as they go through their life together. The added elements of hockey, tattoo, and travel just make the story more relatable to me as a reader. If you are looking for a fight for your family type novel, check this one out. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Wow this was one of the easiest five stars!

This story follows Kyle and Casey McCray, high school sweethearts. Kyle suddenly leaves their small town of Potsdamn without telling anyone. After two and a half years, Kyle returns after his father Danny has a stroke. What happened two years ago that caused him to leave the wife that he has adored for 16 years?

When Kyle returns, he is not sure how to face everyone that he "abandoned". Kyle begins to learn what actually happened 2.5 years ago and things that happened since he left. While helping his father, helping the local middle school hockey team and even his ex-wife Casey, he begins to realize that his life is in Potsdamn and he doesn't want to leave.

But if he stays, he has to make peace with Casey and the past and he is not sure if she even wants him to stay.

This book was so good! I was rooting for Kyle and Casey the entire time. The characters are relatable and well developed. This book was had me in all of my feelings. I was laughing and crying and is definitely a story to savor! I also loved all the side characters. The middle school hockey plays had me grinning from ear to ear at the end!

I listened to this on audio and the narrators did an amazing job - Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt! This is my first book by Lange, but definitely will not be my last!

Thank you @macmillian.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted copy!

This was emotional and heartbreaking but also heartwarming and hopeful. The McCrays have been through a lot, and while the title may lead you to believe this story is more of a thriller, it actually is a poignant family drama that has you rooting for the main couple to find their way back together again. I liked the pacing, the dual POV, and the supporting cast. I haven't read any other books by Lange yet, but I plan to now!

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Stephanie Nemeth Parker and William Demeritt. The narration was fantastic and really displayed he deep emotions in the book.

This book delves into the relationship, love, grief, and failed marriage of Kyle and Casey. The longtime sweethearts had it all until a traumatic event entered their lives. Upon Kyle's return to their small town, it becomes impossible for the two to avoid each other and the past. They have to come to terms with their own actions and that of the other.

This was my first book by this author. I loved her ability to produce characters that I felt so deeply about. She made my heart ache for them, cry with them, and want to prod them in the direction I wanted them to go. I'm definitely going to delve into her backlist.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio book. All thoughts are my own.

4.25 ⭐️

I have read all three of Tracey Lange’s novels now, and I have to say that her upcoming novel WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? is my favorite. The author has a theme in all her writing so far, and that’s healing after crisis/tragedy. Her other two novels focused on big family sibling dynamics, but this one focused on divorced couple Kyle and Casey.

I think you might not know what to expect by looking at the cover. Were the McCrays taken from their house in the dead of winter? No. The McCrays are a divorced couple, and Kyle has been summoned back to his hometown to help out after his father is hospitalized. Casey still lives in the town. This novel moves back and forth between present day and the history of their relationship.

There are plot-related triggers in this novel (two big ones!), so check a more thorough summary if you feel that would turn you off.

Why I didn’t rate this higher is the main thrust of this novel isn’t very original. I’ve seen it quite a bit. I did think Lange had a deft hand in her writing though. She drops enough hints that you can piece together what happened before it’s revealed. Because this is a novel about healing and not one of suspense, I was completely good with not having any jaw-dropping moments.

I thought the main characters were good people going through stuff, so I had a good amount of empathy with them.

There were two audiobook narrators, one male and one female, for this novel. Since the perspective switched between Casey and Kyle, the two narrators made sense. It also made it easier to keep track whose perspective the reader was in, and both narrators did a great job. I’d recommend taking in this novel on audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? publishes January 14, 2025.

#whathappenedtothemccrays #traceylange #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #bookstagram @Macmillanaudio

This was a winter setting family drama and my first novel by this author. The book posed an answer to the eternal question - Can you go home again?

Kyle returns to his rural hometown in upstate NY to help his father after a recent stroke. He left abruptly a few years ago, leaving his community and his wife, following a tragic event. Needing to earn some money during his stay, he is given the opportunity to coach a failing middle school hockey team, located at the same school where his ex-wife is a teacher.

As a hockey mom I enjoyed how much the sport was interwoven into this plot. However, I otherwise found the storyline and characters rather predictable.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Celadon books for audiobook and e-book copies for me to review. I enjoyed the dual POV narration of the audiobook!

Tracy Lange’s What Happened to the McCrays? is a deeply emotional and heartbreakingly honest exploration of grief, loss, and the dissolution of a marriage. The novel takes readers into the lives of Casey and Kyle McCray, a couple struggling to cope with the aftermath of their child's tragic death in a horrific accident. The narrative is raw and intimate, offering an unflinching look at how such a profound loss can unravel not just a family, but the very fabric of a relationship.

At the heart of What Happened to the McCrays? is the tension between Casey and Kyle, two people who were once deeply in love but are now drifting apart, burdened by pain and unspoken sorrow. The novel alternates between their perspectives, allowing readers to experience both sides of a broken marriage. This dual viewpoint is particularly effective, highlighting how grief manifests differently in each person and the ways in which the couple’s communication breaks down in the face of their shared tragedy.

The novel’s pacing can be slow at times, with long stretches of reflection and introspection. This deliberate pace might be challenging for some readers, especially those seeking a more plot-driven narrative. However, the slower pace serves the story well, allowing the complexity of Casey and Kyle's emotions to build gradually and giving the reader time to fully immerse themselves in the aftermath of the tragedy. The weight of the loss is felt in every page, and while it can be difficult to read at times, it is never gratuitous.

Despite the heartbreak, What Happened to the McCrays? is ultimately a story of love and hope. There is no easy resolution or perfect ending, but the novel suggests that healing is possible—if not from the pain itself, then from the acceptance of it. The book is a reminder that sometimes the hardest battles are the ones fought within ourselves and within our relationships.

This book is incredible. Lange is a masterful storyteller who brings complicated family drama from every day, small town America to life in a powerful and relatable manner. With themes of hope, resilience, forgiveness, community, and healing, this story is one that will linger in my heart and mind for years. A stand-out, top read for me!

The McCrays centers on a couple, Kyle and Casey, from their teenage romance to their failed marriage. Kyle has returned home after a 2 1/2 year absence to assist his ailing father, and must face his former wife, coworkers, and friends. It is a difficult reckoning for Kyle and Casey as they work through the trauma that triggered Kyle's departure while learning one another's story of the past several years. When Kyle gets an opportunity to extend his stay in town via a Middle School hockey coaching position, he stays, and hopes for a possible redemption.

I want to clearly state that this book delves into some darker themes; loss of a parent, loss of a child, suicidal ideation/attempt, depression, and caring for an injured parent. Yet, despite the raw emotion found in these chapters, and Lange's gut-wrenching descriptions, I never felt inclined to set this book aside or stop reading. Rather, I felt incredible compelled to continue; to root for redemption and healing. Somehow, Lange has perfectly captures the true dichotomy of life; that is can be both tragic and beautiful, sometimes even at the same time. That love can be both familiar and foreign, and trauma can be both transformative and renewing. You will root for Kyle and Casey from page 1 to the end, and fall in love with a few middle school hockey players as well. All the stars!

Narrators Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt deserve awards for their emotive performances. I typically listen in my car, and would find myself parked, completely enraptured by the story and unable to move until a chapter was finished. Their embodiment of Kyle and Casey's journey was perfection.

Tracey Lange is a master at writing family stories and What Happened to the McCrays is no exception. She truly has a gift for writing characters that I feel like I could know in real life who are experiencing real life issues - almost to the point that I forget I'm reading a fictional story. I was lucky to pair the audio version with the ebook and the exceptional narration from both Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt really helped to bring the characters to life for me. This is a book that has stuck with me long after reading the final page. An easy five stars!

I just finished the book “What happened to the McCrays” by Tracey Lange. This is a story about Kyle and Casey. The two met when they were young and fell in love. They stayed in their small town, and after a few years, they were married. The two lived in Casey‘s childhood home across the street from Kyle‘s father. Both Kyle and Casey have complex pasts. Kyle, losing his mother as a young boy, and Casey, losing her father as a preteen. Both Casey and Kyle have a lot of burden on their shoulders. Once married, Casey, a middle school teacher, wants to start a family. Kyle, Although worried about finances, supports Casey and just wants to see her happy. As things sometimes happen, Kyle and Casey eventually drift apart. After not seeing each other for two years, Kyle is called home after his father suffers a stroke. Kyle and Casey are forced upon each other. Kyle, who never stopped loving Kacie, Yearns to repair that relationship. Casey, is struggling. The author does a nice job developing the story switching from the present to the past throughout the book. The book is written with two points of view, and is narrated by both a male and female narrator. The narrators do an excellent job with their characters. the story kept me interested, and I wanted to find out what happened to the McCrays. Thank you to NetGalley and for Macmillian audio for an advance, audio copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was initially interested in reading What Happened to the McCrays because I've read a few of Tracey Lange's other works and love her writing style. Its slow-moving pace simultaneously builds deeply believable characters and feels all too real. The main characters, Kyle and Casey experience deep heartbreak that will hit home with many readers, and their choices on how they move forward with their lives, the choices they make, hit close to home. We don't always make the best decisions as humans. We hurt those who love us. We trudge on with broken hearts and souls, meandering through day-to-day like zombies. Can love and light be found again after extreme darkness? Can a family ever truly be repaired when it's tested beyond its breaking point? What Happened to the McCrays is a story to be savored!

Tracey Lange writes wonderfully well-done family dramas. She knows how to write the complexities, trials and tribulations they face. This is one of those books that is going to make you feel so many emotions. My heart broke for some of the problems the family dealt with. Then I was overjoyed with the triumphs they faced. The characters in Tracey Langes books are always so well written. They are beautifully layered and contain the complexities of real people. They just feel real, and that makes my heart go out to them. This is one of those books that would be perfect for a buddy read or a book club because there is so much to discuss.

I switched back and with this one in my print copy and my ALC copy. The audio was really well done, and the narrators did such a great job bringing it to life. I think that they really added an extra layer of emotion to the story which was a great touch.

If you’re looking for a well-done family drama, then check this one out. You won’t want to miss it.

I wasn't sure what kind of book this was when I began reading, I kind of assumed it was a thriller or mystery. It's kind of a romance. A not so subtle metaphor with MMC mechanic and FMC teacher, this divorced couple reconnects as he moves back to town following his father's stroke. Punishing herself for something that was definitely not her fault but she thinks is her fault, she has to decide to let him in and forgive herself or lose him forever. Beautiful story. Love the way it ended

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Narrators: Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 1/14

Thank you so much to Celadon Books for my advanced copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. #Macaudio2024

Tracey Lange has done it again with What Happened to the McCrays?, a heartfelt story about family, second chances, and the healing power of community. The book follows Kyle McCray, who reluctantly returns to his hockey-loving hometown of Potsdam, New York after his dad suffers a major stroke. Kyle left his life behind two and a half years ago, leaving his wife, Casey, and everyone else to pick up the pieces. Now, he’s back, hoping to stay under the radar, but of course, small towns don’t make that easy.

As Kyle tries to help his dad recover, he’s forced to face the mess he left behind. From his strained marriage with Casey to the people he let down, the weight of his past is everywhere. Coaching the struggling middle school hockey team ends up being an unexpected chance at redemption. Slowly, Kyle starts to reconnect—with himself, with Casey, and with the town he thought he could leave for good.

Tracey Lange is an auto-buy author for me, and this book is a great example of why. This story is full of real, flawed characters who are just trying to do their best, even when they make mistakes. Lange’s writing hits all the right notes—bittersweet, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful. You’ll find yourself rooting for Kyle to make amends and for Casey to find peace.

I listened to this one on audio, and the dual narration was incredible! Both narrators did an amazing job with the characters and brought the story to life for me.

If you love stories about family, forgiveness, and small-town life, this book will hit you right in the feels. Grab some tissues and settle in—you won’t want to put this one down.

Read if you like:
*Beartown
*small town
*family drama
*dual POV