Oh my goodness! Tracey Lange has the amazing ability to write family drama so unbelievably well. I absolutely loved this book and loved the second chance romance aspect. Highly recommend this one to everyone! The audio was great and the narrator made it so enjoyable.

What Happened to the McCrays is a novel about grief and family ties, regrets and reconciliation, small town life and a little bit of hockey. It was similar to the other book I've read by this author, We Are the Brennans, and it made me want to go back and pick up her second book, The Connellys of County Down. There is child loss at the center of this book, which normally I would avoid, but the writing was so good, and there is one scene in particular that was so touching I'm glad I didn't miss it.

When I first started this one I wasn't sure I was in the mood for it but I quickly changed my mind or I should say this book changed my mind. Kyle finally gets word that his father has suffered a stroke and he needs to come home to Potsdam, New York. When he does come back he stops into the hospital but his father was sleeping so he goes home and straight to bed without turning on the lights. The next morning he wakes and looking out the window notices someone coming to the house and quickly dresses and meets her in the kitchen. Casey thought the house was empty and was cleaning out the kitchen before her father-in-law can come home. When Kyle speaks to her she is startled. They have not seen each other since he left town. This story takes us back and from from then to now and we get the story from past to present of what happened leading up to Kyle leaving and coming back and the story of their love. It is obvious there is still something there between them if they can get out of each other's way. A story of love, forgiveness, loss, and renewal. I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend it. It brought me to tears at times but they were worth it!

Winding story well told. An emotionally charged read with likeable characters told from two viewpoints. Quick, enjoyable listen with good narrators. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen/review.

I have read all 3 of Tracey Lange's books and all 3 have been 5 stars for me!

Kyle returns to his hometown after leaving abruptly several years before and works to rebuild relationships, especially with his true love, Casey. Casey and Kyle have some serious issues that tore them apart and watching them wrestle with those issues is both touching and tragic.

What worked for me:
- These characters! I loved them all both the main characters and the side characters. I found them relatable and authentic. Casey's work as a middle school teacher and the middle schoolers that she interacts with regularly were great!
- A plot that is believable and feels true to life with a tragic event that has caused such pain and emotional distance for these main characters. It moves along at a good pace and I enjoyed every minute of it.
- A small town setting that is enjoyable

What didn't work for me:
- absolutely nothing!

Kyle McCray returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, following the distressing news of his father's debilitating stroke. After having left abruptly two and a half years earlier, forsaking his family, friends, and ex-wife Casey, he braces himself for a potentially frosty reception. Although his intention is to remain inconspicuous while aiding in his father's recovery, Kyle begins to comprehend the profound impact his departure had on those he once held dear. As he reestablishes connections within the community, he is afforded a chance at redemption by coaching the struggling middle school hockey team, which compels him to reevaluate his life and relationships, particularly with Casey.

As the narrative unfolds, you will review the past of Kyle and Casey, delving into the intricacies of their faltering marriage and the underlying reasons for their estrangement. The storytelling alternates between current events and flashbacks, gradually illuminating the depth of their affection and the hurdles they confronted, including grief, loss, and miscommunication. The emotional gravity of the narrative is palpable as both characters grapple with their shared history and the potential for reconciliation.

This story is a poignant exploration of familial dynamics, love, and the possibility of second chances, meticulously crafted with depth and sensitivity. Tracey Lange's prose excels in character development, inviting the reader to empathize with the struggles and triumphs of everyday individuals. The emotional resonance, alongside the themes of forgiveness and resilience, renders this novel a compelling story.

The dual perspectives offered in the audiobook format enrich the experience, enabling listeners to fully engage with the characters' emotional odysseys. I really enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Look at that cute yellow house with them black shutters on the cover—nice, right? That’s where Kyle and Casey McCray used to live, all happy and in love… until he bounced outta there two and a half years ago.

But hold up, what happened that made this dude ditch the woman he loved for 16 years? And now, he gotta come back to his tiny town to help his pops recover after a stroke. Talk about awkward!

Potsdam might not have much going on, but one thing it got? A community that’s got your back, like when the hockey team needs help (or when you got some explaining to do). Kyle’s gotta deal with some hard truths about the past, and while he’s helping his pops, the hockey team, and even his ex-wife, he starts realizing maybe he ain’t ready to dip out for good.

But to stick around, he’s gotta make peace with the past, especially with Casey. And trust me, I was all in, praying he could get it together.

Tracey Lange does it again—creating characters who mess up but are just trying to do right, even when they make the wrong moves. We get to see both sides, learn why they hurt, and understand the decisions they made… even if they broke our hearts in the process.

Oh the family drama…with a side of hockey!

The scene is set in a sleepy town of Potsdam where everyone knows everyone. It conveys typical small town life where everyone knows what you are doing, even when you don’t.

This is a dynamic read from the viewpoints of high school sweethearts, Kyle and Casey McCray. The author takes you through their backstory while keeping you engaged all along the way.

After their divorce, Kyle ends up in back in Potsdam after he and Casey divorce to care for his father who has suffered a debilitating stroke.
Tracey Lange does an excellent job of telling their love story and writing real life scenarios into the book that readers can relate to.

Thank you to NetGallery for extending me the opportunity to read this as a ARC.

Looking forward to reading more Tracey Lange Books!

This is a family drama at its best for this reader. I love family dramas where no one is really horrible, they have just had tough things happen and are humans trying to work through it, and that is exactly what we get in this novel.

Kyle McCray returns to his small hometown of Potsdam, New York, after over two years away when his father has a stroke. While back, he runs into all the friends he left behind, as well as his ex-wife of sixteen years and childhood sweetheart Casey. And of course, they are forced together when they have to coach the local middle school boys hockey team.

I loved learning the backstory of Casey and Kyle to see why they had a falling out. This book shows the support and love a small town can provide, and forgiveness. The characters in this book had miscommunications, but they felt like genuine miscommunications that can arise out of love, rather than silly ones that are so often thrown into books.

This book touched my heart and was exactly the type of book I needed to read right now. And the winter setting made it a great winter read. It was my first book by this author but certainly won't be the last.

3.5 stars

I don't read a ton of lit fic/family drama but every once in a while I like to give it a shot. I thought this was well written but very heavy. VERY heavy. Nearly every trigger you can think of minus SA. Overall a pretty depressing story. So go into it with that expectation.

It slowed down for me quite a bit in the middle - lots of miscommunication. If you like the "give a marriage a second chance" and overcoming trauma and grief 8 years later, this will probably be an enjoyable read.

The writing style was easy to follow and each character had a distinct voice. I enjoyed the small town hockey component and wish it had a little more of the focus. This truly is a book about the characters.

There's a lot of buildup over what caused the divorce although I found it quite predictable. It did keep me invested in the story though.

The audio was good. I listened at 2x. Only comment is that the narrators sounded much older than what the characters were supposed to be, so it aged them in my mind.

Wow just wow what a great family drama. When Casey puts herself first and tragedy happens life is forever changed. Kyle fights multiple times both physically and mentally. Will they ever get back to true romance that tragedy tries to take from them.

I couldn't put this book down! What a great read. The complexities of families/relationships are explored so well by Tracy Lange in this book. The intricacies and nuances and hardships and feelings... are all exposed in such a thoughtful way that the reader easily joins the main characters, Kyle & Casey, on their journey. If you're looking for an easy escape, this is your book.

Thanks to Celadon Books, McMillan Audio & Netgalley for this ARC.

Well written and great character development. I enjoyed the different POV's. Great pacing and well planned development and delivery of the mystery in the end.

I really enjoyed the audiobook of this story. So much family drama with so many secrets but as the story unfolds, the the listener finds out what broke the McCrary family. At times, very sad, this story is also filled with hope and forgiveness between the family members. A great story. I give it 5 Stars.

This is my first Tracey Lange book and I really enjoyed it. The story takes place in upstate New York, in a hockey town. Lange takes us through a couples relationship and the tragedy of loss. I highly recommend! Thanks the Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my opinion.

I did not know what to expect from this book going into it, and actually put off listening to it for a little bit initially, but fully regretted waiting. This book was outstanding. It's only January, but I can guarantee this will be at the top of my 'best read this year' list all year.

The description of the book didn't give a ton of context to what to expect when diving into What Happened to the McCrays, and I think that played a good hand into why I enjoyed it so much. All the reader knows going in, is that Kyle left his hometown a few years ago, leaving behind his job, wife, and everything he knew. But now he has had to return home in order to take care of his dad after a stroke.

Once he returns home, the reader gets a look into what Kyle and Casey's life was like before he left, gets to discover the mystery of why he left, and watch these characters rebuild their lives. This book tore me apart - bringing me to tears multiple times, but it also put my heart back together. I felt the grief of these characters so deeply, but I was also able to feel all of the hope within them as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced copy of this book.

4.5 stars

What Happened to the McCrays was the audiobook that kept me company this week, and I really liked it. It was an absorbing and emotional family saga, and by the end, I felt like I knew the characters intimately.

I’ve read We Are the Brennans by the same author, and that was a book that I expected to love a lot more than I actually did, so I was so pleasantly surprised by this one. And the audio was excellent. There are some heavier themes, and one scene that had me feeling just a little cynical, but overall, if family sagas are your jam, I recommend! My book club has chosen this for March, and I look forward to discussing it.

Read If You Like:
- Returning Home after Trauma
- Strong Family Ties
- Stories about trauma & secrets
- Second Chance Romances
- Emotional Plots
- Themes of forgiveness, healing, and community support

Tracey delivered a heartfelt story that made me feel all the feelings yet again!

What Happened to the McCrays? is a heart-wrenching exploration of dynamics of a marriage ripped apart by the weight of grief and guilt after a traumatic event that severed a marriage down the middle and the love that remains buried by grief and guilt.

The story centers on Kyle, who reluctantly returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, after his father suffers a debilitating stroke and is asked to return home to help provide care to his father. Kyle’s return forces him to face the fallout from his abrupt departure just over two years prior, including his strained relationship with his dad and the end of his 16 year marriage to the girl across the street.

As Kyle steps back into his life, he once knew like the back of his hand but has been on the run from, he discovers how deeply his absence has affected himself at a deep level along with those he cares about. The trip home also allows him to see all that he missed and secrets kept from him while he was away, while also uncovering the deeply buried secrets that lead to ruin of his marriage to the love of his life and contributed to his departure from the only home he had ever known.

The story of the McCray’s delicately examines themes of forgiveness, the struggles of being a caregiver, loss and grief. and the way communities can provide strength and support to heal.

To say that Tracey knocked this out of the park is an understatement. She brought the characters to life, their grief, and their love which made the story truly so stunning and had me sobbing along with the characters as they processed the cards that life handed them, and worked on picking up the pieces instead of running from the things that scare us and leave our hearts forever changed.

Thank you to Celadon for the gifted advanced reader copies for the Pages and Prose Bookclub! This was our January Bookclub pick and couldn’t be more thankful! Also huge thanks to Celadon for my gifted e-arc and to Macmillan audio for my gifted ALC!

Wow. Great story.

*

*What Happened to the McCrays?* is a deeply emotional and compelling story about love, loss, and the long road to redemption. Set in the small town of Potsdam, New York, the novel follows Kyle McCray as he returns home after abandoning his family and community over two years ago. With his father recovering from a stroke and his wife, Casey, unwilling to forgive his sudden departure, Kyle finds himself confronting the wreckage of his past.

This book is a true page-turner, but it’s also heartbreaking. The pain caused by Kyle’s actions runs deep, and the author does an excellent job of showing how abandonment can ripple through the lives of everyone involved. As a reader, it’s hard not to feel anger at Kyle for the choices he made, but it’s equally hard not to root for him as he struggles to make amends.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed, each carrying layers of hurt, hope, and humanity. Casey, in particular, shines as a character who balances strength and vulnerability, and her journey is just as gripping as Kyle’s. The middle school hockey subplot adds warmth and a sense of community, offering moments of levity in an otherwise heavy narrative.

The pacing is solid, keeping the story moving while allowing room for reflection and growth. The themes of forgiveness and healing are woven throughout in a way that feels raw and realistic, leaving readers with plenty to think about long after the final page.

*What Happened to the McCrays?* is a powerful, bittersweet novel that will break your heart and slowly piece it back together. For anyone who enjoys stories about family, second chances, and the complexities of relationships, this is a must-read.

Wow! When I started this, I honestly thought it was supposed to be a mystery/suspense type novel. I had received an ARC from NetGalley and needless to say, I did not read the description. I am not going to lie; this book left my heart in pieces. I will post trigger warnings below and I highly suggest reading them before reading.
This book was so well done. It jumps back and forth between “then” and “now” to tell the story of Kyle and Casey’s love story and relationship as well as what split them apart. There are so many characters in this book, but I truly believe they all needed to be there. The main characters and side characters were believable and relatable. The author does a great job keeping you in the story even when you keep wondering, “What broke these two apart?”
This was my first book by Tracey Lange but I can confidently say I will be reading more. She approaches family grief, tragedy, healing, mental health, and so many other important topics so well. She opens up both sides to all of these things and really helps a reader to understand how these hard life things can affect us all differently.
I would highly recommend this. I did a mix of audio and ebook and I was a big fan of the audio.

Trigger warnings:
Grief
Suicide
Death of a family member
Stroke
Divorce