Tracey Lange has done it again in What Happened to the McCrays? pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go. It’s the kind of novel that quietly burrows under your skin, unfolding its secrets with grace, tension, and emotional honesty.

The McCray family felt heartbreakingly real, flawed, complex, and trying their best to navigate the fallout of a tragedy that refuses to stay buried. I was completely immersed in their world, aching for answers, but also just savoring the deeply human moments Lange writes so well. Her insight into family dynamics, guilt, and forgiveness is spot-on and often gut-wrenching.

What I loved most was how the story kept me guessing without sacrificing emotional depth. Every reveal felt earned, and the ending stayed with me long after I closed the book. This is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel about the weight of the past and the courage it takes to face it.

A quietly powerful, unforgettable read.

This may possibly be my favorite from Tracey Lange. I have really enjoyed all of her books but this one just drew me in. It had me in all my feels.

Author Tracey Lange is the best when it comes to writing complicated family dynamic stories. The characters slowly find their way into your heart where they’ll stay awhile. Featuring all the emotions, a close knit community, and a family that is going through heartbreak, and healing.

I read and listened to the audio format and really enjoyed this pairing. Narration was great!

*many thanks to Celadon, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

So you’re telling me you don’t want to read about a guy who ghosted his entire life—including his wife, his job, and his hometown—only to come crawling back because Daddy had a stroke? Kyle McCray is the human embodiment of “I made a mistake but I’m still hot, so forgive me.” He returns to Potsdam, NY, where his ex-wife Casey lives right across the street (because of course she does), and suddenly he’s coaching middle school hockey and rediscovering his feelings. It’s like Friday Night Lights meets emotional damage, with bonus small-town drama and a slow-burn redemption arc that’s somehow both tender and maddening.

Tracey Lange serves up family dysfunction with a side of “maybe we shouldn’t have married our childhood sweetheart after all.” The writing’s heartfelt, the pacing’s tight, and the emotional gut punches sneak up on you like Kyle’s unresolved trauma. Sure, there’s a lot of hockey talk and maybe one too many poetic metaphors about snow and forgiveness, but if you’re into stories where people actually deal with their mess instead of just Instagramming through it, this one’s got bite. Read it for the angst, stay for the emotional payoff—and maybe yell at Kyle a little along the way.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC!

Wow was this really hard to read at times, but I kept finding myself wanting to pick it up and find out what happened and how the story was going to end. The author did a great job of writing characters to care about and root for. I loved the small town feel of Potsdam, the middle school hockey team, the nosy neighbors. The tragedy and sadness in the story was ultimately balanced with love, community, and hope.

Definitely check trigger warnings ♥️

Kyle and Casey McCray were meant to be together since she was 16 and he was 18. Then they weren't and he left their small town of Potsdam, New York for 2 1/2 years. Neither one could really put into words where they went wrong and they wouldn't speak about it to anyone. They just quietly went on with their lives. That is until Kyle's father Danny has a stroke and Kyle finally pick up the messages from the hospital to come home.
This was an epic family saga with, many family members playing an active role in Kyle and Casey's relationship. Their was Danny Kyle's father, Angie, Casey's best friend, the coach, and Wyatt, Casey's disabled brother. All these characters were so endearing and caring towards both Casey and Kyle. They didn't butt in but they also didn't let them wallow either. I just loved everything about this novel. It really taught you a lot about what tragedy can do to a relationship, a family and even a whole community.

~3.75, rounded up~
RECAP: When Kyle McCray returns to Potsdam, NY after his father suffers a stroke, he doesn’t expect forgiveness for leaving abruptly 2 and a half years ago—abandoning his father, friends, business & his wife of 16 years, Casey. Planning only a short stay, Kyle tries to keep his distance, especially after Casey makes it clear she hasn’t forgiven him. But as he reconnects with the community & takes on coaching the struggling middle school hockey team, he begins to find unexpected compassion & a chance at redemption—if he & Casey can find a way to move forward.

REVIEW: I'll start by saying that I'd comp this to Broken Country. As someone who doesn't ever really cry while reading a book, there was one scene in particular that had my eyes super misty! This book will resonate with those who enjoy heartfelt stories about family struggles & second chances; in addition to the family theme, the author delves into grief & divorce, which leant the storyline significant gravity and heaviness.

This is the story of Kyle McCray, who has to return home to take care of his dad after he suffers from a debilitating stroke. Kyle left town over two years ago and had not been planning to come back. He's pretty sure he's not welcome back.

This is the story of grief, loss, family, forgiveness, shame, and so much love. It's a reminder that things are rarely what they seem and a reminder of all the things we give up in the name of caring for someone else, only to hurt them in the process. It's a reminder that suffering in silence is never as effective as suffering and healing together. Some losses are too big but even those, especially those, need the company of grace and love.

This is a very slow-burning story and entirely character-driven. If this is the type of story you are looking for, I recommend this book.

This is the second book I have read from this author and it was just as good if not better than the first one. I like the way this author can create flawed characters and create something so transformative and beautiful. This author made me feel and experience so many things throughout this book. I have "We are the Brennan's" in my TBR and will be moving it up. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Short synopsis: Kyle left town 2.5 years ago, leaving his job, wife and father behind. He returns to town after his dad has a stroke. Helping his dad recover and volunteering for a junior hockey league, Kyle is looking for redemption.

My thoughts: Tracey writes such beautiful stories with flawed characters that feel so lifelike. I adored the second chance for Kyle as he went back to his home town, a second chance at life and at love.

This story is filled with pain, loss, and grief, but the underlying theme is forgiveness, growth, and healing.

I also adored how much Casey cared for the hockey team, she was so invested in their success. True teacher through and through!

Read if you love:
* Complex characters
* Grief and healing
* Second chances
* Hockey town
* Family drama

TW: death of a child, grief, depression, suicide, family estrangement

What Happened to the McCrays? follows Kyle McCray returning to Potsdam, New York, after getting news that his father had a stroke. He disappeared two and a half years ago, abandoning his father, his employees, his friends, and most importantly, his wife, Casey, of sixteen years. He decides to lie low for a while and help his dad as much as he can because Casey made it clear that she wants Kyle gone. The longer he's home, the more he realizes how much of an impact his leaving had on his people. To have his redemption, he decides to coach for a struggling middle school hockey team, and starts to find compassion in the least expected places. He starts to consider staying in Potsdam, but that's only if he and Casey come to find some peace.

After reading and loving The Connellys of County Down, I decided to pick up this one. I realized Lange is now an auto-buy author for me. There is something about Lange's writing that is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking at the same time. From the very beginning, you feel invested in Kyle and Casey. The story is told from Kyle and Casey's perspectives, but you do have the then and now chapters. I love the "then" chapters because you learn that Kyle and Casey are high school sweethearts, and the story takes you on their journey up until Kyle leaves. You learn why Kyle leaves and what Casey went through after he left. These characters are portrayed as flawed, with complex emotions filled with grief and guilt, who can still love and would do anything for the people they truly care about. You root for Casey and Kyle the whole time you're reading this book because it jumps off the page at how much they truly love and care for each other.

Overall, this book is hard-hitting and amazing at the same time. Lange handles these tough topics with care and well-done representation. If you're a character-driven person, this one's for you.

Tracey Lange's What Happened to the McCrays? is one of those novels that just pulls you right into its world. What really stood out to me was the tone and the setting; Lange perfectly captures the feeling of a Rust Belt town in upstate New York. It's got that authentic, lived-in atmosphere that makes the place feel like a character itself.
Right from the start, the central mystery of the McCrays grabs you. This is definitely a book that keeps you reading because you genuinely want to find out what happened. Lange does a great job of peeling back the layers of the past and the town's secrets, making it easy to get lost in the unfolding events. If you appreciate a story where the "where" is as important as the "who" and the "what," you'll likely enjoy this one.

What Happened to the McCrays? was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

I absolutely loved this story. My heart aches for these characters and they have stuck with me long after I finished this book. I have a 10 year old boy, so this hit differently....but I loved it so much. Can't recommend this enough.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5

This was such an emotional story. Packed with family drama, romance, and unforgettable friendships, it delivered layers of emotion I didn’t anticipate.

From the start, we sense that something devastating happened in Kyle McCray’s past—something that makes returning to his hometown unbearable. He’s forced back after his father suffers a stroke, while his ex-wife, Casey, dreads his arrival for reasons that slowly come to light. It’s clear they still love each other, but we’re left wondering: What happened to the McCrays?

Told through dual timelines, the story slowly unravels Kyle and Casey’s love story, building a quiet suspense around the moment everything fell apart. When the truth is finally revealed, it’s heartbreaking. My heart ached repeatedly—especially for Casey, who carried unimaginable grief and guilt for years.

The characters feel achingly real—flawed, vulnerable, and doing their best. The sibling bond between Casey and Wyatt stole my heart. Their quiet sacrifices and unwavering support for each other were some of the most moving moments in the book. The friendships, too, are beautifully written—genuine, messy, and rooted in care.

This is a poignant, heart-aching, and ultimately hopeful novel about family, forgiveness, and the long shadow of trauma. It explores how past pain shapes us, and how second chances don’t erase wounds, but sometimes help us begin to heal.

Loved, loved, loved this. Can’t wait to dive into more of Tracey Lange’s work.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted ARC via NetGalley.

#WhatHappenedToTheMcCrays #TraceyLange #CeladonReads #FamilyDrama #SecondChances

I read this book a while ago, but as I sit down to write my review, the first thing I'm reminded of is how real and authentic the characters and their emotions felt.

After going through something devastating, Kyle flees his hometown of Potsdam, New York and moves all the way across the country. But when he gets news that his father has suffered a stroke, he decides to return and is forced to confront everything he left behind. While the plot itself is quite simple and isn't entirely new - two people that love each other struggling to get past their shared trauma - the strength of this book is in its execution. Every character, including the supporting ones, feel fully realized, and the journey of their growth and healing is captured with the right amount of sensitivity.

If I had to compare this book to a movie, 'Marriage Story' comes to mind. It’s slow and yet intentional. It explores the love, loss and painful complexities of a relationship with raw honesty.

This was a good family drama that Tracey Lange is known for. I'm glad I read it, but not a favorite of the year.

Emotional story of a couple trying to cope with the end of their marriage and the tragedy that precipitated it. The author did a good job portraying the sense of community in the small upstate New York setting. Both of the main characters were flawed and so enveloped in their victim hood that it was at times, difficult to sympathize with them but ultimately it didn't detract from the story

Everyone was raving about What Happened to the McCrays and it totally delivered. It’s a heartfelt story about family and healing with plenty of messy drama that pulled me right in. Seriously, I couldn’t put it down and it's definitely one of those reads you’ll think about for a while.

This was such a beautifully crafted and emotional read.

The book is a masterful storytelling model. It shows us pieces of the past, including how Kyle and Casey fell in love, married, and built a life in town. We learn how Kyle takes care of the people he loves, and Casey internalizes her feelings. We learned what tore Kyle and Casey apart. This author write about family and relationships in an authentic and compelling way.

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.

Definitely recommended for those who enjoy character-driven fiction.