Member Reviews

What Happened To The McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a character driven novel about love, loss, grief, and regret.

Kyle is our first introduction to the McCrays, and I instantly loved him. He is a strong, resilient character who we slowly learn more and more about, discovering that he places a lot of blame on himself.

Casey is next introduced, as our journey continues with the McCrays. She is caring, devoted and over the course of the story, we learn just how much regret she has for a split-second decision; just like Kyle, Casey also places an unfathomable amount of blame on herself.

Told in two timelines, we learn how both Kyle and Casey are pulled together, drawn apart, and how they ultimately find their way back to each other again. Big character arcs, huge mental health representation, and a true-to-life relationship undoing are all present, but at times, I found that Lange's storytelling was tedious and meandering.

Overall, I think this is a case of loving the individual parts of this story, but ultimately feeling indifferent to how they were all put together.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the complimentary copy to read and review.

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This is such a beautiful story of a family that has been shattered, and the painstaking process of picking up the pieces. Lange shows the ripple effect of tragedy and the harsh reality of doing what it takes to survive. There are no happy endings here, but can they learn to be happy again going forward?

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As someone who loved Lange’s first two books, I was beyond thrilled to read “What Happened to the McCrays?”. While I didn’t enjoy this story was much as her other novels, I think this book is going to be well received, leaving readers wondering “what would I do?”.

Once you uncover what happened to Kyle and Casey McCrays, I think all the sadness and brokenness in this book makes sense. However, it’s laced with miscommunication, which is hard for me to overlook, regardless of the ending Lange gifts us.

Set in a small town, this story is more community drama than family drama. The grief and trauma the McCrays face impacts more than just the folks in their household. It’s such a bittersweet story because any ounce of happiness these characters encounter is overshadowed by tragic events.

One thing I would like to highlight that brought me joy was the hockey team both Kyle and Casey coach. Middle schoolers are brutal, and this group provided some humor and light-heartedness to what is a very heavy story. There is a moment after a victory that was absolutely heart wrenching. It was the moment in the book that moved me the most.

While this one didn’t win me over, I’ve read all of Lange’s work and will continue to do so.

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This is a brilliantly beautifully written emotional roller coaster ride novel. You root for and have 100% empathy with the 2 leads, Kyle and Casey, and their families and friends. Plus, for Star, Casey's dog, and of course the middle school hockey team. And I don't want to forget the community of Potsdam. Every one is real. What more can be said other than READ the novel. Hopefully, Tracey Lange will receive the best seller stardom she deserves after this novel.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have never read anything by Tracey Lange, but rest assured I will be checking out her previous and future books, what a blockbuster of a book. I can highly recommend this family drama, the characters may have had their flaws and faults, but the bottom line is that family prevails, Casey, Kyle, Wyatt and Danny had good hearts with good intentions and would do anything for each other, it was shown in this story. This book had me laughing, cheering, and crying. I will not forget this book for a very long time.

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Add another Tracey Lange book to my faves list. What Happened to the McCrays tells the story of Kyle and Casey, once high school sweethearts turned divorcees. It’s a dual timeline story and the now is that Kyle has been summoned back to Potsdam NY to help his ailing father. The reader is left wondering what happened to the McCrays to have them end up here.

The characters Lange creates are perfect, even the furry ones. She does working class Irish Americans so well in this one! All her books just feel like home to me. You will feel such an emotional connection to each of them and their internal and external struggles. She had me on the verge of tears at multiple points throughout this book. Slowly it is revealed how and why Kyle and Casey came to this point in their marriage. The Irish guilt is strong in this one.

Pick this up for a close look at a relationship and its hurdles.

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Tracey Lange is an auto-buy author for me. She writes such complex and nuanced characters, and stories full of emotions. Her writing style is compelling and readable, once I get into one of her books, I have a really hard time putting it down. Fans of emotional, family stories will definitely want to pick this one up!

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took me a week or so to get through the first 25%, but then read the last 75% in one night… definitely was more emotional than i was expecting but i feel as if it showed grief in a very realistic way

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A beautiful family drama. I felt like I lived in the town of Potsdam with the characters. This was a story of love, resilience and second chances. Great book to start off the new year.

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This is the third book I've read from Tracey Lange and unfortunately, it was my least favorite.

Kyle returns home after his father suffers a stroke and is forced to confront his wife Casey after the two have separated. After reading the synopsis, I already knew where this story was going to end up. Unfortunately, it was duller than I anticipated. Tracey Lange does small towns and ensemble casts really well. Unfortunately, this one primarily featured Kyle and Casey who were both really dull. I didn't find their relationship convincing. I didn't even really understand what drew them together to begin with. Overall, this one just plodded along without any real stakes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

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I love a good character driven family drama, and Tracey Lange is now 3 for 3 for me delivering solid stories in this genre.

This book delves into themes of love, loss, grief, family, loyalty and reckoning with one’s past. The characters were all flawed but definitely lovable and I found myself in rooting for them all through the book, even when they were at odds with each other. This is definitely a slow burn story but I felt like it was worth it as we got to know the characters.

Of the three of Lange’s books that I’ve read (the others being The Connellys of County Down and We Are the Brennans), I would say this one was my least favorite but it’s more a testament to how much I loved the other two. I will definitely keep reading anything she writes.

If you want a good character drama to sink into this winter, definitely add this one to your list!

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon books for a free egalley in exchange for an honest review.

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This is Lange's best writing yet - a powerful, redemptive story that I couldn't put down. Absolutely loved all of the characters she created and was sad to leave them at the end.

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Tracey has this way of reaching into your chest, wrapping her fingers around your heart, and squeezing just enough to make you question if it’s bearable.

Kyle and Casey are so unbelievably ordinary - a simple, cozy life they’ve made for themselves in their small town with their small family. They love each other wholeheartedly and terrifyingly - and when the world-shattering tragedy they experience together twists that love into something neither of them recognize, they each run. Kyle physically, Casey emotionally.

The juxtapositions of their all-consuming grief were so beautifully portrayed - as well as the way the grief of their family members and their community rippled ever outward. It’s raw and down-to-earth and gutwrenchingly real. There were several points where I realized I just had tears streaming down my cheeks silently as I read. This book ruined my entire life and I said “thank you”.

This isn’t a romance, but it is a love story - the love between family, between friends, between partners. The love of your community and your home and your past. And it’s also simply a story of being human, and how we find our way through unfathomable heartache to come out changed yet still here.

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This is a sad, beautiful read about a contemporary family that is dealing with a tragic loss in a small town. I enjoyed the writing and will be reading more from this author.

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Tracey Lange is so good at writing family drama. Not outrageous family drama like some stories, just drama that could happen in any family. It just keeps you so engaged with the story.

“What Happened to the McCrays” was wonderful. I love a dual-timeline story and was fully engrossed in these characters lives. Lange will be an automatic read for me in the future, so far she has not missed.

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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!

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If I could rate this book 10 stars I would. I can't begin to understand how an author could pull so much emotion from a reader.

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This book wasn't really for me. While the story addressed issues of grief, loss, and love, I didn't care for how drawn-out it was before we found out what really happened to the McCrays. The cover is perfect for this book.

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"Sometimes you've taken all the shots you can... and then it's time to let someone else carry the puck for a while."

Kyle McCray is brought back to the town he left 2 1/2 years ago after his father suffers a stroke and needs help while recuperating. When Kyle abruptly left with no explanation, he left behind family, friends, coworkers and his wife of 16 years and high school love, Casey. Now that he's back at his dad's home, he is living right next door to the home he shared with Casey; the one he hasn't set foot in, in over 2 years.

What happened to Kyle and Casey McCray that was enough to tear apart the relationship they had built over so many years?

I was hooked from page 1. You will not be able to tear yourself away from this story. This is a heavier read, so readers should be prepared for that. There is a life-altering tragedy that will hurt your heart for the characters involved but there are also more hopeful moments where there is focus on healing and forgiveness. I appreciated that this was set in a small community, and you could feel the love and support from those that surrounded Kyle and Casey. We also get to experience some small town, middle school hockey which does give a little relief from the heavier topics of the book.

Tracey Lange has a talent for writing wonderful stories with beautifully, broken characters. This one is out now, and I would highly recommend getting a copy! Thank you NetGalley, Celadon books and Tracey Lange for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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This author pulls you into a story like no other! If she writes it, you should read it! This one is emotional! The way the story flows from past to present is perfection!!! So good! Her character development is always unmatched.

First time loves have drifted apart with heavy struggles of life. They are brought back together with a constant push and pull.

I 100% recommend.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this as an ARC!

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