1/27/25: Just published Jan 14th - congratulations to author Tracey Lange for another heart-felt family drama novel. I previously gave 5-stars to her 2021 book We Are The Brennans and I was all-in for her latest, with thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing the book in exchange for my honest review.

This novel utilizes an alternating chapter flashback structure starting with current time and Kyle McCray traveling back to Potsdam NY to help his father. We soon learn of his connection to Casey, who still lives across the street with her disabled adult brother. The book then goes back in time to when Kyle and Casey met back in high school. The timeline slowly merges together until the big reveal the book is built around and hints at throughout.

I really enjoyed the story arcs between Kyle and his father, Kyle and Casey's brother, and Kyle as a hockey coach. I felt Casey's narrative was very compelling, but still less interesting to me. In the second half I questioned some of her choices - they felt less authentic to me than I expected after reading the first half, but not way off the mark. There are 2-3 very heavy topics the book is centered around and is focused more on in the 2nd half that would make it unsuitable for some readers, so proceed with caution (no spoilers). I would love to read a future novel about Casey's brother!

With all that said, I really love Lange's writing, her character development, the scope of her "cast," and unique characteristics of each person that make us respect, empathize and love their journey. This is a book where there are no bad guys, just humans doing the best they can. Overall a very enjoyable read for me, and I'm not finding a lot of those lately. 4-stars.

1/11/25: Just approved by NetGalley to review this upcoming release! Looking forward to reading it as it looks like it has great reviews.

I really enjoyed Tracy Lange's new book What Happened to the McCrays. The story centers on Kyle, who left town and left his loved ones behind. Now he's come home to deal with family difficulties. As the story unfolds we come to understand why Kyle left and we learn about his and Casey's story. The supporting characters of Kyle's father, Wyatt, and the hockey players add depth to this family drama. I appreciate how the author unfolded the backstory of how and why Kyle and Casey came to be separated

I was leaning toward a four-star ranking until the author had me in tears at one crucial part of the story, which lifted this to a five-star read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. What Happened to the McCrays is available now.

What a beautiful, sad and heartwarming story. Casey’s and Kyle’s grief is felt through the pages while they navigate loss, both mental and physical. This is exactly what I look for in a great story. Tracey Lange will always be an automatic buy for me.

You can go home again but then you have to deal with the reasons you left.
What happened to the McCrays? This is Tracy Langes third novel. Like her past two, it revolves around family dynamics. I normally adore stories about families messy business.
We meet Casey McCray, middle school teacher, newly divorced and dealing with some heavy emotional baggage but we aren’t introduced to why for quite some time.
Kyle McCray, Casey’s ex husband, gets a call his father had a stroke and he has to come home to his former town in New York and help his dad get back on his feet. Only problem is- Casey is there and why he left is unknown.
We flash back and forth from the present to the past when Casey and Kyle met in HS and got married. We learn about their heavy emotional baggage. And we wade through a lot of unnecessary ice hockey filler…
This one was definitely too Hallmark for me. It was a typical story of a couple who love each other but separated but will never stop loving each other- yadda yadda- and then the ending you can use your imagination for.
I much prefer Langes last two novels that had some grit.
If you like romance stories you may really enjoy this one- if you like ice hockey- you may really enjoy this one. We all know I require more disfunction in my books.

This book is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of family dynamics. The narrative centers on Kyle McCray, who returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, after his father suffers a debilitating stroke. Having abruptly left two and a half years prior—abandoning his wife, Casey, and the life they built together—Kyle faces the challenges of confronting past mistakes and seeking redemption.

The novel delves into the reasons behind Kyle’s sudden departure and the subsequent unraveling of his marriage. Through a dual timeline structure, Lange skillfully unveils the couple’s shared history, allowing readers to empathize with both perspectives. The characters are richly developed, each grappling with their own grief and guilt, making their journey toward healing both authentic and heart-wrenching.

A notable subplot involves Kyle’s involvement with a struggling middle school hockey team. As a former high school hockey star, coaching becomes a conduit for his personal growth and a means to reconnect with the community he left behind. This element adds depth to the story, highlighting themes of mentorship, community, and the redemptive power of sports.

This was an emotionally resonant story that lingered long after the final page.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital; ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Happened to the McCrays is a well-written, drama-filled story. The characters had incredible depth, and the story flowed well when parts were told from past to present. Evoking emotion at times, I thought the story touched upon relatable topics. I am curious about the audiobook and may listen to it because I enjoy listening to narration.

It was fun to get my NetGalley "wish granted" for this one, I have adored Tracey Lange's complex family relationships before and was pretty gleeful to get this one :)

The reviews here reflect what a well-crafted novel this is, so I won't repeat their synopses. If you're in the mood to feel some feels, this is the one.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so freaking good. I cried and my heart broke and it also was heartwarming. It was every feeling!! So so so good.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow okay this was a stunning book. I absolutely adore the way Tracey Lange can take real life problems and lace them with true emotion to tell a heartbreaking, emotional story. What Happened to the McCrays took my breath away multiple times. It was heart wrenching and raw to see these characters grapple with their problems. It was also beautiful to see them grow and find strength as they were honest with themselves. This was a book that once I finished I had to sit in my feelings and really let the book wash over me. It was a beautiful journey & I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an ARC of Tracey Lange’s What Happened to the McCrays. The book delivers an intriguing premise and moments of heartfelt drama, but it didn’t quite measure up to Lange’s previous novels in my opinion. While I found it enjoyable overall, I wanted more from its characters and their emotional arcs.

The story, centered around the McCray family and their long-held secrets, had plenty of potential for deep, complex storytelling. However, the characters felt a bit flat to me, lacking the depth and nuance that would have made their struggles more compelling. Their actions and decisions sometimes felt predictable, which made it harder to fully connect with the emotional stakes of the narrative.

That said, this author will remain an auto-buy for me and I look forward to her next novel! I was so excited for this book that I have a hard copy from Book of the Month as well.

I love Tracey Lange’s books! They never disappoint! This one is pretty heavy in parts, but 100% would recommend!
Kyle McCray is hundreds of miles away when he gets a call that his dad suffered a stroke and will need someone to take care of him. With no other siblings or family members to help Kyle reluctantly heads back to Potsdam New York to a place he left almost 3 years ago leaving people disappointed with him. He’s worried on how the community will respond to his return.
Casey his wife of sixteen years and loved by the community won’t be happy to see him back. They have been divorced for years and don’t speak.
Being back is hard, but the longer he’s back slowly the cracks start to fill. He starts getting closure and realizing a fresh start was what he needed to get back to the people he loves.

First, let me say that I adore Tracey Lange’s writing and think she is a true storyteller. After seeing many, many five star reviews for this book, I had to get my hands on it! Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me. 😭
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Ultimately, I think I needed more plot. I was bored. I never wanted to pick it up. Yes it was tragic. Yes I was rooting for the characters. Yes I love a then/now timeline. But the feelings just did not run deep. I didn’t feel connected with the story.
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The hockey team added some feel good vibes, but some of the dialogue was cringey. And there’s no way Kyle didn’t know what GOAT means, especially being such a huge Gretzky fan. 🙄
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I landed on three stars because of the wonderful writing, but I’m not sure if I would recommend this one to a friend. As always, many thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you Caladon books and Netgalley for this ARC!

This is an absolutely beautifully written novel with excellent character development. This novel can be very hard to read for people because it is so emotionally provoking. This novel surrounds a family who has suffered grief and a son who returns home and everyone who had left behind. This was definitely emotional. There is a semi unexpected death. I definitely don’t think that this book would be for everyone who has a lot of trigger warnings or struggles with death and grief. I highly recommend this novel though, but check check your trigger warnings.

I started this book several times, not sure that I wanted to finish it. The writing and character development are terrific. I had trouble with the storyline being upsetting to me. The gist of the story is what happens to a family when a disaster occurs, how to recover from it and continue on with the rest of your lives. Be aware that parts of this story might be upsetting to readers. However, if you are looking for a beautifully written novel that will have you thinking about for awhile, this book is for you.

Getting a phone call from the hospital that your father had a stroke, brings a son back home, to his home town. And everyone that he left behind. Great book, just be aware, that a child dies. And the story of two brokenhearted parents. Yes, this will have you crying. The tears just feel from my eyes. I was just a little disappointed in the ending.

I really struggled with this book. I was very bored and had to force myself to pick it up and read. I didn’t connect with the characters and that made it tough for me to be invested in the story!

This novel is definitely going to be hard to beat as one of my favorite books of 2025 I had been seeing amazing early reviews for this story and from the first chapter, I was hooked into this story. It did not disappoint at all. One of my all time favorite books is This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper and from the start I got very similar vibes as I get whenever I am reading that book.

Tracey Lange created well developed characters in this dual timeline family drama, where Kyle is returning home after leaving everything and everyone behind two and a half years ago. It felt as if the characters were real people and I found myself not wanting the story to end for Kyle and Casey. The story was relatable and setting was a place you could imagine yourself in. I had not previously read any books by the author, but I've already gotten another by her to read soon. I can't wait to see what else she writes in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really appreciated What Happened to the McCrays? - a story of love and loss. The author did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life and showcasing the power of community. However,, given that the world is so broken right now,, I find it difficult to read sad and tragic books - I probably would have enjoyed it even more during a different time, but it is a worthwhile read if you’re up for it.

I really wasn't prepared for this book! I have lived the same thing as this family.

It reminds me of how blessed I am. The friendships, the family, the tribe that surrounds this family is something that everyone experiences. I loved the way you get to see these characters grow and evolve through the heart breaks of life! Loved this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Celedon Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TraceyLange #WhatHappenedToTheMcCrays