I could not put Lange’s newest book down. It was funny, heartbreaking and beautiful. The way she has woven the past and present and the development of her characters really pulls you into the story. I definitely shed some tears. This book was her best yet. Thank you to Net Galley and Celadon Books for the arc!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected digital ARC of 'What Happened to the McCrays'  by Tracey Lange - expected release date 01/14/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Lange's books are never short on family drama. They also include relatable, real, and (mostly) likeable characters and easy to follow, well rounded storylines. Her writing is articulate, clean and well done.

Wyatt was great but Star was the star of the show...as a dog lover I was pleasantly surprised and I enjoyed that a loyal dog was included as a tertiary character! Casey's suicide attempt was foreshadowed but then felt a little glossed over and randomly plopped in once revealed. I'm glad Lange went back into the why of the moment, further in the storyline, to give that intense arc the respect it deserved. The 'then and now' perspective was easy to follow and important to the story development.

Also, the book cover is everything...

Kind of a random little thing to notice but I loved the few mentions of the trains. Id lived in 3 different homes, also in a small town like Potsdam, and train tracks were close to all 3. Relatable way for Lange to reiterate small town life.

Easter egg, she fits in Mickey Brennan, and the Brennan's Pub from 'We Are The Brennans'! It had no importance to the story but was a cute nod to her past writing.

Tracey Lange has become one of those wonderfully reliable authors of emotional contemporary fiction about real people. My current favorite in this realm is Ethan Joella, but Lange is up there. I was less enthusiastic about her second book, but I loved her debut, We Are the Brennans, and this one put me right back in my feels. There is a lot here about grief, what we owe the people we love, selfishness and self-sacrifice, and how hard it is to just speak the truth out loud even when not doing so can ruin your life. It didn't hurt that the main female character teaches 8th graders just like I do and I could relate to how important your relationship with your students can be. Lange's writing is simple and her characters feel very much like ordinary people, and I'm saying those things as a compliment. Sometimes this kind of story is just what you need.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel. I had already bought it from BOTM, but it was nice to have an e-galley as well!

Thank you Netgalley & Celadon Books for an eARC ♥️

_Family Drama Alert!_🔥

I just spent the last few days immersed in the messy, beautiful world of "What Happened to the McCrays?" by Tracey Lange. As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of all things family drama, I was HOOKED. I mean, who doesn't love a good story about complicated relationships, secrets, and redemption?

Kyle McCray's return to his hometown after a two-and-a-half-year absence sets off a chain reaction of emotions, confrontations, and ultimately, redemption. Lange masterfully weaves together the threads of love, forgiveness, and community, creating a tapestry that's both heartbreaking and hopeful.

What I loved most about this book was its unflinching portrayal of family dynamics. The McCrays are flawed, relatable, and sometimes downright infuriating – but they're also capable of profound love and growth. I found myself rooting for them, even when they were at their worst.

Lange's writing is evocative and empathetic, making it easy to become fully invested in the lives of the McCrays. The characters are multidimensional and complex, with rich inner lives that leap off the page.

The setting of Potsdam, New York, adds a charming small-town feel to the story, complete with quirky locals and a strong sense of community. The hockey team that Kyle coaches becomes a symbol of hope and redemption, and I loved watching the team come together.

Rating: 5/5 ♥️

Wow, Tracey Lange is an autobuy author for me at this point. She writes poignant stories about families with real problems that completely shatter and emotionally hijack me.

Thank you @celadonbooks for my early copy of @tracey_lange WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? Publishing Jan 14, 2025.

I have loved every single novel Lange has written and I loved this one as well.

What Happened to the McCrays follows the McCray family (obvs) in a dual-timeline perspective and dual character POVS. These are not easy tasks to accomplish and she does it so well.

The novel starts with Kyle and Casey, divorced and both carrying a heavy, intimate burden. We as readers don’t quite know what literally has “happened to the McCrays” but we walk along side them as they unpack life, young love, marriage, joy and heartache along with their dreams and aspirations. I enjoyed the hockey reprieve in the midst of the mystery and how this becomes a woven theme amidst their pain.

Beautifully, beautifully done, ALL THE STARS, Tracey, what an amazing novel!

There are some specific trigger warnings with this novel that could be upsetting, please reach out if you want to know more before approaching the novel. Mentions of suicide, death of a young child, divorce, mental health.

This is a new to me author and I was eager to try this title bc I had heard such great reviews. It didn’t do it for me. It seemed like a lot of other books I’ve read and was bland. Thanks to the author and publisher for this copy for review

This book seems to have it all -- a small town setting, loads of secrets and tragedy and conflict, and perhaps most importantly, realistic characters with understandable flaws. The pacing is a bit leisurely but I quickly sunk into the story. Another winner from Tracey Lange.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Did the McCrays just dethrone the Brennans?! I THINK SO! I LOVED LOVED LOVED this. No one can write these families like Tracey Lange does. I don’t get how she does it. The hockey. The community. The tragedy. Ugh this one hurt my heart but also put it back together. The beartown vibes are there. This was everything and more. I’ll be thinking about this one a long time. ❤️

After reading We Are the Brennans and The Connellys of County Down, I couldn’t wait to read What Happened to the McCrays.
Tracy does family drama with a strong FMC with secrets like no one else. In this case, the story is about Kyle and Casey and how they went from boyfriend and girlfriend in high school to divorced 16 years later. Kyle had been Casey’s main support system since her mom died and it felt like they were meant for each other. But life took some unexpected turns that led Kyle to leave.
This dual timeline had me in tears. While Casey seemed strong on the outside she was dealing with a lot. Between suffering in silence of all the things that slowly broke her, she was not living she was merely existing. She was stuck in a life of routine, of wanting to be kept so busy she didn’t have time to think about her own issues. She was stuck, and it wasn’t until Kyle had to return to Potsdam that they finally hashed out what had pulled them apart. They both felt pain and guilt for years that neither of them worked through until he came back.
The way that this story unfolds is perfection. First the reader gets to know the main characters and then the details of what broke the marriage comes to the forefront, and it will break your heart.
I was rooting for them from the beginning, but I was also in shock about everything Casey gone through. Life can be cruel and sad and unbelievably painful, but it can also be beautiful if you allow yourself grace and forgiveness.

What Happened to the McCrays is a sweet, fulfilling family drama. The story has past and present timelines intertwined to reveal the tragic issues that created such suffering for the primary characters and their families. A quick and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Tracey Lange was a new to me author and my gosh have I been missing her writing from my life. This book was amazing. I am going to go see what I can find in her backlog now.

Tracey Lange is exceptional at creating strong characters. I felt like I knew Kyle and Casey and was invested in their relationship. Unfortunately something didn't quite work with this book. It's pretty clear early on what tore their marriage apart and yet iit takes forever for it to be revealed. By the time it is. It almost doesn't matter anymore. There's too much unnecessary details bringing it down and I found myself skimming passages. The ending also seemed very obvious.

5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and @celadonbooks for the ARC of this novel.

Kyle has returned to the small town he left to care for his father. It’s no secret Casey is not happy to see him arrive across the street. Their story will make you smile, break your heart, you will no doubly love both of them and their surrounding community.

This novel has it all: love, hockey, triumph, pain, and my favorite a lovable dog.

Sensitive readers: This novel has a lot of trigger warnings which I normally would list. However, Lange writes about them in a careful and empathic way. Listing them would give away the book. Trust your heart on this one.

I will absolutely read anything Tracey Lange writes! You should make sure you read this book ASAP!
Life is hard. Life is beautiful. This book is full of hope for a couple that once shared a beautiful life but just can't seem to forgive each other or themselves for the times when life was hard. This book gave me all the feelings - some I wanted to feel and some I didn't. 4.5 stars

Read this if you like:
•small towns
•complicated family dynamics
•grief/healing/sad girl romances
•dual POV

oh my heart. This book was heartbreaking and also heartwarming. So much depth in this book. Lots of heavy topics handled so delicately. Thank you NetGalley!

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Tracey Lange's latest novel through Netgalley, but I already read it through BOTM!!

This is Lange's best work yet. This is a heartbreaking story of Kyle and Casey told in both their point of views. The chapters alternate between then and now and Lange does a great job unfolding the history of the McCray family.

This is a heartbreaking read with a lot of triggers, including child death. I was completely invested in the story and routing for Kyle and Casey throughout. Lange does a great job showing how lack of communication and internalizing feelings can change the trajectory of one's relationship.

I loved Lange's description of the Potsdam community, including their love of hockey and each other.

Highly recommend What Happened to the McGrays!

If you love a deeply emotional book about love, loss, grief, and the power of forgiveness oneself, this has to be on your TBR. I don't read a lot of fiction like this, but I really enjoyed my time in upstate New York with a formerly married couple, her brother, and a hockey team of tween-aged boys.

I've read all three of Lange's books and, to me, this was written and paced more like a romance novel than I remember her other books being. No complaints from me, as this is such a strong second chance at love story.

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!

this book broke my heart and then put it back together again. a tale of a family driven apart and tragedy, told largely as they meet again. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Kyle left town abruptly two years ago and is back to help take care of an ailing father. Once back he tries to stay low but starts to realize how much an impact he left behind on his family and friends including his beloved wife of 16 years.

This was a typical Tracey Lange book about Family strife and estrangement. Characters who don't communicate and a bit forgettable. With hockey in the background my go to comparison is Bear Town which this falls short but if you enjoyed we are the Brennans you will probably like this one as well.