While I usually hate dual timelines, I liked this one. It was well-written. The story was great. I loved the flawed characters that still made you love them.

My third book from Mrs Tracey Lange. I have been reading her family dramas since she introduced us to the Brennan’s. Which to this day is my favorite of the families. I feel like this one veered off a bit from the other two books. It felt more like simple fiction instead of mystery… and that’s exactly what I have enjoyed from her other books. Overall, just ok characters and storyline.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy of What Happened to the McCrays. Tracey Lange has written one of my favorite books ever - We are the Brennans so I was extremely excited to dive into her new book! What Happened to the McCrays did not top We are the Brennans for me, but it was a solid read. It was an extremely emotional book that dove deep into the most unthinkable of life events. It is not a light read, but I am happy to have read it. It will stick with me for a long time.

Kyle is called home amidst news of his dad’s stroke. He’s been gone a couple of years and you get the idea pretty quickly that he left in a rush under bad circumstances. What unfolds is a propulsive family drama featuring themes of grief, loss, marriage, estrangement, forgiveness and more. I thought this was well done! I was really invested in Kyle, his ex Casey, learning what tore them apart, and figuring out if they’ll be able to come back together. Please research triggers on this book! It packs quite an emotional punch. My only complaints involve “everything that can go wrong will go wrong” for one character. Can’t they catch a break?! Besides that, I’m eager to look up this author’s backlist. Thanks to NetGalley for this digital arc!

Tracey Lange is well-known for her family sagas at this point and is a staple author of the formula. This book, while not as good as her previous outings (in my opinion) did not disappoint! An emotional and captivating tale, this had me reading well into the hours of the night.

Well this book tore a hole right in my heart. I am a sucker for an emotionally damaging story, and this was def one!! I loved the alternating timeline, how we got to see Kyle and Casey before, and after. My heart aches for them, for the hurt and pain that was so clearly there, but also for all they had and what was still there between them. I couldn’t put this one down. I loved the hockey team element!! Loved how Kyle paced on the front lawn. I loved Wyatt and Danny, and the support they had around them. Be prepared, this deals with some tough stuff. But I love a second chance, and this one gave me a great one. Highly recommend!!!

I went into this book knowing nothing except that it was a BOTM pick. By the end the characters felt like family and I didn’t want to say goodbye 😭 I felt EVERY emotion!! Although it’s not a genre I usually gravitate towards, this reallyyyyy made me appreciate well-written literary fiction. I usually struggle to get into more character-driven stories but these were *chef’s kiss*. Highly recommend if you’re looking to feel all the feels and be engulfed in snowy east coast vibes. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! 📚

I love a good family drama. This took a turn I wasn't expecting and ended up being more heartbreaking than I thought it would be.

My goodness this book broke my heart over and over. Easily a contender for favourite book of the year. It was so moving, so heartbreaking and beautiful in its own way.

It's so hard to write reviews about books that I've loved, because there's so much to say yet simply saying this book was incredible feels like enough. Tracey Lange is an incredible storyteller, bringing you into her world and her characters lives like they're friends.

If you loved Beartown, I think you'd love this book. It's full of grief, family and forgiving and most importantly - love and finding it in our own ways.

I love that Tracey Lange's books are always about real life. It's messy, but could actually happen to a person. This book is no different. It follows a family through tragedy and overcoming the grief of the tragedy even years later. It's a beautiful. Definitely not light or "fun" but engaging and a great story.

So far I have read everything that Tracey Lange has came out with. I have enjoyed every single one of them. I felt all the feelings reading this book. It was wonderful with a lot of painful moments. I would 100% recommend. There is a big trigger warning(child death) that happens off screen.

Tracey Lange is becoming the Queen of family drama fiction. I’ve read all three of her books now (reviews to come!) and the way she crafts her characters is something else! They are all these beautiful, complex people with such depth to them. To me, Kyle (MMC) and Casey (FMC) are perfect, even with their flaws and all. The situations and the mistakes they make mirror real-life so naturally, and I just want to forgive them on the behalf of everyone.

This book is slightly different than Lange’s previous two books, in that it focuses more on a marriage than siblings. Perhaps because of that, we do get a little more romance than her previous two. It’s just a tantalizing amount, though- it had me wanting for more! (Although I think how it was done was perfect.) This one also focuses on grief more, and I was probably crying for about half of the book. I’m not sure if it’s because it really got me in my feelings, but this was definitely my favorite book of hers so far!

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Lovers of family drama, general/contemporary fiction, books great for book clubs - lots of discussion opportunities.

It took me a long time to get through this book but that’s just because of who I am. I struggle to get into literary/contemporary fiction because I usually need some anticipation to get me hooked. With that being said, I really liked this book! It was a sweet, tragic, and emotional family drama story. I found myself loving all the characters and wishing the best for them. I was even cheering on the little hockey team in my head and wishing I could pet the dog. If you like realistic stories with second chances that make you feel all the things while you’re reading, this one is for you!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the privilege of reading the ARC of What Happened to the McCrays?! And to Tracey Lange for writing it.

Tracey Lange is excellent at writing stories with complex family dynamics and well-drawn characters, and What Happened to the McCrays? is no different in that regard. A poignant, moving, enthralling story, I couldn’t help but read through it in one sitting.

Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Tracey Lange, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Almost a tear jerker for me, this was touching and lovely. Not a thriller, or horror, or chick-lit, just a well written story about a man coming home to tend to his father after a stroke, facing his personal demons and those affected when he suddenly departed for another life. I could feel the depth of the emotions of each character as the storyline flows, it was sad at times but also heart felt and hopeful glad I chose to read this one. Recommended.

Thank you to author Tracey Lange and NetGalley for granting my wish!

Tracey Lange has such a talent for writing about family dynamics. This story in particular focuses on grief and how it affects everyone around you. The way she shows how each character deals with their grief and in turn deals with each other is seamless and relatable. If Tracey Lange writes it....I'm going to read it!

I loved The Connelly’s, but I didn’t feel any attachment to the McCray’s. Their story was heartbreaking, their journey together had its ups and downs, and their love for hockey was sweet.

The first half of the book was tedious so I resorted to an audiobook to get myself through it. When I was more than halfway though I knew that I detested Casey’s character, she was just so whiny and hateful throughout the entire book and I had already guessed what would happen between her and Kyle in the end.

This author knows how to make the reader feel alllllll the feels. I felt like I was a part of the family while reading this. There was not a character I could hate because I was just rooting for everyone and all their faults. I shall be reading more of this author again.

Love me a dual timeline and this one drives the reason why home. The timelines are a beautiful ebb and flow of questions, secrets, suspense, and finally answers to this family drama. While in the present time, we are left wondering what happened to the McCrays - geez, does that title ever fit. I thought it more than once. The characters are at times lovable and at times not, stick with it, it all comes together and you won’t get the story out of your head for a long time. Fantastic writing and I need more books by this author.

From New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange, a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey

When Kyle McCray gets word his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, where he doesn’t expect a warm welcome. Kyle left suddenly two and a half years ago, abandoning people who depended on him: his father, his employees, his friends―not to mention Casey, his wife of sixteen years and a beloved teacher in town. He plans to lie low and help his dad recuperate until he can leave again, especially after Casey makes it clear she wants him gone.

The longer he’s home, the more Kyle understands the impact his departure has had on the people he left behind. When he’s presented with an opportunity for redemption as the coach of the floundering middle school hockey team, he begins to find compassion in unexpected places. Kyle even considers staying in Potsdam, but that’s only possible if he and Casey can come to some kind of peace with each other.

Full of love and hope, What Happened to the McCrays? takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it.

The Connellys of County Down was the first of Tracey Lange's books I read, and really enjoyed it, and I'm happy to say What Happened to the McCray's was just as enjoyable! Although this overall isn't a romance, it had a second-chance romance within it, and I loved learning about Kyle and Casey's relationship and was pulling for them to find their way back to each other. I also really liked the family dynamics, small town setting and the other characters in the book. There are some heavy topics addressed, but Lange handled them with care, and they added depth to the story and were believable/not gratuitous or over the top.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

CW: Mother abandonment, divorce, loss of a child, loss of a parent, attempted suicide, complicated parental relationship