Read If You Like:
- Returning Home after Trauma
- Strong Family Ties
- Stories about trauma & secrets
- Second Chance Romances
- Emotional Plots
- Themes of forgiveness, healing, and community support

Tracey delivered a heartfelt story that made me feel all the feelings yet again!

What Happened to the McCrays? is a heart-wrenching exploration of dynamics of a marriage ripped apart by the weight of grief and guilt after a traumatic event that severed a marriage down the middle and the love that remains buried by grief and guilt.

The story centers on Kyle, who reluctantly returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, after his father suffers a debilitating stroke and is asked to return home to help provide care to his father. Kyle’s return forces him to face the fallout from his abrupt departure just over two years prior, including his strained relationship with his dad and the end of his 16 year marriage to the girl across the street.

As Kyle steps back into his life, he once knew like the back of his hand but has been on the run from, he discovers how deeply his absence has affected himself at a deep level along with those he cares about. The trip home also allows him to see all that he missed and secrets kept from him while he was away, while also uncovering the deeply buried secrets that lead to ruin of his marriage to the love of his life and contributed to his departure from the only home he had ever known.

The story of the McCray’s delicately examines themes of forgiveness, the struggles of being a caregiver, loss and grief. and the way communities can provide strength and support to heal.

To say that Tracey knocked this out of the park is an understatement. She brought the characters to life, their grief, and their love which made the story truly so stunning and had me sobbing along with the characters as they processed the cards that life handed them, and worked on picking up the pieces instead of running from the things that scare us and leave our hearts forever changed.

Thank you to Celadon for the gifted advanced reader copies for the Pages and Prose Bookclub! This was our January Bookclub pick and couldn’t be more thankful! Also huge thanks to Celadon for my gifted e-arc and to Macmillan audio for my gifted ALC!

Wow. Great story.

*

*What Happened to the McCrays?* is a deeply emotional and compelling story about love, loss, and the long road to redemption. Set in the small town of Potsdam, New York, the novel follows Kyle McCray as he returns home after abandoning his family and community over two years ago. With his father recovering from a stroke and his wife, Casey, unwilling to forgive his sudden departure, Kyle finds himself confronting the wreckage of his past.

This book is a true page-turner, but it’s also heartbreaking. The pain caused by Kyle’s actions runs deep, and the author does an excellent job of showing how abandonment can ripple through the lives of everyone involved. As a reader, it’s hard not to feel anger at Kyle for the choices he made, but it’s equally hard not to root for him as he struggles to make amends.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed, each carrying layers of hurt, hope, and humanity. Casey, in particular, shines as a character who balances strength and vulnerability, and her journey is just as gripping as Kyle’s. The middle school hockey subplot adds warmth and a sense of community, offering moments of levity in an otherwise heavy narrative.

The pacing is solid, keeping the story moving while allowing room for reflection and growth. The themes of forgiveness and healing are woven throughout in a way that feels raw and realistic, leaving readers with plenty to think about long after the final page.

*What Happened to the McCrays?* is a powerful, bittersweet novel that will break your heart and slowly piece it back together. For anyone who enjoys stories about family, second chances, and the complexities of relationships, this is a must-read.

Wow! When I started this, I honestly thought it was supposed to be a mystery/suspense type novel. I had received an ARC from NetGalley and needless to say, I did not read the description. I am not going to lie; this book left my heart in pieces. I will post trigger warnings below and I highly suggest reading them before reading.
This book was so well done. It jumps back and forth between “then” and “now” to tell the story of Kyle and Casey’s love story and relationship as well as what split them apart. There are so many characters in this book, but I truly believe they all needed to be there. The main characters and side characters were believable and relatable. The author does a great job keeping you in the story even when you keep wondering, “What broke these two apart?”
This was my first book by Tracey Lange but I can confidently say I will be reading more. She approaches family grief, tragedy, healing, mental health, and so many other important topics so well. She opens up both sides to all of these things and really helps a reader to understand how these hard life things can affect us all differently.
I would highly recommend this. I did a mix of audio and ebook and I was a big fan of the audio.

Trigger warnings:
Grief
Suicide
Death of a family member
Stroke
Divorce

The call we all dread "Something has happened to your dad, and we need you to come 'home'" Kyle left his small town two years ago leaving his estranged wife Casey behind and now has no choice but to face the things he thought he was leaving behind.

This book got me from the start and didn't let go. Amazingly written and really tugged at my heart strings. The narration was great!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book and will be recommending it to all my friends.

This was a beautifully layered and deeply heartwarming family drama!

Lange’s character development is unmatched, consistently delivering intricate and compelling casts with every story. In this novel, her brilliance shines as she delves into the unraveling and restoration of a marriage after a devastating tragedy, exploring the profound complexities of forgiveness.

Although I’ve enjoyed Lange’s previous work, this is her finest yet! If you’re a fan of Beartown or small-town tales with a hockey backdrop, this one is a must-read!

While Tracey Lange’s newest novel What Happened to the McCrays? releases January 14, it’s one of my top books of 2024 since I listened to a review copy in December thanks to Macmillan Audio. The audiobook narrated by Stephanie Nemeht-Parker and William DeMeritt was an excellent way to experience it.

Ms. Lange’s straightforward writing style immediately drew me into this plot that includes loss and grief, siblings, coming-of-age, second chance romance, hockey, a small town setting, and much more. It covers the full range of emotions from deep sorrow to pure joy, all of which felt genuine thanks to its salt-of-the-earth characters. Content warning: death of a child

Readers become well acquainted with hero Kyle and heroine Casey as both tell the story, in the past and in present day. The wonderful cast of secondary characters range from teens to senior citizens, and the authenticity of the relationship between Casey and Kyle’s father deeply touched my heart. I felt like these were people I knew - or would like to know - in real life. As in The Connellys of County Down, Ms. Lange writes sibling relationships with great nuance.

Tracey Lange is quickly becoming an auto-read author; I hope to read We Are the Brennans to be a completist of her novels.

This novel accidentally became my final read of 2024 due to not reading at all during the Christmas chaos, but I'm not mad about it. I was a little bit dreading starting it, honestly, because I thought it was going to be a cold sad tragedy. And it was both cold and sad, but it was also lovely and warm and hopeful! I truly love a small town setting, I love the closeness of the community and how everyone in this story supported and cared for one another. Do take care to read the content warnings, but I'd recommend this for fans of family drama and romance!

This book. It ripped my heart out multiple times, I cried twice, I cared about everybody, and definitely procrastinated a lot of things that needed doing in order to finish listening to this one. You will want to know what happened to the McCrays, the people in their world, and their lives, and if you do not feel satisfied at the book's conclusion, then maybe you are not a reader. (Spoiler: everyone is a reader.)

Tracey Lange does an incredible job of creating worlds. The worlds are all in Upstate New York (which I love), and every story feels like a real truth. It's as though her books are all true stories, fractured family biographies, and that is the gift. It's like spending time with flawed, vulnerable, raw people and I end up cheering for the unlikeliest of characters. I am cheering for the humanity, in the end.

*And if you ask where in Upstate New York, well if you ask ten different people where Upstate New York begins, you will ten different answers.
(This is a paraphrase of a line from the book, and I thought it was hilarious. But maybe only to people from Upstate New York.)

What Happened to the McCrays?
by Tracey Lange
5/5 ⭐

Kyle and Casey McCray have been estranged for the past two years. However, when Kyle’s father has a stroke, he must return home and face the family issues he walked away from. Quickly, Kyle realizes how significantly his absence has affected those he left behind. When offered a chance to coach a struggling middle school hockey team, he discovers compassion and forgiveness. Kyle slowly mends his relationships with his friends and family.
I love a book that profoundly impacts my emotions. This book shattered my heart and then pieced it back together again repeatedly. It had me smiling through my tears! My only complaint is that the reason for Kyle and Casey’s separation is disclosed quite late in the story. I would have appreciated more time to fully process that heart-wrenching moment. Nevertheless, Lange’s characters and storytelling are masterfully crafted, creating a beautiful story about second chances and forgiveness.

When Kyle McCray’s father suffers a stroke, Kyle returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, for the first time in over two years. He left suddenly, walking away from his family, friends, and wife, Casey. Now, he’s back in a town where he’s no longer welcome and he must try to fix some of the damage he caused. Along the way, he discovers that making things right might not be as impossible as he thought.

I absolutely loved What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange. It’s an emotional and heartwarming story about love, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters felt so real, and I was deeply invested in their struggles and growth. This book made me cry, but it also left me feeling hopeful and full of warmth.

Tracey Lange has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved all three of her books, and I’m always looking forward to reading her work. I actually finished this book in December, but I was waiting for my physical copy to post my review. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, and they both did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

Tracey Lange does family drama so well. I really liked We are the Brennans so I was really excited to read this new release. I loved how this story was told from both of the MC perspective because its so interesting to see how different people perceive the same events. I really felt for all of the characters and was cheering them on despite their faults and missteps. I also love a book that has the small town community rallying around its own. Trigger warnings: loss of child and self harm should definitely be noted but there was also some levity brought on from Wyatt and the kids.
Overall, I highly recommend this one if you love family dramas.

I was very excited to receive an ARC of this audiobook and with good reason, as I found out. The story is excellent, the narrator was great to listen to, and I was engaged from start to finish. Definitely give this audiobook a try!

I love this author so much and I was very excited to read her book. Unfortunately this one didn't grasp my attention and it was a miss for me. I will try reading it again to see if I was just in a mood at the time I read this book.

This story follows Kyle and Casey in third person. Kyle returns home after a period of absence to help his father after a medical crisis. He left under ambiguous circumstances two and half years ago seemingly abandoning his family, friends, and community. Casey is Kyle’s ex-wife, a beloved teacher in town and caretaker of the middle school hockey team currently in need of a coach. Despite her early academic aspirations, Casey stayed in Potsdam to be there for her wheelchair bound brother, Wyatt. I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading this one. It’s expertly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt who did a great job giving the Casey and Kyle characters a voice.

I know that my opinion on this one will be unpopular. This genre is usually one that I avoid since it doesn’t appeal to me. However, I absolutely adored The Connellys of County Down and We Are the Brennans. Their boisterous large complicated Irish families with business issues and complex family dynamics really appealed to me. This is not that. This story was ultimately about a divorced couple that just didn’t communicate with each other well enough to overcome a family tragedy and a few of the people around them that suffered the consequences as a result.

I think this story will resonate with a lot of people, especially parents, but it just wasn’t for me. There is a mention of a connection with the Brennans at one point. Most of this story is about Casey and Kyle, how they came to be in this position, the blame they put on themselves, and the effects that it had on other members of their family, Danny and Wyatt. I was especially annoyed with Casey for most of the book for her choices and letting Kyle take the blame for a lot of things that weren’t necessarily on him. The feeling that Kyle deserved better really affected my opinions on this one. Please make sure if you are sensitive to check the trigger warnings on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

*What Happened to the McCrays?* by Tracey Lange is a heartfelt and deeply emotional novel that explores the complexities of forgiveness, redemption, and healing. Kyle McCray’s return to his hometown after a family crisis forces him to confront the painful consequences of abandoning those who depended on him. Lange masterfully weaves together a narrative of love, regret, and second chances, capturing the raw emotions of a fractured marriage and the struggles of mending relationships. The story’s powerful character development and realistic portrayal of both sides of a broken marriage make it a truly compelling read. Readers will find themselves rooting for Kyle’s journey of growth and reconciliation, and the novel's hopeful ending offers a poignant reminder of the possibility of redemption.

I requested this book blindly, knowing nothing about it other than it was getting a lot of positive attention. I assumed from the title it was a thriller, and it most certainly was not. Once I stopped waiting for the "excitement", and realized this was more of a family drama, I became fully invested in finding out what did in fact happen to the McCrays?

I liked the format of dual POVs and the two narrators did a great job with their parts. It was very easy to follow the timeline from past to present as well. This was a beautiful, heartbreaking story filled with loss, grief and love. As a mom, these stories hit a little different and a little harder than before. I felt for Casey in so many ways for all the mom guilt she carries around. The characters' stories all intertwined and were all well developed. I hadn't read The Brennans before, but I did notice and appreciate the small nod to the story that was thrown in there.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review. I would most definitely recommend this one.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? by Tracey Lange might be my favorite of hers thus far. Be prepared to have your heart shattered and then mended again. I loved the small town and the characters. Lange always does a great job with family drama and character development. What Happened to the McCrays? was no exception.

I finished this audiobook the other day and still thinking about it after I started my next audio. Beware you might have a book hangover after this one. The narrators for Casey and Kyle chapters did a great job bringing life into them.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for sharing this audiobook with me in exchange of an honest review! I highly recommend this one to readers that love family drama. And if you’ve enjoyed Lange’s other books, you’ll love this one too!

What Happened With the McCrays is hard for me to review. The writing is fantastic. The narration is, too. Even though this is my first Tracy Lange book, I expected to love this book. I love messy family dramas, especially when infused with tragic backstories. I am a glutton for tragedy, I guess. It is a heartbreaking story filled with hope. However, I had zero emotional connection to this story. I wish I could pinpoint why, but I can't. I will read more of her books because I like the writing so much.

Please check the trigger warnings, as there are many.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

👉🏻For my friends who love a good, hopeful family drama.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS? Tracey Lange (Stephanie Németh-Parker & William DeMeritt, Narrators)

🎧 Thanks, @Macmillan.audio, for the audiobook review copy via #NetGalley. #macaudio2024 (Available now) 10 hours, 26 minutes

This was my first from this author, and all my friends are correct: she is exceptional at estranged family drama. Kyle left his hometown, business, father, and (now ex-) wife Casey two and a half years ago without a word. But now he’s back to help his father recover from a stroke and living right across the street from Casey. Layer by layer, encounter by encounter, Lange reveals their backstory while guiding Kyle and Casey through their mutual minefield of guilt, vulnerability, and regret.

After seeing other glowing reviews of this book, I was very excited to get an Advanced Listeners Copy from NetGalley. I absolutely loved this book! It took me a little while to get into it, but once I learned that this was told in dual POV and I began to hear Casey's side, I was hooked. This book will pull at your heartstrings, especially if you are a parent. I truly enjoyed everything about this book!
We Are the Brennan's is now at the top of my TBR list!