3.5 stars
I received an audio version of this book.

I think the narrators did a great job.

There were times where I had trouble telling where in the time-line the story was, but it was easy enough to sort out.

This story is heartbreaking and sweet. Unfortunately it just didn't keep my attention. I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would. I do however think the author did a great job telling the story.

Another heartbreakingly perfect book by Lange. This story centers around Kyle and Casey McCray. As the story unfolds you feel the emotional trauma that both of them have been struggling with for the last 4 years. This story is beautifully written and really pulls you into the emotions of this very regular down to earth family. I will always read anything by Tracey Lange.

I have LOVED everything Tracey Lange has written yet, and this was no exception-- I already can't wait for her next novel (I hope there is one). Nobody writes family drama like she does. This was a tough read and very sad at times. I didn't initially love the title (and I guess I still don't), but it is 100% appropriate for the context of this novel-- the reader is quickly confused with the, "wait, what is happening? Why did they end up like this?"

I didn't want to put this one down AND I didn't want this book to end- that is one of the highest levels of praise for me. It's January 17, and I already know that this book is going on my "favorites of 2025" list,

I actually had this book in both formats- print and audio-- Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC AND the audio ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. (The narrators were great and completely fit the story that was being told).

Get your tissues ready! I am a big fan of Tracey Lange, and this book did not disappoint. Kyle and Tracey were high school sweethearts, but split up for reasons unknown at the start of the book. When Kyle has to come back to town to take care of his father, they are forced to confront their past. Told in alternating perspectives and timelines, we learn about Kyle’s and Tracey’s story. I really enjoyed the narrators of this book! This book is full of heartbreak, redemption and most of all, hope

Wow! What a beautiful story, although a tear-jerker and so heartbreaking in many ways. Kyle and Casey have been in love since he was 18 and she was 16. They are happily married and live in a very tightly knit community. But when tragedy strikes their home, Kyle ends up leaving for over two years without ever having said goodbye to his father, good friends, neighbors, or even Casey.

Casey has her brother, Wyatt, who is wheelchair bound but he's there for her in all the ways that count. Everyone should have such a brother. Even Kyle's dad loves Casey and she loves him. She is there for him when he ends up hospitalized. When Kyle finally gets word of his father's situation he does go home. Imagine how awkward and difficult to face an entire community of people you never even had the decency to say goodbye to. Some were happy to see him again but obviously some were not.

The characters are truly realistic, believable, likeable, likely you'll find things about the situations and/or the characters themselves that resonate with you. I know I did. Although I've ever experienced a tragedy like Kyle and Casey did, I have experienced loss, sorrow, wondering "did I cause it?" and needing others to comfort me and vice-versa.

I had both the audiobook and e-book and listened to it as I read which did take longer to read, but I think this is a book I wouldn't/didn't want to rush through. I wanted to feel as I read it and I did just that. I savored it and took my time. The narrators, Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, did an excellent job of narrating and bringing to life the voices of all the characters.

Among these characters and their stories you'll find a sense of community, loss, grief, bitterness, resentment, anger, love, genuine concern and caring, forgiveness, and finding out what "home" really means.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to expect in this book:

-Literary fiction/contemporary fiction
-Dual narration
-Alternating timelines
-Family drama
-Cameos from other characters
-Mature themes

Thoughts

This is Tracey Lange AT HER BEST! I have read all of her books and I was swept away in how much I ended up loving this. Set in Potsdam, NY in the winter, this story explores parenthood, hockey, grief, loss, mental health, and family. Without giving too much away, I recommend this to those who loved Before I Let Go. There are similar themes within these two books, but if you want more of general fiction and less of a romance plot line, this is it. Casey and Kyle's story arc was a beautiful thing to witness. Even in audio, there were several moments where I just wanted to savor their story.

This is not a story of happily ever after, but a family navigating a major series of events in their life and the love that helps them navigate it. While the beginning felt slow to me and what started out as a story of a small town centered around hockey, this turned into a beautiful story of redemption, heartbreak, and grief. I appreciate when author's touch on character's mental health struggles and Lange handled these subjects with care and gentleness. I felt like Casey and Kyle's navigation of grief was one of the best displays of grief in fiction I have seen. I would recommend readers look up the trigger warnings in this one if you are concerned about potential sensitivities when reading.

Overall, this is the perfect winter family drama. It is beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing. I highly recommend!

A family is torn apart from tragedy. It takes a son coming home to care for his father, reconnecting with his ex-wife coaching a middle school hockey team, to reunite the two, hoping they can find their way together again.

“Pain and happiness aren’t mutually exclusive. They can coexist in the same moment, the same memory.”

Tracey Lange’s What Happened to the McCrays? is an audiobook that hooked me from the very first moment and didn’t let go until the final word. As my first experience with Lange’s writing, this book left an indelible impression. If all her works are this compelling, she’s sure to become a favorite author of mine.

The story revolves around Casey and Kyle McCray, former high school sweethearts whose marriage was shattered by a tragedy. Kyle, unable to cope, left their small town of Potsdam, creating a 2.5-year void in their once inseparable connection. When Kyle returns to care for his father after a stroke, he must navigate the complexities of his hometown and his relationship with Casey. As Casey continues her role as a teacher and manager of the middle school hockey team, Kyle’s decision to step in as the team’s coach forces them into close proximity, reigniting unresolved emotions and past wounds.

Lange’s portrayal of Casey and Kyle’s journey is breathtaking. She masterfully balances the pain of their shared tragedy with the hope of reconciliation, crafting characters who are deeply flawed yet incredibly relatable. The raw honesty in their interactions and the nuanced depiction of their emotions make this story feel profoundly real.

This book is as much about redemption and healing as it is about learning from past mistakes. Lange delves into the intricacies of overcoming grief and finding a way forward, even when the path is fraught with difficulty. The exploration of how people cope with tragedy—sometimes in ways that push others away—is handled with sensitivity and depth.

The audiobook narration added an extra layer of immersion to the story, capturing the tension and tenderness between the characters beautifully. The pacing was perfect, and the narrators' performances brought both the dialogue and introspective moments to life.

What Happened to the McCrays? is a poignant, beautifully written story that will resonate with anyone who has faced loss, love, or the struggle to move on. It’s a reminder that healing is a journey, and sometimes it’s the most unexpected moments that lead to new beginnings. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I am eagerly looking forward to exploring more of Tracey Lange’s work.

5/5 Stars
Tracey Lange’s What Happened to the McCrays is a masterclass in storytelling that balances raw emotion, family dynamics, and a gripping mystery. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the unraveling of the McCray family’s secrets, told with such authenticity and compassion that it felt as though I was sitting at their kitchen table.

Lange has a gift for creating deeply flawed yet entirely relatable characters. Each member of the McCray family is meticulously crafted, their motivations and struggles intertwining in ways that feel both inevitable and heartbreaking. The pacing is perfect—each reveal lands with impact, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of loyalty, forgiveness, and the complexities of human relationships. Lange doesn’t shy away from the messy realities of family life, and she delivers an emotional depth that lingers long after the final page.

If you’re looking for a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that will keep you turning pages late into the night, What Happened to the McCrays is it. Highly recommend!

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5 stars)
Format: audiobook and ebook
Genre: contemporary fiction, family drama

After loving The Connellys of County Down last year, I was overjoyed to receive advanced copies of this book! Tracey Lange really knows how to craft characters and show how layered relationships can be, whether it’s family dynamics or romantic relationships. What Happened to the McCrays is no exception!

I did a mix of ebook and audio for this one. It’s written in 3rd person, but the book is dual POV and jumps from past to present. The audiobook has dual narration, which was perfect for telling the reader both sides of this marriage and how it fell apart. These characters were broken and messy at times but so real. They also had redeeming qualities and character development, which is important to me as a reader. I enjoyed the small town setting and the aspect of the middle school hockey team as well. These kids provided a lightheartedness to the book and were a big part of the narrative since hockey is huge in this town.

If you’re looking for a family drama on audio, this one is a must! Take care and look up content warnings if needed however.

Thank you to Celadon for my eARC and Macmillan Audio for my ALC! What Happened to the McCrays? is out today.

I am a sucker for an emotional family drama that involves characters who are healing so it was no surprise that I absolutely enjoyed this reading experience! The cherry on top was the returning to a small town trope that Kyle's story brought. It took me a bit to get into this one but at around 15% I really felt invested in these characters and like I could imagine living in little ol' Potsdam with Kyle, Casey, Wyatt, and all of the students at the school. This was heartwarming and a perfect listen for this time of year. If you like a family drama that will evoke emotions and possibly bring a tear to your eye, this one is for you.

My third book from this author and I’m a fan of her books. This beautiful and powerful story explores loss, a failed marriage and healing. Alternating between present and past we get to know both sides of the story.
I love second changes and this book truly touched my heart.

PUB DAY REVIEW 📖

Thank you @celadonbooks & @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies

What Happened to the McCrays?
Tracey Lange
Available now

Two and a half years ago, Kyle McCray left his hometown of Potsdam, New York and never looked back. But when his father suffers a debilitating stroke, Kyle returns to Potsdam, and the community he abandoned—including Casey, his former wife of sixteen years.

Told in third-person POV (my fave 🎉), in past/present timelines, from both Kyle and Casey's perspectives, What Happened to the McCrays? examines grief, estrangement, and reconciliation against the backdrop of small town USA.

An absorbing, tender, emotionally-charged celebration of life, love, community, and second chances. It'll break your heart and put it back together again.

Loved loved LOVED!

🎧 I mostly listened to this one, as the narrator duo did a great job bringing the story to life. That said, I was especially impressed by William DeMeritt's pitch perfect performance! 👏🏼

📌 Out today!

Two and a half years after he left his friends and family in Potsdam, New York, forty-two-year-old Kyle McCray is called back home after his father suffers a stroke.

Returning home means facing everything and everyone he left behind - his father Danny, his ex-wife Casey with whom he had been together for twenty years, his former brother-in-law Wyatt whose concern for his sister has prevented him from moving away on his own and his friends and colleagues. Casey tries to hold him at arm’s length, but her concern for Danny with whom she shares a close bond makes it difficult to keep a distance. Kyle initially intends to leave once his father recovers, leaving everyone to get on with their lives, but he is unable to stay aloof and begins to realize how his departure impacted those close to him. As Kyle is roped in to coach the middle school hockey team, he will have to adjust to working with Casey, a teacher who is also involved in managing the team, but it won’t be easy for either of them.

As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about Kyle and Casey, their backstory and the events that resulted in the collapse of their marriage and follow them as they navigate their feelings for one another, their grief over all they have lost and much more.

Heartbreaking yet hopeful, What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a beautifully written novel that touches upon themes of love, family, grief and second chances. The narrative is presented in dual timelines - “Then” and “Now,” with the past timeline covering the history of Casey and Kyle’s relationship from when they were teenagers up to the events that prompted Kyle to leave and the significant events that occurred between then and “Now,” and the present timeline following Casey and Kyle after Kyle’s return.

Presented from the perspectives of Kyle and Casey, the narrative allows us to understand our main characters and their innermost thoughts and emotions in great depth and you cannot help but feel invested in their journeys – both as individuals and as a couple. The secondary characters are also well-developed and each of them has a significant role to play, including Star, the family dog whose reactions to Kyle and the shifting dynamics within the family are sensitively depicted.

Author Tracey Lange writes with deep insight and compassion as she tackles issues such as grief, mental health and much more. The author’s strength lies in her characterizations and the deep insight, maturity and compassion with which she writes about complex human emotions. Each of these characters is flawed and relatable and their struggles, regrets, guilt, pain and hope inspire pause and reflection.

Overall, I found this novel to be an incredibly moving story that left me with a smile on my face and a lump in my throat. Definitely recommended for those who enjoy character-driven fiction. Please note that there are certain sensitive issues tackled in this novel that might prove disturbing for some readers.

I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt, who have done a brilliant job of breathing life into these characters making for a satisfying immersion reading experience.

This is my third Tracey Lange novel and definitely my favorite of the three. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What Happened to the McCrays was my first book by Tracey Lange. I’m looking forward to going back and reading her earlier work. I’m not always a fan of family drama, but the usual tough topics (loss, grief, conflict, guilt, etc.) were handled with honesty and hope. I enjoyed this heartfelt novel about family relationships and forgiveness. I really enjoyed the setting around the middle school hockey team. If you liked Beartown or Kinfolk, you will really enjoy this book.

Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt did a great job narrating, giving an authentic and emotional feel to the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved everything about this story! A story of love, loss, finding your way through the pain and healing. A story of family, dripping with raw emotions so much that I couldn't help myself from crying. Taking place up in the North Country in Potsdam New York. I'm a big fan of this author and I love all her books take place somewhere in New York. This is our book club pick for March. Being a Hudson Valley Book Club we've read her last two books for a book club selection too. I highly recommend for book clubs because it leaves so much for discussion and you just can't stop the need to talk about it. Her writing is truly beautiful and based on real issues, real family dramas you can so easily relate to. The story pulls you in and holds you tight in its grip. It stays with you long after. Here I am feeling all weepy eyed again just writing this. I highly recommend, definitely have some tissues you're certainly going to need them. Beautiful and masterful!

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY

⚠️ Death of a child

This book broke me, I cried so many tears. My heart broke for the characters in this book. Casey and Wyatt really drew crappy cards in life. Parents died and then the death of a child. The writing is fantastic and the narration of the audiobook was heart wrenching. It took me a while to listen because I felt really sad. I wanted to yell at a certain character a lot. There was so much miscommunication between the main characters. Therapy was definitely needed for the characters in this book. I really liked Wyatt's words " you have to feel it to heal it. don't bury it."

I love the way that Tracey Lange is able to introduce complicated family dynamics, but has always approached these characters and their estrangement with an empathy that is so deeply rooted into her writing. It's this approach that has allowed Lange's prose to effectively evoke an emotional connection from her readers. To pick up a Tracey Lange book is to learn how human connection is the most important tool we have. The main characters in What Happened to the McCrays? are a testament to the fact that we can't go through life alone.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent. This book is a family drama that is poignant and heartbreaking. It is the first book I have read by Lange and I would definitely read another. The main characters Kyle and Casey are divorced, and Kyle has moved across the country. However, when his father suffers a stroke, he returns to the small town he grew up in, where he must confront his ex-wife. As the layers unfold, we discover the beginnings of their love story and marriage and what caused its end. This was really well written and the way the story unfolded was definitely not what I was expected. The book draws you in with relatable characters, and a mix of heartache and hope.
I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook to preview.

The question, “What happened to the McCrays?” draws you in and keeps you hooked. As we follow Kevin and Casey’s story, we’re given a raw and emotional look at various forms of heartbreak, yet there’s always a lingering hint of hope in the background. Lange masterfully keeps readers captivated, slowly unraveling the answers to all our questions through the use of flashbacks. (Don’t worry—she doesn’t leave us hanging.)

The narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt was superb. Their voices fit the characters perfectly, and while occasionally cringey, I appreciated the impressions they did of other characters. This novel is bound to be a huge hit this year!

*A big thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing this ALC via NetGalley! This is an honest review, and all opinions are my own.*