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“Charlie wasn’t just with her when she was suffering. He was with her when she was smiling too.”

✨Genre: Contemporary fiction
✨ Steamy rating: Mild
✨ Profanity: Moderate

What a beautiful and heartbreaking novel. Did You Hear About the McCray’s tells the story of Kyle and Casey, high school sweethearts who were married for 16 years and have been divorced for two. Kyle hasn’t returned to his hometown since their separation, but that changes when he receives a call informing him that his father has suffered a stroke and needs care. Reluctantly, Kyle goes back to face the life he left behind- his father, friends, colleagues, and, most painfully, his ex-wife, Casey.

This emotional story sheds light on the events that led to Kyle’s departure and the profound heartbreak between him and Casey. It was a wonderful first read of the year, and gave me total Colleen Hoover’s vibes as it was a relationship and character driven narrative.

Triggers: Death of a parent, death of a child, divorce, and overall heartbreak and grief

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy.

#macaudio2024

What happened to the McCrays is the haunting and beautiful story of Kyle and Casey, teenage sweethearts growing up then living in a small town in upstate New York, falling in love and their relationship eventually being fractured. Kyle comes home after having left a few years ago as his dad has suffered a stroke, and while his dad recovers, Kyle recovers his relation to the town and the people within.

This book was very well written and engaging. The story compelling and devastating and beautiful, characters relatable as human beings. The audio had great narrators and I really enjoyed the way the story went back and forth in time very clearly and understandably.

4.5 stars. Another stunning family drama from Tracey Lange! Kyle McCray returns home to Potsdam, NY after being gone for 2 1/2 years. His father has had a stroke and he moves back in to help him. Along the way, Kyle is going to have to make up for that sudden departure, as he left family, friends, co-workers, not to mention his wife, Casey, behind. He's offered a bit of redemption in the form of coaching the middle school ice hockey team. This is a beautiful story about overcoming grief, learning to live again and accepting the love you deserve.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital e-arc..*

⭐️⭐️⭐️➕ Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for introducing me to this author. Reminiscent of Anne Tyler, this family drama was well told with characters I cared about. I’ll be looking for more Lange novels.

(Reviewed on Goodreads but can’t link to review)

What a book to start the year! This is my first book by Tracey Lange, and it definitely won't be my last. This book is about a family broken by tragedy and slowly finding their way back to each other. It is the quintessential family drama with imperfect characters who don't always make the best decisions but who clearly have heart. Throughout the story, we know that there was a tragedy but don't know the full extent of it. The readers discover the details and truth simultaneously as Kyle, giving us a reason to connect and understand him further. I loved this book so much and felt all the emotions while reading it. I'm off to read Lange's backlist!

Note about the narration: Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt brought the characters to life. The emotion with which they read the story and voiced the characters made the reading experience even better.

Tracey Lange is marvelous in writing family drama stories. When I would take my little ones on stroller walks, I'd listened to "We Are The Brennans " and became a fan of Lange's storytelling.

This is a deeply emotional and gripping story about two people who were once crazy in love and then drifted apart. Lange tells this story like an onion, peeling back one chapter at a time, revealing the truth behind the tragic past of Kyle and Casey McCray. Once I was further into the story, I couldn't shut it off.

William DeMerritt and Stephanie Németh-Parker were remarkable in providing the perspective views of Kyle and Casey. I also enjoyed the light Easter Egg of The Brennans from her previous work and implementing her beloved companion, Star, into her novel.

All I can say is that readers will be rooting for the McCrays all the way to the end. I highly recommend a tissue box on standby for this one.

{ Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook copy in return for an honest review }

If only I could’ve connected with the characters, I would’ve enjoyed this more. It was good and filled with family events/drama that kept you reading. Tracey develops her characters well overall so I know most people will relate and really enjoy this.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Tracey Lange has become an instant must-read author for me. I can't get enough of her INCREDIBLE writing, dynamic characters, and plot planning that unfolds so beautifully each time I devour another one of her stories. McCrays was no different, of course! I want to say it's my favorite of hers, but I also adored the Brennans and the Connellys!

Despite some heavy topics (check trigger warnings), traumatic experiences, and painful histories, this story and its characters were absolutely amazing. The dual timeline works perfectly to paint a masterpiece of a story, as both main characters have their own voices in the book. Speaking of, the audiobook narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and Williams DeMeritt was perfection! Five stars in every aspect!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for the opportunity to listen to the advanced audio version in exchange for my honest opinions!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MC’CRAYS?
Tracey Lange

Kyle left.

Casey stayed.

She’s not sure she can ever forgive him for it. But his father recently suffered a stroke and so now he’s back. And they both must deal with it.

Casey is a beloved teacher at the local middle school. She had done whatever was required to move on from Kyle and the destruction he left behind. She has done whatever she can to make a life for herself in his absence.

It feels like a never-ending battle.

Kyle knows coming back will be hard. He doesn’t know all the ways it will require him to be a person he has never been, never knew he could be. We follow along as the two navigate their circumstances, come to terms with their shared past, and forge a new future for both.

I wish I had liked this book more. For whatever reason, I felt a bit removed from the storyline and held at a distance. While I enjoyed my time reading, I felt disconnected from the characters, and that lowered my rating.

I enjoyed it well enough, and I think other readers will find more value and connection with Casey and Kyle. It could’ve been that it felt more like a romance book than I was expecting. And although there was depth to the characters, I felt a very superficial connection. It somehow lacked the emotion that the storyline implied.

I still gave it four stars. I still recommend it. I still will read what Lange writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Celadon Books for the advanced copies!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MC’CRAYS?...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not my usual genre that I'm most drawn too. I'm usually a rom com or a thriller reader. But sometimes I just love to read/listen something that is a little more emotional or that pulls at my heartstrings. Tracey Lange wrote a beautiful book and the narrators also did a great job narrator (and the voices matched the characters well and didn't sound too young).

Thanks to netgalley and macmillion audio for the opportunity to listen to the complimentary audiobook.
All thoughts are my own.

It could have been shorter. That's my main criticism of an otherwise enjoyable read
The story centers on the less than welcome return of Kyle McCray to his Potsdam, NY home upon learning of his father's stroke. We know that he left Potsdam suddenly and without explanation, that he and his wife Casey have divorced and that she remains close to her former father-in-law. But the reasons for Kyle's departure and for the couple's break up are revealed slowly - a little too slowly for my taste - as, during his dad's extended recovery, Kyle reintegrates into the town's life.
An interesting study in human frailty, the damage done by miscommunication and the possibilities of reconciliation.

This year I've been reading outside my typical thriller genre (let's be real, a tiny bit), and dramas have been some of my favorites of the year. After seeing some great reviews, I decided to request What Happened to the McCrays?, and I was not disappointed.

Kyle McCray returns to his hometown after his father suffers a stroke. This means he will be staying next door to his ex-wife, Casey. Through dual perspectives and multiple timelines, their history is revealed which explains the tense and confusing feelings in the present.

This may be a good fit if you enjoy books that include:
- complex marriage and family dynamics
- the roller coaster experience of grief
- snowy, small town settings

This was a great listen! It was engaging and emotional. The characters came to life as well as the frigid upstate New York town of Potsdam. The narrators for Casey and Kyle were fantastic, so I recommend the audio if you're a fan of that format!

Rating: I really liked it! (4.5 rounded up)

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What Happened to the McCrays is a family story about the relationship between Kyle and Casey, an estranged couple who was once very much in love. Kyle has returned to his hometown and re-entered Casey's life after his father suffered a stroke. He plans to stay in town just long enough for his father to get back on his feet. However, returning home has stirred up old friendships and memories that Kyle would prefer not to think about. It has made him realize how many lives he hurt when he left. But, Kyle had very good reasons for leaving. Still, the pull of the town and his friends and family is strong. Is it strong enough to make him stay?

I found this story to be pretty predictable, but I really enjoyed the characters which made it an enjoyable listen.

Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt narrate the audiobook. Both narrators did an excellent job of bringing this story to life.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for a review copy of this audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance listening copy of this wonderful third novel by Tracey Lange which was read by the terrific narrator duo of Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and William DeMeritt.

First, Tracey lange is the nicest author I have ever dealt with. She attended the April 2024 meeting of my online book group for the blind community to discuss her first two novels. If you want to listen to an author engage in a thoughtful way with an enthusiastic group of readers, here is the link on the accessibleworld.org site for the discussion:

//accessibleworld.org/podcast/fiction-o...



With respect to this novel, I thought it was a masterpiece of family struggles and of language. Her images and use of language is so precise and evocative that I marveled at her descriptive abilities.

Before I begin a novel, I often believe that I will have difficulties relating to character's whose backgrounds are dissimilar from my own, but I have never encountered this difficulty with any of her three novels. Here I was completely in step with the kind-hearted Casey and Kyle as they reencounter each other in Potsdam, NY after Kyle's fatrher is hospitalized and needs help after his release from the facility. Casey and Kyle are basically decent people who deserve happiness, and I wished for them to achieve this every step of the way.


This is the first time that Tracey Lange's books have been narrated by two performers, and I thought it worked beautifully. I am familiar with other audiobooks narrated by eah perfomer, and they were no less skilled here.

Do yourself a favor and read her novels. I would recommend to read them in order of publication if you can and witness her growth as a language stylist and storyteller.

Loved, loved, loved this book! After I finished listening, I preordered a hardback for my shelves.

I always enjoy reading books by Tracey Lange - What Happened to the McCrays is by far my favorite! The setting, the characters, the middle school hockey - everything works so well together.

Ms. Lange's writing pulled me in from the first page. Kyle and Casey's story unfolds slowly, alternating between the present and the past. Their love story is beautiful and tragic, these characters are written so well, they feel real. This book had me smiling at times and crying at others. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but it was a book that I was thinking about long after I finished that last page.

I liked that the audiobook was narrated by two different people, they were wonderful.

If you don't want any spoilers, don't read any further - but if you need trigger warnings, please be aware that this book does deal with some tough topics surrounding loss:
attempted suicide and the death of a child.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Kyle returns home to take care of his father, who had suffered a stroke, he faces a bunch of people who he feels he had let down when he left. The most important of all of them was his wife of 16 years. Throughout his time in their small town, Kyle realizes that there are so many people who love and care about him, and he is able to mend relationships he thought were over. Kyle and his wife Casey are able to talk about their past and the things that left them feeling like they needed to separate.

This story was beautifully written and leaves the reader feeling the pain of all of the parties involved. There were several times when I had to stop reading to catch my breath and wipe my eyes, either because of the information that had just been shared or because of what I knew was coming. The dual timeline between "then" and "now" draws the reader in. I am glad I read this book on winter break so I could keep reading long beyond when I should have put the book down to get some chores done.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who has suffered heartache and pain but knows that there are better days coming.... eventually.

Kyle is called back to the town he used to call his own. His father had an accident and would need help getting back on his feet. Unfortunately, not everyone in town takes kindly to Kyle being back. When he left Potsdam, Kyle left behind a past that would not allow him to come back unscathed. Casey, his ex-wife and a current middle school teacher, is doing her best to rally the boys' hockey team and allow them to play another season. With the reappearance of Kyle, things are no longer so simple.

Thank you Tracey Lange and Macmillan Audio for the audio version of this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and a thorough review. All opinions here are mine and mine alone.

Contemporary fiction is a genre I have been going back to again and again, and books like this one are the reason why. This story was gut-wrenching (in the best way) and made me feel all the feels as I followed Kyle and Casey through their grief from their past as well as their current struggles. I loved all of the characters as they had so much depth to them.

The narrators were excellent in the reading of this story. I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of this book or audiobook when it comes out in January!

Another wonderful family drama by Lange! This was an emotional read where at every turn the characters had to make decisions that would alter their lives one way or another. The small-town setting is perfect. The characters are all well developed, and I loved how the story had many flashback chapters. Families are complicated, no matter how you look at them. The trauma that each of these characters held was heartbreaking. Told at a slower pace, this one slowly brings you in and has you begging for more. The narrators for the audiobook were spot on. This was a story about love, grief and questioning your own decisions.

This was an incredibly complex novel. The characters were well-written and well developed. This story had everything - a little humor, a lot of love, friendship, and a twist that wasn’t completely revealed until the end. There was heartbreak, but also so much healing. Heartwarming for sure, this is a must read!

4.5 stars

Tracey Lange is back to rip our hearts out and piece them back together again. This time, readers will get all of this emotion through the titular McCray family.

Kyle and Casey McCray meet when they are very young in their small town. While they run in slightly different circles early on, it's no surprise when they fall for each other and fall hard. They are there for each other in some of the most challenging times, weave themselves into the most private parts of each other's inner circles, and have so much history that they seem nearly unbreakable. But when the novel begins, they are divorced. Obviously, something serious has torn these two apart, and both readers and literally every character in this novel have the same question: will they be able to mend their heartbreak, ultimately finding their way back to each other?

While this book features a lot of hope and sweetness and love, there are also some devastating circumstances. Readers sensitive to suicidal ideation and self-harm need to know these motifs arise. There is other content that may be too much for some, so sensitive readers should review more comprehensive information on that front in advance.

Lange has a real knack for writing about rich family relationships and characters' inner lives, and this novel is another great example of this writer's immense skill. I recommend this one to folks who can manage the various motifs within.