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erinnh's review
2.0
In What Happened to the McCrays?, Kyle McCray learns that his father suffered a debilitating stroke and must return home to Potsdam, New York. But, his return is an emotionally-charged event for him and everyone around him. That’s because when he left suddenly two and a half years ago he abandoned everyone who loved and depended on him, including his wife, Casey. Can Kyle and Casey stand to be in the same town again? What happened nearly three years ago?
The novel is a family drama presented mostly in the present, but told in “Then” and “Now” chapters. As Kyle slowly discovers the impact his departure from New York had on everyone in his life, the reader slowly learns the events leading up to it.
I’ve read all of Tracey Lange’s books so far, and I tend to enjoy her overall writing style. I think her skills shine in creating tension in her scenes and evoking emotion from the reader. I like how she builds suspense as the narratives unravel. However, in my opinion, she tends to rely on tropes/clichés a little too heavily, both in terms of characterization and sometimes in plot. I also know that she likes to write about flawed characters, but sometimes she seems to be flirting with romanticizing toxic behaviors and it weirds me out a little. We see that here with some of Kyle’s behaviors in particular.
I also just had a harder time staying engaged this go around. I didn’t have that issue with her past works, and I think it might be because I was more interested in the relationship at the center of the narrative than the other elements (the hockey team, the side characters), and also because I wasn’t as connected to Kyle and Casey as I was with the Brennans or Connellys.
Even though this wasn’t for me, readers of family dramas and relationship dramas (especially those with small town vibes) might enjoy this one. And it’s especially worth checking out if you are a fan of Tracey Lange’s previous works!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, and Death of parent
kimveach's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tracey Lange always masterfully creates real characters who deal with complex issues. She does it again with "What Happened to the McCrays?" Her depiction of small-town life in upstate New York feels authentic. I loved all the characters, not just the couple. This book made me laugh out loud and cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
m_a_j's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infertility, Self harm, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
reeccees's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A first by this author for me and it was beautifully written! The development of not only the MCs, but the side characters was beautiful. I loved how they all felt so real. I just wish it kept my attention for longer because it felt like the plot, plus back and forth between the MCs started to drag around to 70% mark. Otherwise, a very emotional and sad but hopeful read. Pls be aware of CW.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death of parent
dblue236's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Tracey Lange's writing is beautiful, but so much of this book felt like much ado about... well, not nothing, but very little. Almost all of the conflict could have been resolved if these two people who claimed to know each other so well would have just communicated instead of constantly running away from each other and avoiding talking about difficult subjects. I suppose that was probably the point, but I had a hard time staying interested despite the fact that the author is a skilled writer. Overall this wasn't a terrible book, and maybe it was just a matter of personal taste, but I was very ready to be done with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Blood
martachbc's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Title: What Happened to the McCrays?
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: January 14, 2025
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Celadon Books and Macmillan audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Messy • Poignant • Sincere
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Tracey Lange is an auto-read author for me, so it will come as no surprise What Happened to the McCrays? was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. I've loved her two previous novels, so I certainly had high hopes for this one as well, and it did not disappoint!
This story felt so real - the characters and their relationships were complex and messy, the small town community was entirely plausible, and the emotions made everything relatable. It is a love story, yet it is also so much more. A story of guilt and redemption. A story of marriage and hockey. A story of small towns and found family. A story of grief and hope. I felt Casey and Kyle's pain so intensely, and eventually their hope too. The secondary characters accompany them beautifully in a solid display of community and support. Everyone had their place, even the dog, Star.
Alternating between Kyle and Casey's perspectives, the novel is told through a present day timeline as well as flashbacks to the past. It's this structure which builds an air of mystery and slowly reveals the pain and trauma one layer at a time.
The dual narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt brought the entire story to life and made these characters unforgettable. It was a truly immersive experience with so much added emotion.
What Happened to the McCrays? was everything I was hoping it would be! Tracey Lange has delivered yet another phenomenal family drama filled with raw emotion and real characters. It certainly required the tissues. This book was the perfect way to kick of my reading in 2025 and an early contender to appear on my 2025 favourites list. I adore her writing style and will continue to pick up everything she writes!
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• this author's previous books
• Beartown
• themes of grief
⚠️ CW: medical trauma, medical content, suicide attempt, self-harm, mental illness, depression, blood, injury/injury detail, death, death of parent, child death, partner death, grief, infertility, cursing, bullying, abandonment, pregnancy, divorce, accident, car accident
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Thank you for being different."
"But he didn't play for the future, he played for how alive it made him feel in the moment."
"'Sometimes you've taken all the shots you can', he said. 'And then it's time to let someone else carry the puck for awhile.'"
"Pain and happiness weren't mutually exclusive, they could coexist in the same moment, in the same memory." 3
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: January 14, 2025
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Celadon Books and Macmillan audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Messy • Poignant • Sincere
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Tracey Lange is an auto-read author for me, so it will come as no surprise What Happened to the McCrays? was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. I've loved her two previous novels, so I certainly had high hopes for this one as well, and it did not disappoint!
This story felt so real - the characters and their relationships were complex and messy, the small town community was entirely plausible, and the emotions made everything relatable. It is a love story, yet it is also so much more. A story of guilt and redemption. A story of marriage and hockey. A story of small towns and found family. A story of grief and hope. I felt Casey and Kyle's pain so intensely, and eventually their hope too. The secondary characters accompany them beautifully in a solid display of community and support. Everyone had their place, even the dog, Star.
Alternating between Kyle and Casey's perspectives, the novel is told through a present day timeline as well as flashbacks to the past. It's this structure which builds an air of mystery and slowly reveals the pain and trauma one layer at a time.
The dual narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt brought the entire story to life and made these characters unforgettable. It was a truly immersive experience with so much added emotion.
What Happened to the McCrays? was everything I was hoping it would be! Tracey Lange has delivered yet another phenomenal family drama filled with raw emotion and real characters. It certainly required the tissues. This book was the perfect way to kick of my reading in 2025 and an early contender to appear on my 2025 favourites list. I adore her writing style and will continue to pick up everything she writes!
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• this author's previous books
• Beartown
• themes of grief
⚠️ CW: medical trauma, medical content, suicide attempt, self-harm, mental illness, depression, blood, injury/injury detail, death, death of parent, child death, partner death, grief, infertility, cursing, bullying, abandonment, pregnancy, divorce, accident, car accident
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Thank you for being different."
"But he didn't play for the future, he played for how alive it made him feel in the moment."
"'Sometimes you've taken all the shots you can', he said. 'And then it's time to let someone else carry the puck for awhile.'"
"Pain and happiness weren't mutually exclusive, they could coexist in the same moment, in the same memory." 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Infertility, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
depression, partner death, divorce, accidenthheartbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am not a fan of family novels, but I am a fan of Tracey Lange's family dramas. There is something about her writing that hooks me until the very last page. This book covered a relationship broken by a crippling loss and how they ultimately have to find healing together. There are TOUGH situations that this couple face, and while it wasn't personally relatable, I felt like I understood all of their motivations and choices perfectly because of Lange's writing. I was rooting for Casey and Kyle the whole time. I also felt the back and forth timeline and dual POV was handled well; I never got confused by what was happening when. Kudos to both the narrators- they were excellent performers.
**The only thing I would change is the cursing; I personally could do without it.
Thanks to netgalley for the audiobook! All opinions are my own.
**The only thing I would change is the cursing; I personally could do without it.
Thanks to netgalley for the audiobook! All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Self harm, Blood, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infertility, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
readingonthefly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tracey does it again! She is so great at making you FEEEEL for her characters. I loved the story being filled with hockey, how close the McCrays were, and the pain/grief we felt for Casey and Kyle. I wish I didn’t read it in two days because I loved it so much and wanted to stay in Potsdam, NY a little longer.
“Sometimes you’ve taken all the shots you can, and then it’s time to let someone else carry the puck for awhile.” 😭😭
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
Get it! Out 1/14/25
“Sometimes you’ve taken all the shots you can, and then it’s time to let someone else carry the puck for awhile.” 😭😭
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
Get it! Out 1/14/25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail