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amateur_bookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.5
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange is a poignant story about love, loss, and family. This one definitely tugs on the heartstrings. I just love her real and raw characters set in real life situations.
Tracey Lange is unmatched in capturing the messy and relatable drama of families and this book is no exception. I fell in love with Tracey Lange’s writing with her debut novel, We Are the Brennans. (I love the reference to the Brennans in here!)
This was an emotional one for me. My heart just broke over and over again, especially for Casey. I mean, how much heartache can one person endure in their lifetime?!? I enjoyed the story being told in dual timelines of the past and present so you see the whole relationship arc of Kyle and Casey. And I especially loved the youth hockey team in the story, since both of my boys played at about that same age.
If you’re looking for a family-centered drama then I highly recommend that you read this one and either, or both, of Tracey’s other two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident and Abandonment
hheartbooks'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