From New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange, a poignant story about the resilience of family, the importance of community, and the magic of middle school hockey

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.

Full of love and hope, What Happened to the McCrays? takes an intimate look at both sides of a failed marriage and two people who must finally confront the awful pain of their past or risk being consumed by it.

This book was almost perfect, and if I hadn’t struggled so much with the ending, it would have been my first 5-star read of the year. Despite my issue with how it was all tied up in a pretty bow, I found this to be a deeply emotional and beautifully constructed novel that examines the complexity of relationships, the secrets we keep, and the weight of past decisions. Through alternating perspectives and dual timelines, the book offers an intimate exploration of a couple’s fractured marriage, their shared history, and their journey toward healing.

The story begins with Kyle McCray reluctantly returning to his hometown of Potsdam, New York, after a two-and-a-half-year absence. Called back by news of his father’s debilitating stroke, Kyle doesn’t expect a warm reception – and he’s right. His departure years earlier left a lot of unanswered questions and unresolved pain, not only for his family and friends but especially for his wife, Casey, who is still grappling with the fallout of his abandonment (or, at least, so we think).

Over the course of the novel, we flash back and forth between now – when Casey and Kyle are in their 40s – and then – when Casey and Kyle are teenagers and first started dating. We get the full picture of what brought them together and what ultimately broke their hearts and pulled them apart. By weaving together chapters from Kyle and Casey’s points of view, the author has created a richly textured narrative. This structure allows readers to empathize with both characters, understanding not only Kyle’s reasons for leaving but also what led to it and how it affected Casey.

The authenticity of the characters and how much the author makes you care for them is another strength. Casey is a dedicated teacher beloved by her community not only for how she is loved at school but also for her dedication to the junior hockey team she helps manage. At the same time, Kyle initially comes across as gruff and a bit of a grifter, but his return to his hometown and his reconnection with Casey reveals him to be much deeper than the standard, cliché macho man. Watching these two characters navigate their shared grief and anger is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Lange avoids casting blame entirely on one person, instead presenting a nuanced portrait of a marriage unraveling under the weight of something unimaginable.

As Kyle and Casey grapple with their shared past, the novel delves into the messy, imperfect process of healing – and trust me when I say they both have a lot of healing to do. It gets heavy, which is why I loved the subplot involving the hockey team. Kyle’s involvement with the team as he reaclimates to his hometown adds a layer of warmth and humor to the story, balancing the heavier emotional themes.

While I loved a lot about the novel, as I mentioned earlier, I had an issue with the ending. While it provides a satisfying resolution to Kyle and Casey’s journey, it does so in a way that I found to be a bit too tidy. After all they had gone through, I struggled with the way the final chapters veered into Hallmark territory. While it didn’t diminish the emotional impact of the story, it did make the conclusion feel slightly at odds with the raw authenticity of the rest of the novel. I think I would have found it to be more realistic and more palatable had it ended on a hopeful yet less tidy note.

Overall, this is a poignant and beautifully written novel that hits you in all the feels. The writing is strong, the story is bittersweet, and the characters are perfectly constructed. Despite its slightly too-perfect ending, the novel is an emotional powerhouse that will resonate with anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with heart. If you like an emotional drama, you should definitely check this one out.

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