What Happened to the McCrays?: A Novel
“Lange has proved herself to be a deft spinner of shamrock-tinged family yarns…. Her portrait of complicated, deeply rooted relationships is a sight to behold.”
—The New York Times
"The novel’s emotional range is impressive, particularly the slow-burn rekindling between its two leads, and snowy, close-knit Potsdam comes to life. Readers in search of a perceptive and rewarding family drama need look no further."
―Publishers Weekly
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.
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Community Reviews
Kyle is called back home after being gone for two years now. He returned to help his father who has suffered a major stroke and needs help regaining his strength, walking, and getting to physical therapy sessions. Though Kyle isn’t ready to face the past, he knows he can’t turn his back on his father.
When Kyle sees Casey again, all his feelings for her resurface, stronger than ever. He also discovers that the town doesn’t resent him as he feared; most people are understanding and forgiving. When the chance to coach the local teenage hockey team comes up, Kyle jumps at it. Hockey is his passion, and mentoring these kids becomes a path to healing. Not just for them, but for himself as well.
The author has an incredible ability to deliver the weight of everything left unsaid. The regret, hope, and unspoken love hang in the air making it easy for you to slip into their shoes and live their pain. You can feel the years of tension between Kyle and Casey, the heartbreak simmering just beneath the surface. Can they heal themselves and make their way back to each other? Or are they destined once again to live separate lives.
This is the third book by Tracey Lange. She is a phenomenal writer and can really pull you into a story and feel the pain and anguish of the characters. I highly recommend this one and the others she has written.
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