What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

 

Summary (from the publisher): 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.

Review: This book opens up with Kyle McCray returning to his hometown to take care of his dad, who has recently suffered a stroke. As the novel unfolds, we slowly learn why he left and has been gone for several years. Returning home means having to see Casey, his high school sweetheart that he was married to for sixteen years before their marriage fell apart. At heart, this is a novel about broken people dealing with incredible loss and grief, and the actions they take as they attempt to recover from that loss. 

There are so many lovely elements to this. I loved that Casey and Kyle are each other's first and only love. While their marriage has come apart, the undercurrents of deep love and devotion are still evident. I really liked the character of Wyatt, Casey's brother. As a child, he was in a horrific accident that left him in a wheelchair. I like that this was portrayed in a realistic way and Wyatt is still an independent person, fiercely loyal to his sister, with whom he is very close. I also liked that Casey is a teacher. Hockey is huge in their hometown and Casey is devoted to supporting the hockey team as manager. 

This felt really slow to me. It is a quiet book about deep emotions, which is fine, but nothing much seemed to happen for much of the book. Early on, you learn that Casey and Kyle have experienced an incredible loss, but the book only hints and alludes to what happened for much of the book until it finally reveals how this loss took place. Having just recently read Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, which also hinges on a couple after a huge loss that similarly teases at the where and why this took place, this felt less moving to me in comparison to that work. 

Lots of trigger warnings with this one. It was lovely and I did like the resolution to the book but didn't wow me in the way I had hoped. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. 

Stars: 3.5