I absolutely loved this. It made me cry several times over.
The time periods were meticulously depicted. The characters were thoughtful and interesting and I always wanted to know what would happen next.

The wisdom that comes with age was needling, he found, because it brought the clarity of hindsight without the means to change anything. from Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

I loved this novel, its pages filled with flawed people who hope for the best but cause deep damage, people who learn to transcend pain and become a support for each other in darkest times.

The story of two families arcs across the twentieth century, encompassing three generations. All the 20th c touchpoints are referenced. It was a time of secrets and closeting, when governments sent young men into brutal wars. When women had limited options.

It is set in an intimate small Ohio town and in the city of Columbus with its anonymity and sparkling department stores.

Tom, nicknamed Buckeye for his pockets filled with the nut from his backyard tree, is the crux of the story. His mother abandoned the family when he was a child, and not even his father knew that she had likewise been abandoned when a child. Tom makes friends with an older boy, Skip, whose dad works in his in-law’s hardware store. Skip’s mother freely shares her gift of connecting to the dead, hoping to bring comfort to the grieving.

A secret liaison born of need alters the future.

The things we love tell us what we are. Thomas Aquinas quoted in Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

For all the pain these characters cause each other, there is great forgiveness and love. We realize we should never waste a moment of our brief life, that forgiveness allows us to flourish. We build our life every day, have a chance to make amends every day. We are a work in process.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

One of my favorite books of the year, hands down. The plot was so realistic and so well fleshed out. I love multi-generational family sagas and this is one of the best I've ever read. I've continued to think of this intimate story of love and betrayal and forgiveness and the depths of relationships. Five stars.

I knew from the very first page that I was going to fall in love with Patrick Ryan's novel, Buckeye. This character driven historical fiction novel weaves the story of two couples - Becky and Cal and Margaret and Felix in a seamless and breathtaking way - from their early childhoods, to adulthood, and beyond. This story has everything - beautifully crafted and developed characters, a thought provoking time frame, and a story filled with love, secrets, entanglements, betrayal, and forgiveness. I can't say enough good things about this book and will be recommending it to every single reader I know. It was the kind of story I couldn't wait to read every night, but couldn't bare to finish. As soon as I was done I wanted to read it all over again.

I would pre-order this one now, request it from your library, however you read books. You must read this one.

Thank you thank you thank you Random House and NetGalley - Buckeye will stay with me forever.

LOVED this family drama and the interwoven stories of multiple generations i the small Ohio town of Buckeye. Great for fans of Richard Russo or Elizabeth Stout.

I haven't heard much about Buckeye, but after just finishing it, I feel almost certain this is going to be read by a lotttt of people. If you loved Hello Beautiful, you will love this. It is the multigenerational story of two families spanning WWII to Vietnam and how a complicated betrayal weaves them together. This is fairly plot driven, so I don't want to give much more plot set up than that.

While the characters make absolutely terrible decisions, Ryan crafts them so they are, mostly, believable and the decisions have layers. I might roll my eyes a bit one page, and then become deeply moved the next. That is how most commercial fiction works for me, and Buckeye was no exception. Despite it lagging a bit in the middle, this was page turning and entertaining and just screams celebrity book club pick. You might want to put your library hold in now though it doesn't publish until 9/2. Not a favorite for me, but I'm glad to have read it.

Buckeye is a family saga about life, love and forgiveness it is a little long, especially the second half, but still a very worthy read.

I love a good family drama/saga and this one does not disappoint! We cover two families for decades, including the fallout from both WWII and Vietnam. This book had a very old fashioned feel to it for me - I was immediately reminded of the classic film THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. The novel screamed Black & White. And while a lot of the plot lines were predictable, I didn’t really mind because I was interested in the characters and wanted to see where it would go. There were a few unusual elements that I really liked. And I was invested in all the connections between the two families.

This was an easy read - but not in a simple way, if that makes sense. I read it in about two days because I really couldn’t put it down.

I would rate this 4.5 stars for sure,

I’m very glad to have read it. Thank you to NetGalley, RandomHouse and the author for the advanced copy.

A stunning saga of life in Ohio just before WWII and decades beyond. The story is concentrated on two couples whose lives become intertwined through secrets that hold them tight and impact not only their lives but the generation to come. The war brings people together as grief and uncertainty pull them apart at home and changes the lives forever of those who are fortunate to make it back. This is not just "a slice of life Norman Rockwell painting" kind of story but one that includes a variety of characters all dealing with moral dilemmas, unrealistic expectations, guilt as well as all the secrets no one talked about back then. I really enjoyed the quiet psychic powers of comfort that Becky offers to the residents of Bonhomie during the war. Gorgeous writing that makes it hard to believe this is a debut and equally hard to put down. What Ken Follett has done for old English village life, Patrick Ryan has now done for small midwestern towns in the time of the greatest generation. Readers of historical fiction and family centered stories like those of Ann Patchett , Ann Napolitano and Elizabeth Strout will love this. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Buckeye tells the story, through generations, of people from the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio. Cal Jenkins was wounded by his inability to serve in the war. His wife, Becky, has psychic powers that she uses to help people, although she tries to keep that side of her life quiet. Margaret Salt is a woman who is running from her past. Her husband, Felix, is in the Navy, but does not come home. As the war changes the residents of Bonhomie, they struggle to connect with their new realities and deal with the past. If you like character driven stories that span decades, this one is for you. Margaret Salt is a particularly interesting character and I loved spending time with her.

Wow. If you haven’t heard of Buckeye yet, get ready — it’s going to be everywhere this year. Patrick Ryan sets his story in the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio, but there’s nothing small about this sweeping, multigenerational work of historical fiction. It’s brimming with love, joy, and often heartbreaking sorrow. You don’t just read about these characters — you feel them, as they navigate a world transforming before their eyes and wrestle with what that change means for their quiet corner of America. It’s one of my favorite books of the year and easily one of the best I’ve read in a long time.

At the heart of the story is Cal, a young man growing up during World War II. Due to a physical disability, Cal is unable to join his friends as they head off to war — some of whom never return. Instead, he remains in Bonhomie, where he meets and falls for Becky, a girl who can speak to the dead, and begins working at her family’s hardware store. Their relationship unfolds with all the tenderness and turmoil of young love. But things take a turn when Cal meets Margaret Salt, a married woman whose husband is serving overseas. When Margaret visits the store with news that the war may be ending and her husband might return home, the lives of two families become unexpectedly and irrevocably intertwined.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its cast of characters — each one richly drawn, with hopes and flaws that feel deeply human. While Cal remains the emotional anchor, the narrative occasionally shifts perspectives, expanding backward and forward through time. This structure adds depth, though it can be a bit disorienting in Part One, where the timeline jumps and focus briefly drifts from Cal. A more linear progression or tighter weaving of these threads might have improved the pacing.

My only other quibble is with the ending — not in its emotional power, which is immense, but in how quickly it arrives. After spending so much time immersed in the lives of these characters, the final chapters feel slightly rushed. I found myself wishing for just a little more time with them before saying goodbye. Still, the impact is undeniable. The conclusion left me in tears — a mix of heartbreak and hope — and it stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

Buckeye is set to release later this year, and I have no doubt it will land on many "must-read" lists. It deserves every bit of praise it receives. Patrick Ryan clearly poured his heart into this story — from its central characters to its vivid portrayal of small-town Ohio, from WWII through Vietnam and all the joy and grief in between. As I reflect on this novel, I feel genuinely emotional leaving these characters behind. Their lives, their losses, their love — it all lingers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I love a family saga, and a bonus if it is historical fiction, so I loved this book! It follows two couples who live in Bonhomie, OH. Margaret marries Felix, but both have secrets that affect their marriage. Cal marries Becky, who has a gift of hearing from the dead, and uses her gift to help her neighbors. Cal never understands this about Becky and doesn't support it. Given their respective dissatisfaction, Cal finds himself in the arms of Margaret with lasting consequences. This story begins during WWII and ends after Vietnam. The historical events that happen throughout the novel impact the lives of these families. A beautiful story in a small town with good people who are trying their best but not always succeeding.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. What a realistic and engrossing story! This book takes a look at two families over the decades and how they navigate life and all that comes with it, in their small town of Bonhomie. I found it relatable and nostalgic in so many ways. Cal was an endearing character for me. This book focused on the effects of so many current events that happened over the decades in America and it was fascinating to see its affect on the town and people but also how they cope. This is a very human novel in its purest form.

This is the best book I have read all year! I LOVED this so much. There will be a lot of buzz around this one. This book is worth the read!

This one is pegged to be the best of the fall by authors like Anne Patchett and Ann Napolitano. Ryan is a short story writer and this is his first act as a novelist. THANK G-D! He shares an intimate look at small town America with language that will force you to keep reading. The book follows two families: living just outside of Toledo, in a small town that takes place just before WWII to the years after Vietnam. This book is filled with fantastically drawn characters, amazingly meaningful relationships and a lot about learning to forgive. This book will give you all the feels in this saga like novel that both men and women will enjoy.

LINK coming soon!

Historical fiction, WWII-Vietnam era.
This novel revolves around two couples, Cal & Becky and Felix and Margaret. The reader follows each couple as they encounter common challenges in their marriages that make this book so relatable. I felt myself going through all the emotions right with these characters especially when one event and one spontaneous decision changes them forever.
This novel deals with a lot of heavy life challenges and at times I felt like things moved pretty slowly. The overall theme though is one of a hope and the importance of forgiveness.

This will be a great pick for fans of sweeping, character-driven stories. Fans of Ann Napolitano take note.

I loved this book more than I thought I would. A wonderful read from start to finish for all readers. Have recommended to three of my coworkers so far and cannot wait until this comes out!

It began with an unexpected kiss. Cal was working at his father-in-law's hardware store when a beautiful red-haired young woman ran in and asked if he had a radio. He couldn't sell her one but he had one down in the store basement. As he maneuvered downstairs with his shorter leg stepping first, the woman followed him and mentioned that there was important news. Turning it on, they both heard that the war had ended in Europe-V-E Day! Surprisingly, she kissed him full on the lips.

Cal was married to Becky, a high school classmate of his from Bonhomie, Ohio. Both were small town people but Becky's family was fairly well off while Cal's mother had died when he was young, and his father was a hermit who lived in a cabin in the woods. Her father approved of Cal and gave them a nice prefab house in a good neighborhood and a job at the hardware store that paid well. They had a son, Skip, and were told that if Becky had a second child, she probably would die. Becky had a talent since childhood-she could communicate with the dead.  As an adult she helped people who were in mourning or had missing relatives, and she had many clients who needed her services during the war. She never charged for her readings.  Cal felt ashamed of his short leg as he could not participate in the armed services, and was falling into depression-that was before the kiss changed his life.

A few blocks away, Felix and Margaret lived with their son Tom, who was two years younger than Skip. Margaret came to Columbus from a tiny Ohio town, where she was raised in an orphanage-she was the only girl who was never adopted. With her green eyes and beautiful red hair, she immediately got a job and a lot of male attention, which she adored. A co-worker asked her to double date with her and her boyfriend's buddy, who was smitten by Margaret and chastely dated her before proposing. Felix was making a good salary in a management position and Margaret could have and do whatever she wanted. She grew to love the arts and culture of the big city and made friends easily. That life came to a halt when her husband was kicked upstairs, and Felix became the manager of a large plant in Bonhomie. While this was a good career move, Margaret found little to occupy her time-especially since Felix seemed unable and unwilling to satisfy her needs. When war broke out, Felix tried to enlist as a pilot, but was found to be color-blind. The Navy was happy to have him. He served on a transport boat, where he met a younger sailor who felt the same way about him, and they had a seven day R&R that tested their relationship. This soon came to an unfortunate end, and Felix came back to Bonhomie, a changed man. Tom was born nine months later.

Ryan weaves his four characters in and out of each other's lives in a way that almost seems like a complicated square dance. While the novel is beautifully written and has much to charm the reader, it is also a page-turner that I breathlessly whipped through, as I really wanted to know where it would go next. That is a rare combination. Known for his short stories, Ryan will now be known as a master of the novel-and you heard it here first!

This is a wonderful story of two families from the end of WWI through the Vietnam era. It tells the complexities of love, betrayal, friendship and the capacity to overcome greif and guilt with love and compassion.

I loved the way Patrick Ryan weaves the events of the time into the story to make it richer and believable.

Take the time to savor this book!