This is a multi-generational story of two families that are connected by one act. I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it like others seem to have. Weirdly enough, I enjoyed the first 75% more than the last 25%. That's never really the case. The last quarter of the book left me wanting more. Very character driven, which I really enjoyed. The characters were so well developed that when things started happening at the end it felt rushed and abrupt at times. I do highly recommend reading this. I'm shocked this was a debut novel. I will gladly read anything Patrick Ryan writes next.

My favorite relationships were Skip and Tom. And Becky and Everett. Sometimes people are put in your life and what develops is truly beautiful.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. Thank you for allowing this book to come to us readers. It's a breath of fresh air.

This is the type of book that is my favorite. A story about ordinary people doing ordinary things surrounded by other people doing normal things.
It was simple and lovely

“The world will always bring you back into perspective, if you only bother to let it.”

Even though there is quite a bit of contention throughout the wonderful new novel #buckeye by Patrick Ryan @patrickryannyc, the journey still feels like a warm hug. I loved these characters, and the time I spent with them. Some (Becky, Felix) more than others (Cal, Margaret) but loved them just the same. #buckeye is one of those big-hearted, sprawling novels that you can’t wait to get to, stay up late to read and have the worst hangover when you’re done. I finished last night, and am still thinking about the Jenkinses and the Salts.

Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt are drawn to each other, mostly b/c of individual crises. Crises that may not seem earth-shattering or life-changing, but to them, they most certainly are. I can understand the choices they make at this time. However, their actions have wide-reaching consequences, and like dominoes, cascading effects, over multiple lives. It seemed to me that how they dealt with these effects spoke to their integrity. Yet it could be that it is easier for the Cals of the world vs. the Margarets, and maybe Cal had a softer place to land. There is definitely some gender-inequality here in the 1950s.

Still, it was hard to understand Margaret, despite what I knew about her.

“Over and over, she’d learned that what the dead most often conveyed was love and forgiveness.”

So there, I think is my lesson – in forgiveness.

Do yourself a favor, and jump into this novel. It’s fabulous.

P. S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

What a rich, warm, sad, life-affirming, lovely book. To describe the plot would be too simple: it's the story of two families intertwined by fate - nothing more or less. But it contains multitudes, mining the richness of ordinary lives.

There's nothing in this book that didn't work beautifully for me. The precision of the language, the insights into the internal emotional lives, the weight of experiences bringing these characters down or, better, lifting them up.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

When this story ended, it took a small piece of my heart with it.

The book sounded intriguing, so during one of Ann Patchett’s weekly Instagram updates, when she said she was interviewing the author on 9/4/25, I made plans to head to Parnassus Books in Nashville. The event did not disappoint! Patchett and Ryan have been friends for decades (the book is dedicated to her and her husband) so the conversation was deep and personal and lovely to witness. (They taped it so perhaps it can be found online.) I learned so much about the back story and the motivation and got a small taste of the research Patrick did in order to write this gorgeous work. (The monkey was based on a monkey of the same name, in a similar situation.)

The story covers three generations, two families, the effects of three wars, a slew of secrets and what it means to live with those secrets. The people are flawed, their lives are messy—just like the rest of us—but they get through things, mostly, with love.

I found the characters to be multidimensional and I grew to love them. I also found the setting to be a character in itself, having spent most of my life in Dayton. And my husband is from Tiffin, so we could picture the area well, from the buckeye trees to the pawpaws and even the Midwestern culture that resonates throughout the novel.

Though the story was long, it moved and never felt like it dragged. I was sorry when it ended.

Ryan says he spent eight years on this work. I hope his next novel comes about a bit more quickly.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Buckeye is a sweeping yet intimate multigenerational saga set in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio. Beginning with a chance encounter on VE Day in 1945, the novel follows the intertwined lives of two families—the Jenkins and the Salts—through decades of love, secrets, and societal change. Patrick Ryan masterfully captures the complexities of American life during the mid-20th century, blending historical events with deeply personal narratives.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Cal Jenkins, a man with a slight disability who couldn't serve in World War II, his wife Becky, a psychic who can communicate with the dead, and their neighbors, Margaret and Felix Salt. A single, unspoken moment between Cal and Margaret sets off a chain of events that reverberate through their families for decades. Ryan delves into themes of love, identity, and the impact of war, all set against the backdrop of a changing America.

Buckeye is a poignant exploration of the American experience, rich with character-driven storytelling and historical insight. Ryan's ability to intertwine personal and societal narratives makes this novel a standout in contemporary literary fiction. For readers interested in deeply human stories set against the backdrop of significant historical events, Buckeye offers a compelling and emotionally resonant journey.

Thank you @prhaudio and @randomhouse for the gifted audiobook and ebook of Buckeye. What a treasure!!

I alternated between the audio and ebook (my favorite way to read, honestly), and recommend either route. This would also be a fabulous book to write in and annotate if that’s your thing.

It’s a beautifully told epic of two families in Ohio and how their paths cross. It has so much heartache but so much beauty, too.

The book spans over three decades, through WW2 and the Vietnam War, how the events of America in those years affected individuals, but mostly how those individuals affected each other.

Patrick Ryan crafts their stories to be realistic and sympathetic, while not excusing or romanticizing choices of morality. It’s a long book, but I flew through its captivating pages.

Near the end, it threatened to get maudlin, but the author finished the story with a beautiful poetry that had me sobbing.

So good. Go read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 stars. BUCKEYE appears to be the buzzy debut of this fall. It was blurbed by both Ann Patchett and Ann Napolitano and is the Read with Jenna pick for September. I’ve been seeing it everywhere this past week. It’s sweeping historical fiction told through the story of two couples, four ordinary Americans: Cal, Becky, Margaret, and Felix.

I debated my rating the entire time I was reading. I liked it, though it didn’t quite lived up to the hype. I never wanted to stop reading it, and despite its nearly 500 pages, it didn’t feel that long. And I think it accomplished what it set out to do. We follow the characters from their childhoods through adulthood, and their ordinary lives in a small town are set against the backdrop of the major historical events of the 20th century, especially the wars. Reading about turbulent times in history and how regular people experienced those times felt oddly comforting in its reminder that we too will survive what’s happening in the world today.

My biggest issue with the book was likely due to my own high expectations. In some ways, this was a family drama involving two families, and given its length I was hoping for Franzen-esque deep insights into the characters’ interior lives and emotions. Instead, while the book was character driven, it was not the character study I was craving. By the end, I couldn’t decide whether I was touched by the story or rolling my eyes. Many of the relationships and interactions didn’t ring true to me and ultimately the characters still felt like characters in a book more than real people (obviously that’s what they are, but I hope you see what I mean; great writers can make characters come alive). If the miscommunication trope bothers you, you’ll be frustrated by this book.

Overall I’m really glad I read this and would recommend it to fans of character driven historical fiction.

I’ll admit to deciding to read Buckeye when Jenna Bush picked it for her book club and seeing the high marks it had on GR. Praise from Anna Napitalano, Ann Patchett, Chris Whitaker and Jess Walter didn’t hurt either. And for once, all the praise is well deserved.
The book is a family saga covering forty years, stretching from WWII through the Vietnam War. It revolves around two couples. Cal, whose physical ailment prohibited from enlisting and his wife Becky, who communicates with the dead. The other couple are Felix and Margaret. While Felix serves in the Pacific, Margaret kisses Cal to celebrate VE Day. And from there, everything plays out.
The joy of this book is how much I was invested in these characters. Everyone has secrets. Not everyone handles those secrets well. I loved what it had to say about the way war affected everyone.
Ryan has managed to craft a story that feels at once ordinary but also so pertinent and meaningful. Every single one of the six main characters just felt so damn real.
The writing is exquisite. These little jewels of almost poetry, embedded in the story. I was highlighting paragraphs like crazy. It totally captures the times, especially the Vietnam War. It’s proof that a really good book can be quiet, not having to rely on major explosions of drama.
There is so much depth here. It tackles guilt, abandonment, identity, forgiveness. It’s a book that begs to be discussed. It’s also one of my favorites of 2025.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

Buckeye is the very best book I've read in a very long time. You will fall in love with Patrick Ryan's characters and you won't want the novel to end. The many points brought up about love, loss, forgiveness and the passage of time will keep you turning the pages as fast as possible. Do not miss this one!e

Buckeye is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that captures the heart of small-town America from the 1930s to the 1960s. It’s poignant, tender, and full of emotional depth.

The story follows Cal, Becky, Felix, and Margaret — two couples whose lives are intertwined by secrets, love, and loss. The characters are richly developed, flawed in all the right ways, and incredibly human. I especially appreciated how the author explored their insecurities and growth over time.

It’s a slower-paced read, but one that rewards patience. Think Forrest Gump, but rooted deeply in Ohio — quieter, more intimate, and just as affecting.

Highly recommended if you enjoy multi-generational stories with heart, history, and unforgettable characters.

This story felt that it had been told before as it has been told since the beginning of time. Different characters, different wars, different infidelities, but they all lead to similar sagas. Character-driven with long, descriptive passages. The storyline follows a family saga that spans two generations in small town America, spanning World War II and the end of the Vietnam War.

I must say that the characters are vividly drawn, all with their own motivations, wants and desires. The novel was beautifully written in parts and is very well written. I struggled with this book as it just seemed as if it was a story that has been told over and over, but I though the character and writing was well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of Buckeye.

Buckeye follows the lives of two young couples, the Salts and the Jenkins, as their lives intersect in the 1940’s, and the repercussions that follow. It starts with a single kiss on VE Day. The book showcases how war can affect people’s lives, not only during the time of conflict but long afterwards.

Cal’s affair with Margaret Salt, while her husband Felix fought in the Pacific, led to the birth of their son Tom. Tom however is unaware of this and grows up believing Felix is his father. Felix returns from war after suffering a traumatic and life changing experience as a result of the sinking of his ship.

Cal and Becky have a son of their own, Skip. War is a constant throughout the book, it changes everything. Felix returns from combat a different man. The next generation is not safe as the Vietnamese War begins and the Salts and the Jenkins fear for their boys. Across 5 decades love, secrets and the consequences of betrayal shape the lives of these two families.

I thought the book was powerful. Ryan captures both the pain and the grace of small town life, showing how trust and forgiveness allow people to endure even the deepest wounds. Each must weigh the value of love and decide if forgiveness is too high a price to pay. In the end Buckeye is about flawed but good people finding a way forward. Buckeye is intimate, sweeping and unforgettable. It was one of my top books for 2025 and I am gobsmacked that this is Patrick Ryan’s debut novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an Advance Copy of this fabulous, and future best selling book. These opinions are my own. 5 stars!

📘TITLE: Buckeye
✍️AUTHOR: Patrick Ryan
💫GENRE: Family Saga, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
⭐️RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📆AVAILABLE NOW📆

💫This book - wow! Back at the end of May, Ann Patchett said this book was going to be huge, and she was right!

💫At its heart, this is a story about family, identity, expectations, and the consequences of our choices. Set primarily in a small Ohio town during World War II, we follow the separate lives of two individuals whose paths cross in a way that sends ripples through the decades.

💫We also witness the course of two marriages, with each partner navigating struggles such as self-acceptance, isolation, profound loneliness, and the deep need for understanding and acceptance from one another.

💫The author masterfully weaves these storylines apart and together, immersing you in the hopes, dreams, and struggles of each character.

💫The writing is beautiful, creating a detailed image of the setting and bringing every character fully to life. I absolutely loved this read and believe it’s one people will be discussing for years to come.

💫Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for providing an advanced copy of this e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I'm a fan of many of the authors who blurbed this book, so I suspected I would like it, and I did. Buckeye tells the story of small town America in the tumultuous middle-third of the 20th century. It centers on two families in a fictional town in Ohio, whose lives intersect in a number of ways. The characters are very well-developed, and the historical events they encounter are depicted with care and accuracy. The characters are painfully human in ways both uplifting and heartbreaking. I especially appreciated the "bookending" of WWII and Vietnam in the book - the different experiences with regard to these two wars captured so much of a changing America. This is not a fast-moving novel, but if you're looking for something to sink into, it's a great book.

Beautifully written. While the characters are all flawed to a certain extent, this is a great multi-generational exploration of issues like infidelity, homosexuality, PTSD, love, marriage and family. This would make a fascinating book for book club discussions. Thanks#NetGalley #RandomHouse

♾️⭐️This book, I am not even sure where to begin or what to mention. Truly you should experience it for yourself. I made close to two hundred annotations but I will keep them all to myself. 🫶🏻

We follow two seemingly average families in the town of Bonhomie Ohio from WWII to the 1970s. As you peel the layers and read along you begin to see how complicated their story will become and how connected they will become. Everyone here is beautifully imperfect and you can’t help but feel deeply for them.

We cover wars, marriages, families, lies and losses through very changing times in history. Their story touched me deeply, I felt for them each in their own ways. This is a new author to me but I will be a life long fan now.

I am so thankful to NetGalley, Radom House Publishing & to the author Patrick Ryan for the advanced reading copy. All my opinions are my own.

Buckeye is being hyped as the book of fall, so I went in with sky-high expectations. In a sea of glowing five-star reviews, let me reset the bar a little.

Patrick Ryan is an excellent writer, and his characters are beautifully drawn. He fully develops four distinct voices—Margaret, Cal, Felix, and Becky—and writes women especially well. On the surface, these characters look like the “average Americans” of the postwar era, but Ryan peels back the veneer to reveal subtle uniqueness. Margaret and Becky, in particular, feel thoroughly modern yet believable for their time—neither content with convention, neither willing to simply accept their lot. Their marriages, too, stand apart from the cookie-cutter norm. Each of his characters is portrayed with nuance and flaws without moralizing.

That said: this is a very quiet, interior novel. Domestic in scope, deliberate in pacing—at times, glacial. Did I admire it? Yes. Did I also check my page progress every ten pages, wondering when something would “happen”? Also yes.

When Becky’s psychic channelling appeared, I thought the book might take an exciting turn into the otherworldly. It doesn’t. Ryan keeps it grounded, and while the light spiritual thread does circle back meaningfully at the end, I wanted more from it.

Compared to authors like Kristin Hannah or Ann Napolitano, Ryan’s prose feels more clean-cut than emotionally devastating. Early on, I was left with a thoughtful “hmm” rather than a gut-punch. But about 100 pages from the end, something shifted—I was suddenly invested, deeply so. By the final chapters, I cared very much where these lives landed.

Final verdict: A slow, quiet burn that rewards patience. More of a thoughtful reflection than an emotional catharsis, but by the end, it earns its place as one of the standout books of the season.

In small towns nothing stays buried forever

In the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio, two families are forever connected by a single event. Cal Jenkins had been unable to serve in the war, a circumstance which left him deeply unhappy. With the Allies having achieved victory in Europe emotions are running high in town, and despite his marriage to Becky Cal indulges in a moment of passion with Margaret Salt, who believes that her husband Felix (serving in the Navy) has died. From that brief connection is born a secret that both couples do their best to keep and which will ultimately affect each family, particularly their sons As the country goes from postwar boom to the polarizing days of the Vietnam War and beyond these lives unfold against the backdrop of history, while experiencing the many emotions and personal struggles that face them along the way.
Buckeye is storytelling at its best, with a strong sense of place, nuanced characters whose flaws make them all the more relatable, and a sensitive rendering of the complex relationships, loves and losses of two families. Weaving themes of infidelity and forgiveness and the nature of small towns into the story of the Jenkins and Salt families, author Patrick Ryan does an incredible job of integrating the everyday life of two regular families into the events of the changing world in which they live with a compassionate but clear eye, Readers of Sherwood Anderson, Richard Russo and Ann Patchett would be well-served by picking up a copy of this intelligent, sometimes humorous, tender novel. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Buckeye is catching all sort of buzz this fall season and I was excited to receive this arc of it! Despite the buzz, I did keep seeing some negative reviews about the heavy handed sentimentality of Ryan’s story so I was unsure going in. The novel is simple yet epic at the same time. Following two Ohio couples-cal and Becky-and Felix and Margaret whose lives dramatically intersect during ww2 with choices that alter the outcomes for the next generation into the early 1970s. While it mainly takes place in their small Ohio town and follows their intimate relationships, the story of America in the first half of the 20th century is happening around them in the background-wars, progress, industrialization, economic prosperity, counter culture.

While the critics are right that Ryan is a bit heavy handed on the sentimentality especially in the last third of the book-I didn’t mind it! I gave right in and enjoyed every second and felt the emotions and the tugs as his words are so beautifully rendered it’s hard to ignore. The comps to Ann napolitano are justified and apt and if you enjoy her stories, you will love this one!

Thanks again to the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley