A story of a small Ohio town, and two families with history over three wars, this is quite the story.

Cal Jenkins, having grown up with a father who served in the first World War, feels inadequate that he cannot serve due to a deformity at birth affecting the length of one leg. Eventually, he marries Becky Hanover, who was always the "odd" kid in school because she is a "sensitive" - she can connect with the dead.

Felix Salt serves in WWII and when his wife, Margaret, receives notice that he was missing after a torpedo attack on his ship, is beside herself.

Secrets amongst both families just cannot remain buried, and come to find out, they have a massive effect on the next generation. Ryan does a wonderful job describing the feel of the time, and brings the reader right into the story. Even with so many characters, it was easy to keep track of who is who.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Patrick Ryan for the eARC.

Pub Date Sep 02 2025 #Buckeye #NetGalley.

I absolutely loved Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.

Ryan drew me into the atmosphere of the time right away with beautiful writing and interesting people.
Flawed people. Ordinary people with day to day struggles. Real people just trying to navigate life, love and loss.
The character development was so rich and thorough that I felt like I knew them all.
Even the supporting characters were well rounded and knowable.
Most of their situations were so relatable and real that I found myself caught up in each of their circumstances with a vested interest.

Through the dialogue and descriptive writing, I was transported to many places in time and location with vivid imagery, which is the very reason for reading, isn't it; getting lost in a story that takes one to places they may never experience in real life?

I felt the heartbreak of loss. Lost love. Loss of a cherished one. Lost opportunity.
I shook my head at obvious poor decisions.
I rejoiced in the transformation of addiction and felt the frustration of defeat after tremendous effort.
While I sometimes didn't understand what drove some of the decisions these people made and acted upon, I deeply felt the turmoil of finally coming to forgiveness in those affected by those decisions, sometimes many years later.

I didn't want the story to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this one in advance.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweeping novel with interesting, complicated, lovable, real-life, ordinary people living extra-ordinary lives.

I absolutely loved Buckeye. Historical fiction is dominated so much by World War II; it was refreshing and interesting to have a perspective of the homefront. Ryan managed to balance a tumultuous time in history from the view of the small town. Character development and growth was interesting, familial conflicts were relatable and heartbreaking, and when I finished Buckeye, I didn't want to. I wanted to see what the 80s and 90s had in store. Exceptional read and one I will recommend to all.

This book is set in Ohio, in a typical American town, with typical people. It captures generations as they relate to the political climate of their time and the impacts that has on their personal lives. But the author is able to portray that as normalness and weave it into something more. We get relatable characters, and each gets to tell their story in their own voice, all of whom are distinctive. This is a story of a typical family, yet it is easy to become invested in their stories. I enjoyed this book for its accessibility and the superb writing, as the author was able to capture the various timeframes in the book, but never let that overwhelm the individual stories of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Buckeye introduced intriguing characters who told their chapters in their own voice. It’s a device I don’t often enjoy, but these characters were so unique in their ordinariness that it was engaging. The author perfectly captures the pre World War II and post war periods in midsize America with a vibrant sense of place and setting. The historical references didn’t overwhelm the conflict that was about the ordinary lives of average Americans living, loving, and dying. A good read.

Patrick Ryan's novel is a big story about a small group of people in Bonhomie, Ohio in and around World War II. Felix and Margaret, and Cal and Becky are each and all impacted by the war. Cal, who has a medical disqualification, works in his father-in-law's hardware store; Becky is a spiritualist who helps family connect with their loved ones; Margaret is a lonely housewife supporting the war effort; and Felix, her husband, goes off to war. The novel involves consequences and secrets. The timeline moves until their sons face the Vietnam War draft. Buckeye is recommended for discussion groups who enjoy family dramas.

Fairly predictable but an enjoyable read.. Well written, great characters and well told. hanks for the opportunity to read this and much luck on publication.