‘Funny and tender … Patrick Ryan has long been one of my favourite writers’ ANN PATCHETT
‘I love this novel with my entire heart – Wise and heartbreaking’ ANN NAPOLITANO
In the small Ohio town of Bonhomie, Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt come together in a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift- she is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those whom they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship; she will soon learn that he may have perished in a predawn attack in the Philippine Sea.
But in a small town, nothing stays hidden forever, and the consequences of that encounter will ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to re-examine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.
Full of compassion, humour and charm, Buckeye is a dazzling portrait of an unforgettable community- of hopes and fears, loves and losses, the twisted roads we sometimes take to achieve forgiveness and redemption, and above all an indomitable longing for connection.
Patrick Ryan is the author of the novel Buckeye. His short story collection The Dream Life of Astronauts was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the St. Louis Times-Dispatch, LitHub, Refinery 29 and Electric Literature, and was longlisted for The Story Prize. His debut collection of linked short stories, Send Me, was selected for Barnes & Noble’s Discover New Writers program. His writing has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, the anthology Tales of Two Cities, and elsewhere, and he’s also the author of three novels for young adults. The former associate editor of Granta and current editor-in-chief of One Story, he lives in New York City.
(5/5)
Such a wonderful compelling story that carries the reader through time with its evocative imagery.
Ryan has a talent for capturing the different time periods with his descriptive prose. I felt utterly transported and immersed in the culture. His characters are well-written and fully formed, making them easy to relate to and empathise with. I found myself deeply invested in discovering what was to come next for Cal & Margaret, which kept me turning pages late into the night.
I couldn’t put this one down and would eagerly pick up the next Patrick Ryan novel.
(5/5)
I LOVED this book from the very first page. I must admit I had reservations as I had never heard of the author, but it soon became apparent what a terrific writer he is! The book was full of gentle humour, sadness and human frailty. I felt I knew these people.
I have read a LOT of books in my life, most I have enjoyed, but very few stay with me, Buckeye is one that will stay with me always.
(4/5)
Buckeye is an intriguing novel in a a gripping world. Everyday people are affected by wars in different ways and looking for peace and solace. Experiences in childhood shaping lives and decisions they make later in life. Lessons are learnt.
I wanted to know what happened to these people, which kept me reading. The story was not at all predictable, there were twists and unexpected turns. I got a history lesson about the events of the era as well.
The book was well written, and each chapter had easy to read sections. I found the story easy to follow, with information about characters given at the right time.
Author new to me but would like to read more of his work.
(4/5)
From the beginning, this story transported me with beautiful writing and a cast of very compelling characters. You get to see them in their imperfections—just everyday people grappling with the complexities of life. Their struggles felt familiar, their joys and sorrows deeply human. The character development throughout the story was exceptional.
The entire book resonated with me as I found myself emotionally invested in the journeys, drawn into the dilemmas and felt the triumphs as if they were my own. Ryan’s beautiful descriptions and natural dialogue writing transported into the story. It’s the kind of writing that makes you forget where you are, immersing you in a world that feels yours. I felt the sting of heartbreak—lost love, missed chances, the ache of absence. I winced at some very poor choices made and celebrated moments of growth and redemption.
This was a book where I wasn’t ready to leave, but sadly, I found the author seem to rush the ending. I would have liked the author to slow down and give me a little more time to enjoy the characters that I had grown to love.
(4/5)
Beautifully written with emotive prose, Buckeye is a moving exploration of family, love and identity.
Set against the backdrop of war, it follows the intertwined journeys of two families whose lives become connected through secrets, longing, and the search for belonging. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the story draws its strength from its richly developed characters, offering insight into how people carry grief, navigate duty, and wrestle with who they are beneath the roles they’ve been given. Themes of motherhood, desire, silence, and personal awakening are woven throughout. The character-driven story, written with lyrical prose, leaves the reader with much to think about after the novel is finished.
(4/5)
“We’re each meant for a special thing”. Cal Jenkins, a small boy with one leg shorter than the other was told this at school.
The 1920’s was a time of hardship for a small boy with leg problems and a non-existent family. Margaret Salt has challenges, as did Becky Hanover and Felix Anderson. These four main characters form the story of their lives between the First World War and the Vietnam War. Their endeavours to make a life for themselves in the mid-west of America shows us how the country flourished and the effect of the American Dream on ordinary people.
As the story unfolds, these four protagonists collide and interweave in the rich history of the time. Each character has their strengths and weaknesses and are held accountable for their choices.
I enjoyed Buckeye, there were some surprises that kept me interested and it is a page-turner. I would recommend this book to all who enjoy an historic social history with a strong family theme of love, loyalty, regret and forgiveness.
(5/5)
From the very first page of this wonderful novel, I felt like I was watching an old black-and-white movie of the old American way of life. I could clearly hear the narrator in every word I read, painting the most wonderful pictures of a lifestyle long gone. I felt like Cal, Becky and Everett, Felix and Margaret were my new friends. I was witness to their lives, loves and losses through their experiences of pre World War II, then World War II and beyond in small town America.
Buckeye is a novel to be savoured and enjoyed, not rushed. Let it take you on a journey of memories and reminders of a time lost. Times that seem so long ago, but then again, not really that far away.
I absolutely ADORED this book and became so invested in the characters. I highly recommend it for those that love to be immersed in a story that can move you and awaken so many emotions.
(4/5)
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is set America’s Midwest around World War II around two families and spans across decades. It is a really beautiful story, filled with emotion. The main character Cal is a young man who, due to a physical disability, cannot go off to war in a time when most other men go.
The story has moments of young love, heartbreak, family connection, and speaking to the dead. I loved the characters, they were well-written and I really understood their motivations, which seemed to always come back to haunt them. This book made you think about if you should keep secrets, or if there is benefit of speaking up and when might be the best time. The story does jump a little with timeline, which I found a little off-putting, and did struggle with, but I am glad I continued as I enjoyed the end of the book.
Reading this does make you think about your own decisions, and sets you on a journey with the characters, to experience their joys, sorrows and connections. I do recommend giving Buckeye a go.
(5/5)
Buckeye is a fabulous story with a traditional writing style that is swift and exciting, with touches of wry humour and magical realism.
It centres around the lives of two families on the eve of World War 2 through to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The war brings these two families together, but grief and uncertainty pull them apart with a crucial event that inextricably links them forever. The trauma experienced by the characters and the secrets kept will draw on all your heartstrings, it’s tender, thought-provoking, and memorable.
Readers of historical fiction will fall in love with the storyline, and readers who immerse themselves into novels will love it as well.
(3/5)
In Bonhomie, Ohio, Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt meet just as allied victory in Europe is declared during World War II. With this, the reader is drawn into the world of Buckeye, a family-oriented historical drama focusing on small town Americana, the secrets we keep, and the lies we tell ourselves and others.
Buckeye is an immersive and detail-rich story, spanning several significant decades of history, weaving in and out of the lives of a cast of realistically flawed characters. It shares perspectives, allowing you to dip briefly into moment of intimacies and shame, yet consequently skirts around true depth in its haste to enumerate the insights, leaving every story lacking in some aspect.
A highlight is Margaret’s husband, Felix, who’s internal struggle with his sexuality is brought to a head after his ship is sunk during the war. The way the author handles the subtleties of his grieving and eventual acceptance is deeply felt.
Overall, Buckeye is a read perfect for those who like their historical fiction without frivolity, it harks as close to authentic at every moment.
(4/5)
Buckeye was equal parts engrossing and sad. The first few chapters were slow but I persisted and I then found it hard to put down. I cared about the main characters, even though they acted selfishly at times. Part historical intertwined with a fictional narrative, it was a realistic and believable story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
(4/5)
A character-driven, multigenerational saga set against the rich backdrop of the American Midwest, Patrick Ryan’s sweeping novel Buckeye spans much of the 20th century with impressive depth and nuance.
At its core are Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt—two deeply compelling figures whose lives, families, and choices intersect in powerful and often unexpected ways. I was thoroughly captivated by Ryan’s finely drawn characters and the emotional complexity of their relationships, which give the novel both intimacy and lasting resonance.
With an endorsement from Ann Patchett, I had high expectations—and Buckeye did not disappoint.
(5/5)
In the small Ohio town of Bonhomie during World War II, Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt, in a moment of weakness, share a kiss in celebration of the end of the War in Europe. Cal, a Bonhomie native who is rejected from military service, does the expected thing of his generation, marriage, house, stable job, and a child. Margaret Salt, an orphan turned wife of a sailor, longs to be in the big city. The years and decades that follow will be filled with secrets, confessions, love, and loss.
Patrick Ryans evocative prose stirs the reader, taking them on a journey through the decades, leaving readers coming back for more to discover what comes of the cast of characters. From Becky and her spiritual abilities, Felix, haunted by his desires, the abandoned who abandon, and their families. Don’t be thrown off by the chapter length which may prove challenging for some readers. Readers will not be disappointed by Ryans’ poignant and well-paced Buckeye.
(5/5)
Patrick Ryan is a new author to me and I am definitely interested in reading more of his work, given my very positive reading experience with Buckeye. This book captured my heart from the very first page and held it until I finished the final page.
Set in Midwest America in the town of Bonhomie, we follow a cast of characters with a broad scope. Readers will be transported through the turbulent periods from World War II through to the height of the Vietnam War, where there are secrets to be kept not only abroad but on the Homefront as well.
The small town vibes and the characters are very relatable, as they are everyday people who live compromised and sometimes difficult lives. Two families and their children share a much closer bond than they are aware of, one that has the potential to destroy them irreparably. The human spirit however has the power to endure, love and forgive as it triumphs and transcends beyond.
A heart-breaking, beautifully written book for readers who enjoy sweeping, historical family dramas.
(4/5)
In the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio (the buckeye state) on VE Day, Margaret Salt enters Cal Jenkins’ hardware store in search of a radio to hear the news. Overwhelmed by emotion, she initiates a passionate kiss. The choices that are made after this initial encounter will have a lasting effect on both families.
Ryan takes time in writing the histories of each of the four main characters in part one of the book, so that the reader may understand their motivations and relationships with one another in the subsequent parts of the book.
Confidently written, the prose is gentle and sparse while dealing with significant themes, especially the futility of war. Why did the veterans of both World wars never speak of their experiences. The generations that dealt with WWII, then the Korean and Vietnam wars dealt with so much. The concept of the military draft is truly frightening. It never occurred to me that WWII veterans were fathers of sons sent to Vietnam.
The author handles moments of grief and torment with heartfelt dignity and compassion. Buckeye is a character driven narrative filled with realistic individuals that are likeable despite their flaws – quirky and authentic in equal measure.
(5/5)
“Cal Jenkins was born in the Spring of 1920 with one leg shorter than the other. Just two inches shorter, but that was enough to make plenty of things difficult…” From this opening line, Patrick Ryan sets the tone for an engaging novel where the characters are as real and flawed as anyone we know in the real world. We are instantly drawn into the small-town atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, but no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.
It’s the kind of book you can easily visualise appearing on the big screen. Many readers, myself included, will make mental lists of which actors should play the characters. The story is familiar without being predictable. There are moments which bring a tear to the eye, and just as many that elicit a chuckle. Small-town life is never the same after the smothering darkness of war, but there are still moments of joy and light to be found, even if they take some time to be uncovered.
Without being overly sentimental, Buckeye takes us on an emotional journey that is both wise and poignant, with believable characters and realistic storylines.
Wonderful reviews for Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Thankyou.
Now I want to know more about the author please