Publication Date September 2, 2025

I haven’t read anything of Patrick Ryan’s, so I can’t say I was a fan going in…but I was really looking forward to reading Buckeye after I heard and read so many glowing opinions. I tend to really love multigenerational family sagas(when well done), and a story that spans World War II through the Vietnam War sounded great. If you are now thinking “uh-oh,” I promise not to spoil any of the storyline and overall I would recommend this to many types of readers and think it is an awesome choice for book clubs. BUT…

The story revolves around four characters and is focused on what happens as a result of “a stolen moment of passion,” according to the publisher…and at first I was fascinated by the relationship between Cal Jankins, a man whose physical deficiency makes him unable to serve in the War, and his wife Becky, who has a “spiritual gift.” Right away, I was turned off by that but decided to just go with it. As the War affected so many,  there was no shortage of folks who wanted to connect with the dead/missing/lost. At the same time, the other two major characters, Felix and Margaret, go on with their lives. 

The author does a great job capturing the span of decades, showing the transformation of the country as a result of the War. At the same time, there is the sense of a simmering tension as the secret that came about as a result of that moment of passion comes nearer and nearer to being revealed. 

All four characters must take a deep look at who they think they were, who they think they are, and who they might become in the future.  Overall, there is the recognition of the human desire for true connection, and the hope that things WILL get better with time. But, TBH, it didn’t really do it for me. I recognize that many people absolutely LOVE this book, and as noted above, I will recommend this to many types of readers – and book clubs. I’m going with four stars rather than my own personal rating of three because of its stunning recommendations, and I am grateful to Random House and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.