Buckeye | Patrick Ryan

Buckeye: A Novel

Extended Synopsis

In the close-knit town of Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe binds two families together through a secret that will change everything. Cal Jenkins, a man deeply wounded by his inability to serve in the war, finds himself drawn to Margaret Salt, a woman desperately trying to obscure her past. Complicating matters are Cal’s wife, Becky, a seer with a spiritual gift for conjuring the dead, and Margaret’s husband, Felix, who is serving on a Navy cargo ship seemingly out of harm’s way.

As the country reconstructs in the booming postwar era, this secret grows in the shadows of Bonhomie. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern American history, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families. Sweeping yet remarkably intimate, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and goodness, compelling its characters—and readers—to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of multi-generational family sagas and deep, character-driven historical fiction.
• Readers who enjoy immersive stories set during the American postwar reconstruction boom.
• Book club members looking for rich, thematic novels exploring secrets, spiritual gifts, and the complexity of human connection.

About the Author

Patrick Ryan is an acclaimed author known for his mesmerizing prose and rich, piercing observations of the human spirit. His ability to weave intimate personal lives into glorious historical sweeps has earned him high praise from readers and critics alike.

Accolades & Features

A New York Times Bestseller and a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as featured on the TODAY show. Hailed by Ann Patchett as a "glorious sweep of a novel," this premium hardcover edition includes author postscripts and comprehensive reading group discussion guides.

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