Buckeye
books by Patrick Ryan
One town. Two families. A secret that changes everything. “A small-town novel of epic proportions” (Tom Perrotta), this captivating story weaves the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century. “I love this book with my entire heart.”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened. Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing... The book’s structure supports a smooth reading experience by clearly establishing its central ideas early on. As the story progresses, these ideas are revisited and expanded in meaningful ways. This layered approach gives the narrative a sense of depth, rewarding readers who pay close attention to recurring motifs and themes throughout the book. The story benefits from its consistent focus on core themes, avoiding unnecessary distractions. This concentration strengthens the narrative and enhances reader understanding.