Fly your book-nerd flag high! Get your book-nerd T-Shirts and more here!
Find more One Man Book Club Reviews here!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Buckeye
By: Patrick Ryan
My Rating: Three out of Five Stars
Best For: 16 and up

Buckeye: A Plodding History Lesson That Mad Me Cry

I have a confession: for large chunks of this book, I was bored.

Buckeye is what people call a “sweeping family saga” or “The Great American Novel.” It starts in the exuberant aftermath of WWII in Bonhomie, Ohio, and ripples through the decades into the 1980s. It follows two couples—Cal and Becky, Margaret and Felix—whose lives become tied together by a single moment of passion and a secret that refuses to stay buried for forty years.

The story is undeniably plodding. The characters are, for the most part, unlikable. They make poor choices, keep unnecessary secrets, and mope through decades of American history. I wasn’t exactly bursting with excitement to find out what happened next.

So why did I find myself getting choked up at the end?

That’s the dilemma. Despite the slow pace and the unhappy personalities, Patrick Ryan managed to find the soft parts of my heart as the characters found their way to resolution. The best part of the book for me was the historical fiction element. Reading about the turmoil of the 1940s, the Vietnam era, and the political chaos of the 60’s and 70’s made me profoundly grateful to live today. It sounds like a terrifying time to be alive, and seeing these flawed characters navigate those extraordinary times was a fascinating history lesson.

By the time the book reached its lessons in forgiveness and reconciliation at the end, the emotional weight finally landed. It’s a test of patience, but those final moments of resolution–well, I don’t know if it’s right to say there were worth the wait. But I’m glad they were there.

Content Guide for Parents & Discerning Readers:

Age Recommendation: 16+ (Due to heavy thematic content).

Language: Adult language is present, though used specifically by certain characters rather than used freely throughout.

Violence & Abuse: Includes one semi-graphic depiction of rape, as well as emotional abuse. It also features war trauma (WWII/Vietnam) and physical bullying.

Sexual Content: Semi-graphic descriptions of adultery and encounters between married adults.

Thematic Intensity: Very High. Covers terminal illness (cancer), addiction/alcoholism, parental abandonment, depression, death, and severe grief.

Social Themes: Contains significant depictions of anti-gay bias, racism, and misogyny consistent with the historical eras portrayed.

The Verdict:

3 Stars. It fits the “Good Effort” category perfectly. It’s a bit of a slog, and the characters can be a chore to spend time with, but if you enjoy a deep dive into 20th-century American history and appreciate a story about long-term reconciliation, it’s a solid choice.

Happy Reading!