Barnes & Noble Presents Their September Favorites National Book Club Selection: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan08/28/2025

The bookseller also highlights their Game of the Month and four new Albums of the Month

New York, NY - August 1, 2025 - Barnes & Noble is thrilled to announce the newest books, games and music to be featured in Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide.

Buckeye is the Barnes & Noble Book Club pick for September, and the bookseller welcomes readers to join author Patrick Ryan at a free live virtual event on Tuesday, October 7^th at 3PM ET. The author will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, Campaign Manager for Fiction at Barnes & Noble, and Brenda Allison, Frontlist Buyer at Barnes & Noble to discuss the title as well as answer questions from audience members. Attendees must register via Eventbrite to access the livestream on Zoom.

Barnes & Noble booksellers across the country have been raving about Buckeye for months, and cannot wait to share this life-affirming novel with the world. Here's what they had to say about the book:

"Patrick Ryan kicks off his latest novel luminously: by introducing us to Cal, a man who, since birth, has lived with one leg shorter than the other. We get a sweeping shot of Bonhomie, OH, the town he - and we - will call home for the next 400 pages, and we're off like a rocket. Through Cal, we meet Margaret, Becky, and Felix - our main players in this epic - as they guide us through life in post-World War II small-town America. These four characters are dynamic and emotionally rich people who made me laugh, cry, and question what my own choices would be in the face of great hardship. Their personal histories feel true to life, and I felt as though I lived through their days with them. I haven't read such beautifully developed and realistic characters since Paul Murray's The Bee Sting, and I loved spending every minute with them.

This is a novel of actions and consequences, of secrets and revelations, of grief and healing. These four protagonists are merely doing their best in the world that has been handed to them, and the result is a story that shattered me many times over and yet somehow still found a way to comfort and strengthen me as only the best books do. This is one that you'll want to pick up several copies of because, believe me, you'll want to share this one with everyone you know." - Colton M., Idaho Falls, ID

"The character development in the book is insanely good, you feel like you know these characters their entire lives. It hits hard on loss and grief, love and forgiveness. This is one of those books that made me want to call my parents and tell them that I love them, leave nothing unsaid and take nothing for granted." - Jess F., New York, NY

"Something seriously magical must be in this book, because I have never been so deeply invested in a group of characters than I am with Buckeye. I'm not usually a book crier, but this had me absolutely weeping at multiple different times. Patrick Ryan has created nothing short of a masterpiece here, and I couldn't recommend this book more." - Kaylie M., Lincoln Nebraska

A multigenerational family drama akin to the Pulitzer Prize winners Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, this book is destined to join the canon of Great American Novels. This is not a book you simply read; it's a book you feel. Buckeye is a beautifully crafted work of historical fiction with an unyielding heartbeat that readers will absolutely devour this fall.

The Barnes & Noble Book Club showcases a newly published work of fiction each month, chosen by their booksellers to provoke, engage and enthrall book lovers. This Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition includes a conversation between Patrick Ryan and Ann Patchett, a map, and a book club discussion guide. This edition also features a soft touch jacket and deckled edges. Leading up to the event, readers can share their thoughts and engage in conversation on social media using the hashtag #BNBookClub. During the livestream, readers are encouraged to participate in the discussion and submit questions to be answered throughout.

"I believe that [my father] would be more pleased by the fact that this game is actually going to come into the world than any of his other accomplishments."
- Mark Vonnegut, son of Kurt Vonnegut

Barnes & Noble is proud to present General Headquarters: The Lost Board Game, created by beloved literary icon Kurt Vonnegut, as their September Game of the Month.

Developed by Vonnegut prior to finding commercial success as an author, GHQ is a fast-paced two-player strategy game inspired by his time in the army during World War II. He designed it throughout the 1950s and attempted to sell it to game companies, an effort that was ultimately unsuccessful. His notes on the game were filed away and Vonnegut's GHQ was lost to us.

"I first learned about GHQ in 2013, and as a Vonnegut fan was driven to learn more about it," says Geoff Engelstein, game designer and historian. "It took several years working with the Vonnegut family and Indiana University, but ultimately, we were able to locate his original notes on the game, and sample pieces. And the game turned out to be deep and strategic while still being easy to learn and fun to play."

Played on a standard 8x8 checkerboard, GHQ challenges players to capture their opponent's military headquarters using pieces that represent infantry, armored vehicles and artillery cannons. Combining real world tactical principles with easy-to-learn gameplay, it's a fresh yet timeless tabletop experience that is sure to delight chess lovers ages 14+.

Featuring three dozen wooden pieces inspired by Vonnegut's original prototype, a special booklet containing selections from Vonnegut's design notebook and an introduction by James S. A. Corey, GHQ is a must have for Vonnegut fans and military history buffs.

Engelstein turned his focus to the publication that had eluded Vonnegut. "Barnes & Noble was an ideal partner to help bring GHQ to life and allow it to be discovered by all fans of Vonnegut's work."

"When Geoff approached me about the Kurt Vonnegut board game, I knew we had to be a part of the story," says Barnes & Noble Sr. Merchandise Manager of Toys & Games Sabrina Falcone, "It has been an honor to be involved in bringing this project to fruition."

Barnes & Noble is currently the exclusive retailer of GHQ. Customers can find GHQ at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide or on bn.com.

Barnes & Noble is also pleased to announce its September selections for Albums of the Month in the following categories: Jazz, Pop, Latin, and Artist to Watch. The Album of the Month program celebrates the full spectrum of the music industry, highlighting both fresh and classic albums across an array of genres.

Laufey's A Matter Of Time has been tapped as the Jazz pick for September. Blending vintage jazz, classical, and pop with timeless elegance and modern sensitivity, Laufey has created a record that is both nostalgic and fresh. Matter of Time is currently available in a limited, B&N Exclusive Edition featuring a Butter Yellow Vinyl album and assorted ephemera.

In the Pop category the bookseller has chosen Don't Smile at Me by Billie Eilish. This stylish, brooding debut EP put Eilish on the map as a bold new voice, laying the groundwork for her signature alt-pop sound.

Isolation by Kali Uchis has been selected as the September Jazz pick. This stunning first studio album from the Colombian American singer-songwriter showcases her eclectic musical style set to dreamy vocals and cinematic storytelling.

The bookseller has named Clairo as the Artist to Watch for September for her third studio album, Charm. Leaning into a lush, retro-inspired sound, Clairo blends soft rock, soul, and jazz to create a warm and nostalgic vibe.

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