My first book of 2025 is a real winner. Few books share romances between older protagonists. Vivian and Charlie married in their 20’s and stayed together for four years. Charlie was an alcoholic, and Vivian finally had enough of putting up with him. Charlie, now sober, has been living with regrets for the past 40 years, but he is hopeful as he arranges a meeting to see if she’s the real love, the one he let get away. Vivian’s life has been tough, and she struggled financially. She has taken in her daughter Melissa, a single mother, and her two young granddaughters.

Writers need to read the author’s note, of how he found the inspiration for this book.

This is a beautiful, gentle story with deep-running thoughts, of treasuring the time we have left with our loved ones. Marriage is hard, but it is worth it. Don’t miss with hopeful story of love and humanity.

Charlie and Vivian parted ways after just four years of marriage. We get to see the reasons and the regrets. We get to see the nerves of renewed romance. Very hopeful and uplifting as the two navigate this romance. Great writing.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler. Charlie and Vivian were married for four years, and then divorced, mainly because of his drinking. They have both led their lives, and it’s now 40 years later. Vivian is a widow living with her daughter and grandchildren. Charlie tracks her down, and thinks that they belong together. It’s a story about love over many years, and regret. Will this work out for them? #thefortyyearkiss #netgalley #nickolasbutler #advancedreadercopy #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #readersofinstagram #bookstagram

This is a story of a family, once upon a time, a husband, Charlie, who loves his liquor a bit more than he does his wife, and so, eventually, they take separate paths. It isn’t that he didn’t love his wife, Vivien, but as the years pass, he realizes what he has been missing out on. A family, someone to love who will love him back. But will she feel the same way? Can he convince her that he may not be perfect, but he is trying to rebuild what they had together, once upon a time.

Essentially, this is a love story, but one that slowly evolves as any animosity felt in the years that had passed has changed. They’ve both changed, and slowly their relationship evolves to at least a friendship, and maybe, as time passes, even more.

Pub Date: 04 Feb 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Landmark

This was a really fun read. Light hearted, funny, sweet. I really enjoyed reading it, it was an easy read. This is my first time reading a book by this author and I feel it was a nice surprise. I shall be on the lookout for his books.

A unique perspective of second chance romance with mature characters. The story isn't overly eventful, but the characters are interesting. It's an easy read that is very entertaining. This book will make you take a look deep inside yourself as it stirs up a lot of emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks | Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book started out very smoothly and kept me interested. Likeable characters that were developed well and it was a fresh take on reunited love. It is hard to read when the author doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue.

Charlie and Vivian had quite the journey. From a failed marriage to a renewed romance later in life, these two have something special. I enjoyed their developing story and cheered along the way as Charlie made a life-changing path for himself!

This one gets off to a really slow start, and has a couple things I couldn't get past. One is that Vivian says the cigarette smell on Charlie doesn't smell bad (yeah right), and the other is the lack of quotations for the dialogue. DNF.

This was a lovely unique love story!

Charlie and Vivian were married for four years in their twenties but divorced after Vivian couldn’t take his drinking issues anymore. After he moves back to Wisconsin forty years later, they reconnect and decide to see if they can rekindle their romance. They have to work to overcome some challenges along the way, including a big secret Vivian’s been keeping and some lingering alcohol issues of Charlie’s.

I really enjoyed seeing both characters work through the struggles and learn forgiveness and relearn how to love each other. It was a tad overly emotional and angsty at times but I was still really invested in whether or not these two would make it a second time. Highly recommended if you love second chance romances particularly with older characters.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This novel, of the return of love after a 40 year absence, is at once a tribute to love later in life, and a romantic, sometimes sentimental account of that love.

After a lifetime of working, drinking, and marrying other people, Charlie, 64, returns to his Wisconsin roots to find the first wife he left abruptly 40 years earlier. Vivian now lives with her daughter from a second marriage and two young granddaughters in a small, shabby house, just getting by financially, but with much affection and warmth.

Charlie believes she is the only one he has ever really loved, and works hard to show her he is a changed man, worthy of her devotion as well.
The author uses an abundance of detail to tell his story, with long lists to describe events and experiences, and he is perhaps overly fond of similes. He also weaves in an alphabet of society’s challenges: abandonment, abortion, alcoholism, anger management, brain injury, children without fathers, developmental disabilities, economic hardship, and on.

Charlie is the most fully realized person, though one wonders how plausible it is for him to change so completely from a young mean, violent, drunk to a kind, wise, and generous older man.

Despite this, the main characters are sympathetic and engaging, and worth getting to know as they learn and emotionally grow together.

Forty years after their divorce was finalized, Charlie returns to Wisconsin to reconnect with Vivian. Charlie has to regain Vivian’s trust and they both have years of secrets to work through. Will they be able to worth through their past and have a second chance at love?

This was a sweet second romance that was based in a small town in Wisconsin. I loved that this book did touch on real life topics and Vivian and Charlie had to work through those issues. Overall, the plot was decent, but I do wish there would’ve been more of an ending as it felt abrupt, but I guess it kind of makes sense. I really wanted to love this book, but the style that it was written in made that really hard for me. Though, if you want a romance written from a male perspective, definitely give this a shot! It was still a good story.

Spice: 1/5
Rating: 3/5

Tropes:
Hidden Secrets
Small Town Romance
Second Chance

Thank you Net Galley, Nickolas Butler, and St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This book started off so slowly that I actually was unable to finish it. I was hoping for something so wonderful but was disappointed.

Charlie and Vivian were married young and it lasted 4 years. Charlie left their small Wisconsin town and Vivian behind. 40 years later, at age 62’, he returns and seeks out Vivian to see if there is a spark left between them. He’s full of regrets and apologies and wants to spend what’s left of his life with her. But Vivian is cautious and progress is slow. This is a poignant story of the ultimate in second chances, in lives complicated by children, regrets and past hurts.

**Book Review: "Forty Year Kiss" by Nicholas Butler – ★★★☆☆**

"Forty Year Kiss" by Nicholas Butler is a novel that explores love, relationships, and the passage of time through the lens of a long-term marriage. The story delves into the complexities of commitment and the often-unforeseen challenges that arise after decades spent together. While Butler’s prose is thoughtful and the themes resonate with anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of a long-lasting relationship, the book falls short of reaching its full potential.

The character development is one of the strong points of the novel. Butler crafts relatable and multifaceted characters, making readers empathize with their struggles and triumphs. The protagonist’s reflections on love and intimacy over the years are poignant and provide a meaningful commentary on how relationships evolve. However, at times, the pacing feels slow, leading to sections that could have benefited from more action or tension to keep the reader fully engaged.

The vivid imagery and descriptive writing contribute to a strong sense of place and atmosphere, drawing readers into the couple’s world. However, while Butler captures the essence of a long-term partnership, some readers might find that the narrative meanders, making it harder to maintain momentum throughout the story.

Overall, "Forty Year Kiss" is a heartfelt exploration of love that many readers will find relatable and thought-provoking. Yet, its slower pace and less dynamic storytelling may limit its appeal to those looking for a more gripping narrative. This book is suitable for readers interested in contemplative novels about love and marriage but may not resonate as strongly with those seeking a more fast-paced or plot-driven experience.

This is a poignant family story. Vivian and Charlie are in their sunset years when they are given a second chance at love. The plot of the story looks at the journey it takes for them to come to terms with the past and live in the present. It depicts the characters struggles as they try to overcome their demons. It is an emotional and interesting story that is filled with human emotions.

I've been a fan on Nickolas Butler since I read The Hearts of Men. His newest novel does not dissapoint. I loved the anticipation of watching the second-chance romance unfold. Beautifully eloquent prose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. This was an ok family saga/redemption story for me. Slower paced than I would have liked. I was also very distracted by no quotation marks when people were speaking. Overall and ok story.

A sweet second-chance romance. The pace is slow and deliberate. The characters felt a little distant. And so many things just felt too convenient.

I enjoyed my time with this story, but don't think it will stick with me long.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

Charlie and Vivian parted ways after just four years of marriage. Too many problems, too many struggles, even though the love didn't quite die. When Charlie returns to Wisconsin forty years later, he's not sure what he'll find. He is sure of one thing — he must try to reconnect with Vivian to pick up the broken pieces of their past. But forty years is a long time. It's forty years of other relationships, forty years of building new lives, and forty years of long-held regrets, mistakes, and painful secrets.

Slow burn, later-in-life coming of age story. This was a fascinating look at two well-developed characters with plenty of flaws, who lost each other when they were young and found each other again when they were older. I loved this! 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. This is my honest opinion of the book.