A love story set in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Charlie and Vivian meet after being separated for forty years. Charlie had been drifting in and out of relationships and work and now he is alone and retired. He returns to Chippewa Falls haunted by his ex-wife Vivian and wanting to meet her again.

Vivian lives with her daughter and two grandchildren and is very wary about starting another relationship with Charlie.

Vivian has secrets, her daughter Melissa has secrets, and Charlie needs to change his drinking habit.

This was a slow romance about families, relationships and secrets. I loved the way Charlie recalled the life he shared with Vivian and what he missed.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a chance to read this E-Book.
All opinions in this review are completely my own.

A touching and sometimes hard story of a man in his sixties reconnecting with his first wife, the love of his life. Forty years after their separation and divorce, he finds her and sets out to woo and court her. Her life has been hard-never enough money, living at just above poverty with her daughter and two children. The love of her daughter and children sustain her through it all. Flashbacks to their marriage and to his life unfold a story in a natural flow toward the possibility of a second chance. Alcoholism plays a major part in the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well written novel based on an interesting concept - the author overheard a couple discussing their renewed relationship after 40 years apart. That said, I did not find it as engaging as Shotgun Love Songs by the same author. Somehow the characters were a little flat to me, and not as interesting as I hoped. Did love the closing scenes at Wrigley Field in Chicago (though as a season ticket holder, I don't think I've ever seen "kiss cam" on the Jumbotron.

This sounded very interesting . However, I just didn't get sucked in. I read only a third of it, so things might have gotten better, but there was very little plot line happening. I felt no connection to the characters at all. Maybe other readers will feel differently. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC.

Story of an older couple getting a second chance of love together. Charlie and Vivian were married in their twenties, divorced after four years of marriage. Forty years later Charlie looks for Vivian hoping to reconnect. Will they fall in love again or has too much happened in each of their pasts? A delightful story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have really high expectations because I loved the author's previous book Shotgun Lovesongs. This one was a bit too slow for me. If you like a character-study type of book, this one could be good for you. The three main characters - Charlie, his ex-wife Viv, and her adult daughter Melissa all go through transformations over the course of the book, and since the book is told from alternating points of view -- Charlie and Viv -- you get to know them, as well as Melissa well. I happen to prefer more action, and it picked up for me in the 2nd half when it felt like a bit more was happening.

This was a beautifully crafted exploration of love and the passage of time. The story follows a couple reflecting on their life together, filled with poignant moments and bittersweet nostalgia. Butler’s writing is lyrical and heartfelt.

I really enjoyed how the characters felt so authentic, grappling with their shared past while navigating the complexities of their relationship. The emotional depth was impressive, but at times, the pacing felt a bit slow, particularly during the middle sections, which slightly dulled the momentum.

Overall, tis is a touching meditation on love, commitment, and the memories that shape us. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone who appreciates stories that delve into the nuances of long-term relationships.

This book was very pleasant to read--a bit slow moving, but a calm and almost soothing story about a second chance at love. I agree with many others about not being a fan of the lack of quotation marks. I've stopped reading books because of this, and while I would have preferred the punctuation to be more standard, in this case it did not bother me as much as I expected. It actually contributed to the easy flow of the book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an e-ARC of this book.

Charlie and Vivian were married for 4 years when they were in their twenties, but it fell apart and after their divorce they went on with their lives without connecting again. Forty years later, Charlie moves back to their Wisconsin town and is determined to win Vivian back. Now that they are both in their sixties, they both have lived through a lifetime of trials and tribulations, and the way they come together and their new, mature love is a story of second chances, forgiveness and realizing that it is never too late to make changes in yourself.

I found the writing in this novel to be beautiful, the characters very well drawn, and I highlighted numerous inspiring and meaningful passages. I thought the author did a wonderful job portraying more mature love, and was delighted to see a love story between two people in their sixties. This is a very character driven novel however, and although there are discoveries to be made about our protagonists, the pace is quiet and slow, which readers need to be aware of before they pick it up.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an e galley in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of the book seemed appealing, love lost and now found; however, the execution was not. The lack of quotations was very frustrating to me. Also, I found the pacing of the book to be extremely slow.

A Forty Year Kiss was a sweet love story about second chances and righting past wrongs. Charlie and Viv married young and got divorced after a few years. 40 years later, Charlie is doing everything in his power to prove to Viv that they deserve another try at love.

I found this to be a cute book. As the story unfolds, you find yourself rooting for the main characters to find happiness. This isn’t a fairytale romance, Nickolas Butler incorporates real world struggles into his story- alcoholism, money problems, parenthood issues of a mother and grandmother. Both Charlie and Viv, as well as some of the supporting characters were authentic and believable.

Unfortunately, I found the lack of quotation marks frustrating. This, along with a choppy writing style with incomplete sentences and lots of repetition, made it confusing to follow who the speaker was and spoken words versus thoughts.

A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler is a story about second chances, the joy and fear of aging and the opportunity to become a better person.

The story follows Charlie and Vivian, a couple who have been divorced for 40 years after a failed marriage. Charlie decides one day to reach out and rekindle their love.

Butler writes their love in a way that feels rooted in authenticity and moves quick and slow simultaneously. There are moments of pure joy, and moments of the fear of falling in love.

Overall, I felt like this was a lovely novel and would recommend it to others.

It was giving hallmark.

Thoughtful second chance romance. Solid plot. Interesting characters. Very grounded and romantic.

I love "second chance romances" and this was wonderful. Charlie and Viv married and divorced in their early 20's and reconnect forty years later. The challenges they face are light on the drama, but true to life and rewarding for the reader. Reading this love story was like a warm bath, cozy and comforting. Grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance read. I loved "Shotgun Lovesongs" by the same author and was happy to read this forthcoming book.

Absolutely lovely. It's fun to read Butler venture into romance territory while still being true to his midwestern heartiness.

Charlie and Vivian married young, before they really knew what love was. After four years their problems caught up with them and they decided to part ways. Now, forty years later, they meet up again to see if maybe they could have a second chance.
This is an interesting story about redemption, love, the difficulties of life, our secrets, and forgiveness. The beginning was a bit choppy for me as I tried to get into the story. I was not a fan of the style of not using quotation marks. There were a few places I had to reread to ensure I knew who was saying what. But the story as a whole was a unique and enjoyable one. I felt it was very realistic. The characters were flawed, had real issues, struggled to overcome some of them, but also learned and tried to do better!
This is set to be published Feb 4, 2025, so add it to your TBR if you're interested and check it out then!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for my review!
#NetGalley #AFortyYearKiss

Very strong start for this novel followed by a pretty good follow-through. I love the story aspects, such as the second chance romance and how the characters were older. Some of the descriptions were so sharp and really helped to immerse me in the story from the jump. The author pulls off the dual perspective very well, and I found myself easily rooting for the characters despite their past flaws. Having older characters added a fresh angle to the story that I really enjoyed. There was a part about an investment one of the main characters made in 1986 that made me roll my eyes…..Some of the drama also seemed kind of petty for older people to be having but otherwise a very enjoyable read.
My copy didn’t have quotation marks which I didn’t love. It really made some of the dialogue jumbled since it also wasn’t formatted by itself, just full blurbs of conversation and then he said or she said.

good mystery about a couple and staying in a house and the other couple there. kept me on my toes . good mystery and figuring stuff out. loved this romance

I'm a big fan of Nickolas Butler (read all of his books). I appreciate that they are all very different books - I feel like he's willing to take chances on telling different kinds of stories and is not wed to a particular subgenre of fiction. What is similar about them all is that they are well-written and provide compassionate and insightful views of human nature. I will admit that Forty Year Kiss isn't my favorite of his books, but it's still excellent. It tells the story of a second chance romance between a man and woman in their sixties. They've been through a lot in the time they were a part (and also through a lot in the time they were together!) so the rediscovery process is both scary and intoxicating. I liked the characters and enjoyed following their romance, though this wasn't a book I'll probably come back to again (as a couple of his others are).

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Publishing for an early copy of A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler

Vivian and Charlie have a history: they were a young married couple early in the 1980s whose marriage came apart after four years. Several factors contributed to their marriage ending, primarily Charlie's drinking and inability to "be there" for his wife.

Now in their sixties, Vivian and Charlie meet up informally in the town they both know, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Charlie has never been able to forget Vivian and his life with her. He wants to make amends and give them a second chance to be together. Vivian's life has gone in a different direction with two daughters and two granddaughters. While Charlie is the love of her life, Vivian has kept secrets from him and is unsure of the role he could ultimately play in the years ahead.

Author Nickolas Butler has created characters each with unresolved issues that eventually must be dealt with if there is any chance for stability and fulfillment going forward. These same characters possess the willingness to admit mistakes and take advantage of the chances now given to them.

A Forty Year Kiss is a kind of "feel good" story of overcoming obstacles when love and the hope of redemption win out.