A Forty Year Kiss is my first Nickolas Butler novel and I really enjoyed this quiet, character-driven story. As I was pulled into Charlie and Vivian’s story I found myself rooting for them to overcome their demons and find happiness with each other. I really liked this novel and plan to read more of Nickolas Butler. Thank you for the advanced readers copy.

I imagine it’s not easy: to write from the perspective of an older couple when you were born in 1979. Anyone at that age can only guess what it’s like to wake up and be glad for another day with a body that’s been through a lot.

This is a story about a retired couple that had been divorced for several years. Charlie wanted his first wife back but she wasn’t so sure. There were a lot of apologies from poor Charlie who kept saying he made mistakes – hurtful ones. He said he was a different man now. Charlie would do anything now to make her happy. Violet treated him like a dog that had to beg for forgiveness.

There was a lot of nostalgia. What happened during all those years? Now they were trying their best to renew their friendship. Charlie felt like it was better to enjoy his retirement with someone comfortable than to be alone. Seriously? Did he think as a really nice guy with fairly good looks that he would be without anyone? That’s sad.

The book showed a contrast between the older and younger generations, those with money and those that scrimped over the years. There was the typical different perspectives between males and females. It also focused a lot on the value of families. There were secrets and forgiveness with lots of tears, tenderness and kisses.

This also challenges the perspective of an unusual affair. The book was slow going in parts but it opened up the effects of past relationships as it’s been said what happens in the past should stay there. This story would be a good for discussions. Can people change? Sure, but it helps when someone has deep pockets. There is a reading guide with questions at the end.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read a copy of this book with an expected release date of February 4, 2025.

A sweet, second chance romance. This later in life love story successfully navigates the themes of forgiveness, redemption and healing..

4.5 ⭐️

I’m normally not much of a fan of romance novels, but A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler was a real hit for me!

Why?

I really enjoyed these older protagonists. Vivian and Charlie were married for 4 years back in their 20s. Charlie was a big drinker, and Vivian was sick of it. Forty years and a whole lot of life later, Charlie seeks to reunite with Vivian. Vivian has spent a lifetime struggling financially, and she has taken in her single mother daughter Melissa and her two young granddaughters. When Charlie re-enters Vivian’s life now, her life is way more complicated than it was in her twenties.

I loved the small moments in this book that were so big. Different gestures resonate in different ways depending on your age and life experiences. I was so taken by Charlie and Vivian’s gestures toward each other.

I also really liked the focus on economics and lifestyle affordability. It made this novel very relatable and grounded in the day-to-day, waiting-for-payday existence.

I also have to give props to the author for having interesting plot points that seemed unique to me. The voice, likely due to being from a male author, of this author was fresh and propulsive.

Sometimes I felt like this novel had a more vignette than novel feel, so occasionally I was wanting a bit more connective tissue.

I will definitely seek out more by this author. A FORTY YEAR KISS publishes February 4, 2025.

A Forty Years Kiss was definitely a different kind of read for me but in a good way. I've never read a romance where the main characters were older than forty. In this case they are in their sixties. This is a very sweet realistic story about a couple named Charlie and Viv who married when they were very young but falls apart in only four short years due to alcoholism, neglect and finance issues. Both characters are actually flawed in their own ways. They both move on with their lives. Charlie moves away in search of new career opportunities and Viv gets remarried and then divorced again. Forty years later Charlie decides to move back to town in hopes of rekindling his relationship with Viv. Charlie reaches out to Viv via social media and to his surprise Viv agrees to meet. Even though they have a history there is still a spark. I really enjoyed this book even though it was different than what I'm use to reading. I was totally rooting for these characters! Who doesn't love a very realistic second chance romance, especially when it's released right around Valentine's Day! Perfect timing! Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a book about second chances and love lost and found again. Charlie and Vivian met and married way too young and his alcoholism and immaturity caused them to part after only four years. Vivian stayed in Wisconsin, married again and despite struggles with poverty has a daughter and two grandchildren she adores. Charlie followed his railroad job to the southwest, made some clever investments, and was able to retire comfortably. After inheriting the family farm he evaluated his life and realized that money doesn't make up for missing friends and family connections and returned to Wisconsin to reconnect with Vivian and make up for the pain he caused her.

The physical and emotional connections are rekindled immediately, but while Charlie is eager to prove he has changed and deserves another chance, Vivian is slow to trust and too proud to accept Charlie's help and money. Charlie also continues to struggle with alcohol and must put it in his past if he is to have a future with Vivian.

This is a slow moving book but the characters are wonderfully developed. This is a beautiful, touching story.

"A Forty Year Kiss" is a beautifully nostalgic and deeply emotional story about lost and found love. Following the lives of two people who were once married, then divorced, and then reunited 40 years later, this novel explores the complexities of second chances and the enduring power of love.

The story evokes strong The Notebook vibes, with its poignant themes of rekindling a past relationship and rediscovering the deep connection that never truly faded. The characters are wonderfully developed, their chemistry palpable as they navigate the emotional terrain of rediscovery, forgiveness, and new beginnings. The passage of time adds a layer of richness to their reunion, making every moment of their second chance together feel all the more precious.

What makes this novel so compelling is the way it captures both the heartache and the joy of love—how it can slip away, only to return when least expected, yet with a deeper understanding of what really matters. It’s a beautiful exploration of how love changes and evolves over time, and how sometimes, we need to go through life’s ups and downs before we can fully appreciate what we had all along.

If you enjoy stories of enduring love, second chances, and emotional depth, A Forty Year Kiss is a must-read. It’s a perfect blend of heartache and hope, with a touching reminder that it’s never too late to rediscover love.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Nicholas Butler for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was an emotional read as we navigate the lives of Charlie and Vivian, the decisions that shaped their lives and the reasons behind them. It made me pause and think of my own life from time to time, as I am sure many readers will. Loved the book from cover to cover and highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Landmark/Source Books for providing an ARC of *A Forty-Year Kiss*, set to be released in time for Valentines day February 2025, in exchange for an honest review.

This story features a right person, wrong time romance—a kiss forty years in the making. It tells a sweet love story between Vivian and Charlie, who married young. They faced struggles due to being at different life stages, and ultimately, the universe had other plans for them. Both married again but eventually found each other after 40 years. In that time, they had grown, matured, and changed.

Vivian harbors a significant secret from her past that impacts Charlie as well. While the book delves into her background, I felt that Charlie's story, including his work in the railroad
And past relationships could have been developed further.

As others have mentioned, the lack of quotation marks in the book made it confusing at times, requiring me to go back to fully understand what was going on.

I also felt that the middle of the book was a slow burn. It started out intriguing, introducing the concept of reuniting after forty years and their first date. I wanted to keep reading to find out what ultimately happened to Vivian and Charlie.

4/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I really wanted to love this one but there just wasn’t “much going on” for most of the time. We follow the two main characters after they are reunited after being apart for 40 years.

Charlie has retired from the railroad at 64. His life is quite empty and he has had no one special in his life - he was always comparing women to his first love - Vivian. He is on a mission now to win her back.

Vivian lives in the small town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (shout out to my home state). She is a widow who is constantly busy as she takes care of her two young granddaughters while her daughter works. She loves her family but hasn’t had an easy life and is always worrying about the future.

I won’t go into the plot as the blurb does a a good job of that!

PROS:
I really liked the premise - love lost and love found!

Having actually been to Chippewa Falls I felt that it was very well described, small town, beautiful area, great people

Absolutely loved the trip to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs - that was probably my favorite part of the book!

CONS:
I didn’t enjoy the author’s writing style. As others have mentioned, the lack of quotation marks is just an annoyance while reading

I kept waiting for something “really exciting, emotional and wonderful” to happen, but it didn’t, at least in my reading experience.

I thought I knew Vivian and her family better than Charlie. We know that he worked for the railroad but that part of his life isn’t really well described.

The ending!

This was an entertaining book, especially if you want a bit of a lighter read.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Charlie and Vivian were passionately in love and married forty years ago. After just four years of marriage they divorced. Their lives took very different paths but they never forgot each other. Through Facebook they begin to reconnect. Charlie has inherited a piece of property, has moved back to Wisconsin and is hoping to rekindle the long lost relationship with Vivian. Will they find love again after all these years or will the mistakes, failures and secrets of the past be too difficult to understand and overcome? This heartwarming story provides a glimpse into growing older and understanding the importance of lessons learned while looking forward to seeing them from a new perspective and a future that will bring happiness and peace to your life no matter your age. This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I had read from this author and it was a different genre than I usually read. But I must say I am so glad I read this! It was a raw, thought-provoking story of two people who were married and then divorced after only four years. Then, forty years later, Charlie takes the chance that Vivian would possibly be interested in dating/getting back together and searches her out. I found I was holding my breath on more than one occasion about his actions based on his thoughts. This book was one that made you feel privileged to be able to be a part of his inner emotions and feelings that he wouldn't be able to express outwardly.

Reading this also made me think about what I would do in the same situation, both from Charlie's perspective and also Vivian's. Would the same problems that caused them to divorce still be hindering them from moving forward this time?

I did find at times that the book seemed a bit slow so I chose to rate it with four stars. However, I do highly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a chance to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks | Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an ARC of A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler, in exchange for my honest review.

3 1/2 stars

You're never too old, and it's never too late for a second chance.

I enjoyed this story; it's a heartwarming, realistic portrayal of love, growth, and forgiveness, no matter your age.

The lower star rating is due to the dialogue being "told" rather than "spoken". It felt somewhat stilted to me.

What a lovely, lovely novel. It truly read like a dream. Charlie and Vivian, our main characters divorced forty years ago as young immature newlyweds who did not understand what they had. They both went on to live slightly disappointing and lonely lives but never forgot each other. After much deliberation and self doubt Charlie decides to make contact with Vivian again after forty years. It goes well but there is still much hurt and and back history between them that they must work through if they want to be together, and Charlie REALLY wants to make it work. He is a changed man from his youth. Vivian has also changed and is hesitant to let Charlie back in to her life, as well as her daughters and grandchildren. This is a wonderful story of love, forgiveness, aging and personal growth. I loved how the characters personally progressed throughout the story. I highly recommend The Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler. 5 solid stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks | Sourcebooks Landmark for a chance to read an ARC version of this delightful book. All opinions are my own.

A most heartwarming story! I really enjoyed "A Forty Year Kiss" by Nickolas Butler. A relationship reunion decades post-divorce. Loved the growth in these characters, the efforts and their journey, and most of all their tender love. literally warmed my heart! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a slow burn, second chance romance, with older characters and not a lot of drama. That being said, this is both good and bad. Sometimes we get sick of all the insta-love (and insta-spice), dramatic romances; BUT it left the book kind of bleh.

The characters were cute and I enjoyed them, but I needed something bigger to happen.

Also, a book without quotation marks immediately loses a star for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

This was a gentle story of a couple who are older than our normal romance protagonists who attempt a second chance at love. I liked them being older and not having a lot of the silly drama that sometimes comes with young love. They dealt with some heavier topics such as alcoholism and learning to heal wounds from the past.

One thing I do not enjoy, is no quotation marks. I'm not sure why authors are making this choice, but it makes the reading process more difficult in my opinion.

3.75 stars rounded up. This was a great story about second chance romance for a couple in their 60s. I loved the characters but it did drag on a bit for me at about mid-point. I also struggled a bit with the lack of quotation marks. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book was a wonderful love story about two older people. One of the reasons that this book spoke to me is because I am 66 years old and have been a widow for the last 2 1/2 years, I'm also from the midwest and about 6 months before my husband passed away I spent 3 days in Chippewa Falls. I do not often see my age group represented in fiction and especially not as main characters. Why is this? Do the publishers and authors think our lives are all ready over? Charlie and Vivian had been apart for forty years. How have they changed in these forty years and how have they stayed the same. How will they address that which drove them apart. Seeing them work through these different issues and reestablish their love for each other while rebuilding their trust was a pleasure to read. Also we witnessed the mistakes they made along the way in this journey. I could also relate to their thoughts on the road not taken, how could I have behaved differently, how could I be better going forward. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

This quiet novel was a joy to read. On the surface, it's about Charlie who moves back near his hometown to find his old love now that he's older. He wants to reconnect and find a way to be with her again even though they got divorced forty years ago.

Even though I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop or something big to happen, this novel stayed quiet the whole time. The characters were real and interesting and they stayed with me after I finished reading. I found I could relate to them.

This is a story about grief and loneliness and poverty and being a single parent and of course above all about regret and second chances.

with gratitude to netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review