Fellow readers, this is a book to experience because we want to read words and sentences that put us in touch with our authentic imperfect human selves.

There's no syrup here. The characters are developed deeply, they are raw and human. This isn't a book that you read for the plot, though the pacing is good and things happen to the characters.

The work reflects the complexity of midlife and relationships. A gem of a read.

Kudos to the author, and deep appreciation to NetGalley for an early copy.

This book was okay. Likeable characters that were developed well, but I found that not much happened. I do not like it when the author doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue? To me it makes it so difficult.

Second chances abound on this emotional journey of love, and reconciliation. Set in small-town Wisconsin, the novel follows Charlie and Vivian, a couple who divorced after just four years of marriage. Now in their sixties, Charlie returns to his hometown, determined to reconnect with Vivian after decades apart. Despite the passage of forty years, the emotional connection between them is still palpable.

Butler skillfully explores themes of regret, forgiveness, and personal growth. The novel stands out for its mature love story, as it delves into the complexities of rekindling a relationship later in life, touching on real adult issues like alcoholism, financial instability, and long-held secrets. The characters' vulnerabilities and inner struggles are richly portrayed, with Charlie seeking redemption and Vivian cautiously guarding her heart after years of putting her family first.

It's refreshing to see an author tackling the challenges and rewards of love later in life. Readers looking for a touching and authentic exploration of second chances will find A Forty Year Kiss a heartwarming and satisfying read.

I enjoyed reading this book! It’s a romance story about 2 ex-lover’s that meet after 40 years. They rekindle, realize their differences, and find themselves growing together and learning a lot about themselves. I sat and read this in about 2 sittings. There isn’t a bunch of drama and twists, but this story is warm and cute.

This book kept my interest right from the first page. It tells the story of Vivian and Charles. It happened that they were once married and it didn't turn out so well. Divorce followed. Now 40 years later Charlie wants Vivian back and starts a campaign to win her over. There are many obstacles to overcome and in fact, a secret or two. Many things have changed in both their lives. Their are a few secrets that need to b revealed. Will they destroy the new found love between them or bring them closer together.? The book is an easy read and I found myself being drawn to it each time I tried to put it down. Give it a try...I think its worth your time.

This was a very enjoyable read. Second chances are possible but difficult. Well written and some twists which you might be able to figure out before the ending.

This was a wonderful, tender, second chance romance. I will always remember these characters; they felt so real to me.

Thank you to Nickolas Butler, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for this arc of A Forty Year Kiss, out February 2025!

📜Quick Summary: It’s been forty years since Viv and Charlie have seen each other. Forty years since their divorce, and he isn’t quite sure what he will see when he invites Vivian out for a drink one night. He’s moved back to take over his uncle’s farm in upstate Wisconsin after his passing, and well…he’s ready to reach out to his ex-wife. Forty years of secrets, new lives, challenges, mistakes, and experiences have passed, but there’s just something he cannot let go of.

❣️Initial Feels: This novel felt heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. I could tell from the beginning that this literary novel was going to be one heck of a romance story, that would transcend time and become something for the readers.

👀Trigger Warnings: alcoholism, divorce

📖Read if you want: romance, second chances, a story about hope, an “older” couple romance without the drama, real life difficulties and experiences

💡Final Sentiments: This novel does not use quotation marks so if that is something that may throw you off…here’s your heads up! Once I got into the groove of the story, I got used to it…but I still think I like the use of quotation marks when it comes to dialogue. ( This may be a big turn off to many readers. ) Charlie and Viv’s story was a beautiful one, if not organic in the way they developed. Married young, made mistakes, had serious struggles, and ended in an early divorce. The story seemed rushed from the beginning (for me), when he laid out what he wanted on the table when they meet for that first drink. I personally would have liked to seen some more development prior to their “fresh” start. Charlie seemed well developed, made good choices financially, and Viv…well her life isn’t looking the way she would like it to be.

🌟Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

This novel was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. The prose was lovely but I couldn’t connect with the characters.

This book, in my opinion, starts off fine, with a good pacing and decent writing.
But then the characters start to make some choices and some dialogues didn't work for me.
The romance, sometimes, felt a little far-fatched for my taste.
However, I'm not a really romance reader, so maybe I'm being too picky. More hardcore romance readers might enjoy this book a lot more.

I loved the premise of this book, finding love again after 40 years apart. I love stories with older protagonists. This was ok but a little too saccharine for me. I predicted the secret and when it gets exposed everything is just smoothed over quickly with no real conflict. It’s a nice romance but it doesn’t go in depth with any of themes it has. There is some issues with addiction in the book but it glosses over it and makes it seem like tackling his addiction will be no big deal. It actually kind of reminded me of Ryan Stradal with its characters and Midwest lifestyle. I loved aspects of it but I like my reads a little more raw and gritty and not so sweet with happy endings so probably just a preference thing. If you like romance especially with older more mature characters I think this will be a hit with you.

I am a fan of Nickolas Butler, now having read 4 of his books. Each is quite different and this is another I would not have expected from him. That is one of the things I enjoy about his writing. I read an E-ARC from NetGalley due out Feb 15 2025 for an honest review. The release date is no surprise as this is a romance, it might be labeled a Second Chance Romance but I found it to be a late in life, coming of age novel and working to get a relationship right this time romantic trop.

It is the story of Charlie and Vivian. Married and divorced young. Charlie, now retired and in his 60's returns to their small town in upstate Wisconsin hoping to find Vivian and to reconnect in some way not knowing what he will find. Charlie has done all right for himself but this one part of his life haunts him and he wants to see if there is any chance of setting things right. Yet while Charlie has good intentions he has not really changed in important ways. Vivian is skeptical and has baggage/problems of her own.

It is a heartwarming story and like romance stories has its own happy ever after but Butler does pack much more into the telling. I felt it did look at some of the problems older couples can face in renewing a relationship from younger/wilder days but at times felt like it lacked a little of the drama and attained its HEA (happy ever after) almost too easy thus the 4 stars. Good story telling and certainly the excellent, easy to read writing I've come to expect from Butler. I just wanted a little more drama to spice up the tale.

Nickolas Butler can write about human emotion, redemption, and relationships like no one else. Another heart warming story of love and forgiveness.

This book was so sweet. A second chance romance that felt very authentic and nostalgic. I loved reading about the perspective of this older couple giving love another shot, and how they handled past regrets and missed opportunities. I couldn’t help but to root for all the characters and to love all their parts including their flaws.

A Forty Year Kiss is a second-chance love story. Vivian and Charlie were unhappily married for four years. Forty years later, Charlie inherits a farm nearby and decides to move in an attempt to rekindle his relationship with Vivian.
Vivian and Charlie are both in their sixties, and both deal with real adult problems, including alcoholism and financial issues. While they are both excited about the potential that this rekindled relationship may have, they are each grounded in their own lives. This creates for a story that feels honest to the experience of long-term love and relationships.
I personally did not have trouble with the lack of quotation marks -- I have read several Sally Rooney books before where she makes the same choice. However, I did find that sections of inner character dialogue could become quite repetitive, particularly in the chapters with Charlie's perspective at the beginning of this book.
I think that I also came into this book with a different genre expectation than I received- based on the description I expected more of a contemporary romcom style story with older characters. However, what I received instead was a (beautifully written) slowly paced work of literary fiction. Altogether a touching story, just maybe not what I anticipated.

A book about second chances. Will resonate with readers in the second half (or third) of their lives. Wondering if the publication date being near Valentine’s Day being a coincidence. Don’t pick up this book looking for gritty realism. It’s sweet and maybe a little too saccharine if one is cynically minded. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars! It’s a true tale of “the one that got away” and second chances. I immediately connected with the feelings of past relationships, regret and enjoyed the character growth.

This is a light, romantic journey! Thank you for the advanced copy!

Middle of the road romance book for me. It’s got the cute time jumps over the 40something year marriage but I kept expecting something big and dramatic to happen and it just didn’t.
I did love the second chance romance, my fav trope, and the older love aspect was great since it’s not seen too often in romance books.
However, I didn’t really like the writing style of not using quotation marks during the dialogue. It had me confused and lost most of the time and I felt like it took me out of the story.
Overall, this was a good romance about second chances, older love, hard life navigations like addiction, and coming back to where you were and finding yourself through all of that.

I had my doubts about liking this book at the beginning. However, as I got to know the characters, I found I really liked the couple. It was a refreshing change to read of mature people. It must be true that you are never too old to find love again.

As romances go, this was a nice change of pace, a gentle, second-chance, later-in-life love story with believable characters and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. The writing was beautifully descriptive and heartfelt. It was my first time reading this author, but won't be my last.