Can a couple who crashed and burned 40 years ago rekindle their romance? What if there are secrets that have been buried in just as much time?

Vivian is meeting her ex-husband, Charlie, on a date for the first time in forty years. They had a great love that lasted four years, but Charlie's alcoholism broke them up. A lot has happened since then, they have gone through marriages, financial struggles, but they never could get the other out of their minds.

Their date goes perfectly, and they become like two puzzle pieces fitting together again. But how will Charlie react when Vivian's secret is finally revealed?

This is a beautiful story about second chances, struggles, and dealing with alcoholism. It proves that sometimes first loves never quite leave us.

Lots of thoughts and feelings about this book. They ranged from “I don’t think I can finish this”, “I have to finish this” and at times somewhere in between. This is a story about people. Regular people who are all living their lives and dealing with the consequences of their choices, relationships and everything that has gotten them to where they are and figuring out where and how to move forward. Can they let go of their past hurts and experiences and take a chance on new love, a new path and let happiness in? It’s a slow story, but a slice of life that leads to a very sweet place.

I loved this book. By turns romantic and clear-eyed realistic, A FORTY YEAR KISS by Nickolas Butler is the story of a couple who ended their marriage after four years and then reunite 40 years later to share the lives they've lived and the people they have been and rediscover themselves in one another. Butler has written a.heart-breaking and warming, beautifully written tribute to love, the people we can be, and the power of story to change lives through Charlie and Vivian's reunion. This is a make-believe story that I want to be true with all my heart. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This book had so much potential. Charlie and Viv divorced 40 years ago. After he retired Charlie moved back to Wisconsin, hoping to reunite with Viv, who he has never stopped loving. His farm is 70 miles away from where Vivian lives with her daughter, Melissa, a single mother and Vivian helps care for her two granddaughters.

I didn't care for the writing, and it made me feel a distance from the characters. A lot of the book was conversation, so I also felt a lack of character development. I don't think I really liked anyone. Charlie is trying his darndest to help Viv who doesn't have a lot of money. Viv seems to run hot and cold. I understand her being wary of Charlie. Even though she never stopped loving him she needs to know that he has changed. She wants to be loved and taken care of but when Charlie does things for her, she feels smothered. At first Melissa was really awful to him but she had her problems too.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a digital copy.

A forty year kiss is a comfort read for the winter. Charlie and Vivian are two 60-something’s who had a brief marriage, but after 4 years parted ways. Vivian remarried and started a family, while Charlie battled alcoholism.

The two reunite 40 years later and try to come to terms with past mistakes and mane up for lost time. Like butlers other novels, this takes place in the Midwest and the small town mid western atmosphere permeates throughout. Butlers love for this region resonates in his writing.

I did enjoy seeing the 60 year olds front and center as protagonists who still had interest and passions. I did find it somewhat schmaltzy though, and admit I did not enjoy this as much as I did shotgun love songs. However, it is a confirming palette cleanser between reads and will have many readers charmed no doubt.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. .

This is the story of Charlie and Vivian, who married young and divorced after only 4 years, with each going his/her separate ways. Forty years later, Vivian is a widow, who has taken in her daughter Melissa and her two grandchildren. Charlie, who has recently retired, travels to the small Wisconsin town where Vivian lives and hopes to reconnect with his “first love.” Although the storyline is definitely a charming and interesting one, the novel as a whole is too much of a slow burn for me. And, the lack of quotation marks to indicate dialogue was truly annoying. All in all, though, this was a good and interesting read.

A Forty Year Kiss is a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Charlie returns to Wisconsin forty years after his divorce from Vivian hoping to rekindle their love after inheriting a farm he plans to fix up. Vivian never left the town where they’d lived. She remarried, cared for her husband until he died, and had a daughter she now lives with while babysitting her granddaughters. She also has a secret. Charlie drinks too much, but when he’s with Vivian he yearns to quit. This is an old-fashioned, Kent Haruf-style, upper Midwest love story about good people trying to do the right thing.

Butler is masterful in the art of portraying older characters without stereotyping them. Charlie and Vivian are in their sixties and Butler shows them as complete beings not out-of-touch, old fogies. Fans of Lyle and Peg Hovde, the wonderful couple in Butler’s magnificent Little Faith will find the same type of normal Midwestern characters simply trying to do the right thing and live their lives with honor in Charlie and Vivian.

Charlie found Vivian on Facebook. He signed up just to find her. They’d messaged back and forth and talked on the phone a few times. Now, here he was sitting in the Tomahawk Room on Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin waiting for her to walk through the door.

She walked in. “He was just standing there like a boy. Like a boy grinning on his birthday, or Christmas morning. And now she focused on the images of only a few moments ago. The man waving. She realized that it must have been him. She must have seen him waving, and then standing up from his stool and then sitting back down. Then awkwardly rushing to the door. And now here they were. Standing within inches of one another. As close as they had been in forty years, all of this she processed very quickly, and yet, she still could not believe it. That it was happening. That he was here, standing in front of her, smiling expectantly. He looked extremely happy to see her, his cheeks red with what looked like joy.”

They greeted each other, ordered wine, and talked for a while.
“Now, he turned to her, their knees practically touching, a faint electricity there, or magnetism, between them, and he said, Vivian, listen to me—I’m sorry if I wasted those years of your life. I’ve been thinking a lot about who I was back then and the mistakes I made. But I loved you very much and I’m sorry I was a bad husband.

She stared at him, at this new Charlie. . .”

Thus begins a tale of imperfect people trying to find happiness. What more could you want in a novel?

Summing it Up: Read A Forty Year Kiss to enjoy a novel that’s as much an ode to the Midwest as it is a celebration of second-chance love and becoming the person you were meant to be. Nickolas Butler is unusual in that he treats his characters fairly. He shows them completely without making excuses for their behaviors or trying to portray them as more than they’re capable of being. That makes them real which makes his novels feel a part of you.

Caveat: I met Nickolas Butler when his first novel debuted and reconnected with him when he participated in the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book and again when he stayed as a guest at the Good Hart Artist Residency while finishing the final draft of a previous book. He’s one of the good guys and his writing exemplifies that.

Rating: 5 Stars

Publication Date: February 4, 2024

Categories: Fiction, Five Stars, Grandma’s Pot Roast, Book Club

Author Website: https://nickolasbutler.com/

Author Interview: https://chireviewofbooks.com/2025/02/04/a-forty-year-kiss/

What Others are Saying:

Book Reporter: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/a-forty-year-kiss/about

“This charming and empathetic portrayal of the Midwest and its denizens explores late-in-life romance, the pangs of regret, and the possibility of renewal no matter how much time has passed.” —Booklist

“The novel is beautiful and full of complex characters. It is a love story, not only between Charlie and Vivian but also between the novel and the Midwest, as the characters journey between Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Spooner, WI, along with Minneapolis and Chicago. Fans of Butler and of romance will be delighted with this novel.” —Library Journal

“A big-hearted, comforting novel about second chances—at love, at recovery, at forgiveness and redemption. Butler treats all his characters with dignity and affection. When we die, we’d all be lucky to come back as a character in a Nickolas Butler novel.” —Ash Davidson, author of Damnation Spring

“Life-affirming and straight up beautiful. Will stole the good fire in your chest, I absolutely loved it. A must-read.” Matthew Quick, author of The Silver Linings Playbook

“Thank you, Nickolas Butler, for writing a love story that feels so powerfully real, a story that captures the hope, grace, and joy of new love—but also the mistakes, scar tissue, and regret of past love. It’s a wonder to behold, a novel. Capable of such breadth. This is the kind of book that makes me a better human.” —Nathan Hill, author of The Nix and Wellness

This heartwarming and uplifting novel explores the transformative power of second chances, love, and the enduring bonds of relationships. It delves into the complexities of human connection, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to find hope and happiness even in the face of adversity. With richly drawn characters and a compelling storyline, this book will resonate with readers who appreciate stories that celebrate the beauty of life and the importance of cherishing the moments that matter most.

The novel's exploration of second chances will appeal to readers who believe in the possibility of redemption and the power of forgiveness. It highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes and embracing new opportunities for growth and happiness. The theme of love is woven throughout the narrative, showcasing its ability to heal, inspire, and bring people together in unexpected ways. The enduring bonds of relationships are also explored, emphasizing the significance of family, friendship, and community in shaping our lives and providing us with unwavering support.

This book is a perfect fit for fans of sentimental and feel-good stories that celebrate the beauty of human connection. Its heartwarming message and relatable characters will leave readers feeling uplifted and inspired, reminding them of the importance of cherishing the relationships that bring meaning and joy to their lives.

Nickolas Butler's latest exquisite tale, A FORTY YEAR KISS, is utterly captivating! It's never too late for love & second chances —lyrical & big-hearted, from lost love, forgiveness, hope & redemption. I loved it!—a perfect literary Valentine read.

A compelling small-town love story. A couple who met up again forty years after their divorce. There is a lot of hurt, mistrust, and living in between. Will they make it the second time around? Their moving, emotional journey will surely resonate with readers.

About...

Charlie and Vivian divorced after four years of marriage. There were too many problems. Charlie drank too much, and they both went on to live their lives.

Forty years later, Charlie returns to Wisconsin and knows he wants to rekindle his relationship with the one love. Even though he married twice after. He wants to try to pick up the broken pieces.

They have had other relationships, regrets, secrets, mistakes, and baggage; they are set in their ways and from different economic backgrounds.

Charlie is an alcoholic with a vast wine collection and has just taken over a large farm. He wants Vivian to be a part of his life. He has done very well for himself at age 64, retired from the railroad, and has stock in Apple. So, financially, he can help Vivian. He is a giving man and has the best of heart.

On the other hand, Vivian barely gets by and lives with her daughter and two children by different men. They struggle financially. She shops at Walmart and thrift shops.

While she enjoys the attention and the lavish dinners, she is also guarded and has her pride. She does not make it easy for Charlie to return to her life. He still must make changes for them to try again. Is he up for the challenge?

In addition, Vivian has a big secret that could also affect their relationship. This secret, when revealed, adds a layer of complexity to their journey, making the story even more compelling.

My thoughts...

I loved A FORTY YEAR KISS! and the reveal was unexpected. I am not typically a romance reader; however, I adore literary fiction and late-in-life stories of redemption.

Being older with so many regrets and life takes work, and it was refreshing to hear from Charlie and Vivian's perspectives. Their growth and resilience will inspire you.

Your heart will break and be put back together before the end. I loved reading the inspiration behind the story from the author, Nickolas Butler. He drew from his observations, which added a personal touch to the narrative.

A FORTY YEAR KISS is a profoundly moving, transcending, beautifully written, uplifting story of love, family, second chances, forgiveness, wisdom, kindness, and redemption.

My first book by the author, and I was highly impressed. I cannot wait to read his backlist and upcoming works. His storytelling is truly admirable.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook narrated by the talented Richard Poe, elevating the novel and capturing its compelling characters and raw emotions, making the story come alive. I was hooked from the beginning. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it is perfect for Valentine's.

Recs...

A FORTY YEAR KISS is for fans of the author, Richard Paul Evans, Nicholas Sparks, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Tim Johnston, Allen Eskens, Charles Martin, Jo Jo Moyes, Viola Shipman, Fredrik Backman, Ken Jaworowski, and Ethan Joella. (all favorites).

If you enjoyed it, I recommend Only After We Met (audio fantastic) by Alice Keelen, narrated by Gail Shalan and Benjamin Crow. It is about a younger couple who had many issues and came back together after a world of hurt, addiction, struggles, and wisdom.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Recorded Books via NetGalley for an advanced review and listening copy—and the introduction to this talented author!

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
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** spoiler alert ** Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for providing me not one, but two ways to enjoy this story! This is my first by this author.

I loved the premise of this book. Long lost loves and second chances. Charlie and Vivian married way too young. Charlie's drinking got in the way and they divorced just 4 years later. Life went on very differently for them (as we see in flashbacks). He never stopped thinking about her despite remarrying a rebound. And after some soul searching, 40 years later, he decides to make contact with her again.

The story is set in Wisconsin. Vivian has had quite the hardship life. She's now a single grandmother, supporting her daughter while her daughter is also single, trying to keep a job to support her child. I won't go into too many details, other than to say, Butler does a fantastic job going back and forth with them together and separately, to get us to the present time. It is a slow burn, though, and not much exciting happens -- but that's also OK because it's more real life.

Two things threw me for a loop, though:
1, There were no quotation marks used. That threw me for a huge loop. I've never encountered that and found I wasn't able to follow along as well. So I requested the audiobook to go along with the e-ARC.
2, There is a scene early on, when Charlie goes all in and kisses Vivian - but it's almost immediately after reconnecting! I get if you've missed someone so much that you're about to burst, but it felt very rushed and if I'm being honest, I felt icky about it as Vivian wasn't quite there yet. (I get that's a me thing.)

Other than that, I found the relevant topics woven in, refreshing! TW for alcoholism, abortion, special needs adoption. I'd be willing to explore more from this author!

Nickolas Butler’s The Forty Year Kiss tells the story of Charlie and Viv, a divorced couple with a second chance at love in their sixties. Recently inheriting his uncle’s rundown farm, Charlie has returned to Wisconsin after years in New Mexico. Viv remains in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where the two met and married young, divorcing after four years together (1980-1984).

Now sixty-four and retired, Charlie has found Viv on Facebook, and after a series of messages and a few phone calls, both are eager to reconnect at a Chippewa Falls bar. The author seems to have chosen the place carefully because Charlie had and still has a drinking problem. Arriving an hour early, he downs two beers and then does make a small effort to control himself, switching to root beer before Viv’s arrival. A major cause behind the divorce decades earlier, he justifies his current drinking as the result of his loneliness. After three failed marriages, Charlie is alone in the countryside with only Blueberry, his dog, for companionship. Viv lives in a small, rundown house with daughter Melissa and two young granddaughters Viv looks after while Melissa works. Based on their recent communication, Viv feels Charlie has changed, yet she claims to think she is in charge for once—that he has something to prove to her.

That view is well and good, but from the start, both characters in their sixties struck me as stuck in their youth. While supposedly trying to take the relationship slowly, Charlie repeatedly declares his undying love, and this impresses Viv because he had not done so in the past. When Viv finally gets him to admit he still has a drinking problem, rather than rejecting him or immediately addressing the issue, she immediately falls into bed with him. Although Butler eventually makes an anti-drinking point, I quickly tired of what seemed like too much immature thinking inside aging bodies, making the second chance story somewhat difficult to continue for me.

This said, I see mostly positive reviews on NetGalley so will confine my review to the NetGalley site, not sharing it on commercial sites as I normally do.

I have received a copy of A forty year kiss by Nicholas Butler for review via netgate.comall thoughts and opinions written here are my own. I did not receive any compensation for this review of any kind.

I just finished reading the novel A forty Year. Kiss by Nicholas Butler.

I very much enjoyed reading this book, I would describe it as clean, slow and steady. Much like the second chance being offered here for the two main characters. Aunt, with the addition of wisdom, they approached their relationship slow and steadily with thought as to how their relationship will affect the people in their lives at least on the side of. The ( former ex-wife) I think that this story can give insight into how people grow as people and change or not based on their circumstances and what they go through in life. I'm really glad that this work was put together. It offers a glimpse into what second chances if done right can look like. There are some aspects of this book that I don't agree with but in those instances the author is. I think bringing into play some honest things that people have to deal with, sometimes that are not always pretty or nice, just real life kind of things that aren't always tackled in today's literature
And yet this book tackled love and passion in a mature and measured way. Also giving Credence to. The thought that if you have your partner by your side, you can have everything you ever wanted, you just sometimes have to look realistically at what you want and not what everyone else seems to want around you. Sometimes pure and simple is best. Thank you Nicholas Baker for putting this piece of work together. It's beautiful

Can a love be rekindled after a forty year gap?
Charlie has been living with regrets since the ending of his first marriage to Vivian. With the hope that it can, he arranges a meeting to find out if she’s still the one.
A Forty Year Kiss is a tale of love and hope and change.
And to cherish the time you have left with the one love that might have gotten away.
Loved the characters and the humanity and the optimism.

I really liked the idea of this novel. However, I am struggling so much with no quotation marks and am choosing not to finish. So glad others are loving it!

This is the first book by Nickolas Butler that I have read. I took a chance on it since it was set in the Chippewa Falls area of Wisconsin. It’s a second chance story that I found myself rooting for both Charlie and Vivian. They were married for 4 years forty years ago.

I liked the book even though there was a lot of growing on both parties. If you believe in second chances, read this book to find out if it happens. There are hurdles in their way.

I received an ARC e-book copy from Netgalley and these are my own opinions

This is a very grownup love story where the characters take responsibility for their actions and in doing so gain a love that is real and that's more forgiving. then the love they had forty years ago.
From the beginning of the story, I enjoyed following Charlie and Vivian as they start to become reacquaint with each other and how much they truly like each other. I like seeing how Charlie and Vivian handled their problems differently than they did forty years ago, and by doing so, they have a better understanding of how the other feels. I like following Charlie as he decide if he is going to treat Vivian the same as he did when they were married or does he truly want to be with Vivian and make the changes that will make her trust him. I love to see how Charlie get to experience many things in life he never was able to until he reentered Vivian's life., like a family, coming home to someone and knowing someone had your back. I love seeing Vivian open up to new possibilities in her life, once her daughter finds her way, and she can find hers,. It made me smile after all the hardship Vivian had to go through.
And the best part of this story is how each of the characters were able to give each other something special that they always wanted but never could give themselves before and how grateful they were when the received it, like a horse, and baseball game and a daughter. What a heart warming story.

I want to thank Sourcebooks | Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an advance copy of tale about true love.

This enjoyable romance was a delight to read. Charlie and Olivia were married for 4 years before dissolving the marriage. As youth goes, bad decisions and cringy choices often go hand in hand. After 40 years Charlie never stopped thinking about Olivia. He looks her up and asked her out. A lot of life can happen in 40 years. Is it possible for people to change after that many years? Charlie is counting on the opportunity to show Olivia that he isn't the same irresponsible kid she divorced, if she will take that leap of faith. The slow dance of getting reacquainted is a whole lot of fun as these two adults navigate their new circumstances.

I loved everything about this book. The growth of an older couple, blending of families and confronting addictions for a meaningful relationship the second time around

I would encourage romance readers to pick this one up or if you're looking for something with different challenges than a couple just starting out. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an early copy.

A FORTY YEAR KISS—I couldn’t stop reading it! It’s such a beautiful, emotional love story, but honestly, there’s so much more to it. There’s forgiveness, growth, and healing woven throughout. The romance was so real and grounded, and I loved how the couple rediscovered each other, learning new things about each other after all this time. It was just so heartwarming.

So, Charlie and Vivian were in love and married years ago, but now Charlie’s back and wants to be with her again. Vivian’s spent her life focusing on her kids and grandkids, and she’s really hesitant about diving back into something with Charlie. She’s worried about getting hurt again, especially if it ends up like before.

What really stuck with me was how real and complex the characters felt, especially with all the history between them. Seeing Charlie and Vivian challenge each other to grow and heal was honestly so moving. And I loved how it showed that even though people change over forty years, they can still stay true to who they are. It was written so beautifully, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next! You should totally check it out.

I am a big fan of novels that feature characters in their senior years, especially those that portray seasoned adults as capable, vibrant human beings, so when I saw A Forty Year Kiss was a romance between two sixty-somethings, I was very excited to read it. What I did not expect was a roller coaster of emotions, and a life-affirming, beautiful portrayal of two people who were once in love, for a multitude of reasons divorced, and now, decades later have reconnected.

The authenticity of this relationship struck me, and I devoured the book just to see how things would end up for this family. I loved that they went through episodes of distrust, as old hurts crept into their new relationship. The bonds that developed between Vivian's daughter and granddaughters and Charlie felt like what might really happen, and the family that was created felt real.

The entire story had a slow-burn feeling to it, more of a character study than eventful, and it is told through the alternating points of view of Charlie and Vivian. The dual POV was a perfect choice, as the reader is able to see how the relationship is evolving through both of the main characters' eyes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the digital ARC of A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler. The opinions in this review are my own.

When I read the synopsis for A Forty Year Kiss, I was immediately hooked. I've always been fascinated by situations in which people remarry their ex-wife/ex-husband. I also liked that this was the love story of an older couple, which I don't see a whole lot in contemporary fiction.

The best way I can describe this book is "quiet". It's slow, meandering at times, soft, and just...quiet. There's a story happening but without bells and whistles, and without major drama. The things that could be considered "big" in terms of life events are handled and explored without theatrics, if that makes sense.

After finishing the book and stepping back from it, I can say I really appreciate the story that was told. I love that the characters are very real and flawed. Their struggles, their joys, their internalizations all felt real and believable, which is important to me in any book I book (though plenty of books are lacking in this).

I also LOVE that the idea from this book came from a conversation overheard by the author, so much so that parts of that conversation are actually used in this book. I love thinking about how cool it would be if the real-life people that had that conversation would pick up this book and realize it was about them. Unlikely, I know, but still fun to think about.

That all being said, I did find myself bored with this book at times. I was eager to get through it, but more so because I wanted to finish it and move on from it, not because I was excited to see what happened. I think this is a book that I may have loved if I were in the right headspace for a book that was so quiet and slow, but with where I'm at right now, I just found it to be dragging at times.

I also felt that while the characters were flawed and certainly had their tensions and struggles, some things went way too smoothly. That's not to say that I wanted the characters to struggle, but just that it didn't feel authentic; there were some major things that happened that I feel would have caused a lot more strife. Things that felt like major betrayals were just shrugged off and didn't cause any tension or anger.

I think this was partly to show how the characters have grown and how at this stage in their lives, there are some things that aren't worth getting angry about, but it just didn't add up, given the seemingly minor things that DID cause tension and frustration between them. I was especially shocked that the issue that caused the dissolution of their marriage the first time, which was still very much a potential issue in the current day, wasn't reacted to in a believable way. Having a family member with the same issue, I can assure you that you don't go through that level of trauma and pain and suffering only to be understanding and unconcerned when that issue continues to present itself at a later date. And the fact that it caused the end of their marriage was such a focal point that it just didn't make sense to me that it wasn't a bigger concern in the present day.

That all being said, it was a good read. I did like it, and I think there will be plenty of people out there who LOVE it and rate it higher than I have.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.