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

Definitely I enjoyed the book so much and would love it on my shelves at my store.I couldn’t wait to keep reading the book it was that good.

Charlie, in his sixties and divorced, seeks to reconnect with Vivian, his first wife. While their marriage only lasted
four years, Charlie wants to correct what went wrong and see if they have a future together. Vivian has been
married and widowed since they parted. She also has problems of her own, regarding her children and a secret.
Charlie will need to prove he is willing to make the changes needed for the reunion to be successful.
Lovely second chance story.
#AFortyYearKiss #Sourcebooks #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read the ARC of Nikolas Butler’s upcoming release.

I have enjoyed all of Butler’s books and this was no exception. I took a few days to think before writing about it. I spent time on leave covered trails contemplating the story, I felt very connected to the book, whether it is my age of my own losses, I found myself immersed. This is a story of rekindling.

Charlie and Viv were married briefly more than 30 years before, it was tumultuous, and ended painfully. They both went on to experience their lives and various trials.

Charlie purposefully seeks Viv out and invites her for a drink. They’ve lived entire lives and are now in their 60’s. Charlie is lonely and regretful, while Viv is deeply loved by her family but companionless. Charlie was very selfish in their marriage. He deeply regretful but he is old enough now to see who he was, and while still not perfect in real time (I mean, who is?), he wants to do better. Much better. But we all know things take time and sometimes many tries to get it right. Viv was hurt, we see how deeply her pain goes as the book develops, and while she is gun shy she also has a forgiving heart and wants to believe in change. She considers the possibilities but is not a kid anymore, there will be expectations, she has learned to love and respect herself. Can Charlie be who she needs him to be?

The story unfolds as the two rediscover one another. Some of what they find is downright ugly and painful, the depth of the story is refreshing. This is not a rom-com, this is very real and raw. It is a story to savor a bit as love, life, can be hard but worth the effort.

In my 50’s now and seeing my own dad alone after losing my mom, the absolute love of his life, I am seeing Charlie and Viv through a lens of hope - regardless of missteps and imperfection, as it is relatable and human. We, as a society, are in a time of great loneliness, this book really allows me to believe there is still time to carve out a new path after losses of all kinds. And I’m smarter now, we can figure so much out with time if we continue to have curiosity. I’m lucky to have an almost 40 year partner by my side, but it wasn’t always easy. Some days still aren’t easy. The second chances Butler writes about so earnestly allowed for me to reflect and have gratitude for my own life’s blessings.

A Forty Year Kiss is a sojourn into the lives of two people in their 60s, who for 4 years, 40 years ago, were married and are now reconnecting as near strangers.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I didn't quite love it.

📖 I thought the plot was great. I really enjoyed reading about older adults. It's an interesting view into that age group. I can't think of any other romance books that have MCs in their 60s, so I appreciate the author going in that direction.

The math wasn't matching for me, and that sort of stuff bothers me. Also some of the railroad stuff didn't quite align, as someone who's been married to a 20+ year railroader for longer than he's been a railroader.

✍️🏼 I thought the writing was quite good. It reads smoothly and easily (aside from the issue below).

I'm not sure if it's because it's a eARC, or if it was a choice, but the dialogue not being in quotes really bothered me. I found it confusing at times and it broke immersion. To help with this, I used the "read aloud" option in the netgalley app. It definitely helped, even with the AI voices.

The dialogue sounded natural when AI read it.

⏳️ It's a bit slower moving than I prefer, but still solid.

👥 The characters are well developed and nuanced. They felt like real people, with nuance and personality. I appreciate that we get some character rep for people with Down Syndrome.

💞 I thoroughly enjoyed the romance. It seemed realistic and kept me interested and rooting for them.

Thank you to @wiscobutler @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

This is an easy read. Over the course of this book, not a whole lot happens. I think that it is more of an introspective story, one that tries to get you to reflect on your own feelings and emotions without invoking those feelings or emotions itself.

The story itself is quite beautiful if you look at it through the lens that something big doesn’t have to happen. It’s a story of regret, forgiveness and growth. I particularly loved that the characters were more mature. I’m to the point where I find them relatable as well. It didn’t sugar coat that second chances are not easy at all. I enjoyed the story immensely. I admired the characters and what they were doing. How much a person can change over forty years but still have some similarity to the person they were.

The writing was so well done, and I stay engaged throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

It was an okay read for me. Not a must, must read, but nevertheless worth the read.

Can safely recommend.

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.