I've always loved Nickolas Butler's writing. Gorgeous prose and sly social observations, and it was refreshing to read about genuinely kind characters who want the best for those around them. Reminded me of the great James McMurtry lyric "Cashing in on a thirty-year crush; you can't be young and do that." This read goes down easy, and truly reminds readers that it's never too late.

This book is a delightful read that warms the heart with its descriptive narrative. The author has crafted a story that exudes warmth and comfort, making it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The characters are endearing, and their journeys are both touching and relatable.

However, there are moments where the pacing of the story slows down, causing the plot to drag a bit. These sections may test the reader's patience, but they are often followed by heartwarming and engaging scenes that make it worth pushing through.

Overall, this book is a lovely, heartwarming read that, despite its occasional slow moments, leaves a lasting impression with its sweet and comforting story.

I enjoyed this story even though I found it to have a slow start. I'm glad I stuck with it. Rich characters that were placed in a well-developed plot. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a good story with good character development. I felt engaged in the book, although it did take a bit for me to get into it. I am glad I had the chance to read this.

I loved this book and I am greatful for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review. I think the book was incredibly well done and that both characters were incredibly realistic. I loved the flow of the book and getting to see everything unfold in their original relationship until the end. I LOVE that both characters were showed as flawed and understand the issues and mistakes that were made but despite those the spark between them is still there.

So, what is a romance novel? What is Women’s Fiction? This lovely book defies easy categorizing. It is, in fact, a ROMANTIC novel about love lost and love found.

Forty years after their divorce, Charlie reaches out to his ex-wife Vivian, surprisingly, she is open to a reconnection. Hence the title, forty years between kisses. Vivian is a struggling single grandmother. Her daughter is working to support the family. As the story unfolds, there are secrets which are revealed and difficult changes to contend with. As an older reader, I gloried in each moment. I especially liked the inclusion of Charlie’s years, ex p-wife, and finances.

I highly recommend this to my readers. As I went through the Reader’s Guide, I found myself thinking about the questions and very excited about discussions.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

A gorgeous, gorgeous book.. I’m a longtime fan of Nickolas Butler’s work, and his latest novel does not disappoint. My favorite thing about it is the way he takes everyday things and elevates them, filling them with the meaning they deserve. He does a great job capturing one of the biggest questions of life: do we stay where we are and play it safe, or take a chance when a new possibility shows up and surprises us? I love how his characters navigate this. It’s both poignant and thought-provoking. I especially appreciated the complexity he weaves into the female characters, the way their simple exterior lives hid multi-faceted hopes and dreams, regrets and yearnings. This is a great read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to review.

Set in and around Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where "alcohol is in the air", A Forty Year Kiss is the story of Charles who, now that he is in his 60s, seeks to reunite with his first wife, Vivian, whom he was married to for four years beginning in 1980. Charlie, who is an alcoholic, is a retired railroad worker who travelled the United States and made his money investing in computer start-ups. He inherited property from his family and reaches out to Vivian when he returns to Wisconsin. Vivian, by comparison, is a widow who lives in a rented house with her daughter and two granddaughters. The novel is about second chances and rekindling an old flame. Overall, the novel has a compelling plot with a few minor twists and turns--and a bit of a cheesy ending, even for a Wisconsin novel. And, readers may ask what happened to the goldfish.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this! I enjoyed this book - I felt myself rooting for the characters throughout the entirety of the book and couldn’t put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next. I would definitely recommend!

Nickolas Butler excels at quiet, Midwestern characters and his new novel, A Forty-Year Kiss, only adds to his collection. Charlie and Vivian’s marriage ended forty years ago, but now that Charlie is retired he cannot stop thinking about her. He returns to the small town of Chippewa Fall, Wisconsin intent on restarting some kind of relationship with Viv — even if it’s only friendship. Switching back and forth between the two characters, Butler delves into how differently the forty years apart treated both of them and the challenges they face trying to reconnect. A Forty-Year Kiss is a sweet book about second chances, growing older, and finding happiness and family at any age.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a sweet story about a couple- Charlie and Viv who where disastrously married in 1980, a marriage that imploded in a few short years because of Charlies drinking, and neglect. Charlie leaves their small town in Wisconsin and builds a career with the railroad. Vivian moves on with her life too, marrying again. Fast forward 40 years-both of them in single and in their 60s. Charlie has inherited his uncle’s farm and after rambling around the US is now retired has decided to settle near their old town, in hopes of winning Vivians heart. Charlie reaches out to Viv via social media with hopes of a second chance and to his delight she agrees to meet with him.

Both Charlie and Viv are written realistically- they have history, and are very aware of what went wrong last time, but that spark is still there. They are both flawed characters, and in the story make mistakes. The whole time I was rooting for them.
This is also a love story to Midwest, readers of WI will recognize many of the places mentioned if not by name than by feeling.
Recommend

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this! This book is about second chances and character development. The writing style was not what I’m used to, however I loved how this story was written. It seemed as if you were right there with the characters, the scenes were descriptive and perfectly set for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from Nikolas Butler.

Thank you again for this opportunity!

Predictable. Not a fan.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I took a chance on this one. I am so glad I did. This was a slow burn, and I loved it. The writing is beautiful. This was a love story that I could escape in, which is exactly what I needed. Great summer read!

A FORTY YEAR KISS had me instantly hooked and completely immersed in it. A beautiful and emotional love story filled with so much more... forgiveness, growth, and healing. I deeply loved the romance -how it still felt so truthful and grounded - and how a couple relearns and discovers new layers of one another.

Charlie and Vivian were in love and married forty years ago. Charlie is back in area and wants to be with Vivian again. Vivian has spent her life taking care of her kids and grandkids... and is leery of jumping back into something with Charlie, and doesn't want to spend time from her family if Charlie is just going to break her heart again? After all history repeats itself, right?

I admired how real the characters are with their emotional depth, and especially with their complicated history, how Charlie and Vivian challenge each other to change and heal parts of themselves. I loved how the book showed how much a person can change yet in a way still be the same person over forty years time. So beautifully and tastefully written and look forward to reading whatever the author writes next!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

** spoiler alert ** Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks for giving me a copy of this book; it was sweet!

I liked this story in that there was a nice rolling feeling from the book, from the main characters and storyline. I liked that Charlie returned to Vivian and that we got to see their love story again. We slowly see their story unfold, from when they were married to everything in between. I'll be responding to the questions at the back of the book for my review, but there is one thing I want to include that will be a spoiler and somewhat controversial, but it's regarding Vivian and Charlie's daughter and the Stapletons. Their argument that they shouldn't share the credit of parenthood 50/50. I understand and support their feelings, but that also takes away Jessie's choice to recognize and love Vivian and Charlie as her parents.
Yes, Charlie came into her life later, and Vivian was only in her life for over 2 years, but they are in her life now. I think for her to know them as her parents will give her and them the choice to have the kind of relationship that will fit them. I believe in this kind of situation, for either the birth or the adoptive family to decide who matters more or who gets the credit is not equal. To tell Jessie that Vivian and Charlie are her parents doesn't take away the work and the credit the Stapletons did. It would give Jessie more people in her life who love her. It doesn't give Vivian and Charlie the credit the Stapletons wanted; it gives Jessie the love, support, and understanding of her story. This is my opinion because I look at stories and the individuals in them based on where they come from and who they are. That includes whether they're adopted or not, where their roots are, and more. For Jessie, I see my argument as a way for her to understand her story and where she came from and for her to decide how that matters to her. Identity, I think, is really important and something that is unique to every person. It should be their choice to decide who they want to be based on all parts of their history/story, including their birth parents. It gives them the choice to know and reflect on it, to move from it, or to do whatever they want. One's identity is personal; it should be determined by someone else. Again, this will likely be controversial, but it's my opinion on matters of identity. I read the book to give an honest review, and that is part of my review.

Otherwise, I liked Mr. Butler's approach to writing the story. It felt almost stream-of-consciousness in that the dialogue and description were all blended. You could make out what was dialogue, and the transition was seamless, which made the book interesting to read. Here are my responses to the questions at the end of the book:

1. I would reconnect with old friends because I'm interested in seeing where they are and reconnecting. I haven't had any big breakups or anything, just falling away from friends who've moved or we lost touch. I've been busy in the past few years, so I'm trying to reach out to old friends I knew who still live in my area. I think having more people in your life gives you a rich feeling.

2. I think Charlie wasn't presumptuous to message Vivian. It gave them both closure over feelings they had at the end of their marriage, and it's a love story! Vivian is who Charlie loved and loves at the end of the day, so beginning that process of reconnecting felt right. I would imagine things are more acceptable the older you get. I'm pulling from Erickson's stages of development, the last stage, which applies, I think. Technically, Vivian was on the threshold at 64, in generativity vs. stagnation, when one feels compelled to teach the next generation and give back to the community. Still, I think the last one, ego integrity vs. despair, applies more because it is the stage when one reflects on one's life and wants to feel that they did good or when one creates a bucket list of things they never did before that they want to do before they die. It fits in with Charlie as he reflects on his life in the first scene and wants to patch things up with Vivian, and he does as they are engaged in the end. I think for Vivian, too, it's a chance for her to reflect on the choices she's made and reconnect with Charlie.

3. I think it was right for her at that time, as she's still processing Charlie's leaving, but I reflect on his statement and wonder if she'd reached out to him then. It connects to my argument above. I think it would have given Jessie a chance to know both her parents and for them to reconnect while taking care of Jessie. But it would have changed how her life played out; the Stapletons wouldn't have been her parents, and I think they were also meant to be her parents. It's a tricky situation, and I don't know how I'd react to a revelation like that.

4. I'm not a parent, so I don't know, but I think Vivian said it in the heat of that dark moment and regretted it later. One shouldn't be judged on a single decision or statement but on the choices one continues to make afterward. If someone says something bad in a dark moment and later apologizes and does acts that demonstrate their apology and feelings on the matter, I think that would be good.

5. I think when the couple is going steady, they've met for a few dates and agree that their relationship isn't temporary but something more. Again, I don't have this experience myself, but I would imagine parents considering introducing their kids to their significant other would wait until they knew their significant other is someone they want in their kids' lives.

6. I think it depends on the relationship. It depends on whether both individuals have forgiven the other for their mistakes and whether they feel they are now ready to be together again. It ultimately is up to each of them.

7. Yes, about the ones I miss. I would say they're bittersweet or positive. I've never had any nightmares or bad dreams about loved ones.

8. I think it's based on their dependency on alcohol and how it makes them feel. Every alcoholic's journey is different. For Charlie, there was something Mona said about him finally letting go of alcohol, and he responded that he found the right reason and the people who helped him leave it behind. I think because he has Vivian's love and support, as well as Jessie and Melissa's and her kids' love, it helps him make the decision.

9. I think it's based on shared memories and feelings. Young adults are trying to make new friends and keep the old ones. They want to do more things with their lives, so they meet more people and make friends based on shared experiences. As one gets older, I think there is an emphasis on making memories with old friends and spending time with people one hasn't seen in a long time. Again, it ties into the ego integrity vs. despair stage, where one reflects on one's life. Older Adults might want to reconnect with old friends because they have time on their hands or want to catch up.

10. I'm still making it. I don't think I can say there are five things I want for my life. I want to try and get them now, so I can create a list of what I didn't do when I'm older.

11. I had a similar experience when visiting family members who live in small towns. I think it's jarring because life is definitely different in small towns than in cities. My experience is that small towns are sweet, where everyone knows each other, and life is more relaxed, which is nice. But I feel like I'm in the middle; I'd like to visit cities and small towns, but I like an environment where I experience both.

12. Yes. In a biological sense, our cells regenerate constantly, and then after 7 years, our cells are entirely different, which means, technically, we're different people. But we're constantly changing as we grow and develop. The person we were as children is different when we're teenagers and again different when we're young adults. One's memories alter as we grow. Do you ever notice that memories you have as a child are different when you're remembering them? Or that you don't remember them at all. It's because you're a different person then, you do things spontaneously as a child for reasons or impulses you don't understand later. If one's growth is stunted, it is brought up in Erickson's stages of development. In the last stage, ego integrity vs. despair, one reflects on their life and wants to feel that they lived a good life, but if they don't, they feel despair. There's a stage for every aspect of life, and one may or may not feel the adverse effects of stunted potential growth, but it's a journey everyone makes. Everyone has the chance and choice, or should, to be able to live productive lives.

Again, I liked this book because it was sweet, and I liked seeing the characters come together and have more memories.

This was a great fiction read. I enjoyed the story very much. I also like the characters and the plot. And what a beautiful cover. Great book all the way around.

This is a beautifully written story of second chances and the ability to make positive changes in life. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow over the course of the novel. Butler’s writing is wonderful; the rich details of every setting made me feel like I was there.

I rated the book a 4. Story was great, renewed connections, but for me the overly described detail was a bit much. The descriptions were beautiful but with little things it was a bit too much detail for me personally.

From the internationally bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs comes a rugged, feel-good valentine to small-town life and the enduring power of love. This novel is a touching exploration of second chances and the belief in triumph at sunset.

Charlie and Vivian's marriage was filled with love but marred by too many struggles. After they parted ways, Charlie sought a new life on the California railroads, while Vivian remained in their small Midwestern town, bravely raising her daughter from a subsequent marriage on her own. Their love story seemed to have reached its end, a chapter closed forever.

The author masterfully portrays the complexities of relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. The characters are richly developed, and their journeys are both heart-wrenching and hopeful. The small-town setting adds an extra layer of charm and authenticity to the story. This book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of second chances and the possibility of finding happiness against all odds. A beautiful and uplifting novel that will stay with you long after the final page.