I just finished listening to A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler. I enjoyed this audiobook and definitely recommend it.

Cute story of two older people at the end of their lifeb looking back on their lost love and catching up. It was a little boring in parts, but the storyline was sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia and author Nickolas Butler for gifting me an ALC of A Forty Year Kiss. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

I fell in love with author Nickolas Butler years ago, when I read Shotgun Love Songs. That book became a benchmark I used when comparing other coming of age novels, written by a contemporary male authors. When I discovered Butler, now in his golden years, had written a new novel, specifically about a later in life couple re- coupling after a 40 year separation, I was delighted.
This novel is definitely sweet, and gentle. Filled with warmth and nostalgia, it sadly lacks sizzle, spice, sparks and intensity. It’s a very slow burn with zero heat or passion. I appreciate Butler writing for a more mature audience and shining light on second chance romance but there was no excitement or fire on these pages. I was hoping for a deeper, sexier story and all I got was same old/same old. If I’m being completely honest, this book was more meh than yeah.
Second chance couples deserve more than just a chaste kiss, this book could have dared to be braver, bolder. This was just too timid in my opinion.

This is a second chance love story between two people in their 60s set in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Of course I had to read it.

𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦 by Nickolas Butler is a slow burn love story four decades in the making. Charlie and Vivian were married for four short, but tumultuous years in their early 20s. Their relationship faced challenges - some of them significant - that neither was mature enough to handle. They divorced and went their separate ways having no contact until Charlie finds himself back in Wisconsin thinking about his first love.

In those forty years they both lived lives full of choices. They’ve loved, they’ve struggled, they’ve moved on. Charlie wants to rekindle what he considers the greatest love of his life, but is it possible with time, heartache, and secrets between them?

Narrated by Richard Poe, 𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦 is a slow burn look at two lonely, damaged people trying to find the happiness that eluded them so long ago. Poe’s voice is well suited for this gently paced story.

I had a few small issues with this book, but ultimately the tenderness and sincerity won me over. Plus, a Wisconsin setting always speaks to my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Mr. Butler crafted a story that feels like that Mary Poppins song; Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. There’s a sad story that often makes you ache for these two main characters but so much love wrapped in the years apart. Charlie is 60something and reflecting on the demise of his first marriage when he was in his 20’s. He jumps in with both feet trying to reconnect with Vivienne. Their story isn’t smooth by any means and at times I don’t agree with either of their choices but I didn’t resent the decisions and found that it made the unfolding layers feel authentic. I really adored Charlie. He really saw his second chance like winning the Golden Ticket in Willie Wonka. This story on audio is narrated so beautifully. Highly recommend this book as a love story by real people.

I did my best to get through this, but the subject matter just didn’t interest me and I found the narrator to be extremely monotonous. I like the concept of the story, but it just landed did not land with me personally.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

While I did not completely enjoy this book, I could not necessarily give it a low rating because it is not a bad book. It is about a couple in their 60s who were originally married in their 20s, rekindling their relationship and finding out things about each other along the way and working through them.

The premise is sweet, and it plays out well. However, I'm not sure if it's the writing style of the author or just that I found nothing relatable in this story whatsoever. I also felt like the relationship was kind of just forged together again out of fear of being alone as morbid as it is, as the couple is entering towards the latter half of life. I could not really connect with the characters well, but some of the scenes were sweet with the couple. However, some parts could have been left out, I feel.

Definitely give the book a try, though, if you enjoy slow burn, numerous minor conflicts, second chance romances

What a refreshing idea for a love story.

First, the story begins after Charlie and Vivian have reconnected. See Charlie and Vivian were married for a short four years before they decided to get a divorce. Since then they have lived completely separate lives, and grown and evolved in their own ways. We don't know what initiate this reconnection, but Nickolas Butler takes us on this journey between the two former lovers.

Charlie is the primary narrator. We learn about his struggles and vulnerabilities and I found myself rooting for him.

This is a very sweet story. A bit of a slow burn.

I enjoyed the narration in the audiobook. And I would read more works by Nickolas Butler.

I really liked this story was about love, regrets and redemption. We all hope to find that epic love. However the narrator was really hard to fully enjoy the story and it was hard to focus. I will be getting a kindle version and rereading