"A Forty Year Kiss" tells the story of Charlie and Vivian, who were once married for four years, forty years ago. Now that Charlie has retired after living a fairly solitary life, he's trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his days. As he reflected back on his life, thinking about what makes him happy, there were only two things that came to mind. A friend (and ex-wife) and Vivian.

They were kids when they were married before, and he was young and stupid. He let his drinking take control of his life, and he disappointed his wife in too many ways to count. But now? Now he's older, perhaps even wiser, and determined to find Vivian and see if they can't reestablish some kind of relationship, if only as friends.

Vivian has been keeping a secret for forty years. She had no idea where Charlie went when he left or how to even get in touch with him again; not that she made much of an effort to find him. So, when he suddenly reaches out to her via social media, she's a bit cautious about reconnecting. But perhaps it's time to tell him what she should have forty years earlier.

As they explore the reasons why they didn't work now, they realize how different they each are now, which leads to questions about their future, and whether the baggage of the past is too much to overcome to embrace a second chance.

I wouldn't classify this as a "sweet romance." There are too many real-life issues explored, including alcoholism, abortion, poverty, single parenthood, a same-sex relationship, and death and dying. But it is a second-chance romance that withstands the trials of life while offering hope for the future.

Thank you to Nickolas Butler, RBMedia and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

A beautiful realistic and unique romance. It made me happy while reading it and just gave those cute romance feels and I think it also followed a unique couple and plot so it wasn’t like just any romance. I’d recommend it.

A Forty Year Kiss is a late-in-life, second-chance romance between Charlie and Vivian. While I appreciated the idea, I struggled to maintain interest with the story and characters. It could be a personal thing, I just couldn’t quite connect as much as I’d hoped.

Richard Poe did a decent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Nickolas Butler, RB Media, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

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 did not land with me personally.

A Forty Year Kiss reminds me of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks in all the best ways. Raw, emotional, melancholy, and realistic. So many romance books focus on couples when they are young, and depict how those couples first meet and fall in love. A Forty Year Kiss flips the classic narrative on its head by presenting a romantic story about ex-spouses falling back into love forty years after their divorce.

It touches on a variety of real-life situations, challenges, and life lessons, while simultaneously pulling at your heartstrings and depicting a cast of characters you’re sure to love. I really appreciated these unique story.

Huge thank you to Nickolas Butler, RB Media, Sourcebooks, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️
2🌶️

Love me a second chance romance and this one being a forty year separation was filled with all of the strife and family drama and reconciliation you'd expect from a second chance that long in the making. While this was a like, not a love for me I really enjoyed Nickolas Butler's writing style and the way he brought the characters to life. They did feel a bit idk the right word, not flat per se but just that they were missing something for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RBMedia for access to the ALC!

3.5 stars.

This was my second older love story of the month and also my second set in Wisconsin, which I always love.

This is a book about taking a second chance on a first love, not knowing if the forgiveness exists in a lasting enough way to move forward.

Charlie and Vivian were married for a short time in their youth, and are now retirement age. Charlie has some regrets in life and longs to see the girl he once loved, if for no other reason than to gain closure.

Vivian must be able to forgive all of his past transgressions, while also hiding things about herself. Neither have truly moved on from each other but they also have to get to know each other again after a lifetime apart.

I loved that the people in this book were far from perfect. Addiction and other struggles were woven throughout. Personal growth was a real focus of the book, especially with Charlie. His rock bottom wake-up call brings possibility back into his life and he doesn’t want to let it go again.

If you are looking for more action in a book, this one may be a little too slow for you, but if character driven love stories are your thing, this one may be right up your alley.

Deeply emotional, personal, and raw - this was a superb book making it a 5 star read for me!

Charlie and Vivian were very young when they got married and subsequently divorced four years later.

While Vivian went on to have a daughter (whom she lives with along with her two young granddaughters) Charlie had two more wives but no children.

When Charlie returns to the place they lived when they were married, forty years has passed. Determined to be better, Charlie reaches out to Vivian with hopes of treating her the way he should have all those years ago.

Does time heal all wounds? Or should the past remain in the past?

At times, this was an emotional and personally tough read as Charlie acknowledged, faced, and recognized the consequences his alcoholism had on those around him. Forgiveness is possible for some and his journey, as well as Vivian’s, was very relatable for me having once been married to an alcoholic. I felt his disease and struggles were accurately portrayed.

The voice actor for the audiobook did a fantastic job bringing the characters and story to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Nickolas Butler, and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Charlie and Vivian married young, parted ways after only four years of marriage, and have not crossed paths since. Forty years later, Charlie returns to Wisconsin and seeks out Vivian to make amends. A lot of time has passed and many major life changes have occurred for each of them since they last saw each other. Will they be able to pick up the pieces of their broken past and reconnect? I really loved this book! It is not often to read of a rekindled romance between two characters when so much time has passed and I greatly appreciated that it was two older characters, working on themselves and talking through their differences in an effort to find love with each other again. Their rekindling initially seems too good to be true, and as secrets each of them holds continue to be revealed, it shows that it takes a lot of effort to make a relationship work no matter what age you are. It did drag a tiny bit in the first half, but it definitely picked up after that with many more twists and revelations than I was expecting! Charlie and Vivian are each imperfect, flawed humans and you watch them recognize their weaknesses and grow as individuals throughout the book. I grew to love each of them and was rooting for them to make it work so they could be happy together. I also liked the family dynamics and financial dynamics that came into play as they attempted to reconnect. These felt like very realistic problems you might find in a relationship like this. I typically prefer female narrators, but this narrator Richard Poe did a great job and I was engaged throughout. Overall, I enjoyed this second chance romance and would recommend it to others! Thank you to NetGalley, Nickolas Butler, Sourcebooks Landmark, and RB Media for the gifted ALC in an exchange for an honest review.

Why an epic love story! This one has it all! Redemption, a second chance at love, and a happy ever after ending. I enjoyed this one so much and will be recommending it to all my friends. Full of light hearted moments and yet deep and thought provoking at the same time. To be able to rekindle a relationship after forty years was just beautiful and the author did such a phenomenal job bringing the past and future together.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio ARC. This is the story of Charlie and Vivian who reconnect 40 years after their divorce from a four year marriage. The love didn’t die after the marriage did, but the life struggles were too much to handle staying together. Charlie goes looking for Vivian to try to pick up the pieces and try again as he’s never gotten over her. This story wasn’t the “literally valentine” it was advertised to be. It was just okay for me.

Thank you to @netgalley and RB Media for a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nickolas Butler's 'A Forty Year Kiss' offered a compelling exploration of redemption and second chances, and I was immediately drawn to the premise of older protagonists. While I approached the audiobook with limited expectations, the story's depth and emotional resonance proved to be a pleasant surprise.

The narrative, told from the alternating perspectives of Charlie and Vivian, delves into the complexities of their flawed characters and their shared history. Butler skillfully weaves themes of forgiveness, painful secrets, and nostalgia, creating a relatable and emotionally charged experience. I particularly appreciated the sensitive portrayal of Charlie's sobriety journey and the vivid descriptions of Wisconsin's landscapes.

Richard Poe's narration of Charlie's perspective was exceptional, capturing the character's nuanced emotions with an authentic and mellow tone. However, his performance of Vivian's perspective felt misaligned. The lack of a female narrator created a disconnect, undermining the authenticity of her voice and diminishing the impact of her emotional journey. This is a clear instance where dual narration would have significantly enhanced the audiobook's effectiveness.

'A Forty Year Kiss' is a heartwarming yet poignant story that emphasizes the importance of open communication and the possibility of finding redemption later in life. While the concept resonated deeply with me, the execution, particularly the single narration, presented a notable flaw. This book is likely to evoke strong and varied reactions from listeners. If you're not drawn to stories featuring older characters, this may not be the right fit. However, for those who appreciate nuanced character studies and tales of second chances, it offers a rewarding, albeit imperfect, experience.

4 Stars

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I love stories about second chances and this one warmed my heart.
A poignant novel that explores the complexities of love, regret, and second chances. This book dives into the ups and downs of love, regret, and second chances. The author does a great job of showing how memories and the reality of time can clash, making it a really relatable story about the choices we make and how they stick with us.

TY to Net Galley & RBMedia for the audio ARC. This beautiful second chance love story begins with what seems like an insta love moment that may be off putting but hang in there. It becomes a slowly evolving story of redemption, of the value of love & family vs. material things and a reliance on alcohol to enhance a life filled with only those things.

You will root for Vivien and Charlie to the tips of your toes!

Title: A Forty Year Kiss
Author: Nickolas Butler
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: February, 4 2025

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Sourcebooks and RBmedia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Fresh • Clear • Gentle

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I was offered an ARC of A Forty Year Kiss and accepted the opportunity solely based on the cover. It was a bonus to be granted access to an ALC as well, so I was able to tandem read. I went in basically blind, knowing only it featured older main characters were older (one of my favourite micro tropes).

Told from both Charlie and Vivian's perspectives, this is a story of redemption, forgiveness, painful secrets, nostalgia, and second chances. The main characters are both equally flawed with their own baggage, which felt relatable. I greatly appreciated the sobriety storyline and getting a glimpse into some of Wisconsin's best spots.

This book lacks quotation marks (a pet peeve of mine and somehow the second book in a row I read without them). I cannot figure out the reasoning why the author would choose this route, as there is a lot of dialogue. The failure to indicate when someone is talking made for a very clunky experience, and I eventually switched solely to listening for a more seamlessly reading journey. The use of so much dialogue also meant, the characters weren't developed as much as I would have liked.

The audio, narrated by Richard Poe, offered an authentic and mellow tone for Charlie. I thought he did a fantastic job of bringing his character to life with authenticity. However, Poe narrates Vivian's perspective as well, and that felt completely wrong. This is definitely one of those cases where dual narration was needed and would have made for a more realistic relationship.

A Forty Year Kiss was a heartwarming story filled with many hard moments and the need for open communication. While I personally enjoyed the concept, there were definitely some flaws in the execution. It's one of those book I would anticipate having vary polarizing opinions. If older characters are not your jam, you won't enjoy it that's for sure.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• mature MCs
• rekindled romance

⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, mental illness, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, divorce, poverty, pregnancy, abortion

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I don’t think we’ve peaked. Not by a long shot. I think our best days are ahead of us."

3.5 stars - A thoughtful, feel good story about a love rekindled and redeemed after forty years apart. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but as the story went on I got more invested in Charlie and Vivian's lives and whether they would make it. It's a simple and beautiful telling of a life lived with regrets and how one can decide to change one's life, if they'd only be brave enough to try. The way that Charlie goes into his pursuit of Vivian having made peace with every possible scenario shows a sense of maturity and peace that we all strive for. Overall, a sweet story!

Huge thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC! 🎧💌

DNF @29% – I REALLY tried, okay? I tried to like it, but nope, couldn't do it! 😬📚

So, I gave A Forty Year Kiss a shot – I really did, I wanted to like it! But from the moment I started listening to the audiobook, it just felt SO uncomfortable. The whole thing is in Charlie's POV, and narrated by Richard Poe, and lemme tell you, it was not the vibe. His voice was like... a creepy uncle who doesn't know how to be chill. 🙄

I was expecting this cute, heartwarming second-chance romance, right? Well, instead, I got weird vibes with a side of nope. Charlie is in his 60s (which, okay, cool, fine) BUT the way the language is used – when he’s thinking about... sex... was just... WHY? I mean, I know the dude’s supposed to be older, but his internal monologue on that stuff felt super uncomfortable. Like, it honestly sounded more like a man in his 60s trying to sound 20 but missing the mark entirely. 🤢

The last straw for me? A sex scene at 29% in – I could’ve literally gone and scrubbed my ears out with soap. Why was there a steamy moment between two 60-year-olds??? And why was it so... eww? 😖 At that point, I just knew it wasn’t for me. Not in a million years.

The narrator? Richard Poe – the guy sounded like he was in his 60s, and I get it, Charlie’s older, but the tone just didn't match the vibe of what was going on in the story. It was like listening to someone read about steamy romance... in a voice that reminded me of my grandfather.

I think this book is probably for someone who’s, like, 40+? Not me. It felt like the whole "romance" was more about regret and nostalgia than actually falling in love. The main guy keeps saying he's changed, but does he? Does he really? I wasn't convinced. Not to mention Vivian (the FMC) just kind of lets him back into her life with nothing proving he's actually changed... girl, NO. That’s like me saying, “I’ll trust you with my heart... even though you crushed it once and did NOTHING to fix yourself."

🌹 Second Chances
❤️ Reunited Lovers
🌹 Age Gap
❤️ Forgiveness
🌹 Small-Town Setting
❤️ Love After Loss

CW: Alcoholism, Unresolved trauma, Uncomfortable romance

Long story short: I’m too young for this. If you like slow burns and love stories in your 60s... maybe this is for you, but for me? Nope, not the one. 🙅‍♀️

The cover of this is GORGEOUS! I love a love story and that’s exactly what I got. For fans of Rebecca Serle and early TJR. Loved this.

Charlie and Vivian were married when they were both in their 20s. Charlie was a bit wild and a heavy drinker. Their marriage only lasted four years. Forty years later, Charlie returns to their small town in Wisconsin. He is retired from the railroad and fairly well off. He meets Vivian, who is single with a daughter and he realizes that he still loves this woman who he abandoned decades ago. He begs her to give him another chance. After a few bumps along the way, they slowly come back together.
This should be a good draw for fans of romance novels. I read very little of that so it didn’t work for me completely, but the writing was solid and I did grow to like these characters. I also enjoyed the Wisconsin setting.

The audiobook presentation was very well done. Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with the audio.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"I dream about the mornings when we were lying in bed...I can still see the curtains in our bedroom, the white lace, moving with the wind...I dream about kissing you. Can I? Can I kiss you?"

The tenderness in the language used by remarkably poignant author Nickolas Butler, in his meaningful later in life second chance romance, A Forty Year Kiss, often left me breathless.

Charlie and Vivian were married for 4 years in their early 20s. Their divorce wasn't about falling out of love. It was about disappointment. Charlie's excessive drinking, fighting more than making love, and the bills piling up. Now 40 years later, Charlie has reached out to Vivian.

They both have led their lives. Vivian is a widowed grandmother. Charlie is divorced, retired from the railroad. His mind keeps going back to Vivian. The regrets, the mistakes, the what ifs. Vivian wonders about him too. Seeing him again still gives her butterflies. But all she can think is, "But please, don’t break this woman’s heart twice."

This writer doesn't use quotation marks. Reading the book is like waves lapping over
thoughts. It takes a moment to realize they are speaking not thinking to themselves. Listening to the audiobook, beautifully performed with quiet compassion, by Richard Poe, takes away this experience but doesn't change the honesty of the prose.

The author heard the starting quote above sitting at a bar. He took an overheard conversation and created a love story about an older couple, having their own secrets, lies, griefs, loneliness and finding the courage to try again. His brilliance makes A Forty Year Kiss the perfect Valentine Day gift.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. All opinions are my own.