Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy of A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler.

This was a surprising love story from Butler. While I would call him a romantic writer, of setting, place, and yes, people, I really wasn't expecting this kind of romance from him. It was a very sweet and realistic story of two people that had divorced 40 years ago, but found their way back to each other. A story of evolvement and bettering oneself, and finding the meaning of true happiness.

The narrator told the story well and sounded authentic.

I liked the sound of this book about a couple looking back on their lives and taking a second chance on love in old age. While the premise was great for me, the execution fell a little flat and I struggled to connect to the characters. The narrator did an okay job but I wasn't finding myself keen to keep listening and ending up DNFing after about 20% in. It does sound like it might appeal to fans of books like Homeseeking or This is a love story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a novel about second chances in love and life. Vivian and Charlie were married forty years ago but after a short amount of time they got a divorce. With full lives lived in forty years they reconnect to see if maybe they deserve a second chances at the love of a lifetime.

The audio for this one was perfect. I have listened to a few different audiobooks for romance stories and it is almost always a female narrator, this time it was an older male which fit the mature tone of the novel. The narrator had a comforting tone that felt like being read a bedtime story almost.

Overall I thought the story was a good one about finding love again later in life. It was also about how we carry our past with us and how we can grow from those moments. It was a low stakes book and felt like an easy love story. There wasn’t a lot of drama that I have seen in some other romantic novels. It was very cozy and just a fun one to spend some time with. Vivian at times seemed so insecure about things and a little over dramatic in some situations. Luckily it is short lived and really the story is mostly focused from Charlie’s point of view.

“Marriage really isn’t about romance. Especially at our age. Marriage is about the day-to-day. Marriage is about steadiness. Marriage is a partnership. Marriage is hundreds, thousands of days without passion. Just groceries and bills and sickness and heartache and oil changes and snow that needs to be shoveled and bunions and missing reading glasses and appointments with the cardiologist, or maybe the endocrinologist, or the podiatrist.” Straight FACTS!

3.5 stars rounded up! I really enjoyed this mature second chance romance about Charlie and Vivian, who find themselves reacquainted 40 years after their divorce from a four year marriage. Their love story is so sweet and I rooted for them so hard. Watching them reacquaint themselves after so many years was so enjoyable as love in your 60’s is different than love in your 20’s. You want and prioritize very different things and the reflection on past mistakes felt very authentic.

The audiobook really kept me going. The narration harnessed the emotion of these characters so well, especially Charlie.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I can’t recall ever reading a book quite like this-a second-chance, contemporary romance but more?! First, the main characters are in their sixties, getting a second chance at love after their divorce forty years prior. Second-the setting was in my home state of Wisconsin and the author got everything right about it. Third, other than Nicholas Sparks books, I haven’t read a romance written by a male author that felt so heartfelt, honest, true and relatable. And last but not least: not only was this a romance but really a character driven romance where both Charlie and Vivian recognize their past mistakes and look towards the future together. The emotions were ever present, and despite their shortcomings, I adored Charlie and Vivian.
I am so glad that I was able to tandem read this with an electronic version and the audio. (There were no quoting marks…) The single male narrator, Richard Poe, did a fine job narrating-his voice calming and did not lack in emotion. Thank you the author, NetGalley, Sourcebooks for the eARC and RBMedia for the ALC.

I've read a lot of books lately that are slow but man oh man was this a Slooooooooooowwwwww burn book. From the start to the end. It could have definitely been sped up. The only thing that felt fast was how quickly this 60ish couple that divorced 40 years ago, rekindled and got back together. I was surprised because she didn't ever wait to find out if he was still an alcoholic or to see if he'd changed. and never asked if how he felt about always having her grandkids with her. They quickly merged their life. The ending was very abrupt and uneventful.

If you like a book about a 60ish people that is just the in and outs of everyday life with lots of issues to get through, you may enjoy this book.

The narrator Richard Poe was very good, mellow and thankfully kept the book moving.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook arc.

I loved this book. It was a complex and emotional experience. It was a slow burn romance surrounding lost love and rekindled second chances. I enjoyed the rare focus on mature love between adults. I initially thought this book was merely about their hopeful second chance but I found it was so much more. There were secrets, both heartbreaking and life changing, which brought out a deeper aspect to this story. The forgiveness and acceptance involved fully demonstrated the rarity of unconditional love. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. I will definitely be going to the bookstore after work today.

Thank you NetGalley, RB media and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to listen to this arc in exchange for a honest review

First, the audio. We all know that a narrator can make or break an audiobook. While I am normally not a fan of one narrator in a story that changes perspectives even as little as this one did, this was a pleasant surprise and exception to my rule. The narrator didn’t try to force a different voice, there were slight pitch changes but nothing over the top and distracting. His voice was comforting and helped portray the main character well. Overall I was impressed with this narrator.

While the love was sweet, and I enjoyed the older characters and realistic problems that plagued the plot because of their age, it was an extreme slow burn. A lot of build for very minimal drama. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed the novel overall.

I read very few romances, but this is Nicolas Butler, and his novel is set in part of Wisconsin I love and know well: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and the Spooner Northwoods. Wisconsin will always be my favorite state,(even as it sadly turns towards red.)Butler’s tale centers around alcoholic Charlie, retired now , who has returned to manage his inherited farm. Charlie’s real goal, however, is to reunite with his first and only true love,Vivian. Charlie and Vivian were married for a few brief years in their early 20’s and neither has forgotten their young love. Now reunited in their sixties , they seek to rekindle and secure a second chance at love.

I loved this book and the characters created therein. Highly recommend.

I love later-in-life romances. The premise of this story is a rekindled romance of a couple who divorced forty years ago. This book missed a beat for me. I had problems engaging with the characters. I also found the story to be too long and dragged out.

Charlie and Vivian divorced 40 years ago and reconnected thanks to Facebook. When they meet, Charlie works hard to convince Vivian that he is a changed man. It’s a sweet story and I loved the premise of long lost loves and second chances at love. I did find it to be a bit slow and thought the book didn’t delve into the past enough. The rekindling of their romance happened way too quick. Overall I enjoyed listening to the book. Thank you Net Galley for audio version of this ARC.

The first word that comes to mind when reviewing The Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler is shmaltz. Shmaltz is a Yiddish word which means “excessive sentimentality” (it also means chicken fat - but for purposes of this review, I am sticking with the first meaning). The story revolves around two 60-somethings, Charlie and Vivian, who divorced 40 years ago and reconnect thanks to Facebook. Charlie is an alcoholic with three failed marriages and Vivian is helping to raise two grandchildren and never seems to be able to get ahead financially.

It’s a fine enough story, but nothing really happens. Quite honestly, I read books to escape and this book was a bit too on the nose. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if I wanted to immerse myself in real life, I’ll stick with my own.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Richard Poe. who has narrated hundreds of books and did a great job narrating both the male and female characters.

This was my first book by Butler and over all I thought it was a good read. A classic story of second chances, Charlie and Vivian are working to get theirs. This book almost ambles in a slow way that life can do once you start getting older, have lived more.

Charlie knows he has changed but now must convince Vivian who has lived her own separate life and now has more than just her to think about.

Overall i like this book!

3.5 stars rounded up - you know what? hell yeah.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ALC copy!
I found myself rooting for Charlie and Vivian throughout the story. You're never too old for love, and you're never too old to try again! (Spoiler: Bear with me on this point, I know they're only in their 60s, but death came for Papa Charlie in the third quarter)

Thank you Nickolas Butler for the sobriety storyline. It is a breath of fresh air and inclusivity to see long-term sobriety worked in the narrative (and very well, I might add.)

I will say that it is important to note that I am not the target audience for this type of content - and it is also important that I say I'm not a huge fan of neither a man writing or narrating romances to me. (This is personal, but if it resonates with you, take it into consideration...)

Regardless of these things, it was really sweet. AND there was an Abbott Elementary reference!!

A Forty Year KISS by Nickolas Butler. I love a good romance/drama and don’t mind a slow burn. BUT.. this book was a SLLOOOWWW burn. The ending seemed abrupt. I did enjoy the character development. I think the pace could have been a little quicker.

Nickolas Butler’s A Forty Year Kiss is a deeply moving novel about love, loss, and the power of second chances. Set against the rich backdrop of Wisconsin, this story follows Charlie and Vivian, two individuals who once shared a brief but intense marriage in their twenties, only to part ways due to the immaturity and complications of youth. Decades later, fate intervenes, offering them another chance to rediscover the love they lost.

From the very first page, Butler’s writing pulls you in with its warmth and sincerity. The characters feel deeply authentic, their struggles and regrets mirroring real-life experiences of love found and lost. Charlie and Vivian’s journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as they navigate the scars of the past while embracing the possibility of a future together.

The novel’s pacing is steady, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the characters’ emotions. Butler excels at capturing the nuances of long-lost love—the nostalgia, the hesitation, and the bittersweet realization that time changes people, yet some feelings remain. His prose is poetic yet accessible, making every moment between Charlie and Vivian feel intimate and genuine.

One of the most compelling aspects of A Forty Year Kiss is its theme of redemption. It’s a novel that reminds us that love doesn’t always follow a straight path; sometimes, it takes detours, pauses, and even years of separation before finding its way back. The novel beautifully explores the idea that love, when true, has the ability to endure even the longest of absences.

Overall, A Forty Year Kiss is a captivating, emotionally charged novel that holds its readers hostage in the best way possible. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page, leaving behind a sense of hope and belief in the resilience of love. If you enjoy stories about second chances, personal growth, and the power of human connection, this book is a must-read.

3.5 Audiobook
A beautifully written second chance love story! Charlie and Vivian were married for four years, forty years ago. This story is about starting over after the hurt and pain of breaking up, about maturing and trying to make amends with the past.

It is refreshing to read a story about love later in life. I appreciated the main characters were in their 60s, instead of the 20-30 year old romances that are so prevalent. I think it gives a realistic view of mature relationships and all the baggage they collect along the way.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. He has a soothing, grandpa voice that I feel fits the MMC very well. I was a little annoyed by the long pauses between the chapters, sometimes thinking it had stopped playing, but overall the audiobook was well done. (NOTE: I do listen at higher speeds, generally 1.5-2.0. I listened to this one at 1.5 speed.)

If you are a fan of Hallmark-style movies where there isn’t a ton of action or suspenseful plot twists and want a sweet, slow burn, and realistic mature relationship story, then I would recommend giving this book a chance.

TW: alcoholism, adoption, abortion

Thank you RBmedia and Recorded Books for providing this book for an honest review via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Publication Date: 4 February 2025

Second chance at love

Sweet story of a couple starting over after 40 years apart without any contact. Charlie and Vivian divorced after 4 years of marriage, mainly because of his alcoholism, but their love stayed constant leading them to reunite. I was drawn to the idea of everlasting love despite all of life’s problems and later in life romance.

Be advised it contains a lot of language, open door intimacy, abortion, and excessive alcohol use for a couple of the characters. I felt like the author wanted to show that if they didn’t drink their lives would be so much better and free from some major problems. Thanks to RBmedia for an audiobook ARC to use for my review.

This was my first Nickolas Butler novel, and it was just okay for me.
This book invoked a plethora of feelings; it was depressing, hopeful, sad, happy, and some random feelings in between. I didn’t really like any of the characters except for Jessie and Melissa’s daughters. This is a second chance romance novel for Charlie and Vivian, who are both in their 60’s, with a love that works to stand the test of time, life circumstances, and addiction. I felt like this was relatively realistic, without much steam, and the struggles that rekindling a relationship may require when you are in this stage of life. It was not a super face paced novel, and was more of a relaxing read, without much angst or drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderfully written, beautiful story of second chances, forgiveness and changing to become the person you want to be.

Charlie and Vivien were married young and divorced only after a couple of years. Forty years later, Charlie, who cannot stop thinking about Vivien, comes back to where Vivian lives in hope of rekindling the love they once had and correcting past mistakes.

This was not just a book of romance, this novel dove deep into issues that are dark and ugly and showed many bad decisions that people can make. The author wrote each character in a way that showed their flaws but had you wanting the main characters to find happiness and to put the other first.

The narrator was amazing. His voice was so comforting, and was perfect for this story.

This was a beautiful book that I will recommend to many other readers. Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGalley #AFortyYearKiss @RBMedia