A Forty-Year Kiss Summary, Characters and Themes

A Forty-Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler is a tender, emotionally nuanced novel about love lost and rediscovered later in life.

Set in the quiet heart of Wisconsin, the story follows Charlie and Vivian, a once-married couple brought back together by chance and courage after forty years of separation. Through alternating perspectives, we explore themes of aging, regret, forgiveness, and hope. Butler captures the slow dance of rekindled affection as two people—both wounded by their past—attempt to build something new.

Summary

Charlie, a man in his 60s living alone in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, waits at a local bar for his ex-wife Vivian.

He hasn’t seen her in forty years.

Time has weathered them both, but he carries a flicker of hope that their meeting might reignite something long buried.

Vivian arrives with caution, emotionally armored and prepared to keep the encounter brief.

But their awkward reunion quickly gives way to meaningful conversation and tender recollection.

Their first conversation sparks a slow, emotionally rich reawakening.

Charlie speaks with vulnerability, acknowledging past mistakes—particularly his drinking and emotional unavailability.

Vivian, still guarded, is surprised by his sincerity.

They take a rainy walk together, rekindling the warmth that once defined their bond.

Back at her daughter Melissa’s home, where she helps care for her grandchildren, Vivian reflects on what Charlie once meant to her and whether people can really change.

Over the following weeks, they exchange texts, cook meals together, and gradually share more of their lives and wounds.

Vivian remains cautious.

She’s burdened by a secret—an abortion she never told Charlie about after their divorce.

Meanwhile, Charlie continues to battle with sobriety, occasionally slipping, but also showing effort to change.

The pair share more intimate moments: heartfelt conversations, a kiss under a moonlit sky, and a second date at Charlie’s farmhouse.

Vivian is drawn to his solitude and the peaceful life he’s built there, even as she wrestles with guilt and lingering doubt.

Charlie, in turn, finds comfort in her presence and begins to hope for a shared future.

As they dive deeper into their past, the full story of their breakup surfaces.

Miscommunications, ego, and Charlie’s drinking drove them apart.

Vivian’s revelation about the pregnancy hits hard, but Charlie responds with empathy rather than anger.

They begin to accept their shared history as something painful but essential—a stepping stone to the present.

Charlie meets Vivian’s daughter and grandkids, a test of real-world compatibility.

Melissa is protective and suspicious, especially when Vivian faints during a dinner—an event that forces everyone to confront time’s fragile limits.

Charlie, rattled but devoted, joins a support group and recommits to staying sober.

A spontaneous road trip, a night at the State Fair, and long talks under open skies further their bond.

When they finally make love again, it is marked by tenderness and a sense of emotional safety rather than lust.

Charlie then asks Vivian to consider moving in with him.

It is not out of desperation but out of a genuine desire to share the rest of their lives.

Vivian hesitates, torn between her role as grandmother and her longing for companionship.

Her daughter’s resistance only deepens the emotional stakes.

But Charlie makes a grand gesture—buying a retired horse and building a paddock.

It’s a nod to one of Vivian’s lifelong dreams.

A snowstorm brings them even closer, symbolizing their isolation from the world and their deepening connection.

When the skies clear, so does Vivian’s heart.

In the final chapter, she quietly moves into the farmhouse.

There’s no dramatic declaration, only the quiet unpacking of boxes, the sound of a record playing, and a rescued horse watching from the paddock.

It’s a portrait of peace, compromise, and late-in-life love fully realized.

Characters

Charlie

Charlie is a man in his 60s who is filled with both regret and hope as he reconnects with his ex-wife, Vivian, after four decades. A man deeply marked by his past, Charlie’s life is defined by a series of personal failures—especially his broken marriage with Vivian.

As he embarks on the journey of rekindling their relationship, we see a man grappling with the consequences of his earlier mistakes, particularly his issues with alcohol. However, there is a quiet strength to him, especially when he becomes more self-aware and determined to rebuild his life.

His time spent fixing up his inherited farm symbolizes his efforts to create something meaningful and lasting. Charlie is not just seeking to repair his romantic relationship with Vivian but is also undergoing a personal transformation, confronting his past mistakes, and trying to live a more grounded and sober life.

Vivian

Vivian is a woman whose life has been shaped by both love and sacrifice. After her divorce from Charlie, she continued to live a life filled with responsibilities, focusing on raising her children and later becoming a grandmother.

Vivian is deeply caring, as shown in her interactions with her family, but she also carries the weight of secrets that have shaped her life’s course, including the difficult decision she made regarding a pregnancy during her marriage to Charlie.

As she reconnects with him, Vivian experiences a complicated internal struggle. She is cautious, protective of her family, and hesitant to open herself up to the past.

Her emotional journey is marked by a careful balance between her lingering feelings for Charlie and her need to protect herself from being hurt again. Over time, she begins to acknowledge the possibility of a future with Charlie, though the conflict between her personal desires and familial responsibilities continues to create tension.

Melissa

Melissa, Vivian’s daughter, plays a key role in the dynamics of the reunion between her mother and Charlie. Her character is marked by concern and skepticism.

She is protective of her mother and fears that any relationship between Vivian and Charlie could lead to abandonment or hurt. Through Melissa’s perspective, we see the real-world implications of rekindling an old relationship, especially when it involves family dynamics.

Melissa’s resistance to their reunion adds an element of realism to the story, reminding both Vivian and Charlie that their love is not just about them—it’s about their extended family, too.

Themes

Second Chances and the Weight of the Past

In A Forty-Year Kiss, one of the most prominent and intricate themes is the idea of second chances, particularly in the context of a rekindled relationship. After forty years apart, Charlie and Vivian attempt to navigate the emotional terrain of revisiting their past and confronting the mistakes that led to their divorce.

Their reunion is not just about rediscovery but also about accepting the weight of past regrets, unhealed wounds, and the possibility of change. Charlie, in particular, is filled with nostalgia and remorse, expressing the hope that time has allowed for healing.

However, Vivian’s hesitancy reveals the fragility of trust that can never be fully restored overnight. The theme explores the delicate balance between longing for the past and the reality of moving forward—sometimes together, sometimes apart—and how relationships are shaped by the emotional scars we carry with us.

The Burden of Secrets and Unspoken Truths

Another significant theme in the novel is the burden of secrets and the impact of unspoken truths on relationships. Vivian carries the weight of a deep, personal secret from their past: an abortion she had without telling Charlie.

For decades, this unspoken truth gnaws at her, affecting her ability to fully engage in new relationships, including the one she shares with Charlie. The revelation of this secret becomes a pivotal moment in their reunion, forcing both characters to confront their vulnerabilities.

Charlie’s response, filled with understanding and compassion rather than anger, speaks to the theme of emotional growth and the redemptive power of open, honest communication. Through their interactions, the novel demonstrates how the things we withhold from those we love can create long-lasting emotional distance, but also how the act of sharing painful truths can offer the potential for healing and reconciliation.

The Impact of Aging and Mortality on Personal Growth and Relationships

As Charlie and Vivian navigate their reunion in the later years of their lives, the theme of aging and the awareness of mortality play a significant role in their journey. Both characters are grappling with their own aging bodies, changing desires, and the fleeting nature of time.

The novel subtly reflects on the inevitability of death, as both characters wrestle with what they want from the remainder of their lives. The visits to the cemetery, the health scare, and their reflections on the past all point to how aging can bring clarity about what truly matters.

The relationship between Charlie and Vivian, rooted in nostalgia but tempered by the wisdom of age, reflects a longing not only for the comfort of the past but also for the potential of a meaningful future, no matter how much time is left.

The Emotional Terrain of Forgiveness and Redemption

Forgiveness is another central theme explored in the book, both as a personal act and as a relational necessity. Charlie’s emotional journey involves asking for forgiveness for his past mistakes, particularly concerning his drinking and the way he hurt Vivian.

Vivian, too, must come to terms with her own past decisions and forgive herself for the secrets she kept from Charlie. Throughout the novel, the characters must grapple with the painful realization that redemption requires vulnerability and the willingness to confront one’s flaws.

Forgiveness, however, is not a linear or easy process—it’s something that must be earned through consistent effort, understanding, and patience. The eventual reconciliation between Charlie and Vivian shows that while forgiveness may not erase past hurt, it opens the door to a deeper connection, making space for growth and the possibility of a new beginning.

The Search for Meaning and Connection in a Modern World

In the backdrop of this emotionally charged love story is also the theme of existential searching and the quest for meaning in a modern, often isolating world. Both Charlie and Vivian have built lives for themselves in the years after their separation, yet neither seems truly fulfilled.

Their reconnection offers them a chance not only to revive a relationship but also to redefine what it means to live a meaningful life. For Charlie, this is symbolized by his return to the farm, his hard work on the land, and his growing connection to nature.

For Vivian, it’s about finding a balance between her role as a mother and grandmother and her own desires for independence and companionship. In this sense, the novel portrays the deep human need for connection—not just with a partner but also with the world around us, whether through family, community, or nature.

As they come to terms with the passage of time and the complexities of their past, Charlie and Vivian seek out new forms of meaning, rooted in love, shared history, and mutual understanding.