A review by ivi_reads_books
A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler

emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This novel presents a quiet, slow-burning romance set against the backdrop of the U.S. Midwest. However, the portrayal of a character
with Down syndrome raises concerns. The character, a daughter given up for adoption, seems to be used as a plot device to create drama and to avoid having the biological parents deal with the consequences of giving her up for adoption. The fact that everyone, except the daughter herself, knows her 'auntie' is actually her biological mother feels contrived.
The treatment of the character, Jessie, often feels infantilizing, as she is consistently portrayed in a way that diminishes her agency. The subtext suggests that her biological parents avoid facing the emotional complexities of their decision to give her up for adoption, seemingly because the author implies she isn’t capable of understanding. This portrayal not only oversimplifies the character's experience but also allows the biological father to emerge as a hero for accepting his daughter without having to confront the more difficult emotions and consequences of his past actions.
 
 
The lack of depth in addressing these issues left me regretting picking up the book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings