Valerie Bertinelli, 64, Pokes Fun at Age Gap With New Boyfriend in Birthday Tribute

This year has been full of new beginnings for Valerie Bertinelli—from starting a sobriety journey to unexpectedly finding love. And to celebrate the latter, the Indulge cookbook author shared a precious candid with her boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, to wish him a happy birthday and playfully poke fun at their age difference.

In the photo, the pair posed selfie-style. Bertinelli gave Goodnough a peck on the cheek and a cloudless sky served as their background. “If there’s one thing about Mike (there are many things) he’s not fond of backlighting,” she wrote. “I, on the other hand, think backlighting is beautiful. As evidenced by this picture…that Mike took. Sometimes it pays to listen to your elders.”

She continued: “Happy birthday Mike ♥️ You may be another year older, but you’re still younger than me. 😆” (Bertinelli is 64, and Goodnough just turned 54.)

Bertinelli and Goodnough, who is a writer and photographer, went public with their relationship in April. The same month, Bertinelli revealed to  that she was “in love,” and that the romance found her when she least expected it. “It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again,” she said. “I was supposed to die with my six cats and my dog, and very happily live the rest of my years alone.”

Her connection with Goodnough started platonic, a friendship that began years ago, and then, things evolved. “It’s crazy the comfort level,” she continued. “As new and unexpected as it all is. It feels incredibly right.”