Another winner by Liz Fenton! The best way to describe every relationship in this story is: 'It's complicated. At times almost hilarious at the level of pettiness, self-absorbed narcissism, and selfishness, the story twists and turns its way through life. The end result? I won't ruin it for you, but it's worth reading to find out.

This book was really cute. It had Father of the Bride vibes, but mixed with something else that I can't quite put my finger on. It read like a cute rom-com from prime rom-com Reese Witherspoon/Kate Hudson days. We have new college graduates Olivia and Zach who just happen to both be vacationing in Italy before beginning their adult lives, for her law school, for him real estate. Boy and girl meet and fall in love and realize they actually live close to one another in California. Upon return to the states, the couple informs both set of parents they are engaged to be married. Both sets of parents, who are all divorced, think their kids are rushing into marriage and plan to meet at a brunch to hopefully get the kids to wait a while before tying the knot. However, as soon as all 4 parents are in the restaurant they realize they all know one another. The two mothers were once friends, but fell out after one of the women slept with the other woman's then fiancé. Well now we have 2 ex friend mothers who are set on one upping one another at every turn in the wedding planning process. This book was a quick, enjoyable read that will have you cheering for love the whole way through.

A marvelously packed novel with old loves, new love, friends at war, secrets, and so much more. Olivia and Zach are in love. Their mothers are at war. His father is the reason. Relationships are tricky and the one between the mothers is the trickiest. Once friends but friends no longer, the mothers work hard against each other to plan a wedding. Absolute chaos ensues and disaster is on the horizon. A very enjoyable and engaging novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was delighted when I discovered on Instagram my favorite dynamic due, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke had a new novel coming up. When Net Gallery granted me early access to “Forever Hold Your Peace,” it was an early Christmas gift indeed.

I never know what to expect when reading this duo’s novels. Will this be a thriller or a rom com or something completely new? Here, we meet Olivia and Zach who fall in love during a trip to Italy. But there are a few hurdles in order to get to happily ever after. Back in the states, they discovers their moms have an ugly history. Can a vacation romance survive when real life rears its ugly head? Will the mothers’ indignation toward each other tar the brand-new romance of their kids?

I continue to ponder the writing process of Liza Fenton and Lisa Steinke. Because there are multiple narrators, does each writer get a certain set of characters to voice? How did the writers keep track of what information was revealed in one narrative versus in the second one? How many Zoom calls and glasses of wine are involved? Regardless, the writing is compelling, vivid, and thought provoking. I thought this novel did a good point of showing how important it can be to step away from old grudges, no matter how deep the scars are.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve read all the books by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. I was really excited to see a new novel on the horizon. I really liked their other books. This one - was ok. Nothing spectacular. I was really hoping for more.

It’s not an awful read, I did finish it fairly quickly, it just wasn’t their best.

Its like the story of my life.....minus the major character points, but gee I could be June.... And a little Amy.... with a dash of Troy's stalker tendencies but please don't let my daughter find the one just yet. I'm not ready to be a mother of the bride just yet.

Seriously - what an adorable rom-com and I swear I'll never look at the Rose Parade the same way again. Congrats on an amazing book!!!

This was a a cute and quick read following 2 families who find themselves back in each other's lives after years of separation following betrayal and heartbreak. I didn't quite connect to any of the characters and it was hard to tell which character the book was really following, but the message of the book was nice. The emotions and character development all happened very quickly and don't quite reflect reality but I still enjoyed the story. Thanks to the author publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Title: Forever Hold Your Peace
Author: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Publisher: Alcove Press
Genre: Chick Lit
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!

I and a fan this is #5 for me. I have been following these two fun authors through their slump. I remember when they were writing a new book every year and had the same expectation so loved both Liz and Lisa review on this novel!! BTW: My Book Club with invited to a Book Launch for "The Two Lila Bennetts" which was such a fun experience!!

In this story we have V and Z aka Olivia and Zach who met in Positano, Italy ~ a short 6 weeks later they are engaged.

Olivia’s Parents: June and William Abbot. June is now bookstore owner but divorced from William, who is an anesthesiologist.

Zach’s parents: Amy and Troy Carter.
Since both of their parents are divorced, the parents want the young couple to be sure of this decision. June in particulate believes they are moving too quickly and hopes the others or at lease someone will agree with her to convince them to postpone this marriage.

The parents finally agree to meet Olivia and Zach for brunch. June is late which seems to me her MO. Olivia is embarrassed but pleased when her mother arrives only it turns out that the June knew Zach’s parents’ years ago. (Oh No! I have a feeling this isn’t good.)
June and Amy were best friends until they have a huge falling out. That was twenty-five years ago and now Zach feels responsible.

As the wedding plans continue there are a lot concerns as to whether everyone can recover and be one happy family.

Will the mothers be able to forgive and forget for their children’s sake?
What about the big secret Zach is keeping? What if it comes out?
Hmmm V and Z’s relationship certainly has some bumps to smooth in order to overcome these obstacles.

This was an enjoyable read. The humor was not hilarious but more eye rolling for me ~ things such as those wedding favors – no spoiler I’ll let you decide if you want to laugh or roll your eyes!
Also it is really a good thing this story started with V and Z instead of the psycho parents!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for granted me the pleasure of reading this great early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 11, 2023

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This was a heartfelt, drama full book and I loved every second of it. Marrying a stranger you met on vacation. Wow. I got so invested in the story I could not put it down till I finished it.

Lisa and Liz did it again! This story and its characters will stick with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

This is an absolutely excellent read if you like a romance that spans generations, awkward family encounters, lost loves finding one another, and just a touch of drama.
Two family perspectives on the 'too young romance' with a twist that I for one actually didn't see coming is quite impressive. I thought the language flowed well, the multi-POV settings worked well for driving the plot, and the characters each stood well enough on their own.
I DO wish there was a traditional view of marriage presented somewhere here, just because I think it would have given the young love a bit more of a leg to stand on (how do you truly believe in 'love at first sight' and 'everlasting romance' if you don't have that in your life as a guidepost?) but it did not deter from the book in any way!

All in all a really good read: thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to #NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. June, a middle aged divorcèe, finds out thay her daughter, Olivia, is engaged after a whirlwind romance to Zach, the son of June’s long lost love, Troy. To add insult to injury, Zach’s the product of an affair Troy had with June’s college best friend, Amy, while the two were still together. The novel, which sucks you in quickly, unfolds as Amy and June have to navigate the awkwardness of becoming in laws, and the kids have to navigate finding out their meeting may not have been strictly coincidental. This is a sweet, funny, and entertaining romp, and a pleasure to read.

Cute beach read (took it on vacation).
Things I didn’t love: main character Olivia didn’t seem like a total catch the way Zach did (she’s hott and studying to be a doctor so presumably smart, but not really dimensional; he’s thoughtful and doting and brilliant), I don’t believe the “lie” that caused the broken engagement would’ve had that effect in real life (it’s not super huge or unforgivable in my opinion), and alcohol was mentioned no less than 100 times.
It also seems implausible that Olivia’s mother wouldn’t have recognized Zach as the child who broke up her engagement upon meeting him (she’d have known his name, age, and looks), but you just have to suspend your disbelief. Lots of millennial/Gen Z pop culture references make me think that is the Target audience and, at 33, I’m too old… though the narrators are 50ish. Who knows!
It was cute and a quick, easy read but nothing really original.

When Olivia meets Zach on holiday in Italy, their whirlwind romance sweeps her off her feet, and when Zach proposes she can't wait for him to meet her parents. But when they set up a brunch on returning home, it seems their parents already know each other - twenty five years ago, their mothers were best friends until something terrible tore them apart...

While I liked the premise of this book, it fell a little flat for me. The previous books I've read from these authors have been more on the psychological thriller spectrum, and this one is really more of a family drama (and apart from the reveal about their past, which we can already guess at from the blurb, actually not that dramatic).

It's well written and if family focused novels are your thing, then you might love this one, but there just wasn't enough action for me, and I was a bit bored of the whole wedding drama by the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for granting me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke was seriously a fun and enjoyable read.

I enjoyed these characters so much. The banter and wit was extremely entertaining.
The characters in this book are very well written. Even the secondary characters.
What I enjoyed most was how realistic this was. No one is perfect an life can me messy and these authors captured that perfectly.
This was an amazing ride, that I enjoyed so much, it was just a perfect read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Alcove Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

📚: Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke (@lisaandliz)
⭐️: 3/5

A super cute, quick read with Bride Wars (but with would-be in-law drama) vibes.

Meet Olivia and Zach. Twentysomethings that meet randomly in Italy, fall for each other immediately, and go home engaged. Cue a family brunch for everyone to meet… and suddenly we learn that everyone is far from strangers to each other. (Cringe!)

This book reminded me of watching The O.C. and Gossip Girl (the original, always only the original) where I found myself as much, if not more, invested in the parental plot lines than the main characters. (GG fans: I’m always Team Rufus & Lily, for the record.)

There are more than a couple twists in this book, and each were hinted with breadcrumbs that felt forced. That said, it’s an enjoyable, light beach read for next summer (it comes out on July 11th!), about friendship and forgiveness, with an ending so hilariously cute that it’s impossible to not smile.

A big thank you to @alcovepress via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. #gifted

This was a fun read, full of twists and turns. If you’re someone who has a “what if” type of romance in your past, you know the “one that got away” type story? This may be a fun read.

A young couple (Zach and Olivia) meet on vacation, fall in love and return home engaged. And that’s when things get interesting. His Dad and her Mom were once engaged, but a night of Long Island Iced Teas lead to an encounter which breaks off that engagement AND produces Zach. Things only get worse as decades of hurt and betrayal bubble to the surface. Will the four now divorced parents come together to support their kids? Will the kids decide that their parents’ past is too much for them (Are they actually nearly half-siblings? No, but it does come up!)? If you like messy love stories, believe people can get better and get over past mistakes, this one is for you. Enjoy.

Paging Nancy Meyers!!! You need to write a screenplay based on this delicious, fun novel. This would make such a good movie! I loved the well-told story about a likable engaged couple with parents who had been intertwined years before. I really needed a fun book to read after finishing some depressing ones. I highly recommend this yummy, fun novel. I believe Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are the dream team of our day.

This book had me at Father of the Bride vibes…but unfortunately that’s where it also ended. I so badly wanted to get into this book. I thought it would be a lighthearted, funny frenemies read, but it really fell flat.

A whirlwind romance in Italy between two young-adult star-crossed lovers that leads to a quick engagement. The mother of the bride and the groom are unexpectedly thrown together again after a painful past that caused their friendship to end abruptly.

I’m not sure what it was exactly that didn’t allow me to get emotionally invested in the characters, or their eventual outcome, but this book was a struggle read. I found it choppy, lots of telling (not showing…IYKYK) and I found many situations not at all funny (as I assumed was the intention), but cringey and not believable.

What I love? A redemption story. Without giving anything away, I did appreciate a story line coming full circle which made me smile.

Overall, I give this book a 3/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Forever Hold Your Peace" and all opinions expressed are my own.

I liked the description of this book as a combo of "Father of the Bride" and "Bride Wars", I liked both of those movies and I thought that this book would be a cute story about a young couple getting engaged after only meeting each other while on vacation.

I just felt like the story took too long to get going. It really didn't grip my attention as some books like this genre would. I actually put it aside and read an entire book in between starting this book and finishing it.