Oh it was so amazing to have Liz and Lisa back! This is one of my all time new favs by them! Such a fun beach read! Get this one today asap!

As I read this delightfully funny book, I could imagine all of the action taking place on the big screen and enjoying the action a second time. This book was made to entertain and it did that in spades! The premise is two young people who meet in Italy, have a whirlwind courtship and then get engaged. Then the family drama starts when the in-laws get involved. June, Olivia’s mom, tries to be enthusiastic about the whole quick engagement, but she fails to convince those around her that she is totally in favor of the relationship. That is true until she encounters the mother of the groom, a woman who happens to be a former good friend of hers. Amy and June then engage in a battle for who can show the most fervor for the impending marriage. The interaction between these two made the book so much fun to read and I could not help but choose sides. As a dedicated member of Team June, I waited anxiously each time the two came together because I really wanted introverted and bookish June to be the winner of each round. This book is like watching a good boxing match without real blows being shared. Back and forth they went while Olivia and her new fiancé Zach are blissfully determined to make the best of the conflict and continue on with a new life together. The characters are realistic, the plot is head-spinningly fast and the entire story is remarkably compelling and well-crafted. Fans of Jennifer Weiner will not want to miss this captivating story of love, family and friendships. I could not devour it fast enough and would give it more than five stars if possible.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Olivia, 24, has always wanted to visit Italy so her parents gift her a trip to the Amalfi coast as a college graduation present before she enters law school. There, she meets Zach and soon they become smitten with one another. When Zach asks her to marry him, she readily accepts.

Olivia is from West Hollywood and Zach is from Pasadena so they actually live close to one another. Zach loves photography and works in real estate.

Back in California, Olivia and Zach invite their parents to brunch to meet one another. Olivia’s mother, June, owns a bookstore and her father, William, is an anesthesiologist. They have been divorced for quite awhile. Zach’s father is also in real estate and they work together. His mother, Amy, is very busy with the Rose Parade. Troy and Amy have also been divorced for quite awhile.

When June arrives late to the brunch, she is shock to see Amy and Troy. They all knew one another when they are younger. Something happened that destroyed their relationship and June has never been able to forgive them. However, June and Amy realize they must put their differences aside and get the wedding planned for Olivia and Zach. Can they do that without scratching each other’s eyes out?

This book is so full of emotions, forgiveness, and love. I can just see the two authors sitting and discussing how they’re going to build these characters to make them all as heartwarming as they are. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the journey these characters make to find their peace. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a lovely read and a fun one at that. Love the characters in this book.

. Zach and Olivia meet in Italy and going to get married, When they meet each others family low and behold they are not strangers but ex-besties. When these 2 ex-besties meet a roller coaster of emotions begin.

I recommend this book for those that love a good family drama. Reading this book I can only imagine the authors having such a good time writing this gem.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Olivia and Zach meet while on vacation in Positano and instantly fall in love. They realize that a lasting relationship is possible since they live in close proximity in California. Zach proposes to Olivia before they head back to the states, and they can’t wait to start their life together.

Both Olivia and Zach have divorced parents, so they decide to schedule a brunch to introduce everyone. No one is prepared for the ghosts of the past that are revisited when June, Olivia’s mother, arrives late to the brunch. It turns out that June and Amy, Zach’s mother, have a history of their own. They were best friends over twenty-five years ago until there was a falling out and their friendship was shattered.

Wedding planning commences and the momzillas start battling, but when they realize their rivalry may push their children apart, they decide to become allies. Unbeknownst to the mothers, there is one more secret they may threaten the happily ever after of Olivia and Zach.

I really enjoyed this novel and had a hard time putting it down wondering what antics the mothers would be up to next. I will definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #ForeverHoldYourPeace

Olivia and Zach meet while traveling abroad and their love story is fast and deep. When they announce their engagement, none of their parents are particularly thrilled. So when the couple arranges a brunch for all their parents to meet, it seems the speed of the engagement will be the biggest issue. Oh if only. Turns out the mothers know each other from their college years, and their friendship did not end well. Will the parents be able to navigate their emotions to support their kids or will everything implode just as it did all those years ago?

One thing I especially appreciated was how this story took a "what are the odds" scenario and gave it an explanation. It could easily have fallen apart for me without that. Amy is tough to sympathize with for most of the book and down right hateful in parts. The Rose Bowl stuff was fun to read about. Overall, I enjoyed this and found it keeping my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 11, 2023.

3.5 stars, cute story.

Zach and Olivia meet while both are on vacation in Italy. They discover that they live fairly close to each other in California. After a whirlwind romance, Zach proposes and the two decide to get both of their pairs of divorced parents together to meet as they plan their wedding. The parents aren't so wild about how quickly the couple got engaged but agree to meet each other. They discover that Olivia's mom and Zach's parents already know each other and have a background that has caused them to not speak for 25 years. Can they call a truce for their kids' sake?

This book reminded me of the movie Father of the Bride combined with The People We Hate at the Wedding and Monster-in-Law. This is a book where you just need to go with it and not over-analyze things, because overall the entire situation is so unlikely it is laughable, and even if it did occur, people wouldn't act this way in real life. However the story is entertaining and kept me invested and giggling at all of the silly things that happen.

I listened to this as an audiobook and that is the perfect format to enjoy this fun beach read. Lots of family drama and sweet romance, but there are also a few heavier and deeper topics that delve into themes of forgiveness, parenting choices, and acceptance.

Overall this is a delightful summer read that should appeal to a wide variety of readers.

Family drama at its best! June and Amy were best friends but had a major falling out and haven't spoke in over 25 years. Now it turns out June's daughter and Amy's son are getting married! This book was so much fun! I enjoyed reading until the very last page! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

What a twisty story! Was not surprised by how things resolved in the end and it dragged on for a but but overall was a good beach read!

When meeting your child's fiancé's family comes to a screeching halt….

June's daughter is engaged and its time to meet the future in laws…cut to June coming face to face with two very important people from her past.

This book was quite entertaining and charming. I loved the way the authors set up the story. They let us meet and get to know the parents of the bride and groom early in the story so when they all met, we had a clear idea of who these characters were.

This book is really about friendship and forgiveness. How do you forgive your best friend when they break your heart? Can you put aside your feelings for your daughter's happiness. It is a tough situation.

Blending families and wedding activiies can already be challenging but this story brings it to a whole new level.

I switched between the audio and the ebook. Really enjoyed both but felt the audio was the way to go!

This is my second book by the writing duo of Fenton and Steinke and I will defintily keep reading their writing!

Olivia and Zach get engaged after a whirlwind romance on the Amalfi Coast. Although their parents have some misgivings about the young couple getting married, they all agree to meet for brunch. When they all arrive, no introductions need to be made – it turns out they all know each other far too well and parted in the worst of ways over 26 years ago. Once the wedding planning gets into full swing, it’s not the bride that’s a nightmare but the two Mom-zillas. Can they all set aside their differences before their shenanigans destroy the happy young couple’s nuptials?

I was expecting a light-hearted and funny romp about wedding moms behaving badly, but what I got was an introspective novel about forgiveness, friendship, and love that was just okay. The middle of the book gets a bit weighed down with repetitive internal musings about what happened all those years ago and how the characters acted, should have acted, how they felt now, etc. The parents are all kind of selfish and one-dimensional, but I did like the younger characters. I was impressed at how authentic they’re written and how on-trend their dialogue and the pop culture references are. The float scene is charming and adorable, and the conclusion is satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Nothing against women’s literature but this was dry and slow. The cover was fun and whimsical so I assumed a light hearted and silly story. We have two twenty something’s in love and want a quick wedding. For the first 30% we learned about them, sometimes reading a parent’s POV. The true conflict of the book happens at this point when the parents realize they know each other. The rest of the book is not about the couple but the parents and the moms hijacking the wedding with passive aggressive planning. There were attempts at humor but I was mainly stressed out by the lack of consideration for the bride, which I know was the point of the story however it brought back my own wedding memories. I was a recipient of an early copy through NetGalley and wanted to leave my honest review, it was okay but I struggled with the pace.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This book was just ok. The characters weren’t particularly likable and it wasn’t particularly funny - even though I think it is marketed as a funny romance. The ending with the whole Rose Bowl scene was completely implausible. I don’t know. I didn’t hate it, but didn’t really like it either.

In Forever Hold Your Peace, authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke present a captivating story that combines elements of Father of the Bride and Bride Wars, bringing together a cast of characters whose lives are entangled by an unexpected engagement. While the book may not be the thriller some readers anticipated from these authors, it still manages to be a captivating and entertaining read, particularly due to the drama surrounding the parents’ saga. The story revolves around June and Amy, two mothers who are less than thrilled when their young, grown-up children return from a trip abroad with the news of their engagement. June, who thought she was close to her daughter Olivia, unintentionally distances herself from her by mishandling her daughter’s engagement announcement. On the other hand, Amy has always been close to her son Zach, and no girlfriend has ever measured up to her standards. She is shocked and hurt that Zach didn’t inform her about the engagement until their return.

To complicate matters further, June and Amy discover that they were once best friends during college but experienced a devastating falling-out that severed their friendship permanently. Horrified by their children’s decision to get married, June and Amy attempt to shift the focus away from the engagement and work together to prevent Zach and Olivia’s rapid union. The narrative delves into the emotions and vulnerabilities of the characters, showcasing June’s bookish and introverted nature, which resonates with readers who share those traits. Amy, however, may prove to be a polarizing character, with her perfectionist tendencies, control issues, and patronizing demeanor. The supporting characters, such as June’s ex-husband William and Zach’s father Troy, add depth to the story, with the former embodying seriousness and nervousness, and the latter being an easygoing, flirty character with secrets to hide.

While the book offers a mix of romance and friendship, and the ending brings a cute resolution, it does rely heavily on the trope of lying and miscommunication, which some readers may find tiresome. The characters, while engaging, could have been more fleshed out, and the overall story may seem familiar to those who have consumed similar wedding-centered narratives. However, Forever Hold Your Peace succeeds in providing a lighthearted and enjoyable tale that will resonate with fans of wedding movies. The authors skillfully capture the essence of such films, offering a PG-rated, corny, and humorous story that is perfect for a summer read or a beach vacation. The book explores forgiveness, second chances, and the complexities of family relationships, making it an entertaining choice for those seeking a light and feel-good romance.

In conclusion, while Forever Hold Your Peace may not break new ground or fully develop all its characters, it offers an enjoyable and engaging story that will appeal to readers who appreciate wedding-centered narratives and are fans of authors like Jennifer Weiner and Elin Hilderbrand. It successfully blends scandal, heartfelt moments, and second-chance romance, making it a worthwhile addition to the summer reading list.

3.5*
It’s wedding bells for Zack and Olivia after a whirlwind courtship and engagement in Italy. But wait, before the young couple can skip down the aisle they need to bring the prospective in-laws together for a meet and greet.

Do you believe in coincidences? Well, neither do I!

These future in- laws have a history! Can they put their differences aside for the sake of the newlyweds? Or will they all be doomed to go their separate ways once again.

This was a very slow moving contemporary novel. And a bit too syrupy for me. Not what I expected from these two very talented authors. I’ve loved their books in the past and I’m sure I will once again love them in the future.

I had both the digital and audio versions and felt the digital worked just a bit better for me.

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to NetGalley Alcove Press and Dreamscape Media.

Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke is a fun, quirky big hearted novel about family, marriage, and soulmates. It was really giving Mamma Mia energy in the best way - family drama, a quick wedding, and a cast of colorful characters.

Olivia and Zach met by chance encounter (more on that) in Italy and fell in love quickly. So quickly that they got engaged in just a few weeks. When they bring their families together back in the states to celebrate and meet they are shocked to find that their divorced parents all know each other and have history that goes way back.

This book is loaded with cultural references which honestly took me out of it a book - it was almost like a competition to get the most touch-points of our current culture in every scene. But overall, it was really enjoyable and a fast read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC - Forever Hold Your Peace is out now!

This was a solid women's interest book.

Zach and Amy fall in love. Their whirlwind romance turns into a marriage proposal. They both happen to be from SoCal. So how great is THAT? All that's left is to break the news to their parents and plan a wedding!

However, all the characters have secrets. Luckily, you don't wait long to find out some of the bombshells that will affect the happy couple.

I had not read the blurb and so it was a nice surprise to find out some of the secrets. As more and more is revealed, Amy and Zach and their respective parents all have to come to a reckoning about the past.

I related more to Amy's mother June than I thought - now that I have a daughter in her 20s I would also be taken aback by a quick engagement! I found the characters well written and the book a quick read.

Recommended as a book club pick for the feelings and circumstances that could be discussed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel. #sponsored

There were parts of this book that I adored, Zack and Olivia and even Chloe but there were things that made me want to throw my kindle across the room as well.
Zack and Chloe meet on a twist of fate and they fall madly in love. After 6 weeks they are engaged and when the parents meet, that is when the fireworks really begin. June and Amy were best friends, until they weren't. As soon as they see each other, past hurts are drudged up and emotions run high. They want to be cordial because their children love each other so much, but sometimes emotions come out anyways especially when things were never resolved in the past.
I went into this book thinking it was a tiff between friends and it would be a fun read hoping beyond hope that the two of them would work it out and they would all become friends again. I left this book hoping that June would stay far away from Amy and I still stand by that. We all know we should forgive and let things go from the past but when there has been that much damage I really don't see how anyone comes back from that. I am not going to go into the drama because I don't want to spoil it, but June's ex husband was my favorite of all these parents. I felt for him so much here. I am just glad to know that Zack and Olivia will live a long happy life together even if their parents are not the best people.
Thanks to Alcove, Netgalley and Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke for an early copy.

When I first started this book, I thought that I was going to really enjoy it. Two former best friends are brought together through their children’s engagement. What their children don’t know is that their parents are all hiding a huge secret from them. And literally the entire book could’ve been avoided if the parents had spoken to their kids, and if the two kids had decided to be honest with each other. Also I’m not really one for instalove, so the kids meeting on a trip and falling in love and immediately getting married didn’t really appeal to me. I can see where this book will do well with a female audience, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

I received a digital ARC from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.


In my opinion, this is a great summer read. There is a ton of family drama, and it played out like a movie in my head. I appreciated the fact that the focus was how how parents have pasts, too. Forever Hold Your Peace is more than a story about a wedding, it’s about friendship, and second chances.