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.

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, Authors of “Forever Hold Your Peace,” have written a delightful, entertaining, and witty novel. This is a refreshing contemporary novel, not their usual suspense and mystery story. The genres for this novel are Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, and Family Drama. I love how the authors write and tell their complicated stories about forgiveness, second chances, dysfunctional family, love, and hope. The authors describe the colorful and dramatic characters as complex, complicated, flawed, dysfunctional, quirky, and romantic.

Olivia has been accepted to UCLA School of Law and goes on a vacation to Italy, where she meets Zach. “V” and “Z” fall in love, and get engaged, after knowing each other for such a short time. The next step will be when “V” and “Z” ask the four divorced parents to meet for brunch. Olivia and Zach think their parents will be upset and should have waited longer. That would be too easy.

At this special brunch, it seems that both mothers, June and Amy, had been best friends once upon a time. Some secrets and betrayals have kept these women apart for 25 years. It looks like the past, present, and future will explode. Both mothers want to do “their thing” for the wedding, and it becomes competitive.

Sometimes you have to deal with the past to move on. I highly recommend this witty, memorable, and thought-provoking novel. Happy Reading!

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @netgalley and @alcovepress for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“Father of the Bride meets Bride Wars in Forever Hold Your Peace, in which two ex-best friends find themselves shockingly entangled after more than two decades apart.”
I love books about weddings and a book that is compared to two of my all time favourite movies, how could I resist? This book definitely has Father of the Bride vibes and I can see the connection to Bride Wars – except this time it was the mothers of the bride and groom at war. It also seemed from the beginning that there were a lot of secrets amongst this group, which I wasn’t sad about – it definitely kept me reading to find out what some of the characters were hiding.
Overall, I think this book is as much about friendship as it is about love. And it drives home the message that just because your life took a different turn than originally planned, even it hurt at the time, you might still have something, or someone, that you wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Favourite quote: “I don’t trust people who have time to read.”

Olivia Abbot's parents pay for her to travel to Italy, during her summer vacation she meets Zach Carter. They fall in love, Olivia can’t believe it when Zach pops the questions and she accepts. The newly engaged couple can’t wait to return to California, start planning their wedding and they want a long engagement.

They decide their four divorced parents should meet and go out for brunch, Olivia's mum June and father William, and Zach’s mum Amy and father Troy. After such a whirlwind courtship, both families don’t want Olivia and Zach rushing into getting married and plan on discussing this with them. At the brunch, June is late and when she walks in and see’s who’s sitting at the table, she bursts into tears and runs outside. Years ago June and Amy were best friends, they had a huge falling out and haven’t spoken to each other in twenty six years.

Olivia and Zach had no idea their mothers were once friends, both women are now enemies, and they turn organizing the wedding into a competition and a vindictive one. Olivia and Zach are confused and hurt, and when the long kept secret is revealed, the reason why their mothers friendship ended and they start to question if they should get married.

June and Amy have to bury the hatched, not in each other’s backs and try to get Olivia and Zach to see they are perfect for each other, love is worth fighting for and they start planning how to reunited the love birds.

I received a digital copy of Forever Hold Your Peace by co-authors and friends Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The stories main focus is on relationships, young love, divorced parents, complicated family dynamics, rivalry, drama, secrets, a big mistake, June getting over feeling resentful and angry towards two people and being able to forgive them. Four stars from me, for readers who believe in love, and with a few twists and turns in the plot to keep you invested.

What’s worse than finding out your daughter is engaged to a man she barely knows? For June, it is discovering said future son-in-law is the offspring of the two people who broke her heart and changed the course of her life.

The writing duo, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, explore what hurts most, the deceit of a lover, or the betrayal of a best friend, in their latest book, Forever Hold Your Peace. Readers are invited on a wild ride as they bear witness to the messiest of love triangles, involving successful, middle age adults. Watching Amy and June attempt to navigate planning a wedding (while still holding on to almost three decades of resentment), makes for a hilarious read.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Forever Hold Your Peace today. It is the perfect summer read. I found myself tearing up, rolling my eyes, but above all laughing out loud.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Alcove Press, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for allowing me to both read and listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

After a whirlwind romance, Zach and Olivia have gotten engaged! It's all very exciting (and fast), but it all seems to explode when the mother of the bride, June, and the mother of Groom, Amy, realize they know each other. In fact, they used to be best friends but 25 years ago, their friendship imploded over a huge scandal. Now, it seems that the moms are competing against one another instead of helping with the wedding, and even burying the hatchet doesn't last after we learn about the secret the groom and his dad, Troy, are keeping. Talk about drama! Only a big gesture by the parents will fix this mess.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Alcove for this e-arc.*