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bellebookblog's review against another edition
5.0
Olivia meets Zach while on vacation on the Amalfi coast and after 6 weeks, they get engaged. Zach’s parents Amy and Troy were best friends with June as she was engaged to Troy but Amy became pregnant with Zach and unfortunately June severed both relationships.
Olivia, June’s daughter & Zach, Troy’s son are now engaged to be married making all of them in-laws. The twists and turns in this book have made me laugh & cry. I love all the characters especially Olivia and Zach.
I love Ms. Fenton & Ms. Steinke’s works & I highly recommend
Olivia, June’s daughter & Zach, Troy’s son are now engaged to be married making all of them in-laws. The twists and turns in this book have made me laugh & cry. I love all the characters especially Olivia and Zach.
I love Ms. Fenton & Ms. Steinke’s works & I highly recommend
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Forever Hold Your Peace
by Liz Fenton; Lisa Steinke
Narrated by Nan McNamara
It's nice to listen to a story where I have no horse in the race, where I can just sit back and watch the shenanigans, laugh at the jokes, shake my head at the snark and shady behind the scenes manipulations. Even the two people (actually three people) who have the most anger and regret from the past don't seem to really have their heart in the fight.
Oliva and Zach meet while overseas, fall in love quickly, and come back to the states to tell their parents that they are getting married, soon. It is at the meet the parents and fiancés brunch that the parents, especially the mothers, find out they know each other very well, and one of the mothers had never planned to see the other again after their "break up" about twenty five years ago. Now the kids of these mothers are getting married! Let the "mother of the bride and mother of the groom" war games begin!
None of these people are over the top weirdos, what happened long ago could really happen, the story isn't too wild and crazy and it doesn't go too nutty with the revenge and one-upmanship. The story is sweet, kind of silly at times, not too stressful for this reader, and a nice change of pace in a relaxing (for me) way. Everyone is a grown up even if some of the grownups can have their snobby, rude moments. I'll certainly be reading this author duo again. The audiobook narration is very good and made listening to the story a breeze.
Publication July 11, 2023
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Liz Fenton; Lisa Steinke
Narrated by Nan McNamara
It's nice to listen to a story where I have no horse in the race, where I can just sit back and watch the shenanigans, laugh at the jokes, shake my head at the snark and shady behind the scenes manipulations. Even the two people (actually three people) who have the most anger and regret from the past don't seem to really have their heart in the fight.
Oliva and Zach meet while overseas, fall in love quickly, and come back to the states to tell their parents that they are getting married, soon. It is at the meet the parents and fiancés brunch that the parents, especially the mothers, find out they know each other very well, and one of the mothers had never planned to see the other again after their "break up" about twenty five years ago. Now the kids of these mothers are getting married! Let the "mother of the bride and mother of the groom" war games begin!
None of these people are over the top weirdos, what happened long ago could really happen, the story isn't too wild and crazy and it doesn't go too nutty with the revenge and one-upmanship. The story is sweet, kind of silly at times, not too stressful for this reader, and a nice change of pace in a relaxing (for me) way. Everyone is a grown up even if some of the grownups can have their snobby, rude moments. I'll certainly be reading this author duo again. The audiobook narration is very good and made listening to the story a breeze.
Publication July 11, 2023
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
anasatticbookblog's review
3.0
Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Standalone Women’s Fiction
Thank you Dreamscape and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this early. This post contains affiliate links.
3.5 Stars
Being of the age where my kids may start getting married, Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke sounded like a fun, relatable read about the parents of a young engaged couple and more importantly, it sounded different than what I’ve been reading. It lived up to that for me as I enjoyed the read for the most part.
June is kind of the main character in this story (I think?), but there are multiple players. I liked June a lot. She’s a bookstore owner, tends to be late, and was very relatable. June’s daughter, Olivia, just graduated college and went to Positano for the summer. She just called her mom to announce her engagement to Zach, a man she never even told her mother about and who she just met 6 weeks ago. June is divorced but friendly with her ex and they both try to be positive for Olivia but it isn’t easy.
Coincidentally, Zach lives 30 minutes away in California and his parents have an amicable divorce as well. Olivia and Zach are excited to get all 4 parents together to meet and discuss the wedding that they want to happen pretty soon, so they set up a brunch. When June walked in the restaurant and saw Zach’s mom, she turned around and ran out. It was her ex best friend Amy from 26 years ago who she could never forgive.
As the wedding planning commences these two women (especially Amy) turned into momzillas. Their petty disagreements threatened to ruin the kids wedding over and over. Family relationships were tested, secrets came out, and even June’s relationship with her own mother was tested. Someone also has a secret that may blow everything to bits.
Overall I enjoyed Forever Hold Your Peace. Somewhere in the middle it got a little long-winded and off-track but it came back strong.
Likes:
Dislikes:
The Narration:
Nan McNamara was a good narrator. Because it is 3rd person there wasn’t as much acting involved, so it was more of a traditional narration. I think reading and listening would be fine whichever you decide.
The Down & Dirty:
Forever Hold Your Peace was a fun change of pace for me. Featuring 6 main players, I enjoyed getting to know each of them. I wish it was a bit lighter and funnier, and it got a little slow in the middle, but all-in-all I would say I liked it. At no point did I even consider not finishing, I was immediately invested in the story.
Rating: 3.5 Stars, 0 Heat, 4 Narration
Purchase Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
Forever Hold Your Peace had me from the start. Who would have thought that these two wonderful, loving people getting engaged would turn their world into such turmoil?
Olivia and Zach fall in love—it's such a romantic story—and are expecting to have a beautiful, sweet wedding. That's all good until all the parents meet over brunch. Then the fun begins. Who knew there was such an interesting, complicated history between the couples? And it just goes on from there, with the battles between the moms to always one-up the other one. It was so hilarious to see what they would come with next.
As the two families work to become one, all of the issues come up. Can they get through them or will it be the end of this loving couple? I loved all of the drama, and humor, of this story. The best part for me was witnessing the fighting between the moms. And they had good reasons for the drama, don't get me wrong. But I loved watching them fighting it out over wedding decisions. Until they can work out their issues, this couple is doomed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Forever Hold Your Peace. It offered me plenty of laughs as I was able to escape my world for a few hours. I don't know how two people are able to write a book together, that idea just blows my mind, but these two women do an excellent job of it and have succeeded with their latest endeavor. I'm always excited to read their stories. Highly recommend this one.
Olivia and Zach fall in love—it's such a romantic story—and are expecting to have a beautiful, sweet wedding. That's all good until all the parents meet over brunch. Then the fun begins. Who knew there was such an interesting, complicated history between the couples? And it just goes on from there, with the battles between the moms to always one-up the other one. It was so hilarious to see what they would come with next.
As the two families work to become one, all of the issues come up. Can they get through them or will it be the end of this loving couple? I loved all of the drama, and humor, of this story. The best part for me was witnessing the fighting between the moms. And they had good reasons for the drama, don't get me wrong. But I loved watching them fighting it out over wedding decisions. Until they can work out their issues, this couple is doomed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Forever Hold Your Peace. It offered me plenty of laughs as I was able to escape my world for a few hours. I don't know how two people are able to write a book together, that idea just blows my mind, but these two women do an excellent job of it and have succeeded with their latest endeavor. I'm always excited to read their stories. Highly recommend this one.
rochelleweinstein's review against another edition
5.0
The girls are BACK!
Fate, family and friendship put true love to the test in this fun, witty read by dynamic duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. Relationships are complex, but imagine finding out your in-laws have a history! Visual and entertaining (I see the movie), the ending came with goosebumps and tears. A big-hearted summer must-read.
Thank you, NetGalley.
Fate, family and friendship put true love to the test in this fun, witty read by dynamic duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. Relationships are complex, but imagine finding out your in-laws have a history! Visual and entertaining (I see the movie), the ending came with goosebumps and tears. A big-hearted summer must-read.
Thank you, NetGalley.
heather626's review against another edition
4.0
My first read of 2023! Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke begins with a whirlwind romance between two Americans that meet abroad and fall in love. An engagement quickly follows and that when the story really starts to take off. Do your kids ever really know their parents? Do parents ever talk about themselves growing up and all the tragedy that occurred, forever changing their young life and the path they were on? What happens when your young adult life is suddenly revealed in front of everyone?
Zach and Olivia can not wait for their families to finally meet and to get the wedding planning started. Of course, June is running late. Olivia is on edge, Where could her mother be? And then June walks into the room and she can't believe who she is looking at. Is that really Amy and Troy? Is this some kind of terrible joke?! How did her ex-fiancé and her ex-best friend arrive at the same engagement dinner for her daughter? What is happening?
Forever Hold Your Peace follows the life of June and her family. You learn of June's life through a series of flashbacks and story telling. This just proves you really never really know your parents and the life they lived before you ever came along. I loved this story! I felt for June and everything she went through. Life really can throw curveballs at you. And if someone is really meant for you, they really do find there way back. Sometimes in the most unusual ways. I always enjoy Fenton and Steinke's storytelling and I always look for works by them. I will definitely be recommending Forever Hold Your Peace to others and will continue to look for future works by these two amazing authors! Special thanks to NetGalley, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, and Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars for me!!
#ForeverHoldYourPeace #NetGalley
Zach and Olivia can not wait for their families to finally meet and to get the wedding planning started. Of course, June is running late. Olivia is on edge, Where could her mother be? And then June walks into the room and she can't believe who she is looking at. Is that really Amy and Troy? Is this some kind of terrible joke?! How did her ex-fiancé and her ex-best friend arrive at the same engagement dinner for her daughter? What is happening?
Forever Hold Your Peace follows the life of June and her family. You learn of June's life through a series of flashbacks and story telling. This just proves you really never really know your parents and the life they lived before you ever came along. I loved this story! I felt for June and everything she went through. Life really can throw curveballs at you. And if someone is really meant for you, they really do find there way back. Sometimes in the most unusual ways. I always enjoy Fenton and Steinke's storytelling and I always look for works by them. I will definitely be recommending Forever Hold Your Peace to others and will continue to look for future works by these two amazing authors! Special thanks to NetGalley, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, and Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars for me!!
#ForeverHoldYourPeace #NetGalley
winitshan's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it ended up being a nice and light read with an interesting premise.
My only real gripe was that there isn't really one main character to latch onto; the book follows the perspectives of all four of the parents and the two kids. It was a little too much at times. The book is thankfully written in the 3rd person POV, but I think it may have worked better if it focused more on the moms. Their relationship was the most intriguing to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it ended up being a nice and light read with an interesting premise.
My only real gripe was that there isn't really one main character to latch onto; the book follows the perspectives of all four of the parents and the two kids. It was a little too much at times. The book is thankfully written in the 3rd person POV, but I think it may have worked better if it focused more on the moms. Their relationship was the most intriguing to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!
kvangundy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Olivia and Zach met on a whirlwind trip in Italy and immediately fell in love. Upon returning to the states, engaged, the two have to tell their parents and hope for their approval. Both sets of parents are divorced and have significant issues with the marriage being so quick and at such young ages. But this isn't even close to the drama that is to come when both mothers meet each other for what is supposed to be the first time over brunch. When they come face to face, the mothers know each other fart too well. They were once best friends, before one night, their friendship and a coming marriage were destroyed. This story was straight out of the movies. It had everything you would want in a book. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. 4 stars.