This book was so fun to read. I enjoyed the twists, family drama and wanted to know what would happen with all the relationships. I loved that after reading this book it made me evaluate my relationships with my daughters, sister and mom.. I've read all of the books by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke and really enjoyed this book. Thanks Net Galley and Alcove Press for an ARC.

A seriously, cute, sweet, fun, easy, read. In case you didn't get the point yet, I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one day..

First of all, I love this writing duo. I love their style of writing, and how they make the characters so relatable. They say and do things that either I would do myself, or I want to be friends with the character who did.

This was a story of romance, of family, of drama (lots of drama), and it was just sweet.

A couple meet in italy and get engaged quickly. Their parents think it is too quick of course. Then all the parents and the young couple meet for lunch and it turns out that the mothers knew each other years ago. I wont say any more because I don't want to spoil anything.

Was some of it too cute or too Hallmark-ish? Sure, but who cares.. I loved the story, I loved the people and I may have even shed a real tear or two..

I definitely recommend this book when it’s released! Thank you to #NetGalley, Liz & Lisa, and Alcove Press for the ARC which did not impact my review.

4.5 star rounded to 5 because... why not..

Full disclosure that I love these authors so much and am so inspired by their story to write this novel. This book had it all: meet cites, 2000 rom com feels, a great setting, inside jokes, drama, friendship, love and redemption. I smiles through most of it. Cheered these characters in and just loved every page. I could have read another 100 pages as I was not ready to let them go

Huge fan of Liz and Lisa so I was super excited to get an early copy of "Forever Hold Your Peace".Overall I thought it was a very sweet story of young love, old friends, and new beginnings. A quick read with a few twists thrown , somewhat of a predictable ending but that was ok! I love a good love story.

I was so excited to see this cover release & then to get approved for early reading?! Weekend made! I plowed through this gem in no time!

Liz & Lisa are probably my favorite writing duo. Their style is so effortless and their stories always rope me in and keep me entertained. I find myself relating to tiny details and thinking “oh man, I could totally be besties with June!” Or “Amy sounds like my kind of friend!” They have the ability to weave a fun, detailed story without overwhelming you with words!

There were bits and pieces of this story that I could see coming, but others, holy moly, I did not see that at all! This is an adorable romantic story of young love, mixed with the trials and tribulations of adulthood! 😂

I definitely recommend this book when it’s released! Thank you to NetGalley, Liz & Lisa, and Alcove Press for the early read!

Engaged in 6 weeks? A parents nightmare. Add in ex bestfriend in-laws and its a recipe for disaster. This book was so fun to read. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Forever Hold Your Peace by L. Fenton and L. Steinke, published by Alcove Press, is a stand-alone told in multiple povs.
There is June, a divorced mom of two daughters and Amy, a divorced mother of a son. To make matters more complicated they all share a past. A past where June was hurt beyond measure. And now lets call him a former aquaintance has forced her hands and the hands of two of the children. I will not spoiler here, only so much, I despise, despise them from the bottom of my heart: cheaters - there will be never a second chance, and FHYP demands forgiveness from the reader. Ugg that book had me so in knots , its emotional and I shed more than one tear hoping the main character would grow a backbone and stand up for herself. But the authors set more on hea than on being true to herself.

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, Forever Hold Your Peace, 2023 Alcove Press.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Forever Hold Your Peace begins well. A young couple fall in love after meeting on holiday, become engaged after a short time, and both are hesitant about telling one or other of their parents. A question that implies that this might not be the only problem the couple face is raised at the end of this section.

Unfortunately, this promising beginning is followed by a story line that although it has some merit, is packed with far too many ideas with little attention to maintaining a well-executed plot, believable characterisation, and a satisfactory ending. The story moves between past and present, with the parents of the young couple harbouring a past that intrudes upon their plans and happiness.

Perhaps this story line might have worked, after all, it includes the themes of friendship between women; the need for, and power of forgiveness; and the importance of honesty. The latter is an issue for all the people involved, and the way in which its importance is dealt with is insightful enough. However, mixed with an irritating side story of how social media works, and the difference in the way it is used by the older characters, with knowing asides from the younger ones is a distraction. Other components, such as the engagement party arrangements are overworked. The relationships between the parents and their children are often unrealistic.

As I felt so critical of this novel, I reread an earlier example from Fenton and Steinke, to put it in context. The Good Widow, a new departure for the couple with its suspense story line joining romance and sisters’ friendship (also an important feature in Forever Hold Your Peace), demonstrates that they can produce a clear story line with limited extraneous material. Although I did not warm to this novel, and found the premise questionable, it moved along, there were clues to the twist, and the past and present stories worked reasonably well.

On that basis I read Forever Hold Your Peace. However, this novel does not reflect the strengths of the earlier one, and I was disappointed.

This was a cute rom com novel that I didn't think brought anything new to the genre, but was a nice pick me up in October to read.

Love Liz and Lisa's books, so I was so happy when this one was granted. New look for their covers, so don't miss it! Two young adults find love when abroad, and their parents are somewhat less than thrilled with the quick engagement. They do seem well suited, and then it's time for the parents to meet. Turns out, the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom have a long history. They were like sisters when they had a fall out 25 years prior. Weddings can get competitive even in the best of time, but put these women together, and even more secrets are revealed. I love how the authors tend to reinvent themselves with each book rather than have a formula. This was a fun read, but also had good points about when we let go of old hurts and how we reconnect. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book. I have read previous books by these authors and truly enjoy them and this book was no different. The young couple meeting in Italy and falling in love won me over right away. It felt magical and the description of the sights made me feel like I was there. I was drawn into the characters right away. I couldn’t stand Amy in the beginning. I thought June was a caring, sweet person . The young couple wanted their parents to support them in their short engagement but there were many complications ahead. The book did get a little long and a bit silly at one point otherwise it would have been a five star instead of four . I definitely highly recommend.

This was cute - I was here for the Father of the Bride vibes with some major Mama Drama moments mixed in from the past.

I liked it, I LOVED our cast of characters, for once a lot of characters was done right!

However, I felt like the middle just dragged. The opening and ending were quintessential early 2000's rom-com GOLD, but the middle just sort of stalled out for. me.. It felt repetitive and a bit overworked, but the ending was SO strong and well done and cute and ALL THE FEELS!


3.5

I volunteered to read this when I saw it on NetGalley because I love Liz and Lisa’s style.
I was expecting some supernatural shenanigans as I’ve come to expect from them, but I was still drawn in without it.
This really brings to light the socially incestuous webs that connect the strangest of people.
In this situation, the webs were more deliberate, but does anyone stop to think how they know the people they know, and if there are more mutual people than they thought?
Part of me was pulling for June and Troy, and part of me wanted June and William to have another shot.
Troy’s proclivity for dating 20 something is clearly a sign he’s trying to find June again after being unable to locate her. She’s blonde and his girlfriends are blonde.
June’s betrayal by her friend and fiancé would be soul shattering. I’m not sure I would forgive so easily.
The plot and characters kept me entertained even though there was little accountability from certain characters.
I’m looking forward to their next book.

This writing team is excellent and Forever Hold Your Peace is another fabulous collaboration. When Olivia and Zach get engaged, no one has any idea of the ripples that will shake both families to their core. Tragic and triumphant, silly and sweet; this one has it all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.

I loved this book! I read it in less than 24 hours. It’s a very sweet story about the power of friendship and forgiveness. Highly recommended.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Alcove Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A unique novel with an interesting premise (I don’t want to spoil anything). I found some parts a touch redundant but it’s an overall winner.