The premise of Forever Hold you Peace is intriguing and has a lot of promise, but the execution didn't quite do it for me. I don't know if it was Nan McNamara's overly saccharine audiobook narration that made the writing seem juvenile (it sounded like there was a smile or giggle in her voice every time she talked, and I felt she missed the delivery on some comic lines that could have been more humorous). Or it could have been how heavily weighed down the story was with mentions of technological communication (social media, text chains, etc.) and contemporary slang, which felt pushed.

To me, the beginning and the end worked, but the things in-between could have been meatier and more fun.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a cute book, especially if you like books about wedding, planning t drama. I just felt that they were too many POV‘s – we follow the perspective of six people and then one more team randomly at the end. It was just too many perspectives. I didn’t know about me to connect with any of the characters. The storyline did keep me interested, but the ending felt drawn out. I loved all of the book references! I listen to this one on audio and felt the narrator did a good job but would’ve liked more distinction in the voices for the many different characters. Overall, it was a cute easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

This book was an incredible read. I am new to this author, but I am now a fan. I highly recommend this book.

For some reason I was not expecting the plot to go that way, but what a fun ride it was. This book had big Nancy Myers vibes, which is right up my alley! Lots of warmth and lots of found family, though largely cloaked in privilege and convenience. I love romance but often times, like in this story, the stakes are not so high and communication plays too large of a role in the third act conflict. This story required me to suspend my disbelief and largely I felt that the chemistry was a lot of telling and not showing between the romantic relationships. What saved the story overall, though, were Amy + June. Their chemistry and love for each other were believable and undeniable. Although a little hokey, I appreciated that June got to mend her relationship with her mother. With mothers and their daughters, it truly always comes full circle.

Think your family is messy? Imagine being newly engaged, head over heels and love and introducing your parents to your future in laws- only to realize they are all very intertwined.

The premise of the book is great and leads to lots of hilarity, but it wasn't a book I had trouble putting down.

This comedy of errors was the messy family wedding drama book I was just in the mood for!

Olivia and Zach meet in Italy, fall in love and quickly become engaged. The shoe drops though when they plan a dinner to tell their divorced parents only to discover his dad and her mom used to be engaged and their moms are ex best friends turned enemies.

What follows is a story of first love, second chances and rival mothers in this wedding wars-esque, hilarious story about all the ups and downs and twists we find ourselves on the path to true love. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Social engagement by Avery Carpenter Forrey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review. This is a great summer read, especially if you have a lot of weddings to attend.

This is the second book I have read from BFFs Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke and I have more of theirs on my TBR just waiting to be read! This is also their first book they have written in several years. If you follow them on social media you will know the story and their journey with that and their dedication of the novel to other authors.

It was a fun yet predictable beach read, but that’s how rom coms work. Yes, it was a mesh of Father of the Bride and Bride Wars! If you like wedding rom com movies such as the previously mentioned Father of the Bride, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, (insert your favorite here, it WILL fit in with the others) then you will enjoy this book. I can even see it becoming a beloved wedding rom com movie.

The bride and groom are not the main focus of the novel but three of the parents and what happened in their past to destroy their friendship. The novel is about letting go, forgiveness, second chances and more! It is also done with humor, so the book is enjoyable. I will say this: Those mothers, OMG, they drove me crazy! I really thought ‘how old are we and how old are we acting’ several times.

The narration was very well done! I will look for more audiobooks narrated by Nan McNamara.

Fenton and Steinke tend to write thrillers, so you know they are on my list to read more of! This is far from a thriller and I also enjoyed it! I’m off to go see how many of their books I actually own now!

Many thanks to the publisher for granting me an alc to listen to and review! I enjoyed it!

A great, easy rom-com read. A page-turner thats fantastic to fill a trip or weekend with a light and fluffy family drama.

Starting off the way it did, I had the thought, “oh, a cheesy love story between two 20-something’s who just met and are maaadly in love”. Plot twist, the varying POV’s of the different family members and their years spanning drama is what made it. Boy meets girl in Italy, they get engaged, go back home, parents meet…*ensue all the drama*. I don’t want to give anything away but if I were any of the adults in this story, I would not be as elegant and composed as they all portrayed themselves to be. Let’s just say, there is HISTORY there. Ultimately this was an easy listen with some cute and funny parts, definitely kept me intrigued throughout with all the insight you get into the minds of every character! Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced audio of Forever Hold Your Peace! As of 7/11, it is now available!

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Unfortunately this one was pretty boring, and I found myself unable to connect with or care for any of the characters involved. Fell totally flat for me.

Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke - this audiobook was fun, light and the perfect summer read or listen! I mix up genres often and this was the perfect book to read between thrillers. I do wish the ending wasn’t so predictable but I did enjoy the book. The narrator was fantastic! Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC! This book was published on 7/11/23!

This book reminded me of the movies “you again” & “monster in law” it was super cute, funny and had some crazy plot twists. Thanks NetGallery!

I absolutely loved this book. It was very fun and engaging. It had a fun twist on the classic romance trope and was enjoyable every step of the way. I thought the length was good and the audio reading was enjoyable.

Zach and Olivia are newly engaged and when the two families meet, they realize that there is a history between the parents. Can Zach and Olivia move past all the family drama before going down the aisle? Family drama is right up my alley! Some of the characters were well developed while others left a lot on the table. The story line kept moving although I felt that the book could have been about 50 pages less and still given the same result with the story. Parts of this were too slow moving but the audiobook kept me moving through. I love the idea of complicated families because honestly, whose family is not complicated in one way or another.

A cute contemporary romance. This was my first book by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, very cute. Love the details that are wound into the story.

It’s wedding bells for Zach 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.

Good narrator. Cute story about two families and a wedding. Middle was a little slow. It didn't hold my attention the entire time, but well enough to know what was going on. Happy ending.

So glad I got the opportunity to listen to this audiobook as I absolutely loved this novel.
This is my first time reading these authors and I will be adding The Good Widow to my reading list after reading this book.
The description says “Father of the Bride” meets “Bride Wars”, to which I’d add the movie “Just Go With It”: think Katherine and Devlin’s strained “friendship”.
Lots of messy, complicated relationships. Divorced couples, a whirlwind romance, ex-best friends.
I was hooked right from the beginning. The narrator’s voice and delivery gave me Lifetime Movie vibes, she reminded me a lot of Danica McKellar.
I want to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media, and authors Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, for giving me the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. Can’t wait to read more by these authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was an amusing listen involving battling families and a wedding.
Was an easy listen that was pretty amusing.
Good narrator.

More like 3.5 stars. This was a cute, funny read. The middle got a little slow between the battling moms, but I’m sure many can relate when it comes to wedding planning. I listened to this on audiobook and it was very enjoyable and well paced.

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.