Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke's breezy eighth novel, Forever Hold Your Peace, puts a twist on the tired Bridezilla stereotype: What if the wedding-planning monsters are the moms--once best friends but estranged for more than 25 years? When Olivia and Zach meet, fall in love, and get engaged in Positano, all four of their (divorced) parents understandably have reservations about the romance. But when the six of them meet for brunch back in California, everyone is shocked to discover that Zach's mom, Amy, and Olivia's mom, June, are college besties who haven't spoken in two decades. As June and Amy battle over the details of their children's big day, Olivia and Zach try to balance the Momzillas' feud with the wedding they want. The dads--one of whom has a secret--are mostly along for the ride, but that same secret will have huge implications not only for Zach and Olivia's future, but for June and Amy's.
Fenton and Steinke (How to Save a Life; The Good Widow) unspool their story in juicy, hilarious fashion, dialing up the drama and deep feelings for laughs and gasps. Though a few incidents are truly over-the-top, most of the dynamics feel relatable: Who hasn't wondered how to move on after a gut-wrenching betrayal, or mourned the loss of a once-vital friendship? Both the happy couple and the moms must do some soul-searching if the big day's going to come off right, and Fenton and Steinke take readers on a highly entertaining journey to a happily-ever-after. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams