If a home DIY television show and a romance show had a baby, this book would be the result! Well plotted, creative characters and witty dialogue that is wrapped in many emotions makes this book the one to pick. Add in a wonderful narration and you've got a great book that you should absolutely be listening too. I wasn't completely sure about this book based on the description, but am so very glad that I decided to listen to it as it was entertaining and heartstring pulling until the very end. I am really hoping that this is just the first book in a series as there are other characters that would be fun to follow along with. I'll definitely be looking for more books from this author soon!

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of Built to Last by Erin Hahn. I don't know what it was, but this second chance romance fell flat for me. 3 stars.

2.5 stars

Built to Last has unfortunately cemented something that I have been denying to myself for several months: slow burn romances are simply not my cup of tea. I find that they tend to draw out character building and plot development to such a thin point that it doesn't capture my interest.

This book certainly fell into that camp, partially because of the slow burn and partially due to the fact that it also layered in a second chance romance. Because we already have that backstory and it was clear from the beginning that there were still feelings between the two characters, it made the slow burn feel even more glacial and I was honestly bored for the majority of the book.

While this book is not necessarily what I gravitate to, I'm sure that there are many readers out there who will absolutely eat this up. I sincerely hope that Built to Last finds those readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Child star secret first loves, to strangers, to lovers once again - this is such a cute second chance romance. Shelby and Cameron have left the limelight after spending their teens staring in a sitcom. Shelby spiraled with alcohol before she finally left Hollywood. She got sober and found love in restoring old furniture to complement her father's construction company. Cameron got out early before Hollywood consumed him - he went to college for film and has become a nature documentarian.

But years later, their co-star and Shelby's cheating ex-boyfriend, Lyle, produces a home improvement show and convinces them both to star. Lyle obviously has ulterior motives, but Shelby and Cameron do not let him come between them. They fall for each other, finally, after 10 years of secretly pining for each other.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a second chance romance.

Erin Hahn basically owns my reading life. If she writes it, I am reading it. When she announced a romance for adults instead of her usual YA romance, I NEEDED this book. I was right. I really did need it. I loved this story of two child stars who come together as adults to film a pilot for a home renovation show. Their history and tension and their hidden love for each other was so easy to sink into and kept me compulsively reading until the very last page.

I loved that the big conflict was more external than internal.
I loved that they sorted their stuff out individually and when they finally had their conversation, it was healthy and worked for them. It wasn't half talks that made more of a mess later.
I loved their families and their friend groups.
I loved glimpses of Annie and Clay (read You'd be Mine)
I loved Kevin.

I can't wait for more in this series of books and from Erin.

“I’m sorry I left you. Both times. Turns out, I don’t deserve you either. Love, Cameron”

“It means something hopeful, that look. And, I think, it means something more that she’s letting me see it now.”

“You’re not old, Cam. You and Shelby are still young, but you also started young. You know? You’ve lived a lot of life already. More than most. I’m just so happy to see you happy and creating something important and loving someone and being loved in return. And you did it all your way. You deserve that.”

I don’t know how I find myself reading the most unexpectedly perfect-for-me books so often.

How did I get so lucky as to have not just childhood friends to lovers, but also a second chance romance?! AND PINING WITH MINIMAL ANGST??!? This book spoiled me. It was so funny and the characters were so well-written… *chef’s kiss*

Shelby… I just wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and protect her forever. Her will to be better and happy was endearing and inspiring, and I admired her resilience so much. Cameron was just perfect. PERFECT.

MVP: Best bffs ever Lorelai and Maren. THEIR BOOKS WHEN???????

(Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Wholesome and entertaining, childhood actors and sweethearts turned lovers reuniting for a home improvement reality TV show. I can say it wasn't wildly original, there have been several romances set on HGTV style TV shows within the last three years but the characterization was good and the romance very sweet

3 stars. Perfectly sweet romance, a la HGTV!

Things I Loved
- second-chance at first love
- Shelby and Cameron
- Built in playlist
- Audiobook narrators

Things I didn’t love
- gratuitous f-bombs (cheapens it it my eyes)
- Lyle (who would though?)
- Lack of meat in the plot (could have had more substance)

Thanks so much to St Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a feel-good, dual POV, second chance, friends to lovers romance between two childhood co-stars who are reunited years after their tv show ended when they agree to be on a reality renovation show. Shelby and Cameron fell hard in their teens but when Cameron left unexpectedly Shelby moved on. This new tv show provides an opportunity for these two to resolve their past and see if they might have a chance a real relationship in the present. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This was my first Erin Hahn book and was good on audio too. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next from this talented author.
Recommended for fans of Maggie moves on by Lucy Score or Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews.