Erin Hahn’s debut romcom is a lovingly crafted second chance romance wherein childhood co-stars Shelby and Cam rebuild their relationship while filming a pilot episode for a house restoration show.

I adored the charming, subtle parallel underpinning the novel — like the old house, there is a special quality to Shelby and Cam’s relationship that is undeniably deserving of a second chance.

Erin’s writing style is uniquely inviting with realistic and natural dialogue; dynamic and well-developed characters; maturely resolved relationship conflicts; a charming setting; flirty tension and spicy chemistry.

Erin cleverly devised “fixer upper” puns and used them sparingly, but masterfully, to ensure the fun turns of phrase weren’t overdone.

I was smiling throughout this engaging, endearing and elegantly composed love story. I genuinely look forward to reading more of Erin’s enjoyable stories!


𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘩𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

I started reading this book, but did not finish it. It was interesting, but just not the book I wanted to read in that moment.

3.5 stars- this was definitely a cute romance and I was happy there wasn’t a third act breakup. But it felt a bit unbelievable that our two MC’s would be pining after one another for so many years. It was also a slow burn romance but then boom- they were in love. It didn’t quite click for me. Overall, I would recommend if you’re looking for a sweet romance with a more YA vibe,

A second chance romance and a home renovation show?!? Yes, please. I’ve heard amazing things about Erin Hahn’s books, so why not start with Built to Last? This was such a fast and fun read and just what I needed.

Shelby and Cameron both felt like genuine characters. They’re both flawed and things from their past having them think twice about starting this show together. In the past, Shelby got the bad end of the stick when her image was damaged when people thought she cheated when that wasn’t the case. I thought it was great to see her take control of her life and slowly open up herself back up to love. Cameron coming back into her life wasn’t something she expected.

Shelby and Cameron were so fun together. They didn’t lose their chemistry or banter in the years they were apart. I loved and appreciated them actually talking about their past and issues. It was refreshing having characters talk. I smiled quite a bit reading about them interacting and doing things together.

I was surprised that the home renovating didn’t get a bigger part of the story,  UT the parts we got were fun. I could’ve done without Lyle,  it him actually kind of bringing the, together more mad up for it. They didn’t let him win. Add some amazing side characters (Shelby’s best friend for example), and this was just an amazing romance. I’ll be reading more by Erin Hahn very soon!

This was such a cute story! I'm not usually one to read about or watch things like flipping houses or any of that, but this story pulled me in right from the first page. I could not get enough of Cameron and Shelby, and I always love a second chance romance!

Second chance childhood sweethearts done right! The first time I tried this, I didn’t give it enough credit—oops, my bad. But I came back swinging and honestly, I loved every minute of it. The characters? Totally nailed it.

Due to personal reasons, I was unable to read and review this book in a timely manner. Thank you for the opportunity. I apologize for any inconvenience. ###########################%%##########

FMC: Shelby, former child star who is trying to heal from her past which included a very well documented public breakup with a co-star.

MMC: Cameron Riggs, idk what it is about the name Cameron that always needs the last name said with it. Cameron Riggs is another co-star who travels making documentaries.

Tropes: celebrity romance, reality show, friends to lovers, second chance,

Shelby and Cameron Riggs are asked to be in a home renovation show together by their former co-star with whom they both have a complicated past with. Shelby wants to do this to show that she has grown and is more than just a party princess. Cameron Riggs just wants to be there for Shelby.

There's great chemistry between Shelby and Cameron Riggs. The banter between the two was off the charts and I enjoyed every bit of them. Plus, the pining! OMG!

I think this story could have benefited from a now and then format mostly because I wish there was more on the childhood sweetheart aspect of it. Despite not being a fan of home improvement shows; the show aspect got me intrigued. Maybe there's a home improvement show out there for me.

This was such a cute second chance romance! I enjoyed watching Shelby and Cameron fight for and realize what they wanted despite all of Lyle's antics!

Built to Last was a sweet, second chance romance that has HGTV vibes. I don't know what took me so long to read this book!
I really loved Shelby and Cameron's chemistry throughout the story and the slow burn was just perfect.
Lyle was a nuisance but I know he was somewhat of a necessary catalyst in our story.
Overall, really enjoyed this story by Erin Hahn and can't wait to pick up her next book!

Not my favorite romance unfortunately. I wanted to mine it more but I sadly just didn’t connect with the characters or plot.

Built to Last is a sweet, slow-burn second-chance romance that blends nostalgia, small-town charm, and a dash of reality TV drama. Erin Hahn brings together two former childhood stars, Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, whose reunion on a home renovation show rekindles old sparks—and stirs up unresolved feelings.

Shelby is a refreshing character—a woman who’s worked hard to rebuild her life after the pressures of fame and a messy past. Cameron is equally likable, with his steady presence and patient heart. Their chemistry is undeniable, and Hahn does a great job of making their romantic journey feel authentic and earned.

Where the novel shines is in its heartfelt exploration of personal growth and second chances. The renovation show setting adds a fun twist, and the rural Michigan backdrop is cozy and vivid. That said, the pacing occasionally drags, particularly in the middle, and some of the plot threads (especially involving side characters and the showbiz angle) could have used more depth.

Overall, Built to Last is a charming, feel-good read perfect for fans of romance with a dash of HGTV. It may not break new ground, but it’s built on a solid foundation of heart and hope.

This was a cute second chance romance. If you are a fan of HGTV and home renovations, you'd love this!

How can you overcome your past? Shelby has been trying to do that.
I love second chance romances, and this one was great!

Normally, I’m all about the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While it was still entertaining (after a slow start) and sweet, I had a hard time fully buying into Cameron and Shelby still having such strong feelings for each other after nearly a decade with no communication, especially considering how things ended. I get that they both needed time to grow, and they were really young when everything started, but their feelings felt more rooted in nostalgia than in real, present-day connection.

That said, I did appreciate that there wasn’t a third-act breakup or unnecessary miscommunication, and once these two finally decided to give it a go, they were all in. Cameron was such a cinnamon roll, and his pining for Shelby was off the charts. Overall, it was a cute read (with some open-door scenes), but unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.

“I release a long, slow breath, giving myself plenty of time to back out. But I don't. "Cam, if the whole wide world was on fire and I had to give up everything I owned, I would still have your T-shirt.”

Built to Last by Erin Hahn is an adorable second-chance, childhood sweetheart romance. The connection between Cam and Shelby is written beautifully. Although the story didn't meet all of my expectations, it was a cute read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid and enjoyable story. I liked the characters, but struggled to really connect with them.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

This is a second chance, friends to lover's romance, and usually friends to lovers' romances are just boring for me, but I really liked this book. I loved the writing and adored Shelby and Cameron and absolutely hated Lyle. LOL I definitely need to read Lorelai and Maren's story now.

The unique thing that I loved about this romance is that the final act “climax” wasn’t due to miscommunication and/or lack of communication between the two protagonists. As someone who hates that, I usually have to fight the urge to not stop reading a romance about 4/5 of the way through so I can avoid it. Not here, though!