Built to Last by Erin Hahn was a second chance romance for Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs who met as children on a popular television show. Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs were child-stars on a popular show, secretly crushing on each other during those growing-up years. After the show was over and they went different ways, Cam went to college. Shelby stayed in LA for a bit longer, dating Lyle Jessup, their other co-star, until Lyle not only cheated on Shelby, but also wrote a Grammy winning song full of lies about her and married her best friend. Shelby left LA five years ago, working with her father’s reconstruction of old houses and vintage furniture business; wanting to prove the world she is not the same child star actress and pop star she had been. She’s enjoying her life: living in a house she’s renovating, refinishing vintage furniture in a workshop in her barn, raising chickens. Her best friends, Maren and Lorelai, a former Country singer, have her back and help her through her worse moments. Shelby wants to prove to the world she’s grown-up, matured, and wants to support her father’s retirement fund by working on a home renovation reality show concept but the channel producers want to replace her father with someone younger; someone she’s already has onscreen chemistry with, Cameron. Not only that, it’s Lyle who’s producing the show, pulling the strings. Cam decides to take a sabbatical from his videographer job with National Geographic to work on this show. His family lives nearby as does his best friend and former college roommate, allowing him the opportunity to spend time with them.

Working together, Shelby gets to demonstrate her real talent, refinishing vintage objects, while Cam learns how to flip a house from Shelby’s dad. These two complement each other as they work together flipping a house, flirting, and communicating, showing that the chemistry Shelby and Cam had as teens is still evident, sparking and igniting flames between them. I enjoyed watching them become closer, spending time together away from the “set”, their conversations, their group of friends, and their families. It was obvious they were soul mates, meant to be together. I highly recommend Built to Last to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Shelby and Cameron met when they were eleven years old on the set of their tv show. Alongside them was Lyle Jessup and the three of them grew up together until the show ended when they were 18.

When Shelby calls Cameron 5 years later out of the blue, drunk and upset, he drops everything to fly to Los Angeles from Alaska to make sure she’s okay only to leave again before the end of the night.

After hitting her rock bottom, Shelby moves home to Michigan to do construction with her father Daniel. Shelby uses this time away from the spotlight to heal from the traumas of her past - manipulative ex boyfriends, growing up in front of the camera and a mother who used her as a bank, and she ends up making a name for herself in the construction, furniture restoration world.

5 years since they last seen each other, Cameron, Lyle and Shelby come together again when Shelby is offered a deal she can’t turn down, sign on to do a pilot of a construction reality show starring her and Cameron with Lyle as the show runner, and they will sign her father on as a consultant. All Shelby wants is to have her dad taken care of as he ages, so she agrees to this crazy idea.

After seeing and working with each other again after so many years, feelings from childhood start to resurface. Will Shelby and Cameron finally get their chance at a happy ending? Or will this time end up the same as the others - with both of them heartbroken and alone?

I really enjoyed this novel! First of all, the cover is so cute. This was definitely a slower burn but once the story began, I couldn’t put it down!

I’m not normally a fan of friends to lovers - but friends to lovers when paired with second chance romance is just perfection!

Erin did such a good job with both characters perspective. Cameron was just swoon worthy with how obsessed he has always been with Shelby!

I would recommend this book to all my romance reader friends!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this novel.

Happy pub day to this book that I LOVED! Built to Last is sweet, homey, and full of the most loyal friends. It was really a JOY to read this story about teenage tv stars with complicated pasts that are thrown together 10 years later for a home renovation show. I want to watch the reno show, walk into the houses they restore, and see the amazing pieces that Shelby rehabs in person. The story ended perfectly but I really wanted to continue reading about these character! Rom com lovers, get your hands on this book!!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!!

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶

This was such a fun and well written romcom and I feel like Erin Hahn is definitely an author we will be seeing a lot more of!

I love books about a romance developing over a home renovation, but add in that in this book they are on an actual home reno show and I’m completely sold! Shelby and Cameron are both former child stars and we see a lot of character development with both of them, but especially Shelby. She is almost a completely different kind of person from the peek that we get in the beginning, and I felt so proud of her. She really is such a great character and you can’t help but root for her! Cameron is such a nice guy and him and Shelby together are #goals.

This childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance is mostly light and funny with a few emotional moments. I loved Shelby and Cameron’s group of true friends and I can’t wait to see more from them (and this author) in the future!

Ok, wow - I enjoyed this so much more than I had anticipated! I went in fairly blind and am so happy I did!

🔨 friends to lovers / second chance romance
🔨 former childhood stars
🔨 home renovation show
🔨 Dual POV
🔨 Mutual Pining
🔨 No 3rd Act Break-up 🙌🏻

There is so much to enjoy about this book! This was such a sweet and swoony romance with fun banter, great secondary characters, and a glimpses of stardom (oh and a sh***y ex-boyfriend who a common villain that we can all root against lo).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cameron, Shelby, and Lyle were all about 12 years old when they started working on a TV show together. Lyle had always been a bit of a jerk when he was younger. I think he just wanted to be the star. Shelby and Cameron had chemistry which Lyle didn’t like. Then all of a sudden Cameron went off to college. I think that was partly why Shelby went wild with drinking and making a scene. Then when Lyle cheated on her with her best friend, she really lost it. She ended going back to Michigan and working with her father who flipped homes. Shelby learned to refurbish old furniture and make them look new and beautiful. I was surprised when Lyle asked Shelby and Cameron to meet him regarding a tv show that they both went. Especially since Cameron had a great job with National Graphic, but he travelled eleven months out of the year. I loved Shelby’s father and how much he helped Cameron to learn about flipping houses. I couldn’t stand Shelby’s mother and how selfish she was. Lyle tried to play dirty and came up with all kinds of tricks to upset Cameron and Shelby on flipping the house. I enjoyed the book and encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

Hahn’s YA novel More Than Maybe is one of my all time favorites, so when I heard she was breaking into the romance genre, I’ve never clicked “request” on an eARC so fast in my life! And it did not disappoint!

This was a wonderfully sweet and spicy, second chance debut romance! It was refreshing real, with beautifully open communication, real struggles and honest solutions — if it weren’t for it being about child stars and how Hollywood effected them, I would see more of me and my own husband in Shelby and Cameron.

If you like low drama (other than the pain in the ass ex variety), lots of sexual tension, <b>no third act break up</b>, and a HEA that renews your faith in love, then this books is for you!

Erin Hahn is a very popular author of YA novels and for a good reason- she always manages to strike the right kind of balance between the plot and characterization without sacrificing the most important part of any kind of romantic story- its emotional side, the heart. Rest assured, Built to Last, her first adult romcom, is as sweet and entertaining as her previous books.

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Rigg's story goes far, far back...Together with Lyle, Shelby's treacherous ex, they used to be child actors and co-stars of a tv show. Then Shelby returned to Michigan to stay with her dad and got involved and fully invested in his house renovation business. When Shelby's Dad got injured in a car pile up accident, it became clear that he needs to slow down and Shelby starts looking for a way to give him a peaceful retirement. Doing a home renovation TV show seems like a great idea. The only problem is Shelby's Dad gets quickly discarded by the producers due to his lack of 'presence', something Shelby's childhood BFF/sweetheart Cameron has in abundance. Did I mention that the show is produced by Lyle who may or may not have his own vision of how to make the show even more popular by playing with Cam and Shelby's unresolved feelings.

Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, because there's nothing more difficult and nothing sweeter than loving somebody you have known for years with all their failures and successes, their secrets and their flaws, seeing them face problems and learn from their mistakes. Both Cam and Shelby have changed a lot since their childhood in the spotlight... Can their friendship survive and turn into something even more powerful, given half a second chance? Read for yourself and find out.

Title: Built to Last
Author: Erin Hahn
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Built to Last" by Erin Hahn

My Assessment:

'Built to Last' was an excellent rom-com love story of what happens when two child actors who loved each other meet years later and fell in love again. The two main characters, Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, had quite a backstory that did finally develop them into some fine adults in this second chance at love.

Be ready for quite an exciting story from 'toxic and exploitive parental relationship, cheating evil, manipulative ex, strained family relationships, unrequited love, reality TV, redemption, and let's not leave it's a little spicy.'

To find out what this story is about, pick up 'Built to Last' and see how well this author brings it out to the reader.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From childhood star to vintage furniture restorer, Shelby Springfield has found that she much prefers the peace and quiet that comes with living in the midwest over the drama of Hollywood. But when an opportunity comes to start a home renovation show with her Dad and set him up for retirement, she can't resist, even if that means changing the costar from her Dad to her former co-star and first love, Cameron Riggs. The downside, having to deal with their other former co-star and the ex-boyfriend that helped tank her career, Lyle Jessup.

If you enjoy home renovation shows and romance novels, this is the perfect novel for you. This second-chance romantic comedy is full of wit, angst, and spice between two amazing characters. I absolutely adored this book and I can't recommend it enough. The secondary characters were fantastic as well and I can't wait to hear Lorelai's story next fall! I especially enjoyed Kevin and would love to see a short story all about him and his wife. I was afraid that I would get annoyed with Lyle's character, but while he was present, he wasn't around often enough to really get on my nerves more than he was meant to, he had a perfect balance. It's really frustrating that for the books I love I can never seem to find enough/the right words to really portray how I feel about the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via St. Martins Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Shelby Springfield is trying hard to overcome her past. She was a childhood star with a pop music career which ended with a meltdown that turned into a media circus. Now she has a content life refinishing furniture and living quietly out of the limelight. When her former co-star Lyle Jessup reappears and offers her a reality series, she is torn. This could be just what she needs, but it also means teaming up with her other former co-star Cameron Riggs. Is Lyle doing it just to ruin what little friendship Shelby and Cameron have left? Will Cameron who wants to settle down even do the series with Shelby? What will happen when the two friends reconnect?

Erin Hahn who is the author of several YA romances, has taken the leap into adult romance with this, her debut novel. It is witty, has a great backstory and plenty of twists and turns throughout the book. I adored the characters, which were well written, and you just cannot help but sneer every time Lyle comes into the story. I was cheering for Shelby and Cameron right from the start. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. A perfect fall read!

My Thoughts

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, once co-stars/childhood sweethearts, are brought back in each others lives 10 years later for the pilot of a home renovation show

Shelby having found her niche in life working with her contractor father restoring homes and bringing to life old furniture has found peace for herself, if not complete happiness.

Cameron, having spent the intervening years by globe trotting making documentaries for National Geographic finds the chance to return home to the town, and girl, he left behind to good to resist.

What the two share this time around, both on and offscreen, has at times made me cry while also making me laugh as they finally realize real life means learning how to take its punches but still soldier on.

A second chance at life on their own terms and love that is long overdue for Cameron and Shelby.

Did not love this one unconditionally but really enjoyed the heck out of it for sure.

[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

3.5

Built to Last has a fun premise - 2 former child actors who co-starred on a popular TV show are brought back together to film a home renovation show pilot. As you might expect of course these two have a history, and being back in close contact after nearly a decade a part is a challenge in many ways. What ultimately transpires is a lovely, low-stakes second-chance romance that I really enjoyed reading.

This is Erin Hahn's adult romance debut and I think it's a super promising start. I can see how this book might not work for everyone as it did feel uneven and not totally flushed out at points, but I overall really enjoyed it despite the more technical issues I had with it. This is sort of rare for me - if I can see the seams when reading a book, it tends to take me out of it, but I had fun reading this regardless. That may have had a lot to do with the hero, Cam, who it's impossible not to crush on. It sounds like there's another book in this series in the making which I will definitely want to check out.

Thank you so much to the publisher for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Erin Hahn's BUILT TO LAST is the ultimate in deeply engaging characters, a storyline that delivers happily ever after, and what it takes to renovate and flip a house. The connection between Shelby and Cameron was forged when they were children, strengthened and strained over the years, and resolved into a deep, trusting, loving relationship. While the plot was predictable with reversals, obstacles, and longstanding issues, I was charmed throughout, all the way to the happy ending. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

•Second chance at love
•Childhood sweethearts
•Former childhood stars
•Reality television
•Dual POV
•Romance
•small town

Built to Last introduces us to Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, former child stars who always had mutual crushes growing up. Shelby has recently been living life out of the spotlight, well as much as a former child star can anyway. But after her boyfriend of five years cheats on her with her best friend--and then writes a Grammy winning song for the world to hear, her quiet life is flipped upside down. Despite many years apart, Shelby knows that in a world of craziness and uncertainty, she can always count on Cameron.
Now a new home improvement show has brought these two back together. Will their childhood crushes turn into an adult relationship? Or will bitter exes try to stand in the way of fate?
This story felt new and fun. I loved the dual point of views and the pining for each other. I do wish there would have been less Lyle and a bit more spice. Overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley for an ARC of this super cute romcom. 4 stars.

In short: Former childhood stars and sweethearts, Cameron and Shelby, a more reunited and back in the spotlight with a home renovation show.

What to expect:
🛠HGTV Vibes
🛠Second Chance Romance
🛠Alternating POVs

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book! Childhood sweethearts estranged for years, but always close to each other’s heart are thrown together by a vindictive ex. Shelby wants to prove she left her party girl reputation behind in Hollywood, Cameron is ready to set down roots. You can tell there is a lot of love between these characters, but a lot of history to work through as well. I loved their rekindling, tension with a little steam and the setting of a home renovation show. This was a great story and had characters that were easy to love, and hate.

Thank you to the publisher + NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Built to Last" by Erin Hahn is first and foremost a book about former child stars and reality tv, which made for a really entertaining book to say the least. Shelby used to date Lyle who was also her co-star, but there's also Cameron her other co-star and the one who got away. Now they're all participating in an HGTV-type-show, and the gang is all back together. Except there's still some lingering feelings - of animosity? of love - all around. I really loved Cameron and Shelby's slow burn relationship (I'm a sucker for childhood friends to lovers AND the second chance trope). Lyle and Ada Mae as characters really annoyed me, but hey that's showbiz for you. I liked Erin Hahn's previous YA books so it was only fitting that I would enjoy her rom-com debut.

What a cute story. This is Erin Hahn’s debut rom com, and her writing tells a good story. This is the “reality home renovation” trope, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved Shelby (and her dad) who after being a child acting star has gone back home to Michigan to do home renovations with her dad. One of the child stars on her tv show is now a producer, and another has come to Michigan to find Shelby. Cameron has loved Shelby since those teenage years and Shelby has loved him back but it has all been unrequited. Lyle, the producer, tries to sabotage the two who are working on the pilot for this new home renovation show. All in all, a fun book to read.

I liked this one! I enjoyed the author’s writing style and loved her characters. I thought the storyline was fun and a great escape from reality, especially after reading several mysteries in a row.

This is a friends to lovers story with a few twists. It also includes child actors who are all grown up and still have feelings for each other and family relationships that are not unexpected but not necessarily healthy either. Shelby was a hit on their show when they were young so when Lyle Jessup, a mover and shaker in Hollywood, calls her to make a pilot show about house flipping, she is hesitant. He sweetens the pot by telling her that he is asking that Cameron Riggs, her first love and other co-star from the show, be her new co-star on the new show. The dialog between the two was sappy at times and not totally believable. I really did not like the limited vocabulary, with F-bombs used constantly by most of the characters. The plot was okay but not well developed since it was completely predictable, although it was fun to read at times. I especially enjoyed when Cam and Shelby went to an antique fair together. The chemistry in those scenes did get realistic and gave me hope for the rest of the book, but that was about halfway through. It took half the book to get to anything relatable or realistic and then the ball dropped again and went off into drama that seemed to be there just to make the book longer. This is a romance with the premise of house flipping and finding each other again, but it could just as well have been a short story. Since I enjoy shows on HGTV, i did enjoy the details about how they were making the house a dream house for someone, with all the extras that Shelby enjoyed adding to make it her signature style. Lyle was not well developed, just an evil narcissist who was the one who kept trying to butt into their lives and control them using his reputation and his money. Most of the other characters were developed sufficiently but none were totally relatable to me. Those who enjoy a quick read with little substance will enjoy this book, especially if you are looking for a second chance or friends to lovers story.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”