If you are looking for a sweet romance with child star + home reno vibes, "Built to Last" by Erin Hahn checks all those boxes! 4⭐

Shelby and Cameron were child stars together in Hollywood and had their first kiss together on screen. They fell apart with a bang and their lives moved on without each other. Years later, they've both done some growing up and they are given a chance to work together again (for their childhood nemesis, who is the producer). Together with Shelby's dad, they are going to renovate a house in her hometown with the cameras watching.

I love that Shelby's role as a carpenter is so central to the show they're making, and she's not just a pretty face on camera. Cameron was humble enough to learn a new skill of how to be a contractor, and there are many cameos from both of their family members that bring in some drama and lots of emotion.

I liked the ending - it was fun and felt realistic. It wrapped everything up in a bow but also set the stage for a possible sequel to tell Lorelai's story.

This book felt familiar in so many ways, like I had read it before but in a good way. It reminded me of "Birds of California" meets "Tools of Engagement," with a touch of "Every Summer After."

Thank you @smpromance and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shareability: fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Farrah Rochon, Abby Jimenez, & Rachel Van Dyken will like this one.

Tropes: second chance romance, it was always you, pining

Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Pairs well with: a thermos of coffee ☕ and a raspberry Danish

Cute romance about two former teen stars who once secretly dated as kids and reunite as adults. There is a lot of good humor and one liners, and we’ll rounded cast of secondary characters, and plenty of chemistry. A fun one to read.

I enjoyed the unique story line for this novel, following former child stars as they reconnect for a home flipping reality show. It has tropes of friends to lovers, second chance, and slow burn. I would recommend this for romance readers who like light spice. I enjoyed Shelby's character development.

Shelby, Lyle, and Cameron spent their teen years together acting both on tv and for the paparazzi. Now, though, they're grown up and Shelby for one has built (literally) a good life back home in Michigan working on houses that she flips with her dad. What does she do when Lyle, who was meant to be her beau in their teens, comes roaring back to her life with a proposition- that she star in a home renovation show with0 wait for it- Cameron. Ah the second chance romance ! Shelby and Cameron make slow moves toward one another but Lyle is always there in the background because he's not as happy with what he's done. I liked this as much for the other characters and the behind the scenes look at television as I did for Shelby, Cameron and Lyle. Not too many twists and it won't be a spoiler to say that all ends as it should. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

Two things I seriously loved about this book:
1. Cameron. What a sweet cinnamon roll. I seriously adored everything about this character
2. The home reno. I can’t get enough of this theme!

I just struggled to feel there chemistry and found their connection to be a bit unbelievable after a decade. Then, I found myself thinking, “just get together already!!” Overall a cute romcom, but not my fave.

Shelby and Cameron are old flames and ex-child stars that were part of an über popular tween show with their ex-friend Lyle (also Shelby’s ex-boyfriend). It’s been 10 years since the end of the show and both Shelby and Cameron have residual scars but have found personal success.

Shelby fled L.A. to go back home to Michigan and started a furniture refinishing business; Cameron became a Nat Geo documentarian. They’re brought back together by Lyle to make a house renovation show a la HGTV. Amidst Lyle’s continued jealousy from a decade ago and all the roadblocks that he puts in their way to sabotage them, Shelby and Cameron manage to rekindle their love.

This was such a great book and I loved every bit of it. The secondary characters were just as special as the main characters. The second chance love trope is strong and the chemistry of Shelby and Cameron is lovely to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read the rest of the series about Shelby’s friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC. Built to Last comes out October 18, 22.

A fun read about growing up and realizing love. This is a nice romance about two child stars who liked each other as children and get together as adults to film a home renovation show. A well written account of Shelby’s and Cameron’s journey to realizing they should be together. The characters in this book are all very relevant and enhance the story. Not only did Shelby and Cameron find romance, but Cameron found another career. Many people over the years interfered in their getting together, but finally, as adults they realize that they do love each other, always have, and nothing is going to keep them apart. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to SMP Romance for sending me an e-ARC of this book to read and review. I loved this book so much and I thought the second chance romance was done so beautifully. There was no third act breakup which was perfect because Shelby and Cam had already fought so many obstacles in their life that it wasn't necessary. I thought their healing from their past was beautiful and it was great to see them love each other at so many different points of life. The home renovation plot was top tier and I thought it was so wholesome to see all the work go into the houses as well as the relationships. I thought the dual POV's were great. This book was insanely cute and swoony with some spice sprinkled in and I adored this one.

BLURB: "Shelby Springfield has spent the last ten years trying to overcome her past, sanding it away like the rough spots on the vintage furniture she makes over. But as a former child star, it’s hard to forget a widely documented meltdown and huge public break up with her former co-star Lyle Jessup. It’s also hard to forget her other co-star and childhood sweetheart, Cameron Riggs--the one who got away."

The former stars of a hit television show come together after ten years after its ending to form a renovation HGTV -type program. Shelby now renovates homes with her dad--a fabulous character on his own; Lyle is still 'in the business'; Cameron is a famed photographer for such as Nat'l Geographic. The craziness that ensues is entertaining, laughable, and heartbreaking. Through much angst and miscommunication the false aspects are laid bare to expose the truth. Can the relationships be saved?

There are open door situations and cursing. My first Erin Hahn book, but it will not be my last.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #BuiltToLast, @ErinHaun,and #St.Martin'sPress for granting my request for an ARC to read and review. I enjoy reviewing books for followers and friends.

Shelby has been trying to let go of her past for the last decade, making over the vintage furniture she finds. And a huge public break-up pushes her to call Cameron, who has always been there for her, always comes running when she needs him. When the are paired for a reality home renovation show, will their chemistry be revived?
This was a cute friend to lovers, second chance romance. The set-up is very original with the renovation show, HGTV-style. It was really sweet, but I would've loved to see more of the flashbacks from the two MCs back story. The chemistry between them was great. I feel like this could be the first book in a series.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Short synopsis: Former childhood actresses and TV co-stars, Shelby and Cameron, are brought back together ten years after the end of their sitcom. This time, it’s to film a new fixer upper reality show called HomeMade. While each are surprised to see the other at the initial meeting, the two agree to film a pilot well aware of what they are getting themselves into.

Thoughts: Despite my lack of creativity and vision, especially in the decorating department, I LOVE romance stories that center around fixing up and rennovating homes. Hahn did a great job making this popular premise unique. I enjoyed the addition of both MCs being childhood actresses and thought she did a great job portraying the effects of being in that industry at a young age. The complicated relationship between Shelby and her mom was also done well, and had many parallels to the memoir I’m Glad My Mom Dad, which I recently read. The best part about this book was the pacing! I find that a lot of romance start off slow and with this, I was hooked just after the first few pages. Despite the really strong start and fun premise, there were some gaps in the plot and a bit of unnecessary drama (achem Lyle) that prevented it from getting the full five stars.

Read if you like:
-Celebrity romance
-Home makeover reality TV shows
-Michigan setting
-Second chances
-Dual POVs

Thank you SMP for the ARC. Pub date 10/18/22

This was a cute book! Things I loved: Shelby and Cameron's second chance and the chemistry! I liked that they were childhood sweethearts who finally got a second chance to be with each other. You could really show how these two grew up by removing themselves from the limelight. The lack of irrational conflict, as well as their relationships with their other friends.

Things I didn't care for: Lyle, I know he's there for a reason but he totally rubs me the wrong way. I think there was an opportunity to provide some resolution with the troubled parental relationships.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Built to Last by Erin Hahn will be released on October 18th, 2022.

Built To Last by Erin Hahn is a sweet second chance/childhood sweetheart love story about estranged childhood co-stars who reunite to work on a new project.

Written in dual POV, this story is a romance intertwined with a home improvement reality show 🏠🪴.

A sweet and enjoyable read.

🔨 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆 🔨

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁
𝗕𝘆 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗵𝗻
𝟯𝟯𝟲 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸:
𝟴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝟯𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗭𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 & 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀

𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 4/5 stars

•𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀
•𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
•𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
•𝗛𝗚𝗧𝗩 / 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗩 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀

Shelby and Cameron were childhood actors, co-staring on a popular family TV show when they were young. After a Hollywood scandal rocks their young worlds, both stars have moved on with their lives -- separately. Cam works for Nat Geo, filming documentaries around the world. Shelby does house flips with her dad, Daniel. Both have aimed to stay out of the celebrity spotlight.

But when an opportunity to film a pilot for a reality TV home reno show (think HGTV-style) presents itself, Cameron and Shelby are back in the spotlight, together. They're forced to confront their messy past, as well as the feelings they've carried for one another all this time. 💕

This was such a great read!! For starters, the MC and I share a name, which is always fun! 😉 Both MCs are really likeable characters, and I couldn't help but root for them. The chemistry is palpable, and their dialogue was really natural and well written. The drama that unfolds really helped keep me invested. There was the perfect amount of spice here (for me).

I did a combination of audiobook and ebook, enjoying each format equally. The narrators both did a fantastic job! 👏 I love the added layer that's provided by a well-narrated audiobook. Well done!!!!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable, contemporary romance and I definitely recommend!!

Thank you so much to @netgalley
@stmartinspress and @orangeskyaudio for my gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review. 💕
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This is like the best mis of HGTV and romance ever! Cameron and Shelby were childhood sweethearts on the set of their Disney-esque television show. Now the’ve been thrown together after being estranged for years, but never far from each other’s heart. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to revamp a house with your first love, while the vindictive ex pulls all the strings?!

So much to love about this one! Shelby overcomes a lot to start over with her step dad rehabbing old furniture. She decision to leave Hollywood, at the urging of Cameron, changed her life for the better. Shelby’s simple life in Michigan gets a lot more complicated as they develop their reality show “Hometown.”

Cameron is the globe-trotting NatGeo photographer who is still in love Shelby. He has made his share of mistakes with her over the years and I love how he works hard to atone for those in a way that matters to Shelby. He has a lot to learn about being a general contractor and he gives it his all.

This is such a heart warming story with a nice bit of steam and easily identified villains to hate. You also get the happiest of happy endings. You cannot help but hope that Shelby’s bestie Lorelei gets her own story!

I requested an early reader copy of this book and these are my honest opinions.

This novel is my first from the author and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they interacted with each other. This romcom definitely will hold your interest and keep you reading.

I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the copy of this book.

I've been very into both the celebrity romance and childhood friends-to-lovers trope this year, and was very excited to see both were in Built to Last, along with home renovation. A combination of so many amazing things, with songs at the start of each chapter creating a perfect playlist to listen to while reading. This was a cute and predictable read and ended up in the middle of the road for me, as it was fine but not something that will stick with me long-term.

Childhood co-stars get a second chance at romance in this smart, fun, contemporary romance. Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs were co-stars on a popular tv show. The knew each other from 11 till he leaves for college. He was the sidekick in an on screen friendship trio. The two were briefly together before he leaves for school and to start a career making documentaries. She became the childhood star who didn’t transition well to adult actor.

Fast forward years later and she lives in Michigan working as a house flipper with her dad. She’s living sober, has good friends and loves her work. She pitches a reality tv makeover shop to a network. They’re interested but only if Cameron will come back and be her co-star. They haven’t seen each other in years but the underlying friendship is there. This is sweet with honest communication and good self awareness of past mistakes. It is in mid range for steaminess, starting hot and then going behind closed doors. It is refreshing to have a story where feelings are acknowledged mid way through the book and there isn’t a mandatory break-up at the 80 percent point.

I think the only thing I didn’t like was Lyle as their boss. Of course you’re not meant to like him. It didn’t make sense for him to intentionally sabotage the show that is giving him work. I could understand if he caused issues not wanting to have a successful return to her Hollywood career or he wanted to be part of the show instead of Cameron. But I couldn’t see how it benefits him to make Shelby look bad.

All in all I liked the story, the main characters, best friends, and a refreshing take on successful trope. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Former co-stars and teenage lovers, Shelby & Cameron are roped into doing a renovation show by Lyle, who happens to be their co-star during their teenage days and also Shelby's ex.
There's something in it for everyone. Cameron wants to come home and set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove to the world she's not the messy party girl anymore. And Lyle wants to twist the screws on his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could dream of with anyone.

If you enjoy second-chance romances then this is just the one for you. Second chance mixed with home reno made it an entertaining read.
I liked seeing Shelby & Cameron's past flashbacks, how they became friends to lovers, sneaking around the set, dealing with audiences, etc.

The thing I loved the most was how mature the MCs were. They learned from their past mistakes & miscommunication & didn't assume things in the present with each other. This factor definitely made the 3rd act conflict WAY better.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this fast, witty and adorable romcom by author Erin Hahn.

MCs, Shelby & Cameron, we’re child stars and sweethearts who parted ways and then reconnected after 10 years. As “fate” would have it, the couple reunite as they start to host a home renovation show and sparks immediately start to fly. The premise of the book is fun and right up my alley as I am a huge watcher of HGTV! This was a cute read in between heavier reads which I absolutely need every once in a while. Absolutely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.