Built to Last was a really cute second chance love story about two childhood friends/costars that both escaped Hollywood as adults and were able to work on themselves before coming back together to film a home renovation show in their late twenties! If any of that sounds intriguing to you, definitely check this one out when it comes out next month! 🥰
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I’ve loved Erin’s YA books, especially Never Saw You Coming (if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend!!), so when I found out she was writing an adult romance, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! And it did not disappoint! I’m a sucker for the second chance romance trope and any kind of famous trope so I went in with high expectations and while it was actually a lot different than I expected, I really enjoyed it 🥰 Shelby & Cam are two people that have been poked and prodded at by the entire world for most of their lives but found a way to escape the toxicity of Hollywood and find themselves in much healthily spaces in their lives! And because of this, they’re able to come back together and be in the right place in their life to finally give their relationship a real chance and the result is so satisfying!
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Anyway, enough of me rambling! This book is adorable and I already can’t wait to read Lorelei’s story 🥰 thank you to @netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't know that this was going to be a Hollywood romance sort of book. Although it is not the typical type of story that I like to read I went through with it because the cover drew me in. I was under the impression that this book was going to be more about renovating a house and having romance be secondary.

That being said, I couldn't relate to much of what was going on in the story and I wasn't invested in the characters. Nothing really grabbed my attention about this book and I didn't like any of the characters. Shelby and Cameron are two people that I could care less about. Next time I will read the synopsis more carefully before I pick up my next book.

If you would like to read this book, it publishes in October 2022.

This book was cute but unfortunately just not for me. I felt the characters were immature for their age and it kind of felt like reading a YA book at times. The complications they had with their relationship throughout the book was repetitive and made me lose interest pretty quickly. I also really disliked Lyle. This took me months to finally finish.

All that said, I did enjoy some of the banter between the main characters and I can see why others loved it. Like I said, it just wasn’t my jam.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

I have enjoyed this author's YA books and was intrigued this is an adult book with some steam. If you enjoy second chance, former celebrity, this will be a fun one.
I love the strong connection between Cameron and Shelby and seeing their backstory. I wanted more love develop between them now as adults. The supporting characters were great and I hope to see more stories of Shelby's friends.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book.

This was a very cute, easy to read book about two childhood stars who crush hard when they're younger and drift apart when one leaves Hollywood for a 'normal' life and the other remains in the public eye. Hahn crafts a wholesome but steamy story about young love, redemption and the magic of timing. Some of the scenes can feel a little gimmick-y and cringe worthy but this would make a great beach read, a genre change or a book to get lost in. Fans of Hahn (I loved You'd Be Mine) should pick it up when it comes out on October 18!

I liked it, but didn’t love it. This one ticked off enough guilty pleasure boxes to keep me interested (child stars grown up, second chance, Midwest setting, home renovation, reality tv), but about halfway through this book went from a four star to a three star read for me. The story itself became a slow burn, but without the necessary angst. And while I liked the characters, I was never endeared to them.


Thank you netgalley for the advance copy.

I adored Shelby and Cam! That is all you need to know. I adored their romance from the beginning to their second chance. I loved how Shelby was able to leave the lime light behind her and have a normal life. I can’t stand Lyle and hope he goes up in flames! Lol! I’d love to have a new book with Lorelei and Drake!

4.5 stars

Erin Hahn’s 'Built to Last' is a charming second chance romance packed with witty dialogue and lots of simmering chemistry.

Shelby Springfield is a child star turned furniture restorer who has spent the better part of a decade getting her mind right. When she gets offered the chance to star in a home renovation show with her first love and former co-star, Cameron Riggs, she makes the leap, even though they haven’t spoken to each other in years. And despite the fact that their other co-star, Lyle (aka Shelby’s ex-boyfriend), happens to be the showrunner. Will Shelby and Cameron finally get their shot at something lasting? Or will their timing, plus Lyle’s meddling, continue to throw them off?

This book felt like a nice, cozy hug. As a fan of Hahn’s YA novels, I was thrilled to find this book just as enjoyable to read. There’s great depth to the characters, a lot of fantastic dialogue, and the plot is super satisfying. Everything on page just works, and is as entertaining as it is heartfelt. Add in a layer of intriguing and hilarious secondary characters (some of whom I hope get their own books in the future… especially Lorelai) and you’ve got a fantastic story.

Fans of home renovation shows, second chance with lower angst, and ride-or-die best friends who will say it like it is will wholeheartedly love this story.

Thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Normally I can't get enough of the childhood friends to lovers trope, but unfortunately this one didn't quite hit the spot for me. It was still entertaining (after a slow start) and plenty sweet, but I was never fully sold on Cameron and Shelby still harboring such intense feelings for each other after having no communication for nearly a decade and considering the circumstances of how things broke apart. I understand that they both needed to grow in this time apart and were so very young when things started, but the feelings seemed too rooted in the past and based more on nostalgia than actual connection. I did appreciate that there wasn't a third act break up/miscommunication and that these two idiots to lovers were all in once they decided to give it a go. Cameron was a total cinnamon roll and the amount of pining this man did was off the charts. Overall, this was a cute read (with some open door scenes), but sadly I didn't love it as much as I hoped.

CW: toxic and exploitive parental relationship, cheating and manipulative ex, strained family relationships, profanity

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

This was my first Erin Hahn novel, and it will not be my last. "Built to Last" is an adorable rom-com book with lovable characters and an overall cute story with some depth. I enjoyed the reuniting of the main characters, Shelby and Cameron, and how they had to work on their own individual issues to be able to help them grow to a successful relationship together. While it was a pretty predictable and very easy read, it was also realistic and not over the top cheesy. I recommend this for anyone looking for a light and fun read who loves a good second chance love story.

This was a cute read. I loved the second chance romance as well as the whole home renovation style of it. I did like lack of communication was a big factor in this book which made me feel kind of iffy about it. It would have been so much easier if they were just open and honest with each other but I understand that the plot needed it.
Overall it was a cute read that's full of heart, small towns and lots of home reno's.

This is my first Erin Hahn book but definitely not my last! There’s a little bit of everything in this perfect love story-childhood friends, unrequited love, reality TV, have-your-back friends, dysfunctional family dynamics and evil exes! What more can you ask for? Shelby and Cameron’s relationship is a fun read! Is Lorelai’s story up next? I really, really hope so!

I really enjoyed this book and was able to get it done in about a week, reading any moment I could get. I really liked Shelby and adored the second chance lovers trope. MY HEART! Shelby and Cameron are so cute!

Cute story, very original. I’ve never read a book about a home reno tv show! Especially not one featuring child tv actors as the renovation team. Shelby and Cameron were once child actors on some peeteen/teen tv show. Cameron left that world to attend college, Shelby stayed and self destructed as child actors sometimes do. Both main characters had issues of their own to deal with and I imagine these might be common issues that honestly I’ve never thought of before. Each had one parent move with them during the show’s life time and had another parent stayed home in their normal life. As adults they both make their own way through life outside of celebrity and are successful. They may not have ever reunited except for the fact that Shelby, now working with her father in a house flipping business, wants to do a home renovation show with her dad to secure his financial security after he’s injured. The only problem is that her dad isn’t star material and the guy in charge of the show wants Cameron and Shelby as the stars. To say old sparks are reunited is an extreme understatement. Cameron and Shelby have major steamy moments - not my thing so I skipped the several pages of that. Problems occur as they do in these shows and the teams on again / off again romance also threatens the success of the show. Add in outside forces trying to ruin everything and you’ve got a very interesting story.

The only downside was I felt the story was kind of predictable and although I love a good authentic conversation between characters who seem real there were so many F bombs… plus the over the top sex scenes were REALLY drawn out. I get it they’re young and hot but wow. I give this book 4 stars. It was entertaining over all and I got through it pretty quickly.

Built to Last by Erin Hahn follows child stars and past loves, Shelby and Cameron, as they reunite years later to embark on a new home renovation show. Sparks have always been present between the two, but the timing has never been quite right. Now, as they're forced to handle crazy family and a vindictive producer, maybe things will finally come together for them. Or maybe their newly reignited flame will extinguish under all that stress.

What I loved:
- This book wasn't all about the drama in the relationship but rather the drama outside of it. I really enjoyed that facet and respected that. So often we read books that have every miscommunication possibly and the couple spends the entire time on the rocks and has one final will-they-won't-they twist. It was refreshing to encounter a stable couple that understood and supported each other through out.
- I loved the supporting characters. Shelby's friends were so great!
- The growth of the main characters.

What I didn't love:
- It took me a bit to get into it. I think this was more of a me problem (I read romance novels maybe every other month?) than a problem with the book.

This was a fun and light hearted romance. I recommend it to all fans of the genre!

Erin Hahn knows how to write a romance with characters you are just dying to see succeed, and this one is no exception!

This story is about a second opportunity with a childhood sweetheart really hits. They have the ideal chemistry together. I enjoyed watching how the feelings between them grew and thought their banter worked wonderfully. The only thing we really didn't get was a flashback to when they were kids. If I had been able to see that, I would have loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Built to Last was a cute read! I found the chemistry fun to dive into. Cameron and Shelby were fun to root for, and I love the history they shared. There were times I found their voices a bit annoying if I’m being honest, but the further I read the more I grew to like the characters.

3.5 carpentry stars

It took a while for me to warm up to the characters in this romance book. We have a love triangle with three former child TV series stars. Shelby Springfield had a highly public relationship with her co-star Lyle and a spectacular breakup – at least according to the paparazzi. But does her heart truly belong to her other co-star Cameron?

The trio has been apart for ten years, Shelby escaping to her hometown in Michigan, working with her dad in construction, Cameron traveling the world making documentaries, and Lyle is a TV executive.

Shelby decides that she wants to tackle a TV series again, but this time with her dad on a homebuilding show. Testing shows that the two don’t have quite the right chemistry and I’ll bet you can guess what comes next! A repeat pairing of Shelby and Cameron.

Can the duo bring sparks to the screen and their personal life? Or will Shelby be reunited with Lyle? Will their TV series be a hit or a dud?

I did end up rooting for Shelby and Cameron in the second half of the book. I think there might be a sequel coming with some of the characters in this one and I’m hoping that author’s writing starts off strong in that one.

Built to Last could feel like another recycled version of home makeover shows featuring couples. I don't watch those shows and I still recognize the couples! But there's something really sweet about this story about Cameron and Shelby, a pair that worked together as child stars that leave Hollywood behind, and are brought back together under the Hollywood lights when an opportunity to work on a show together presents itself through none other than the third (and awful) member of their childhood trio. The childhood crushes on each other work. The needing time to find themselves as adults works. The unrequited love that brings them back together works. And despite the fact that it's all very implausible in real life, it feels like a very natural story. Even though the story is primarily about Cameron and Shelby reconnecting and falling in love, the supporting cast helps round the story out. Shelby has a chance to connect with her dad as an adult, something withheld from her by her self-serving and hurtful mother. Cameron begins to make inroads of his own with his brother and his dad. Kevin and Beth, Cameron's friends, and Lorelai and Maren, Shelby's friends, help form a sense of support and community in the book. The story also doesn't rush right into the romance, Hahn allows it to build so the readers want it to happen just as much as Cameron and Shelby do, which means when it happens it feels that much more rewarding. And stay tuned, because I'm pretty sure a story about Lorelai is in the works to follow. A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.