This was my first Erin Hahn book but I love a good home improvement romance book! This one had a different twist that I had never seen before and I loved it!

Built to Last is a friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance story between Shelby, an ex-star who escaped the starlight, and Cameron, her old co-star turned Nat Geo documentarian. The characters were both so likable. I loved how Cameron would do anything for Shelby but didn't want to hurt her so he kept his distance. I loved that even though Shelby used to be this major star that had a big "breakdown" but she was still so down-to-earth and had her remodeling and refurbishing business.

This was definitely a SLOW burn. I felt like the teasing and hinting took forever to get to the real stuff. The book was moderately spicy but left me wanting a little more in the spice department. But this could be because this was Hahn's first adult romance after writing YA - which she did an amazing job at the transition.

This was such a cute and funny story. This is a great book for those who are big fans of the rom-com genre but also love watching HGTV. This was a 4-star read for me - I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to others!

Thanks to Erin Hahn, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eBook!

I am going to open this review with some honesty... I was terrified that Erin Hahn was doing adult novels ONLY because I adore her YA writing so much. I had high hopes but also reservations... so if you are like me and have similar feelings let me just tell you that you have NOTHING to worry about. Erin's sweet, spunky, quirky character development is all still here and the writing carries you through on a bed of warmth the whole way.

Upon meeting Shelby, I loved her. From a childhood star to hiding in a small town to reinvent herself. A complicated twisty love story that isn't a perfect clear cut romance is exactly what I wanted and didn't even know it. I love second chance romances. I love second chance lives.

Cameron and Shelby grew up as child stars together and were each other's first love - but the time was never right for them. After Shelby leaves LA and starts a new life flipping houses they are thrust together again in a reality show produced by their other costar. Their chemistry is off the chain and the tension is perfect. What I loved most in the story is that it breaks away from a typical contemporary romance plot and the reader does not suffer for it! This change was quite refreshing and I wish I got to experience it more often.

If you tell me a book contains a theme of child stars that grow up and reunite and create a home renovating show… navigating drama from the past, know I’m there and I absolutely loved it. This is my second Hahn and she knows how to make you fall in love with her characters. This one was a sweet read revolving around second chances. I enjoyed it so much I want to move to Michigan have a work shop like Shelby’s and renovate houses.

OH MY GOOOOSHHH I loved this book so much! First of all it is second Chance romance and I am a suuucker for that! However that isn't the only reason I adored this book! The angst, sexual tention, slow burn, so lovey dovey in the last bits, the humor, and omg the chemistry between Shelby and Cam I just couldn't get enough. I throughly enjoyed every second of this book.
Shelby and Cam were childhood stars and also childhood lovers, they grew apart and Shelby dated their other costar Lyle (total dick tbh). Turns out Lyle cheats on Shelby and Cam literally FLYS FROM ALASKA TO BE THERE FOR SHELBY!! (all this happened in the first chapters and it only gets better from there!!) Like are you kidding me? They end up doing a fixer upper type reality show together and all I can say is.... Yall. Go read this book when it comes out!

Thank you to netgalley for the readnow e-arc of this. This was super cute! I love a good friends to lovers / second chances trope and that really shined through here. The tension between Shelby and Cameron was palpable from the start and also so sweet. Shelby was so endearing and sweet, my heart ached for her and she was easy to relate to for me. I just really enjoyed this book! I couldn’t stop reading once I started it.

I thought this book and storyline was really cute. I could actually see it being made into a limited series or movie, it has a lot of depth in addition to the romance!

This was ok but something was just off about it. Shelby and Cameron were cute, as were their friends. The evil family members were hard to swallow and I think the Lyle and Marcella stuff could have been toned down a bit focusing more on the romance than the spite. I’m not a fan of home reno or flip shows, how do all those houses end up looking the same so boring and gray! Terrible pinterest vibes. At least Shelby was adding some original detail back in. The sex scenes were kind of cringey too. Not a bad read just not amazing. Tired quickly of the tree trunk thigh and whiffle bat forearms. This guy must look weird.

Shelby was a childhood star growing up on a popular sitcom. She had a toxic relationship with her mother and didn't see her dad as much as she would have liked. While on her time acting on the show she grew close to her co-stars Cameron and Lyle. Shelby ends up dating Lyle for many years after the show ends and has breakdown when their relationship ends. Cameron has always been there for Shelby and when she calls him after the breakup with Lyle, Cameron jumps on a plane to be there for her. Unfortunately, Shelby is in a rough place and the visit does not go according to plan.
Fast-forward years later, Shelby is over Lyle, hasn't heard from Cameron, is sober, and living in her hometown working with her dad. Shelby is happy with her life in Michigan working refurbishing antique furniture. Shelby submits a tape for a new home renovation show that could bring in more money for her and her dad. The tape isn't as well received as she would like but they ask Shelby to film a pilot for show with a costar that they have lined up. When Shelby flies out to LA to meet this person she finds out that Lyle is going to be producing the pilot and that the person they have picked for her to film the show with is Cameron. A happy reunion between the three former costars? Definitely not. Shelby and Cameron agree to film the pilot together but things don't go as planned. Lyle decides that things need to be shaken up and throws in curveballs left and right to trip up the two costars.
I really enjoyed this book, following the romance between Shelby and Cameron. The two learn that a lot has happened since they last saw each other but they still have feelings for each other as they did when they were kids. Shelby and Cameron's love for each other seemed so genuine and I really enjoyed that. There was a solid about of steam but not too much that it took away from the plot. Overall, I think if you like a funny love story about the one that got away, this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a review this book before publishing.

This was adorable. I absolutely LOVED it.

Shelby, Cameron and Lyle all spent their formative childhood & adolescent years on a TV show with national fame. Growing up in the spotlight isn't easy and when you're a child start, your mistakes stick around forever.

It's been ten years since the show ended. Cameron and Shelby were each other's first love, but the timing never seems right for them. He left at 17 for college. He came back at 22 when she and Lyle broke up, but he left again. Now, they're 27 and the 3 of them are working together to create a reality TV show that focuses on flipping houses. Shelby has carved out a nice life in Michigan, out of the spotlight, where she refinishes and builds furniture alongside her dad who flips houses for a living. Lyle has signed on as the showrunner and convinced Cameron to come back and star alongside Shelby.

Will the timing finally work out for Shelby & Cameron, or while Lyle sabotage Shelby again, derailing the life of calm success that she has built over the last five years.

Lots of chemistry and steam in this one.

A very sweet friends to lovers romance between two former child stars. I hated Shelby’s mother and Lyle with a passion, but liked nearly every other character. The bartender and his wife were great. Plus this book was set in Michigan which automatically gives it extra points from me. Some spice but nothing crazy.I enjoyed the love story overall. It was a quick, easy read! I finished in a couple of hours.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really cute, as someone who lives for home improvement shows, specifically ones that restore old homes to their former glory, I felt like this book was written for me. I thought the relationship was cute, family and friends were cute and it just made me feel all warm inside!

A friends to lovers story that chronicled the good, bad and ugly of growing up as child stars together. I personally did not buy into the chemistry between Shelby and Cameron outside of a pure physical connection. That made it difficult to remain invested.

This book didn’t blow me away and didn’t quite stand up to a lot of the romances I have recently enjoyed. However, it is worth a read if you’re a sucker for second chance romance.

In BUILT TO LAST, the title could mean the premise of rehabbing old houses, or rehabbing old relationships.

Or both.

Onetime childhood/teen actors Shelby Springfield, Cameron Riggs and Lyle Jessup were a trio in every sense of the word, with Shelby caught between the two boys on the set. One she falls in love with…one she falls into a toxic relationship with.

Fast forward twelve years and a lifetime of mistakes later and the once popular now disgraced teen idol Shelby is being given the chance at a reality tv comeback in the form of a house rehab show – something she now does with her father. The catches? One, the show is being produced by her notoriously ass-whole-y ex, Lyle and two, Cameron is asked to be the costar.

A lifetime of relationships and mistakes and growing up makes this story a darling one.

I truly hated Lyle. I don’t know who couldn’t after reading him- and I’ll admit, his douchiness was a little over the top to suspend my disbelief. But that’s just me and in no way takes away from the story.

This is a charming romance about second chances in life, in relationships, and in love.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for a sneak peek. A solid 4 stars from me for this delightful read.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Second chance childhood sweetheart stories are my greatest weakness, so I was beyond eager to pick this up.

The chemistry between Shelby and Cam is really well done. Every interaction they have is believable and feels genuine. I really enjoyed their banter and appreciated how their relationship developed. I was more than rooting for them and their home renovation show to work out.

So while this more than delivers with the second chance trope, I'm so bummed out that the childhood sweethearts aspect took a back seat. I would have loved to have more flashback scenes. Other than quick references, I think there's maybe like one and a half actual flashback scenes total throughout the entire book. And, because of this, it creates a lot of miss opportunities for character development, growth, and connection.

But even though this may not have lived up to all of my expectations or wants, this is still a decently sweet story with a lot of heart. Perfect for readers who are obsessed with home renovations shows!

This book was a cute friends-to-lovers story between two child actors who grew up in the public eye, and were forced to deal with the good and the bad that came with their profession. Well, until they didn't.

As a friends to lovers enthusiast, I really enjoyed this book, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I liked it. I didn't really fall in love with the characters on their own because I didn't understand why they were drawn to each other aside from the physical attraction. I couldn't find any depth in their relationship, but they we're kind of cute so that's that.

I can’t quite remember how I stumbled upon Erin Hahn but ever since randomly picking up "More Than Maybe", I’ve loyally and happily devoured the entirety of that semi-interconnected universe. So when I saw she was coming out with a new book, I automatically added it to my TBR and was thrilled when I received an early copy from NetGalley. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical at first because the synopsis indicated it didn’t feature characters from any of her previous books, as a small part of me would have loved to read more about their lives. That being said, my least favorite part about More Than Maybe was how young they were so I was excited to see how Erin Hahn tackled adult relationships that I could hopefully relate to a bit more.

Cam and Shelby, the duo at the center of “Built to Last,” are a lot of things, though I’m not sure relatable would be the first word that comes to mind, given that they were former child stars on the same show. To be honest, their dynamic was frustrating to me, at first. In some of the initial scenes, I found myself wanting to yell at them “just talk to each other.” But as the story built, the other elements of the story won me over such that by the end I was fully on team #Spriggs. It’s a romance novel, after all, so I’m certainly in support of the romance. And yes of course I’d swoon if someone loved, supported and protected me the way these two ultimately did for each other. Just, in this case, I felt like what makes this book special were the way all the pieces fit together — not just the first lovers second chance/friends to lovers energy going on between Cam and Shelby but the way their friends and family interacted with it and how they handled the consistent undercurrent of chaos that was Shelby's ex, Luke Jessup. While it was clear from the beginning that his role was to create conflict, both for the show at the heart of the book and the book’s plot itself, I respected how Erin Hahn didn’t let that drag the storyline down. It was addressed and it was a definite factor driving some of the plot but it didn’t unnecessarily complicate things with manufactured drama or a miscommunication that, in my opinion, occurs too often in both romance novels and romantic comedies. The whole thing felt relatively normal (if you adjust for the fact that the primary characters were teen stars and the backdrop was Hollywood/reality tv) — from the breakfast debriefs with Shelby’s girl squad to the way the ex tried to be petty and was shut down by both the girl and her best friend (again, discounting the fact that he did this by leaking a biased story to the tabloids and the girl countered with a music video montage of her new relationship).

I was potentially predisposed to like this given that I have been a secret home renovation show fan girl since I was little (from TLC to HGTV’s Home Town), and I might be ignoring some issues as a result, but I enjoyed "Built to Last" nonetheless. I will be keeping an eye out for what I hope are at least two spin offs featuring the lovely side characters in this book (I’d put money on a Lorelai book next but wouldn’t say no to a prequel featuring Kevin and Beth or even a book set a few years in the future hashing out Lyle’s relationships). In the meantime, I’m going to go reread Erin Hahn’s YA series, starting with More Than Maybe.

Read if you liked The Honey Don't List, Fix Her Up and/or 99 Percent Mine.

T he premise was different than anything else I’ve read lately. a second chance at love for two former child stars, Shelby and Cameron. while they renovate a home for a tv show. I enjoyed most of the characters. Especially Shelby’s dad. He was so encouraging to Shelby and Cameron.
It was light and cute and sweet. I liked reading it!

It's been a few years since I've read an Erin Hahn novel and I'm so glad I picked up Built to Last. I zoomed through this novel on the nights when my jetlag kept me awake and it was the perfect companion on those sleepless nights.



I hooked on the story of Cameron and Shelby from the first few pages and as I got to know them and their history, I couldn't help but root for them. They were both so clearly smitten with each other and their on the page chemistry and friendship was fun to read. I really appreciated how together Shelby was and what a mess Cameron seemed to be--a nice reversal of what I think some readers expect in their characters. I loved how they worked together to foil their nemesis-a nice touch. Additionally, I found myself laughing out loud at some of the scenes between Cameron and Shelby and having not read an Erin Hahn novel in quite a while, I didn't know to expect that.



Overall, a sweet romance with some laughter = a perfect way to get through my haze of jetlag.