I received an ARC of Built to Last by Erin Hahn from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Built to Last will be released on October 18th, 2022.

Premise is on the second slide!

I feel like this book was written for me specifically. I don’t know how Erin Hahn knew that I love a good “former child star” redemption story & am obsessed with home renovation. I have seen just about every single home renovation show on HGTV, including all of those mentioned in the book itself. Home renovation is just so interesting to me & I loved seeing the bits of Cameron’s side of demo and construction, as well as her special restoration projects. In an alternate universe I am doing exactly what she does with an unlimited budget.

I loved Shelby & Cameron’s story. I really love romance novels where the couples come back together after years apart & have a second chance at love (as long as it didn’t involve something bad like cheating). It was cute to hear him say how he would always come back to her, even if she didn’t love him back. He fell in love with her as a kid & the feelings never really dissipated, which I think is so cute. It was the epitome of “right person, wrong time” which allowed them to circle back to each other once they had figured out their own lives.

I normally never end up reading the sequels to books like these if they focus on other characters. Like, I never read To Hate Adam Connor, I just couldn’t get into it. But, I would drop everything for the chance to read a sequel featuring miss Lorelai Jones. Something about her character really drew me in and I think her story would be so so good.

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

Such a cute book, I could not put it down!!! I was prepared for a typical rom-com, but this took on a whole Chip and Joanna Gaines fixer upper vibe that I LOVED. Bonus points for it being set in Michigan, my home state.

This is a story about two childhood stars that starred together in a popular teen show. While they worked together, they had an undeniable attraction and short-lived romance. Then they went their separate ways, reuniting 5 years later. Shelbi eventually leaves Hollywood and moves back home, finding her passion renovating houses while Cameron works for National Geographic in several remote areas, completely cut off from communications.

As fate would have it, they both find themselves together again, working to film a pilot for a home renovation show. While they try and convince themselves they are just friends, chemistry doesn't lie.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a really cute romcom. I couldn’t put it down. If you second chance romance, you will love this one. It starts a bit slow but stick to it, you won’t regret it. I also loved the cover, I’m definitely getting a hard copy when it comes out.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for my ARC

Built To Last 🔨🏠

This novel has it all: the in-depth present day narrative, dual POV, slow reveal, first loves reunited, and well placed steam that is def a step up from the YA I’m used to from Erin Hahn.
Built to Last is different than all of her other novels but that doesn’t mean it isn’t equally as amazing.

All of Erin’s books have amazing plots, deep characters, references to pop culture and social issues but also love and passion, with and without steam. Her recent commentary on toxic purity really gives me depth into where these amazing novels stem from. Even amid the passion and raunch, Hahn shows a strong grasp on the the virtue of purity.

Cameron is a child start heartthrob turned Nat Geo writer turned home flipper; Shelby was his costar who went down the negative rich teenage girl spiral and turned to refurbishing antique wood. Shelby and Cameron’s love is honest and pure - but this story isn’t about the inevitability and fateful/soulmate aspect of their love: it’s more about how they navigate their lives and become who they are, together, after being apart.
Love is one thing, but the foundations for a good relationship need to be BUILT TO LAST - just like they work on renovating a house, they rebuild themselves.

Overall: UGH. I love it! #spriggs

This was my first book from @netgalley! Such an amazing opportunity to contribute to the book community. Social media and particularly bookstagram gives this whole other side to reading that I never had when I binge read growing up. I feel so lucky to be able to read a new book by one of my favorite authors months earlier than it will be released!

#builttolast #erinhahn #netgalley #stmartinspress #digitalgalley @stmartinspress @smpromance #romance #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bluecovers

This is a super cute rom-com! Childhood sweethearts/child stars reunite when one of their previous co-stars sets them up. Their chemistry flies as they work together on their latest show. They are definitely building something that will last. ❤️

I loved every minute of this book!
Here are all the reasons:

* Second Chance Romance
*Friendships
* Hollywood Secrets
* DIY
* Home Renovation Show
* Banter
* Family
* Proving Yourself

I didn't want this book to end and I'm so happy there are companion novels on the way.!!!!

One thing I really struggle with with dual-POV books is how exhausting they can be with the pining and excuses to not discuss them. Here’s the good thing: this book doesn’t do that!

This was one of my most-anticipated reads this year, and it didn’t disappoint. Shelby and Cameron are far from perfect (we love flawed main characters in this house) but they WORK. They’re not shy about what they want, and it’s refreshing. I loved it.

This what kind of bit of a slower beginning for me but by the 30 to 40% Mark I was really involved in the story and couldn't wait to finish and see what would happen

3.5! Such a fun read. I've heard great things about Erin Hahn and this didn't let me down! Palpable tension and butterflies with largely realistic and relatable dialogue.

Chip and Joanna who? I'm team Cameron and Shelby all the way.

This was a really great second chance/ childhood friends romance! The author's writing and characters were well developed and had a good deal of growth and coming into their own as people and a couple.

This was one of my favorites this year and one of the easiest 5 Stars I have given; frankly I knew at chapter 1 this was going to be wonderful and it did not disappoint!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Built to Last had promise, but did not deliver for me as a reader. I couldn’t connect with the writing or the characters. I had high hopes, but ultimately could not get into the arc of the story.

The first two chapters for me were "not gonna lie, they had us in the first half." If you can get past the first two chapters that portray two kinda crappy, selfish people, then you're golden. I trusted that if this was a romance, then it was going to be about the journey of finding not only each other, but themselves.

This book is about 3 child stars who grew up together and their relationships (rivalries, love triangles, etc.) They come together 10 years after their show ends to work together on a reality home renovation show.

I ended up loving the two main characters, especially Shelby and how her character had evolved (and the responsibility she ultimately took for who she had been and what she had learned).

This was equal parts sweet and spicy. I love coming of age romance, and this book did early adolescent pining really well. This also takes place in Northern Michigan, and the coziness of woodworking workspaces, flannel, flea markets will make this a really cozy read for fall (expected release date is in October '22). I loved this and know that I'll revisit it whenever I need a happy cozy read.


I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin.

Shelby and Cameron have a history - they’re both former child stars who spent years working together on popular sitcom, but they’re also childhood sweethearts who kept getting together at the wrong time. Each has a difficult parent - a pushy staff mom, a distant father - and plenty of emotional baggage from being too famous, too young. They’ve moved on and found new careers, but their former costar has plans for them to do a renovation reality TV show together and neither can turn the offer down. As they with together, they start to take down walls, literally and figuratively, and of course end up realizing they’re still in love despite everything.
I really wanted to like this book, but I never connected with either character or their relationship. I didn’t quite buy why Cameron kept running and I struggled with the difficult parents feeling real and reasonable, too. I loved the concept and some scenes were really fun - Shelby’s joy in baby chicks and woodworking, traveling together to buy new woodworking pieces - but overall I felt a bit unsatisfied with both of them and they didn’t quite fit together for me.

I really loved reading this book. You could tell right away the chemistry and affection these main character had for each other. Watching them finally come to terms with it and adapt to it in their real lives as adults was so nice to read. It wasn’t a matter of “will they, won’t they” it was truly watching two people in love, create the life they both wanted. And how that would work with the two of them together. Having that set against the back drop of essentially a home improvement show was a little on the nose, but overall a nice parallel. The supporting characters we funny, entertaining, and a delightful addition to the story. I do think my favorite part was song titles used as chapter titles. It was a great way to set the mood for each chapter!

Gah!! This book had me at Erin Hahn honestly, but once again she has blown me away!
I absolutely loved this book!
Cameron and Shelby were both childhood stars. They have always had chemistry, but Hollywood wasn’t for Cam, so he left for college and in Shelby’s mind, left her behind.
After a bad breakup 5 years later, she calls on him again, but Cam can’t stay and so starts the cycle again. Shelby leaves Hollywood behind and all her bad decisions and finds herself and her passion in Michigan.
It’s been a decade of missed chances and lost love but now they are back and working on a home renovation show together. And their chemistry, is as hot as ever!!
So good!
You’ll love this book is you like:
A bit of celebrity romance
Second chance romance
Home renovation
Great supporting characters
Cinnamon roll male lead

(Please tell me Lorelai’s book is next!!)

A charming and steamy second chance romance. Great pacing, chemistry, and character development. A quick read that was hard to put down.

This book is romantic and sweet. Very steamy too. The villains were ultra shitty but the other characters bring such good, strong vibes. I didn't really understand the song chapter titles. I know the characters sing but they're not recording artists--just felt a little out of place to me. Overall a lovely way to spend some free time. Special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

This book is the perfect second chance romance. Former childhood costars are working together once again. It's been ten years since they'd been together. Shelby and Cameron's story was wonderful. If you like a good second chance romance and are a fan of Erin Hahn's young adult books, I recommend picking this up.

I didn't understand the point of the epilogue. I skimmed it and ended up stopping when I realized it was basically a recap of the book.

This review will be posted on Goodreads, and Amazon.
I've also mentioned it on my tiktok as well.

The beginning was a little coarse. I understand wanting to show the backstory, but I think it should have been done differently- maybe through flashbacks. I had a hard time connecting with the protagonist Shelby until much later in the book. By the end, I was invested in her and Cameron, but it took a while. The premise of former child stars and the media industry was new and different.