I think I was the problem when it came to this book! I just was not in the right headspace for a slow burn romance and that really affected my attitude. This is a classic second chance, friends to lovers with some forced proximity action and had all of the makings of a wonderful romance! I think I just wanted a little more action and a lot sooner. I loved that this book focused on renovating a house- and it gave a fun little nod to all of those shows on HGTV that we absolutely love and that made it super fun! Overall, if you like low spice, just super sweet romance books, this one is definitely the one for you!

3.5 rounded to 4. Ready for more celebrity romance? It was definitely my most read troupe of 2022. So many were published.

Shelby is a former child star who is out to live a normal life and prove she is no longer who she used to be. She's grown up, capable, and a strong woman who does not need a man to succeed in life. I loved how she turned out normal despite her crazy childhood.

My only complaint is that the timelines jumped around to tell both Shelby and Cameron's backstories. And there is a lot of backstory when you have stereotypical child star mom Ada Mae and bad boy Lyle in your lives. It was 100% predictable on what was going to happen there.

GOODREADS 1-LINE : Two childhood sweethearts find a second chance at love in this adult romance debut from a critically acclaimed young adult author.

READ IF YOU LOVE:
• HGTV and all their home shows
• celebrity, second chance, childhood friends-to-lovers romance comedies
• dual point of view narrations

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn’s debut Adult RomCom. I am unfamiliar with this author's YA backlist, so she was entirely new to me. I will definitely be picking up more of her books. Shelby and Cameron are the perfect couple. They are so in sync and the way their long-term friendship is reflected in their relationship is wonderful.

This was such a cute book and a very fast read for me, Erin Hahn did a great job on this debut into adult romance. It had just enough spice without being too intense and the characters were so good together. I really liked getting to see glimpses into their pasts together. I do feel that there could have been a little bit more character development and plot development to make me a little bit more emotionally attached to the characters and storyline.

As an Interior Designer I loved everything about this sweet story, home makeovers for the win! It was a slow burn for me but still intriguing!

Want a cute cozy love story about two childhood friends? Definitely the book for you. Shelby Springfield, Lyle Jessup, and Cameron Riggs were former child tv stars who grew up together and ended up becoming close in real life. Shelby and Lyle were the couple everyone loved, but Shelby and Cameron were close too, putting her in the middle of a love triangle. After a disastrous relationship, Shelby left showbiz. Now, they have all grown up, and grown into their own paths, yet they end up meeting again when Lyle pitches a home renovation tv show starring Shelby and Cameron.

This was such a cute love story to read, I loved every second of it. You get to watch as two old friends slowly grow to become more, with all the sweet moments you could ever want. The friendships in this book are also very wholesome, and are perfect examples of healthy, close friendships. Even though I don’t know much about home renovations, the descriptions and the passion that Shelby exudes made me want to learn after I finished this book!

This was a really cute romance novel. Definitely perfect for fans of reality and acting type romances. A second chance romance, feuds with resentful exes, and making up and growing up.

A fairly easy breezy rom-com with an HGTV twist. Be warned as there are some toxic relationships throughout the book - specifically a very unhealthy maternal relationship. But, overall it's a great afternoon read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I...didn't love this book. The story revolves around two child stars who were each other's first loves, coming back together to film a home renovation show. I didn't end up caring about or connecting with either character. The MMC, Cameron, left the FMC, Shelby, with no word and it's supposed to be okay when they meet again because he's a good guy? There's a "villainaous" character who gets no comeuppance. Also, we didn't get to watch the MCs falling in love at all. We're thrown into the book where the characters obviously have history and while I love a pining MC, I also need to know whyyy these characters fell for each other and there's none of that here - a lot of telling, very little showing.

HGTV vibes, child stars and hometown vibes from this book. it was a great read. Lighthearted. Would definitely recommend.

I liked this book, but it got a little long in the middle and I stopped reading for a month while I read other books. I decided not to give up on this book and did like the ending. The author does a nice job of wrapping up the story at the end.

The idea of two teen movie stars doing a home improvement show doesn't seem really original since there are HGTV shows similar to this. This book does include a lot of their earlier scandal and their love story though.

This book would make a great Hallmark movie!

I really loved this. I forgot it was a second chance romance. I loved seeing the pair fight their feelings and finally get their shit together long enough to be together. The sec scenes were pretty steamy.

Former child stars join forces in a home renovation show in this second-chance romance novel. Shelby Springfield, Cameron Riggs, and Lyle Jessup were teen stars in a popular kids’ sitcom. Shelby and Cameron were secret childhood sweethearts, but when the show wrapped, Cameron left for college and Shelby and Lyle ended up together.

When it fell apart, Shelby did, too–in a big, public, embarrassing way. Now, a decade later, Shelby is happy, living a quiet life, refurbishing furniture in Michigan. But Lyle has returned with an offer she can’t refuse: a home reno show, with Cameron as her co-star. The two feel the old pull to one another and fight to make the show a success, while finding their way back to each other–despite Lyle’s meddling.

This was a sweet romance and is a great choice for both previous fans of teen shows and current fans of home renovation shows.

As a fan of second-chance romance and HGTV I adored this as my first read of the New Year! The romantic tension between Shelby and Cameron throughout the book was delightful! Shelby and Cam were childhood TV starts when they first met, which gave me Topanga and Shawn vibes since Cam played the best friend of the start of the show. Shelby had always been able to depend on him, so why would now be any different when they're both asked to film a home renovation pilot - years after both left the spotlight. Such a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance between two child star actors with lots of baggage and a steamy history?! Sign me up!

Shelby was a child actor who retreated to a quiet life on Lake Michigan, refurbishing homes with her father. Five years later, she reunites with childhood co-star Cameron for a pilot show renovating homes and sparks are re-ignited. Throw in an ex-boyfriend, a super-supportive father and a quirky cast of characters and you have the perfect sweet made-for-tv read. Fans of HGTV will especially enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Erin Hahn for an advance copy of the book for an honest review.

I loved this ‘we never got a real chance romance’. It was delightful to read about two used to be famous child stars in the pitfalls of adulthood coming back together to do a home makeover show . The history they have brings them together and the author tells a beautiful, real love story about what happens when timing may actually be on your side.

Shelby is my kind of main character. Real, not here to impress anyone (especially her past flames) and not caught up on who she used to be; only excited about what she has become. Cameron was the respectable man you want and the guy who grew up and learned sometimes it pays to stay.

This was such a fun book and I adored every minute. Even f***ing Lyle.

A delightful read. I really like Erin Hahn's writing and her social media presence. I wish her all the success as she continues publishing. A recent twitter thread of hers made me respect the work she puts into her stories even more.

such a great romcom. I really enjoyed the relationship that grew throughout the book. it left me always wanting more. I couldn't get enough and I never wanted it to end. I highly recommend of you're looking for a more complex romcom.

I found myself fully engrossed in this novel straight from the beginning.
Shelby and Cameron are childhood friends who find a way back to each other after being apart for most of a decade. Both have gone through changes in career but Shelby also fell into the inevitable pitfalls you would associate with fame, Hollywood, and the pop industry. I loved that Cameron never hesitated for a second when he got a call for help from her out of the blue. The pair were destined to be together they just needed to figure that out for themselves.
It is billed as a rom-com but it reads more serious than that with a sprinkling of comedy mixed in. Shelby didn't have a supportive family growing up and she was manipulated into working from a young age by her mother. Her father wasn't a big part of her life until she made the decision to leave LA and began working with him in his home renovation business.
Shelby has a close-knit group of friends who are very supportive and invested in her friendship and potential romance with Cameron. The townspeople love Shelby and it was heartwarming to see them interacting with her, especially the older people for whom she restores furniture with such great care, expertise and respect.
Shelby isn't the only one with nice friends. Cameron's friend Kevin knows all his history with Shelby. There is great banter between the pair with a lot of teasing and funny moments. Cameron also develops a close bond with Shelby's Dad. He also mends his relationship with his brother and dad.
Some of the humour comes from the villains in the story- Shelby's mother is a piece of work as is Shelby's ex-boyfriend and her former friend. I just loved watching Shelby stand up for herself with these people and do so with humour and class.
The swoon-worthy romantic ending was super sweet and satisfying. It also left me wondering about Shelby's friend Lorelei and if there is a sequel in the making.

Two child stars with history and plenty of baggage reunite in this second chance romance. Fans of HGTV will love this story of reinvention, renovation, and reality TV.