Two Michigan kids in L.A. This book was everything and more. Am I biased because I am from Michigan? Specially Grand Rapids and this book mentions it MULTIPLE times and does not fail to remind you that it takes place in Michigan!? Maybe. But this was easily one of my favorite reads. You know a book is good when you don't feel like you read it.. and that you watch it. I felt like the book was a whole movie that I saw. I love the second chance romance, I love the "it was always you". What I would give to be able to see the music video for "what they have". Exceptional. This is my first Erin Hahn novel and I can promise you it won't be my last.

~3.5 stars rounded up~

Built to Last left me wanting just a bit more built. Overall, the premise was so cute and despite not typically loving the friends to lovers trope- the character evolution of Shelby and Cameron was great. I felt most of the side characters, aside from the best friend, we’re just oozing with too much drama and nasty. Which I get to a degree, the exploitation of childhood stars is a serious topic but between Lyle and Ada Mae felt irrelevant to the story and I could’ve handled one of the other.

A very slow going read until it explodes towards the end and we just jump to the happily ever after of I love you. I felt the first half could’ve been skimmed more and the meat of the book should’ve focused more heavily on the actual build and flip with the romance blossoming. I absolutely adored Shelby’s handiwork and creativity and that was what kept me going. If you’re a fan of the HGTV world and home Reno mixed with the Chip and Joanna vibes of cheesy romance- this will be a fun read for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

“Two childhood sweethearts find a second chance at love.” From this one sentence, I knew I would adore this book. This is the stuff of my dreams, and Hahn did it so well. She gave me sweet peeks into Shelby and Cameron’s past, let me watch them fall in love as kids, and then allowed me the privilege of seeing them fall in love again. Do you hear that? It’s the sounds of my heart exploding.

I have zero complaints about this couple. They had amazing chemistry, I loved their banter, and Cameron was a swoon worthy hero. A big part of their story was how they had changed since they first met and fell for one another, but the sparks were still there. Now it was time to fall in love with the grown-up versions of each other. I am a sap, and the idea of this couple growing together is one I adore.

The story was elevated with a stupendous supporting cast. Shelby was able to find a great circle of friends in Michigan. They, along with her father, formed an amazing support system for her as Shelby attempted to leave her past behind and embark on a new future. Cameron also had some great friends. It was so much fun spending time with them all, and I am positive that there were allusions to returning to this world. If this is true, I say, YES PLEASE!

Overall: Fun, sweet, and throughly entertaining. I reveled in every minute of this book!

Shelby Springfield was a child star along with Cameron and Lyle. She has struggled for years to get over everything that happened back then. There was so much to this story. Her mother used her for the money and her father wasn’t there when she needed him. She came home and her father was able to help her get past what happened in the past and she has been successful with refinishing wood furniture and wood fixtures in homes that she has been working on alongside her father as they bought and renovated homes. Cameron always came running when Shelby called for help but he didn’t stick around. As for Lyle, I didn’t like him at all. He was a trouble maker and jealous that Shelby and Cameron became successful in their careers. Also the fact that Shelby loved Cameron first didn’t help. I really enjoyed this story. There is a lot more but I will let you enjoy it yourself.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

It's an HGTV romance I didn't know I wanted but needed and I really enjoyed this book! It's a good one from Erin and I hope to see more of her books!

This book is the love child of Disney and HGTV. It definitely took me a bit to get into it, but it was worth it! The premise of the book relying on the fact that they all were child actors together who went their separate ways to be reunited again on a house renovation show is absolutely insane (but like in the best way). While the book does have some flashbacks to their child acting days, it mostly emphasized the second chance aspect. The banter between Shelby and Cam was so genuine and you truly could tell how connect they were. Honestly a sweet and quick book. Definitely would recommend to fans of any HGTV shows.

Romance

Such a sweet story. Who hasn't had fond memories of their first love and wonder what if?

Cameron and Shelby were child actors and fell in love when they were barely 18. Like many teenagers, communication wasn't their strong suit and misperceptions drove them apart. 5 years later Shelby calls for Cam's help and when he arrives she makes a drunken pass at him. Believing Shelby is on the rebound and not wanting his heart to be shattered again, he leaves.

Another 5 years passes and they are brought back together to film a reality TV show. Can they both drop their defenses enough to be honest? Is Cameron always destined to leave? Can Shelby be unguarded enough to show her true feelings?

Of course the answer is yes, but that didn't stop me from wanting to read about these characters. The best words to describe this novel is sweet. It has its steamy moments, but primarily remains PG -13. I could totally see this one as a Lifetime movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Built to Last by Erin Hahn was a second chance romance for Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs who met as children on a popular television show. Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs were child-stars on a popular show, secretly crushing on each other during those growing-up years. After the show was over and they went different ways, Cam went to college. Shelby stayed in LA for a bit longer, dating Lyle Jessup, their other co-star, until Lyle not only cheated on Shelby, but also wrote a Grammy winning song full of lies about her and married her best friend. Shelby left LA five years ago, working with her father’s reconstruction of old houses and vintage furniture business; wanting to prove the world she is not the same child star actress and pop star she had been. She’s enjoying her life: living in a house she’s renovating, refinishing vintage furniture in a workshop in her barn, raising chickens. Her best friends, Maren and Lorelai, a former Country singer, have her back and help her through her worse moments. Shelby wants to prove to the world she’s grown-up, matured, and wants to support her father’s retirement fund by working on a home renovation reality show concept but the channel producers want to replace her father with someone younger; someone she’s already has onscreen chemistry with, Cameron. Not only that, it’s Lyle who’s producing the show, pulling the strings. Cam decides to take a sabbatical from his videographer job with National Geographic to work on this show. His family lives nearby as does his best friend and former college roommate, allowing him the opportunity to spend time with them.

Working together, Shelby gets to demonstrate her real talent, refinishing vintage objects, while Cam learns how to flip a house from Shelby’s dad. These two complement each other as they work together flipping a house, flirting, and communicating, showing that the chemistry Shelby and Cam had as teens is still evident, sparking and igniting flames between them. I enjoyed watching them become closer, spending time together away from the “set”, their conversations, their group of friends, and their families. It was obvious they were soul mates, meant to be together. I highly recommend Built to Last to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Shelby and Cameron met when they were eleven years old on the set of their tv show. Alongside them was Lyle Jessup and the three of them grew up together until the show ended when they were 18.

When Shelby calls Cameron 5 years later out of the blue, drunk and upset, he drops everything to fly to Los Angeles from Alaska to make sure she’s okay only to leave again before the end of the night.

After hitting her rock bottom, Shelby moves home to Michigan to do construction with her father Daniel. Shelby uses this time away from the spotlight to heal from the traumas of her past - manipulative ex boyfriends, growing up in front of the camera and a mother who used her as a bank, and she ends up making a name for herself in the construction, furniture restoration world.

5 years since they last seen each other, Cameron, Lyle and Shelby come together again when Shelby is offered a deal she can’t turn down, sign on to do a pilot of a construction reality show starring her and Cameron with Lyle as the show runner, and they will sign her father on as a consultant. All Shelby wants is to have her dad taken care of as he ages, so she agrees to this crazy idea.

After seeing and working with each other again after so many years, feelings from childhood start to resurface. Will Shelby and Cameron finally get their chance at a happy ending? Or will this time end up the same as the others - with both of them heartbroken and alone?

I really enjoyed this novel! First of all, the cover is so cute. This was definitely a slower burn but once the story began, I couldn’t put it down!

I’m not normally a fan of friends to lovers - but friends to lovers when paired with second chance romance is just perfection!

Erin did such a good job with both characters perspective. Cameron was just swoon worthy with how obsessed he has always been with Shelby!

I would recommend this book to all my romance reader friends!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this novel.

Happy pub day to this book that I LOVED! Built to Last is sweet, homey, and full of the most loyal friends. It was really a JOY to read this story about teenage tv stars with complicated pasts that are thrown together 10 years later for a home renovation show. I want to watch the reno show, walk into the houses they restore, and see the amazing pieces that Shelby rehabs in person. The story ended perfectly but I really wanted to continue reading about these character! Rom com lovers, get your hands on this book!!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!!

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶

This was such a fun and well written romcom and I feel like Erin Hahn is definitely an author we will be seeing a lot more of!

I love books about a romance developing over a home renovation, but add in that in this book they are on an actual home reno show and I’m completely sold! Shelby and Cameron are both former child stars and we see a lot of character development with both of them, but especially Shelby. She is almost a completely different kind of person from the peek that we get in the beginning, and I felt so proud of her. She really is such a great character and you can’t help but root for her! Cameron is such a nice guy and him and Shelby together are #goals.

This childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance is mostly light and funny with a few emotional moments. I loved Shelby and Cameron’s group of true friends and I can’t wait to see more from them (and this author) in the future!

Ok, wow - I enjoyed this so much more than I had anticipated! I went in fairly blind and am so happy I did!

🔨 friends to lovers / second chance romance
🔨 former childhood stars
🔨 home renovation show
🔨 Dual POV
🔨 Mutual Pining
🔨 No 3rd Act Break-up 🙌🏻

There is so much to enjoy about this book! This was such a sweet and swoony romance with fun banter, great secondary characters, and a glimpses of stardom (oh and a sh***y ex-boyfriend who a common villain that we can all root against lo).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cameron, Shelby, and Lyle were all about 12 years old when they started working on a TV show together. Lyle had always been a bit of a jerk when he was younger. I think he just wanted to be the star. Shelby and Cameron had chemistry which Lyle didn’t like. Then all of a sudden Cameron went off to college. I think that was partly why Shelby went wild with drinking and making a scene. Then when Lyle cheated on her with her best friend, she really lost it. She ended going back to Michigan and working with her father who flipped homes. Shelby learned to refurbish old furniture and make them look new and beautiful. I was surprised when Lyle asked Shelby and Cameron to meet him regarding a tv show that they both went. Especially since Cameron had a great job with National Graphic, but he travelled eleven months out of the year. I loved Shelby’s father and how much he helped Cameron to learn about flipping houses. I couldn’t stand Shelby’s mother and how selfish she was. Lyle tried to play dirty and came up with all kinds of tricks to upset Cameron and Shelby on flipping the house. I enjoyed the book and encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

Hahn’s YA novel More Than Maybe is one of my all time favorites, so when I heard she was breaking into the romance genre, I’ve never clicked “request” on an eARC so fast in my life! And it did not disappoint!

This was a wonderfully sweet and spicy, second chance debut romance! It was refreshing real, with beautifully open communication, real struggles and honest solutions — if it weren’t for it being about child stars and how Hollywood effected them, I would see more of me and my own husband in Shelby and Cameron.

If you like low drama (other than the pain in the ass ex variety), lots of sexual tension, <b>no third act break up</b>, and a HEA that renews your faith in love, then this books is for you!

Erin Hahn is a very popular author of YA novels and for a good reason- she always manages to strike the right kind of balance between the plot and characterization without sacrificing the most important part of any kind of romantic story- its emotional side, the heart. Rest assured, Built to Last, her first adult romcom, is as sweet and entertaining as her previous books.

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Rigg's story goes far, far back...Together with Lyle, Shelby's treacherous ex, they used to be child actors and co-stars of a tv show. Then Shelby returned to Michigan to stay with her dad and got involved and fully invested in his house renovation business. When Shelby's Dad got injured in a car pile up accident, it became clear that he needs to slow down and Shelby starts looking for a way to give him a peaceful retirement. Doing a home renovation TV show seems like a great idea. The only problem is Shelby's Dad gets quickly discarded by the producers due to his lack of 'presence', something Shelby's childhood BFF/sweetheart Cameron has in abundance. Did I mention that the show is produced by Lyle who may or may not have his own vision of how to make the show even more popular by playing with Cam and Shelby's unresolved feelings.

Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, because there's nothing more difficult and nothing sweeter than loving somebody you have known for years with all their failures and successes, their secrets and their flaws, seeing them face problems and learn from their mistakes. Both Cam and Shelby have changed a lot since their childhood in the spotlight... Can their friendship survive and turn into something even more powerful, given half a second chance? Read for yourself and find out.

Title: Built to Last
Author: Erin Hahn
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Built to Last" by Erin Hahn

My Assessment:

'Built to Last' was an excellent rom-com love story of what happens when two child actors who loved each other meet years later and fell in love again. The two main characters, Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, had quite a backstory that did finally develop them into some fine adults in this second chance at love.

Be ready for quite an exciting story from 'toxic and exploitive parental relationship, cheating evil, manipulative ex, strained family relationships, unrequited love, reality TV, redemption, and let's not leave it's a little spicy.'

To find out what this story is about, pick up 'Built to Last' and see how well this author brings it out to the reader.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From childhood star to vintage furniture restorer, Shelby Springfield has found that she much prefers the peace and quiet that comes with living in the midwest over the drama of Hollywood. But when an opportunity comes to start a home renovation show with her Dad and set him up for retirement, she can't resist, even if that means changing the costar from her Dad to her former co-star and first love, Cameron Riggs. The downside, having to deal with their other former co-star and the ex-boyfriend that helped tank her career, Lyle Jessup.

If you enjoy home renovation shows and romance novels, this is the perfect novel for you. This second-chance romantic comedy is full of wit, angst, and spice between two amazing characters. I absolutely adored this book and I can't recommend it enough. The secondary characters were fantastic as well and I can't wait to hear Lorelai's story next fall! I especially enjoyed Kevin and would love to see a short story all about him and his wife. I was afraid that I would get annoyed with Lyle's character, but while he was present, he wasn't around often enough to really get on my nerves more than he was meant to, he had a perfect balance. It's really frustrating that for the books I love I can never seem to find enough/the right words to really portray how I feel about the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via St. Martins Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Shelby Springfield is trying hard to overcome her past. She was a childhood star with a pop music career which ended with a meltdown that turned into a media circus. Now she has a content life refinishing furniture and living quietly out of the limelight. When her former co-star Lyle Jessup reappears and offers her a reality series, she is torn. This could be just what she needs, but it also means teaming up with her other former co-star Cameron Riggs. Is Lyle doing it just to ruin what little friendship Shelby and Cameron have left? Will Cameron who wants to settle down even do the series with Shelby? What will happen when the two friends reconnect?

Erin Hahn who is the author of several YA romances, has taken the leap into adult romance with this, her debut novel. It is witty, has a great backstory and plenty of twists and turns throughout the book. I adored the characters, which were well written, and you just cannot help but sneer every time Lyle comes into the story. I was cheering for Shelby and Cameron right from the start. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. A perfect fall read!

My Thoughts

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, once co-stars/childhood sweethearts, are brought back in each others lives 10 years later for the pilot of a home renovation show

Shelby having found her niche in life working with her contractor father restoring homes and bringing to life old furniture has found peace for herself, if not complete happiness.

Cameron, having spent the intervening years by globe trotting making documentaries for National Geographic finds the chance to return home to the town, and girl, he left behind to good to resist.

What the two share this time around, both on and offscreen, has at times made me cry while also making me laugh as they finally realize real life means learning how to take its punches but still soldier on.

A second chance at life on their own terms and love that is long overdue for Cameron and Shelby.

Did not love this one unconditionally but really enjoyed the heck out of it for sure.

[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

3.5

Built to Last has a fun premise - 2 former child actors who co-starred on a popular TV show are brought back together to film a home renovation show pilot. As you might expect of course these two have a history, and being back in close contact after nearly a decade a part is a challenge in many ways. What ultimately transpires is a lovely, low-stakes second-chance romance that I really enjoyed reading.

This is Erin Hahn's adult romance debut and I think it's a super promising start. I can see how this book might not work for everyone as it did feel uneven and not totally flushed out at points, but I overall really enjoyed it despite the more technical issues I had with it. This is sort of rare for me - if I can see the seams when reading a book, it tends to take me out of it, but I had fun reading this regardless. That may have had a lot to do with the hero, Cam, who it's impossible not to crush on. It sounds like there's another book in this series in the making which I will definitely want to check out.

Thank you so much to the publisher for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.