DNF - this just wasn't for me. I know a great deal of readers who will adore this premise & the plot as a whole.

This book was adorable! It made me feel like I was reading the love story for Chip and Joana Gaines or something like that.

There were so many wonderful tropes in this book that added up to create a lovely rom-com. A few for your reference include:
- second chance romance
- celebrity romance
- friends to lovers
- mild miscommunication
- It's always been you

This book was a true rom-com in my opinion. It had lots of really cute, romantic moments, but also had many moments that made me laugh out loud. Shelby was a funny character to get to know and so fun to hear the thoughts of. She was a recovering child actor with things to overcome and relationships to mend. I loved seeing how she handled her past when it showed up at her doorstep five years later.

This book had so much angst and pining and I loved every second of it. The romance, as I mentioned above, had a few different tropes that it drew from and I thought it suited it well. Additionally, there was no third act break up. I always have mixed feelings about that because I like the drama and heartache, but I know others hate the breakups. This would be a good book for those people. The romance was amplified in my opinion because of the dual pov. Hahn did the pov of Cam very well. His thoughts felt different than Shelby's which I was so happy about.

I have to put in a plug about Cam. He was the absolute sweetest man ever. I fell in love with him from page one for so many reasons. One big one though was because of his heart. He was running from his demons for most of the book, but that didn't stop him from being so sweet and kind and loving.

I do wish there had been more specifics talked about on-page before Shelby and Cam jumped into things. Like, it was all implied (you'll know what I mean when you read the book), but I would have liked to have it spelled out on page.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will now have to go back and read Hahn's YA novels.

This was such a lovely contemporary romance. It was a bit slow to start for me, but I did really like it as the pace picked up. Some parts were less believable - it didn't make a lot of sense to me that Lyle all the sudden got out of their way - but it was overall really enjoyable.

3.5 stars

This is the first of Hahn's books that I've read and I really enjoyed her writing style! The characters were all lovely, except for Lyle, Marcella & Ada Mae but they were supposed to be terrible.

I loved the two MCs, Shelby & Cameron. Seeing their growth from child stars to adults outside of the film industry to co-stars again & lovers worked so well.

I also loved the TV reno show aspect. I love reno shows but I find books involving that can be a little lacking but it really worked in this one because there was so much more than just the show.

More romance books need to skip the third act break up 👏

I did find it was slow to get into the book. But once I got into it I enjoyed it. And while the ending was good, what it did wrap up it did so too nicely and some stuff it didn't fully conclude IMO.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. The characters felt VERY immature and selfish, and I could not enjoy their behavior and interactions enough to continue with the book past a few chapters. With the dynamic they already had in place, I couldn’t see how their relationship could evolve in an enjoyable way that would keep me engaged.

I couldn’t put this book down! When I first read the blurb, I was afraid of reading a love triangle but as soon as I start reading more about Shelby and Cameron’s back story, I truly wanted them reunited and I was relieved to find out this is friends to lovers or second chances love story! Shelby and Cameron have burned for each other since they were kids and they let other people intervene on their behalf’s! Their chemistry is combustible, their banter are sweet and sexy! Both of them are adorable characters!

Shelby Springfield ( 27), a famous childstar with ruined reputation, leaving her past behind after her co-star ex Lyle a-hole Jessup cheating on her with her close friend and humiliating her by making a Grammy awarded song with the lyrics mentioning her as a cheater!

Shelby is in love with her other co-star Cameron Riggs from the beginning. But when Cameron leaves the show the college, cutting contacts with her, she starts dating with Lyle. Even though this is under the belt punch, that results in loveless relationship, regrets, ruined career. When she breaks up with Lyle, the only one she calls was Cameron who is in Alaska, working for National Geo. And he takes the plane to come back to her! But he doesn’t want to be rebound so he leaves her when she is sleeping, writing her a note advising to leave La La Land forever!
This is the summary of their unfinished love story!

Years later, Shelby who moved to Michigan, working with her father reconstructing old houses and vintage furniture business, wanting to prove to the world that she is not the same child star actress and mediocre pop star parting nonstop, making impulsive decisions with a documented public meltdown!

Well, the love story of Shelby and Cameron is amazing. Their evolving, growing up, facing their problems, learning from their mistakes were well written!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this romance! It's a slow build, with the unique set up of child actors who fall in love, and then meet years later. The fact that our main leads seem mature is really refreshing. You don't have to deal with annoying tropes (miscommunication, infidelity, etc.). It's a simple love story between two people finding each other again, and growing in their love for each other. Happy to recommend to people who want depth in their romance!

When two former child stars reconnect years later, the sparks from the beginning are back with a vengeance. Shelby Springfield and Cameron Briggs team up again, a decade after they were starring together on a child’s show, to work on a house flipping pilot episode. As they reconnect, they make sense of the past and pave a future together.

I enjoyed Built to Last and found it to be a good romance that was easy to read. The characters of Shelby and Cam were fun and layered, but I wasn’t a huge fan of a lot of the secondary characters, especially Lyle. They added to the story, but they just bugged me in a way that made it hard to reconcile that they were vital to the story. Overall this was a good read and I liked the angle of child stars and seeing where they were then and how they have moved on to form their new lives now. This was a good romance and I think most romance fans, especially house flipping fans, would find something they like in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I think it is now just a fact I will love anything I read by Erin Hahn, regardless of the book content. This happened to be a book that was everything I loved in a novel (teen actors grown up, home renovation, romcom, dual POV, etc.), and Erin just writes in a way that is addicting. For her first adult novel she came out swinging, because I couldn't put this book down. It is funny and the friends-to-lovers kind of story that makes my heart sing. The characters actually struggle with their identities and their relationships, grow as people both individually & in their interactions with others, and take responsibility for their actions. The characters are all flawed, but the "villain" clearly the villain due to terrible behavior and not just as a plot device, and it makes it believable. There are boundaries and respect between all of the characters (save the villain-esq characters) and it makes this book real, to the point I am sad I cannot actually watch the reality show being filmed in this book. End result- I can't wait to read her next book, whatever that book might be.

Great second chance and childhood sweetheart trope book! Cam & Shelby’s interaction is EVERYTHING! I’m OBSESSED with home DIY shows, so this book really peaked my attention. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read & review

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! 🥰
*
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!
*
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!

Second chance romance about child loves. It’s a sweet story with a fun trope. The strong foundation layer works double time with the literal and figurative piece of the story.

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*