This got me out of a reading slump and I truly can't stop smiling!
I fell in love with Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs, both as individuals but even more together.
I loved the detail of Shelby being highly sensitive. I am too, and my only critique of this story is that I would have liked a little bit more about Shelby's experience with that. However, I get that then main point wasn't about that, and really just knowing that fact about Shelby helped make the story make more sense and feel more cohesive, so I understand the choice. I could also related to Shelby on her taste in men, her affinity for Jennifer Garner's Instagram, and her appreciation for a good nook.
Cameron Riggs is straight up swoon-worthy. A former child star who quit to work for NatGeo and then learned how to build houses for the girl he's been in love with since childhood? Um, yes please, I'll take 3. For real though, I loved how much Cameron loved Shelby so unabashedly. Once they went for it, they were both all in and it was so refreshing to read.
Shelby and Cameron were so dang sweet together, I'm still not over it. I loved their dynamic from the very start, and I loved that they were typically on the same page, and when they weren't, they actually communicated and again, this was so refreshing coming from a romance novel. The Dance scene in chapel 13 made my heart swell. The spice in this is top tier, it doesn't take anything away from the plot and instead really cements the chemistry Cam and Shelby have. They were also incredibly fun to read.
I really loved Kevin and Beth as side characters. Lyle was the perfect low-stakes antagonist, I really liked that the conflict there wasn't overwhelming or hard to read or get into.
Overall, this was so fun to read. I think any lover of sweet romance would devour this story, but especially if you have a soft spot for HGTV.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! I don't usually like friends to lovers because I think either you know or you don't (LOL) but I really loved this book! The chemistry in this book is really well done. I thought the characters evolved really well and just overall a great experience!

I love Erin Hahn's YA books, and I was super excited to see that she is venturing into adult romance!

The main romance trope in Built to Last was not my favorite (second chance/friends to lovers), but I still enjoyed it. I am definitely looking forward to Lorelei's book, too.

Erin Hahn writes complicated, interesting women (and young women) and I enjoy the emotional journeys they take. She has a way of tugging at your heartstrings and making her books extremely hard to put down.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and St Martin's for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Net Galley for the the ARC of Built to Last. It's a great romantic comedy that all should read come its release in October 2022!

It seems everywhere you look LA's child stars are shown in the media to struggle adapting to fame while coming of age. In Built to Last, we meet three child stars who starred in a TV show together in their tween years and they are all grown up now.

This is a wonderfully written story about love at first sight, even in spite of LA's best efforts to break them. Shelby and Cameron reunite years after their show wrapped each having gone their separate ways and we as readers get the pleasure of watching them fall in love all over again. Their paths back to each other took much different routes, but a small town in Michigan, and a reality TV home flipping show are just what they needed to find out that what they felt as young stars, are exactly what they need today.

Shelby and Cameron are a cute couple and everyone knows it.

From the beginning of this sweet read there’s not much will they or won’t they. It’s always so obvious they’ll get together, but I know some readers find comfort in that guarantee. If you’re one of the them, this book is for you.

The family drama adds some colour to the story of two former child stars/lovers/friends as they reconnect for a new home makeover reality show.

I found the most interesting character to be Shelby’s friend Lorelei, who really shines in the last few chapters

The chemistry between the lead characters is great and the heat is definitely felt between them, but I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it was a bit shorter and the will they/won’t they was dragged out a bit more.

**This ARC copy was given to me through Netgalley for a honest review**

Built To Last by Erin Hahn is your classic friends to lovers novel. The author did an amazing job with the characteristics of each character. You grow to love certain ones, and loath some others. But you never stop cheering for the two mains! From the very beginning you can feel and understand the chemistry Cam and Shelby have together. Every twist and turn thrown at them, they take head on and don’t let anyone tell them how things should and shouldn’t be. I laughed, cried and yelled during this novel and if you give it at chance, you will too!

i had a hard time getting into this one. i just don't think this authors writing style is for me. i think it has a great concept and others might still like though

I really loved this story. Friends-to-lovers is my all-time favorite trope, and this book is one of the best examples of this. There's mutual pining, forced proximity, and opposites attract. If you want a fluffy and fun romance to sweep you off your feet, I suggest you pick this one up.

I loved this book about restoring old houses, first book I have read by this author but will definitely read more of hers.

“The guy that took the pictures of those children playing soccer in the desert is the same guy who taught me how to kiss in the rain.”

Everything you need to know about how utterly adorable and wholesome this charming book is, is beautifully shown in the above quote. Shelby and Cameron are former child stars, first loves and now, some sort of lost star crossed lovers. Her Hollywood career is tanking, he’s documenting for National Geographic and they just aren’t on the same life path.

Until … they are. I adored watching these two characters transform and find themselves and each other once again. The push and pull, the running and chasing and working through the communication issues that were the true root of two people who really loved each other but kept getting scared … It was well done. Cameron and Shelby were strong characters: well written and developed, easily likeable and they had incredible chemistry. Supported by a great cast of side characters - characters I hope I see more of in future books, especially Lorelei! - this book just … charmed. I adore characters with a history you can feel. One you don’t even need all the details of but just enough you can feel the weight of that history between them whenever they are together again. And you felt that with these two. The pull and the meaning that history and connection has for them.

If you’re looking for a charming, well written second chance romance - this is a fantastic choice! 4/5 Stars!

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to enjoy an eARC copy of this wonderful book.

I loved Cameron and Shelby’s story! It was adorable to watch two firsts loves fall in love again. This book was super cute and had a great plot. I loved watching the two MC “fake” flirt for their home Reno tv show and then move to finally admiring they are in love!

If you love HGTV and romance novels then this book is for you!

This is an adorable and sweet second chance romance novel following two childhood sweethearts.

This book was so sweet at times it made my teeth hurt! I’m metaphorically speaking but also literally because I actually smiled so hard at some parts.

I ultimately enjoyed this book. I will say that typically I prefer a bit more angst than this book offered. I loved the main characters and their close friends/family so much that it still made for an overall enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Shelby tends to run to Cam and Cam can’t seem to help but run away. Until now. As kids, they fell in love but words were left unspoken for so long. After years away from the limelight and each other, they are about to be costars again. They have the chance to be the next Chip and Joanna. Can they put the past behind them and build a house and love that can last?

Erin Hahn drew me in from the first page with this one! This is the perfect feel good romance for us Hallmark and HGTV loving millennials 🏠

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.


Erin Hahn

Built to Last

Publication: October 18, 2022

I am a huge fan of Erin Hahn and her latest book does not disappoint! She does such an excellent job of combining romance, character development, and backstories to give you everything you could want in a great romance. This one does have additional steam factor compared to her previous books, hence the adult romance label.

Shelby, Cameron and Lyle were former child co-stars. I loved the flashbacks leading to the current day relationship. As much as I loved Shelby and Cameron (total swoon-fest!)…that was as much as I hated Lyle and Shelby’s mom, too (boo-hiss!)

This book has childhood sweethearts getting a second chance at love. Throw in a home improvement show and humor and tons of sweetness… happy sigh. The romance was great but I also enjoyed how the characters finally discovered their true selves as much as them finding each other again.

5 Stars

When I saw Built to Last on @netgalley, I didn’t even have to read the description to hit “request”. Hahn has already blown me away with her YA storytelling, so I had to see what she’d give me in an adult romance and let me just say, she did not disappoint. The small town setting, the slow burn romance, the dual POV - it all worked so well in telling Shelby and Cameron’s story. Not only their romance, but also their familial problems and the struggles they’ve faced moving on from childhood fame. The female friendships and Shelby’s relationship with her dad were the cherry on top of this adorable rom-com.

• HGTV Renovation Vibes ✅
• Second Chance Romance ✅
• Only one room ✅
• Slow burn ✅

This was a really fun romance! Cameron was an absolute dream and I’m a sucker for home renovation/HGTV type of things. I do feel like they got together realistically quickly and it got a little slow in the middle, but that always seems to be the case for second chance romances for me. Overall a sweet and fun romance!

Shelby, Lyle, and Cameron all starred on a popular coming-of-age show when they were young. Shelby and Lyle shared the onscreen romance, but Shelby was actually interested in Cameron in real life. When Cam heads off to college, Shelby gets together with Lyle, but after Shelby finds out that Lyle is cheating on her, they break up. Cam never stopped having feelings for Shelby and is willing to do anything to help her at the drop of a shoe. So when his chance to help her get back onto the big screen comes, he takes it.

I started reading this book immediately after “The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” so I felt more empathetic towards Shelby’s romantic woes. However, the storyline was a bit too predictable for me and the conflict in the story was a bit flat. I’m glad the characters had a happy ending and all, but just the fake drama stirred up by Lyle because Shelby couldn’t tell him that she had hooked up with Cam before they were together? it just seemed like the issue was easily avoidable with better communication.

I’d recommend the book for a chill and easy read.

Overall: My review is jaded in that I do not like second chance love stories, but I love Erin and wanted to support her.

pros:
dual pov
strong female characters
explicit scenes

cons:
cringey relate to the young people moments
forced wokeness

Characters:

I honestly loved Lorelai and Shelby along with their friendship. It was cool to see women supporting each other.

Unfortunately, Cameron felt too good for me and his bad "running away" quality felt like when people say their loyalty is a negative work quality. I just felt like he was too nice and didn't have as much dynamic nature to him.

I will say, I loved how Daniel (Shelby's father) was someone who saw everything from both sides and helped Cameron grow as a person. He was a constant who supported both Shelby and Cameron.

Writing:

I struggled a lot with the insert forced social justice class lecture paragraphs throughout the book. It just did not feel naturally intertwined and more like I need to add this for performative activism.

Plot:

I felt like there were so many side plots and things happening that I would get distracted at times.

Pacing:

I always was ready and wanted to read more to know what happened, but I don't feel like I loved the characters. It took me about a week to get through it, but know it is an easy read.

I feel bad, but I was really expecting more from this book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

This is the first book in a while that I struggled to finish wondering when I will get to the end. I generally enjoy second chance romance when I am looking for a light read to briefly escape reality, but this fell flat and did not hold my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I loved this book! The writing was intriguing, I instantly fell in love with the characters, and there was quick wit throughout the entirety of the book. Cameron and Shelby are easy to fall in love with from the first pages, and they pull you into their world where you get to see them fall in love with one another - and actually, it's like they never stopped loving one another. The whole book is engrossing and definitely a read I will be picking up again!