I wanted to love this but I just can't.

Far warning for this review, I read 7 chapters of 25 total (about 30%) and that's when I decided to DNF because I'm not forcing myself to finish things I'm not enjoying this year. That being said:

It's not bad, it's just not for me. That is clear from the amount of 5 star reviews on the Netgalley site. The first three chapters (prologue included) moved at super sonic speed throwing backstory at me then the following chapters slowed down to a crawl of dialogue hinting and mentioning everything just previously told to us. Without the prologue and the events in it, I think I'd be able to enjoy this more but it threw me off. 10 years ago from present day, co stars on a teen show go their separate ways, with Shelby and Lyle in a relationship and Cameron on his own. 5 years ago from present (the events in the prologue) Lyle cheats and dumps Shelby, and Shelby who hasn't spoken to Cameron in 5 years drunk texts him where he drops everything to go to her only to realize she's drunk and walks out on her while she's sleeping (their whole in-person interaction was like 2 hours long if that.) Present day, MC's haven't spoke to each other again for 5 years and that 2 hour interaction is treated as life altering. By chapter 7 they're basically already a couple and have both admitted they're in love with each other.

As a self proclaimed childhood best friends to lovers to strangers/enemies to lovers trope's #1 fan, this disappointed.

!! 2 Star review will be given on NetGalley, Goodreads will have no star rating and will be on a DNF shelf with the review attached.

If you are looking for a super cute, heart-warming read, this one is for you.
This is a second-chance soulmate book, that weaves Cameron and Shelby’s present with their past as child stars.
It took me a little while to get into this book, because it was a bit frustrating to see how much they still loved and cared for each other (and how attracted they were to each other) but they continued to keep their distance.
And while they were slowly realizing their love was still there, they both start to work through the hard parts of their past, leaning on each other for support.
And the ending? Perfection.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This book was so cute!! I absolutely loved the house renovation concept and got to live out my Chip and Joanna Gaines fantasies through Shelby and Cam. I loved these two main characters and of course loved the dual POV throughout. Their complicated relationship history laid the groundwork for a fantastic rekindling of the love they had for each other as teens and rediscovering what that means for them now. Such a good read!

Built to Last is an adorable second chance romance about friends-to-lovers. This book has a great premise and the main characters are very likable. I was swept up in the author's writing style - I'm totally hooked on Erin Hahn!

Shelby is a "ruined" child pop star, while Cameron is a traveling photographer for National Geographic. They have a lot of history between them, but they end up working on a home reno show together with Shelby's ex (this dude adds a ton of drama). Not only do they rehash why Cameron left her twice but they also rekindle the spark they had in their teens.

There's a ton of pining and angst in this one which is totally my jam! While the characters struggled to communicate, they both loved each other (quite obviously) and neither ever did anything so heinous that I couldn't forgive them. I enjoyed seeing adult Shelby and Cameron come together in a more mature way, but I also loved the flashbacks of their teen years - they were just so darling and innocent.

The dialogue is sharp and snappy in this one. I felt like I was in a real place because Hahn is just such a wonderful storyteller. She shows the feelings and the plot rather than telling. I can't wait to read more of her future work!

Trope-wise, this one has:

Jealousy on both ends
Valid miscommunications
"Only one bed"
Sex dreams
Nicely descriptive sex scenes
Really awesome side characters who jump off the page

Literally my only criticism is that the characters confessed their love a bit too quickly. Suddenly, they were both all-in but we had more plot to go. I would have rathered them get together but not actually profess their love so that I could remain a bit more interested. However, this is just a super small thing and I TOTALLY recommend this book overall!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
BOOK BLOG
https://fromthereadingroom.com/review-built-to-last-by-erin-hahn/

Shelby and Cameron were child co-stars in star-studded LA, but that life left them longing. Through a never-ending connection they are brought back together living a much more simple and private life as home reno flippers, and their incredible love story is given another chance to shine.

I found myself rooting for "Spriggs" at every fork in the road of their relationship! The writing truly captured the essence of a couple worth fighting for and the imagery was beautiful. It's not often that a romance novel keeps me turning the pages in the way this one did. I loved the aspect of Cameron finding his own niche and learning a trade that kept him right by Shelby's side. In addition to reading I am a huge fan of home reno shows, as are many, so I feel this novel will truly appeal to the masses.

Read this book if :
💗you like stories about first love conquering time and distance and winning in the end
💗you like light romance novels (with a little bit of detail 😉)
💗you like an easy read
💗 you like happy endings


This story is about 3 child stars (Cam, Shelby & Lyle) many years after the TV show ended. Cam and Shelby had a crush on each other (and one night together) when they were filming the TV show. But, life always seemed to be against them.
Cam & Shelby went on their separate ways after the show ended. Shelby and Lyle ended up dating for about 5 years before he left her for her best friend.
Years after the breakup, Lyle reaches out to both Shelby and Cam to do a home renovation show. Shelby did restore antique furniture for a living but Cam worked for NatGeo. Lyle tries to ruin their relationship during the filming of the pilot episode. Can their relationship survive?

I thought this story was very cute and I loved the happy ever after ending. 💗

This book about two former childhood stars turned home renovators was so much MORE than I was expecting! I absolutely adored the connection between Shelby and Cameron, and I was rooting for them from the very first chapter. The plot was substantial enough that the sprinkling of spice was more than enough. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this title!

4.5 cute stars. This book was super cute with a little steam factor. I connected with the characters and was really invested in their story. I loved the setting too. It was different and cute. Overall, I really enjoyed this light read. Hope there’s a second! Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book. I will definitely be recommending to friends and family.

Super cute book and I enjoyed the story line. I wish it had a few more surprises in it to keep my interest more. I loved the authors writing style, and would love to read more of her books,

Thank you NetGalley and st martens publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was everything. I loved it so much. Hahn's adult romance debut is a home run. There is so much to be had here. I couldn't get enough. Child stars growing up and discovering how to live in the public and still keep a private life. This was just a beautiful balance.

Shelby and Cameron, child stars who fell in love as teens, have never got their timing right. Over the years, they have pined for each other even while being worlds apart. Shelby now lives a quiet life in Michigan restoring old furniture, while Cameron has spent their years apart trotting the globe for National Geographic.

But when their old costar (and Shelby’s ex) Lyle brings them together for a reality home renovation show, it seems like the stars are finally aligned. While working alongside each other, they find that together, they can build something that lasts.

I always enjoy second chance romances, and when you add in the unrequited love factor, I enjoy it even more. I liked Shelby and Cameron’s characters, and I also liked all of their friends. The only thing missing for me was a little more conflict between Shelby & Cameron.. Once they were together, there was really no questioning their relationship or where the book was headed. Overall, it was a cute, lighthearted read with a sweet happy ever after.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love romance books and HGTV? Then this is the book for you. It was so freaking adorable. Shelby and Cam are the cutest couple on the planet. I think this is the fluffiest book I ever read. The ending was a bit predictable but it doesnt take anything away from the story. I would LOVE to see this a movie.

Build to Last comes out Oct 18 and I hope everyone gets a copy! #Spriggs

ARC provided by Net Galley
I loved the premise of this book and the emotional arcs that the main hero and heroine went through. A little fast-paced, but the background provided at the start established the relationship. I loved both the hero and heroine and felt that they balanced each other out. It had funny dialogue and good development for the hero and heroine both individually as well as a couple. I laughed and teared up at the end. I really hope that the author continues with the side characters in the same universe. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from this author. X

I’d give this a 3.75/5. Not quite a full four stars for me, because while it was enjoyable, it took me some time to start rooting for the characters. They had great physical chemistry, but the miscommunication in the beginning made it a little harder to really feel their emotional connection. Overall, a fun, light read and I definitely look forward to reading more from Erin Hahn, especially if she gives us Lorelai’s story.

Such a fun, light read! I’ve been loving the rom-coms lately and this was a fun spin on what can be a repetitive genre. It was so easy to fall in love with the characters, and I’m actually a little disappointed HomeMade isn’t a real show I can binge!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4621160429

Excellent read! I love that Shelby didn’t sit around waiting for what she wanted. This story was adorable and fun, with a really great HEA. Now I can’t wait for Erin Hahn’s next book!

3.5-4 stars! Okay i absolutely loved the whole concept of this book. For anyone who’s a fan of the show Fixer Upper, this book was written for you! The whole childhood best friends working together to flip houses for a tv show gave off such a chip and joanna vibe, which i adored. There was so much sexual tension and build up between the main characters the first 50% of the book, I just loved the overall angst of the relationship. THE SPICE, OH MY GOD, THE SPICE. The only thing that made this a 3 star instead of 4-5 star read, was that sometimes it kind of dragged on and on and got a little boring at times. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Lastly, let me end this with a quote that melted my whole heart; “I have never not wanted you… You are stuck with me. You told me you loved me and i’m all in, Shelby. No take backs”. Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with this digital ARC!

This one was super fun. If you like home renovation shows or are interested in the lives of child stars, this one had elements of both. I loved the romance element, and couldn't help rooting for Cameron and Shelby, separately and together. There was definitely some depth and I loved seeing the growth and work that our main characters did in their own lives. While there certainly were elements of happy endings and money not feeling like much of an issue, it felt more believable than many romances as it felt hard won. And there are definitely some steamy parts!

I've loved Erin Hahn's YA books, so I was excited to try this new romance book, and wasn't disappointed.

I couldn’t put this down as it was that enjoyable and loveable for me. It served second chance romance, and it’s one of me favourite tropes. I really loved all the angst, chemistry and the sweeping romance. But, most importantly I loved the character arc and growth of both the MCs as that’s something I very much look forward to in the books. So, in a nutshell, it’s a definite 5 stars read for me.

This novel is amazing to say the least! I was so drawn to this author from Never Saw You Coming and she did not disappoint. The whole story like had me hooked from page 1!! Thank you Erin Hahn for another amazing read!!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review!!

^^posted on goodreads