This was a fun one! Who doesn’t love a home renovation show and a second chance love story? I really enjoyed the first few chapters because it gave us a glimpse into their lives before the main part of the story takes place. It was fun getting to know all the side characters, but it was still focused primarily on Cam and Shelby. We also got a dual POV and a fun epilogue!!

The one thing I would have changed was the chapter headers. Halfway through I realized there were song titles listed for each chapter, but they weren’t the chapter names. I would have liked it better if it were switched. Put the song title as the chapter title, and then just put Shelby or Cameron underneath.

Thank you so much St Martins Griffin for my early copy!

5 years after a very public break-up from her former co-star and ensuing breakdown that results in her leaving LA, former child actor Shelby has found a new normal in her home state of Michigan. She finds a love and talent in refurbishing old furniture and helps her dad flip houses.

When she is approached about filming a home improvement reality show, she doesn’t realize she’s walking in to a meeting that her ex-boyfriend, Lyle, set up, and has asked her first love (and their former co-star) Cameron to be a part of. Shelby has to figure out how to manage the feelings she still feels for both (contempt for Lyle and love for Cameron) while making sure their pilot gets picked up for a season.

Erin Hahn’s writing is laid back and easy to get sucked in to. The banter between Shelby and Cam had me feeling all of the things, and I couldn’t help but absolutely love them. It was the perfect palate cleanser after some heavier recent reads, and would make the perfect vacation book.

Built to Last will be released in October.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this!

Built to Last is Erin Hahn’s debut Adult RomCom, but it still has all the charm and heart of her YA novels. This novel also connects to her other novels, so the easter eggs were neat to see!

Built to Last is the story of Shelby and Cameron, former best friends and childhood sweethearts. They’ve had a decade full of missed chances and almost romance, but after not seeing each other for five years, they’re forced together by their unlikable co-star Lyle, who happens to be Shelby’s other ex-boyfriend and the showrunner of Shelby’s new home renovation show.

I really enjoyed Built to Last! I loved how each chapter had a song associated with it. I also liked how the songs reflected the feelings of our main duo (and often contrasted each other). It’s always fun seeing how Erin Hahn ties music into her novels!

Cameron and Shelby’s connection is great. They may be one of my favorite Erin Hahn couples. I really enjoy their interactions – and how in sync they are, most of the time. I’ve seen a couple of other reviewers mention this, but they do have a similar vibe to Erin and Ben from HGTV’s Home Town. Even their renovation show, HomeMade, bears a resemblance.

Shelby’s best friends Lorelai and Maren are awesome. I’m so excited that they are each getting their own book! With all the hints and pieces of information about Lorelai in this book, I can’t wait to see how her novel is going to go!

All in all, Erin Hahn never disappoints and her transition to adult romcoms is practically perfect!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of Built to Last!

While the premise holds promise, the plot is a little tired and I didn't find the characters as interesting as I had hoped. Built to Last is too formulaic to stand up against a crowded field of romance novels available to readers.

I really enjoyed this book. I grew up in Michigan, so I loved the setting AND sprinkle in a home reno show, I was sold.

The book follows Cameron and Shelby, 2 childhood sitcom stars. Cameron left the show when he turned 18 to go to college. 5 years later, him and Shelby briefly reunite when Shelby and Lyle Jessup break up (Lyle was also on the same sitcom as them). Cameron leaves and returns to his job at Nat Geo, only for him and Shelby to be brought together 5 years later. So, now we are 10 years from when Cameron went away to college and Shelby has a made a name for herself over the past 5 years in Michigan where she works along side her dad flipping houses and refinishing old furniture to bring it back to life. Cameron and Shelby are brought back together by none other than Lyle Jessup who wants to shoot a pilot for a home renovation reality show of Shelby but wants Cameron to be a part of it as "comic relief" since the two have such great chemistry.

I thought the side characters had a great mix. Kevin and Beth were fantastic and funny. I really loved Lorelai and I'd love to see more on her. Maren wasn't in it enough to really have much of an opinion. Shelby's dad was funny and observant and liked to rile up Cameron. Shelby's mom was a real piece of work. Lyle is so petty and is clearly still has feelings for Shelby and is jealous of Cameron.

I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but the book touches on first love, broken hearts, insane family dynamics, fierce friendships and second chances.

If you like a good Rom Com, I highly suggest this one. I honestly hope there's a book 2 about what happens next OR a book about Lorelai.

This book hit all the marks for me … a young cast growing up on a television show (I pictured Saved by the Bell), a home improvement endeavor, and a love that endures many challenging outside negative forces. All of this is accomplished with charm, humor, and honesty. I enjoyed this book a lot and was so happy the the epilogue gave us a glimpse into the future of these characters. I feel as if I would root for them in real life!

I couldn’t put this book down. An amazing read. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and this one is one of my favorites. I really did love this book, and I have no more words to say to describe how much I love it. A must read.

This was a fun read! Shelby, Cameron, and Lyle were child stars on a popular teen show. Behind the scenes, there was plenty of teenage romantic angst.

Now, 10 years later, Cam and Shelby have left show business, but Lyle is still in the thick of it - behind the scenes now. Cam has switched gears and is now behind the camera, making documentaries for National Geographic. Shelby has strayed the furthest - she and her dad work together flipping houses. Shelby's expertise at furniture restoration is the icing on the "flipping" cake!

Shelby and Cameron are lured back in front of the cameras are lured back in with the promise of a house-flipping reality show pilot. Shelby really wants this so that her dad can be a consultant and have a solid retirement plan. But, the romantic angst of their teens makes a return appearance. Can they all get through it? Will the pilot be picked up? Do they even want it to be picked up? What would that mean for Cam's new career?

While the story does delve into some deeper issues, such as the emotional abuse Shelby endured at the hand of her stage mom, Ada Mae, all-in-all this was a light, fun read - perfect for beach or pool.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Cameron and Shelby were child TV stars together and have reunited as adults on a home renovation show. After Shelby had a rough spell in LA in her 20s, she has created a new life for herself back in her home state of Michigan restoring furniture pieces. Cameron, who also grew up in Michigan, has returned after traveling with Nat Geo for work. Their childhood crushes for one another don’t take long to resurface, and they learn to navigate working together and rebuilding their relationship as adults outside of Hollywood. I adored this story and couple. They are both so charming and I highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

So I may be a little biased with this book simply because it takes place in Michigan (where I grew up and live). But, despite being biased about the location of the story, I can say that I loved the plot! I’m a sucker for home renovation shows, so that plot coupled up with Michigan and told in a cute rom-com way made for a great read!

Shelby & Cameron start off as child costars and meet again 10 years later as they are reunited to star in a home renovation show. Shelby had given up the party girl life that being a child star had led to and joined her father's business flipping houses and restoring vintage furniture. Cameron had led a reclusive life doing documentaries for National Geographic. Told in dual points of view, it chronicled their increasing attraction to each other. I enjoyed their supportive friends as well as the look into what it's actually like to be a child star. If you like second chance romance and are known to be a fan of HGTV home shows you will love this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early look in exchange for an honest review.

Built to last is a sweet, enchanting book. Former child stars Shelby and Cameron are roped into an HGTV-like rehab and flip show by their sleazy old costar Lyle. Cameron has been filming documentaries around the world for National Geographic while Shelby publicly hit bottom then emerged as an artisan rehabbing houses with her father in Michigan. There is tension at first between Shelby and Cameron. Cameron is still in love with Shelby. And Shelby with Cam. But there is real animosity between the two of them and Lyle, who is producing the show.
Lyle, though he’s the one that brought them together on this project, keeps sabotaging them. He even goes so far as to create a publicity smear campaign.

But we get to see this slow burn, second chances romance as they rehab a house for the show. As they lovingly restore a house to it’s glory they lovingly restore their romantic relationship- but to new heights.

I look forward to recommending this book to my patrons.

I received this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin, the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I received a advanced copy. I the love the back and forth in this book and reality TV angle. It was very sweet and had me rooting for the 2!

This was a fun and entertaining read and also informative to an extent. It focuses on romance but also throws light on child actors and what life is like for them. I loved the book cover!! I enjoy watching home renovations shows every once in a while .. so it was fun reading this story based around it!!
**
Thank you to Erin Hahn, @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advance Reader Copy.
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Ok so I did not love this as much as I thought I would. Which is so sad because Ive love every book Erin Hahn has written.
What I did like:
- that Shelby and Cameron already had a backstory/history
- I loved all the side character. Mainly Cameron and Shelby’s friends
- Also loved the HGTV vibes

What I didn’t like:
- Lyle and co. they were just annoying and the drama felt drawn out
- I wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication
- The last 40% of the book felt rushed
- and honestly parts of this book were just super awkward

Like I said I usually love any book by this author but I just think that this particular genre is just not for me.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!

*I received a advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book was really sweet. It was a friends to lovers/ second chance romance.

Shelby & Cameron start off as child costars and end up reuniting in their late 20s while filming a pilot together for a home renovation show.

Their love story was cute, albeit very predictable. I enjoyed the complex family dynamics that both Shelby & Cameron faced throughout the novel.

This was my first book by Hahn and I enjoyed her writing style!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of starting again…friendship and love…quirky characters…make believe and real life…friendship…a young quirky protagonist reaches out to an old friend and costar to help her again… this is a quick fun read…enjoy…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…even though I don’t get into these light romances as much as others do, I enjoyed an afternoon with here characters..

For fans of second chance friends-to-lovers novels! The author writes a lot of YA romance novels with this being her first adult rom com debut. It was cute but I could see the YA roots at times, All of the details about home design and renovations were fun, and the MCs will remind you of a certain HGTV couple.

4.5 stars

This book took awhile for me me to get into, but once I did I was hooked. Super cute second chance romance that also has flipping a house. What more could I want.

Thanks to Netgally and St. Martin's Press for giving me a e-arc in exchange for an honest review

“Built to Last” is a very sweet, emotional, friends to lovers, second chance love story set in the world of reality tv house flipping. Cameron and Shelby are former child stars who are trying to remake themselves after their childhood careers ended. Both are very likable and the reader is rooting for them to make it work from practically the first page. This was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend to readers who love small town romance, fun quirky characters, and HGTV. Am hoping for future books about Shelby’s friends.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the early chance to read and review “Built to Last”!