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.
**

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”!

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👍🏼👍🏼 a MUST READ for any/all Emily Henry fans ala Beach Read

Built to Last is another great contemporary, second-chance romance set in a cute Michigan town. And let me just say, this romance BURNS 🔥🔥🔥

15% into this book and I was screaming!! Holy cow Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs were made for each other! Too bad their timing and communication is epically bad.

Shelby and Cameron first met as co-stars of a sitcom when they were kids. After years of working side-by-side and sidelong glances, Shelby and Cameron were kissing in closets and sneaking off to dimly lit fields in youthful bliss. Until Cameron ran off to college, away from the show, and never even saying goodbye to Shelby. Heartbroken and confused, Shelby ran into the arms of their other co-star, Lyle. Turns out that while Shelby and Cameron were wholesome midwestern kids doing their best in Hollywood, Lyle is as slimy as they come. Finally, the house of cards toppled when Shelby finds out Lyle has cheated on her with her best friend via a brand-new pop single that went on to win a Grammy.

Cameron has taken his broken heart out to the fringes of society filming documentaries for National Geographic. Shelby takes refuge back home in Michigan restoring old furniture with her dependable dad.

Both their lives are flipped upside down when they are asked to film a home renovation show together based on Shelby’s dad’s business. Oh, and slimy, jealous Lyle is the show runner, throwing every obstacle he can at Shelby and Cameron. Honestly it feels like he’s sabotaging the future of the show on purpose.

Will Shelby and Cameron make it through?

📖Built to Last by Erin Hahn comes out October 18, 2022


Oh, also Shelby has two adorable best friends who will each get their own love story. I am so excited for this trilogy to continue! It is so good!!

Next up is Lorelai, former country music star, who is looking to make a comeback!

Very heartwarming read! I loved the HGTV-esque setting and how re-modeling the house seemed to serve as a metaphor for Cameron and Shelby rebuilding their relationship. I liked that their relationship history was messy and complicated, and required a lot of work and honesty for them to earn a proper second chance with each other. I thought soundtracking each chapter with a song was also very cute and fit with the prevalence of music in the characters' lives.

I thought that Lyle could have fleshed out more as a villain -- I kept waiting for him to get some more characterization but it never happened. While I usually don't mind a villain without deep characterization, I felt that it contrasted too much with the depth that Shelby, Cameron, and some of the supporting characters had.

I really adored the cozy atmosphere of this story. Everything about the setting felt so homey and humble, which added so much warmth to the book and highlighted why Shelby and Cameron leaving Hollywood behind was the right decision.

Overall, a warm and enjoyable second chance romance!

Hands down one of the cutest and most heart warming books I’ve read!! Finished it in a day and couldn’t put it down. The tension, playfulness, and dynamic between the two main characters has you swooning from start to finish! Shelby and Cameron grow and find themselves and each other with an incredible support system while also dealing with the fallout of being a childhood star and the drama that comes with it. Would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adorable romance to talk into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a charming DYI book in a HGTV type of setting and it was just wonderful. It’s a great second chance at love book and just a sweet read I couldn’t put down.