I am in love with this book! It’s like if Corey, topanga, and Shawn secretly had a love triangle in real life during the later seasons of filming Boy Meets World then grew up and were forced into close proximity again as adults to film a hgtv house flipping show. My 90s/00s heart was so happy with all the child star history to Shelby and Cameron’s (and lyle’s) story.

Who would’ve thought Michigan is where former tv and singing stars go into reclusion? In addition to our trio, we also get to meet Shelby’s bff and former country star Lorelei who also ran from the limelight. She is such a fun character and I hope im right in guessing that Erin is setting her up for her own story.

Lyle (the 3rd child star and Shelby’s sleazy ex) is a character you love to hate and provides many obstacles for Shelby and Cameron to push through as he is their pilot showrunner. He wants to be a bachelor style manipulative producer but unfortunately for him he’s just not that good at it.

The majority of the book centers around the filming of the pilot for Shelby and Cameron’s flipping show HomeMade. Shelby and Cameron are such lovable characters that you can’t help but root for them even as you scream at them to be honest with each other. Cameron is clearly an enneagram 7 like me bc he’s literally spent years running from problems bc it was easier. So, I loved getting to see him and Shelby grow and work through some of those issues together and separately.

I absolutely adored this book and wish it were a real show!

This book was fantastic! The characters are well-developed and easy to care about. I was invested from the very first page!

Built to Last is the sweet home-improvement romance read that I didn’t know I needed. Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs are former child co-stars who are asked to film a home renovation reality tv show. As these two work to restore an old house to its former glory, they are also trying to rebuild what was lost between them.

What I liked: I was impressed with the character development, especially Shelby’s narrative arc. The reader gets to see how Shelby was able to grow and change from the first chapter of the story. This is also Erin Hahn’s adult romance debut and she definitely added some spice, which was enjoyable.

What could be better: I thought Built to Last was easy to get through because it was a pretty laidback story with only minor dramatic moments. For me personally, I think it could have been a bit more exciting but others may like how nonchalant and sweet the book is.

Overall, I would give Built to Last three out of five stars. It was enjoyable and sweet in the moment but I think it will ultimately blend into the background of all the other books I read. I do think Built to Last will be an excellent comfort read for some readers who are looking for a more laidback second chance romance.

Okay but can we talk about that cover real quick? ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

Built to Last is a sweet, second chance, slow burn, friends to lovers romance with a little "oops one room"! If you love any of those tropes ~ I think you will definitely enjoy this book!

Shelby was kind of a mess, but I'm glad she had found her true passion, doing renovations with her dad, before getting back into a relationship. Cameron, the traveling photographer for National Geographic was a nice enough guy. Though they had that "insta love" from how they felt when they were younger, this book was a wholeeee slow burn with lots of pining while they figured things out. ,

"We can stay , but they’re all booked up. We’ll have to share a room.” 👀🤭

The main characters were likable, (except Lyle who was terrible m! I get why he was needed, but I hated all parts with him haha.) but I do wish they had a bit more depth and we got to know them a little more outside of the reality show and their relationship.

I am a huge HGTV fan! I've seen alllll of the home reno shows, my favorites being Fixer Upper & Property Brothers. So a romance book centering around a home renovation show?! Sign me up! The plot was great, I really loved all of the "HGTV Vibes"!

Overall, this book was sweet, cute, really well written and I absolutely enjoyed the fun plot!

Thank you St Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for publication 10/18/22 and I definitely recommend it. This review will be posted to my blogs & Amazon closer to publication day.

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Built to Last is pretty adorable. I’ve come to love a good low-angst contemporary romance and Erin Hahn delivers here. The story follows former child stars Cameron and Shelby as they reconnect and fall in love. The pair have a few rocky starts, first as teenagers and again a few years later after Shelby has a hard breakup and calls Cam for help. The pair finally get a chance to properly reconnect as adults when Cameron agrees to be Shelby’s costar on a home renovation pilot she’s trying to get off the ground. Since Shelby and Cam never really got over their childhood romance the reader gets front row seats to the pair finding out if they’ll work as adults both on TV and off. Their show runner (and Shelby’s ex!) try to throw as much drama at the pair as he can but it’s no match for two people who are inextricably drawn together.q

Overall this book is a lot of fun, the chemistry between our hero and heroine is great, and the story is a well paced romance. I definitely recommend checking it out when it releases Oct 18, 2022.

This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

Three former stars: Shelby, Cameron and Lyle Springfield got together for a home renovation show. There's something in it for everyone -- almost. Cameron wants to come home and set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove to the world she's not the messy party girl anymore. And Lyle wants to twist the screws on his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could dream of with anyone. Sparks and sawdust fly as Shelby and Cameron film the pilot for "Homemade" and battle Lyle’s shenanigans at every turn...

A cute fun rom-com. Love Shelby and Cameron together. Fans of HGTV and home renovation shows would love this... :) Add to second chance romance, friends to lovers trope... this is a winner! :) A sweet and lovable story.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Shelby is a former child star and during the last ten years she has tried to remake her life apart from the childhood television series. She now preserves and refinishes furniture following in her father’s footsteps. Cameron has always loved Shelby but losing out to Lyle, he has spent the last ten years filming documentaries all over the world for National Geographic. Lyle is now a producer and wants to bring Cameron and Shelby back together with a reality television show about home renovations. He believes the chemistry will make the show a success. The show is important to Shelby because she wants to prove to the world that she has moved on from the messy life she led. Cameron wants to reconnect with his mom and brother and being with Shelby is a plus.
This is a great romance and proof that people can change with the support of family and each other. I thought the developing relationship between Shelby and Cameron was done well. It was fun to see Shelby and Cameron team up to put Lyle in his place.

Hahn combined so many of my favorite things for this: second-chance romance, strong character development, slow-burn with some teasers mixed in to keep it 🔥, unashamed puns, and of course HEA ❤️. On top of all this... house flipping?! If I had a choice my TV would stay on the HGTV channel 24/7 (sorry Cocomelon). So when I felt like I was reading an HGTV show, with a love story added on, I didn't want it to end.
I flew through this without a minute of boredom because of Hahn's easy-going writing style. Plus, I was happy to find out this isn't Hahn's only work, so I'll be adding to my ever-growing TBR!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can't wait to see this on the shelves this fall 📚

I have enjoyed several previous books by author Erin Hahn, and was excited to see her newest release. "Built to Last" caught my eye with its very original premise: former childhood stars Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs are brought together to film a new home renovation reality TV show. Throughout filming, Shelby and Cameron reconnect and discover the futility of trying to stay apart. Unbeknownst to her, Cameron has loved Shelby his whole life and will stop at nothing to get her back. I enjoyed the transparency between the two leads and the sections about their reality TV show. I did, however, feel that the chemistry was a little lukewarm.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Okay. Erin Hahn is my favorite—I can’t tell a lie.
I’ve read every single one of her books, and every single one connects with me in a way that turns me to mush and also makes me feel like I’m getting a big hug from a dear friend.

This book was no different. Cameron and Shelby are ADORABLE and IMPERFECT and it was seriously a joy to read. I’ll recommend Erin’s books forever. They are so real and honest, sticky in the way that real life truly is.

And she has song titles at the beginning of each chapter—what more do you need, I ask you? Cannot wait for the next one!


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel. This is my honest personal opinion.

As someone whose house was damaged during Hurricane Ida in 2021, I have been spending a lot of time recently on home renovations and decor, and funny enough, reading novels that feature plots about home renovation and decor! It definitely feels like “fixer uppers” are having their moment in fiction right now, so if you love books where characters build a home they love alongside a person that they love, you’re in for a treat in 2022!

The latest novel to hit the home makeover scene is YA-author-turned-adult-novelist Erin Hahn’s Built to Last. This cheeky, sassy rom-com incorporates home renovations, former child stars, and HGTV all in one fast-paced, heartwarming story. This book tells the story of three former singing-dancing child TV stars who wind up working on a home renovation TV show together in their 20s.

Shelby Springfield, the girl of this trio, found herself torn between her two co-stars - Cameron Riggs and Lyle Jessup - as a teen, and after a very public break-up with Lyle (think Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake-level drama) and an even more public break-down, Shelby has stepped out of the spotlight and into the workshop, where she has done furniture restoration as part of her dad’s house flipping business ever since.

When Shelby is given the opportunity to work alongside Cameron on an HGTV-esque home renovation show called HomeMade, she isn’t keen on the idea because Lyle is producing, but she wouldn’t mind spending more time with Cameron, who has had her heart since they were kids. Little does she know that Cameron feels the same way about her, and as the two former sweethearts rekindle a home together, they discover they are also rekindling their romance.

Built to Last is not short on entertaining plot points, including the home makeover reality TV show, Shelby’s questionable past and her selfish stage mother, the drama of Shelby and Lyle’s break-up, and the trio’s former lives as child stars - there’s a lot to keep readers turning the pages here. This second chance romance is witty and steamy, and feels like it is written for Millennial romance readers. It makes sense that Hahn would write a “young” romance for adults since her area of expertise is YA. The book moves quickly, and is told from both Shelby and Cameron’s POVs, giving us a glimpse into both of their thoughts of their former and rekindled romance. My biggest fault with this light-hearted novel is that once Shelby and Cameron have reconnected, his personality seems to change and he becomes a typical sex-obsessed guy à la romance novels everywhere.

Built to Last is recommended to those who loved How to Hate Your Neighbor, Lucy Checks In, and Love at First Spite.

Nothing negative to say about Built to Last. It’s a well written, cute romance with a happy ending.
Cameron is a former child star turned documentarian. He’s held a flame for his old costar while watching her publicly spiral out of control in Hollywood. A quick encounter between the two sets in motion a chain of growing up. Shelby finds her passion away from the limelight. 5 years later a chance to help her dad retire brings Shelby back to LA and face to face with the one that got away.
Together the pair tries to create a successful home renovation, but end up falling in love again.
The only obstacle the pair faces is Shelby’s ex who is their show runner. He tries to sabotage them professionally and personally. There isn’t much build up to these instances as we know Lyle is the “bad guy”.

3.9/5 stars!!
Awww this was VERY sweet. If you love second chance romances and childhood sweethearts, you're going to adore this book!! Additionally, if you love seeing HGTV/Fixer Upper in your romances, you'll definitely appreciate that aspect of the book!! I absolutely adored the home renovation aspect of this book. I think the author did a great job with the tension and angst between the two characters. I was nervous for them. I also thought the characters had really good chemistry and the banter was totally up there!! I totally lost it when they confessed their long-term feelings for each other!!

This book is great if you love these tropes:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- long term feelings for each other
- forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I adored this love story, a lovely mix of Hollywood drama, small town romance, and HGTV home renos. While I’m not usually a fan of second chance romances, I was rooting for Shelby and Cam the whole way. Love this fictional world and can’t wait for Lorelai and Maren’s stories. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Hahn can do no wrong. As a lover of Chip & Joanna, and Erin & Ben on HGTV, it was fun to go behind the scenes of a reality home renovation show romance. But even if those kinds of shows aren’t your jam, you will still find plenty to love about Shelby and Cameron.

Cameron and Shelby were childhood best friends and first loves. Different career paths took them away from each other, but you never forget your first. When Shelby gets an opportunity to showcase her woodworking talents on a new show, she calls Cameron to help and he comes running.

Shelby and Cameron are exactly the joy-filled, sweet romance we all need right now. Hahn’s debut adult romance was pitch perfect (pun intended, each chapter title is a song title. If you play the song while you read each chapter, it really sets the mood).

Built to Last was a whirlwind of a read. It was sweet and will fill your heart with joy. It’s what dreams are made of when you take that chance in life that would have gotten away.

Shelby and Cameron overcome the difficulties of being child stars, in the spotlight, spoilt and feted, with the past always lurking ready to rise up and bite. This is a sweet story of two people finding themselves and each other after being seperated for a few years. I found it flowed well and was easy to read. The main characters, as well as Lorelai, engaged my interest so I wanted them to succeed.

Built to Last was exactly my kind of book! Second (or maybe third) chance romance, a celebrity-ish couple, working on a show, fun music references. I really enjoyed these characters and wish I could watch their show now!

This was a relaxing and enjoyable book. The author was able to convey the credible attraction and feelings for both Shelby and Cameron. The story flowed and was fun to read. I recommend reading this love story.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn's debut adult romance book and it was okay. The story is fast paced and told in two POVs. We have childhood friends Shelby and Cameron, who were on a TV show together growing up, and have split apart due to miscommunication and Cameron leaving Hollywood behind to start fresh in college. Many years have passed and they are brought together to host a "flipping houses" TV show. Cameron has been in love with Shelby since they first met and Cameron is Shelby's first love.

The tropes used for this book are second chances and friends to lovers.

Even though I read this in a span of a few hours the book wasn't a huge hit. I really liked Erin Hahn's YA books and look forward to her next release but Built to Last read more like an upper YA book than an adult romance.

I did like the spicy scenes and the banter between Cameron and Shelby was adorable. I was entertained for the most part but I didn't care much for the secondary characters. Lyle is just a petty brat and needed to grow up years ago, same with his wife.

There is SO MUCH miscommunication. It is mentioned by Shelby that she and Cameron needed to work on it but with that being the reason why they were apart and having silly tension, it just fell flat and made me feel like I was reading from a teenagers POV instead of a 27/28 year old.

I will definitely still be on the look out for more books by the author and hope her sophomore adult book will be better.

3 stars