This was such a fun, flirty ride with all the ingredients of a classic enemies-to-lovers rom-com: banter, tension, and just the right amount of chaos. Their dynamic? I loved watching their verbal sparring evolve into something deeper. The chemistry is palpable and the steam? Definitely delivered. The renovation backdrop and Park Avenue brownstone gave the story a stylish, aspirational feel, and the balance of career ambition and romantic tension was really well done. That said, it did feel a little predictable in parts and wrapped up a bit quickly, but that didn’t take away from the fun.

I really enjoyed this story and the continuation from the previous stories in the series. Although the FMC got on my nerves a lot for getting in her own way, it really shows how some people can be the product of their environment. I always really like seeing the found family trope and that was well done here. I also really love our MMC and how he stand up for and protects his girl above all else. That was a really cute story.

Built to Last is messy, heartwarming, and totally worth the read.
Harper’s life is already in chaos when Reid barges back in, making things even messier—but somehow, there’s a strange beauty in all that mess. 💔🧡

The first plot twist? Completely unexpected. I was shocked—truly shocked 🤣. But I loved the direction the story took from there. Yes, the emotional development was a little fast, but their reconciliation still felt genuine and satisfying. It hit in the right way, just… fast-forwarded.

And ohhh the banter?? SO GOOD. These two are the definition of grumpy and grumpier, constantly snapping at each other with the most delicious snark. I lived for their every snide remark and stubborn little moment—it made their connection feel even more electric.

The chemistry? Undeniable. I found myself completely swept into Harper and Reid’s world, feeling every hurt, every swoony moment, and all the complicated feelings in between.

If you’re looking for something sweet, warm, and emotionally engaging, this is a perfect pick.
Big thanks to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC—this review is voluntary and entirely my own!

I enjoyed it but something was missing...

Harper and Reid really need to figure out how to work together!
Their intense personalities and completely opposite characters make things a bit tricky at work — but absolutely entertaining for the reader!
From the very first page to the last, the book is full of hilarious scenes, fantastic banter, and snarky comments.
Harper’s challenges in a male-dominated profession and Reid’s touching relationship with his brother added depth to the story.
Even though the books in the series can be read as standalones, I’d definitely recommend reading them in order.
I haven’t read the first two yet, but they’re already on my TBR!

For all my enemies-to-lovers fans… this book is perfect for you! And when I say enemies, these two characters go AFTER each other. They thrive on arguments and getting the last word in. I was laughing through all their banter because I KNEW it was the build up to the inevitable.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

<b>Harper</b> is the CEO of her late father’s construction business. You find out early on that she struggles to run the business because her family is very invasive and always feels the need to give their input where it’s not needed. Harper’s mom is stuck with the mentality that her daughter needs to step down from being CEO and start a family so she can fulfill her “womanly duties” and Harper’s cousin is out to straight up steal her position in the company because he wants the power.

<b>Reid</b> is a designer who used to run a show with his brother on how they fixed houses. After a brutal accident with his brother that left Reid injured, the show was shut down and their work slowed down.

Harper and Reid meet when they both are hired to work on a brownstone in Park Avenue—one as the contractor, the other as the designer. Except the first meet doesn’t exactly have the smoothest start. What starts as attraction, immediately switches to hatred as Reid unknowingly insults Harper straight to her face when he complains about the contractor for the project because he assumes it’s a man.

As they continue working alongside each other and constantly butting heads, they realize that maybe there’s a reason they are always at each others throats… there are more than sparks of anger between them—there’s MAJOR attraction that’s being denied as well. And as soon as they decide to act on those feelings, all of a sudden they start to see different sides to each other.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

<i>”You can't. You can't give up your dreams for
me."
"What if I just figured out you are my dream?" He
asks the question so simply.</i>

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

<b>I absolutely loved how therapy was portrayed in this story and how beneficial it can be to those who experience it.</b> The support the side characters had for Harper was otherworldly. I love how open the communication was when they encouraged her to look deeper into why she was reacting and feeling certain ways. And my favorite part was how Harper finally took a stand for herself and put herself before her family that was dragging her down. She had so much on her shoulders and slowly learned how to let go of other people’s burdens so she could live HER life.

Also the plot twist at the end… I am definitely going back to read the first two books in this series because I NEED to have a closer look on Harper’s friend’s lives.

Tropes:
found family✨
workplace relationship🩷
enemies-to-lovers✨
grumpy x grumpier🩷

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Blue Box Press and Lexi Blake for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

From enemies to love interest, this book had me on my toes happy and excited to see what was coming next building a home together but not on the same page, to understanding each other in another light. But when something comes up they must choose. And they did. This gave me all the hallmark cozy vibes with more. Will definitely be buying the book for my shelves

🔨 🩷 Book Review 🤍🔨

𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻 @authorlexiblake
The Park Avenue Promise Series #3

🔨Thank you so much to @netgalley for this amazing ARC! This was my first book by Lexi, but will definitely be reading the first two books in this series! This was definitely one of my favorite enemies to lovers scenarios, and I so much enjoyed grumpy x grumpier. 🤍

✨Harper Ross has always dreamed of working on one of the magnificent brownstones of Park Avenue. Now one of her closest friends has bought the house of her dreams and hired Harper to do the construction work. She wants to showcase the renovation on a television show for her brand-new production company. It’s the same grand home she and her friends promised themselves they would be able to afford one day. Working on it isn’t the same as living in it, but it’s all a part of Harper’s grand plan to grow her father’s construction business into one of the biggest in the city. The only obstacle—the designer on the project.

✨Reid Dorsey believes in the balance between beauty and functionality. As one of Manhattan’s new voices in design, he’s excited to get to work on a true Gilded Age property. If only the owner had selected a contractor he enjoyed working with. Oh, Harper was brilliant and her work was excellent, but she has an opinion on everything—and it’s usually the opposite of his.

✨Over the course of the job, these enemies start to see different sides of each other, and suddenly their fights don’t seem so bad. But when the project is threatened, they might have to choose between their jobs and the beautifully designed future they could share.

An enemies to lovers story will have plenty of situations to overcome along the way.
Three friends made a pact in high school their dreams included renovating a beautiful brownstone on Park Avenue.
Old secrets will have to come to light to guide Harper and Reid to their future together.
Part of a series to check out the other characters in this story.
A lovely story about friendship can last a lifetime and how they can become your real family.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
🛠 Workplace romance
🫂 Forced proximity
😤 Grumpy x grumpy
😠 Enemies-to-lovers

Honestly, I wasn’t feeling the first half of this book. I don’t feel attached to the characters and the first meeting between Harper and Reid was just not it. Maybe I just can’t make the connections I am supposed to be making because some parts left me confused. Like, I get the main plot that Harper is a constructor and Reid is a designer which means they have to work together to renovate Banover Place that holds a sentimental feeling to Harper. But, within this main plot, there’s so much going on - family drama, stereotypes, work tensions.

But I pushed through and the second half is much better in my opinion. I can feel the tension between Harper and Reid much better and you know what they say about the fine line between hate and love - well, they are both between that line for sure. Also, I love Luca, he is such a great husband to Anika - slay king! The book is so-so for me, but maybe I need to read the previous two books first to feel more attached.

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley, Lexi Blake and Blue Box Press for giving me this ARC!

Built to Last by Lexi Blake delivers an engaging enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s elite design scene. The tension between Harper and Reid crackles with witty banter, making their dynamic both frustrating and irresistible. While their clashes keep the story lively, the novel ultimately offers a comforting read, blending romance with themes of ambition and second chances. A satisfying mix of sparks and heartwarming moments for fans of contemporary romance.

I’ve read a lot of spicy books by this author, and while I always enjoy the steam, this one stood out for being more emotionally grounded and layered. It’s a slow burn with real stakes—both professional and personal.
Harper was not what I expected, in the best way. A woman running a construction company in a male-dominated industry? That felt refreshing and original. She’s smart, capable, and constantly battling to keep her father’s business afloat. Her grit and determination were inspiring, but also heartbreaking at times. You can really feel the weight she’s carrying.
And then there’s her mother… wow. Dramatic, demanding, unreasonable—every scene with her had me grinding my teeth. She added so much tension to Harper’s already overwhelming life.
The dynamic with Reid—the designer on the project—is all delicious enemies-to-lovers energy, full of banter and friction. The first scene honestly made me dislike him a bit, but come on… a guy who loves science fiction and knitting? He definitely grew on me.
It’s a romance, yes, but it’s also about identity, ambition, legacy, and learning when to stand your ground—and when to let someone in.

This book sounded right up and alley and the beginning was solid, I even loved the bond of friendship between Harper, Anika and Ivy. But I just could not feel connected with any of the characters. I also did not feel like there was any chemistry between Harper & Reid. The insta love/lust just ruined their story for me. The entire "renovation" storyline was overdone and I felt like it overshadowed the romance. The OW drama with Reid's ex was also very OTT and unbelievable and Harper's family was horrible too. And, I felt like Reid definitely did not give off main character energy. I felt like his character was too weak and underdeveloped. This story had potential but the execution ruined everything for me and I could not enjoy it at all tbh.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Built to Last by Lexi Blake is the third book in the Park Avenue Promise series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I haven't read any of the other books and had no problems with any of the storylines or characters in this book.

When Harper Ross is hired by a close friend to do the renovations on a Park Avenue brownstone, she's living out a longtime dream and the renovation is going to be part of a television show, so she may be able to grow her business because of it. The designer hired, Reid Dorsey, is an up and coming star in Manhattan's design world. The two clash upon meeting and eventually fall in love.

Not giving away spoilers, but they may have to make choices between love and work.

The evolution from adversaries to lovers was written very well and pulled me in from the beginning. I'd totally watch this show if it was real and be invested in all of these characters. :) I'm going to go and read the first two in the series because I enjoyed this one so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

First off, let me start by saying thank you to Netgalley and author Lexi Blake for the eARC copy of this read.
As part of my honest review, I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with this one. As a note, I will admit that this is my first take with this author, and while Built to Last ABSOLUTELY can be read as a stand alone, I get the feeling that reading the first two in this series may have helped a bit. To be frank, while some of the characters were fun (specifically the three ladies), and the banter had it's moments, as a whole I just wasn't sold. Harper and Reid are written to be "enemies to lovers", but there's instant lust, and they're practically together within the first few chapters of the book. Harper herself has a tendency to scream hot to cold with just about everyone she interacts with to the point it becomes a bit much. Her mother (and really all of her biological family), are over the top overbearing without any sort of clue as to how a business should be run, even going to the extent of running her father's business into the ground just to "go back to the good old days" of when Harper's father and uncle did blatantly illegal business things. The book is also only from Harper's POV, so there is no pull from Reid's perspective to help pull us in or give insight as to why he is who he is, and does what he does (We are strictly told all of his side of things). While I am not upset to have spent my time with this book, I didn't feel attached to the characters all that much, and found the pacing to be hard to get through. Truly lukewarm feelings over here, unfortunately.

Harper Ross is all grit and heart, trying to turn her late father’s construction company into a Manhattan powerhouse. Reid Dorsey is her total opposite polished, design-obsessed, and not used to hearing “no.” Their chemistry is undeniable, even when they’re arguing over tile samples and floor plans.

What I loved:
✨ A strong female lead who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty (literally)
✨ Enemies-to-lovers energy with real emotional growth
✨ Found family and female friendships that ground the story
✨ NYC glam meets renovation grit

It’s not just about building a house, it’s about building a future, piece by piece, even when it doesn’t go according to plan.

📖 Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Especially if you love HGTV vibes with a romantic twist and a reminder that dreams can come true… just maybe not in the way you expected.

I didn’t read the previous books but it wasn’t necessary because I could follow along well enough.
Hammer meets the designer as Harper and Reid clash about how to rehab a glorious NYC brownstone.
Of course amid the construction dust the two are hot for each other.
It wasn’t until the end that it finally dawned on me who the buyer was.
I thought Paul and the harpy mother should end up in the same place as Jimmy Hoffa.
I want an Ivy in my life who can hack into anything!
My favorite person was CeCe because she was the master fixer!

Lexi Blake brings us back to Park Place in this enemies-to-lovers romance, Built to Last. Harper finds her time to shine with the Gilded Age rebuild, but not without angst as she clashes with interior designer Reid. The last of the Park Place series, BTL is filled with found family and self-discovery (& some iconic meddling octogenarians IYKYK).

ARC via NetGalley

Goodreads review

I loved this series so much - it’s hard for me to write a review without spoilers so I won’t.. I would just say to start with Start Us Up. These women and their men are some of my favorites!

This was a cute story of hate to love. It was a bit hard to get into at first but the second half was easy to read and entertaining. The plot twist was good towards the end - something a little different compared to many of the romance novels I read.

I really liked that this book was not only a love story in finding true love but also a love story for the power of friendship/sisterhood. Both main characters found their people and although they weren’t relatives the love and compassion they shared for one another was unmatched. Harper and Reid were both so let down by their childhood and their families. It was nice to see their happily ever after not just between themselves.

Overall the story was good. I think if I had read the first two I would have enjoyed it even more - I didn’t realise it was an interconnected series.

Enemies to lovers is one thing, but this book missed that mark and swerved into just meanness from the FMC. The MMC apologized multiple times for the first impression he gave, and each of those times was rejected for no real reason. It was a miss for me because of that. I saw one twist coming early on, but the other did surprise me. I’m not upset I read it since I had read the other two books in the series, but I wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this ARC!