Two former child stars with a complicated past move from Hollywood to home in Erin Hahn’s Built to Last.


Shelby Springfield used to be Hollywood’s It Girl. Now, she refinishes furniture in her Michigan workshop while flipping houses alongside her dad. Cameron Riggs, her former co-star, works behind the camera making documentaries with National Geographic, never staying in any one place long. Their third co-star, Lyle, is still playing Hollywood’s games. When Shelby tries to get a home reno show greenlit to fund her dad’s retirement, she’s surprised to find Lyle is the showrunner. She’s even more surprised to find he’s tricked both her and Cameron into meeting with him. Lyle agrees to produce the pilot…if Cameron and Shelby will flip the houses together.

This delightful novel is the perfect balance of heart, humor, and home renovation.

These characters are interesting and engaging, and will stick with the reader after the book ends. The secondary characters are just as fun and well developed as the protagonists, making this reader cross her fingers for a sequel starring Lorelei (hint hint, Erin Hahn!). I loved seeing the numerous positive friendship portrayals, especially when contrasted against a toxic friendship. The theme of found family is always a winner with me, and is beautifully done here. Add in laugh-out-loud funny dialogue and internal monologues and, well, this book was just a treat to read.

Shelby and Cameron’s complicated past ups the ante. The way both characters found healing after their time in the limelight– and by contrast, the way Lyle didn’t– makes their romance sweeter and more believable. The romance is certainly an aspect of the book, and a strong one, but it’s also full of found family, healing, finding your place in the world, and home restoration. The mix of personal life with work life, all supported by an excellent cast of characters, adds depth to the story. These characters care about the world they live in, and that makes their story a delightful one to read.

The slow burn romance paired with the forced proximity trope works so very well. Just as a small warning: these pages pack some spice, bedroom-wise and language-wise. The payoff for the slow-burn romance is fiery!

Built to Last is an excellent choice for fans of Emily Henry, as the character development, spice level, and humor are all on point. It’s a wonderful lighthearted read, as it has depth and compassion in a low-stakes package, but the reader still cares about the characters.

Thank you to author Erin Hahn, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced e-copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

**NetGalley review**

I loved this second chance romance! Cam and Shelby were child stars that drifted apart for various reasons. Thanks to a home improvement show idea by their former costar and Shelby's ex, Lyle, they finally get to hash out years of misunderstanding. I loved the pace of this book! I enjoyed seeing their relationship unfold, although looking back I think adding in some flashbacks to their younger years on the show and how they felt about each other might have done the trick to develop a better understanding of their history. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I am looking forward to my next Erin Hahn read. Did I sense a teaser at the end for a spin-off book surrounding Lorelei?? Thank you--NetGalley, Orange Sky Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Erin Hahn for allowing me to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super fun and just the right amount of steam. I loved these characters so much and would totally watch their show. I could have used a deeper dive unto some of the things but overall I really enjoyed this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Built to Last is a fun, second chance at love and life book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn‘s fourth book and her debut adult romance novel. This wonderful work of art is perfect for fans of
second chance romance
HGTV home renovation lovers
childhood stars returning back to television
janky exes causing hijinx (lyle that fucker)
wonderful exes causing happiness, peace, and prosperity
interconnected standalones

I would just like to say that Cameron Riggs and Shelby Springfield are literally everything. No notes on them whatsoever besides great things. I love them dearly and they deserve the world. They’ve been in love with each other since they were children. They formed their own identities apart from each other and then came back better than ever. They work through their communication struggles together. What more could you want?

Lyle is an absolute fucker and I despise Shelby's mom with so much in my soul but they’re written so well.

Erin Hahn is a god with words. I love the way she made one of the most wholesome and endearing love stories I have ever read. Erin has a way of making me absolutely love it and fall in love with her characters while also giving me a cute little sucker punch to the gut with the shittery that life has handed them at various points in their existence. I would protect all of these characters with my life. Except for Lyle and Shelby‘s mother. They can afford to rot just a little bit.

ALSO EACH CHAPTER TITLE IS A SONG FROM THE BOOK PLAYLIST !!!

Thank you OrangeSky Audio, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Combine the nostalgia of Boy Meets World with the fixer up banter of Home Town and you get Built to Last by Erin Hahn. Shelby and Cameron costarred in a cheesy coming of age comedy ten years previously. Cam left Hollywood to go to college, while Shelby left in disgrace five years later. After rebuilding their lives they are thrown together in a rebuilding reality show driven by her ex-lover and his childhood nemesis. This slow burn, second chance romance is a fun read that serves up a great mix of love story and spiciness. Add it to your winter reading list now!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Shelby Springfield, former child actor, has spent the last ten years trying to change her life and overcome the "party Shelby" way people remember her. She left LA for Michigan to restart her life. She works with her dad, a contractor, and has developed a reputation as someone who does a great job restoring old woodwork.

Cameron Riggs, Shelby's co-star back in the day, has also went into hiding. He left the glitz and glam, went to college, and has a successful career as a photographer for NatGeo. He lives a quiet, solitary life that he is enjoying.

Lyle Jessup, the final of the trio, stayed in Hollywood and started working behind the scenes.

There is a history between the three and when Lyle decides he wants to stir the pot and gets the gain back together by having Shelby and Cam do a home renovation reality show "Homemade." While behind the scenes, Lyle works to manipulate Shelby & Cam and instead of freaking out, the two work together to put Lyle in his place.

This book was a great read, I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for Hahn's next book.

It doesn’t take much for me to add books to my TBR. For this one, I saw the Friends to Lovers trope and I immediately added it. Add on to that that this is an author I’ve read before as well? Hell yeah, I was excited for this. And let me tell you, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

For the most part I really loved this. There were just a few minor things that can be addressed, but I actually don’t really think it took anything away. Like there was a small lull, but it was covered by the people who asked them if they wanted to do the show doing something vile, like inviting his parents and brother, but also her mom. Basically all the people they hate. So basically I was just excited that even though their relationship wasn’t progressing right then, I still had something to stress over lol

For the relationship, I LOVED the two of them together. They were so cute! I actually really enjoyed them together and apart. This is how I know it’s real lol But I think I liked them so much because they were basically like redeeming themselves. They had a long, hard past, and they deserved that. And I loved the way they were so resilient. They both learned what they did like, and from there basically perfected their craft. I love romances that make me root for them both together and apart.

The smexy times tho? I never expect good spicy scenes from a debut author who’s written only YA authors tho lol At the very least, I was expecting for it to be like a fade to black lol But nope. And man I was fanning myself by the time we got to the bench in the work room. (IYKYK lol) I would say it was like a 3.5 on my scale.

This was an unexpected win for me. I knew I would like the book because I loved her YA, but in true cliche fashion, I didn’t know how much. There was so much heart in this and the romance was really cute. And I know it was actually good, because this was giving HGTV vibes and I HATE that channel lol I don’t like looking at things I know I’ll never be able to do lol But even this book made me want to at least try one project. It was just that good. If y’all do a project because of this book tho, let me know in the comments!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Former child stars with a past secret relationship reunite to film home renovation show. Add in a third former child star that's a total jerk and is the show runner for the new show, and is possibly a bigger jerk now than before. Plus - the first two stars still have crazy chemistry and unresolved feelings, and end up back together. That's the gist of this one.

It's cute, predictable, low angst, could use more steam...pretty typical romcom. The likable characters are pretty likable, and Lyle is a complete toolbag and I hate him. I wanted him to have some sort of redeeming character arc but nope. He didn't even accidentally fall off a roof or down rotted stairs or anything. Sigh. Shelby and Riggs were super cute though. I wanted more of Lorelai - maybe book 2?

3.5 stars for this one, rounded up

Built to Last is a charming friends-to-lovers romance about two childhood stars whose paths collide in an unexpected way, taking them each on a journey of self-discovery. Will they find their way back to each other, and if they do, can they make it work this time?


This is one of my favorite tropes. I enjoy the feeling of intimacy that comes from knowing someone from childhood, and the writing really makes the reader connect with Shelby and Cameron's relationship. It wouldn't be a romance book without a little friction along the way, and as Lyle continues to interfere, I find myself rooting more and more for Cameron and Shelby. The pace of this book was quite good, I felt engaged right from the beginning and my curiosity was held throughout. Overall, I found this to be a quite enjoyable romance for someone looking for a light read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you like celebrity/ commonfolk romance, Erin Hahn's "Built to Last" is a fun combo of that trope and childhood friends to lovers. If you're an HGTV fan, you'll also love this fun story of reconnecting with the pieces of your past that you've avoided in attempt to protect yourself.

4 stars! Built to Last is an enjoyable second-chance romance. The characters are likable and the storyline kept my interest. Recommend!
Thank you to Erin Hahn, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about a book that will give you all the fuzzy feelings!

I love how this book follows child TV stars a decade after they have left Hollywood behind and have been leading otherwise normal lives far from LA. For me, Shelby was the clear star of this book! While I loved the romantic relationship formed in this book, I loved reading about Shelby's growth and transformation into who she is now.

This was definitely an enjoyable read and one I would recommend if you're in the mood for a happily ever after romance!

I really enjoyed Built to Last! I think my favorite elements were the home renovation scenes. I recommend this one!

Erin Hahn's Built to Last is a sparkling second chance romance about owning what you’re worth and fighting for the one who got away.

Shelby Springfield has spent the last ten years trying to overcome her past, sanding it away like the rough spots on the vintage furniture she makes over. But as a former child star, it’s hard to forget a widely documented meltdown and huge public break up with her former co-star Lyle Jessup. It’s also hard to forget her other co-star and childhood sweetheart, Cameron Riggs—the one who got away.

Anytime Shelby has called, Cameron has come running… And then he runs right off again to chase stories around the world by making documentaries, too scared to admit what he really wants. But when Lyle stirs the pot, getting the two back in the spotlight with a home renovation show, Cameron can't help but get on board.

There's something in it for everyone—almost. Cameron wants to set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove she's not the messy party girl anymore. And a jealous Lyle can’t help but try to get in the way. But for his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could ever dream of, nothing is getting in the way of their second chance at love.

I give this fun book 4/5 stars.

Synopsis: Childhood co-stars, Shelby and Cam, were also one another's first love. When they're thrown back together after years apart--full of pining--to do a reality home renovation show, they realize that maybe there's more than lost love between them after all.

As always, my two stars and a wish...

1. I loved how Cam actually participated in the home renovation. It made the ending a bit predictable but I really enjoyed that he found himself in that project.

2. Shelby's growth from the prologue to the end of the novel was fantastic. She really came into her own through it and that was great to see.

Wish: I realllllllllyyyyyyyyyy didn't understand Lyle's motivations. I wish there was more insight into that. Also, I wish that Shelby and Cam bought the house because that would have been cute.

Overall, a fun read that looks at second chances in more than one way.

I expected more from this book. I was so excited to read this book, I mean I love home renovation shows. The synopsis was to big in my opinion. The concept was every about the execution was not.

I am always fascinated with famous young people and how they handle the spotlight after sudden rises to fame. I always end up hoping as well that they can somehow "escape" and find peace after being in the relentless spotlight of the public and the media. Built to Last played on these hopes of mine so well!

Shelby and Cameron met and connected while working on a wildly popular teen show. They both left Hollywood and went their separate ways in a sort of dramatic fashion but so much was left unsaid and unexplored between them. Thrust back together by their ex-co star (and Shelby's ex-boyfriend). to work on a home renovation show, the two of them have to decide if adult Shelby and Riggs want to communicate and work on what their teenage selves left behind...

Second chance romance is my favorite trope and this book certainly delivered. I loved how they explored healthy communication early on in the book which made rooting for them easy, emotional and fun. Seeing Shelby and Riggs reconcile who they were with who they are and want to be together was beautiful. The side characters were also wonderful additions to the book that made their world one I wanted to live in. The only downside of this book is I wish I could actually watch their show HomeMade!!

Definitely recommend this book.

Shelby Springfield was a child star alongside Cameron Riggs and Lyle Jessup. As is the case with many child stars, he life spiraled and she was finally smart enough to leave that life and start over in anonymity. Ten years she has spent overcoming her past, honing her skills in vintage furniture restoration and loving her new life. But when a home renovation show is proposed, she sees the opportunity to help her father as well as herself financially. Can she handle getting back into show-biz? And the biggest kicker- Lyle and Cameron are invited back in as well. Her past collides with her present and there is a lot to work through.

Overall a sweet second-chance romance. There is some language though.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The World According to Jackson” launched the careers of eleven year olds Lyle Jessup, who played the lead, Cameron Riggs who played his nerdy best friend Carter, and Shelby Springfield who starred as Jackson’s love interest-Makayla. Seven years later it all crashed down and the stars have gone their separate ways. .Shelby has been helping her dad flip houses, and when the have the opportunity to create a reality show, the network doesn't feel like her and her dad have the necessary chemistry to keep the viewers interested. Showrunner Lyle, one of the trio from TWATJ, suggests Cameron come in to do the show with Shelby. Shelby and Cameron’s back story makes this sweet second chance love story come to life. The chemistry was very real, and I loved watching these two work, flirt, and communicate. The secondary cast of characters were pretty great, too. I think this will be an enjoyable book for anyone who reads contemporary romance.

Erin Hahn has long been one of my favorite YA authors, and with her debut adult romance, I can safely say she's going to be a favorite adult romance author, too. I loved how low-angst Built to Last was. There's wasn't a third-act breakup, and there wasn't any awful miscommunication. It was a truly sweet second-chance romance. They were each other's first love, but fame and circumstances drove them apart. She spiraled. He escaped. But now, years later, they're adults and ready for a fresh start, and they've never forgotten that one perfect, stolen night. Add in a manipulative ex turned TV producer, an HGTV-style home renovation show, and some tree-trunk thighs, and you get Built to Last. I adored it. I'm so grateful to St. Martins Griffin for my advance review copy, but I bought a finished copy for my shelves to lend out. Because it was perfect.