I think that this was a cute second chance romance. I think the author does a good job of painting that picture and getting the background story developed to paint the picture for the rest of the book. I feel like this book started off well and then the characters and everything else sort of fell flat. I wasn't as wow-ed or swooning for the two main characters in the beginning. It really felt like puppy love and that just wasn't for me.

The author does do a great job of really making you feel for the characters though. Lyle, definitely felt disgust for him throughout this book. I really felt bad and rooted for Cameron as an individual along with Shelby. You were able to connect with their struggles and enjoyed reading them work through those difficulties.

Shelby and Cameron were the hit of a popular tv show growing up, along with Lyle. Years after the show ended and lyle and shelby break up she calls, the man she loves Cameron who she hasn’t seen in 5 years. Cameron loves her but can’t hurt her he bails on her too, after seeing her become a party girl. 5 years later shelby lives in northern Michigan where she gets call from Lyle asking to do a show with Cameron to rebuild a house. Will this finally be a chance to rekindle the lost friendship or more.

It’s a cute story kinda unrealistic but makes you wonder if maybe there are second chances in life.

Built to Last by Erin Hahn

Well wasn’t this just an adorable read! I loved so many aspects of it. HGTV is one of the channels I like to unwind to sometimes, so the home makeover portions were a blast to read. I would love to flip houses, but I literally have zero skills outside of painting when it comes to that 😆

Childhood sweetheart tropes just make me happy. Especially when they fell apart but came back together and loved each other the whole time. The banter between the characters made me laugh and my heart happy.

I’m definitely a fan of Erin Hahn and will be reading her books in the future for sure!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for my honest review! 💙

This was a really enjoyable second-chance romance with a childhood friends to lovers trope. I loved the characters and the storyline. It's a slow burn with some spice!

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.

Release Date: October 18, 2022

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I was really excited when I saw this cover because I love HGTV and who doesn’t love a second chance at love story. The description sounded like a cute and fun story. I liked the two main characters Shelby and Cameron but I hated Lyle (naturally) and wanted them to fire him or do something instead of how it actually played out.

Cameron, Shelby, and Lyle were all child actors on the same show growing up together. Cameron and Shelby had a romance off camera while Shelby and Lyle had the on screen romance, but when Cameron went off to college Shelby and Lyle started to date. After a messy breakup with Lyle Shelby finally leaves LA. She joins her father and finds her passion in home renovation. Fast Forward to the present, Shelby and Cameron are brought together to do a pilot for a home renovation show. I thought Cameron and Shelby both were ditzy but sweet. They had to be in order to put up with way too much from several nasty characters. I did like Shelby’s best friend and the promise of a possible sequel with her story.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations #erinhahn #builttolast #stmartinspress

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.