Normalize romance books whose conflict is not between the couple but between them and life circumstances! (Some people may consider that a spoiler, I consider it a selling point!) Built To Last stars Cameron and Shelby, two former child stars trying to make their own way in the world, Shelby with home renovations, and Cameron with National Geographic documentaries. After many years apart (that did nothing to tamp down their chemistry) they are asked to do a home renovation tv show, which turns out to be run by their former co-star/Shelby's ex who cheated on her/the man Cameron convinced her to leave, who also seems to have some issues with the two. It's a mess. But an entertaining one!

This book was sweet, cozy, and not super stressful, which is exactly what I needed right now. It was really satisfying to watch two child stars grow into their own people, even after a decade off their old show, and become adults with communication skills, making wise decisions, and supporting each other. I can't get enough of it!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the e-ARC! 4.5 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

"The Show According to Jackson" was a popular show that launched the careers of Lyle Jessup as the lead, Shelby Springfield, his love interest, and Cameron Riggs, his nerdy best friend. For years they sang, danced, and grew up together. During these years, Shelby and Cam were the ones who got closer and their friendship turned into a relationship, hidden from everyone. Suddenly, they both went their separate ways and Shelby was now known as Lyle's girlfriend in front of the cameras, which then ended in a big scandal. After this, Shelby decided to leave Hollywood behind, moved in with his dad in his small town, and started helping him renovate houses.

I love second chance childhood sweethearts books so I was soo excited to read this book. I loved the banter between Shelby and Cam! I love watching home renovation shows so I enjoyed that part of the book a lot! I loved that basically the complete progress of the renovation was shown, the good and the bad. I did however feel like there was something missing with Shelby and Cam, I would have loved that there were more flashbacks to when they were kids and grew together. After a decade of not having any communication, reuniting and getting back together felt a bit rushed, and there was just something missing between them. I liked the book, but I just didn't love it and it didn't hook me in.

Let me tell you, this book was so great! I loved the premise of this book, and boy am I glad I read it. It was a fun read. It did take me a few chapters to get into it just because I was a little bit confused by the flashbacks. Once it entered the present day I was so ready for this couple to give it a shot! I loved Cameron and Shelby's relationship and I loved how much they mentioned their past. I think that a lot of second chance romances forget that you really want to see how they were before they broke up. This book luckily made you feel sad that they had broken up which in turn made it so much better when they were able to revisit their relationship. I really just had a fun time reading this book, the tension was perfect. The conflicts within the book were also done in such a beautiful manner that I really loved seeing the conflicts resolve. I also enjoyed the side characters, and hopefully there will be sequels where we will get to explore the character dynamics of Lorelai and perhaps her future beau. I look forward to reading more books by Erin Hahn and I will definitely be exploring her backlist! **Thank you to Erin Hahn, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Built to Last in exchange for a honest review.**

Honestly can't decide how I feel about this book. I was kind of bored until half way through, but then thought it wrapped up too quickly.

I loved the "then" and "now" chapters, as well as the fact that we got both POVs. It's a little bit of a love triangle, but done super well and I didn't hate any of the characters - loved seeing the growth of the characters from childhood to present, but also loved the "famous" aspect of it.

Shelby Springfield loved being back in Michigan, working with her father restoring and renovating houses in the area. She had developed a passion for restoring furniture, and enjoyed knowing that people were delighted with her efforts. She was almost able to put her Los Angeles life as a wildly popular child star behind her, after her former co-star Lyle cheated on her and she spiraled into alcoholism and depression. At that time, she reached out to her other co-star, Cameron, who flew in from his National Geographic assignment in Alaska to help her. The letter Cameron left her convinced her to go back home, and she was proud of her efforts and the good work she was doing.

Lyle approached Shelby and Cameron, with an offer to work together on a home renovation show. Knowing that Lyle wasn’t to be trusted, they agreed, but with reservations. They found what Shelby considered the perfect property, and they began filming. Shelby’s dad, a contractor, was there to offer suggestions and advice, and Cameron picked up carpentry skills quickly. Everything was going along smoothly, until Lyle’s long-standing jealousy of Shelby and Cameron’s deep friendship reared up, and he tries to sabotage not only the show, but Shelby and Cameron as well.

What a great story! This was a fun read, with likeable characters and an interesting storyline. I absolutely loved Shelby’s resilience; by going home to Michigan she was able to discover who she really was. Cameron’s willingness to put his life on hold to work on the show with Shelby showed how much he truly cared for her. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, and their triumph over Lyle and his dirty tricks, with the hoped for HEA at the ending.

This was a fun read. Predictable, but in a good way - you knew things would work out, even though a few times it seemed like the HEA wasn't guaranteed.

I enjoyed the story very much, especially the 'reality TV' aspect. It really helps develop the 'what's real and what's for TV' trope, which is always a win for me. The characters were interesting, and showed real growth.... except for the few who weren't supposed to - they were despicable, as you'd expect. The dialogue was snappy, and real. Overall a very enjoyable debut.

I would recommend this as a good read for any time you want to get cozy with a quick, fun book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series, as well.

This a really sweet romance. Shelby and Cameron were clearly meant to be together. You can practically see the sexual tension between them oozing off the page. They have an enviable network of friends and family who really care about them. However, that is not to say that everyone in this story is a good and admirable character that would be unrealistic. There are clearly likable characters and clearly unlikeable characters, however no in-betweens. Of course, this being more of a romantic comedy in book form than a romantic tragedy, good wins out and so does the reader.

Refreshing and FUN! I loved the characters in this one. They were relatable, real, and raw. The love story was charming. I loved the unique plot and the setting. This was a quick, heartfelt read and I loved it!

First I want to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Like many people in the US, I LOVE a good home renovation show and when I saw this book's description with second chance and home renovations I HAD to request it. This is a story about two former child costars Shelby and Cameron who are thrown back together to host a home renovation show in Shelby's home down.

4.5/5 stars
What I Loved:
- Second chance romance, they fell in love as kids and then reconnecting as adults its one of my favorite types of this trope
- Home renovation, I love these types of shows and the one they are creating is EXACTLY the types I seek out to watch....hello restoring historical homes
- Slow burn, it takes a while for them to find each other but goodness its worth it
- Friends, both Shelby and Cameron have amazing friends that support them and they bring a bit of levity throughout the story

Overall I love this book, and one of my absolute favorite parts is that was a bit off the standard romance "formula", I can't say what without spoiling it but it is the reason why I stayed up WAY to late to finish this book. The only reason why I didn't give if a full 5 stars is I didn't want to re-read it right away....but I know I willl be revisiting soon. If you are a fan of second chance romances with a side of home renovation and ex-famous people PLEASE pick this book up!

Second-chance childhood sweetheart romance

Although very sweet it’s just not very believable that they still harbor feelings for one another. They didn’t have any contact for a long time and just their behavior once they begin communicating once again falls short on convincing me they have deep feelings. Their love seems nostalgic and childish. Doesn’t seem like they are in love now that they are grown adults.

Second Chance romances are my favorite and I’ve been reading a lot of those lately, this one was just above and beyond adorable. I enjoyed all the characters and loved the immense growth that the characters had throughout the book. Can’t recommend it enough!

Former child co-stars reunite to star in a home improvement series.

I liked Shelby's POV better because she gave more insight and details into the construction and restoration of the house. That's what really had my interest.

This gave me Lovelight Farms vibes. It's two adults having conversations to resolve conflict and heal old wounds and move the relationship forward. I also love, loved their friends who weren't afraid to tell the mains to get their acts together. I really really REALLY liked that there wasn't a dumb overheard conversation or a misunderstand at the 3/4 mark to disrupt the relationship.

Looking forward to the next installment!

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

A huge thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
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I fell for Shelby and Cameron as soon as I met them on the page. They fell for each other as child stars on a hit television show, but have moved on and grown up outside the limelight. Forced back together to make a home-renovation show, that would definitely fit in on HGTV, not only do they have to renovate a house, they have to battle their ex-co-star Lyle as he sets out to make their lives a living hell.
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The pressure of being known in the public eye is an extra added pressure to a second-chance romance, and brought a fun dynamic to the trope. I loved hating Lyle, and couldn’t wait for him to get what was coming to him. The chemistry between Shelby and Cam was great, and the side characters made the story more engaging.

REVIEW: Built to Last by Erin Hahn

Child star Shelby Springfield has been through the wringer: she was in a high profile relationship with her former co-star Lyle Jessup, cheated on by him with her best friend in the business, and to top it all off, her mother is capitalizing off Shelby’s fame by writing a tell-all, exposing Shelby’s many dark secrets. Shelby has always had it bad for her other co-star and past secret love, Cameron Riggs, and when the 2 are put together by their ex co-star Lyle for a home renovation show, she is reluctant to put herself in the spotlight again.

But time and time again, Cameron shows up for her and the two begin to fall in love all over again, just as they did when they were kids. This second chance romance was filled with so much joy, Midwestern jokes, one or two semi open door steamy scenes, some sweet side characters, and vibes from all your favorite HGTV home renovation shows. It’s definitely a slow burn, but worth the wait for the sweet romance you get between Shelby and Cameron. I hear there are some other books coming from Erin Hahn centered on Lorelai and Maren, so I look forward to reading those next!

thank you netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest opinion

actual rating : 3.5 stars

i just realized i never posted my review on this book and i blame my busy life for this 😭

i’m usually not the biggest fan of second chance but i really enjoyed this one. the fact that they were childhood friends/sweethearts made everything better.

shelby and cam have an incredible such a good chemistry, the writers really outdid herself with that. their banter was everything and they had me rooting for them from the beginning

the only thing i would add would be a little more flashbacks/scenes from when the were younger but it was still really good to see them grow together and develop those feelings all over again.

overall it was a really cute book and if you’re a fan of renovation or renovating shows you’ll probably enjoy this book!

Shelby Springfield has a lot to prove. As a teenager, she starred on a popular teen sitcom named The World According to Jackson. It was a bubblegum show about being an American teenager. It starred Lyle Jessup, with Shelby as his girlfriend and Cameron Riggs as his best friend. Backstage, the sparks were flying between Shelby and Cameron, not Shelby and Lyle, but when the show ended, Cameron left Hollywood as fast as he could.

In the wake of Cam’s leaving, Shelby became a pop singer and started dating Lyle . They were social media sweethearts, until he dumped her for her best friend and then wrote a song about how the breakup had been all her fault. He had a hit song and a new love, and Shelby was publicly humiliated and vilified.

After burning out in Los Angeles, Shelby had moved back to Michigan, where her father taught her about rehabbing houses. She started working for him, helping to bring houses back to their former glory. Now they work as a team, with her father and his crew doing most of the work of the house while she works on restoring distinctive pieces that add to the beauty and informs the area’s history. Her latest project is a set of built-in bookshelves that she restored and is putting back in place before adding that last coat of varnish.

Now she’s thinking about getting back into television, but not back to Hollywood. She wants them to come to her, to film her and her father rehabbing houses in Michigan. There is some interest in the project, but her father just doesn’t have that same on-camera charm that she does. She needs another option, and when the idea comes up that Cameron Riggs be her cohost, she was willing to try. But would he be willing to?

In the years since the show ended, Cameron had gone a different direction. He attended college and then landed a job with National Geographic, working behind the camera, making documentaries all over the world. But after years of world travel, he got a call from Shelby and decided to take some time off to move home to Michigan. It’s an opportunity to connect with Shelby again and help her make the pilot for a reality house rehabbing show. But it’s also a chance to reconnect with his family, maybe even with the father he barely knew, who resented his success as a teenager and for splitting up the family all those years Cam and his mother spent in Hollywood. Plus, it’s Shelby. He could never say no to her.

But when they have a meeting with the producer, they realize that this new show will be more of a challenge than Shelby and Cameron realized, since Lyle has taken over as showrunner. He says he’s over all their teenage drama, but it’s clear that he still has something to prove. But will his machinations take down the show, and their growing feelings for each other, or will Shelby and Cameron be able to build something strong together, with a past they can celebrate and a future that has a strong foundation?

Built to Last is an addictive rom com that blends a story of child stars grown up and of reality home restoration show hosts into a fun and inventive tale of old friends who become new friends and so much more. These characters are smart and funny and strong, and when they learn to get out of their own way, they are almost unstoppable.

I devoured this book. I loved how Shelby was able to find something for herself, that she had built with her own two hands. I liked Cameron a lot, and I was really impressed with his years with Nat Geo. I loved watching them get together and try dating for real, with honesty and respect, taking the time to build something real, just like with the house they’re rehabbing. But the character that I thought stole all the scenes she appeared in was best friend Lorelai Jones, former country star. She was pitch-perfect and brightened up the story. So basically: loved the story, loved the characters, loved it all!

Egalleys for Built to Last were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This just wasn't clicking with me. I was a bit bored, and kind of dreading picking it up. I could see myself coming around though.

I've been reading so many books with celebrity characters; I think it's hard not to compare them. This one just isn't as engaging as those. That's why I can see myself trying again; maybe when I'm not fresh off the heels of fictional celebrity books.

Years ago, Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs starred together on a teen television show, where they fell head over heels. But then Cameron went off to college, seemingly skipping town right after shebanging Shelby and she, heartbroken, ended up hooking up with Lyle Jessup, the star of the same television show. Think Topanga secretly dating Shawn from Boy Meets World and then hooking up with Cory later on.

Anyway, Lyle turns out to be a huge douchenozzle and writes a song about their relationship after they break up (all three of them can sing, because of course they can). Lyle’s song paints Shelby in a bad light, making her Public Enemy Number 1 in the age of social media. In an attempt to rid herself of both Lyle and her partying ways, Shelby returns to her hometown in Michigan, where she helps her dad by refurbishing furniture and flipping houses.

Enter Lyle, again, with this banger idea for a reality house-flipping show, starring his former co-stars.
Why the hell did he decide to do this show having no interest or experience in house flipping? Hell if I know. But in order to resuscitate their careers, both Shelby and Cameron (who now works for Nat Geo), agree to do the show. Not surprisingly, sparks fly and Shelby and Cameron are soon laying more than just tile. But will their relationship last, or will Lyle’s jealous streak cause him to sabotage the project?

I really enjoyed this one. Shelby and Cameron were too cute together, even though I wanted to smack the both of them over the head more than a few times. And Lyle. Well, Lyle is the epitome of small dick energy in the way he plays the victim and acts toward Shelby and Cameron. This is a slow burn, but once that spark ignites, it burns—but not in the uncomfortable way. I adored how Cameron always had Shelby’s back, and their character growth was fun to watch. I also enjoyed the whole child star aspect, though I found it hard to believe that Shelby and Cameron thought they could go out in public without being noticed. Recommend for lovers of second chance, friends-to-lovers romances.

I really enjoyed this book. This book is about two childhood tv sweathearts who find a second chance at romance. I love Hahn's book and when I heard she was writing an adult book, I knew I had to read it. I love her stories and she doesn't disappoint. The writing style was amazing in this book and I enjoy how Hahn still brings in the touch of character fame in her books. It really makes it special and unique to her writing style. I enjoyed the midwestern setting and the storyline which had my attention until the end.

The main characters in this book are Shelby and Cameron. Shelby is trying to change her image and Cameron left before they were separated. Both come together to fix houses and I loved how much development there was between them. They bantered which was so cute and they had such amazing chemistry. There is also great side characters and some you will not like but were greatly written for the book. There is great amount of family dynamics in this book and the romance is a second chance romance with a bit of spice.

The ending was great and I really enjoyed this story. As much as it was good there was something lacking. Though everything else was great and I'm so glad that the author is writing adult romance because she is already doing well. I totally recommend reading her books especially if you love cinnamon rolls with second chance romance.

This book was wonderful and I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters greatly and enjoyed how their relationship grew during this second chance romance. I found the story interesting and the characters engaging.
My only issue with this book was it took me a while to get invested and feel the need to continue reading, once I was hooked though, I was hooked.