Second chance romance AND friends to lovers tropes? This one was right up my alley. I was so excited to get to read this eARC thanks to Netgalley.

Shelby, Cam, and Lyle worked together years ago on a teenage tv show. Now, after years being separated, Shelby and Cam have been asked by their producer (Lyle) to star in a DIY television show. Shelby and Cam have always loved each other, Lyle is trying to find his way to sabotage their relationship.

What I liked:
*There was a good balance between family drama and rom-com love story.
*Sometimes we all need a low-key book. This wasn't too heavy but kept the reader interested.
*The banter was perfectly written.

This book is perfect for someone that loves a sweet, easy rom-com.

This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this book.

Shelby, Cameron and Lyle all starred together as children in what I picture to be a Disney or Nickelodeon type show. Shelby had a bit of a rocky road and left Hollywood behind several years ago and has not looked back. She now has a business restoring and works with her dad, who is a house flipper. She is approached to star in a pilot of a home renovation show. The co-star would be Cameron, also out of the Hollywood scene for years. He is her former co-star and her first love.
Lyle, her other former co-star and significant other of 5 or so years, is the producer. And he seems to have another agenda other than just the show.

Shelby and Cameron were adorable! Despite both of them trying to fight their feelings, that love was still there. Both had some amazing side characters as friends which made the story even more fun.

I adored Shelby! She did not let Lyle, or anyone, tell her how to live her life! She owned her prior mistakes and was determined not to repeat them.

Such a fun, delightful romance.

I'm really hoping Lorelai's story is next, and will definitely be on the lookout for more from ths author!

Many thanks to NetGalley. St. Martin's Press and OrangeSky Audio for an ARC as well as an advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Finished this one up in a day!

Shelby is trying to regain a normal life after a hint as a childhood star. Oh and she has a relationship with two costars, Cameron, her first love who walked away from Hollywood and Lyle, her rebound and on-again/off-again boyfriend who cheated on her then claimed she was the cheater. Shelby spiraled, then retreated to her hometown in Michigan and now enjoys rehabbing older homes with her father. When she gets a chance to have her own rehab show, there is a catch. Lyle, her ex is the producer, and he wants Cameron, the other ex to be her co-star. Shelby agrees because the show will also bring her father on as a contributor/paid employee.

As Shelby and Cameron find the house and begin work, they are reminded of their past and also why Cameron ran away from Shelby…twice. Lyle tries to throw all the problems into the situation – Shelby’s estranged mother, Lyle’s now wife/Shelby’s ex-best friend, and purposefully trying to sabotage the show. Shelby and Cameron must find a way to overcome all these wrenches while also navigating their feelings for each other. Cameron must find a way not to run away again and Shelby finally realizes to stand up for herself to Lyle, her mother and Cameron.

This is a great second-chance love with a little bit of HGTV-like show thrown in there as well. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced reader copy of the book.

This book was absolutely perfect. I loved the second chance romance, the friends to lovers, the home renovation show. There wasn’t a third act break up! There wasn’t the drama that I thought there would be! It was amazing.

I loved Shelby and Cameron so much. So. Much. They also loved each other so much. Even with 10 years and a lot of baggage between them, they still held on to those feelings of love. I loved that instead of being annoyed and hurt but the past, and feeling inconvenienced by the fact they were reunited to do this show they were going to hold on to all of the negative things, they both just decided that this was their second chance and they weren’t letting it slip by.

Cameron did have a lot of prove. He’s never felt like what he’s doing is good enough, his father never felt like he was. So now this was his chance, even if the show did work out, he was going to make it work with Shelby and stay in Michigan and finally be in one place.

Shelby also had a lot to prove. She stayed in the limelight longer than Cam did, and when she left she was kind of a mess. So she wants the world to see that she’s okay, that she’s whole and healthy and happy. And even though working with her ex that got her into the mess in the first place, with Cam by her side she’s determined to make it work.

I also loved every single secondary character (except Lyle, he sucks). Lorelai and Maren are such amazing champions for Shelby; they always know what to say and what she needs. I HOPE we get a story about Lorelai, I am dying to know more about her. Her song at the end had me in tears. Kevin and Beth are my favorite, their sweet married life and humor and their friendship and dedication to Cameron was so heartwarming. Shelby’s dad, Daniel, was so amazing to both Shelby and Cam. All the advice Cam desperately needed he got from Daniel in the most loving way.

This book was so beautifully written. We got enough information from their past without it being too much, but we knew exactly what was happening. We got to see how difficult it was to grow up as a child star, and the consequences of that that followed Shelby into her young adult life. How gross people can be to people just because they’re famous. It was also funny! How gone for Shelby Cam was, and always had been. Shelby and her chicks! How much care Shelby put into her new life in Michigan working with her dad. I loved every single second of this book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I cannot wait to see what else Erin Hahn writes because I’ll read anything she puts out!

sooooo good! high 4’s!!

i didn’t know what to expect but i really liked this one! it immediately draws you in and was so addictive! especially with tropes like friends to lovers and loved since they were kids :’)

it was such a warm and cozy read which i find sometimes is hard when books are written in the world of celebrity. it can be so cold and dramatic but erin hanh did such a wonderful job. with characters like cameron and shelby, it was easy to love the book. they were so lovable and kind and their mutual pining just sealed the deal. the pining from childhood to adulthood was so well done especially when you see the ways their lives came together and split apart. i just love a repressed love with silence since they part. right person, wrong time and all that *dreamy sigh*

the writing was also so easy and light. i adored the pacing and feel like it agreed enough with the plot. sometimes books with home renovation plots go too deeply into the home renovation part and i get lost or bored with it but there was just enough here that i was into it, respected it but also was happy to focus on the romance and plot of the book.

hahn truly wrote such a charming book with sweet characters and i’m glad i was able to read it! i will be buying my own copy when it’s published! thanks to netgalley and the publisher for sending an arc my way for an honest review in return.

Former best friends and child stars, Shelby and Cam reunite after 10 years to flip a house for a new TV show. They have an intense chemistry and quickly deeper feelings start to stir, as this project becomes their second chance...

I loved the two leads, and their romance felt genuine. A lovely afternoon read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute romance novel and it was a fun read.

A cute second chance romance, but didn’t really speak on a level that made me love it. Shelby and Cameron have cute chemistry and growth, but the plot/premise behind this book is very similar to others that have released this year and therefore it just doesn’t stand out amongst those other books. If you love HGTV and home renovations, this would likely be a good romance pick for those individuals

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book! We follow Shelby and Cameron, who were once costars, as they currently navigate being back in each other's lives while doing a home renovation show. I love anything home-related in books, so I was very excited to pick this one up because of that. The story itself was fun, but I found that it lacked overall. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to, and to me, the relationship seemed like there was no real strain or struggle--they could've easily gotten together 100 pages in and been fine--so I'm not quite sure why it was dragged out so long. I did like both of our characters, and that we got to see both of their perspectives. The home renovation element was what I was really looking forward to, but there wasn't a whole lot of it in the story. Sure, it was the "driving factor" that brought the characters together, but there really wasn't much about the actual renovation. Overall I would recommend this for an easy-to-read story, but it wasn't my favorite rom-com.

Built to Last is a friends-to-lovers romance between former child stars Cameron and Shelby. They have wonderful chemistry and talk openly about nearly everything, except for the words that matter. The miscommunication trope serves as the major barrier between the two friends who both mention how easily they slip back into their friendship despite the distance and time apart. Their problem would have been solved had they just been willing to put their hearts on the line.

While this is one of my most disliked tropes, it was not enough to prevent me from loving the book. Shelby and Cameron’s chemistry overshadowed the trope. They made me a bit teary because this felt like the best kind of love. The one where two people just fit together so easily, like coming home, and it appealed to the hopeless romantic in me. Hahn made me believe this is what love is supposed to feel like, and I wanted to hold onto it just a bit longer. Individuals who dislike the miscommunication trope may need to stay away, but those looking for friends-to-lovers will enjoy this one.

Erin Hahn is a new to me author and this book didn’t disappoint - it was well-written, easy to read and a fun take on the home renovation show world that I love so much.

Shelby Springfield is a child star and pop star who stepped out of the limelight after being cheated on by her boyfriend and broken down by the industry. She ended up in Michigan with her dad where she started restoring antique furniture and making a name for herself there without relying on her celebrity. Shelby works closely with her dad to flip houses so when Hollywood calls to create a pilot about them, she’s all in to show how she’s grown since leaving LA behind but her dad is against being on camera so she needs a new co-host.

Cameron Riggs is a former child star who left Hollywood behind to have a real college experience and then went to work for National Geographic, creating documentaries all over the world. But his mother is encouraging him to come home more often, something he hasn’t been able to do while he’s traveling the world, leading him back to Michigan to learn all about home renovations and Shelby’s new life she’s built thanks to his urging the last time they saw each other.

Cam and Shelby were on the same show together for seven years and were each other’s childhood sweethearts. When Cam left, Shelby was heartbroken and spiraled into their other costar Lyle’s arms. Then, when they broke up, Cam came running again - something he’d always do when it came to Shelby. Years later, they’re all back together again to create a new home renovation show together featuring Shelby and Cam and Lyle showrunning it all. The show brings Shelby and Cam closer than ever, working through the past and figuring out a way to move forward, even if it does include more of the limelight than they hoped. Lyle continues to throw curveballs at them to pull them apart but they only serve to bring them together. I would have loved to see more flashbacks to their childhoods and the beginning of their romance but reading about the ways they worked together to establish not only a new show but a mature relationship at the same time was really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this story - it was low angst and incredibly sweet. The side characters were a ton of fun - Kevin and Beth were hilarious and Lorelei and Maren are quite the best friends for Shelby to have in her corner. There was a little bit of a tease at the end and I’m hoping we’ll get Lorelai’s story next from Hahn. Fingers crossed!

This woman owns my heart.

This is Erin Hahn’s first foray into an adult genre. She has three (3) AMAZING YA novels already out: You’d Be Mine, More Than Maybe, and Never Saw You Coming. They are absolutely beautifully written.

Built To Last was super well written, a trademark of Hahn’s, the characters were relatable and the chemistry was off the charts. It wasn’t clean. Which, honestly we shouldn’t have expected that after Never Saw You Coming; a book where she challenges the purity culture that surrounds most religions.

By that I mean that Hahn doesn’t skimp on the sex scenes. They aren’t gratuitous by any means. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not erotica. It’s a legit romance. Where the feelings and relationship of the main couple is forefront.

It’s beautifully done. Hahn keeps getting better and better. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

I legit love her.

Shelby and Cameron are super open about their struggles with their mental health and were, all around, healthy and adorable. #Spriggs

Their relationship was legit goals. I’m so excited to see what else Hahn comes up with.

Super fun romantic comedy! Cam and Shelby, past childhood stars have always had a thing for each other. When Shelby calls after hitting rock bottom, Cam gets on a plane to be there for her.
Fast forward a few years, they both have left Hollywood and now have an opportunity to work together again. Is a reality TV show renovating homes in the cards, or will their past mistakes keep them from success? Friends, family, a past costar and the media can make or break them.
Great characters, fun interactions, angst and of course some steamy moments. Their story will make you smile, laugh and root for them! Definitely a page turner.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you St Martins
@erinhahn_author and @SMPRomance

This was such a fun, heartfelt, steamy, thoughtful romance! I loved the layers to the characters' past—their history as child stars, the flashbacks to the development of their relationship over time, and the ways their past came back to haunt them as they healed... all so satisfying, and it made the payoff feel so much more earned, genuine, and emotional! The scenes kept me turning pages, the characters delivered all the banter and steam and heart I could want from a romance, and it even had me wanting to watch some HGTV. A total delight, and a great entry to adult romance for Erin Hahn.

This is a fun and charming read!

+ second chance love (child co-stars to adult co-stars)
+ home renovation show (YES, please! I'm a sucker for HGTV)
+ amazing best friends (I hope that Lorelai and Maren will get their own books. I think they will!)
+ a behind-the-scenes look at celebrity life.
+ Shelby's dad
+ Shelby's obsession with Cameron's thighs!

I'm always a fan of a cheesy rom com, it's one of my favorite genres. This one didn't disappoint in that aspect, I loved the connection between Cam and Shelby. I really enjoyed their story, however, I really disliked Lyle which makes sense considering he's the villain of the story. I kept hoping for some true redemption from him or some sort of downfall for his character instead of him finding extra success off of Cam and Shelby while constantly trying to drag them down.

I enjoy second chance romance novels, but I always need a good redemption arc and the main character at fault to apologize accordingly. I was a bit frustrated with Cameron at times, but when you take into consideration how young they were when everything went wrong, it's easier to make allowances.

I loved Shelby and she loved Cameron wholeheartedly from the very start and that made me grow to love him too.

Built to Last by Erin Hahn was a sweet second-chance romance with no third-act conflict and for that I am thankful. I hope Shelby's friend Lorelei gets her own book so I can see more of Cameron and Shelby being happy and together, together.

Erin Hahn's Built to Last is a sweet and satisfying second-chance romance about two child stars who are trying to recapture their love.

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs starred with Lyle Jessup—their former friend and Shelby's ex-boyfriend—on a super-popular tv show when they were teenagers. Shelby and Cameron had a secret romance before Cameron left the show, and her life, leaving Lyle to console her.

A decade later, Shelby has created a new career for herself with her dad, restoring furniture in the old homes he flips. Cameron has become a successful documentary filmmaker. They're brought back together, ironically, by Lyle, who has an idea for a new home renovation show, one that he'll produce.

For very different reasons, they agree, despite their reservations about Lyle's involvement. As they start to become reacquainted, they also understand things about each other that weren't clear before.

I read this one in close to one sitting, drawn in by Hahn's compelling characters, intriguing plot—fueled by flashbacks that illuminate the past, and steamy romance.

This is a wonderful and well written story. It has well thought out characters and the setting is lovely. Shelby and Cameron are former child stars who have moved on to different things in their lives. The author creates a plot to show how their lives have changed but yet they are still haunted by their past. It is also a very romantic love story of two young people who have been in love with each other for a long time. They have to separate the public life from the private feelings in order to find the truth and real happiness.

SO SO SO ADORABLE!!

The beginning pulled me in from the very first chapter. I was already hooked on Cameron and Shelby. The love he already felt for her?!

*SWOON*

AND?!?! NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!!!

(complete side note but the social media aspect/comments were awesome)

Just loved this book so much! (Here's hoping we get a Lorelai next book 😍)