Built to Last is a sweet second chance romance novel. Childhood stars and first loves Shelby and Cameron are now tasked with hosting a home improvement reality TV show. I really loved the premise, small town setting and enjoyed the book overall. In the end, I only liked this and didn't love it. The dialogue felt awkward to me and often took me out of the story. It had me wondering whether this novel is geared toward a younger audience (I am in my 30s). I even checked to see if this was a YA book versus adult. Perhaps readers in their 20s would connect more with the dialogue. There were several times that the alternating POVs confused me. Multiple times I couldn't remember whether I was in a chapter for Shelby or Cameron without flipping back to the beginning of the chapter, which made me feel like they didn't each have a distinct voice. Also, I really did not like the flashback scene to when Cameron and Shelby had sex for the first time. I strongly dislike explicitly described teen hookup scenes in adult novels. Finally, all the conflicts that were built up felt brushed aside rather than resolved. Lyle, certain family members, Shelby's reputation and Cameron's career were all identified as obstacles to a HEA. And then suddenly without much explanation or development everything was fine.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

"I had you first, and I'll have you last."..."It's only fair. I've been yours since the moment I saw you."

Cameron & Shelby. Romance readers will go bonkers for this OTP! Mooning and pining. He looks at her like she put the ever-loving stars in the sky. There are missed connections, bad timing, always leaving...but maybe their timing isn't as bad!

"Stay with me and we can build something together."

THINGS AND STUFF
-former co-stars on a children's TV show
-friends to lovers
-second chance romance
-historical restoration
-first love
-his old Detroit Tigers tee
-pancakes
-road trip! antiquing and a b & b
-grand gestures
-#IsThisAKissingBook: open door.

Thank you SMP Romance for an advanced copy!

Song: Call It Dreaming by Iron & Wine

This was a super cute read. Second chance romance with childhood sweetheart cross who team back up for an hgtv-style home renovation show. Cameron has always had a soft spot for Shelby and will com running whenever she needs help, even if he's off in another country making a documentary. The two reconciling to do this show and their reunion while a bit rocky at first was nothing but sweet and their feelings for each other were nothing but obvious. Their former co-star Lyle was definitely more than a bit of an annoyance, he certainly deserved to be put in his place. Even with Lyle's meddling and mayhem, Cameron and Shelby both had more than one good thing come out of doing the show and I loved seeing the two of them prevail even when things seemed bleak.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for the arc.

Two former child actors, Shelby and Cam, reunite after 10 years apart to film a pilot for a home improvement show featuring Shelby and her dad's flips. The only catch, their former costar and Shelby's former boyfriend, Lyle, is the showrunner of the show. Will the three of them be able to overcome their pasts (and their reputations) to make the show a success? I read the book in only a few sittings and could barely put it down. The only thing that I didn't like about the book was the unnecessary language and open door romance. Definitely a great read for those that don't mind open door romance.

I received an eARC of this from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cute second chance romance. I could feel the chemistry between Shelby and Cam, even if I did wish we saw more of their time together when they were younger. I liked the home renovation and though it game both if them a nice second life outside of the Hollywood games and glamor of their youth.

3.5 really so please give me half stars! Second chance is my favorite trope so I was hype to get into this one. It was really cute but a little too much of a slow burn for me. I will say I think if you like home reno shows or basically anything on HGTV that you will enjoy this book. Pick this one up if you enjoy a lot of pining and sweetness, just don't expect it to move too quickly. Overall, I would read more from Erin Hahn!

Erin Hahn knocked her first adult romance out of the park!

I devoured this book in two days. Not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical about Cam and Shelby in the first couple chapters but I trusted Erin to see me through and she did NOT disappoint.

Am I love with more fictional characters? Yes. I had honest-to-God laughs out loud at the “comments section” and even the cast of side characters was perfect. Miracle of miracles, there was NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP. And a magnificent epilogue really stuck the landing. (As a regular epilogue-skipper, I’m glad I was compelled to get on with it because I would have missed out.)

I’m not a home reno show fan, but you don’t need to be in order to fall in love with these two child stars who get a second chance at love.

Did I think this was a YA based on the cover? Yup. But don't worry, you're quickly ensconced in a scene of the sexual nature and it just gets hotter and heavier from there. I love a home renovation rom-com as much as the next person and this didn't disappoint. A cozy nook in my house? Yes please. Plus the chemistry between Cameron and Shelby is essentially that of 2 horny teenagers who refuse to admit they love each other. And don't get me started on Lyle... He's scum even by reality TV producer standards. If he never gets a happy ending, it'll be too soon. I'd love to see Lorelai and Maren get books, as I was intrigued to what shenanigans we could get up to with a country star and a park ranger.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Built to Last is Erin Hahn's first adult romance novel but her move from YA is seamless. Shelby is a former child star trying to create a private life for herself after a public spectacle. Lyle is her former boyfriend and Cameron is her longtime best friend but all three share a past as costars. They reunite to film a house renovation show, each for their own reason. I loved the development of Shelby and Cameron's relationship from best friends with unspoken crushes to romantic partners. They had great communication and genuinely supported one another. This story is funny, sweet, and an interesting imagining of life after the public eye. The house remodeling pieces were a unique background for the main storylines. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to see what Erin Hahn creates next!

Thanks to Erin Hahn, St. Martin Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn’s debut adult romance, and it contains some minor characters from her previous young adult novels. Shelby Springfield, Cameron Riggs, and Lyle Jessup were childhood pals and stars in a kids’ TV show. When the show ended when they were 18, Cameron headed to college and studied film. Shelby and Lyle had a romantic relationship for 5 years and partied. When they broke up, Shelby contacted Cameron and he visited her but didn’t act on his attraction to her. Fast forward another 5 years and Shelby works with her dad in Michigan, renovating vintage furniture while he flips houses. Shelby is no longer a party-girl and is running low on money. She is trying to secure a TV deal featuring her and her dad renovating houses. Like a Lindsay Lohan-type turning into Erin from HGTV’s Home Town.

Cameron is a successful globetrotting documentary filmmaker for National Geographic, never staying on one place for long. But when Lyle offers a deal, getting Shelby and Cameron a home renovation show called HomeMade, Cameron agrees. Lyle is jealous of the chemistry between Shelby and Cameron and tries to interfere in their budding relationship.

Built to Last is an easy-to-read second-chance romance told in alternating point of view between Shelby and Cameron. It will be especially enjoyed by fans of home renovation shows. However the story is full of profanity and I don’t recommend it for young readers.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Great rom com about former child stars who reunite to film a home renovation TV show. I was all in on them from the start and all against their perpetually fame seeking and trouble causing former costar. The spice was perfect and the comedy gave me laugh out loud moments. The story leads me to believe we will get another book focusing on one of the BFs and I look forward to reading it.

“I had you first, and I’ll have you last.”
“You’ll have me forever.”
“It’s only fair. I’ve been yours the moment I saw you.”

Shelby and Cameron. Former child co-stars that are back in each others lives after years of being estranged. Not only do they have to work together (again) but now all the feelings they had is coming back again.

WOW! What a story! The unresolved feelings, mutual pining, and chemistry! You’ll fall in love with this book as well as with Cameron and his “tree-trunk thighs”.

“I’m not sure of myself around you, but I’ve always been sure of you. Nothing in my life but you.”

🪜READ IF YOU LIKE🪜:
- dual POV
- second chance
- co-star & childhood sweethearts
- friends to lovers
- workplace romance
- Boston cream donuts
- forced proximity
- home renovation show
- stressed-baking
- National Geographic documentarian
- Michigan setting

cw: family dynamics, cheating, slut shaming, divorced, manipulation,

Thank you @netgalley and @smpromance for the advanced copy! Built to Last is available on October 18, 2022!

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: toxic relationship with parent, parental neglect, brief mentions of disordered eating (past), food shaming, paparazzi bullying, family tensions, past relationship with cheating and gaslighting

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-childhood crush
-estranged childhood best friends to lovers
-former child stars
-forced proximity
-lumbersexual
-home restoration
-mutual pining

This book had so many of my favorite tropes. Two childhood crushes forced back together and just pining away for each other. I loved the twist that they were former child stars and are now working on an HGTV type show. This book is both their internal redemptions for themselves, and the restoration of their relationship.

This book could have been really angsty and it wasn't. Just two people getting horny, and a bit horny for home repair, and deciding what they want next from their lives. I adored Shelby's group of friends and really appreciated just how solid they were, always there for her. The family dynamics were messy but lovely as well.

I adored Cameron. Pining away, believing he and Shelby had already had their moment. That they both could recognize that their issues were communicating and they had to learn who these new older selves were was just lovely. So much lumber sexual appreciation. I'm curious to see what happens if this ends up being a series.

Steam: 3

Set aside an afternoon for this one! Built to Last has it all - an HGTV ready home show, a hunky actor and National Geographic reporter turned carpenter, a hard partying former child star who has reinvented herself as a furniture restorer, family disfunction, social media…what else do you want? Oh, sex? There’s plenty and it’s good.

When her former boyfriend Lyle (he wrote a nasty and untrue breakup song about her) reaches out to Shelby Springfield about HomeMade, a new and not totally original house makeover show, he neglects to tell her that her co-star will be her first love Cameron Riggs, who starred with her (and Lyle) on a long-running series when they were young. When Cameron left the show, Shelby’s life descended into tabloid fodder. Shelby doesn’t want to do the show but she needs the money. Cameron needs Shelby.

What follows is a delightful, leaves you with a smile, tale of rediscovered love. Of friendships, relatives, small towns and..sex. It’s quick read but you’ll want it to last longer. And you’ll want to see the HomeMade TV show. Or the movie. And you’ll want to read whatever Erin Hahn writes next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Erin Hahn for this ARC.

A good solid romance novel about kid stars who reunite a decade later to film a home remodeling show controlled by a jealous and Machiavellian former cast mate who does his best to create painful emotional conflicts. There is playful and flirtatious verbal interplay and a lack of conflict between the couple who steadily progress to their HEA.

Erin Hahn has written a heartfelt, emotional, sweet, second chance romance about childhood sweethearts Cameron and Shelby who once co-starred on a teen tv show. Erin has written a beautiful story that also had me on the edge of my seat and unable to put the book down. The storyline was so much fun and engaging. I was cheering for love and hoping it would work out in the end.

The story of Cam and Shelby starts when her character was romantic with another on screen character and the public ate it up and eventually that relationship blossomed in real life. After a few years in the spotlight and a number of years of destructive behavior Shelby moved out of Hollywood and back home. Cam took a job working for National Geographic speaking to Shelby only once after the show's end. The other man, Lyle forgotten.

Then a number of years later Shelby is invited to do a pilot for a fix-er-upper styles tv show as she now renovates furniture and her father is a General contractor. But to her surprise Cam is her surprise co-star. And they work through some of their history. And they deal with some of their familial issues. But is true love in the cards for them? Read Built to Last and find out if old Hollywood gets love.

Erin Hahn is a new to me author, but the book looked and sounded cute so I took a chance on it and I'm glad I did.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a super sweet and feel good, second chance/friends to lovers romance. I didn't want to put it down, once I started it. If you're looking for something light hearted, with almost no angst, this is the perfect read for you.

The two MCs are cute whenever they're together and I love how supportive they are of each other. Shelby's BFFs and Cameron's college buddy and wife were a great bunch of side characters and I love how supportive they all were too. There were no major conflicts and any smaller conflicts, either between the two MCs or other characters, were dealt with immediately.

I would read more from the author and hope we'll see a book in Lorelai's future because she definitely needs her HEA. I also thought that the song titles for the chapter headings were a cute touch.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
4.25 Stars

Shelby and Cameron are childhood sweethearts and best friends who co-starred on a popular children’s show and are brought back together 10 years later to work with each other on a new home-improvement show. Shelby has been working on herself, and trying to forget her former Hollywood life, while Cameron is a successful documentarian who is known for running from his past. Erin Hahn’s debut adult novel Built to Last is perfect for fans of HGTV with a little HEA thrown in for good measure, and for anyone who loves a second chance romance. Get ready for a super slow burn, but the wait is worth it! I loved, loved, loved all of the supporting characters ( except Lyle – you know what you did) and am hoping that Lorelai gets her own book and HEA. I would have preferred there there been a little more of the backstory/flashbacks of younger Shelby and Cameron to develop their relationship a little more, but all in all I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what other adult novels she writes in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Erin Hahn and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St martens press for this e-arc

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this one was adorably sweet and very enjoyable.

Shelby and Cameron's relationship was absolutely adorable. The home renovation aspect was super enjoyable and was doffereent for this genre. What I especially liked was there was no 3rd act drama/breakup etc. Although I love the trope that frustrates me in a lot of this genre.

3.5 solid stars rounded up to 4.

I was really excited to read this book based on the description (thinking Chip and Joanna vibes) and it kind of was, but with childhood sweethearts. Unfortunately, I found the writing to be a bit YA and the dialogue a little too awkward for an adult book. I liked Cameron’s character more than anybody and I liked reading about him and Shelby’s dad. I think each of the main characters personalities could have been flushed out a little more because Shelby fell a tad flat. But this was a cute book overall.