This was the embodiment of "fine." Not bad, not good, just eh. The characters were charming, the setting was interesting, but the writing was just....not it. It was a lot of telling, no showing; a lot of "yadda,yadda"ing over pretty important parts; a lot of odd details (Shelby's dad's car crash?) that just weren't needed. This would have made a solid and sweet novella, but it's just not enough meat for a novel. It's a quick read for sure, and there's very little I can say against it - it's just a feeling that I will forget I even read this book in under a week. There's just not much to hold on to really. That being said, if you want a quick, sweet read and can tolerate an omnipresent toxic ex, this is a fair choice to pick up.

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC**

I love love loved this book. This is my first book by Erin Hahn, which I have also come to learn this is her first adult romance. Erin, it’s safe to say I will read any future adult romances (& probably your YA romance too) going forward.

Built to Last is told in dual POV, with second chance romance, forced proximity & reality tv. It hits so many different tropes & is just so good. I couldn’t put it down.

Shelby & Cameron were child stars, with a history, who gave up stardom to figure out who they were. They each set off to fill their own cups, Cameron travelling the world & Shelby heading home to Michigan. When a new TV opportunity comes up, Cameron & Shelby end up being costars once again. With their history, they have a lot to work through in order to make the new show successful, for not only themselves but for their friends, family & community.

Shelby is hilarious, laugh out loud funny. She is so tough & can handle a lot, even if she is super emotional. Cameron is such a delicate, clueless soul. Together, they will be a power couple with the type of love everyone dreams of.

I don't think it's the book, I think it's me. I honestly believe that I'm just not a good fit for Erin Hahn's books for whatever reason; this is the 3rd book by the author that I've tried to read and just couldn't (all three have been DNFs). I was hoping since this was Hahn's adult debut that I would enjoy it better but I just couldn't connect with the characters, unfortunately. I don't think I'll be giving any more of her books a try...

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The first chapter, I was skeptical and not entirely sure what I was getting into. Kind of over the drinking drugs rock bottom trope. But then 5 years later. We see former childhood stars turned strangers reconnecting for an HGTV-esque house flip pilot, the looming first love chemistry hanging over them before finally leaning into their feelings.

Let's get it out of the way first. Lyle is the absolute WORST!! Shelby and Cameron showed so much growth through the story, both separately and together, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the author weaved in a different type of third act break up. From the beginning, even when they were tiptoeing over the awkward we haven't seen each other in ages, didn't end on any terms and weren't anything (YET) they felt like MORE. Like yes longing and pining was referred to but wasn't highlighted because they were already more, even when they were leaning into anger or frustration. I loved how Shelby's dad took Cameron under is wing, both personally and professionally, the reconnecting with family and friends throughout the story was just oh so sweet. And the music video at the end 🥰. I loved the flashback moments and oh my goodness the teaser to the one bed that wasn't 🤣.

This was such cute story of growth and the longevity of love, grab some cookies and your favorite reading nook and enjoy!


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This was my first Erin Hahn book and it was too good!! The depth of the characters and their relationship was fantastic. I never felt like there was a lull in the narrative. I couldn’t put it down.

I loved this, and it makes me really excited to read more adult romance by Erin Hahn! I read her early YA (thoroughly enjoyed her country music romance YA, You'd Be Mine, which I felt touches of in this beyond the early mention of Annie) but have fallen behind on her newer work. I really hope this book is followed up by Lorelei and Maren's stories, as they were such fun friends - I mean, a Chicks-esque disgraced country star turned third grade teacher and a former pageant girl and park ranger?!

As for Built to Last itself -- I'm such a sucker for a Hollywood romance, and for a second chance romance, but I loved this specific, special twist on the Hollywood story: taking it outside of LA, neither lead caring about an entertainment career, and focusing on a HGTV-like reality show of home renovation. It led to a lot of fun set-ups and, as a fan of home renovation and the daughter of a contractor who did this kind of work, it was both enjoyable to follow and satisfying to see through for Shelby and Cameron. They were such a winning, sweet couple and their journey to come back together for real was well-paced, without a forced third act breakup/fight pushed in there - they had things to work through and didn't need the typical additional drama. They felt like a real couple, even when dealing with problems most of us don't have to.

I just wish we had seen more of Shelby and Cameron's pasts rather than references, and that there was more closure with people and parts of their lives they forced to face in the course of filming: Shelby's reputation, Cameron's dad and brother, and especially Ada Mae (which was an interesting, surprisingly relevant piece of this book, especially so soon after reading Jennette McCurdy's memoir) and Lyle (who truly deserved more comeuppance than he got). These pieces felt incomplete, when they were often quite interesting, sensitive parts of the book.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the second chance romance mixed with a home renovation show as the background, plus the small-town feel. Shelby and Cameron first fell for each other as child actors, but quickly went their separate ways. After time apart, much of which was Cameron running away/staying away from home, they are reunited to film a home renovation show. Shelby has been working on houses with her father, but Cameron has been off filming documentaries all over the world. They are brought together by their former co-star, and Shelby's former boyfriend, Lyle, and while Lyle wants to see a successful show, he also wants to have some fun with them as well, or maybe at their expense. Cameron apprentices under Shelby's father so that he can pull off the renovation on camera, and in the process realizes that being back home isn't so bad.

The romance was sweet and well developed and the setting was well described, and I especially enjoyed the scenes of Shelby and Cameron antiquing. I enjoyed reading about the wood working that Shelby does to restore furniture. Plus, Shelby and Cameron's friends added more to the story, and I could see a future book with Lorelai taking the lead.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review.

First off, Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Built to Last before its release. I give it a solid 5 stars. A great second chance romance for anyone who needs to hit all of their emotions in one day. There is heartbreak, regret, perseverance and an awesome HEA! I do need to know about the next book! After that ending, there must be a spin off coming ASAP! Maybe involving Lorelai, Craig and Drake? Fingers crossed!! Also, I need to know if there will actually be a song released called, WHAT THEY HAVE. I have a feeling that it would be a very popular song.

Very sweet romance. Fans of the childhood friends to lovers trope will surely enjoy this! I found the premise of the two leads being child actors unique! Their relationship was refreshing and mature.

I've enjoyed all the other Erin Hahn books I've read so I had high expectations for this one. I think it just hit me at the wrong time as I had just read another Hollywood actor goes off the map type of story so it didn't feel quite as exciting as I wanted it to.

I loved the midwest setting and the HGTV vibes of this one and seeing stories set in the Midwest is definitely why I'll keep reading Hahn's books.

I didn't love the premise and I felt confused about the love triangle aspect. I didn't understand why a former child star/singer would then turn into the showrunner on a home improvement show.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest reivew.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

I love friends to lovers, a one bed only trope and throw in a reality TV home remodeling show??? YES!!!

This was a hit for me. Shelby and Cam started something at age 17 when their tv/sitcom coming of age show went off the air 10 years ago and now, they are working together again!

This has a great build up to steamy romance and a lot of sweet nothings that left me sighing. What I especially loved was the attention to details about them as a couple but first and foremost as individuals.

Cam really had to make peace with his family, especially his father. He was also struggling with the idea of setting down roots somewhere more permanently than he has been. Shelby has spent the last 5 years sober and focusing on herself. My personal favorite thing about this book is that Shelby is a skilled woodworker and works with her dad on renovations.

If your a fan of romcoms then I definitely recommend this!

Out October 18, 2022!

This was a super fun read! Two former teen stars, who have had many ups and downs in their life, are tapped to host a home renovation show. It's more serious than it might sound, but it's also really sweet. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In this swoon worthy, sexy, and funny, second chance childhood sweethearts romance, with a small town home renovation reality tv element, get ready to fall in love with Shelby and Cam.

Shelby was a previous childhood star who has been out of the limelight for over 5 years. After a hitting rock bottom, and leaving her cheating douchebag boyfriend, she runs away to rural Michigan and starts anew with the help of her father. She restores antique furniture and helps her father flips houses. When she applies to film a pilot for a new home reno reality show, and the network brings in Cameron her first love, and past co-star who has also been out of the limelight for years, they both can't help but be drawn right back into each other's orbit.

This was honestly the most pleasant of surprises. It is rare for a YA author to break it into adult romance and smash it out of the park. I found this premise particularly relevant after recently reading Jeanette McCurdy's memoir about childhood stardom and what it does to an individual. And while this is definitely more light hearted, it still felt raw. The chemistry between the characters was red hot, and the steamy scenes were perfection. The found family, and small town themes were so well done. The third act conflict also fit so well into the story without it feeling unnecessary and just for show. Over all a new favourite, and I can't wait for future releases from this author and maybe even in the same universe.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn's first dabble into the Adult Romance genre, but it was also the first book I had read by her. The description of the book had pulled me in instantly and I can say with certainty, that this will not be the last book of hers that I will pick up.
Picture a show on HGTV with former Hollywood stars, sprinkle in some steamy scenes and lots of cute banter and great supporting actors, and you get Built to Last.
Cameron, Shelby and Lyle grew up together while working on a TV show, and there was always something between Cam and Shelby, but no one actually knew what was going on.
Now, many many years later, everyone (except Lyle) had time to mature and grow. Long days and nights working together on a home renovation show may just be what is needed to rekindle the romance from the past.

I loved this book and thought the characters were well thought out. No unnecessary drama to drive the story along and the steamy scenes... Ay caramba! ;)

Loved it! I really enjoyed the two MCs and their story. I loved the characters (minus Lyle, that jerk), the small town setting, the second chance romance and the hgtv style reality show. It was so fun and sweet and I definitely need more by this author. When will book 2 be coming?!? Haha!

The first chapter did not hit the vibe check.

This is me catching up on my arcs during the hurricane.

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc of this book.

This was a sweet second chance romance, on the set of a home renovation TV show. It was a slow start until everything happened all at once. I do wish it was better paced. I never fully believed the chemistry between the main characters either, wish we had more backstory and details about them when they were younger.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Erin Hahn and I couldn't love it more. Reading this book feels like listening to a Taylor Swift song, and not just because there are Taylor Swift songs in thh chapter header playlist.
The only qualm I had with this book was the first couple chapters. Cameron's first chapter felt like an epilogue, and Shelby's first chapter was a bit of an info dump. But everything else in this book far surpasses those starting points, and once I really got reading, I was so obsessed that I couldn't stop thinking about this book for weeks.
Shelby and Cameron are the quintessential second chance romance. This book is also delightfully sex-positive and feminist. I cannot wait until this book is released so that I can make all my friends read the book I can't stop talking about.

Shelby and Cam’s story was so sweet with a sprinkle of spice. I love that their love for each other started off innocent as children and that they were finally able to reconnect as adults. The premise of them shooting a home renovation show was cute - I enjoyed hearing about how they were transforming the house. I had two favorite parts 1. the pining for each other. That made for a nice buildup. And 2. No third act breakup! Yes, there was conflict but I didn’t have to sit through 3-4 chapters of them breaking up/getting back together.

The timeline of this story is told through the projects on the house and I always assume everything just takes two days so it was harder for me to follow along BUT that was alright with me.

My only complaint is that when I reached the end, I wanted more! I could’ve easily read another 3-5 chapter of Shelby and Cam 🥰🥰🥰

“𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒖𝒑 𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.”

Shelby has spent the last 10 years trying to escape her past. She was a former child tv star who had a well documented meltdown because of a messy breakup with her ex and costar Lyle. It's hard for her to forget her first sweetheart and other co-star Cameron. Lyle, still bitter from 10 years ago, stirs the pot by inviting them both to be in a new renovation show called Homemade. This second chance romance is one you won't want to miss.

Such a cute story about childhood sweethearts that get a second chance at love. I really loved these characters and their chemistry. I loved the tv renovation show storyline and wished we could have seen more of it in the story. Lyle's character is the perfect "villain" in the story too. Overall a pretty solid read but not my favorite.