This book centers around one of my favorite romance tropes, the second chance and I've loved Erin Hahn's YA books, so I jumped at the chance to get an early copy of this one. She does not disappoint! Filled with the wit and charm I've come to expect from Hahn, with the added bonus of adult characters and a bit of steam. I loved that the main characters, Shelby and Cameron, both grew as characters both together and apart, and that the main conflict didn't involve a ton of drama between them, but came from the "outside" as it were. It is a lovely romance and I'm already chomping at the bit for more adult novels from Hahn (maybe about Lorelai and/or Maren? A girl can hope!).

Release date: October 18, 2022

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the early copy!

. This is a believable romance or rekindled romance about former child actors reconnecting to do an HGTV home type show and who also happened to be former childhood sweethearts. The romance is believable with decent chemistry and solid tension. It is a slow burn that captures you before you realize it.
Overall, it is a well written, gentle love story. The characters were great and very relatable. The second chance love story was sweet. and heartwarming. After all, who doesn't love second chances and destiny?

Such a sweet story about two kid actors who were each others first love and are brought back together after leaving Hollywood to rehab an old house as a new reality show. Great characters and a nice romance. Really enjoyable.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.

Erin Han strikes again with a cozy Michigan love story. Shortly after I graduated from U of M, I received a free physical ARC of Erin Hahn's previous book, More Than Maybe, from the publisher. That book centers around two high schoolers in Ann Arbor, Michigan, so the story held a special place in my heart. *stares longingly at the copy on my bookshelf*

Sure enough, this adult contemporary features locations around Grand Rapids and in the UP and centers around several child actors, in a way that reminded me of Birds of California by Katie Cotugno. I enjoyed that the characters settled into a rhythm of good communication relatively early on in the story, which is something I scout out in the romance genre. I also enjoyed that the characters faced conflicts as a joint unit. And what can I say, the side characters were enjoyable as well. Overall, there was a lot to enjoy. If you're a frequent watcher of HGTV and a lover of romance, you should not hesitate to pick this up.

Besides some minor Cringe(tm) moments I did not particularly care for, my biggest ick was the rustic small town feel of the book. I don't enjoy small town romances, as a big city gal who feels stifled in those settings. I recognize this as a matter of personal preference.

I was excited to hear that Erin Hahn was making her adult romance debut with Built to Last, and it was the perfect contemporary romance to read while traveling. I was introduced to Erin’s writing through one of her young adult novels. I enjoyed that book, but Built to Last really hit the spot for me.

We’re introduced to Shelby and Cameron, two childhood TV stars that went in different directions after their show wrapped. While Shelby continued with Hollywood until a messy, public break up, Cameron left the industry behind in favor of attending college and starting his own career as a documentary filmmaker. When their former costar (and Shelby’s ex) bring them together with the offer to film a pilot for a home renovation show, building off of Shelby’s post-Hollywood career in furniture restoration and house flipping that she shares with her father, they have to decide what they want and whether it’s finally time to face the feelings and chemistry between them.

This is childhood friends/childhood first love to lovers, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Their quiet romance from their teenage years was sweet, and the chemistry between Shelby and Cameron was just as explosive as adults. I’d consider this a slow burn (and boy, do they slow burn for a while), but it doesn’t feel as rushed due to the long history between the characters and the glimpses of their pasts. The secondary cast of characters, including Shelby’s two best friends, Cameron’s college roommate and his wife, and their closest family members were highlights of the story for me.

I couldn’t put this down. I don’t know if this was just the perfect book for the perfect time, but I sailed through this story, and I would have happily read this one in one sitting if life hadn’t gotten in the way. There is some steam, which was perfectly placed and well done. If you’re a fan of HGTV renovation shows or have done home renovations yourself, this could be a great romance read for you.

I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series, with one book focusing on each of Shelby’s best friends as the main character. I loved them as side characters, so I’m excited to see where their stories leave (and hopefully get more glimpses of Shelby and Cameron).

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A sweet, second chance love story. The characters were realistically written and the story was sweet without being saccharine.

THis was such a cute book a very fun and flirty read. I also loved how it mixed in my love for home renovations. It would be like if some of the kids from Barney got back together, fell in love and made a realty home reno show. I laughed out loud several times too! A really sweet and good summer read!

Ever since Erin Hahn debuted her YA romance a few years back, I have desperately been in need of an adult romance from her. Luckily she granted my wish, AND I got to read it early! Just as I expected, this was such a lovely romance: the second chance trope always gets me right in my feels. I did get a little frustrated with some of the outside plot, which is why I docked it a star, but I seriously think this is going to be a smashing success. Keep the adult romcoms coming, Erin! I’ll read every single one.

i LOVED this story!!! It gave me romcom meets hgtv in all of the best ways. The story hooks you from the beginning and has you routing for the characters throughout. Second chance romances always pull at my heart strings and this one did not disappoint!

This was a delightful, fun read. My primary criteria for any book is that it just tell me a good story, and this one surely did. The plot focuses on a second chance romance with child actors who experience the problems attendant to that life, and who grow up and grow into appealing characters. The story contains a number of expected characters - horrid stage mother, cheating ex,, and back stabbing former best friend. But it also has a parent who is refreshingly normal, and a cast of friends of the primary characters that are well drawn, and let’s face it, just hanging out waiting for their own stories. But not in an annoying way.

This book was not heavy or deep. It will not haunt you, or probably take up much space in the book section of your brain. But sometimes you just want to read a good, entertaining story,' and this is that.

4.5 Stars!!! This book was excellent! I couldn’t wait to finish it, but wanted to savor it.

Shelby Springfield is a former child-actor who is now living a quiet life in rural Michigan after her life crashed and burned in Hollywood. Now, 5 years later her ex throws an opportunity her way for a new home renovation realty show…the catch? He wants her to do it with her first love…the third of their childhood trio.

Cameron Riggs walked away from Hollywood and into nature, traveling for Nat Geo and creating documentaries behind the camera. He’s never renovated a house before…and he’s also never gotten over Shelby, his first love. A new challenge and a second chance take him back to his home state.

I really loved the way that Shelby and Cameron reconnected. They had amazing communication and the relationship built slowly and realistically. This was such a great book! Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read this before it releases.

I really was looking forward to this book after reading the description - it sounded like a fun take on boy meets girl, loses girl, then gets her back, but the style of going back-and forth in Cameron and Shelby's voices, while normally doesn't bother me, felt jarring and messed with the flow - especially in the beginning of the book.



SPOILERS:
I felt a little uncomfortable reading about the main characters losing their virginity They were 18 and 17 years of age and I didn't really find it appropriate to be reading about their sexual interlude in detail. It doesn't bother me when characters are adults (I **do** read a lot of romance), but since they were still "kids" it didn't seem right.

I've been a fan of this author for a while and this is an adorable story of two characters who were once popular child actors. Life has taken them on different paths and now they are going to star in a home renovation show together. Neither is willing to openly admit they have serious feelings for each other. Their complicated relationship and and relationships with those around them make this a delightful book to read. When the 3rd co-star of their childhood series is manipulating the production of their new television show, things get more complicated. I enjoyed the characters and their connection, as well as some of the side characters and I'm hoping that one will be featured in her next novel! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinon.

Oh wow! I loved this book! Erin Hahn did a wonderful job showing how the character had evolved over their years apart. I loved the connection Shelby and Cameron shared. I couldn’t get enough of their relationship. It was a beautiful story of true love and how you really do have that someone special. I sure hope Lorelia and Maren get their own books. What fun group they are.

"I've been floating a long time. Trying this, chasing that, never quite finding anything to tie me down.

Maybe I wasn't looking for something to tie me down. Maybe I've been looking for someone, an anchor...

As if that first day when I knocked on Shelby's door and helped her finish those shelves, her soul entwined itself with mine, holding me down and passing me a brush loaded with varnish and said, 'Stay with me and we can build something together.'"

Shelby and Cameron are childhood stars that worked together on the same tv show. They fell in love while working together until Cameron abruptly left his Hollywood life behind, leaving Shelby with questions unanswered. After an awkward, messy encounter in their early twenties and years following that with no contact, the pair find themselves piloting a home renovation show together.

This was adorable! Such a fun, low-angst, second chance romance. I love a second-chance romance, but throw in some home renovations and I'm IN. I loved reading Shelby and Cameron reacquaint themselves with one another and find the love they lost in the years between.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Erin Hahn for the early copy! 🏡🛠

The book was a good read, although it was a little predictable and the characters weren’t really fleshed out. Too be frank, it wasn’t very realistic but who says it needs to be. All in all, it was an enjoyable book.

I received an ARC of, Built to Last, by Erin Hahn. I found this book to only be ok. I wanted more from the characters, and less swearing.

I think my favorite part of this book was the premise. I fell in love with the descriptions of Shelby's furniture, and the Caroline Street house. However, while the characters were fun, they were a little two-dimensional and the story was predictable. I really enjoyed reading, but I think the plot could've been deepened and made a little bit more realistic.

This adult rom-com is all about second chance love and learning not to run away with things get complicated or difficult. While a bit messy with some miscommunication and a terrible side character that will irritate you and couldn't stop adding drama (looking at you, Lyle), it's an enjoyable book where childhood costars Cameron and Shelby reconnect on a home improvement reality show.

I really liked the side characters in Lorelei (who I could totally see having her own book and I'm crossing my fingers she does get one!) and Kevin and how supportive they were when Cameron and Shelby needed it. It had lots of small-town vibes and I loved the home improvement aspect of it and how Shelby turned to furniture restoration once she exited Hollywood. I love seeing characters in books have unconventional or trade-related jobs as it adds some variety and makes them more unique! And Cameron being a bearded hunk of a National Geographic filmmaker (another cool profession!) who was on board to learning home improvement to be closer to Shelby? So swoon-worthy!

I loved the dual-POVs (getting to see characters fall for each other from both perspectives is the way to my heart!), although the chapters named after popular pop songs left me a little confused as to why that was even a detail as they didn't really seem to connect and felt very random. I also felt like while we got to know the characters in terms of their relationship with each other and how they interacted in regards to the reality show, they could've used more development and depth outside those two perspectives.

The writing was great and there was a good balance between spice and plot, so kudos to the author! Any avid rom-com fan will enjoy this book and will be left feeling cozy and romantic by the end. This is a book I could see myself rereading, even if the miscommunication and Lyle made me cringe a little at times!

Shelby and Cameron were once teen stars on a hit show along with their friend Lyle, but miscommunication took them apart and Shelby rebounded with Lyle who cheated on her. Cue a lot of hurt feelings. Now, ten years later, they are all 3 working together on a pilot for a home renovation show as Shelby and Cam start finding their way back to each other.

I enjoyed this book; the author is new to me but she helped the characters pop from the page. I felt like Lyle was a bit of a one dimensional “villain” but he worked for the story. I liked that there really wasn’t a big 11th hour problem and it was more them working together.