3.5 Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin and Erin Hahn for the ARC of this book!

Built to last is a second chance, friends to lovers romance, if you love those tropes this book is for you!
Unfortunately I could not get into this book. I didn't love any of the characters and the conflict of the novel did not do much for me. I did love the spice though and I am looking forward to a possible book with Lorelai's love story!

I really like Erin Hahn's writing and Built to Last is no different.
A couple who already loved each other and for several misunderstandings did not enjoy this love.
Only this time, they are more mature and a forced rapprochement will reignite the flame.
A sweet love story

A few years ago, Shelby a former child star had a very public break-up with her co-star Lyle. After the breakup Shelby calls the other child star from her show Cameron. After she sees Cameron, she realizes that she wants to put her child star past behind her and moves to Michigan. While in Michigan She starts working for her father restoring historical homes and vintage furniture. Cameron continues working for National Geographic making documentaries all around the world. Shelby has been asked to tape a pilot for HGTV type show with her dad. Unfortunately, her dad was nixed as a co-star by the network, so they reach out to Cameron to create a little “drama.” The two agree to forge ahead with the show. Cameron gets to move back home take care of his mom and set down some roots. Shelby gets to prove that she has changed. It’s a win-win for both of them.

This was such a cute second chance trope. It’s a really fun read with some spicy scenes. If you like Chip and Joanna Gaines and other HGTV shows you will really enjoy this story because it is so well written that you feel like you are behind the scenes watching all the action. The book felt like a warm hug on a cold winter's day, confirming that belief that true love exists.

Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs have known each other since they were 10 years old, when they first stared in the children's show "The World According to Jackson". After a terrible break up and mediocre pop star career, Shelby reaches out to Cameron for support and a shoulder to cry on. Cameron drops everything to help, but soon realizes he isn't ready to be what Shelby needs, so he flies off again to create National Geographic documentaries leaving Shelby alone. Five years later, Shelby has the opportunity to give back to her Michigan community and prove to the world she is not the same person anymore by hosting the new house flipping reality show "Homemade". This is right up her alley since she has discovered her passion for flipping/restoring houses with her dad. She soon finds out that her ex co-star and crazy ex boyfriend, Lyle Jessup, is a part of the project and they want Cameron Riggs to be her costar. Will Cameron and Shelby be able to maintain a strictly platonic co-start relationship? Will Lyle's meddling keep the pilot from being a success? Will Shelby finally be able to prove to the world she isn't the same person she was five years ago?

This is such a cute, quick, fun, second chance romance. At first I was a bit apprehensive about how two childhood starts become hosts of a house flipping show, but it honestly really worked! Shelby and Cameron have such great chemistry and such a great support system of friends. It is obvious that they really care about each other, plus they are freaking hilarious at times. I definitely found myself laughing and smiling while reading this book. I highly suggest reading this book when it comes out, especially if you are looking for a quick, second change romantic comedy. This book was definitely built to last!

WoW! Totally new author for me but I enjojed so much this book!!!

Second chance romance mixed with friends to lovers trope are one of my faves. Maybe, I haven't read this author eralier, but seeing what kind o romance this is, made me feel exicited with every new page. I couldn't put it down, and I loved absolutely everything ! From the first pages, I felt that Built To Last is sucking me into the story like nothing else.

Shelby and Cameron brings stinky cute slow burn romances, and the only thing I could do is to fall in love with them HARD. Their relationship is full of funny moments, because miscommunication. In general, I would be not a fan, but author mixed everthing so perfectlky perfect! It was amazing adventure, and I couldn't get enough of them.

Built to Last is unputdownalbe, and I highly recommend this book. I will be coming back to this author very, very soon.

Built to Last is a touching story about two young stars who grew up passionately in love. However, certain circumstances separate them, and they grow apart over time, which is the novel's fundamental conflict.

The affection and pining for each other is simply sweet, and their inability to disguise their feelings is painfully clear. They didn't need to spend the entire book falling in love because they grew up together, which I enjoyed because it promised more moments of their relationship. Shelby is described as a girl next door, whereas Cameron is portrayed as a lumberjack, which makes me smile. This novel's romance is also accompanied by spicy situations, making it a more enjoyable read. I adore their love for one other, and it satisfied my desire for fluff and spice.

While there are many positive qualities to Built to Last, there are several components that I did not love, primarily due to personal choice. The novel's conflict appeared pointless because there weren't enough stakes to make me wonder what would happen to endanger their relationship. The majority of their issues could have been avoided if they had communicated better and decided not to trust their former co-star, Lyle, who had a reputation for being a backstabber. This caused me to not like the book as much as I had planned because it was too predictable and there wasn't enough hardship to get them to their happy place. Furthermore, I am not a fan of references to the real world because it pulls me out of the book. Built to Last featured an abundance of popular brand names and social media which likely resulted in my reasoning for not finishing this book faster.

In conclusion, this novel is beyond cute and I truly adore Shelby and Cameron. I highly recommend you check this book out if you are interested in what I described above.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 rounded up
*Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.*

When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued: childhood sweethearts turned HGTV-esque show hosts. This is my first Erin Hahn read and was thoroughly pleased. I absolutely loved the concept because I had not seen it done. The main characters were extremely likable, and I found myself rooting for them from the beginning.

The only 2 reasons for this not being a 4 star read was the last 25% of the book. Admittedly, the ending kind of fell flat for me. It was a slow burn, second-chance romance that could have ended a couple chapters sooner. I binge-read the first 75% of the book in a night, but I struggled getting through that last bit. Additionally, in this section, the spicy parts were just kind of awkwardly written in my opinion. There was entirely too much dialogue and not enough description between- defeating the purpose of a spicy scene entirely.

All in all, I will definitely be reading Erin Hahn’s next adult rom-com. This was such a great book that I will definitely be purchasing once published!

I don't know much about home renovation or reality TV or child stardom, but after reading this I feel like a child star turned ruined pop princess turned reality TV home renovator in love with my co-star. This book allowed me to transport myself into a Hollywood adjacent life and perfectly described the feelings and emotions that may come with it.

I'm generally a fan of celebrity-centered books, and Built to Last was no exception. The perils of child stardom and dealing with crappy ex-boyfriends in the public eye are all things dealt with in it and I ate it up. The addition of Cameron and Shelby was the icing on top. I loved the telling of how their entire relationship grew and evolved into what we see in the book. Having chapters from both perspectives created frustrating but indulgent tension between the two main characters that I love to see.

While the ending seemed a bit rushed, with so many things happening in such a little period of time, I was completely satisfied with the ending.

If you like HGTV and celebrity romance, I guarantee this book is for you.!

4'/5

Built to Last was a super cute read! It really felt like a mashup between an HGTV fixer upper type show and Hallmark movie, which was delightful haha. The premise of ex-costar-love-interests being shoved back together after years apart, growing as people and becoming adults, was pretty fun. The characters were well fleshed out and complex. Their relationship clicked a little too quickly for me, I more prefer a slow burn, but as far as complaints go, this is pretty minor. The fact that Cameron and Shelby actually communicated through their misunderstandings (rather than the author using these miscommunications as a plot point) was a MAJOR breath of fresh air in this genre. They work things out, they treat each other well, and they show growth.

Besides the pace of their relationship, the only other critique I have is that Lyle was so slimy that he felt like a caricature among humans. He was just SO villainous that it felt fake because all the other characters had more depth to them. So overall, I’m giving this a 4/5, but I really enjoyed it!!

Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite. In Built to Last, Shelby and Cameron are childhood TV stars AND childhood sweethearts, which sounded like an adorable combination! The fact that they go their separate ways and reconnect a decade later to film a home renovation show sounded even better!

Sadly, despite being 27-years-old, the characters feel very immature and the conflict is somewhat juvenile. This is Hahn's first adult novel, but it still read like a YA/NA book to me. It’s very “insta-love” and I was very confused in the beginning with the flashbacks and the history all the characters share. I couldn't connect to Shelby or Cameron and the plot felt very unrealistic. The whole storyline of the three characters reconnecting felt so random and I still don't understand why Shelby's ex was "producing" the new TV show (I use quotation marks here because Shelby says he isn't the producer... then what is he?). I also can't really get on board with Shelby helping out her contractor dad a few times and then bam... Next thing we know she's a restoration mastermind. Also, she's gorgeous and her hair is flawless and her friends drop everything for her if she's having a moment.

This is a cute book and it looks like other reviewers are absolutely adoring it, so please take my cranky review with a grain of salt. I’m probably just bitter because restoring old homes is my dream job and my dad didn't teach me how to become Joanna Gaines overnight.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be an early reader.

Such a cute fun read! Loved the concept and couldn’t put it down, definitely worth the read! Loved the second chance romance/friends to lovers and the home renovating aspects, will leave you smiling at the end, thank you for letting me have a chance to read this!

This book started off a bit quiet and a little hard to distinguish between the two perspectives but slowly started building and let me grow and fall in love with Cameron and Shelby. A childhood love lost and found, with some steam, tension and home renovations thrown in. This book is perfect to curl up with! Would recommend!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

I feel like this book is what would happen if the Hallmark channel and HGTV had a baby! I loved it!! For me it started off a bit slow but once it picked up I was hooked! If you love second chance romance tropes then this is definitely the book for you!

After a couple of attempts at starting this one (I was distracted by others on my TBR), I'm so glad I carved out time to sink into Built to Last - it was 100% worth it!

This was my first read from Erin Hahn and it won't be my last. Her writing style is light and easy, while her characters are complex. I thought she handed tough issues like childhood emotional trauma and complex family relationships well - and true to how they might play out in real life.

Built to Last tells the story of childhood co-stars Cameron and Shelby, reunited after five years apart. When their third co-star Lyle (and Shelby's ex-boyfriend) approaches them to co-host an HGTV-style home renovations show, the two reluctantly agree. Cameron would do anything for Shelby. Shelby is trying to prove herself beyond her troubled past. As they work together and rediscover one another - and themselves - it's more than the freshly restored fireplace that heats up a room.

I loved Cameron, I truly don't think I can say this enough. He's kind, caring, capable and can we talk about the tree trunk thighs?
Shelby is the perfect rom com lead. She had her flaws, sure, but she also put so much work and time into improving herself beyond her past. Her relationships with her friends and father were so genuine, and I loved the Erin Hahn also made a point of including that it took effort and therapy to get there.

Definitely give this a read if you love:
Second-chance romance
Meddling exes
Slow burn... with a huge and well worth it payout
Supportive girl gangs and hilarious secondary characters
Steamy banter

Teen television idols, Shelby, Cameron, and Lyle lived the high life until it all imploded, leaving broken hearts and ruined careers in its wake.

A decade later, Shelby is restoring antique furniture while her father renovates tired old homes. It’s not the future she envisioned- a world away from acting and her jerk of an ex, who betrayed her with a close friend- and that’s fine, peace and quiet is just what she needs, so why can’t she forget the almost night she shared five years ago with her bestie Cameron Hayes?

Cameron was head-over-heels in love with Shelby long before they shared a steamy on-air kiss that blew up the ratings and created friction between her and real-life boyfriend Lyle- the sleaze. It was the beginning of the end of not just the long running television series, but their relationship, as well, and he regretted the loss. He moved on, becoming a well-known photographer for Nat-Geo, but his heart remained with Shelby.

When sleazy Lyle approaches Cameron and Shelby with a concept to do a home renovation project with Shelby’s father as a collaborator, Cam is onboard if it means helping the only woman he’s ever loved, but will they survive Lyle’s machinations?

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance filled with a cast of endearing characters. I loved Shelby’s gruff father and Cameron’s best friend, the lumberjack 🙂

I don’t think the story needed the overabundance of curse words or backstory, but overall, an enjoyable read.

I am a sucker for home remodel shows. I was happy to find a romance book where the story focuses on a home renovation show! The plot was great, The characters were delightful.

I was really excited when I saw this cover and read the description. It sounded like a cute and fun story and while it was it did disappoint me a bit. I liked the two main characters Shelby and Cameron but I hated Lyle (as you were supposed to) and wanted them to fire him or do something instead of how it all went down. Cameron, Shelby, and Lyle were all child actors on the same show growing up together. Cameron and Shelby were stealing moments off camera while Shelby and Lyle had the on screen romance, but when Cameron went off to college Shelby and Lyle started to date. After a messy breakup with Lyle Shelby finally leaves LA to find her own way and joins her father in home renovation. Fast Forward to the present and Shelby and Cameron are brought together to do a pilot for a home renovation show. I thought Cameron and Shelby both were kinda dumb but super sweet but they put up with way too much from several nasty characters. I did like Shelby’s best friend and the promise of room for a sequel with her story.

I truly loved every second of this. Second chance romance and a very well done friends to lovers AND home renovation?? Count me in.

This was such a great book. I loved getting both Cameron’s & Shelby’s POVs throughout. Seeing them adapt to their new lifestyle in their own way and trying to wrap their heads around their insane feelings for each other was perfect.

I am obsessed with all of their friends and I really hope the epilogue was a hint to more books about them!

I liked the story but the writing was a bit sloppy at times. When the characters think back to something that happened earlier in the day this transition isn't clear and it takes the reader out of the story as you try to resituate yourself. The characters are likeable but a little flat which makes it harder to be fully invested. There are also references to pop culture (eg. hashtags) just for those of you who don't like stuff like that. Overall, I think people who like lighthearted romances will like this, it gives a very similar vibe to the Ex Talk.
Tropes:
- second chance romance
- mutual pinning
- lighthearted
- external conflict (no miscommunication trope)

Ok WOW. This book was AMAZING.

A second chance, childhood friends, HGTV meets Hallmark romance with all the swoony moments and great banter. I'll be honest, I was a little skeptical I would not like this book, but it blew me away.

Shelby and Cameron have a long history together. Both were former child stars who left Hollywood and vowed to never return. That is until they are brought back for a home renovation reality show by their former co star, who has never given them anything but trouble. This book follows Shelby and Cameron as they navigate old feelings and realize their feelings for each other never went away. This is more than just a romcom; it's a redemption story that tells and beautiful love story.

I was rooting for Shelby and Cameron from the start! I loved them and their chemistry. I also really enjoyed that there was no third act breakup and that the main characters were so mature in their relationship despite all they went through. The only thing I did not enjoy or thought was lacking was some of the time jumps and things left out of the book that I wish I could of read about. But overall I REALLY enjoyed this book.

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