I thought that the plot was sweet, and well done and I love a second chance romance. I did feel like the beginning of the book was a bit bumpy I was very confused on the timeline and exactly who everyone was but maybe that's just because it was an uncorrected copy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A love story that has ups, downs, twists, turns and just the right amount of steam. Erin does a masterful job of keeping you engaged with the characters.

The set up was gold. The romance was sweet. The side characters on point.

One word: Cam.
He is everything you want in a book boyfriend---or perhaps that's me. He will make you go awww and hot dayum.

I loved the character growth for all of the characters. I minused a star because I felt more could have been fleshed out with the parent/child conflicts.

I look forward to more adult books from this author. Solid transition from YA to Adult.

What an adorable slow burn, second chance rom com! Two child star grow apart after some pretty tumultuous years in the spotlight, but never seem to have forgotten each other. Years later an opportunity presents itself for them to essentially be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines - needless to say you didn’t have to convince me to grab this one and I devoured it in a day or two. There’s enough romance coupled with drama to keep the pages turning. Not only was I in love with the main two characters, I was also obsessed with their friends! Can we get a spin off??

Remember when I was raving about Built to Last? Well, I raved too soon.

It started strong (or I just really needed a fluffy pick me up after My Dark Vanessa), but it kind of lacks any will-they won’t-they or clear conflict after the first act. It’s pretty middle-of-the-road. You know where it’s going and what’s coming (Can I really expect anything to not work out when it’s called Built to Last?), but I guess I just wanted something exciting to happen and it didn't. Ever really.

I liked the child stardom angle and I’ll watch anything HGTV so checks a lot of boxes there for a fun, feel-good-enough read, but no complexity that makes for a lasting impression. They tease a lot of drama at the top that unfortunately never played out in an exciting way.

Starts with a bang, ends on a whimper. It was fine. I read it, but there’s other books I’ll pick up before rereading this one. 3.5 rounding to 4.

This book had me at “by Erin Hanh”. Throw in childhood sweethearts with a second chance romance sprinkled in with a home renovation show, I was a goner.

Holy hell, this author can write emotions like no other author. Her writing is charismatic and mesmerizing from start to finish. My heart ached everytime Cameron and Shelby longed and pinioned for one another, every stolen glance, or words whispered for only their ears. My heart was all in on their love story, so much so that they started to feel like real people rather than fictionalized characters in a book. The author made it easy to fall for Cameron and Shelby with their indisputable chemistry and heartfelt connection. There’s depth to the story that goes beyond a regular lighthearted romance. Both Cameron and Shelby have complexities, but their story is depicted in a way that feels natural.

Shelby is such a firecracker. This former child star is now a thriving, independent woman who finally has the ability to stand on her two feet and demand the respect she so deserves. Time away from the shining lights has given her perspective and authority accompanied with sassy bravado made her the ultimate lead. Cameron felt like the attainable book boyfriend. He’s the guy you dream about. The strong, kind hearted guy that is the perfect mixture of sexy and sweet. He’s the guy who’s gonna protect you by knowing you are strong enough to hold your own.

This author can write me directions to my mailbox and I would give it 5 stars and this book is no exception. From start to finish, this book charmed the hell out of me. I adore this author and this book and I’m very grateful that NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin gave me this eARC

Shelby and Cameron- Former cast mates who have reunited to work on a pilot about home renovation while working out their feelings for each other and dealing with her vindictive ex, who happens to also be their former cast mate as well.

This book has sweet and heat. There is lots of tension between Shelby and Cameron and when they aren't sizzling, they are the sweetest to one another. There is so much family and ex drama going on in this book, but Cameron is the support beam for Shelby.

The beginning was a little slow for me, but overall, this was an awesome book!

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s an amazing example of a sweet, uplifting rom-com with adorable main characters. The best part? There’s limited angst/obviously fake obstacles, which is usually such a huge turn-off for me.

Built to Last is a sweet contemporary romance novel by Erin Hahn. The story follows Shelby and Cameron, two former childhood stars whose story first began co-starring on a sitcom over a decade ago. After spending several years apart, the two are reunited to film a pilot episode of a home renovation show and sparks fly (not literally though - they hired electricians for that).

I really enjoyed Shelby and Cameron’s dynamic, and thought this book was well-done, fast-paced and engaging. It built up believable tension in a way that wasn’t overly drawn out, and balanced Shelby and Cameron’s history with the new partnership that the two of them were developing while renovating the house. I’m also obsessed with the home renovation part of this story and have a sudden urge to watch some HGTV.

Lastly, can I just say - huge fan of Lorelai. I want her to be my best friend! She deserves her own book, which I’m hoping will be up next.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC.

Decades ago, when I worked in Hollywood, I had occasion to walk into the studio's outer casting office one day. The aroma of a hundred clashing perfumes nearly knocked me back into the hall, but I soldiered forward, thus warned, to walk into an icy, tense atmosphere: it was an open casting call for five year old girls for a bit part in one of the current crop of TV shows. What I saw in that quiet, tense room were what seemed like 500 Mrs. Temples glaring at each other and minutely assessing each other's five year old daughters, the girls sitting there motionless with their eyebrows plucked to a fair-thee-well, their sprayed hair permed out to there, fingernails gleaming aggressive pink, clothing skin tight, lipstick (yes, five years old) unsmudged because Mom Was Watching.

The thing that struck me about Erin Hahn's romance is that she absolutely nailed certain Hollywood types--and the emotional fallout therefrom. Including the teen actor who discovers that life isn't a script, and they are not actually the heroes of the cosmic tv show Life In LA, and end up crashing and burning, sometimes literally.

But this is not one of those dark, dark Hollywood stories. Instead, Hahn gives us Shelby, who, yep, did the crash-and-burn, left her horrible Hollywood mom, went back to her midwest dad and sobered up, also learning a trade. Shelby has gone from the most ephemeral life possible to refinishing antiques, in other words, working with her hands to make things that last. Beautiful things.

But there is one lingering regret from her old life: Cameron, one of her two co-stars. He was the goofy sidekick to Lyle's leading man. Lyle has gone on to embrace all the dark side of Hollywood, and successfully, too. He brings Shelby and Cameron back together for a reality show, trading on their old stardom (and trashing their reps now for bread-and-circuses power), also to emotionally bat them around.

What he doesn't count on is the fact that they both have emotionally grown up. How Shelby and Cameron come together, building a life as well as art, in spite of the Hollywood crazy that still shadows them, made this a really pleasurable read. Pacing was fast, the characters fun, the images, especially of the crafts, just lovely.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was an enjoyable second chance, friends to lovers read. The beginning reels you in quickly and the ending was great. I thought it dragged a little bit in the middle but overall enjoyable read.

Cameron and Shelby practically grew up together on screen and off screen. Years after the show ends Cameron and Shelby's former cast member and shelby's ex ask them to appear on screen again in the form of a home renovation show. They've both moved on from T.V. but not each other so they agree.


I liked the duel point of view. It was nice to switch between characters and get an idea of what each of them were thinking. The relationship was super sweet and maybe a little cheesy for my taste. I wasn't expecting an adult book to feel that way.

I really wish it didn't have so much drama. I get that it's Hollywood and people like to be dramatic but it felt slightly YA in that way.

Shelby's best friends were my favorite and I really hope we get to find out more about them!!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions expressed are my own. This review does NOT contain any spoilers. :)

☆☆☆☆☆ Overall
(Spice: ☆☆☆☆)

Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of alcohol and drug abuse, abusive/controlling parents, cheating, (If I’m missing anything here that should be included, please let me know! Thanks!)

I have never been a huge fan of second chance romance, but this book? This book held my hand and stroked my hair and wrapped me up in a big fluffy blanket while it provided me with one of the best love stories I have read in what feels like forever.

Shelby and Cam are the epitome of wholesome to me. Their chemistry leaps off the page and literally made me giddy. Their banter, the protectiveness that they have for each other, everything is just. Beautiful.

I loved Shelby’s redemption arc, and how her goal of improving herself and finding her way doesn’t have anything to do with the opinion of the public. It’s just for herself. Shelby and Cam work so hard to allow themselves to be vulnerable and you can see the growth that they are working so hard for.

Also, just the whole plot idea of friends to lovers coming together while filming a reality TV house flipping show is amazing, 10/10 entertainment.

I love this book. I already want to reread this book because I miss them already. Also the epilogue????? Genius. Pure genius. Read this book, you will not regret it.

Friends to lovers and HGTV vibes, what's not to love about this amazing read?! Former child stars and first loves reunite after after a decade apart in their home state of Michigan. This book explores how they’ve grown since their child star days and if their friendship is really something more. I adored the home renovation show aspect, as well as the relationship between Shelby and Cameron. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! It was the perfect lighthearted romance that I could enjoy and read fast! I liked how Shelby and Cam interacted and how they found love. The only thing I hated was Lyle, but I think everyone will hate him when they read it. I will totally recommend this!

Built to Last was my first read from Erin Hahn, and I am a new fan!

This is a story of second chances, not just for Shelby and Cameron, but for Cameron and his family.

The author’s writing style was such that you felt like you were in the story with the characters. The use of a television series to reconnect the characters, and utilizing the flipping of houses to further connect Cameron to Shelby’s lift “post-Hollywood” was very fitting.

I found myself rooting for Shelby, Cameron and their friends, and happy when the truth came out, making Lyle look like the jealous ex that he is.

Definitely a story that had me hooked from the beginning, I read it in a day, and plan to read more from the author in the near future.

Definitely add this to your TBR list, and thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC of Built to Last

I'm a huge fan of Erin Hahn's young adult romances, so I was really excited to receive an ARC of BUILT TO LAST. In her young adult books, Hahn excels at writing emotional intimacy and complex inner narratives of characters. All of that shines here as well. BUILT TO LAST is a warm, low-stakes romance that takes two Hollywood stars out of Hollywood and sticks them in a small town in Michigan. The secondary characters are delightful (I'm eager to read Maren and Lorelai's books in the next couple of years) but the real draw here is the chemistry between Shelby and Cameron. They're sweet and sexy and silly. This is a fun read that does exactly what it intends.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for the ARC!

THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE! Yes i'm using caps because I want to scream with cuteness overload. Shelby & Cam are an absolutely swoon worthy couple, and I am such a sucker for long time friends to lovers, and loved how there was a bit of a second chance as adult thing going on too. I loved that the drama within their relationship was from outside sources rather than each other (I hate when romcom relationships fall apart because of internal factors). I also really loved how we got to flip between Cam and Shelby's perspectives! And we get a little bit of spice too, which I'll never complain about! Overall, this is definitely one that I think everyone needs to have on their release radar!

It's very exciting that Erin Hahn is venturing into adult romance/romantic comedies now. I loved all of her YA novels - You'd Be Mine, More Than Maybe, and Never Saw You Coming - so I was thrilled to dive into a new book from her and Built to Last did not disappoint. Shelby and Cameron were each other's first loves, connecting as child-actors on the set of a hit tv show - but growing up, dealing with the ups and downs of fame, and moving on from Hollywood, led them to grow apart but never truly let go of each other. An opportunity to reconnect and a fresh shot at fame comes their way in the form of a HGTV-esque home improvement show - and drama, hilarity, and romance ensue! Cameron and Shelby have great chemistry together - truly adorable around each other. They are both characters you want to root for - both as a couple - and individually as they each deal with their own family drama, insecurities, and doubts. So many of the side characters were amazing- loved Kevin, Daniel, and Lorelai especially. Definitely looking forward to a book centered around Lorelai. Built to Last was a great read and I can't wait for the next book from Erin Hahn. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)

Built to Last by the TALENTED Erin Hahn

This book was absolutely adorable and just the refreshing romance I needed after reading so much dark romance haha.

* Unlike most of the other reviews, I typically like the like the love triangle trope. So even if it's not your typical trope, I would still give this adorable book a shot.

BOOK BLURB:
Two childhood sweethearts find a second chance at love in this adult romance debut from a critically acclaimed young adult author.

Shelby Springfield has spent the last ten years trying to overcome her past, sanding it away like she does the rough spots on the vintage furniture finds she makes over. But as a former child star, it’s hard to forget a mediocre pop career, a meltdown widely documented by the paparazzi, and a huge public break with her former co-star Lyle Jessup. It’s also hard to forget her other co-star and childhood sweetheart, Cameron Riggs -- the one who got away.

Anytime Shelby has called, Cameron has come running… And then he runs right off again to chase stories around the world by making documentaries, too scared to admit what he really wants. But when Lyle stirs the pot, getting the two back in the spotlight with a home renovation show, Cameron can't help but come on board.

There's something in it for everyone -- almost. Cameron wants to come home and set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove to the world she's not the messy party girl anymore. And Lyle wants to twist the screws on his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could dream of with anyone. Sparks and sawdust fly as Shelby and Cameron film the pilot for "Homemade" and battle Lyle’s shenanigans at every turn.

Erin Hahn’s sparkling rom com debut, Built to Last, is a second chance romance sure to have readers falling in love fast.

***
REVIEW:

As much as I loved her to death, Ms. Shelby was hot mess express; however once she started doing renovations with her dad, she found her true calling which was a fun experience to witness as a reader because if I'm being honest, although I typically love a damsel in distress type trope/book, I'm glad Shelby was able to hold her own in this book despite the miscommunications with the men, despite being unsure at times, and despite all the other things. She is a true, good heroine. It made it easy to relate to her. Lyle, didn't really like him, but I know there always has to be ONE character that no-one likes, Lyle is it. enough said about him. Now Cameron, I loved this man and feel like I won't ever not love this man. He was sweet, and knowing that this books is a friends to lovers, the pining was to dieeeeee for! * insert heart eye emoji *10000* The two seem to have such good chemistry, and I am loving the whole childhood sweethearts to be able to tell your kids about vibe. One of the big things in this book however was that they both slowly started to fade from the glitz, glam, limelight and honestly reminded me of the House Flipping couple on the HGTV network.

Book was so perfect in every aspect.

TROPES;
* one bed, pining, slow burn, friends to lovers, childhood friends to lovers, miscommunication ( a little ), second chance, forced proximity, workplace.

please note there is one descriptive sex scene between minors, however it was consensual; but if that's not your jam here's your info tidbit.

This book is about past movie stars coming back together for a home renovation show. I loved this book, the characters were well developed, and the plot kept me waiting for more. This story is also is about dealing with a manipulative boss. My only real complaint with this book is Cameron and Shelby’s love felt a little bit rushed, but other than that, I loved it.