Hahn combined so many of my favorite things for this: second-chance romance, strong character development, slow-burn with some teasers mixed in to keep it 🔥, unashamed puns, and of course HEA ❤️. On top of all this... house flipping?! If I had a choice my TV would stay on the HGTV channel 24/7 (sorry Cocomelon). So when I felt like I was reading an HGTV show, with a love story added on, I didn't want it to end.
I flew through this without a minute of boredom because of Hahn's easy-going writing style. Plus, I was happy to find out this isn't Hahn's only work, so I'll be adding to my ever-growing TBR!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can't wait to see this on the shelves this fall 📚

I have enjoyed several previous books by author Erin Hahn, and was excited to see her newest release. "Built to Last" caught my eye with its very original premise: former childhood stars Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs are brought together to film a new home renovation reality TV show. Throughout filming, Shelby and Cameron reconnect and discover the futility of trying to stay apart. Unbeknownst to her, Cameron has loved Shelby his whole life and will stop at nothing to get her back. I enjoyed the transparency between the two leads and the sections about their reality TV show. I did, however, feel that the chemistry was a little lukewarm.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Okay. Erin Hahn is my favorite—I can’t tell a lie.
I’ve read every single one of her books, and every single one connects with me in a way that turns me to mush and also makes me feel like I’m getting a big hug from a dear friend.

This book was no different. Cameron and Shelby are ADORABLE and IMPERFECT and it was seriously a joy to read. I’ll recommend Erin’s books forever. They are so real and honest, sticky in the way that real life truly is.

And she has song titles at the beginning of each chapter—what more do you need, I ask you? Cannot wait for the next one!


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel. This is my honest personal opinion.

As someone whose house was damaged during Hurricane Ida in 2021, I have been spending a lot of time recently on home renovations and decor, and funny enough, reading novels that feature plots about home renovation and decor! It definitely feels like “fixer uppers” are having their moment in fiction right now, so if you love books where characters build a home they love alongside a person that they love, you’re in for a treat in 2022!

The latest novel to hit the home makeover scene is YA-author-turned-adult-novelist Erin Hahn’s Built to Last. This cheeky, sassy rom-com incorporates home renovations, former child stars, and HGTV all in one fast-paced, heartwarming story. This book tells the story of three former singing-dancing child TV stars who wind up working on a home renovation TV show together in their 20s.

Shelby Springfield, the girl of this trio, found herself torn between her two co-stars - Cameron Riggs and Lyle Jessup - as a teen, and after a very public break-up with Lyle (think Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake-level drama) and an even more public break-down, Shelby has stepped out of the spotlight and into the workshop, where she has done furniture restoration as part of her dad’s house flipping business ever since.

When Shelby is given the opportunity to work alongside Cameron on an HGTV-esque home renovation show called HomeMade, she isn’t keen on the idea because Lyle is producing, but she wouldn’t mind spending more time with Cameron, who has had her heart since they were kids. Little does she know that Cameron feels the same way about her, and as the two former sweethearts rekindle a home together, they discover they are also rekindling their romance.

Built to Last is not short on entertaining plot points, including the home makeover reality TV show, Shelby’s questionable past and her selfish stage mother, the drama of Shelby and Lyle’s break-up, and the trio’s former lives as child stars - there’s a lot to keep readers turning the pages here. This second chance romance is witty and steamy, and feels like it is written for Millennial romance readers. It makes sense that Hahn would write a “young” romance for adults since her area of expertise is YA. The book moves quickly, and is told from both Shelby and Cameron’s POVs, giving us a glimpse into both of their thoughts of their former and rekindled romance. My biggest fault with this light-hearted novel is that once Shelby and Cameron have reconnected, his personality seems to change and he becomes a typical sex-obsessed guy à la romance novels everywhere.

Built to Last is recommended to those who loved How to Hate Your Neighbor, Lucy Checks In, and Love at First Spite.

Nothing negative to say about Built to Last. It’s a well written, cute romance with a happy ending.
Cameron is a former child star turned documentarian. He’s held a flame for his old costar while watching her publicly spiral out of control in Hollywood. A quick encounter between the two sets in motion a chain of growing up. Shelby finds her passion away from the limelight. 5 years later a chance to help her dad retire brings Shelby back to LA and face to face with the one that got away.
Together the pair tries to create a successful home renovation, but end up falling in love again.
The only obstacle the pair faces is Shelby’s ex who is their show runner. He tries to sabotage them professionally and personally. There isn’t much build up to these instances as we know Lyle is the “bad guy”.

3.9/5 stars!!
Awww this was VERY sweet. If you love second chance romances and childhood sweethearts, you're going to adore this book!! Additionally, if you love seeing HGTV/Fixer Upper in your romances, you'll definitely appreciate that aspect of the book!! I absolutely adored the home renovation aspect of this book. I think the author did a great job with the tension and angst between the two characters. I was nervous for them. I also thought the characters had really good chemistry and the banter was totally up there!! I totally lost it when they confessed their long-term feelings for each other!!

This book is great if you love these tropes:
- second chance
- childhood friends to lovers
- long term feelings for each other
- forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I adored this love story, a lovely mix of Hollywood drama, small town romance, and HGTV home renos. While I’m not usually a fan of second chance romances, I was rooting for Shelby and Cam the whole way. Love this fictional world and can’t wait for Lorelai and Maren’s stories. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Hahn can do no wrong. As a lover of Chip & Joanna, and Erin & Ben on HGTV, it was fun to go behind the scenes of a reality home renovation show romance. But even if those kinds of shows aren’t your jam, you will still find plenty to love about Shelby and Cameron.

Cameron and Shelby were childhood best friends and first loves. Different career paths took them away from each other, but you never forget your first. When Shelby gets an opportunity to showcase her woodworking talents on a new show, she calls Cameron to help and he comes running.

Shelby and Cameron are exactly the joy-filled, sweet romance we all need right now. Hahn’s debut adult romance was pitch perfect (pun intended, each chapter title is a song title. If you play the song while you read each chapter, it really sets the mood).

Built to Last was a whirlwind of a read. It was sweet and will fill your heart with joy. It’s what dreams are made of when you take that chance in life that would have gotten away.

Shelby and Cameron overcome the difficulties of being child stars, in the spotlight, spoilt and feted, with the past always lurking ready to rise up and bite. This is a sweet story of two people finding themselves and each other after being seperated for a few years. I found it flowed well and was easy to read. The main characters, as well as Lorelai, engaged my interest so I wanted them to succeed.

Built to Last was exactly my kind of book! Second (or maybe third) chance romance, a celebrity-ish couple, working on a show, fun music references. I really enjoyed these characters and wish I could watch their show now!

This was a relaxing and enjoyable book. The author was able to convey the credible attraction and feelings for both Shelby and Cameron. The story flowed and was fun to read. I recommend reading this love story.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Built to Last is Erin Hahn's debut adult romance book and it was okay. The story is fast paced and told in two POVs. We have childhood friends Shelby and Cameron, who were on a TV show together growing up, and have split apart due to miscommunication and Cameron leaving Hollywood behind to start fresh in college. Many years have passed and they are brought together to host a "flipping houses" TV show. Cameron has been in love with Shelby since they first met and Cameron is Shelby's first love.

The tropes used for this book are second chances and friends to lovers.

Even though I read this in a span of a few hours the book wasn't a huge hit. I really liked Erin Hahn's YA books and look forward to her next release but Built to Last read more like an upper YA book than an adult romance.

I did like the spicy scenes and the banter between Cameron and Shelby was adorable. I was entertained for the most part but I didn't care much for the secondary characters. Lyle is just a petty brat and needed to grow up years ago, same with his wife.

There is SO MUCH miscommunication. It is mentioned by Shelby that she and Cameron needed to work on it but with that being the reason why they were apart and having silly tension, it just fell flat and made me feel like I was reading from a teenagers POV instead of a 27/28 year old.

I will definitely still be on the look out for more books by the author and hope her sophomore adult book will be better.

3 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow, I really loved this book!! It was so cute and I couldn’t put it down this weekend! This book centers around Shelby and Cameron, two ex-child stars and exes in general. They both ran from the spotlight to find themselves, and an entire decade later they found themselves together again working towards a house flipping/Reno show. I especially loved Shelby’s character, I’m such a sucker for a strong woman, even more so when that woman can clearly communicate what she wants. This story was adorable, heart warming, well written, and overall just perfect. I am so appreciative to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an open and honest review. I will definitely be checking out more books from this author asap!

Let me preface this with there were parts of this story I loved - the concept, the HGTV-ness of it all, Cameron. It was set up to be a great book, however, some of the more important parts were lacking. The reality show aspect overshadowed the second-chance romance instead of being something that propelled it forward. The pacing felt very staccato, in that it didn't flow smoothly, but more - this happens and we deal with it, then this happens and we deal with it, then this, then this. Too many side plots competing for attention.

Then the chemistry with the leads was... fine. When there were glimpses of it at the beginning I could believe it, but probably from 10-50 or 60% of the way through I just didn't believe it. This got cleaned up at the end, but then there had to be a way-too-fast engagement thrown in, so it made me suspend my belief a bit too far.

Despite all of the above, this book wasn't BAD, so much as it was just fine and, fairly forgettable.

Loved this book about tv stars who end up on a reality show and find love again. I loved her friends and his family. I loved her dad and that things were thrown at them during the taping of the build but they ended up surviving it and love.

Built To Last by Erin Hahn
Tags: Second Chance Romance; Friends To Lovers; Reno Romance

Built To Last is the second chance romance story of child stars and friends Shelby Springfield and Camron Riggs, as they are brought back together ten years after the end of the show that made them famous. Cameron has been on the move – he went on to get a degree and travel the world working for National Geographic, never staying in one place for long. Shelby spent the last several years rebuilding her life in MI working as a antique furniture restorer. The two are brought back together for the chance to host an HGTV style reality home renovation show called HomeMade.

I knew I had to read this one – between the description, the cover art and the fact that this was Erin Hahn’s first romance book (I’ve read and enjoyed her YA romances). This book held the same heart and sweetness and compelling characters as her YA ventures, but definitely had some steam to it as well. I was swept up in the story and really felt for Shelby and Cameron – it was as if they were child stars I grew up watching and just wanted a happy ending for.

The story was heartwarming and had some of the angst that made it feel like they really were child stars trying to overcome their past and start anew. I loved the side characters as well – Shelby’s Dad and her two besties, Lorelai and Maren. I loved to hate Lyle (and Marcella) – I really disliked both of them but the author wrote them both really well.

Fun and charming, I hope there is more to come – especially for Lorelai. I’d be remise to not point out the fact that I really liked the dual POV and I loved that the book had chapter titles – that were songs! I love a playlist for my read and enjoyed finding the samples to listen to and set the mood before each chapter. So while I wait in hopeful anticipation for Lorelai’s story, I’ll satisfy myself with a quick reread of Hahn’s YA You’d Be Mine.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for an early look at this story. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely offered.

First, I absolutely love books that have accompanying playlist. I also really liked the whole HGTV spin/former Disney star-ish thing going on in the book. The character dynamic and dual POV worked really well for me.

I would definitely read more from this author especially a spin off book from the other characters.

One of the main things I can’t get on board with is the whole lack of communication as a plot device. But overall was a nice fun read.


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I'm not sure what made me request this particular ARC, but I'm glad I did. This book was pretty great from the start to the end, and I would absolutely check out others by this author.

I was hooked right away, probably within the first few pages. I didn't even know the MMC Cameron, but I knew I was already going to like him a lot. The dual POV for this story was done really well; each character had their own distinct voice and perspective that enhanced the storytelling. I always love a second chance romance, and this one did not disappoint.

The book wasn't particularly funny, but it was sweet and wholesome and had me smiling the whole time. I think there needed to be a bit more tension, especially towards the end of the story, but I really loved the "epilogue" – if you read it, you'll understand why that's in quotes.

Also, I could definitely be into a sequel with her secondary characters, but it needed to have been built into this story more authentically (born out of an investment in Lorelei, not just because I really liked Cam and Shelby). It sort of felt like added in at the end at the last minute for funsies. I'm going to have to round down from a 4.5 for this one (come on, Goodreads, give me a half-star option already!).

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I used to watch HGTV religiously, and my husband restores antique furniture that we find at flea markets. So after seeing the cover and reading book blurb, I immediately wanted to read this novel.

This was my first time reading a book by Erin Hahn, and it was the first novel I read with second chance romance. I enjoyed the voice of this author and I look forward to reading her next adult romance.

What I loved about this book: the setting (from home renovations show to antiques restorations to distillery), excellent supporting characters, fun dialog, and steamy love scenes.

Where it fell a little flat for me: they could have fixed issue with a simple conversation, so the lack of communication between the two main characters, or a better word is miscommunication between them was a bit meh for me. I was very much confused most of the first ⅓ of the plot why Shelby and Cameron can’t be together, and I didn’t understand why Cameron kept running away from Shelby in the beginning of the book. I think the reason why they couldn’t be together should have been explained better from the start or should have been made into a bigger issue than it was.

BUT aside from that, I enjoyed this book very much. I finished it in two days because I wanted to know how these two sweethearts work it out. It’s a fun read and a perfect companion to spend time with.


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy.