Built to Last: A Novel is a heart-warming romance story that will leave you smiling! It's a true love story with a happy ending!! This book tells the story of Shelby and Cameron, former child stars who left Hollywood. They are brought back for a reality show by their former costar who has never been anything but trouble for them. Not only does this novel tell their love story but they each get the redemption they both deserve. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the characters. The two main have some great friends that make excellent supporting characters. Additionally, I loved the setting of this one, it is like being in a HGTV show. There is little spice but lots of love. Overall, this a quick read romance you'll enjoy! It comes out in October so add it to your TBR!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced reader copy!!

*Review is posted to Goodreads and will be posted to my Bookstagram account this week.

When I found out about an adult second chance romance from Erin Hahn I was overjoyed. Built to Last was sweet and I found myself cheering on Shelby and Cameron. Now I’m patiently waiting for Lorelei’s story.

This is Erin Han's first adult romance, and I really enjoyed it! In this second chance romance, The two main characters have a messy, intriguing past. I love the premise, of them being put into close proximity to work together on a home improvement reality TV show--very unique! The only reason it's not 5 stars is because I thought the resolution of one of the character's external conflict was too easily solved. But it was steamy and fun and I highly recommend it!

Oh, how I loved this book. I'm such a sucker for reality show romance (obviously), and this was really well written. I loved that Shelby was more than just a thin, pretty face. I really didn't understand why Cam left her to go to college without, IDK, mentioning that he wasn't dumping her--but teens aren't always the best communicators. I really liked watching them get to know each other again.

Such an entertaining read. The title totally fits the context of the book. I love reading about the history of Shelby and Cameron. The story puts the lives of child stars in perspective and how they actually don’t really have one. It’s hard to find balance in the entertainment world and amongst social media. This is a great read for the poolside.

I think anyone who has ever watched a home renovation show has dreamed of having their own business or t the very least doing their own full-scale home reno. This book brings that to life - maybe in a more positive way than I've seen it in some other books that take on this scenario (like The Honey Don't List).

Shelby and Cameron were both child stars on a Disney or Nickelodeon show where the kids dance and sing their way into your heart. They had a secret relationship in the later years of the show - but when Cameron left the show to go to college Shelby lost her way and got lost in the LA drinking and club scene. Cameron came back briefly and helped Shelby break free of the life she was trapped in - but didn't stay with her. Now five years later Shelby has broken free of her old life and built a new one in Michigan. She's restoring furniture and working with her dad on a house flipping business. Shelby filmed a pilot for a show called HomeMade with her dad. Audiences loved her - but didn't embrace her dad the same way. Shelby's ex (and the lead of their old show) Lyle is brought on as a potential show runner sees the potential to bring in Cameron as the contractor to Shelby's designer in the show. Cam has no experience - but he wants to help Shelby and sees her potential. As they start on the show together - Cam has to face going home again and Shelby has to face her past and whether she can show the world she really has moved beyond her partygirl image.

This book definitely packs an emotional punch. Both Shelby and Cameron have a lot to work through. Both of them have challenging relationships with their families. Shelby has worked through hers - but Cameron not so much. They also have to work through their own relationship. I think it is clear to everyone around them that they've loved each other for a very long time. But what do you do when you meet your soulmate at 11? For some people - in some environments - they can just love each other and continue with their lives together. For Cam and Shelby - they needed to grow and love themselves too before they can start a relationship.

But like the very last song referenced in this book -

"Call it dumb luck, but baby, you and I
Can't even mess it up although we both try
No, it don't always go the way we planned it
But the wolves came and went and we're still standing
When the bones are good, the rest don't matter" (The Bones - Maren Morris)

The main characters really do the work on themselves in this book - and Ioved that. There were no magic fixes or easy changes. Cam is very much a beta hero - and I was so here for that. Shelby is a force of nature - but has soft edges that really endeared her to me. I also seriously appreciated the emphasis on communication between the characters - in all facets of their lives.

Overall - I highly recommend.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

4.5

cute friends-to-lovers! i really liked how their friends and families supported them as people and a couple. a wonderful foray into adult romance from erin hahn! her YA is great and this is on-par.

#netgalley

I was so excited about this book but I couldn't get over the MC, Cameron's, internal monologue. We follow him as he leaves Alaska to help his friend, based on a single text. Immediately you get the feeling that there is more to their relationship than just a friendship. However, we go on to learn that they haven't seen each other in a while although they had a very close relationship in the past due to working together on a television show. The internal thoughts of Cameron as he was supposed to be consoling his friend through a heartbreak felt really gross to me. He continued to focus on her appearance in an overtly sexual way and unfortunately, I couldn't get past it. This is a DNF for me, but perhaps others will like it more.

this story was so sweet and refreshing. following cameron & shelby’s relationship throughout the years just reinforced the fact that they are soulmates. i’m also partial to books about show business, so I loved the plot of this book! I appreciated that the formula to this book was different from others in the genre; no third act miscommunication, because they had worked through their communication issues earlier in. overall, a sweet, heartwarming read❣️
*thank you netgalley and st. martin’s press for the eARC!

I was alternately gritting my teeth and sighing at this well written story! Angst at the antics of Lyle, joy at the ability of Shelby (love the name) and Cameron to finally have a relationship after years of unrequited love. All were child stars in a hit series and had since moved on in so many directions. Lyle always wanted what Cam had so when he left for a career making documentaries, Lyle made sure to snag Shelby. And she was naïve enough for a while to think he was the ‘one’. Eventually that failed and years later, Lyle brought them all back together with a home improvement reality show. The chemistry was off the wall for Cam and Shelby even when Lyle tried to crush it. Great HEA for a couple who went through so much.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Cameron travels to California to visit Shelby. They are asked to do a home renovation show. I enjoyed the chemistry between Cameron and Shelby. This book was a quick read.

Rating: 4/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Warnings: Difficult Family Dynamics, Cheating (in past)
Read if you liked: A Lot Like Adios
Steam: 3/5
Tropes: Second Chance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Workplace

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Built to Last by Erin Hahn will be released on October 18th, 2022.

Things I loved: Shelby and Cameron's second chance, the chemistry! I loved that they were childhood sweethearts who finally got a second chance to be with each other. You could really show how these two grew up overtime by removing themselves from the limelight. The lack of irrational conflict..thank you! Their relationships with their best friends. All the home building themes, the flee markets, the antiquing...I love an HGTV moments.

Things I didn't care for: Lyle...as a character, I know he's there for a reason but he totally rubs me the wrong way. I think there was opportunity to provide some resolution with the troubled parental relationships.

I enjoyed this book and felt like the whole premise worked. The characters had known each other for many years, and so their romance was believable. The premise of a home renovation / flipping show with former celebrities is also very on point for the current HGTV craze, with folks like Vanilla Ice and others getting into home renovation and reality TV in general. I liked the secondary characters and am looking forward to future spin off books. But I have to admit that I did find a few things harder for me when I was reading this. First, there was no need to vilify Lyle to the degree that he was; it just didn't do a lot to push the plot forward. And then when they brought in Marcella and Shelby's mom .... I just didn't need these nasty people in the book and I felt like they served no real purpose because the story was doing fine without them there. The antiquing expedition was awesome and would have done enough to bring Shelby and Cameron closer together than all the other negative people in their lives. The other piece that I didn't like was the fact that there was so much pushing away because it just didn't work for me and it seemed to just drag out the plot. Again, not necessary. I would have preferred more time spent on the show and the characters around them than on the internal monologue that was pretty much the same for each character.

Despite the things that I didn't like, I did still enjoy the book and thought that it was a fun read especially for a beach read in the summer.

Built to last was a fun, charming, cover to cover read! I had so much fun with these characters and I love a second chance romance.
Shelby and Cameron take quite a journey and we are along for every step of the way!
Don’t miss this fantastic read!

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this super adorable ARC. I loved Built to Last as a huge fan of second-chance and friends-to-lover romance who features Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs as former child-stars who have never gotten over each other, despite life foisting them in different directions. When the chance to host a home renovation reality show together comes up, they hesitate but play along, and shenanigans ensue.

Hahn’s writing is whip smart, quick, and flirty, and the dual POV is something I am usually picky about especially from the male protagonist, but she handles it perfectly. I loved seeing their romance grow. This is my first Erin Hahn, but it won’t be my last.

Built to Last is a second-chance and friends-to-lover romance that just OOZES charm! Shelby Springfield and Cameron Riggs are former child-stars who have never gotten over their first love, even though life has taken them in different directions. When the chance to host a home renovation reality show together comes up, they both go all in, despite their hesitations, and face shenanigans from their producer (and ex-costar).

Erin Hahn's writing was delightful, and I loved the duel perspective. Both main characters were so likeable, fun, and ready to grow and mature. This was a refreshing romcom, and I'm eager to read another romcom by Hahn. Build to Last deserves 4 amazing stars, and I can't wait to tell my friends about this lovely read!

“Built to Last” by Erin Hahn is a second chances romance novel. In this book we meet Shelby Springfield, a former child star, now a vintage furniture restorer. One of her former co-stars, Cameron Riggs, left the show in order to attend college and now works for National Geographic as a host/presenter. Their other former co-star, Lyle, comes up with an idea that on paper sounds good - have Shelby and Cameron co-host a renovation house flipping TV show. Add in some post-show new friends, some estranged family members (one of whom believe that they’re always in the spotlight), some backstabbing so-called friends, and some miscommunication - and that, omitting some details, sums up this book. I found this book a “cute” read, though at times the lack of communication was a bit bewildering (these people are in their late 20s). Some of the lengths one character went to mess things up I found bewildering (revenge? Why pitch an idea if you really want it to fail?) - but I did applaud Cameron and Shelby’s reactions (for the most part) for dealing with what was thrown their way. I’m glad that another reviewer mention that the chapter subhead was a song title - I only knew one or two songs and was puzzled for a while. For the most part I found this an enjoyable quick read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

2.5 Star! ***

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was my first time reading this author. I had really high hopes for this book since it contains some of my favorite things, second chance romance and reality tv home renovation, but it fell flat for me.

Cameron and Shelby are former child stars who reunite to film a pilot for a home reno flipping show. Cameron is a photographer for a National Geographic but hates flying which seems like it wouldn’t work. Shelby restores old homes with her father. Crying is basically a personality trait of hers.

The main conflict for the first half of the book is basically lack of communication and miscommunication. I never really understood why they needed to hide their relationship present day or when they were teenagers. The second half of the book was frustrating to read with the beating Cam and Shelby take from Lyle and his wife. The last couple chapters really redeemed the other 90% of this book for me.

Despite this book not being all I hoped for, I’m interested in Lorelei’s story. It seems like she may get her own book and that looked to have some potential!

So I have a confession to make: I am an HGTV addict. On any given day, if you were to come to my house, you would find me sitting on my couch, watching Love It or List It and not-so-silently judging the renovation choices. So when I saw Built To Last was an HGTV inspired, second chance romance written by Erin Hahn, author of one of my favorite reads of 2019, "You'd Be Mine"? It went right onto my "Most Anticipated Gotta Have It” book list. And let me tell you, this book lived up to (and exceeded) the expectations I had for it.

In this book, Shelby and Cameron are not only former first loves, but also former child stars who left LA to find (and ultimately save) themselves, leaving their relationship behind in the process. However, throughout their 10 year seperation, the feelings continued to linger, and we get to watch both of them work out their current and past feelings against a fun, HGTV-inspired Midwest home renovation background.

Listen, I know it's controversial in the book community, but I personally love rom coms with dual POV (who doesn't want to read the pining inner thoughts of a man written by a woman?) and this book was no exception. While I loved watching Shelby transform from the timid child star she was into the strong-willed, well-adjusted woman she is now, it was ultimately Cameron's chapters that had me in a chokehold. Every time one of his chapters came around, all I could do was smile and think “Oh there you are, you little simp.” The man takes lovestruck to another level. Case in point: "I probably looked like a complete himbo next to her, but I can't even be mad about it. I'm too busy admiring her and following behind, carrying a box of iron hardware like a lovesick puppy. It's a distinction I wear with pride, believe me." All this, wrapped up in the packaging of a respectful, kindhearted man, with a beard and tree trunk thighs? Sign me up.

The sweet, second chance romance is not the only thing this book had going for it. It also contained exploration and healing of familial relationships, well fleshed out, supportive side characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and some pretty steamy steam. This book (coupled with You'd Be Mine) has put Erin Hahn firmly on my auto-buy list. Because, let’s be honest, to quote Shelby: "I'm a simple woman. Give me a bearded man and a sun-soaked early-century Craftsman reading nook and I will love you forever".

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press from providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can't imagine what life would be like to live in public scrutiny all the time. Or to have your life messed with all the time for the sake of "reality" TV. This book sure makes you think about what that might be like. What would that do to the rest of your family too? And who doesn't love a good home improvement show? Great book!