Built to Last

De: Erin Hahn

Narrado por: Lisa Zimmerman, Kale Williams

"I loved this delightful romance about makeovers of old homes, old personas, and relationships that never had a chance to launch. A sweet, charming reminder of what you can build with a strong foundation." - Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways

Erin Hahn's Built to Last is a sparkling second chance romance about owning what you’re worth and fighting for the one who got away.

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.

©2022 Erin Hahn (P)2022 Spotify Audiobooks

Fantastic Adult Romance Debut

Built to Last is Erin Hahn's first adult romance, and it is sizzling. It has all the characteristics of a Hahn novel - realistic characters, chemistry, music, and a cast of friends you just know you'll see again in a future sequel. She writes about people readers care about - even the old college roommate who already has his happily ever after.

Hahn's books are always delightful; now she's added sexual innuendo and sex. Swoon.

In this debut adult romance novel, Hahn stokes the fire with hot, sexy chemistry. This shift into the world of consenting adults allowed her to bring the sex, and she did just that. In fact, she brought it so hard that after her next YA novel, Even If It Breaks Your Heart scheduled for publication in 2024, Hahn has hinted that she'll keep playing with fire and stick to adult novels.

Built To Last is about two former co-stars who have left the acting world and grown up. They hooked up once as teens, and both consider the other as "the one who got away." When Shelby Springfield is asked to film a pilot for a tv show that involves her new career of home renovation, she is (predictably) blindsided by her surprise co-star, Cameron Riggs.

The chemistry is still there, and they both struggle to work together again, on camera. It's a beautiful tension, stoked on both sides by wonderful friends. Shelby's ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend team up to try sabotaging the show and the potential relationship with Cameron.

The book is sweet, funny, and very romantic. With lines like,
“I'm three hundred and seventeen pounds of pure sex, Riggs. I can’t be contained by a mere belt.” Hahn made me laugh out loud.

She also made me cry.

“You are the best part of me,“ Shelby's father says. “I don't tell you that enough, but it's the truth.“

Shelby and Cameron both have one crappy parent on one amazing one. They also have incredible friends.

Shelby's best friend writes a song called, "What They Have," and she tells Shelby it's inspired by "you and Cam and how gross you are," and asks them to "act out your side of the story in a video." Cam takes over the conceptualization of the music video, and everything that unfolds afterwards is absolutely wonderful.

The description of the subsequent music video is lovely - I could picture it vividly - and I want to see this book made into a movie just for the chance to see this music video.

The epilogue is presented as an interview of the characters, which is not only brilliant, but a great way to end the book.

Built To Last is another captivating book with songs threaded throughout that readers can practically hear… only this time there’s adult sexiness.

Labeled as a "second chance romance" novel, Hahn's latest book is so good it already has a sequel (of sorts) coming out later this year, featuring the singer best-friend. While I love her YA novels, I hope she keeps making these sexy adult ones because she's good at it.

Let's face it - I'll read anything Hahn writes, but I absolutely love a series that makes sure the friends and family also get happily ever afters, and I hope to see more of Shelby and Cam in Friends Don't Fall In Love later this year.

Cute !!

Erin Hahn has a lovely ability to write exceptionally sweet stories with enough spicy details that you get all the butterflies. This was great. I truly enjoyed it. The narration was also excellent ! Wonderful performance.

Nice Romantic Story...It's Just....

Lisa Zimmerman is not a good narrator. I get totally distracted by the fact that she sounds just like Tanya from White Lotus (lol). Honestly the voice and SUPER weird inflections do not match the otherwise normal and intelligent dialog from the female lead.
If you can get past the truly silly and just awful caricature painted by the female narrator, it's a good story. The male narrator is good.

A Sweet and Good Time...

This second-chance romance was so sweet and I absolutely adored it. I loved both Shelby and Came, and especially their relationship. It was nice to see them both grow as people and change their lives for the better. They both were solid characters and were easy to root for. I also really enjoyed the HGTV-esque home renovation show element and how to crew really stood by Shelby and Cam when they needed to.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and am happy that I picked it up. I can't wait for the sequel!

Enjoyed this more than expected!

Ok, wow - I enjoyed this so much more than I had anticipated! I went in fairly blind and am so happy I did!

🔨 friends to lovers / second chance romance
🔨 former childhood stars
🔨 home renovation show
🔨 Dual POV
🔨 Mutual Pining
🔨 No 3rd Act Break-up 🙌🏻

There is so much to enjoy about this book! This was such a sweet and swoony romance with fun banter, great secondary characters, and a glimpses of stardom (oh and a sh***y ex-boyfriend who a common villain that we can all root against lo).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @smpromance for an e-ARC of this book - all opinions are my own!

Aunt CB

I love this book! Everything about it is amazing. It’s this best one so far for Erin. I hope it’s made into a movie or even a TV series.

Entertaining

Pro: a cute love story embedded in a love letter to the state of Michigan
Con: a bit too much political opinion