Built to Last: ARC Review
There are few micro-tropes better than boy obsessed. Especially when we get to read his POV, and friends this is one, among MANY reasons why I am so thrilled to be here today sharing everything I loved about Erin Hahn’s new adult romance, Built to Last! Having never read anything by Hahn previously I had no idea what to expect writing style wise, and my word, she’s going to be a insta-purchase moving forward (and a backlist purchase shortly!).
As always huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advance copy, thoughts below are my own.
Gosh where to even begin? Well rather than make you read a whole bunch of my ramblings I’ll get right to it: I loved it. This is a low-angst second chance romance between two former child-stars, who end up “making it out alive” from the toxicity of the industry, their peers and in some cases their parents.
This book is absolutely about the deep and consuming love Cameron and Shelby have for each other, but it’s also about the love of family (both found, animal, and biological). Which Hahn does a fantastic job both showing and telling.
But what REALLY, really, really freaking resonated is how much this story is about growth, bravery and the strength to love each version of who you are and become as we grow up. Even if those previous versions were less than perfect.
Shelby is a freaking QUEEN. And seeing the iterations of her that are less shiny, make who she is in the present really lovely. And to read how Cameron perceives her will straight up melt your heart. I loved watching her be so freaking competent in her workshop, which is refreshing AF (at least for me, who works in a very cis-male dominated field).
And Cameron, boy has been running for so long, that having him stop, take a breather and figure out what staying in one place looks like was so satisfying, along with seeing how talented he was in his own right.
Set against the sturdiness of the midwest, and among a fictionalized HGTV Chip & Joanna style show they are working on, the playfulness, love and partnership so clearly shines between these two.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, yes you got it: I loved this book. But it has easily become a future comfort read, which we could ALL use right now. Perfect for fans of Olivia Dade, Trish Doller and Jaqueline Snowe, Built To Last will make you laugh, dreamily sigh and maybe give you the swoons. Grab it wherever you get your books, October 18th, 2022.