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kellygillespiewv 's review for:
Built to Last
by Erin Hahn
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
*Disclaimer: I am a mood reader. When I first attempted to read an ARC of Built to Last in September 2022, I did not finish it (stopping around 48% in the electronic version). On a whim, because that’s what mood reading is, I picked up the audiobook version this week (May 2023). My review below is based on the audiobook.
Built to Last is a cute childhood sweethearts second chance romance story against the backdrop of a chaotic home reno TV show.
I love Erin Hahn breaking into the adult romance department! She speaks “romance” well, and I’m happy to see her growing her audience from YA to include adult readers, too.
One of the biggest reasons I don’t think this book worked for me initially had to do with the unlikeable nature of the characters at the start. I am very much a character-driven reader, and it took too long for me to connect with the characters. With the audio, I did eventually find that connection, but I assume mood readers like me might struggle and give up on this book, like I did my first go-around, because the characters strongly come off negatively or unrelatable in the first half of the book. In the end, I did appreciate the character growth. Honestly, it was probably its redeeming grace for me…that and the side characters of locals, who were fantastic!
The home renovation show plot was fun. I didn’t always find it plausible, but the romance kept the story moving. I absolutely loved Shelby and Cameron’s chemistry and was so pleased with the way the second chance romance played out.
The book is told in dual POVs, read in the audiobook by Lisa Zimmerman and Erin Williams. For me, listening to the audiobook helped bring the story to life and helped me to move past the unlikeable start quicker.
Overall, I am glad I gave Built to Last a second go! I’d recommend this one to fans of the TV show element and character growth — it might take some time, but it is an enjoyable story.
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.
*Disclaimer: I am a mood reader. When I first attempted to read an ARC of Built to Last in September 2022, I did not finish it (stopping around 48% in the electronic version). On a whim, because that’s what mood reading is, I picked up the audiobook version this week (May 2023). My review below is based on the audiobook.
Built to Last is a cute childhood sweethearts second chance romance story against the backdrop of a chaotic home reno TV show.
I love Erin Hahn breaking into the adult romance department! She speaks “romance” well, and I’m happy to see her growing her audience from YA to include adult readers, too.
One of the biggest reasons I don’t think this book worked for me initially had to do with the unlikeable nature of the characters at the start. I am very much a character-driven reader, and it took too long for me to connect with the characters. With the audio, I did eventually find that connection, but I assume mood readers like me might struggle and give up on this book, like I did my first go-around, because the characters strongly come off negatively or unrelatable in the first half of the book. In the end, I did appreciate the character growth. Honestly, it was probably its redeeming grace for me…that and the side characters of locals, who were fantastic!
The home renovation show plot was fun. I didn’t always find it plausible, but the romance kept the story moving. I absolutely loved Shelby and Cameron’s chemistry and was so pleased with the way the second chance romance played out.
The book is told in dual POVs, read in the audiobook by Lisa Zimmerman and Erin Williams. For me, listening to the audiobook helped bring the story to life and helped me to move past the unlikeable start quicker.
Overall, I am glad I gave Built to Last a second go! I’d recommend this one to fans of the TV show element and character growth — it might take some time, but it is an enjoyable story.
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.