Built to Last

Shelby, Cameron and Lyle spent their childhood in the spotlight. Shelby got used to living her life under a microscope, but she doesn’t miss it. She’s finally distanced herself from the toxic remnants of stardom – the awful choices she made because she was seeking validation, the terrible relationship she settled for because she was lonely. She loves her work as a custom furniture creator. (I kept channeling Kyra Sedgwick’s character from Phenomenon – and I think Cameron would buy all of her chairs just like John Travolta bought Kyra’s… just sayin’)Cameron is the man who broke her heart when they were becoming the people they are now. He’s a famous National Geographic personality and he’s apparently moved on with his life. Until he’s offered the chance to debut in an HGTV house flip pilot with Shelby. The director is Lyle – the one part of their teen trio that’s still blinded by narcissism. He tries every ploy in the book to make sure Cameron and Shelby are awkward in camera. He relentlessly pressures them to manufacture an on-screen romance and stage the comeback they all need. The problem with the comeback is that you can’t come back from something you never left. Shelby and Cameron may have gone years without seeing each other. But you know that meme … “You came..” “You called…” --- well that’s the perfect way to sum up their relationship. If Shelby calls Cameron is always going to show up with a hug or a moving truck or a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. And now he has thighs like a lumber jack, a beard and the same sweet smile that made her swoon as teenager.I loved this second chance romance with all my heart! It had the perfect amount of steam, swooning, laughter and snark. Highly recommended if you like the books of Emily Henry or Lucy Score.