Built to Last

Transitioning from young adult to contemporary romance, Hahn (Never Saw You Coming) delivers a second-chance love story against the backdrop of home improvement television—with entertaining, if somewhat shoddily constructed, results. Former child star and pop singer Shelby Springfield imploded in the public eye after a messy breakup with her on- and off-screen boyfriend, Lyle Jessup, who cheated on her and blamed the infidelity on his suspicion that she never got over her true first love, their mutual costar Cameron Riggs. Retreating to small-town Michigan and picking up furniture refurbishing, Shelby is content to stay out of the spotlight—until Lyle, now a producer, offers her a gig hosting his new home renovation show alongside Cameron, who’s willing to learn home remodeling if it means spending time with Shelby. Hahn never really justifies why Lyle would want to work with his ex—or why he goes on to gently sabotage the shoot—making the very foundation of the plot feel unstable. Still, Shelby and Cameron’s chemistry is sweet, and getting to know Shelby’s friends (all also former famous people who randomly settled in Michigan) will make readers excited for more in this series. It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but it has plenty of charm. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary. (Oct.)