Built to Last is such an engaging mix of friendship, ambition, and romance, all set in the heart of Manhattan. It follows Harper Ross as she takes on a renovation project for her friend’s production company, only to immediately clash with Reid, the project’s designer. But as they work together, their tension slowly turns into something much deeper. Harper’s struggles with an unsupportive mother made her story both emotional and, at times, really relatable. I also loved seeing how much strength she drew from her friendships. This book had me hooked from start to finish. Definitely a 5-star read!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC! in exchange for an honest review!

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! I even teared up there at the end.

This was a great series. I loved that we got the same side characters in each book with a few added in book two and then more in this book. I came to love this odd found family and I'm envious of what they all have with each other. I'm looking forward to when the audiobook comes out so that I can do a re-listen.

Built to Last by Lexi Blake is a sweet and heartfelt romance that wraps up the Park Avenue Promise series nicely. The story of second chances and personal growth is touching, and the chemistry between the characters feels genuine. While the plot is a bit predictable and some conflicts resolve too easily, it’s still an enjoyable and comforting read. Fans of the series will appreciate the satisfying conclusion and the hopeful message about love and forgiveness.

Harper Ross finally gets her shot at a dream project—a Park Avenue brownstone renovation—but working with perfectionist designer Reid Dorsey is anything but easy. Their creative clashes spark tension, but soon, their rivalry turns into something more. When the project faces challenges, they must decide if their ambitions can align—or if they’re willing to build something even greater together.

A captivating mix of enemies-to-lovers romance and career ambition, Built to Last is a charming, high-stakes love story set against the backdrop of Manhattan dreams.

Built to Last was my first Lexi Blake book, and I can say without a doubt it won’t be my last! The steamy tension between Harper and Reid was so perfectly constructed (pun intended), making their journey from rivals to something more incredibly satisfying. Their ending felt just right for them.

Harper was such a relatable and sassy FMC, and her story was a joy to follow. If you love enemies-to-lovers with career ambition and undeniable chemistry, go read this book!

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for early access to this amazing story.

Built to Last delivers a stylish Manhattan romance filled with snarky banter, fiery clashes, and a dash of workplace rivalry. The backdrop of a glamorous brownstone renovation adds charm, and although I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, the strong friendship dynamics between the supporting characters still shone through, adding warmth and heart to the story.

Harper and Reid’s romance has its sweet moments, but their banter often veered into unkind territory, making the enemies-to-lovers dynamic feel more mean-spirited than playful. The tension between them sometimes felt a little forced, and their insta-love connection didn’t fully deliver the emotional build-up I was hoping for. The villains, particularly Harper’s family, felt over-the-top and one-dimensional, which made their role in the story less convincing.

That said, the renovation backdrop was a fun and creative setting, and the chemistry between Harper and Reid had its charming moments once they moved beyond their initial hostility. While this book wasn’t quite my cup of tea, fans of fast-paced, dialogue-heavy romances with a workplace twist may enjoy it.

⭐️⭐️ – A light, dialogue-driven romance with a stylish NYC backdrop, best suited for readers who enjoy snarky banter and quick-burning chemistry.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the advanced reader copy - I was captivated within the first few pages.

This is the third book in the Park Avenue Promise series and is scheduled for release on May 27, 2025. It is a must-read novel that centers around friendship, ambition, and romance in Manhattan.

The story revolves around three strong women who have shared a close-knit bond since childhood. The main character, Harper Ross is hired to renovate the Benover property for her friend's new production company. She initially clashes with Reid, the project's designer, but their professional tensions gradually transform into respect and a deeper connection as they work together on the renovation.

On a personal note, my heart truly went out to Harper, who lacked support and respect from her own family, especially her mother. I've been incredibly fortunate to have a mother who encouraged me to become the best version of myself, and I’ve passed that same belief on to my daughter, teaching her that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. It was heartbreaking to see Harper without the nurturing and encouragement that every woman deserves. I was truly grateful she had the unwavering support of her friends.

Final thought... I would love to have a friend like Lydia, whose advice is always spot on!!!

5 out of 5 stars; I'm looking forward to reading more from Lexi Blake!

thank you net galley for the arc. i havent read the first two books in this series. but i still enjoyed it i liked the characters. i like reed. i like a story about girls supporting girls.

This book was utterly amazing!!! Romantic, heartwarming, tense, heartbreaking, I would absolutely read more by this author! Absolutely brilliant! The title and the cover go so well together, then the plot is stunning to go with the book!

Built to Last is the perfect Hallmark-style romance. It has a faux enemies-to-lovers style meet cute that gives us some set up for the hero and heroine spending a lot of time together in close quarters. I enjoyed the back story for our hero and the ways in which is gave him dimension and I also loved the close relationship between the heroine and her best friends. For me, the issues came into play in a few different places. First, there is a lot of telling over showing happening in this one. There will be long swaths of dialogue that overly explain everything that a character is feeling and for me that contributes to the shallow Hallmark feel of the book. Additionally, the "enemies" part of the enemies-to-lovers is pretty flimsy. I know basically all enemies have to be flimsy in modern romances, but I felt like their hatred was completed unwarranted and honestly they got pretty mean to one another. I think it was intended to be cutting banter, but it mostly became unkind and it was not really my cup of tea. Lastly, the villains of the story are almost caricatures of villains. The heroine's family, for example, is over the top for me in terms of being sexist and it made it hard for me to believe anyone would really even put up with that especially when she has so many other options. I found the romance itself to be sweet, if insta-love style falling in love, but Reid and Harper seem to be well-matched and don't take the mean things they say to one another to heart, so I guess that is good. I personally love a little more yearning, but I don't think it's the insta-love that distracted me, but the fact that they said so many biting things to one another and those were never fully unpacked for me. The other big detractor was the overly-evil villains of the story. I think if you're a Hallmark lover, though you'll like this one, It walks you through every emotion and it's an easy, compulsive read.

Sweet and simple to read. This can be read as a stand-alone, even if it is part of a series. The FMC and MMC have a lot of chemistry and humour. The plot didn't suffer because of the predictable turns. Outstanding illustration of the chosen family.

Overall I highly recommend this book

Harper Ross and Reid Dorsey’s fiery journey from rivals to something more is a captivating ride in Built to Last! Set against the glamorous backdrop of a Park Avenue brownstone renovation, this story skillfully blends romance, ambition, and a touch of humor. Harper’s determination to grow her father’s construction business and Reid’s passion for design create the perfect mix of tension and chemistry. Their bickering sparks fly off the page as they navigate their clashing visions.

The setting—the stunning Gilded Age property—adds depth to the story, making the renovation process just as fascinating as the romance. Harper’s grit and Reid’s artistic sensibilities provide a fun dynamic, though some readers might find their initial hostility a bit drawn out. However, their eventual growth and understanding make the payoff incredibly satisfying.

The novel shines in how it balances the personal stakes of both characters with the challenges of their profession. When the project is put in jeopardy, it’s impossible not to root for them to find a way forward—both as a team and as a couple.

If you love enemies-to-lovers romances with a focus on career dreams and gorgeous settings, Built to Last is a wonderful pick. It’s charming, heartfelt, and leaves you believing that with the right person, any challenge can become an opportunity.

Book 3 but my first read in the series and now I must go back to enjoy Book 1 and Book 2. The friendships and relationships explored were fun and interesting. I was entertained throughout the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I like books about found family
I didn’t not read the other two books in this series as their summaries didn’t appeal to me like this one did.
I didn’t feel lost by missing the other two books.
I have read Lexi Blake before and really enjoyed her stories and writing style

I predicted the family secret and who was buying the house but I did enjoy the process of the MCs maturing and realizing what was important to them and how they decided to embark on a path that was their own.

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5🌟

Thankyou sooo mucchh netgalley for this AMAZING read.

I’m in love. I was so captivated by this cover and then I started the book…….
I love how different the plot was and how that it supported feminism. We love girls who support girls!!!!🩷✨
This is a prefect example of grumpy x sunshine.
Reid was amazing!!!! I LOVE him and NEED him soo badly!!!!!
Harper is such a strong MFC and loved her attitude towards stuff.
I love that when she took over her dads business she hired women BECAUSE👏THEY👏 ARE👏JUST👏AS👏CAPABLE👏AS👏MEN👏

The romance in here was perfect. There was also the perfect amount of drama

Plot- 4/5
Spice-0.5-1/5
Recommend-♾️/5

Loved this enemies to lovers home construction romance novel. Tons of heartfelt emotions which overcome the challenges. Highly recommended.

I have to admit that this was a hard book to start. I'm not sure why but the first chapter for me was hard to get past, but OMG am I glad I did. Once I got into the second chapter I couldn't put it down, I read almost half the book in one sitting. It was so hard to put down. I really love the banter between Reid and Harper, it'd like their love language and it is the best. I totally called the ending a few chapters before but the way it all happened I'm not upset that it was kind of a given because of how well Lexi wrote it.
I kind of hope there's a fourth book that happens a few years down the road to see where the 3 girls are. Like 3 novellas but in one book.

This was such a great book. I loved all the characters, they each have a distinct personality. I love that the three women have been friends for so long and that they are sisters. I also love how Reed and Harper both have grown up in a terrible dynamic and work to be better and more loving to the friends that are family. The ending was great I was in tears. I will be reading the rest of this series now.

Harper & Reid
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy x Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance

This is the 3rd and final book in this series, and probably my favourite one.

There is great banter and chemistry between Harper & Reid.

I love seeing the other characters in this story and love seeing them all getting their HEA

I blew through this book, and honestly was so upset when it ended. I fell in love with all the characters, not just the best friends (more like sisters) that this series follows, but also the male main character and his brother, as well as the moms.

I love the wisdom, patience, and humor moms are able to add to a story. I love that this story is about pursuing, and giving your energy, to those that truly love and support you. The phrase “fill your soul” is used over and over.

As for the love story between the main characters: I loved it. There is a pretty dramatic shift from enemies to head over heels with no arguments. I do wish there were some arguments after they fell in love as well. But how she decides to handle being pushed away is my all time favorite thing. She is able to stand up to all of the women that think they throw themselves at men and get exactly what they want. I laughed, cried, cheered, and swooned. I did predict the ending pretty easily, but that didn’t take away from me loving it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I've already stated this in my many, many reviews from Ms. Blake, but I am and have always been a huge fan. This is the third and final book in this trilogy of three women who have been friends since they were children. They made a pack when they were in high school to always stay friends - no matter what - and to try to make it big in NYC. The added bonus as it pertains to this book is that this pact was actually made in this building....the historic Park Avenue brownstone that is being rehabbed. They had a school field trip and one of the stops was the historic building. They snuck away to an empty room and made the pack while eating their lunch. Is that really important? Yes, kind of. It speaks to the importance of the building for Harper.

This was not my favorite book of the trilogy. In fact, I think I probably liked it the least. BUT....that isn't really saying too much because there has not yet been a book by Ms. Blake that is bad in my opinion. Why wasn't it my favorite? Well, this story is an enemies to lovers story and while I don't particularly have an opinion on this type of trope, I REALLY did NOT like the "Hate flirting" (is that even a thing? I just don't know what else to call it) that occurs between Harper and Reid. There were several times that I felt it went too far and just sped right past the whole flirting aspect and became cruel. That is NOT my cup of tea.

However, once we got past that portion, I loved the rest of the story. I really liked Reid (the MMC) and especially loved his brother Jeremiah as characters. Harper (our FMC) was a little bit harder to warm up to, and somewhat rough around the edges (in a good way of course) but by the end I did feel some warmth towards her.

Harper is the last of the three girls to find her "happy ending" so one of the wonderful things was that we got to see the other two girls and their significant others pop in to this storyline quite often. Heck, they are working together to remodel and preserve the historic house. That was awesome.

We got to see the incredibly AWFUL way that Harper was treated by her family and honestly, I would have kicked them all to the curb right away. ESPECIALLY her mother. Man, some women do not have the right to call themselves parents. But, I digress.

We have two storylines going on at the same time. Actually, come to think of it - three storylines. There is Harper and her construction business (and the family drama), there is the remodel with Reid (and the drama with that), and then there is whatever it is that Reid and Jeremiah are dealing with....no spoilers.

In the end, this book wrapped up the trilogy in a perfect bow, tying up all of the loose ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on May 27, 2025.