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Built to Last
One temporary nanny. A hidden obsession. And a secret that could cost him everything.
Griffin Hayes built himself up from blue collar beginnings, but no amount of success changes what matters his six-year-old boy. There is no room for distractions, complications, or anyone who threatens the careful routine he built around his son after his wife passed.
When his nanny leaves without warning, Griffin is forced to find someone new.
Enter Tiana Jones, social media influencer and the woman he’s secretly obsessed with.
When the chance to buy the café she works at finally opens up, Tiana is determined to save enough money to fulfill her dream.
So when her stepsister connects her with a temporary nannying job, Tiana takes it. Even if it means living under the same roof as the grumpy single dad who looks at her like she is his next bad decision.
The plan is Save the money. Keep her heart out of it.
But Griffin is rigid, overprotective, unfairly attractive, and impossible to ignore. His son starts to feel like home, his house becomes harder to leave, and the anonymous stranger making Tiana smile in her DMs may not be such a stranger after all.
Griffin tells himself Tiana is too young for him and too much of everything he has spent years denying himself.
But Tiana has a way of slipping past every rule he makes.
And the longer she stays, the harder it becomes to remember why falling for the nanny was supposed to be a mistake.
When his nanny leaves without warning, Griffin is forced to find someone new.
Enter Tiana Jones, social media influencer and the woman he’s secretly obsessed with.
When the chance to buy the café she works at finally opens up, Tiana is determined to save enough money to fulfill her dream.
So when her stepsister connects her with a temporary nannying job, Tiana takes it. Even if it means living under the same roof as the grumpy single dad who looks at her like she is his next bad decision.
The plan is Save the money. Keep her heart out of it.
But Griffin is rigid, overprotective, unfairly attractive, and impossible to ignore. His son starts to feel like home, his house becomes harder to leave, and the anonymous stranger making Tiana smile in her DMs may not be such a stranger after all.
Griffin tells himself Tiana is too young for him and too much of everything he has spent years denying himself.
But Tiana has a way of slipping past every rule he makes.
And the longer she stays, the harder it becomes to remember why falling for the nanny was supposed to be a mistake.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2026
About the author
Nouha Jullienne
17 books321 followersNouha Jullienne is a BIPOC, Canadian romance author crafting steamy, emotionally layered love stories, ranging from dark romance with morally grey antiheroes to contemporary slow burns. Since 2022, she’s published seven novels (with more on the way) about high-heat romance about powerful men and the women who won’t be tamed.
By day she works as a conference administrator; by night she crafts happily-ever-afters. A political science graduate, she traded dissertations for swoony chapters and never looked back. She lives in Canada’s capital with her husband and two daughters, and when she isn’t writing, she’s reading, storyboarding, or watching the next binge-worthy TV show.
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By day she works as a conference administrator; by night she crafts happily-ever-afters. A political science graduate, she traded dissertations for swoony chapters and never looked back. She lives in Canada’s capital with her husband and two daughters, and when she isn’t writing, she’s reading, storyboarding, or watching the next binge-worthy TV show.
Join Nouha's Newsletter: https://novelswithnouha.myflodesk.com...
Follow Nouha on her socials:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/novelswithnouha
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 17, 2026
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4 stars
i adore a single dad romance & the ocd rep was everything !!! rtc
✧˖°💜 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes
⤷ single dad x nanny
⤷ influencer x blue collar
⤷ secret obsession
⤷ ocd rep
⤷ opposites attract
⤷ billionaire romance
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ grumpy x sunshine
thank you nouha for the eARC!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i have been waiting for griffin and tiana's story since i read just until forever earlier this year! im already 50% through and obsessed! this one is for sure my fav out of the two - the ocd rep, single dad, and secret obsession 🤭 the writing style is easy to read and v fun!!
i adore a single dad romance & the ocd rep was everything !!! rtc
✧˖°💜 ⋆｡˚꩜ tropes
⤷ single dad x nanny
⤷ influencer x blue collar
⤷ secret obsession
⤷ ocd rep
⤷ opposites attract
⤷ billionaire romance
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ grumpy x sunshine
thank you nouha for the eARC!
𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i have been waiting for griffin and tiana's story since i read just until forever earlier this year! im already 50% through and obsessed! this one is for sure my fav out of the two - the ocd rep, single dad, and secret obsession 🤭 the writing style is easy to read and v fun!!
September 25, 2026
4.25🌟 | 3🌶️
A tattooed single dad, an age gap, a nanny setup, and undeniable tension? I was so excited to pick this one up.
Tiana was such a bright, determined FMC, while Griffin had that guarded, grumpy energy I can never resist. Their chemistry was there from the beginning, and watching their attraction slowly turn into something deeper kept me completely invested.
I especially appreciated how naturally Griffin’s grief was woven into his story. His love for his late wife was never minimized, and moving forward never meant leaving his past behind. Tiana also had her own dreams and emotional depth, which made her feel like so much more than just the love interest. And Sylas completely stole my heart. His bond with Tiana was one of my favorite parts and added such a sweet family dynamic to the romance.
Between the slow burn, emotional tension, family moments, and all the little twists along the way, this gave me plenty to sink into. Getting to see Mya and Worth again from a different perspective was such a fun bonus too.
Warm, emotional, sexy, and full of chemistry, this was exactly the kind of romance I wanted to get lost in.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
A tattooed single dad, an age gap, a nanny setup, and undeniable tension? I was so excited to pick this one up.
Tiana was such a bright, determined FMC, while Griffin had that guarded, grumpy energy I can never resist. Their chemistry was there from the beginning, and watching their attraction slowly turn into something deeper kept me completely invested.
I especially appreciated how naturally Griffin’s grief was woven into his story. His love for his late wife was never minimized, and moving forward never meant leaving his past behind. Tiana also had her own dreams and emotional depth, which made her feel like so much more than just the love interest. And Sylas completely stole my heart. His bond with Tiana was one of my favorite parts and added such a sweet family dynamic to the romance.
Between the slow burn, emotional tension, family moments, and all the little twists along the way, this gave me plenty to sink into. Getting to see Mya and Worth again from a different perspective was such a fun bonus too.
Warm, emotional, sexy, and full of chemistry, this was exactly the kind of romance I wanted to get lost in.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
September 18, 2026
I love a good age gap story. Once I saw that Griffin was a big, tattooed single dad, I had to read it! Griffin is a widower who is afraid to love again, and Tiana is an influencer trying to chase her dreams. When Griffin needs a nanny and Mya introduces him to Tiana the spark was immediate. The grief that Griffin showcased felt very real, and my heart broke for him. Sylas is a sweet boy who felt an emotional bond with Tiana right away. I hope he makes another appearance in the series!
I don’t want to give away the entire plot of the story because I think it’s good to go in knowing that Griffin has a tiny secret. It’s a great love story and had some twists I wasn’t expecting! If the blurb sounds interesting then go read this book! It’s worth it.
Thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for allowing me to be an advanced reader. All opinions are my own.
I don’t want to give away the entire plot of the story because I think it’s good to go in knowing that Griffin has a tiny secret. It’s a great love story and had some twists I wasn’t expecting! If the blurb sounds interesting then go read this book! It’s worth it.
Thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for allowing me to be an advanced reader. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Griffin and Tiana brought the kind of chemistry, emotional chaos, and slow-burn tension that had me completely invested from the very beginning.
Getting to revisit Mya and Worth’s story from a different perspective was such a fun bonus, but Griffin and Tiana quickly became the focus for me. Tiana is sunshine with plenty of hurt hiding underneath, while Griffin is a guarded, grumpy widower and single dad carrying a whole lot of guilt.
Their chemistry was fantastic. The push and pull, the stubbornness, and all those feelings they kept trying to deny had me invested from the start. Griffin tested my patience more than once, especially when his fears ended up hurting Tiana, but I understood why he struggled so much.
And Sylas completely stole my heart. His bond with Tiana was one of my favorite parts of the story, and I loved watching their relationship develop.
The handling of Griffin’s grief was what really stood out to me. His late wife was never treated like an obstacle he needed to get past. His grief, guilt, and love for her remained important while he learned how to make room for Tiana. Just as importantly, Tiana’s feelings were never pushed aside.
This is one of those widower romances that gets the balance right. Moving forward never meant forgetting, and I really appreciated that. Emotional, tense, and completely worth the wait.
Getting to revisit Mya and Worth’s story from a different perspective was such a fun bonus, but Griffin and Tiana quickly became the focus for me. Tiana is sunshine with plenty of hurt hiding underneath, while Griffin is a guarded, grumpy widower and single dad carrying a whole lot of guilt.
Their chemistry was fantastic. The push and pull, the stubbornness, and all those feelings they kept trying to deny had me invested from the start. Griffin tested my patience more than once, especially when his fears ended up hurting Tiana, but I understood why he struggled so much.
And Sylas completely stole my heart. His bond with Tiana was one of my favorite parts of the story, and I loved watching their relationship develop.
The handling of Griffin’s grief was what really stood out to me. His late wife was never treated like an obstacle he needed to get past. His grief, guilt, and love for her remained important while he learned how to make room for Tiana. Just as importantly, Tiana’s feelings were never pushed aside.
This is one of those widower romances that gets the balance right. Moving forward never meant forgetting, and I really appreciated that. Emotional, tense, and completely worth the wait.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to read "Just Until Forever" earlier this year as an ARC and was super excited to ARC read the second book in the series.
Getting to see Mya and Worth again from a different and parallel perspective was super fun.
Now onto our main characters for "Built to Last". When You have shared the character art and blurb earlier this year, I knew I had to read this! Age gap + nanny + tatted singled dad + influences, I could go on and on about all the things that drew me in initially.
Starting with Tiana, aka TJ aka Trouble aka Sugar. I relate to her on so many layers. Her career path is shockingly similar to mind, so from the start I was locked in. I saw the determination and want from the start. Tiana is a woman with a plan, but what happens when that plan unexpectedly includes a tall bulky tatted ginger single father and a dinosaur obsessed 6 year old boy.
Griffin is a widower still grieving when he finally meets Tiana. And by finally, I mean he's been watching her videos online for years. Completely entranced by her and the light she brought into his life. His grief and coming to understand his grief, is what stands in his way from going after what he wants.
Now let's not forget Sylas. Griffin's adorable dinosaur loving son. He acts as the bridge between bringing Tiana and Griffin together. From family pancake breakfasts to sentimental couch conversations, he's there to bring them together.
Not to give too much away but I almost started crying over a café name reveal. The moment was so heart wrenching 😭
I'm greatly looking forward to the continuation of this series and plan of diving into Nouha's dark romance books very soon!!!
Thank you to the author for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Getting to see Mya and Worth again from a different and parallel perspective was super fun.
Now onto our main characters for "Built to Last". When You have shared the character art and blurb earlier this year, I knew I had to read this! Age gap + nanny + tatted singled dad + influences, I could go on and on about all the things that drew me in initially.
Starting with Tiana, aka TJ aka Trouble aka Sugar. I relate to her on so many layers. Her career path is shockingly similar to mind, so from the start I was locked in. I saw the determination and want from the start. Tiana is a woman with a plan, but what happens when that plan unexpectedly includes a tall bulky tatted ginger single father and a dinosaur obsessed 6 year old boy.
Griffin is a widower still grieving when he finally meets Tiana. And by finally, I mean he's been watching her videos online for years. Completely entranced by her and the light she brought into his life. His grief and coming to understand his grief, is what stands in his way from going after what he wants.
Now let's not forget Sylas. Griffin's adorable dinosaur loving son. He acts as the bridge between bringing Tiana and Griffin together. From family pancake breakfasts to sentimental couch conversations, he's there to bring them together.
Not to give too much away but I almost started crying over a café name reveal. The moment was so heart wrenching 😭
I'm greatly looking forward to the continuation of this series and plan of diving into Nouha's dark romance books very soon!!!
Thank you to the author for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2026
If you are a sucker like me for single dad romances, than, you are going to want to pick up this book. Griffin is a great dad. His son is adorable. Cute kids are my weakness, and they always steal the scenes they are in. This is the case with this book. The interactions between Griffin's son, Sylas and Tiana are special.
Griffin is grumpy but when you hear his backstory and the grief he experienced, you understand why. Props to him for putting his son first. The slow burn romance between Tiana and Griffin is nice. It felt more natural this way. In addition, that it allowed me to form a closer bond with them.
This is a charming, sweet read. Engaging characters with an emotional storyline. Grumpy/sunshine romance.
Griffin is grumpy but when you hear his backstory and the grief he experienced, you understand why. Props to him for putting his son first. The slow burn romance between Tiana and Griffin is nice. It felt more natural this way. In addition, that it allowed me to form a closer bond with them.
This is a charming, sweet read. Engaging characters with an emotional storyline. Grumpy/sunshine romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Built to Last
By Nouha Jullienne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is an emotional rollercoaster, not only because of what Tiana and Griffin go through together but also how Griffin deals with his grief of his late wife.
The cemetery scene had me sobbing 😭
The groveling from Griffin is top tier, and that man has to BEG for forgiveness. As he should.
Tiana is such an incredibly strong woman who has been through enough emotional damage. But when Sylas calls her mommy for the first time 😭😭😭 omg my heart ❤️
I loved the entire story, all the characters, and i love that little coffee shop with the yellow door
Built to Last
By Nouha Jullienne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is an emotional rollercoaster, not only because of what Tiana and Griffin go through together but also how Griffin deals with his grief of his late wife.
The cemetery scene had me sobbing 😭
The groveling from Griffin is top tier, and that man has to BEG for forgiveness. As he should.
Tiana is such an incredibly strong woman who has been through enough emotional damage. But when Sylas calls her mommy for the first time 😭😭😭 omg my heart ❤️
I loved the entire story, all the characters, and i love that little coffee shop with the yellow door
September 20, 2026
After his wife passed 5 years ago, Griffin has focused all their energy on raising their son while building the company he shares with his two best friends. Not bothering with personal relationships outside of work, he has instead become entranced on a social media influencer he started following months ago, considering it to be a harmless fixation. When his nanny unexpectedly resigns, one of his coworkers recommends her sister for a temporary replacement, and on their first meeting, Griffin is shocked to find that she is the same woman he has been watching through his phone for months.
Tiana has been growing her following as an influencer for years, while attempting to save up a downpayment to purchase the cafe she has been working at since she was in school, but when developers start circling, her boss gives her a 6 month deadline to come up with the money. When her sister recommends her for the nannying job, she initially hesitates, especially given Griffin’s shocking welcome, but she quickly falls in love with the 6 year old and soon finds herself feeling more than friendly feelings for his father as well, even though everytime it feels like they’re getting close, he pushes her away. Turning to an anonymous follower for advice and comfort, she soon finds herself torn between two men, not realizing they’re one and the same.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and really enjoyed it. There was so much to unpack in this story, especially when it came to Griffin’s trauma and unresolved guilt over losing his wife and possibly moving on. I loved how seamlessly Tiana wove herself into his and Sylas’ lives, never asking for anything in return, and as hurt as she was when Griffin pulled away, she understood why. This story was about so much more than a second chance at love, filled with angst, spice and some fun age gap banter, but the connection between Griffin and Tiana showed that love after loss is possible, and you can have a future without forgetting your past.
Tiana has been growing her following as an influencer for years, while attempting to save up a downpayment to purchase the cafe she has been working at since she was in school, but when developers start circling, her boss gives her a 6 month deadline to come up with the money. When her sister recommends her for the nannying job, she initially hesitates, especially given Griffin’s shocking welcome, but she quickly falls in love with the 6 year old and soon finds herself feeling more than friendly feelings for his father as well, even though everytime it feels like they’re getting close, he pushes her away. Turning to an anonymous follower for advice and comfort, she soon finds herself torn between two men, not realizing they’re one and the same.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and really enjoyed it. There was so much to unpack in this story, especially when it came to Griffin’s trauma and unresolved guilt over losing his wife and possibly moving on. I loved how seamlessly Tiana wove herself into his and Sylas’ lives, never asking for anything in return, and as hurt as she was when Griffin pulled away, she understood why. This story was about so much more than a second chance at love, filled with angst, spice and some fun age gap banter, but the connection between Griffin and Tiana showed that love after loss is possible, and you can have a future without forgetting your past.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Blue Collar Billionaires Seattle: Griffin & Tiana
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have been eagerly, eagerly waiting for this one, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
Tiana is sunshine wrapped around so many hurts, while Griffin is a grumpy, closed-off widower and single dad with a secret obsession. I adored them both, but Sylas completely stole my heart. The bond that develops between him and Tiana is just beautiful, and I loved how quickly they connected.
There is so much tension between Griffin and Tiana. The back-and-forth, the push and pull, the feelings neither of them really wants to admit to… I was hooked.
Griffin frustrated me at times, especially with how much his fears and guilt hurt Tiana. There were moments where I just wanted to wrap her up in a huge hug when everything seemed to pile on her at once. But I also understood where Griffin was coming from.
And that’s what I loved about this book. There is a big focus on grief, loss, guilt, healing and learning to move forward, and Griffin’s struggle with moving on after losing his wife felt incredibly genuine. At no point did I feel like Tiana was simply a second choice or that his late wife’s memory was being minimised to make room for a new relationship. His grief, guilt and hesitation actually made sense, while still allowing Tiana’s feelings to matter.
This is honestly one of the few widower romances where I felt the balance was handled really well.
“I want to make so many mistakes with you, Griffin. All of them. For the rest of my life, and never be sorry, not if it’s with you.”
A beautiful story about love, grief, healing, family and finding a way to move forward without leaving the past behind. I absolutely adored this one.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have been eagerly, eagerly waiting for this one, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
Tiana is sunshine wrapped around so many hurts, while Griffin is a grumpy, closed-off widower and single dad with a secret obsession. I adored them both, but Sylas completely stole my heart. The bond that develops between him and Tiana is just beautiful, and I loved how quickly they connected.
There is so much tension between Griffin and Tiana. The back-and-forth, the push and pull, the feelings neither of them really wants to admit to… I was hooked.
Griffin frustrated me at times, especially with how much his fears and guilt hurt Tiana. There were moments where I just wanted to wrap her up in a huge hug when everything seemed to pile on her at once. But I also understood where Griffin was coming from.
And that’s what I loved about this book. There is a big focus on grief, loss, guilt, healing and learning to move forward, and Griffin’s struggle with moving on after losing his wife felt incredibly genuine. At no point did I feel like Tiana was simply a second choice or that his late wife’s memory was being minimised to make room for a new relationship. His grief, guilt and hesitation actually made sense, while still allowing Tiana’s feelings to matter.
This is honestly one of the few widower romances where I felt the balance was handled really well.
“I want to make so many mistakes with you, Griffin. All of them. For the rest of my life, and never be sorry, not if it’s with you.”
A beautiful story about love, grief, healing, family and finding a way to move forward without leaving the past behind. I absolutely adored this one.
September 24, 2026
ARC
Out today!!!
4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved their story and the plot was amazing! To see the way that Griffin & Tiana bond through unpacking their grief was very refreshing. If you read book one it’s cute to see those MCs be side characters and seeing how their role plays into Tiana and Griffin’s story. I’m a sucker for the single-dad troupe and the way that Sylas opened up to Tiana was too freaking cute. The epilogues made me cry! For the dedication that Tiana chose to have, honoring someone she didn’t know. As they gave her two good humans. Tiana finding her way into her dream life she got never thought she had as life took her in another direction. Also Mya & Tiana made me laugh in the beginning!
Thank you Nouha Jullienne for writing such a great book and for the ARC!!! 🤗
Out today!!!
4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved their story and the plot was amazing! To see the way that Griffin & Tiana bond through unpacking their grief was very refreshing. If you read book one it’s cute to see those MCs be side characters and seeing how their role plays into Tiana and Griffin’s story. I’m a sucker for the single-dad troupe and the way that Sylas opened up to Tiana was too freaking cute. The epilogues made me cry! For the dedication that Tiana chose to have, honoring someone she didn’t know. As they gave her two good humans. Tiana finding her way into her dream life she got never thought she had as life took her in another direction. Also Mya & Tiana made me laugh in the beginning!
Thank you Nouha Jullienne for writing such a great book and for the ARC!!! 🤗
October 19, 2026
I loved Griffin and Tiana’s story. Tiana plans to buy her dream café and needs to save extra money. She takes the job as nanny for Griffin‘s son. I love how Griffin is wildly attracted to her, but won’t let himself indulge. There is an age gap that he feels a little bit uncomfortable with. This is a fun and heartfelt romance. I adored Griffin as the grumpy broody single dad. Tiana is the sunshine to his storm.
October 6, 2026
The Blue Collar Billionaires are my absolute favorite pallet cleanse for sweet fluffy and chaotic. I knew I was going to love Griffins story and damn did it deliver! TJ made the book feel like home from the very start. So there's no questioning why Sylas fell for her nd broke her heart in the best way. I think this story was a perfect puzzle piece, and I can't wait for more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full review to come!
Read this if you like:
☕️ nanny x single dad
🦖 sunshine x grumpy
☕️ age gap
🦖 influencer x blue collar
☕️ billionaire MMC
🦖 social media stalking
☕️ forced proximity
And it has my FAVORITE microtrope of him washing her hair 😍
Read this if you like:
☕️ nanny x single dad
🦖 sunshine x grumpy
☕️ age gap
🦖 influencer x blue collar
☕️ billionaire MMC
🦖 social media stalking
☕️ forced proximity
And it has my FAVORITE microtrope of him washing her hair 😍
October 14, 2026
IMMEDIATE REACTION
I usually don't like very large age gaps—or ones where one of the parties is in their early twenties—but this book really hooked me; I practically devoured it. I really liked the main characters and the way the story tackles sensitive topics without feeling too heavy for the reader, but I’ll get into that later.
CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS
I’m going to focus on the story’s three main characters: Tiana, Griffin, and Sylas. Tiana is amazing, incredibly hardworking and dedicated, and she isn’t naive or a pushover. While she does have a tendency to view certain things through rose-colored glasses, which I think is natural for her age, she definitely has the right mindset; she is ambitious and possesses a strong grasp of interpersonal communication and emotional accountability, qualities that seem to reflect the priorities of Gen Z in general nowadays.
While I find Tiana more immediately likable, Griffin turns out to be a somewhat more complex character. He is a man who lost his wife and his son's mother prematurely, and who bears the heavy burden of grief and guilt every day. This is reflected in how he interacts with the people around him, his work, his environment, and his son. And, of course, it also affects his interactions with Tiana. It is clear that he cares deeply about her, his son, and his friends, but the pain he carries seems to cloud his judgment, leading him to make poor decisions and take actions that harm both himself and those close to him.
Speaking of their son, Sylas is an incredibly adorable child. Even though he’s young, it’s clear just how intelligent he is; he picks up on aspects of human relationships that would often go unnoticed by other children. His innocence serves as an anchor amidst Tiana and Griffin’s pain, and I absolutely fell in love with him. I won't deny that he even gave me a serious case of baby/child fever.
As for Tiana and Griffin's relationship, it is clear that they have a lot in common and complement each other in many ways. Tiana brings light, freshness, energy, and joy, while Griffin brings organization and life experience. Together, they learn to move forward despite their pain and frustrations; Griffin matures significantly through his interactions with Tiana, learning to open his heart again and realizing that his love for his late wife need not compete with his love for someone new.
The desire and yearning between the two also make this book quite steamy and engaging, which was a real pleasure to read.
WORLD, PLOT, AND PACING
As for Tiana's workplace, Willow's Café, I found the atmosphere incredibly lovely and cozy, and I can certainly understand why she is so passionate about the place. Griffin and Sylas's home, which eventually becomes Tiana's home as well, responds throughout the book to her presence and to the love and happiness increasingly permeating the space; I loved watching that unfold over the course of the story.
The story’s pacing is moderate—just right. I think it adapted perfectly to the characters' needs and to the development of the relationship between Tiana and Griffin, as well as the dynamic between them and Sylas.
I thought the plot was good, despite a few clichés and a couple of minor things that bothered me, though I’ll get into those later. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I liked that Tiana shares her name with the princess from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, who also dreams of owning her own restaurant (even though the Tiana in the book wants to open a café, I think it’s pretty close hehe).
WHAT WORKED
I thought the book handled themes like grief, guilt, fear, and frustration very well without making the story depressing. We see characters who aren't superficial; we can understand why they do what they do and follow a solid character arc.
Even though Tiana is quite young, I liked that she isn't naive, and I loved seeing how determined and dedicated she is. I also found the way Griffin learns to cope with his grief throughout the book to be beautiful.
I thought it was really cool how the story also shows how Tiana balances being an influencer and trying to protect herself from being completely controlled by her followers' expectations, with pursuing her dream of owning her own café.
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Three main things bothered me:
WHO WOULD ENJOY IT?
Those who enjoy stories featuring single dads and age-gap romances, appreciate strong, hardworking female protagonists, and love books that handle sensitive topics, such as grief and trauma, in a comforting way that offers the reader hope that better days are always ahead.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"Still, that's what happens when you build a persona online. You make a version of yourself easy to digest, and then you choke on it."
"I hear a sharp, loud sound I don't recognize until I realize it came out of me. Everything in me goes rigid, recognition slamming throough me like a punch. It's her. The girl I've been watching through a screen. Tiana Jones. What. The. F*ck."
"Attraction is manageable. But every day that passes, Tiana feels a little less like a fleeting obssession and a little more like someone who is settling herself into the empty spaces of my life. And that is infinitely more dangerous."
I usually don't like very large age gaps—or ones where one of the parties is in their early twenties—but this book really hooked me; I practically devoured it. I really liked the main characters and the way the story tackles sensitive topics without feeling too heavy for the reader, but I’ll get into that later.
CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS
I’m going to focus on the story’s three main characters: Tiana, Griffin, and Sylas. Tiana is amazing, incredibly hardworking and dedicated, and she isn’t naive or a pushover. While she does have a tendency to view certain things through rose-colored glasses, which I think is natural for her age, she definitely has the right mindset; she is ambitious and possesses a strong grasp of interpersonal communication and emotional accountability, qualities that seem to reflect the priorities of Gen Z in general nowadays.
While I find Tiana more immediately likable, Griffin turns out to be a somewhat more complex character. He is a man who lost his wife and his son's mother prematurely, and who bears the heavy burden of grief and guilt every day. This is reflected in how he interacts with the people around him, his work, his environment, and his son. And, of course, it also affects his interactions with Tiana. It is clear that he cares deeply about her, his son, and his friends, but the pain he carries seems to cloud his judgment, leading him to make poor decisions and take actions that harm both himself and those close to him.
Speaking of their son, Sylas is an incredibly adorable child. Even though he’s young, it’s clear just how intelligent he is; he picks up on aspects of human relationships that would often go unnoticed by other children. His innocence serves as an anchor amidst Tiana and Griffin’s pain, and I absolutely fell in love with him. I won't deny that he even gave me a serious case of baby/child fever.
As for Tiana and Griffin's relationship, it is clear that they have a lot in common and complement each other in many ways. Tiana brings light, freshness, energy, and joy, while Griffin brings organization and life experience. Together, they learn to move forward despite their pain and frustrations; Griffin matures significantly through his interactions with Tiana, learning to open his heart again and realizing that his love for his late wife need not compete with his love for someone new.
The desire and yearning between the two also make this book quite steamy and engaging, which was a real pleasure to read.
WORLD, PLOT, AND PACING
As for Tiana's workplace, Willow's Café, I found the atmosphere incredibly lovely and cozy, and I can certainly understand why she is so passionate about the place. Griffin and Sylas's home, which eventually becomes Tiana's home as well, responds throughout the book to her presence and to the love and happiness increasingly permeating the space; I loved watching that unfold over the course of the story.
The story’s pacing is moderate—just right. I think it adapted perfectly to the characters' needs and to the development of the relationship between Tiana and Griffin, as well as the dynamic between them and Sylas.
I thought the plot was good, despite a few clichés and a couple of minor things that bothered me, though I’ll get into those later. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I liked that Tiana shares her name with the princess from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, who also dreams of owning her own restaurant (even though the Tiana in the book wants to open a café, I think it’s pretty close hehe).
WHAT WORKED
I thought the book handled themes like grief, guilt, fear, and frustration very well without making the story depressing. We see characters who aren't superficial; we can understand why they do what they do and follow a solid character arc.
Even though Tiana is quite young, I liked that she isn't naive, and I loved seeing how determined and dedicated she is. I also found the way Griffin learns to cope with his grief throughout the book to be beautiful.
I thought it was really cool how the story also shows how Tiana balances being an influencer and trying to protect herself from being completely controlled by her followers' expectations, with pursuing her dream of owning her own café.
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Three main things bothered me:
WHO WOULD ENJOY IT?
Those who enjoy stories featuring single dads and age-gap romances, appreciate strong, hardworking female protagonists, and love books that handle sensitive topics, such as grief and trauma, in a comforting way that offers the reader hope that better days are always ahead.
FAVORITE QUOTES
"Still, that's what happens when you build a persona online. You make a version of yourself easy to digest, and then you choke on it."
"I hear a sharp, loud sound I don't recognize until I realize it came out of me. Everything in me goes rigid, recognition slamming throough me like a punch. It's her. The girl I've been watching through a screen. Tiana Jones. What. The. F*ck."
"Attraction is manageable. But every day that passes, Tiana feels a little less like a fleeting obssession and a little more like someone who is settling herself into the empty spaces of my life. And that is infinitely more dangerous."
October 2, 2026
💜 His Heart Wasn't Empty, It Just Had Room to Grow 🥹
⭐ 5 Stars | 🌶️ 3 Chili Peppers
A tattooed, grumpy single dad, an age gap, a live-in nanny, AND he's secretly been obsessed with her before they even officially meet? There was absolutely no chance I wasn't reading this one. 😂💜 But Built To Last ended up giving me so much more than the tropes that originally pulled me in. Griffin and Tiana's story was emotional, sexy, complicated, and such a beautiful look at finding love after loss without having to leave the love that came before it behind.
Tiana was such an easy FMC to love. She's bright, determined, and has dreams that exist completely outside of Griffin. Between growing her social media presence and working toward her goal of owning the café she loves, she has a plan for her future. Becoming temporary nanny to Griffin's six-year-old son is supposed to help her afford that dream. Falling for the grumpy, tattooed man she now lives with definitely wasn't part of it. 😂
And then there's Griffin. This man tested my patience, broke my heart, made me swoon, and eventually had me rooting so hard for him. He's spent years focused on raising Sylas after losing his wife, and underneath all that grumpy, intimidating energy is a man carrying so much grief and guilt about allowing himself to move forward.
That was probably what I appreciated most about this story. Griffin's late wife was never treated like an obstacle that needed to disappear for Tiana to have a place in his life. His love for her remained important. His grief felt real. Moving forward with Tiana didn't mean forgetting his past or loving his wife any less. It meant realizing his heart could hold both the life he had and the future he was beginning to want. 🥹
And Tiana never felt like she was simply there to heal him. She had her own hurts, dreams, boundaries, and emotions that mattered too. Griffin definitely makes mistakes and allows his fear and guilt to hurt her, and I appreciated that the story didn't just excuse everything because he was grieving. That man had some GROVELING to do. And grovel he did. 😂👏
But Sylas might have stolen the entire book from both of them. 🥹🦕 His relationship with Tiana was one of my absolute favorite parts. From pancakes and everyday family moments to the way he naturally opened his heart to her, their connection was so sweet. Tiana didn't just fall for Griffin. She formed her own relationship with this adorable dinosaur-loving little boy, and watching the three of them slowly begin to feel like a family absolutely melted me.
Of course, Griffin and Tiana's chemistry deserves its own mention. 😮💨 The slow burn, age-gap banter, push and pull, secret glances, forced proximity, and all those feelings Griffin desperately tried to deny created SO much tension. And when that tension finally snapped? Those three chili peppers were put to very good use. 🌶️😂
I also loved seeing Mya and Worth again and getting another perspective on characters I already knew. Add in Griffin's little secret, the anonymous messages, a few twists I wasn't expecting, and some incredibly emotional scenes that had me reaching for the tissues, and I was completely invested.
And that café. That sweet little café with the yellow door. 🥹 I'm keeping my mouth shut because there are moments surrounding Tiana's dream that deserve to be experienced without spoilers, but let's just say this book managed to make me emotional over a café too.
Built To Last was so much more than a single-dad nanny romance. It was about grief, guilt, healing, second chances at love, choosing your own future, and discovering that moving forward doesn't require you to erase where you've been.
Griffin didn't need to stop loving the woman he lost to love Tiana. He just needed to believe there was room in his heart for another chapter. And watching Tiana and Sylas become part of that chapter was absolutely beautiful. 💜🥹
Thank you to Nouha Jullienne for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐ 5 Stars | 🌶️ 3 Chili Peppers
A tattooed, grumpy single dad, an age gap, a live-in nanny, AND he's secretly been obsessed with her before they even officially meet? There was absolutely no chance I wasn't reading this one. 😂💜 But Built To Last ended up giving me so much more than the tropes that originally pulled me in. Griffin and Tiana's story was emotional, sexy, complicated, and such a beautiful look at finding love after loss without having to leave the love that came before it behind.
Tiana was such an easy FMC to love. She's bright, determined, and has dreams that exist completely outside of Griffin. Between growing her social media presence and working toward her goal of owning the café she loves, she has a plan for her future. Becoming temporary nanny to Griffin's six-year-old son is supposed to help her afford that dream. Falling for the grumpy, tattooed man she now lives with definitely wasn't part of it. 😂
And then there's Griffin. This man tested my patience, broke my heart, made me swoon, and eventually had me rooting so hard for him. He's spent years focused on raising Sylas after losing his wife, and underneath all that grumpy, intimidating energy is a man carrying so much grief and guilt about allowing himself to move forward.
That was probably what I appreciated most about this story. Griffin's late wife was never treated like an obstacle that needed to disappear for Tiana to have a place in his life. His love for her remained important. His grief felt real. Moving forward with Tiana didn't mean forgetting his past or loving his wife any less. It meant realizing his heart could hold both the life he had and the future he was beginning to want. 🥹
And Tiana never felt like she was simply there to heal him. She had her own hurts, dreams, boundaries, and emotions that mattered too. Griffin definitely makes mistakes and allows his fear and guilt to hurt her, and I appreciated that the story didn't just excuse everything because he was grieving. That man had some GROVELING to do. And grovel he did. 😂👏
But Sylas might have stolen the entire book from both of them. 🥹🦕 His relationship with Tiana was one of my absolute favorite parts. From pancakes and everyday family moments to the way he naturally opened his heart to her, their connection was so sweet. Tiana didn't just fall for Griffin. She formed her own relationship with this adorable dinosaur-loving little boy, and watching the three of them slowly begin to feel like a family absolutely melted me.
Of course, Griffin and Tiana's chemistry deserves its own mention. 😮💨 The slow burn, age-gap banter, push and pull, secret glances, forced proximity, and all those feelings Griffin desperately tried to deny created SO much tension. And when that tension finally snapped? Those three chili peppers were put to very good use. 🌶️😂
I also loved seeing Mya and Worth again and getting another perspective on characters I already knew. Add in Griffin's little secret, the anonymous messages, a few twists I wasn't expecting, and some incredibly emotional scenes that had me reaching for the tissues, and I was completely invested.
And that café. That sweet little café with the yellow door. 🥹 I'm keeping my mouth shut because there are moments surrounding Tiana's dream that deserve to be experienced without spoilers, but let's just say this book managed to make me emotional over a café too.
Built To Last was so much more than a single-dad nanny romance. It was about grief, guilt, healing, second chances at love, choosing your own future, and discovering that moving forward doesn't require you to erase where you've been.
Griffin didn't need to stop loving the woman he lost to love Tiana. He just needed to believe there was room in his heart for another chapter. And watching Tiana and Sylas become part of that chapter was absolutely beautiful. 💜🥹
Thank you to Nouha Jullienne for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 24, 2026
4⭐️
Grumpy billionaire single dad + nanny romance + age gap + sunshine FMC?! Yeah… I was always going to eat this up. 🫠💜
After reading Book 1 in the series, I was already excited to get my hands on this one, and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to read it as an ARC. This was such a fun and emotional addition to the series, and Nouha Jullienne once again gave me characters that were incredibly easy to get attached to.
First of all, Griffin. 😭
A grumpy, tattooed billionaire, protective single dad AND a man carrying so much grief? Yes, please. I love when an MMC looks intimidating on the outside but has so much vulnerability underneath, and Griffin definitely had that balance.
His grief and his hesitation about opening his heart again felt genuine, and I really enjoyed watching him slowly navigate those feelings. What I especially appreciated was that Tiana never felt like a replacement or someone who was simply there to “heal” him. Their relationship felt like two people finding their way toward each other while dealing with their own emotional baggage. 🥺
And then we have Tiana, our sunshine influencer FMC. ☀️ She brought such a different energy to Griffin’s world, and their grumpy x sunshine dynamic worked so well. The chemistry between them was definitely there, and I loved the slow-burn tension and push-and-pull as they got closer.
But honestly, Sylas stole the show more than once. 🥹🤏🏻 That little dinosaur-loving boy was adorable, and his relationship with Tiana was one of my favourite parts of the book. Watching that bond develop added such a sweet layer to the romance.
I also really enjoyed the nanny romance + age gap + single-dad combination. There were plenty of swoony moments, emotional scenes, secrets and twists that kept the story moving, while still giving us that cozy romance feeling I was looking for. 💜
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from Nouha Jullienne and a 4⭐️ for me! I love how easily her stories pull me in, and I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next. 🥰
Huge thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for letting me be part of the ARC team and read Built to Last early. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 💜
Instagram: @monaafterdark 🖇️
Grumpy billionaire single dad + nanny romance + age gap + sunshine FMC?! Yeah… I was always going to eat this up. 🫠💜
After reading Book 1 in the series, I was already excited to get my hands on this one, and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to read it as an ARC. This was such a fun and emotional addition to the series, and Nouha Jullienne once again gave me characters that were incredibly easy to get attached to.
First of all, Griffin. 😭
A grumpy, tattooed billionaire, protective single dad AND a man carrying so much grief? Yes, please. I love when an MMC looks intimidating on the outside but has so much vulnerability underneath, and Griffin definitely had that balance.
His grief and his hesitation about opening his heart again felt genuine, and I really enjoyed watching him slowly navigate those feelings. What I especially appreciated was that Tiana never felt like a replacement or someone who was simply there to “heal” him. Their relationship felt like two people finding their way toward each other while dealing with their own emotional baggage. 🥺
And then we have Tiana, our sunshine influencer FMC. ☀️ She brought such a different energy to Griffin’s world, and their grumpy x sunshine dynamic worked so well. The chemistry between them was definitely there, and I loved the slow-burn tension and push-and-pull as they got closer.
But honestly, Sylas stole the show more than once. 🥹🤏🏻 That little dinosaur-loving boy was adorable, and his relationship with Tiana was one of my favourite parts of the book. Watching that bond develop added such a sweet layer to the romance.
I also really enjoyed the nanny romance + age gap + single-dad combination. There were plenty of swoony moments, emotional scenes, secrets and twists that kept the story moving, while still giving us that cozy romance feeling I was looking for. 💜
Overall, this was another enjoyable read from Nouha Jullienne and a 4⭐️ for me! I love how easily her stories pull me in, and I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next. 🥰
Huge thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for letting me be part of the ARC team and read Built to Last early. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 💜
Instagram: @monaafterdark 🖇️
October 5, 2026
There is nothing quite like a massive, grumpy, tattooed single dad who thinks he has his emotional walls dialed in… until the woman he is secretly down bad for moves into his spare room.
Built to Last by Nouha Jullienne is the second standalone in the Blue-Collar Billionaires: Seattle series, and it delivered on every front: raw emotional stakes, palpable age-gap friction, and a found-family dynamic that stole the show.
Rising from humble blue-collar beginnings, Griffin Hayes poured years of hard labor into building a booming construction firm with his partners… but since losing his wife, his life revolves strictly around his six-year-old son, Sylas. He operates on rigid routines and keeps his guard up. When his nanny suddenly leaves, he needs a replacement fast. What he never expects is for a family connection to send Tiana Jones right to his door… the very woman whose online presence has been his secret distraction for months.
Tiana is determined to save enough money to buy her favorite local café. Taking the temporary nannying job is strictly a business move to secure her down payment. She is ready for a broody boss; she is not ready for how quickly Griffin’s dinosaur-obsessed son will wrap her around his finger, or how intense the simmering tension with Griffin will get under one roof.
What made this story shine is how Nouha Jullienne managed Griffin’s grief. It felt heavy, honest, and earned. His late wife is not treated as an obstacle to being erased; his journey is about realizing that falling for Tiana does not diminish what came before but permits him to love again. Tiana is not just there to heal him either… she stands her ground, values her worth, and makes Griffin earn every bit of her trust.
Between the late-night banter, the domestic warmth Sylas brings, and the undeniable burn of Griffin failing to resist her, this was impossible to put down.
A huge thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own; no AI was used.
Built to Last by Nouha Jullienne is the second standalone in the Blue-Collar Billionaires: Seattle series, and it delivered on every front: raw emotional stakes, palpable age-gap friction, and a found-family dynamic that stole the show.
Rising from humble blue-collar beginnings, Griffin Hayes poured years of hard labor into building a booming construction firm with his partners… but since losing his wife, his life revolves strictly around his six-year-old son, Sylas. He operates on rigid routines and keeps his guard up. When his nanny suddenly leaves, he needs a replacement fast. What he never expects is for a family connection to send Tiana Jones right to his door… the very woman whose online presence has been his secret distraction for months.
Tiana is determined to save enough money to buy her favorite local café. Taking the temporary nannying job is strictly a business move to secure her down payment. She is ready for a broody boss; she is not ready for how quickly Griffin’s dinosaur-obsessed son will wrap her around his finger, or how intense the simmering tension with Griffin will get under one roof.
What made this story shine is how Nouha Jullienne managed Griffin’s grief. It felt heavy, honest, and earned. His late wife is not treated as an obstacle to being erased; his journey is about realizing that falling for Tiana does not diminish what came before but permits him to love again. Tiana is not just there to heal him either… she stands her ground, values her worth, and makes Griffin earn every bit of her trust.
Between the late-night banter, the domestic warmth Sylas brings, and the undeniable burn of Griffin failing to resist her, this was impossible to put down.
A huge thank you to Nouha Jullienne and The Grim Collective for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own; no AI was used.
October 19, 2026
Five years after the passing of his wife, Lila, Griffin is struggling to juggle all of the things in his life after his nanny, Joyce, has to move away to care for a relative. His son, Sylas, has been living off breakfasts of cereal and Griffin is just trying to keep all of the plates spinning in his life and seeking comfort and routine by pseudo-internet stalking an influencer on Instagram.
Tiana (TJ), said influencer, has bigger goals that being a public face online. She's been working at Willow's, a cafe that she's been desperately saving up to buy when the owner retires. While she thought she had more time, the owner gives her six months to be able to secure the loan, and if she doesn't meet that deadline, he's selling to a developer.
In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, Mya, Griffin's employee and TJ's sister introduces the two with the hopes that it's a match made in grumpy/sunshine heaven. But when Griffin's online obsession lands in his home for a trial run, he has to decide if he wants to live in real life or like his online version in DMs.
Built to Last was a love letter to grief and the struggles of trying to move on while still honoring those you have lost. There was a lot of internal struggle for Griffin in coming to terms with the evolution of his feelings for Mya while trying to stay loyal to his wife, Lila. Griffin and Tiana were a hot mess at times, but their story was beautiful. I read this one after losing someone semi-recently so it hit me right in the feels.
And of course, the slow burn and push/pull of these two had me in a chokehold. The spice was great and the man grovelllllllls. More of that please. But seriously, this book was great and now I have to go back and read the first. (It can be read as a standalone though without missing too much).
Tiana (TJ), said influencer, has bigger goals that being a public face online. She's been working at Willow's, a cafe that she's been desperately saving up to buy when the owner retires. While she thought she had more time, the owner gives her six months to be able to secure the loan, and if she doesn't meet that deadline, he's selling to a developer.
In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, Mya, Griffin's employee and TJ's sister introduces the two with the hopes that it's a match made in grumpy/sunshine heaven. But when Griffin's online obsession lands in his home for a trial run, he has to decide if he wants to live in real life or like his online version in DMs.
Built to Last was a love letter to grief and the struggles of trying to move on while still honoring those you have lost. There was a lot of internal struggle for Griffin in coming to terms with the evolution of his feelings for Mya while trying to stay loyal to his wife, Lila. Griffin and Tiana were a hot mess at times, but their story was beautiful. I read this one after losing someone semi-recently so it hit me right in the feels.
And of course, the slow burn and push/pull of these two had me in a chokehold. The spice was great and the man grovelllllllls. More of that please. But seriously, this book was great and now I have to go back and read the first. (It can be read as a standalone though without missing too much).
September 13, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book! I absolutely adored this story! Not only was it a fun spicy contemporary romance, but it also represented healing from grief is such a truly incredible way!! On the surface our MMC is a grumpy sad boy widowed single dad, our FMC is an influencer who takes a nanny gig to save up extra money and loves pushing his buttons. But deeper than that, both of these character have so much depth behind them and go through a lot both with and without each other that builds out their story so well and makes you love them independently and together.
Some favorite quotes:
“By six-thirty the next morning, I’ve learned three things about the Hayes household. One, Sylas wakes up with the energy of a caffeinated raccoon. Two, Griffin does not function properly before coffee, despite giving off the vibe of a man who should rise at dawn to chop wood. Three, the dinosaur cup is apparently more important than oxygen.”
“@tianawithlove: you have the emotional warmth of expensive marble flooring.
@built2last: Expensive marble flooring is durable and timeless.”
“And she is mistaken if she thinks I’m not already knee-deep in the fire for her. I know it’s not rational, but rationality lost the round when Tiana first stepped through my door. But she can never know how I truly feel about her.”
“I proceeded to handle the situation with all the emotional grace of a man setting fire to his own house,”
“I love how she makes me feel like there might be something on the other side of surviving.”
“I ask questions that make me sound engaged and not like a woman whose social battery is currently lying facedown somewhere near the charcuterie table.”
Some favorite quotes:
“By six-thirty the next morning, I’ve learned three things about the Hayes household. One, Sylas wakes up with the energy of a caffeinated raccoon. Two, Griffin does not function properly before coffee, despite giving off the vibe of a man who should rise at dawn to chop wood. Three, the dinosaur cup is apparently more important than oxygen.”
“@tianawithlove: you have the emotional warmth of expensive marble flooring.
@built2last: Expensive marble flooring is durable and timeless.”
“And she is mistaken if she thinks I’m not already knee-deep in the fire for her. I know it’s not rational, but rationality lost the round when Tiana first stepped through my door. But she can never know how I truly feel about her.”
“I proceeded to handle the situation with all the emotional grace of a man setting fire to his own house,”
“I love how she makes me feel like there might be something on the other side of surviving.”
“I ask questions that make me sound engaged and not like a woman whose social battery is currently lying facedown somewhere near the charcuterie table.”
September 17, 2026
Built to Last is the second book in Jullienne's Blue Collar Billionaires series, but it can be appreciated as a standalone. This billionaire, age gap, slow burn, contemporary romance, set in Seattle, features Tiana Jones and Griffin Hayes.
Griffin is the COO of WHM Construction, a company founded by his childhood friends, Worth and Henson Miller. He is also a single father to 6-year old Sylas. His wife, Lila, passed away several years prior but he is still grieving her loss. He had been relying on Joyce, his nanny, but when she got called away to help family, he had to find a replacement. Every candidate interviewed fell short.
Tiana is the manager of Willow's cafe, but she also has an online following as an lifestyle influencer. When she learned that the cafe's owner wanted to sell the business to retire, she expressed an interest in buying it. Unfortunately she didn't have the funds to cover the down payment. The owner gave her 6 months to come up with the money or he would sell to a chain which had expressed interest.
Tiana's stepsister, Mya, started working for WHM Construction and was on Griffin's team. Mya recognized an opportunity and brought Griffin to meet Tiana at Willow's. The idea was that Griffin would have Tiana as a temporary nanny, and Tiana would have a way to secure the funds required to acquire the space. Unfortunately, the moment Griffin saw Tiana, he went into shock. Griffin had stumbled upon Tiana's online profile one night when he couldn't sleep, and he quickly became obsessed with her, often refreshing to see her postings.
While initially Griffin rejected the idea of Tiana coming to work for him, after a test run with Sylas, he knew he had to give it a chance. Tiana moved into his home and quickly bonded with his son. Griffin did his best to ignore his attraction to her, but their chemistry was undeniable.
This book was a lot of fun. I appreciated how each of the characters had a strong foundation independent of their romantic counterpart. Tiana is a strong female lead who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. She is sweet and endearing, while also fiery and passionate. Griffin is, as Tiana calls him, a lumberjack daddy. The man is tattooed and built, which might give off a hard edge, but he is incredible devoted to his son, and to the memory of his late wife. I enjoyed seeing the two of them come together.
I have not yet read Just Until Forever, which appears to be Mya and Worth's story, but I am now keen to do so. I enjoyed the author's writing style as well as her characters, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Griffin is the COO of WHM Construction, a company founded by his childhood friends, Worth and Henson Miller. He is also a single father to 6-year old Sylas. His wife, Lila, passed away several years prior but he is still grieving her loss. He had been relying on Joyce, his nanny, but when she got called away to help family, he had to find a replacement. Every candidate interviewed fell short.
Tiana is the manager of Willow's cafe, but she also has an online following as an lifestyle influencer. When she learned that the cafe's owner wanted to sell the business to retire, she expressed an interest in buying it. Unfortunately she didn't have the funds to cover the down payment. The owner gave her 6 months to come up with the money or he would sell to a chain which had expressed interest.
Tiana's stepsister, Mya, started working for WHM Construction and was on Griffin's team. Mya recognized an opportunity and brought Griffin to meet Tiana at Willow's. The idea was that Griffin would have Tiana as a temporary nanny, and Tiana would have a way to secure the funds required to acquire the space. Unfortunately, the moment Griffin saw Tiana, he went into shock. Griffin had stumbled upon Tiana's online profile one night when he couldn't sleep, and he quickly became obsessed with her, often refreshing to see her postings.
While initially Griffin rejected the idea of Tiana coming to work for him, after a test run with Sylas, he knew he had to give it a chance. Tiana moved into his home and quickly bonded with his son. Griffin did his best to ignore his attraction to her, but their chemistry was undeniable.
This book was a lot of fun. I appreciated how each of the characters had a strong foundation independent of their romantic counterpart. Tiana is a strong female lead who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. She is sweet and endearing, while also fiery and passionate. Griffin is, as Tiana calls him, a lumberjack daddy. The man is tattooed and built, which might give off a hard edge, but he is incredible devoted to his son, and to the memory of his late wife. I enjoyed seeing the two of them come together.
I have not yet read Just Until Forever, which appears to be Mya and Worth's story, but I am now keen to do so. I enjoyed the author's writing style as well as her characters, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍"
With the hints we got about these two in Just Until Forever, I knew I was going to fall for them immediately. The pinning, the stolen glances, the banter, and the tension were just so delicious. There were just so many elements that made this story so gripping and I hope there is more to come from this series 👀
Did I get frustrated with how Griffin was treating sweet Tiana? yes! Did he do everything in his power to make up for that? Yes he did. I mean, I feel Sylas did most of the heavy lifting with his cute and loveable personality, but Griffin also did his fair share 😌 Griffin and Sylas' back story was heartbreaking and I can only imagine the pain and grief Griffin has been holding onto all of these years. I can understand why he did what he did, but I'm still not happy about it 😒😂 Tiana comes storming in showing them to live in the moment and not let grief rule their life. You can respect the memory of those you love, but still be present and create a new future. I say this like I wouldn't be an absolute mess if I were in Griffins shoes. I actually love how opposite Griffin and Tiana were and the strengths they brought to the relationship. It made it more heartfelt and real. Tiana is just the sweetest soul and just wants to get that coffee shop she's been busting her butt for. I just want her to live her best life 😘
The writing was interesting as this all happened and unfolded at the same time Mya and Worth's story did, so there were a lot of events and conversations that overlapped. It almost made me go back to JUF to see how I could have missed that this was happening. I mean the Paris scene i knew right away when reading book 1, but the rest of it? How did it get past my radar? It seems so obvious now! It was also lovely just seeing our original MC's having an important role in this book too.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
With the hints we got about these two in Just Until Forever, I knew I was going to fall for them immediately. The pinning, the stolen glances, the banter, and the tension were just so delicious. There were just so many elements that made this story so gripping and I hope there is more to come from this series 👀
Did I get frustrated with how Griffin was treating sweet Tiana? yes! Did he do everything in his power to make up for that? Yes he did. I mean, I feel Sylas did most of the heavy lifting with his cute and loveable personality, but Griffin also did his fair share 😌 Griffin and Sylas' back story was heartbreaking and I can only imagine the pain and grief Griffin has been holding onto all of these years. I can understand why he did what he did, but I'm still not happy about it 😒😂 Tiana comes storming in showing them to live in the moment and not let grief rule their life. You can respect the memory of those you love, but still be present and create a new future. I say this like I wouldn't be an absolute mess if I were in Griffins shoes. I actually love how opposite Griffin and Tiana were and the strengths they brought to the relationship. It made it more heartfelt and real. Tiana is just the sweetest soul and just wants to get that coffee shop she's been busting her butt for. I just want her to live her best life 😘
The writing was interesting as this all happened and unfolded at the same time Mya and Worth's story did, so there were a lot of events and conversations that overlapped. It almost made me go back to JUF to see how I could have missed that this was happening. I mean the Paris scene i knew right away when reading book 1, but the rest of it? How did it get past my radar? It seems so obvious now! It was also lovely just seeing our original MC's having an important role in this book too.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
September 25, 2026
Griffin has been a single dad for years and has relied heavily on his nanny to help keep everything together. But when he suddenly loses her, he’s forced to find someone new to watch his son. Enter Tiana who is a much younger social media influencer he’s actually been following for a while. Of course, the last person he expects to show up as his new nanny is the woman he’s been watching online!
Tiana is determined to prove she can handle the job, especially because she’s saving money to open her dream coffee shop. But with Griffin, there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crosses and the two of them have a hard time staying on opposite sides of them.
I loved book one in this series, and this one absolutely did not disappoint! Tiana was such a great character. She’s strong, determined, confident, and definitely not afraid to stand up for herself. She and Griffin butt heads A LOT, which made their chemistry and banter so much fun.
Give me a good grumpy x sunshine any day, because I loved these two! Griffin keeps so much bottled up and struggles with communicating his feelings, and I really appreciated getting to see the raw and honest reasons behind why he pushes people away. His journey of learning to forgive himself, let go of the past, and allow himself to start over felt very real.
There were so many emotional moments throughout the book, both individually and between Griffin and Tiana. Their struggles, feelings, and reactions felt genuine and understandable given everything they were dealing with.
Honestly, this is my favorite book in the series so far! I loved the characters, the chemistry, the emotional depth, and the grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Definitely one I’d recommend!
Tiana is determined to prove she can handle the job, especially because she’s saving money to open her dream coffee shop. But with Griffin, there are definitely lines that shouldn’t be crosses and the two of them have a hard time staying on opposite sides of them.
I loved book one in this series, and this one absolutely did not disappoint! Tiana was such a great character. She’s strong, determined, confident, and definitely not afraid to stand up for herself. She and Griffin butt heads A LOT, which made their chemistry and banter so much fun.
Give me a good grumpy x sunshine any day, because I loved these two! Griffin keeps so much bottled up and struggles with communicating his feelings, and I really appreciated getting to see the raw and honest reasons behind why he pushes people away. His journey of learning to forgive himself, let go of the past, and allow himself to start over felt very real.
There were so many emotional moments throughout the book, both individually and between Griffin and Tiana. Their struggles, feelings, and reactions felt genuine and understandable given everything they were dealing with.
Honestly, this is my favorite book in the series so far! I loved the characters, the chemistry, the emotional depth, and the grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Definitely one I’d recommend!
Review of advance copy
*Contains potential spoilers* do not read if you don’t want any information about the book at all!
I absolutely ate this book UP! For being a longer book I felt like the pacing was perfect, it moved along at a good pace, kept me interested, didn’t feel like “insta” love. Was he obsessed with her prior to her becoming his nanny, sure, but experiencing him genuinely falling in love with HER was so sweet. Especially because she was already so self conscious about her social media persona. The grief was written so well to, I think sometimes it’s hard to capture grief well, but you can really feel Griffin go through those stages of grief where he’s learning that it is okay to allow himself to love again. The inner turmoil between I’m falling for her but I still feel like I’m betraying my wife. But also I wanted to jump through the pages and knock him out for hurting my sweet baby Tiana. She was so strong for being so, so young still. I like that she actually tried, you can see how she grows from living with Griffin and Sylas, the maturity she gets even though she was already so mature. She has her head on straight and wasn’t a typical young FMC lol. She also didn’t instantly forgive Griffin for hurting her, she made him prove it to her. “Forgiveness did not mean pretending something never happened.” I cried happy tears through the entire ending.
An absolutely beautiful story about love, grief, forgiveness, and that continuing to choose someone doesn’t mean things will be easy, but that you have someone to be in the trenches beside you.
Side note: loved the friendship between Griff and Mya and will be forever laughing at the “emotionally constipated” comments 🤣
I absolutely ate this book UP! For being a longer book I felt like the pacing was perfect, it moved along at a good pace, kept me interested, didn’t feel like “insta” love. Was he obsessed with her prior to her becoming his nanny, sure, but experiencing him genuinely falling in love with HER was so sweet. Especially because she was already so self conscious about her social media persona. The grief was written so well to, I think sometimes it’s hard to capture grief well, but you can really feel Griffin go through those stages of grief where he’s learning that it is okay to allow himself to love again. The inner turmoil between I’m falling for her but I still feel like I’m betraying my wife. But also I wanted to jump through the pages and knock him out for hurting my sweet baby Tiana. She was so strong for being so, so young still. I like that she actually tried, you can see how she grows from living with Griffin and Sylas, the maturity she gets even though she was already so mature. She has her head on straight and wasn’t a typical young FMC lol. She also didn’t instantly forgive Griffin for hurting her, she made him prove it to her. “Forgiveness did not mean pretending something never happened.” I cried happy tears through the entire ending.
An absolutely beautiful story about love, grief, forgiveness, and that continuing to choose someone doesn’t mean things will be easy, but that you have someone to be in the trenches beside you.
Side note: loved the friendship between Griff and Mya and will be forever laughing at the “emotionally constipated” comments 🤣
October 4, 2026
Griffin is a single dad who needs a new nanny. Tiana is a 21 year old influencer who is trying to save enough money to buy the coffee shop she works at. Griffin’s employee/colleague/friend Mya says she has the perfect person for the job. Little does Griffin know, that person just so happens to be the person he’s been obsessed over for months. I just knew there would be issues.
The banter between these two is hilarious. I love how Tiana gets under Griffins skin. She loves to tease him. He’s just a big ol grump, but seems to relax more ever since Tiana moved in and became the nanny. He’s been obsessed with her for a while now and is doing everything he can to avoid slipping up or crossing lines. Unfortunately that doesn’t last long. Even though he denies the things that are happening between them, he is always there for her. He shows up when she needs him and he’s protective of her. He won’t let anyone get away with hurting her.
They cross the line a few times and every time Griffin seems to make things worse. He’s still grieving and having a hard time with the idea of being happy again and moving on. But unfortunately with that he’s making things complicated and unintentionally hurting Tiana.
It takes him quite a while to realize, and admit out loud that he’s in love with her.
But is it too late? Can he fix the mistakes he made? Can he win back the woman he loves and doesn’t want to live without? Those are the questions he’s asking himself.
It takes a while and a lot of groveling(and a certain kind of begging 😉🫦🥵) to make up for everything, but in the end love wins. Griffin, Sylas(his son) and Tiana find happiness and get their happily ever after.
The banter between these two is hilarious. I love how Tiana gets under Griffins skin. She loves to tease him. He’s just a big ol grump, but seems to relax more ever since Tiana moved in and became the nanny. He’s been obsessed with her for a while now and is doing everything he can to avoid slipping up or crossing lines. Unfortunately that doesn’t last long. Even though he denies the things that are happening between them, he is always there for her. He shows up when she needs him and he’s protective of her. He won’t let anyone get away with hurting her.
They cross the line a few times and every time Griffin seems to make things worse. He’s still grieving and having a hard time with the idea of being happy again and moving on. But unfortunately with that he’s making things complicated and unintentionally hurting Tiana.
It takes him quite a while to realize, and admit out loud that he’s in love with her.
But is it too late? Can he fix the mistakes he made? Can he win back the woman he loves and doesn’t want to live without? Those are the questions he’s asking himself.
It takes a while and a lot of groveling(and a certain kind of begging 😉🫦🥵) to make up for everything, but in the end love wins. Griffin, Sylas(his son) and Tiana find happiness and get their happily ever after.
October 8, 2026
(arc review)
rating 4.25/5
spice 2/5
If you are looking for a slow burn with single dad x Nanny romance then this is the book for you. Bult to last by Nouha Jullienne is book 2 in the Blue Collar Billionaire series, this is a interconnected standalone you don't need to read book 1 but would highly recommend as the events in this book occur at the time the other one does. Firstly, I would like to thank the Author for giving me this arc. Importantly, this book contain topics that are triggering for some, so Please check the trigger warnings before reading.
built to last follows very closely to the events that occurred in book one, it was really interesting seeing these events from the outside showing a different perspective. Tiana was very much a tough girl, with a really strong work ethic and would do anything she could just to achieve her dream; I loved this so much about her seeing a character who isn't just strong but working hard to achieve her dreams. One thing I loved what the author did was not minimize this when she meet Griffin, who is rolling in that cash, but made her still want to work hard and let griffin just give it to her on a sliver platter . This book did not shy away from dealing with grief, especially loss of a spouse. Griffins character really showed the struggles of losing his wife and how even when it has been years since the passing it can still feel like you are betraying the person you love so much. This book is definitely a slow burn so if you are looking for book where they get together at about the 50% mark this is not for you. overall, I love this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did, it is available now. Happy reading.
rating 4.25/5
spice 2/5
If you are looking for a slow burn with single dad x Nanny romance then this is the book for you. Bult to last by Nouha Jullienne is book 2 in the Blue Collar Billionaire series, this is a interconnected standalone you don't need to read book 1 but would highly recommend as the events in this book occur at the time the other one does. Firstly, I would like to thank the Author for giving me this arc. Importantly, this book contain topics that are triggering for some, so Please check the trigger warnings before reading.
built to last follows very closely to the events that occurred in book one, it was really interesting seeing these events from the outside showing a different perspective. Tiana was very much a tough girl, with a really strong work ethic and would do anything she could just to achieve her dream; I loved this so much about her seeing a character who isn't just strong but working hard to achieve her dreams. One thing I loved what the author did was not minimize this when she meet Griffin, who is rolling in that cash, but made her still want to work hard and let griffin just give it to her on a sliver platter . This book did not shy away from dealing with grief, especially loss of a spouse. Griffins character really showed the struggles of losing his wife and how even when it has been years since the passing it can still feel like you are betraying the person you love so much. This book is definitely a slow burn so if you are looking for book where they get together at about the 50% mark this is not for you. overall, I love this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did, it is available now. Happy reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖 Build to last
By @novelswithnouha
∆Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
∆Tropes
*Single dad billionaire
*Nanny romance
* Age gap
*Opposites attract
OMG GRIFFIN HAS LITERALLY RUINED ME FOR ALL OTHER SINGLE DADDY!!! I AM SCREAMING!!!
Okay, listen to me right now, I have been waiting for this book, and it was everything I wanted AND MORE. My expectations were all meet and blew right past them! I am completely, utterly, hopelessly obsessed!
First of all Griffin, grumpy billionaire who is also a fiercely protective single dad! Are you kidding me?! He is the absolute blueprint!
The slow-burn, angsty, magnetic push and pull between him and the Tiana had my chest aching in the absolute best way possible.
The chemistry? ELECTRIFYING. The tension? OFF THE CHARTS. I was practically vibrating while reading!
And can we talk about how perfectly the widower trope was handled?! It was so raw and emotionally heavy, but Nouha Jullienne balanced it like an absolute queen.
The MMC grief and healing journey felt incredibly genuine, and the author made sure our sunshine FMC never felt like a runner up. Seeing them fight through the darkness together to find their happily ever after had me sobbing buckets!
And our little sylas, completely stole the entire show! A little dinosaur loving angel who just wraps everyone around his finger.
Huge thanks to the author for the Arc,I will never recover from this masterpiece!
By @novelswithnouha
∆Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
∆Tropes
*Single dad billionaire
*Nanny romance
* Age gap
*Opposites attract
OMG GRIFFIN HAS LITERALLY RUINED ME FOR ALL OTHER SINGLE DADDY!!! I AM SCREAMING!!!
Okay, listen to me right now, I have been waiting for this book, and it was everything I wanted AND MORE. My expectations were all meet and blew right past them! I am completely, utterly, hopelessly obsessed!
First of all Griffin, grumpy billionaire who is also a fiercely protective single dad! Are you kidding me?! He is the absolute blueprint!
The slow-burn, angsty, magnetic push and pull between him and the Tiana had my chest aching in the absolute best way possible.
The chemistry? ELECTRIFYING. The tension? OFF THE CHARTS. I was practically vibrating while reading!
And can we talk about how perfectly the widower trope was handled?! It was so raw and emotionally heavy, but Nouha Jullienne balanced it like an absolute queen.
The MMC grief and healing journey felt incredibly genuine, and the author made sure our sunshine FMC never felt like a runner up. Seeing them fight through the darkness together to find their happily ever after had me sobbing buckets!
And our little sylas, completely stole the entire show! A little dinosaur loving angel who just wraps everyone around his finger.
Huge thanks to the author for the Arc,I will never recover from this masterpiece!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an advanced reader’s copy and this is my honest review.
Griffin has been a single dad for a while now who has relied on his nanny to keep his life going. Until, he loses her and has to find someone new to watch his son. In comes Tiana, who is so much younger than him and is a social media influencer. Someone he’s been watching for a while, and was shocked that she’s been recommended to him. Tiana is determined to prove that she can watch his son, and she needs the money to buy her dream coffee shop. But there are secrets and lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
I enjoyed reading book 1 of this series so much, and this one also did not disappoint. I love Tiana’s personality and character. She is strong, determined, and she stands up for herself. She butts heads with Griffin a lot.
It’s definitely a grumpy x sunshine and I loved it so much. Griffin hides a lot of his feelings and definitely has trouble communicating and I loved the raw honest version of why he puts himself away. It’s a really struggle and i appreciated the fact that it was a long journey of forgiving himself and being okay to start off new again.
There were raw emotional moments with both characters individually and together. Every situation felt real and that their emotions are understandably okay given their situations.
My favorite so far out of the series!
Griffin has been a single dad for a while now who has relied on his nanny to keep his life going. Until, he loses her and has to find someone new to watch his son. In comes Tiana, who is so much younger than him and is a social media influencer. Someone he’s been watching for a while, and was shocked that she’s been recommended to him. Tiana is determined to prove that she can watch his son, and she needs the money to buy her dream coffee shop. But there are secrets and lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
I enjoyed reading book 1 of this series so much, and this one also did not disappoint. I love Tiana’s personality and character. She is strong, determined, and she stands up for herself. She butts heads with Griffin a lot.
It’s definitely a grumpy x sunshine and I loved it so much. Griffin hides a lot of his feelings and definitely has trouble communicating and I loved the raw honest version of why he puts himself away. It’s a really struggle and i appreciated the fact that it was a long journey of forgiving himself and being okay to start off new again.
There were raw emotional moments with both characters individually and together. Every situation felt real and that their emotions are understandably okay given their situations.
My favorite so far out of the series!
September 17, 2026
Okay, first things first…
SYLAS. 🥹
Griffin’s son is SO freaking cute. I absolutely loved the family dynamic in this story, and the banter between everyone was just so sweet and natural.
And Griffin knowing exactly how Tiana likes her coffee?!
😭😭😭
Even if he technically learned it by stalking her social media…
😂😂😂
Sir, we’re going to let that one slide because it was adorable.
I knew I was ALL IN on this story from the start. The slow burn, the tension, the family dynamic, and the way Griffin and Tiana slowly started letting each other in had me completely hooked.
And the hidden identity portion!
I WAS SO GIDDY.
I was having the BEST time watching everything unfold and waiting for the inevitable moment when the truth would come out.
And then…
💔 THE BLOW UP.
The broken trust hurt. 😭
I loved that the story didn’t just breeze past the consequences, though. The emotional fallout felt believable.
I also really appreciated the way Griffins grief was handled throughout the story. There was no magical “I’m fine now” moment. The characters worked through it at a realistic pace, and that made their emotional growth feel so much more meaningful.
And can we talk about how single parent romances have a secret weapon?
THE KIDS. 😭
The moment Sylas, or honestly ANY child in a single-parent romance, says they love the other person or calls them Mommy/Daddy…
MY HEART EXPLODES.
Every. Single. Time.
Overall, I absolutely loved this story. The romance, the family banter, the emotional depth, the slow burn tension, and that sweet little family forming around Griffin, Tiana, and Sylas completely won me over.
SYLAS. 🥹
Griffin’s son is SO freaking cute. I absolutely loved the family dynamic in this story, and the banter between everyone was just so sweet and natural.
And Griffin knowing exactly how Tiana likes her coffee?!
😭😭😭
Even if he technically learned it by stalking her social media…
😂😂😂
Sir, we’re going to let that one slide because it was adorable.
I knew I was ALL IN on this story from the start. The slow burn, the tension, the family dynamic, and the way Griffin and Tiana slowly started letting each other in had me completely hooked.
And the hidden identity portion!
I WAS SO GIDDY.
I was having the BEST time watching everything unfold and waiting for the inevitable moment when the truth would come out.
And then…
💔 THE BLOW UP.
The broken trust hurt. 😭
I loved that the story didn’t just breeze past the consequences, though. The emotional fallout felt believable.
I also really appreciated the way Griffins grief was handled throughout the story. There was no magical “I’m fine now” moment. The characters worked through it at a realistic pace, and that made their emotional growth feel so much more meaningful.
And can we talk about how single parent romances have a secret weapon?
THE KIDS. 😭
The moment Sylas, or honestly ANY child in a single-parent romance, says they love the other person or calls them Mommy/Daddy…
MY HEART EXPLODES.
Every. Single. Time.
Overall, I absolutely loved this story. The romance, the family banter, the emotional depth, the slow burn tension, and that sweet little family forming around Griffin, Tiana, and Sylas completely won me over.
September 26, 2026
Grumpy billionaire single dad + younger nanny + forced proximity + secret obsession?? Yeah, this one was basically designed to get me.
I had such a good time with Built to Last. Griffin is rigid, protective, completely set in his ways, and absolutely convinced that Tiana is the one temptation he needs to stay away from. Meanwhile, that man is already DOWN BAD before she even becomes his nanny. Watching all of that carefully maintained control slowly disappear was so satisfying.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was how much I loved Tiana and the family dynamic. She has her own dreams and ambitions outside of the romance, and I loved watching her find her place with Griffin and his son without losing that part of herself. The relationship she develops with his little boy was genuinely so sweet, and the found family element gave the romance so much heart.
And THE TENSION. The age gap, living under the same roof, all the little moments where Griffin is fighting for his life trying not to want her, meanwhile we already know about this man’s secret obsession. Add in the anonymous DMs and hidden identity aspect, and I was just waiting for everything to collide.
Sweet, sexy, emotional, and ridiculously easy to devour. Griffin and Tiana gave me the romance, chemistry, family moments, and completely obsessed MMC energy I wanted.
I had such a good time with Built to Last. Griffin is rigid, protective, completely set in his ways, and absolutely convinced that Tiana is the one temptation he needs to stay away from. Meanwhile, that man is already DOWN BAD before she even becomes his nanny. Watching all of that carefully maintained control slowly disappear was so satisfying.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was how much I loved Tiana and the family dynamic. She has her own dreams and ambitions outside of the romance, and I loved watching her find her place with Griffin and his son without losing that part of herself. The relationship she develops with his little boy was genuinely so sweet, and the found family element gave the romance so much heart.
And THE TENSION. The age gap, living under the same roof, all the little moments where Griffin is fighting for his life trying not to want her, meanwhile we already know about this man’s secret obsession. Add in the anonymous DMs and hidden identity aspect, and I was just waiting for everything to collide.
Sweet, sexy, emotional, and ridiculously easy to devour. Griffin and Tiana gave me the romance, chemistry, family moments, and completely obsessed MMC energy I wanted.
September 26, 2026
💜📐🦖ARC Review🦖📐💜
Thank you Nouha Jullienne and @grimreader for this ARC of Built to Last! This book was BUILT 2 LAST‼️
I absolutely devoured this! Before reading I read Just Until Forever (book 1) first‼️ It’s not necessary but I’m so glad I did, I love how the timeline lined up with JUF, but obviously seeing everything with Tiana and Griffin lined up was SPECTACULAR 💜
These characters, the sass, banter, chemistry and spice, plus the MOST ADORABLE little boy ever, Sylas! (He stole my heart) 🦖
This relationship and the grief and healing hit and hit HARD, Nouha didn’t sugar coat it! It was raw and real and it hit you right in the heart, but when these characters “get there” they GOT there, the healing of hearts and the passion and the love of a little boy who just steals your heart but then has you laughing with his no filter was just the cherry on top of this epic love story‼️
I need more tho! Like badly 😜 this series sucked me in so hard‼️
Tropes:
💜Billionaire Romance
📐Widowed Single Dad x Nanny
🦖Blue Collar x Influencer
💜Opposites Attract
📐Grumpy x Sunshine
🦖Age Gap (17 years)
💜Secret Obsession
📐Slow Burn / High Tension
🦖Size Difference
💜OCD Rep
@nibblesthebookdragon THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS TO ME‼️ I feel so bonded to these characters, and to think it probably would have taken me forever to discover, girl I owe you!
Thank you Nouha Jullienne and @grimreader for this ARC of Built to Last! This book was BUILT 2 LAST‼️
I absolutely devoured this! Before reading I read Just Until Forever (book 1) first‼️ It’s not necessary but I’m so glad I did, I love how the timeline lined up with JUF, but obviously seeing everything with Tiana and Griffin lined up was SPECTACULAR 💜
These characters, the sass, banter, chemistry and spice, plus the MOST ADORABLE little boy ever, Sylas! (He stole my heart) 🦖
This relationship and the grief and healing hit and hit HARD, Nouha didn’t sugar coat it! It was raw and real and it hit you right in the heart, but when these characters “get there” they GOT there, the healing of hearts and the passion and the love of a little boy who just steals your heart but then has you laughing with his no filter was just the cherry on top of this epic love story‼️
I need more tho! Like badly 😜 this series sucked me in so hard‼️
Tropes:
💜Billionaire Romance
📐Widowed Single Dad x Nanny
🦖Blue Collar x Influencer
💜Opposites Attract
📐Grumpy x Sunshine
🦖Age Gap (17 years)
💜Secret Obsession
📐Slow Burn / High Tension
🦖Size Difference
💜OCD Rep
@nibblesthebookdragon THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS TO ME‼️ I feel so bonded to these characters, and to think it probably would have taken me forever to discover, girl I owe you!
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