Preview
  • Built to Last

  • By: Aurora Rey
  • Narrated by: Gwenn Dawson
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (471 ratings)

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Built to Last

By: Aurora Rey
Narrated by: Gwenn Dawson
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Publisher's summary

Olivia Bennett is on the tenure track at Cornell University, the resident expert on Southern women writers. After moving to upstate New York from Atlanta, she falls in love with and purchases an old, run-down farmhouse. The only catch: she knows nothing about renovating a house, taking care of land, or snow.

Joss Bauer is a New York native who grew up in her family's construction business. She has a soft spot for old houses, but no patience for overpaid debutantes who want to play at country living. When Olivia hires Joss to do the renovations on her new home, the sparks fly, in more ways than one. It turns out both women have a lot to learn about life, love, and the meaning of home. But when a scandal threatens Olivia's professional reputation, it puts her priorities and her new found love on the line.

©2016 Aurora Rey (P)2016 Bold Strokes Books Inc
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+
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What listeners say about Built to Last

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    197
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
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Story
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    23

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

accent awful

terrible accent fake southern just didn't want to finish the book but I forged on

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The accents... ruin it.

I’m sorry but as a life long southerner and someone who has lived in Atlanta... the southern accent in the story is horrible. I had to make myself finish the book. I guess if you aren’t from the south, maybe it won’t bother you as much but if you’re southern or have even been to the south... you’ll probably have a really hard time with it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Built to last

So the book is set in my town and you can tell that from the way she writes! I tried so hard to like the Audible, I just couldn't finish listening I requested an immediate return and went out and bought the book! I absolutely Love the book, I highly recommend just buying the book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You will love this love story.

Only issue I found was the Narrator had issues with the male voices, it was kinda funny to hear. she did however, an amazing job with everything else. Including her character with the southern accent.
This story was based around a farm house and it's renovations. The contractor that was hired turned out to be more than the owner had in mind.
This is definitely a laugh out loud book. But omg there's one point where the Author just had to create some drama that seriously made me cry at work.... Yup the kinda sadness that cause people to look at me like I was crazy... but in the same sense I was laughed quite loudly as well.
I love this book for those moments. The story was really easy to follow, fun and likeable characters that you can connect to, and, In the end, you will be rooting for them.
This is my first time Reading from this Author, and I have to say I am very impressed. And, I will be reading the rest of her works. She's quit amazing.
So, I feel you shouldn't take my word for it but it's really a must read.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

the narrator southern accent was bad

the narrator made it quite hard to finish. she was one note throughout with each character. tried to hard to make each voice sound different and ended up not paying attention to emotional subtleties.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loving how it starts, but narrator is inconsistent

I just started and I'm already in love with Aurora Rey's story. It's what I expected after enjoying her other book, Recipe for Love.

Although, I have to admit that the narrator is not consistent with her voices and it can be a bit distracting. I feel like the main character's voice and accent has already shifted from chapter one to chapter two. Hopefully, I'll still be able to enjoy the story nonetheless!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

I loved the story, it is the first book I read from Aurora Rey, and it was a great read.
Most of the preform ace was excellent. And I loved the southern accent. some of the characters voices I didn't like and it felt it was forced and if Gwen Dawson had used her own voice which is very present instead of a very childish voice for a professor for example, that would have been better.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Okay....

The beginning of the story was thin. Characters were not very interesting but that got better. In the end I enjoyed the story. The narrator was not good, too high pitched then when voicing a male sounded fake.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

At least twice a year

I love everything about this book! I read or listen to this book at least twice a year, it’s my feel good book. It satisfies the renovation bug in me along with my love of love.
The story of Joss and Olivia is sweet with just the right amount of angst. Olivia’s desire to control everything and Joss’s habit of jumping to conclusions (the wrong ones) makes for a great lesson they both will learn from. Take this journey with them, you will not be disappointed. This feel good love story will melt your heart and satisfy the (hopeless) romantic in you.
Aurora writes beautiful love stories that are relatable, and this one is no different. The narrator did a fantastic job as well. This was a very easy listen, and produced great visuals. Listening to it was like watching a movie.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Solid

Pleasant listen, sweet story. A good relisten. I will look for more by Me. Rey.

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1 person found this helpful