Oh my god. I don't even know where to start. It is 5 in the morning and I have stayed up all night reading this. The fan girl in me is bursting at her seams with the amount of joy this book gave me. I am absolutely a Survivor fan, being the reason I wanted to read this in the first place, and was just ecstatic getting to have all the iconic Survivor moments, such as the food challenge and beautiful loved one moment. With Survivor 46 having premiered 3 days ago, this was the perfect read. And the mentions of Taylor Swift and Marvel made everything literally 10 times better. I am so thankful to have been able to read this on NetGalley and cannot wait for everyone else to be able to enjoy it as much as I did when it is finally released on May 21st!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending this ARC unsolicited. All opinions are my own.
Attached at the Hip follows Orie Lennox who wants a fairytale love. She feels her life is perfect being a social media influencer with her sister. But when her sister goes off on her, she signs up for Survivor on a whim. However she doesn't end up on Survivor but a new spin off with a romantic twist called Attached at the Hip and she finds herself attached to her high school crush. As the game goes on, she finds that everything might not be what it seems.
Oh geez. I really appreciate the fact that I received an ARC of this book but it was very much not for me. I thought the premise sounded so interesting but the execution was not the best.
The good things were that I liked the game aspect of this book and thought the challenges sounded interesting. Christine did a good job of describing those aspects of this book. I thought the use of the confessional bits was good as well. Now onto what I didn't really click with.
First off, this book doesn't know if it's YA or Adult. In my mind, it falls into the New Adult category because the character is in her early 20's and has some elements that are more for a New Adult audience. And for a character who is in her 20's, she is extremely annoying. This character does not under any circumstances act her age. The way she acted like a teenager drove me nuts. And the biggest thing that really drove me nuts? The use of Caps Lock. It was so excessive and pretty much every single chapter of this book It felt like I was being screamed at by the character every time it showed up and I would say 99.9% of the time it was completely unnecessary.
I also found that this character was trying too hard to be quirky which is something I don't vibe with. There are ways to write quirky characters and not have it feel too try hard but this one felt very try hard.
I also felt uncomfortable with the fact that it seems like Orie is alluded to being asexual but it's dropped pretty quickly. I am not asexual myself and cannot speak on representation so please seek out own voices reviewers.
I also just didn't believe any of the guys in this book would fall for her. The relationships didn't feel that well developed and I didn't really believe them except the friendship she makes with one of the female contestants. I also found that what happened in this book plot wise felt very unreal which doesn't bother me as much as this is fiction. However, if you like things to be a little more realistic you might not like that aspect.
Overall, this book was just not for me. But if the premise interests you I encourage you to pick it up! This was just personally not for me.

This story idea is so incredibly fun and intriguing! There were lots of things I really liked about this book and other that made me debate not finishing it. However, if you get through the first half, it’s a such a good read! I’m glad I got the chance to pick this up and experience this book. The ending was wild and so entertaining! My jaw was on the floor!

Things I loved:
- Orie and Osprey
- How contemporary this was
- Jamie and the whole show
- THE PLOT TWISTS!!!

Things I didn’t love:
- Orie as a character (why was she so annoying? She wasn’t cute weird, she was WEIRD like too cringey to read for several chapters. And she couldn’t ever form words?)
- How contemporary this was (sometimes it was too much meta book universe)
- It was kind of slow for the first 33%
- Lark and Orie (their dynamic was weird and slightly off putting sometimes)

This was such a fun read!
A Survivor-esque reality show with a focused social experiment on relationships - think island adventure speed dating - would make for a can’t miss show, but you can go on the journey when you read Attached At The Hip by Christine Riccio when it comes out on May 21st (it does not disappoint)!
I loved the journey this book took me on. Some more intense themes (anxiety, addiction) were mixed into the adventure and romance, which made the story feel more relatable and not too heavy. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy!

Cute fun little romance! Love the dynamic! Bachelor plus a survivor type situation? Sign me up! Thanks NetGalley for letting me read before its release!!

This was a fun and funny book; lots of humorous moments in this survivor-spinoff themed book. I enjoyed the major characters, especially Orielle, Osprey and Kennedi. I also liked that there was a true villain, who engaged in some pretty spectacular gaslighting. Right before Orie heads to Fiji for the show, her life comes tumbling down in multiple ways. I enjoyed how the author uses the competition and the interactions with the other contestants to build Orie back up and give her the courage and motivation to risk failure and chase her dreams.

Attached at the Hip is a reality tv show YA romantic comedy about 23 year old Orie, an influencer who has grown overly dependent on others in her life trying to gain some independence on a speed-dating-esque spin-off of Survivor.

This was a really fun concept! I struggled with the beginning of this book but it definitely got better the further in I got and by the end, I was invested. I really enjoyed the short chapters containing the confessional transcripts and the challenges were fun. Orie’s character development and coming into her own also was very satisfying. The romance was sweet.

There were several little things that took me out of the book at times. The biggest one being the generous use of all capitalization. It also felt strange that Orie did not seem overly concerned with her mic and the cameras from day one (sometimes she did note these things, but I would think that anxiety over that would be more pronounced before adapting to the show). In the first cycle of the show, it was really easy to forget that this was set in a reality show. I think more references to Orie being interrupted by production or cameras, her feeling self conscious about being filmed and people in her life hearing what she said, etc. would have helped keep me grounded in the setting. The book made more references to these things later on though.

Having not seen an episode of Survivor in about two decades (wow), I am especially interested to hear how Survivor fans like this!

All in all, this was a cute read!

Thanks very much to NetGalley and St. Marin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was such a cutesy, feel-good story and I ate it up! It was definitely a lighter, more upbeat, quick read for sure!

My two favorite activities are reading and watching reality shows – especially reality TV. So a book about people on a dating reality show? I am so there!
I literally laughed while reading this. Out loud. I could just picture all of this happening. I could actually imagine having the same internal dialogue with myself that the main character did.
There was a part about her having to poop in front of her partner. I was dying. I am not one for poop jokes, but the way this was written was perfect!
I am on my way to find more books by this author. I loved her writing style and was just sucked into the book and the characters.

This is ROMCOM that’s pure fun! If you are looking for a fun, light, entertaining romance, this is the book for you.
Thank you to #netgalley, the author #christinericcio and to #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my opinion.

Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio is a cute and funny rom com! There were definitely parts that had me laughing out loud and I absolutely loved the survivor and bachelor vibes the book gave off as well. It was an easy read, but kept me engaged throughout the entire book.

Pick this up when it releases on May 21st for a fun and lighthearted romance!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Christine Ricco for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

I need books to match my energy level and helloooo this girl is EXTRA

I’m feeling less murderous and wanted to dip my toes in some romance . I mean how else do you defrost a cold heart in the (almost) Spring?

“Aren’t you a cute little book cover” I exclaimed as I stared at my shiny new ARC…

Attached at the Hip

In the blurb, this book targets bachelor fans and right there, I instantly became “here for the right reasons 😉 “

Riccio, is back with another bestseller. Having read both Better Together and Again, But Better, I can say with certainty that Riccio has become an auto buy author for me.

I also love that although this is labeled as “YA”, I still enjoyed it as an adult.

Light, fluffy and filled to the tip with the squishies, this is a book you don’t want to miss!

Due out May 21, 2024

Check Out This Teaser :

Survivor meets The Bachelor in Attached at the Hip, an irresistible, romantic adventure by New York Times bestselling author Christine Riccio.

Orie Lennox has spent her entire life prepping for her happily ever after -- and now that she’s graduated, she’s low-key wondering, when the heck is it gonna hit. Her love life, her new job, her relationship with her sister: none of it is quite what she envisioned it to be.

One evening, on a whim, she applies for a reality show where she’ll be stranded on an island, with a bunch of strangers, to play a game of human chess for a shot at a million dollars. What better way to force herself to break up with the things that aren’t bringing her joy, than to abandon them all on short notice to live off the grid on a beach in the South Pacific!

Orie's shocked when she ends up cast in an experimental romantic edition of the show: and even more surprised to find that her old high school crush, Remy, has been cast as well. Orie's one of ten contestants, set to compete in formidable challenges, while speed dating, in the wilderness: without deodorant, toilets, shaving cream, or showers. (How!?)

She finds herself tied up ― literally ― in a game of risky alliances as she navigates ever-growing feelings for her one that got away, alongside an exciting array of budding new relationships.

This was such a fun escape! This story was such a good mix of Survivor, The Bachelor, and the world of Social Media Influencers. I was sucked in right away by Orie's quick, funny narration and loved her right off the bat. She would be an amazing friend or ally in any challenge. Her relationships with her sister, parents, and long time boyfriend, Wes, illustrate just how much she isn't really living her own life, but instead filling the roles that she feels she is supposed to fill. When her sister lays it all out and calls her "co=dependent", Orie really rocks the boat by responding to a casting call for Survivor. When she is accepted, the book becomes even more engaging.

The months that follow are full of sunshine, challenges, hunger, navigating relationships, and self discovery. I couldn't put this one down and couldn't help but laugh out loud, tear up, or just straight up cringe. I loved the pull of the reality tv element and seeing behind the scenes. I loved learning how life would be when on these types of reality tv shows - hearing about the NDAs, interactions with producers and production assistants, rules with mics, confessionals, logistics of hygiene and what not, social media backlash and support, and how false everything can be.

I hands down recommend this - it is such a fun mix of elements. This isn't just a romance - it is a self discovery, girl power, true friendship, and of course some love too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this Advanced Copy.

This book made me literally LOL! I felt so connected to Orie, her book/word loving, and her overall quirkiness. The dialogue in the book was so funny and entertaining. I loved the twists and surprises, and had just such a great time reading this!!

Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio is a fun reality show romance that had me laughing out loud. The main character, Orrie, lives in the shadow of others, going with the flow, never doing anything unexpected until she applies for a reality show that she thinks is Survivor. Survivor has always been a dream, and with a nudge, sorry, hard shove, from her sister to stop being so complacent in her life, Orrie goes for it. When chosen, she soon realizes this is not Survivor but a spin-off romance reality show where she will be attached to strangers and maybe find that connection she’s always wanted. Through a series of challenges, trials, and pairings, Orrie meets her fellow castmates in a chance to win a million dollars.

I loved the characters. Orrie’s quirks were heart-warming, and there was enough drama and game intrigue to keep me turning the pages. This book was a joy to read. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Small caveat before the review: I understand a lot of Christine Riccio's following comes from her polandbananasBOOKS YouTube channel. I haven't watched any of her videos before, although my best friend is an avid fan, so please take any of my opinions with a grain of salt. I can't comment on whether Orie feels like a self-insert or not, and I'm not familiar with any of Christine's mannerisms, so I'm evaluating Attached at the Hip solely on whether it delivers on its promise of a Bachelor x Survivor YA rom-com or not.

Alright, onto the actual review now!

Attached at the Hip centers around 23 year old Orie, who is having an absolutely miserable series of days. She's a happily-ever-after enthusiast whose own "middle school sweethearts" romance fizzled out into nothingness, she's fighting with her sister over her codependency, and her parents' perfect facade may not be so perfect. So, naturally, when she sees a casting call for Survivor, her favorite show of all time, she takes the chance. Imagine her surprise when she becomes a contestant on a Survivor-style spinoff that promises to help her find her perfect match...while navigating twenty-four days marooned on an island. The premise of the show she's on, the titular Attached at the Hip, is simple: for 72 hours, two participants will be tethered together by rope and forced to compete in Survivor-style challenges, while getting to know each other in the hopes that romance will blossom. At the end, the last two standing will have a choice: split the money between them and get their Bachelor happy ending, or go full cutthroat and have America vote on the winner.

When Christine gives into the premise, it's loads of fun. I love the Survivor-style puzzle challenges she crafted and I love the strategy of Orie's alliance decisions. It felt very much like Survivor fanfic, but it a really good way. Most of these twists seem to be concentrated in the later half of the book, making that part a genuinely enjoyable read. But...everything else didn't quite captivate me.

I think it's because Orie never felt like a believable 23 year old. In her quirky mannerisms and overall immaturity, she reminded me more of a very young teen. In fact, I told my bestie (love you, Liv!) that it reads so much like an early 2000s Meg Cabot book, it's WILD. Orie wears polka-dot socks and yellow pants, wants to be called Piccadilly, and has endless discussions about how she will use the bathroom on the island. She jokes about her boobs in a bit that goes on FAR too long. She swoons over her potential love interests--there are two, Remy and Osprey--within five seconds of meeting them. She mixes up her words frequently. She uses exclamation points and all caps with wild abandon. Here and there, I found it charming, but (in the beginning especially), it went on so long that it turned--that dreaded phrase--cringeworthy.

There are also a lot of typos, which I am more than willing to excuse in an ARC, but I am hoping will be ironed out in the finished version. I still had a fun time, especially towards the end, but it doesn't feel like it hits either "rom" or "com," and instead straddles a strange line between them. Kind of like how Orie is technically New Adult age (she and Osprey have an entire conversation justifying whether she fits into YA, which feels like a hyperaware poke at how this book is categorized), but feels more like very young YA.

What I can say for Attached at the Hip is I was never bored. Frequently frustrated at Orie, yes. But never did I feel the urge to DNF. I think Riccio's writing fills that certain niche that Meg Cabot and Disney Channel Original Movies did for younger me; would I go back, as a 24 year old, and call those books and movies cringey? Probably.

So, Past Me and all readers like her, dive in. This one's not for Current Me, but someone out there is going to cherish this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press, and Christine Riccio for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

5 marvellous stars!

I was very intrigued when I read the synopsis and I am very glad I was able to get my hands on this book. It'll be in my top books of 2024 for sure!

I loved the characters, the premise, the setting, the ending and literally everything else about this book. I read this over four days, I wanted to take my time with it as I was enjoying it so much. I enjoyed reading slowly while the whole thing played out in my mind.

If you're reading this, pick up this book! You won't regret it.

I'm pretty sure I see myself starting Survivor sometime in the near future!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Attached at the hip was a cute story overall, and I’d recommend it for those wanting a story that is easy to read but with enough intrigue to keep you hooked. While I loved Orie, I was really drawn to the premise and greatly enjoyed that. Orie is a bit of a Survivor nerd and after being accused of being co-dependent she signs up for a survivor like show that’s all about compatibility. Along the way you meet characters she has some form of compatibility with, and Orie struggles to know who is best for her heart.

I loved Orie’s journey to independence and the mystery in this, and I bet you will too! It reads a little YA and my best guess is that’s for to how Orie is presented initially, but this book definitely has some adult moments.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Christine Riccio for the complementary copy of this book. All opinions are true and my own.

This book is a lighthearted read that combines the thrill of reality TV with the charm of romance.

Orie Lennox is feeling stuck. Graduated, living in her parents basement, in a romance-less long-term relationship, stuck in her sister’s shadow as an AcroYoga social media influencer. When her sister calls her out for being codependent and essentially lazy, she applies to be a contestant on a reality TV show, Survivor. Except it’s not JUST Survivor, there’s a side of romance. Orie is thrown face-first into a unique blend of challenges, alliances, and unexpected feelings.

What I loved:
• The fusion of survival elements and a dating show creates a fun and engaging atmosphere in the book.
• Orie’s relatable self-discovery journey is intertwined with a diverse cast, including many LGBTQ relationships, which adds not only depth and humor, but a sense of relatability to the book.
•The story unfolds in a comfortable rhythm. I wasn’t bored throughout it and I also didn’t feel rushed. It kept me intrigued without overwhelming me with information all at once.

What threw me off a bit at times:
•The plot was kind of predictable at times, especially to those who are familiar with reality shows/reality game shows. There were points I found myself saying “please don’t make this a cliche” right before it was made a cliche. But it didn’t pull me out of the story, so it was manageable.
•There was a much bigger focus on Orie and her romantic developments than there was on the survival part of it. Sure, they searched for food a few times. But it’s not realistic to only eat bites of a banana for days on end, or not go to the bathroom for a week at a time. I wish there was a little bit more on the “survival” aspect, but overall it was still mentioned plenty throughout the book to get the point.

Overall, Attached at the Hip is a delightful and lighthearted read, perfect for rom-com and reality tv fans.

I can see why this book is being compared to The Bachelor but personally it wasn’t to my taste. It started off good but it was all kind of predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

I started this book and got maybe 25% in and put it down, I wasn’t a fan of the authors writing style nor the characters. I’m sad because I wanted to love this. I think I’m gonna give it some time and come back to it. I do not want to DNF it because I was enjoying the storyline. I guess it’s just not for me at the current moment. Will update when I come back to it.