TW/CW: Language, talk of addiction

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily writing an honest review.

Attached at the Hip is the story of Orie, a young woman just out of college who is trying to make sense of her life. After a disagreement with her sister, she auditions for Survivor - only to find herself competing on a romance-centered spin off that will force her to find herself or (not literally) die trying.

This was an incredibly charming book. It was fun to read about the game and the challenges, but even more fun to read about Orie coming into her own and discovering important things about herself. I loved the characters we meet along the way - Remy, Osprey, Kennedi, and all the others.

At first this seemed like a very light book - and it definitely isn’t anything heavy - but there are some pretty profound messages about growing up and finding yourself - this is a deeper book than it pretends to be at the beginning.

I gad never read anything by this author before, but I will definitely be looking for her books in the future!

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have been following Christine Riccio for years, and watched as she wrote her first book. This is definitely on brand for her, with a Survivor-themed story, and this is the perfect summer read.

This is a really fun story! The game aspect is enjoyable and I liked watching Orie find herself and grow up!

I warmed up to Orie as a character as the book went on. She was a bit naive and directionless to begin with but she learned from her experience. I liked watching her grow but seeing the mistakes she made along the way could be a bit painful at times.

I had mixed feelings about this book being YA. Orie is 23 and while she is still finding herself I do think this could have been an adult romance. However, I understand why this was YA as this has a bit of a Hunger Games meets romcom feel!

I know I talk about book blurbs a lot in my reviews, but I have a reader confession: Once I read a book, I don’t think about the blurb again until I’m done with it. So it was a huge surprise for me that the main character, Orie, is cast in a romantic version of a reality TV show in ATTACHED AT THE HIP by Christine Riccio, even though it was right there on the back cover. But it was such a good surprise!

ATTACHED AT THE HIP is described as a romantic adventure that is Survivor meets The Bachelor, and I have to say that I agree. From the beginning, I found myself giggling and enjoying every second of the book. It seems like Riccio had so much fun writing this book and including all her favorite things to make an epic story.

I’ve come to realize that I really like books that are deemed “romantic adventure.” I’ve only read a few, but I want this genre to be the next big thing. Even though Orie and the other contestants were on a reality TV show, it was so neat to see them “survive.” I think I like this genre because I’m cozy in bed reading it, lol.

And Orie’s mind!?!? I love seeing someone as obsessed about something as I get and who overthinks, too. So, I felt right at home in her head. She’s a different character, but I really liked her.

This book has been one of my favorites of the year! It will be a reread for me in the future. If you are a romantic adventure fan like me, I definitely recommend ATTACHED AT THE HIP.

Thanks, Wednesday Books, for the arc!

i've read a book by this author in the past and this one gave me the same feelings even though they don't really relate to each other at all. the writing is pretty good and the ideas a there but i just don't know if this is the writing style for me. a lot was happening and this was kinda long, i think if i came back to this in the summer, when i'm watching the new season of love island, i may like it better. still good over all and very original which was fun!

If you;re a fan of survivor - specifically the strategy aspect - you might like this. However, the romance is truly secondary to the plot and the main character is ultimately a bit passive in her own story. It's a frustrating read, but not altogether unenjoyable.

Wow, I absolutely devoured this book. This book is about a survivor spin-off in which characters and connected to each other and must compete to win 1 million dollars. Orie is the main character, competing with Remy, her long-lost high school crush.
Honestly this book read just like a season of a reality tv show, and for that I loved it!
I understand some people’s negative feedback of the main character, Orie, she’s kind of quirky, but it didn’t take away from the story for me! She has some moments where she says some “random” things but it wasn’t overwhelming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this book.

This was a really fun one. Fans of reality shows like Survivor and any reality dating show will eat this up - and even people who aren't! I have never watched an episode of Survivor in my life but enjoyed this is a lot.

Well-written and face paced, Attached at the Hip follows Remy, who is a 23 year old young adult who is floundering to forge a path of her own. All of her life, she's used to following the direction of her family, whether it's book recommendations, weird hobbies, or a popular AcoYoga account that she does with her sister Lark. She is in an unenthusiastic relationship with her childhood friend, Wes, but is too paralyzed by indecision to do anything about it. Hard truths from her sister, she is pushed to audition for what she thinks is Survivor, only to find out it's Survivor mixed with a dating show where couples are literally attached at the hip.

Forced to fend for herself and to make alliances with the other contestants, including Remy, who was her secret high school crush, she discovers that she is stronger than she thinks.

This was so good, I hope this is a big hit.

DNF p68. It tried too hard to be funny and felt disingenuous, with each forced punch line or awkward moment ruining the flow. I also think the constant mentioning of Remy's full name was a little much. Even though the writing style and dialogue aren't for me, this book has an incredibly unique and fresh premise for a romcom, and many romcom enthusiasts will love it for sure.

Attached at the Hip is Survivor meets The Bachelor in this romantic adventure that had me turning the pages till the very end. The book follows Orie who on a whim decided to become a contestant on her favorite show which was Survivor and then there is a twist. To find out the twist then make sure to grab a copy of this to book to read. I loved the plot of the book and the characters in this were so good. The author did an amazing job writing this and I look forward to reading more books by the author. Overall I highly enjoyed this fun romantic comedy book and would highly recommend it to any reader but especially if you love romance books. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this in exchange of my honest review of Attached at the Hip.

Everything Christine Riccio writes is a delight. I can’t believe I just finished an ARC of her third book. I am so immensely proud, I don’t have the words.

Obviously, I’m a little biased. But I genuinely think this is her best book yet.

CW/TW: I didn’t keep a terribly thorough list, but note that this takes place on an island. There are bugs, a lack of food, and nature at its worst. There are multiple mentions of spiders. Chapter 32: Challenge Three needs an immense warning for bugs, spiders, and vomiting. It is a bug eating challenge. In my digital ARC, the worst parts are 45%-47%. Once the final copy is out and I receive it, I’ll try to update with page numbers.

You can feel Christine’s passion for Survivor oozing through the pages. As someone who has never seen an episode, I’m excited to check it out.

At first I thought I knew where this book was going. Then it flipped all my expectations on their head and had me up reading until 3am two nights in a row.

I haven’t felt the absolute need to know what happens, to finish a story IMMEDIATELY in a bit now, and I’m so glad that it was Christine that brought me out of it. She’s helped me so much throughout the years, what’s one more thing?🤣

Again. I am obviously biased. I’ve been a Christine fan since 2013. But this is a fun read with lots of pop culture references. And not even new pop culture! If you grew up in the 2000s and 2010s, you’ll have a blast.

Also!! There’s some fun nods to at least one of Christine’s previous books. I’d need to reread the other to remind myself of what happens in it and see if there are any connections to this book. But there’s some fun tidbits for people who love lampposts.

Anyway! As I alluded to above, it is almost 3am, so I must go to bed because I have to be a functioning human tomorrow. Now I am left to eagerly anticipate my signed copy from The Ripped Bodice.

✨Huge thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this!✨

I ate this book up. It was the perfect weekend read and I was sucked in. Honestly, I love the conversation in the book about Young Adult really being that New Adult age (side tangent).
I love Survivor and have dreamed on being on the show. I cannot imagine getting myself prepared to be on the show and then having the wool pulled over my eyes and ending up on a dating show. The twist of her needing to be single before the show starts was a little fast and anti-climatic, but it ended up working out.
I loved the cast of characters. But man, I was left reeling with the end of the show and things that were said. I would have loved to understand the motivations a bit more.
This is a great summer read and perfect for the beach!

Attached at the Hip is a fun beach read. Orie is stuck in a rut and after a confrontation with her sister she applies to be on Survivor. She gets selected not for Survivor, but for a dating spinoff show called Attached at the Hip where contestants are attached by a rope to their partner and compete in challenges for money and love. All of the castmates of the show have been selected because they should have chemistry with each other, which includes Orie's old high school crush Remy. The author has a very distinct, enthusiastic voice with a lot of references to pop culture, which some people will enjoy and others might not. This book will be enjoyable for fans of Christine Riccio as well as fans of reality tv.

Attached at the Hip is such a fun read! As a lifelong Survivor fan, it was such a joy to see that world come to life in this book. I loved the descriptions of building shelters, bathing in the ocean, competing in challenges, voting strategy, and food rewards - it all felt exactly right. Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s a great mix of plot and engaging characters with a little bit of intrigue and romance. A must-read for Survivor fans!

I enjoyed this book a lot. I haven’t seen Survivor but I enjoyed the way it was set up as a story and got a real feel for what the show must be like. I really liked the characters. Especially Orie, Osprey and Kennedie. And I hated Remy - he was written particularly well!! A really enjoyable read with just the right amount of romance

I feel like this book delivered on it's promise - Survivor x Bachelorette. If you've enjoyed other reality tv show romance books like One to Watch, Here for the Wrong Reasons, or On the Plus Side, you should read the preview of this.

While I found the main character to be cheesy but generally fine, I can see how some folks may not want to hang out with her in their brain for hours. Listen to the audiobook preview or read a few pages - if her narration vibes with you, I think you'll like this!

Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC.

Attached At The Hip was such a fun read. It was as addicting as reality tv. I was hooked from the start. I love shows like the bachelor and survivor so this was right up my alley. The author did such a great job of bringing everything to life. I truly felt like I was on the set in Fiji.

Was the FMC a little young and annoying at times, yes. Was it filled with drama, also yes. But was it such a fun read that I could get past all of it. She did end up growing on me.

I truly think if you're a fan of reality TV you won't be able to stop reading this one and you'll be highly entertained. It was dramatic, all over and yet that's what we love about reality tv, so it was perfect for me.

✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks & @christinericcio for my gifted ARC, ALC & finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: kissing only
Pub date: 5/21

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my gifted copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

What starts as a spur-of-the-moment decision to shake up her life lands Orie in the midst of a reality show like no other: an island adventure filled with challenges, romance, and a hefty dose of unexpected twists. This is a Survivor meets The Bachelor style show, with each contestant guaranteed to meet at least one person who is a perfect match for them. All Orie has to do is create alliances and win everyone’s hearts to win the big prize. Should be easy, right?

This book was unexpectedly hilarious and amazing on so many fronts. Orie navigates the terrain of the island and her own emotions with gusto, hoping to win viewer’s hearts by acting the way she thinks they want her to. She leaps off the page with her relatable quirks and endearing personality. From her old high school crush to newfound friendships, every relationship she forms feels authentic and heartfelt, and I just loved her crazy self from the start. Her inner monologue is funny and snarky and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Orie’s journey of self-discovery is a joy to witness, and I loved all of her realizations along the way. From the supportive camaraderie of her fellow contestants to the blossoming romance with her crush, every interaction on the show is infused with warmth and authenticity. I was enthralled from the start and never stopped rooting for Orie and her companions.

Brittany Pressley is one of my favorite narrators, and she really brought Orie to life. I’m not sure if I would have liked the story as much without her incredible narration.

With its charming blend of humor, heart, and a hint of romance, this is a must-read for reality tv fans or anyone craving a feel-good escape.

Read if you like:
*N/A rom-coms
*single POV
*forced proximity
*Survivor
*reality TV

Survivor meets The Bachelor is how I would sum up this book! I'm not a huge reality TV show person, but this is a TV show I could get on board with! Quirky Orie signs up for what she believes is competing in the famous reality TV show, Survivor, but little does she know, she's actually competing in a romance spin-off. I really loved following Orie through the show, hearing her awkward responses that left me laughing out loud while reading, to helping her find true love!!

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own!

Orie thought she had everything planned out for her life but nothing is turning out that way. So she applies to be a contestant on a reality show and when she learns she gets to live her Survivor dreams for real, her life starts to be everything she definitely didn't plan on. Upon entering the show, she comes to learn that her high school crush Remy, has also been cast. She finds herself in a handful of compromising positions while on the show and starts to learn what she actually wants out of life.

I wasn't sure how this one was going to be played out but I think it worked! I kind of saw how the ending was going to play out pretty early on, but it didn't impact my thoughts at all. I thought it was super cute and I really related to Orie's anxiety and fears. This would be a great (and quick!) beach read for the summer.