Hello!

It’s June! It feels like this year (even March, which usually feels like a million years) has gone by quickly. I have had a lot going on this year, but I have also been doing a lot of reading. Christine Riccio has been a booktuber for years now. I remember when I first found her channel and would watch every video (P.S. Christine, if you ever happen to read this, hi, I miss your videos!) Outside of being a booktuber, Christine also writes books. I own and enjoy all of her books (I think her first one might be a favorite of mine). I knew she had a third book coming out, and I pre-ordered a copy, but I had not yet had the chance to pick it up. I saw a copy on Libby, and with a busy week ahead, I decided I needed to treat myself to this story.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Orie and her sister have been massive Survivor fans for basically ever. They never miss an episode, and now that they are all grown up, they kind of joke that they will go on the show. But Orie is still trying to figure out her actual life. She lives with her parents and works with her sister on a social media channel that the pair started years ago, but Orie never really takes the driver’s seat on any of that. One night, when Orie is alone in her room, she decides to apply for a reality show that is supposed to be Survivor. She actually gets an interview but quickly learns that this will be a new show, and it’s a mix of a dating show and Survivor. Orie has to say she is not currently dating someone to seal her spot on the show. At the moment, Orie makes a choice to say she is single and is accepted to participate in the show. Now Orie has to break up with her boyfriend, tell her sister she is leaving and will have to do the business alone, and get herself all ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

I absolutely loved every second of this story. It’s one of my favorites by Christine and one of my favorites in general. Orie and her whole family are so amazing, and I loved seeing Orie find herself on and off the show. I think the journey with the show really showed Orie what she was capable of, and it was great to see her embrace it later in the story. I will definitely be re-reading this one for a long time to come (I think about it like daily), and I can not wait for the next book by Christine (I just saw the cover the other day)!!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

📚💫 Book Review: Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio 💫📚

Christine Riccio is back with a heartfelt, chaotic, and refreshingly honest story about what happens when your former best friend—the one you shared everything with—walks back into your life… on camera. 🎥

Ava and Zac were inseparable—and viral. Childhood best friends turned YouTube sensations, their bond felt unbreakable… until it wasn’t. After years of silence, a reunion video brings them face to face—and back into each other’s lives. But can old chemistry be trusted? Or are they just chasing the past?


💡 Tropes You’ll Find:
🎬 Former Best Friends
💔 Estranged Duo Reunited
🔥 Unresolved Tension
📹 Internet Fame & Found Family
🛏️ One Bed (yes, it’s there)
💬 Angst + Banter + Healing

This is messy in the most relatable way. If you’ve ever had a falling out with someone who meant everything, this book will punch you in the heart—then make you laugh about it. Packed with nostalgia, angst, and Gen Z energy, it’s a perfect read for fans of Emily Henry or anyone who grew up online.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#AttachedAtTheHip #ChristineRiccio #Bookstagram #RomComReads #SecondChanceTrope #InternetFameFiction #YouTubeDrama #FriendsToLovers #BookReview #MillennialReads #SlowBurnRomance

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Survivor vibes vs. Rom Com is how I'd describe this book. Cute story that at times had me laughing at loud. I enjoyed it and found it to be a quick read.

Orie applies to be on Survivor after her older sister blindsides her with a comment that she “can’t do anything on her own.” What starts as a stick to her family turns into an adventure to learn about herself.

Truly a case of this character is driving my nuts and I can’t put it aside to get into the story. I’ve tried this author a few times and I just don’t think I’m the audience and that’s okay!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A survivor inspired romance! I've never really watched the show survivor, but it's been on in the background so I know the premise. The dialogue in this one was hilarious at times. Great beach read rom com!!

Thanks for the ARC! This was a fun and breezy read with a unique premise that blended reality TV chaos with real emotional growth. Orie’s voice was relatable and quirky, and the survival-meets-romance setup kept things interesting. Some moments felt a bit over-the-top, but the heart of the story—figuring out what actually brings joy—shines through. A solid pick for fans of messy love, second chances, and reality show drama.

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

What a fun book! I really enjoyed the Survivor meets Bachelorette plot of Attached at the Hip, and loved the characters. Orie is such a related character and I loved watching her grow as a person and find herself. Definitely a fun read and perfect for the beach. I wish I had read it sooner!

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5/5 stars

This was my first Christine Riccio book, and I have to say that it was a COMPLETE delight. Picture Love Island meets Survivor, and you have the makings of a great rom-com. I binged this one so quickly!

Orie Lennox is feeling a little lost after graduating from college. She has been the sidekick to her sister's social media career for a while and feels mostly comfortable with that. Her sister, on the other hand, wants Orie to step outside her comfort zone and start living her life for herself. When her sister tells her Orie that she's incapable for making her own decisions, it finally pushes Orie to take drastic measures to prove her sister wrong. Those drastic measures? Applying for a new Survivor-esque show. Little does she know, it comes with a dating twist. Having finally broken up with her friend-zoned boyfriend, she decides to take it in stride. Even better, her high school crush is who she is initially tethered to (yes, literally tethered together with rope!). But another potential love match might just complicate things.

Here's the thing you need to know going into this book - Orie is EXTREMELY immature. She is over-the-top and incredibly annoying. But it makes for the perfect character arc. She truly grows throughout the story and starts finding herself. I mean, how many of us can't say we were annoying fresh out of college. Orie is a character that you are either going to love or hate. She grew on me. And the side characters and love interests brought a lot to the book.

Love triangles are tricky, but Riccio does it PERFECTLY! She adds in depth and interesting twists that create a narrative that keeps you reading. This book was literally like eating cotton candy - it was sweet, at times fluffy, bingeable, and maybe not everyone's favorite flavor. That may have been a terrible analogy considering I don't like cotton candy, but you know what I mean.

DNF @ 12%

Riccio's writing is just ... not for me. I tried, but I just can't get past the fmc's voice which makes me grind my teeth. My dentist is now mad at me.

If you're a fan of Riccio's writing. You'll probably like this.

Totally fits right up a reality tv junkie’s alley! This story focused on that fact and took the main characters through a journey of twists and turns to participate in this one. It added quite a bit to the plot, as it was quirky and fun to read and follow along the progression of their stint on tv. Quite a funny story, too, which made it all the more enjoyable. Overall, a decent plot with cute characters, which made it an easy and quick read for me. Thanks for the opportunity to read as an ARC!

DNF- started the book and couldn’t get into it multiple times, but didn’t want to leave a negative review

This was.....not it.

At first, I enjoyed where I thought the romance was going! Then the game play aspect was really fun. But the CONSTANT pop culture references, the arguably unlikable main character with her consistent waffling feelings and thoughts, the END?! I just couldn't.

Two stars, one for uniqueness of plot and one for making me want to start watching survivor.

DNFed at 5%

This was just not for me. I tried. It had to be something big because I don't remember.

This is a refreshing and original take on the romance genre, blending the drama of reality television with the vulnerability of finding love in unexpected places. Christine Riccio's engaging writing style and the outlandish premise make for a truly fun and captivating read. If you're looking for a novel that's both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely sweet, with a unique and unforgettable backdrop, this is definitely worth checking out.

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

This was a fun spin on a reality show. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes making of the show and the adventures along the way as the main character grew in figuring out what she wanted in life with some distance from her steady life at home.

Even though the set-up is not strong--this book could have used some editing for structure--Orie's time in the Survivor-esque TV environment ends up being fun with her establishing some worthwhile relationships (and the romantic relationship ends up having some twists and being, well, adorable).

This is the first book I have read by this author It was such a fun book! If you love Survivor, you will love this book The characters were very realistic and fun The setting was great, just like Survivor. I loved the twist halfway through that made us question whether Remy was telling the truth or not. I will definitely be reading another one of her books Highly recommend this one! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Binged this one in a day as it was easy and fun to read…I thought this was a pretty clever blend of a romance and a reality Tv show. Orie gets the opportunity to compete in a Survivor like competition, with the intent of winning and monetarily helping her family. Upon arrival, she discovers it is more like a dating show, and she is paired with a past school mate and connects with another competitor. The challenges were unique, and the romance was bit love triangle-ish, clean and cute. 3.75 stars