*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC!*

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. 🥰

This book was a trip and a half, and in the best way! I really enjoyed the antics that Orie got up to on the island, and the relationships that she formed there. Being a younger sister myself, I really related to the struggles she went through in trying to find her own path, when her sister’s was so clearly laid out before her. This tale of falling in love and finding yourself was a zany, heart-warming journey that made me both laugh out loud and get all of the crazy butterflies.

I have never seen an episode of Survivor, but reading this book makes me feel like I have! I felt the atmosphere right away, and was on pins and needles to figure out what was going to happen next. I loved getting to see Orie try to figure out the puzzles of the game, both literal and figurative. It was like a little mystery seeing her try to decipher each contestant’s motives, whether they were good or bad. Seeing her form strong bonds, all while figuring out who she truly was, was such a fun ride!

The romances were fun, and a little cringy (again, in the best way). Orie is the most awkward human being, and it made me love her so much! As an awkward queen myself, I cringed along with her multiple times. Seeing the other characters, particularly Osprey and Kennedi, begin to care for her because of that endearing awkwardness made me feel better about myself too.

My main complaint is that there were some things that didn’t make sense. Orie’s insistence on some people calling her Piccadilly was confusing and inconsistent. It didn’t make much sense, and I kind of wish they had left that out. There were also a few plot holes that were never explained. However, none of these things took away from the overall great time I had reading this book!

I highly recommend reading Attached at the Hip if you are a fan of rom-coms, reality tv, forced proximity romance, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Such a fun read, and it is out just in time for summer, which is the perfect time to dive into this island tale!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I gave Attached at the Hip 4.5 Stars!

Orie Lennox is a wishy washy type young woman who is trying to postpone transitioning into adulthood. After an arguement with her family, she decides to apply for her favorite reality show, Survivor. But little did she know, the program is recruiting for a new show - a romantic version that hopes for a Bachelor-style tie-in

Before she knows it, Orie is in Fiji and tied to a man she thinks she might remember from high school. Like, literally tied with a rope and all…never “attached at the hip.”

Join Orie, the funniest heroine I have read in a while as she attacks the adult world in the wild jungles of Fiji! All die hard Survivor fans will love this book as will Bachelor and Love Island and, heck, any reality fans! Riccio really had me during the wild animal encounters and the puzzling! I just can't say enough about this awesome fun book!

Attached at the hip is a cute story based on reality shows. It gave survivor, bachelor, and the circle vibes to me.
After Orie’s sister confronts her extreme codependency, Orie decides to prove her wrong by auditioning for Survivor, her favorite show. Orie is asked to join the cast, but the show will be a spin off of Survivor and she will have to enter the show single. She breaks up with her high school sweetheart, who she thinks she was only with out of convenience and afraid of being alone. She’s never had another relationship and she never felt the “spark” with her boyfriend.
The spin off of Survivor is actually a dating show where couples are stranded on an island and they are literally attached at the hip by a rope. The couples must make connections with each other, compete competitions, and avoid elimination…all to win a cash prize.
Orie’s first match is with an old crush from high school, Remy. They make a great connection! But as the game progresses, Orie begins to suspect Remy isn’t who he says he is…
This was a super cute story and I enjoyed the reality show vibe of it! I think Orie also had great character growth throughout the story.
Thank you @netgalley, st martins press, Wednesday books.
I will be posting on Goodreads and my Instagram @theexhaustedbookworm

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Listen, I'm 100% the wrong demographic for this book. I've never seen <em>Survivor</em> (I have since watched a few clips and I still don't think it's my jam), I do see "influencer" as a real job, and I see the show concept of being tethered to someone for ANY amount of time is super sketch. There's NO WAY that can be turned romantic, though the author tried to portray it that way. I think if I were 20 years younger and single, I would totally have liked this, but as an old, crusty, cynical (and tired) mother, I just wanted Orie to grow the hell up and get a real job.

I did finish it, but probably closer to 2 1/2 stars. It's not the author's fault that I'm jaded.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 400 / Genre: Romcom
Release Date: May 21, 2024

Orie has been coasting along, not really doing anything on her own her whole life. On a whim, she applies for what she thinks is Survivor, the reality game show, which has been an obsession of hers since she was young. She’s elated when she’s cast but is shocked when she finds out it’s actually a Survivor-themed dating show. But she needs that million dollar prize money so she does it.

This was a super fun romcom. I especially loved the reality show part of it with all the game play action and alliance strategy. And I always like it when characters learn how to believe in themselves and start fighting for what they want. Another great beach read for the summer.

Thank you @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks, and @christinericciobooks for my gifted copy.

I had high hopes for this book because I love the show survivor. I thought mixing the survivor show with romance would make for a great book but I was wrong. My main issue is with the writing style and characters. I immediately couldn’t connect with the main character because she was WAY over the top. The writing style felt extremely basic and the author tells rather than shows which makes the reader feel disconnected. It’s important to note that this is a YA book and it felt very YA. I don’t mean that in a bad way it just means if you’re a fan of YA or around that age then this one might be for you. Overall, not sure if I would recommend as there are better reality tv dating books out there.

*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher (St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books ) in exchange for an honest review*

Honestly I will read any book that Christine comes out with cause it so fun to read, I have enjoyed every bit of this novel even thought I am not that entirely familiar with reality tv shows like Survivor or even other reality tv shows but it was a fun idea to explore. If you don't know her how she is personality wise, this is not for you, she is a ball of energy and you can defiantly feel her bubbly and chaotic personality in Orie and its a style that I gotten so used to and it is very authentically Christine. I think it is fun and lighthearted and the point is that there is a moment of worry when you wish Orie is alright but you know deep down that this is like a rom-com in a novel form and something that is a blend of things and it is different for sure.

RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2024

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC and I am instantly gonna purchase this when it releases.

I have to come to the conclusion that Christine's books are just not for me. After this 3rd disappointment from this author, I have to accept that Christine writes her own personality in such an obvious and obnoxious way, that I cannot disconnect her online persona from her characers. I do believe though, that this book will be a success with an audience who might not know her from Booktube.

This book has a really fun concept! Survivor mixed with a dating show? I was so excited to get into it. For me personally, it just didn't work. Before I get into the critiques, I will start with the good stuff. The beginning of Orie arriving to the island, doing her intake interview and first initial days of being on the show felt super interesting to me. I was really intrigued and excited to see how the show would continue. But it ended there. I wasn't a fan of the writing style. It felt over run with pop culture reference after pop culture reference and it got to be too much. I don't mind pop culture references in books, but not as constant as it was here. The all caps were incredibly overboard. Orie as a character is quirky and interesting, but a little over the top. She also came off immature for a 23 year old. I'm not one to give up on books. I finish every single book I pick up to read, but I could not continue with this one.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (5 Stars)

No spoiler review 👇🏻

Ahh this was such a fun read! I feel this is the perfect summer book! It’s a book that’s set on a survivor based romance show! A survivor romcom! Two things I absolutely love.

This book was amazing and I had so much fun reading this! It was fast paced, twisty, funny and just made me smile. A fun overall light romance read! I really enjoyed this! (Swipe to photo 2 for a full summary)

This is my first book by this author, however, I’ve been a huge fan of her book tube channel (Polandbananasbooks) since I was a teenager in 2014. So it was fun to read one of her books.

CW: talk of alcohol abuse and gambling abuse

The book I didn’t know was missing in my life!

I absolutely loved this! As a life long fan of Survivor this just touched that part of my soul. If you or anyone you know is a hard core fan of the show you know we’re cut from a different cloth, a buff cloth specifically. So many of us dream about going on the show but for more than just winning the money, to win the title and to see if we really have what it takes within ourselves.

This is a funny romcom about a younger sister who’s always just been in the shadows following everyone’s lead and although I’m personally the oldest of my siblings I connected with her struggle to commit to one “passion project” - Orie (FMC) applies for survivor to prove to her older sister that she CAN do things on her own. Turns out to be a spinoff survivor show and includes a bit of The Bachelor. It’s so fun to read, not to mention all the movie and book references! Although it is light and funny it also touches on a loved one who struggles with addiction, another part of the story that I connected with since it’s something that one of my loved ones struggles with as well.

“Pobodies Nerfect” 🫶🏼

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥， 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥 ．．．𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱， 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱

Thank you NetGalley and Christine Riccio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review

Much thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martins Publishing for the ARC of "Attached at the Hip" in exchange for an honest review.
To start, let me credit Christine Riccio right away for drawing me into this book, even though I am no great fan of reality game shows and never bothered to watch any of them.
But if I ever came across one these shows that actually featured characters and situations depicted in this book, I'd be sprawled on the couch with a tub of buttered popcorn.
The adorable lead contestant, Orie Lennox, is beset with a host of relatable issues and worries. Unable to break out of the status quo she dwells in at 23, she's aware of the second-hand life she's settled for.. With a longtime boyfriend she's more comfortable with than passionate about and a dead end job assisting her influencer sister, Orie longs to figure out what she wants for herself and how to achieve it. Impulsively to seek out new adventures, she applies for and is selected for a season of 'Survivor'.
But it's not that show she finds herself on, but a romance spinoff version 'Attached at the hip', where couples endure similar tropical island abandonment.......but tethered to each other to see how much chemistry sparks fly.
Under the endlessly complicated reality show rules (one of the reasons I never watched them), contestant partners change based on their various wins and losses.......and Orie ends up in a romantic triangle with Remy, an unrequited high school crush and Osprey, a fierce competitor. That makes playing the game quite a challenge since Orie's fallen hard for the boys and they with her. Especially since they're forced to use Machiavellian strategies to outlast the other players and claim the million dollar prize that can only go to one of them.
Christine Riccio somehow makes all of this fun and exciting even for a reader (like me) who wouldn't touch a reality show with a ten foot coconut tree. You can't help cheering on Orie, not just for the sometimes hilarious ways she soldiers through the game's challenges, but for her own personal quest for a future to call her own.
So it came as a total surprise as to how much I enjoyed this book. Never thought I'd cozy up to a romance featuring tarantulas, crab hunting and tethered sweethearts stuck together with no bathrooms anywhere in sight. What can I say.....I got attached to "Attached".

Thank you Wednesday Books for my #gifted copy of Attached At The Hip!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐩
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐨
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★

Attached At The Hip was such a fun one! I found myself unable to stop once I started, and dare I say it was as addicting as reality TV? While this falls under a Young Adult imprint, I totally think it is one of those books that can easily be marketed and enjoyed by adults too. This would be perfect for the pool or beach this summer!

This book had a survivor and Bachelor feel to it and I loved it. If you love either of those shows, I think you will love this book. Even if you have never seen those shows, I think you will fall in love with Orie, the FMC and enjoy this one so much. She is so fun and unique and I think she really made me enjoy this book so much. On top of that, this book was so fast paced that I felt like I was so engaged the entire time! I could not get enough of this book and the amazing characters and I did not want it to end!

🌴Friends to Lovers
🌴Survivor x The Bachelor
🌴Closed Door Romance
🌴Love Triangle
🌴Forced Proximity
🌴Pop Culture References

Posted on Goodreads on May 15, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 16, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 21, 2024
**-will post on designated date

I ended up DNFing this at 20% because it made me so angry. When I first heard about this book--a romcom about a reality show that was Survivor meets The Bachelor franchise--I was so excited, but this was a huge disappointment. The MC is a selfish, annoying, and tries too hard to be "quirky." The love interest story line is just bad, and this book "tells" instead of "shows" major plot points, which is one of my biggest pet peeves when I am investing time into reading something

Orie Lennox is a mega superfan of the show Survivor and a woman longing for love. So when she pushes herself out of her comfort zone and is picked to actually be on the show, let alone a dating spinoff of the show, everything should be perfect. Especially as one of the other contestants is her “missed connection”, a high school crush.

I loved this book so much! Orie is such a funny, relatable character who you definitely cheer for. The romance aspect is so well done, I was completely invested. But there are great friendships and other types of human connection as well. Plus, as a reality show fan, I absolutely adored that aspect. This book absolutely flew by. I would definitely recommend it.

(This didn’t seem like a YA book to me personally, more of an adult romance.)

This book was very unique - and I really enjoyed it. This felt like the perfect way for someone who loves to read, but doesn't watch reality tv to enjoy the drama and intrigue of reality tv through a book. There were a ton of pop culture references and reality tv components that would make this enjoyable for people who also generally enjoy watching reality tv. The premise of this setting was very fascinating - I could even see how it would make a good show in real life.

Read this book if you enjoy:
> Reality TV game shows
> Closed door romance
> Forced proximity
> Survival skills
> Social media influencers

The romantic triangle element was unexpected at first, but it was well crafted as the book went further and certain things were revealed. I did find Orie to be a bit immature at times, but that is fitting with the fact that this is essentially a YA book - with all of the main characters ranging from late teens to early 20s. As such, this one was light on the physical aspects of a romantic relationship which was fine - and perfect for folks who are especially looking for closed door romance plots.

I loved the backstories of some of the MCs - with a mix of social media influencers, parkour competitors and people working in Hollywood, the story highlights a lot of non-traditional career paths that are very relevant for young people in today's culture. Also, the Fiji setting was fun and really made me want a beach vacation (without the survival elements...). The survival aspects themselves were right out of the scripts of some of the most popular survival shows and definitely added to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read! This was a fun ride!

When Orie ends up cast on a reality show that she applied for on a whim, the last thing she expects is to recognize anyone. Yet, when the Survivor-esque show begins, newly single Orie finds her high school crush, Remy, attached to her by an 8-foot rope connected via belts. They’re stranded on an island with eight other competitors, all of whom are playing human chess for their chance at one million dollars. Things start to heat up between Orie and Remy, but when Orie meets another competitor, she starts questioning many aspects of her life, and if she truly can trust another competitor in the show. If you’re a fan of reality TV game shows, you’ll love this sweet romance book.

Initially, I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I do. It was addicting to read, and I could not put it down. When I did have to, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This is exactly what I am always looking for in a book, and to have found it unexpectedly was wonderful.

What I appreciated the most about this book is that it was a clean romance. While I do enjoy reading spice in books, not every book needs it, and Riccio’s story doesn’t need it. There were moments of steam, but ultimately, that wasn’t the book's focus. The cast of characters in the novel makes it fall perfectly into the New Adult genre since their ages range from 18 to 24.

The pacing of the storyline is unique because while filming the show, you’re following Orie’s near-daily activity. There are the private producer interview transcripts in between these filming chapters. Honestly, it felt like I was watching a reality show, which is a vibe I loved, and now I want more! After filming, there are 90 days before the live finale episode, and the time is a bit jumpy then. As a reader, you pop into Orie’s life when it is most prevalent, like when she takes her driving exam or decides to go on a road trip to Florida and then to London. It felt natural and still allowed for an element of shock at the end.

Orie is an extremely compelling main character. In the beginning, I found her to be a bit annoying, but as the story goes on, you really start to root for her and appreciate how dynamic her character is. She grew so much, and while the comments her sister, Lark, made at the beginning were rude, they were true, and Orie realizes that during her time filming. She’s not working in her dream career field of scriptwriting; instead, she’s a social media influencer in Acro-yoga, which is her sister’s dream. Watching all of the progress she made after coming back from filming the show was really encouraging. Also, it made actual reality TV show participants talk about how “life-changing” the experience was more real.

Remy is trash. I love how Riccio manipulated (because that’s what it ultimately was) the reader to really like Remy at the beginning, then as Orie learned more about his deception, he started to question him. I’ll admit, it even got me for a while because I was questioning if he actually was a liar or not. It was an interesting twist to have someone that Orie knew in real life manipulate her so much, and a cool way for her (and the reader) to find out and then solve.

I do have to wonder if Orie was really self-absorbed in high school because Remy’s older brother was probably Lark’s age, so it’s possible Orie heard about him in passing. Also, the birthday situation was amazing! He lied about his birthday and Orie found out during a challenge! That was one of the best ways to reveal a plot twist. But, once again, in high school, Orie might have noticed if his birthday was right after hers, especially if they were in a class together every day as lab partners.

The way Osprey, the romantic interest character, was introduced was so cute because it was kind of an enemies-to-alliance-to-friends-to-lovers situation. He was so sweet, and everything about his character was pure! When he saw Orie’s quote tattoos for the first time, that was a story-altering moment in the book. After the show, he and Orie grow their relationship and have a real connection that you root for. When Orie thinks she’s misinterpreted all the signals when asking Osprey to move to L.A. That wasn’t second-hand embarrassment that I experienced, but I felt it in my bones. The disappointment and complete shock were amazing.

All the side characters, mainly what was going on with Orie’s family and the other show competitors, were well done. They all had unique personalities, back stories, and roles within the book and how they interacted with Orie. The alliances that Orie builds during filming are strong and believable (if we’re to pretend this is a real show).

Overall, this book was fantastic, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves reality TV. I also recommend it if you're looking for a unique summer romance that will completely absorb you. When I say that this book is addicting, I mean it. This is a 4 out of 5 stars book for me, through and through.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Christine Riccio for allowing me to be an early reader of Attached at the Hip. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is scheduled for release on May 21, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.

I AM CACKLING.
This book is amazing. Are you a fan of survivor, the circle, love island, or the hunger games? If so, this book is for you.
There is just something special about a character in a book that’s just completely insane. I love it. If I am reading and the book makes me snort, giggle and cackle loudly, it’s an automatic 5 stars for me.
I was laughing through this whole thing. What a fun reading experience.

Ori is insane. She’s the main character of this book. She’s feeling kind of stuck after graduating college. She’s dreamed about finding the love of her life ever since she started reading romance novels as a young girl.
Since she’s feeling a little lost, she decides to apply for a reality show, where she’ll be stuck on an island with a bunch of strangers. Little does she know she’s applied for an experimental “survivor” love show.
When she arrives on the island things start to get interesting. Not for Ori, but for me.

This book is hilarious. Ori is absolutely unhinged ( in a good way). She asks the contestants to call her “Piccadilly”. There are just so many parts of this book where I needed to pause for a second and imagine if someone said those words to me in real life. What would my reaction be? Besides immediately wanting to be best friends with whatever weirdo was in front of me. Which means Christine Riccio is now my best friend.

If you enjoy survivor, laughing, and reading about a girl who was lost but then kicks a**, read this book.

This book was ok. Personally, I think the characters were too young for me to get really involved in their stories. I liked the Survivor and tv aspect of it. I liked the games and the overall story was fun. I think if you’re a Survivor fan and in your early 20s you’ll like it. It’s not a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to @netgalley for the advance reader copy. Love the fun cover.

4.5 stars

Are you a fan of survivor and/or the bachelor? Then this might be the perfect book for you. It is a mix of both. Orie thinks she's being cast on survivor but really she's being cast on a survivor spin off with a romantic twist. I don't watch either of these shows, but I loved both aspects of the story. The survival aspect as well as the completion games were fun, but the romantic aspect was also great. I cannot tell you how hard I was laughing at the beginning of the book. It was so funny, but after that initial comedy, things took a different turn and got a bit more serious. There were still some funny moments but they changed given the development of the stories and characters. There were also some really cute moments, which I loved. I loved how the plot progressed because I did not see this story unfolding the way that it did. One thing that this book did really well was putting me in Orie's place because when she felt betrayed, I felt betrayed because her emotions became mine. This was my first book by this author and because of the ability to blind side me and make me feel betrayed the way that she did, I want to read more haha.


Content warning: gaslighting, mentions of addiction, fear of the ocean, bugs (including eating them), vomit