I truly wanted to like this book but something was just missing. It has a fantastic premise but I saw the twist coming from a mile away. The main issue though is how incredibly unlikable the main character is. She is someone who has no identity of her own, who relies on everyone else to survive (she also tries to make a truly ridiculous nickname happen). Which could have worked in a different genre but not in a romance. I was rooting for this girl to go to therapy and be single for at least a year, not end up with some guy.

3.5 Stars

Orie Lennox, uncharacteristically decides to sign up for the reality show Survivor on a whim to prove her family wrong-that she is an independent woman capable of taking care of herself. Unbeknownst to her, this version takes a twist and is also a dating reality show that brings her back in contact with her high school crush.

Liked:
- The Survivor / Bachelor premise!
- Could relate to Orie and her wanting to coming into own even when she was annoying & insecure
- The sister relationship with Orie / Lark

Disliked:
- Was hoping for a bit more romance in the book. Very much leans YA in terms of spice.
- Too many pop culture references mentioned for no apparent reason other than the author reflecting on what shaped her growing up
- Could have used some more editing down of parts. Ran into a few spelling errors.

A little slow to get into but about the 70% mark, I felt myself racing towards the end to get to the reveal. All in all, as a hardcode Survivor fan, this was right up my alley. But unfortunately if you aren't a fan of the long-time reality show, this might not be your cup of tea since it is very much centered around the game.

this book in 3 words: hilarious. unique. nostalgic

Penned as a Survivor meet The Bachelor reality TV show, Attached at the Hip checks so many of the boxes. First up, Orie, our main character is funny. Actually funny. LIke the internal monologue and dialogue had me kicking my feet, laughing out loud, and shaking my head. Loved her. 

Second, I am a sucker for any sort of survival based book and the nod to Survivor was so perfect. I loved the challenges and how it fed the plot instead of deterring. 

Third, absolutely obsessed with the pop culture references. Like, couldn't stop highlighting and swooning. 

This was such a fun read and I binged it in one seating. Definitely recommend.

I LOVED THIS!! Orie was strong even though many other characters tried to make her seem weak. She perservered and I loved her determination. The characters felt real and I wanted to give them all a big hug when it ended. The survivior-esque games were very intriguing to read and had me on the edge of my seat. Osprey will have a place in my heart always <3

Orie is a typical girl in her early twenties, which is to say that she doesn't quite know what to do with her life. She's an influencer who's stuck in a job she doesn't hate but doesn't love and is in an unfulfilling relationship. To break out of her funk, and her sister's criticisms, she applies for Survivor. She's cast on a Survivor with a twist, and needs to break out of her habits to survive and win the competition.

This book was something that caught my attention right away as a lover of romance and reality television. While at the beginning of the book, Orie is hard to like, she is able to develop throughout the story and when that happened I fell in love with this book. While at the beginning, I thought this would be a surface level novel, it delves into many deep issues of what it is to love and to trust in others. The only challenge I had with the book was that with so much plot and so many characters some of the other character development and relational issues are only able to lightly scratch beneath the surface. This is a fun read that I'll definitely be recommending in the future.

If you’re a fan of Christine’s YouTube personality, then this book is for you! Her personality is apparent and made me giggle and nostalgic with Twilight, Legend, and Divergent references.

Overall I enjoyed this reality tv show in book form! It was plot twisty, cute, and empowering. There are great themes of self-improvement, trusting others, friendships, and family relationships that come up throughout the story. I enjoyed the character development and entertaining plot.

What makes me give it 4 stars opposed to 5 is its as put in Attached at the Hip “lackluster” beginning. I felt like I, as a reader, missed out on Lark and Orie’s love for Survivor. It is mentioned but I think it would have been more exciting when she made it. I also wish we had seen her apply for the show and seen more of the shock of her Dad prior to her leaving. I think this would have made the money angle more apparent. The beginning just felt rushed whereas the back half was extremely entertaining.

Let me start this off by saying that I’ve read Again but better by this author and really loved it. I had read that book at a time where I really needed to read a book like that.

This book was so intriguing to me.
I read the synopsis and LOVED the spin on “normal” romance.
Now, YA is not my preferred genre but for certain authors and books I will do it.
I thought this book was so fun, and just intense and intriguing.
It’s YA but the characters are all around the ages of 18-24.
Such a fun read!
It did kinda stench a bit at some points but I generally enjoyed it.
If you are looking for a vacation read I highly recommend this.

I absolutely ate this book up!! I loved every minute of it and I didn’t want to put it down!!! I can’t wait to get a physical copy of it!! I’ve already told so many people about it!! 🤩

I was pulled in from their caustic first meeting to the tender blooming of their feelings to their intense chemistry. I loved this book so much!

2.5

This book was very promising at the start, but as it went along, I lost interest very quickly and realized it was not for me. The MC was extremely naive and relied on other people way too much. The MC was in her 20s, but she acted like a 16 year old. I also felt like the dialogue was repetitive and written as though it was teenagers speaking. They kept referencing Katy Perry, and it got to be a little much.

(SPOILER sorta)

I will say that at the end I gained a lot more respect for Orie. She started to grow and mature a little.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an arc of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was adorkable in the very best way. I had a blast reading it and figuring out all the pop culture references. This story truly is Survivor meets a romantic comedy.

Orie, our main character, isn’t truly living life. Her sister Lark calls her out on it. So, as a huge superfan, Orie applies to be on Survivor … and is told she was cast on the show.

Orie and the motley cast of characters on the show were entertaining. Sure, Orie makes mistakes, but that was half the fun of reading the book. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t say more on the cast or the show. I do wish we got to know the host more.

I laughed, I saw some things coming, but mostly I smiled while reading this because it felt like it could actually have been an actual reality competition show but was in my favorite form of entertainment—a book.

If you are a fan of competition shows, rom coms, and ridiculous fun, check this out.

CW: anxious thoughts, gambling addiction of parent, alcoholic parent, gaslighting

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Attached at the Hip.
I have yet to read any of Christine Riccio’s novels. I have been a longtime watcher of her YouTube channel, even back to her abroad times in London.
This book was definitely made for her fans and the fandoms she is a part of. It was sweet. The main character’s voice was hilarious and I see Christine all over it. I believe this novel was the perfect beach read. Quick, sassy and a story of growing up. I enjoyed for the pure entertainment. Thank you. Now to her others.

After 5 chapters, I texted my friends and said that I think this book will be a winner. And then she changed her name to Piccadilly. From chapter 6 on, it just went a little too far for me. I don't need any character to use the bathroom on page. I didn't understand the name change. I know the story is about her finding out who she is, but this was a little extreme in lots of ways and just didn't land for me.

While the idea of this book was incredibly alluring and made me immediately interested in picking it up, I felt like execution of the novel was a little bit weak.

This felt a bit like a poor retelling of a tv show with some tough dialogue and characters that I just really could not root for.

The setting was whimsical and the I enjoy parts of this book for sure but it probably isn’t something I would recommend

It was as okay. Slow to start. I finished it because I hate leaving books unfinished but I don’t think I’ll read it again.

This book was not for me. I found the main character to be very naive for the age she was. She read more like a 16-year-old to me. I also felt like the dialogue was repetitive and again written as though it was teenagers speaking.

I utterly inhaled this book. Right from the get-go, Chapter 1 had me hooked, and I found myself wishing it would never end.
Imagine Survivor with a splash of rom-com—that's the genius premise of this story. I was thoroughly overtaken by the clever twists, the depth of relationships, and the delightful quirks throughout. It's refreshing to find a rom-com that ventures beyond the usual tropes, offering something genuinely unique. I felt a deep connection to Orie, the FMC. Her scattered, whirlwind thought process mirrored my own, making her character resonate with me on so many levels. An avid lover of books, movies, and Survivor, Orie is a 23-year-old entangled in a competition with Remy, the crush she thought she'd left behind in high school.
She has an adorable fixation on finding her own "fairy tale”, and I love every second of her thought process in her goal to achieve it. The story's ending and the characters' journeys left me feeling satisfied and full of joy. I devoured the book in two days, sacrificing sleep because I simply couldn't tear myself away. Eagerly anticipating its release, I'm already planning to snag a physical copy, and I’m a Kindle girly, so you know I must have liked it!


I’ve never read anything by Christine Riccio but I’m immediately jumping into another by her.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Make sure you get your hands on this when it comes out on May 21!

YA fans of Survivor and reality TV dating shows will fall in love with Attached at the Hip. This book was really cute. It's a story about a girl learning to find her way and find herself. She thinks she's been casted for Survivor but soon finds out it's a new show that tests relationships with a Survivor like element. The author does a good job at making the challenges come to life. A few of them I was on the edge of the seat and felt like I was watching the show. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

THE BEST BOOK EVER!
OMG like Christine Riccio, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Survivor. I could not wait to devour this book and it was completely, utterly perfect for me.

Orie Lennox is a wishy washy type young woman who has yet to make the steps to launch herself into the adult world. After a fight with her family, she decides to apply for her favorite show, Survivor. Unbeknownst to her, the program is recruiting for a new show - a romantic version that hopes for a Bachelor-style tie.

Before she knows it, Orie is in Fiji and tied to a man she thinks she might remember from high school. Like, literally tied.

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!
#stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks #attachedatthehip #christinericcio #survivorcbs

Actual Rating: 3.75 stars/5 stars

First off, this premise was absolutely thrilling, gripping, fun, all the things! I seriously enjoyed my time with Orie, who is a yoga influencer with her sister. She has always loved Survivor and after her sister calls her out for being too dependent and comfortable in her life, Orie decides to sign up for Survivor. However, it ends up being a Survivor spin off called, Attached at the Hip, where missed connections as attached by 8 feet of rope on a deserted beach. Having read this on spring break at the beach, it gave me all the vibes I was looking for! It was following the show and Orie’s journey to self discovery with little tidbits of confessionals like in the actual show. It was such a fun time.

Orie wasn’t my favorite person ever, but I could relate to her in a lot of ways, like her keeping to things that make her comfortable and finally just having enough of it. I will say some parts were a little weird, like her trying to go by “Piccadilly” was a bit annoying. Sometimes I would cringe at the way she was acting. But as time went on, I found myself rooting for her and loved her by the end. She was an absolute boss and it was fun watching her grow throughout the novel. Seeing her form relationships with the rest of the cast was so interesting and I found myself wanting more POVs from some of the other characters like Kennedi.

Plot wise, this was fantastic. It was so interesting and gripping and it was like I was watching the show. Everything was described in detail and was easily understandable. It took quite a few twists and the relationships between everyone were very complex and kept me on my toes (especially a certain two. One was an absolute wild card and the other had my heart)

Overall, I really did enjoy my time and highly recommend reading it on vacation at the beach!! Definitely gets you in the mood and more immersed in the environment!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.