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.

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.

2.5

This is hard because I enjoyed reading this, for the most part. I was engaged and loooved the reality game aspect of the book--I think it was some of the best parts of the story. I'm a Survivor fan. At the same time, UGH. There was so much that was, on a technical level, bad/cringy about this that it kept pulling me out of the story! Let's dig in. (Warning--some spoilery content in this review. But since this is an arc, I'm going to keep things rather vague.)

The self insertion
I remember self insert characters being a problem in Chrstine's first novel, Again, But Better which I read years ago when it came out. It was awkward the first time, especially since Christine has such a public persona, and it's even more awkward this time. Orie's character felt exactly like Christine. She's obsessed with books and movies, is wacky quirky, does yoga, wants to go abroad to London. What makes it EVEN worse is that Orie is... not likeable. It was hard for me to want to root for her! She wants people to call her... Piccadilly... WTF. Listen, me personally, yes I'm weird, I'm a weirdo, I don't fit in, but girl even this is too much for me.

The pop culture references
It was too much. Wayyyyyyy too much. Orie has Divergent and The Mortal Instruments tattooed on her back and the love interest RECOGNIZES them. Too much for me to process

The love interest(s)
Okay, this was honestly pretty interesting. There are two main guys on the island and we find out one of them is not exactly what he seems. I liked this deception but I think it also felt underdeveloped. At the end, there's nothing to wrap it up. Orie also calls him a "sociopath" multiple times which feels like a bit of an exaggeration, though I think the ideas of manipulation, gaslighting, and victimizing were very interesting and could've been explored a bit more. I feel like we also don't get a full picture of his motive. The other guy is a sweetheart and I liked him for the most part.

All caps
THE ALL CAPS IS CRAZZZYYY OVERBOARD. Got me jumping in bed. BOO
(I remember hearing in a video that Christine loves all caps despite it being untraditional in publishing. I honestly don't mind them used sparingly, at all, but they were on almost every page! It reduces the impact if you're just going to capitalize everything. Italics can have a similar effect.)

Fan fiction
I can't get over that this is essentially Survivor fan fiction. I mean, I'm down, I love Survivor, and this was a fun concept. But also, what makes this different from AO3 material?! Definitely agree with some other reviewers that the name "Survivor" just needs to be... removed.

Ok. The tribe has spoken.

Such a cute story!! Very YA! The MC was relatable in some ways which made the story a a little more enjoyable for me! Recommend as a summer time read for sure! Enjoyed this book! Great read!!

This was a cute young adult novel. I wish we could have had a little more character development so I could connect more with the MC. But overall super cute!

4/5 ⭐️

As a young teen I watched Christine Riccio religiously on booktube! It’s amazing to see her go from reader to writer and it’s even crazier for me to go from watching her videos to reading her works.

Attached at the hip is the perfect spring/summer/warm weather read. It’s a romcom in the best way. This book also has a great representation of learning to find, believe and trust in yourself.

If you have a beach trip planned soon pack this one to take! It’s the perfect “beach day read”

Its Survivor meets The Bachelor.

This is one of the best romcoms I have read in a while. It's Crack like how reality-based shows are. It had all the survivor vibes and structure with the drama and messy emotional tension of The Bachelor. I was so invested in who was going to win and who was in an alliance and all the bonds that formed.

Orie's inner monologue could be over dramatic and childish but after a couple chapters I didn't mind. I love how corky and ood she is. She's funny and clever in her comebacks. Her character ARC is authentic and I was able to relate to it.

I'll keep my mouth shut about the MMC but he's so loveable and real. And their banter is fire. A definite must read.

5/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶️

I went into this book fairly blind. I knew that it was a young adult contemporary with a mix of Survivor and Bachelor in Paradise. I love both of these shows, and immediately lost myself in this story.

The main character, Orie, had a lot of unexpected character depth. I liked seeing her interactions with the other characters and liked how the time spent with each deepened the plot and individual character development.

I loved the twist about halfway into the book, and I wasn’t able to put it down after this point. I read this entire book in a 24 hour period, and I loved every single page of it.

I enjoyed how this book was young adult but the characters were older than the typical YA cast. It was nice to see characters have chemistry and passion without the book containing any open or closed-door spicy scenes.

My favorite quote from this book is “Isn’t that piece of advice kind of sexist in itself? Because women tend to look for romance, and dudes tend to be afraid of it for years, so we should pretend to be uncaring and aloof?”

This was my first book written by Riccio, and it definitely will not be my last. I can’t wait until Attached at the Hip is available because it is begging to be a part of my physical library. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy, I loved it!