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

As someone who grew up watching Survivor, this was a fun and nostalgic read. I enjoyed the idea of a dating survival show, and Orie's relationship with her family was messy but so full of love. This was definitely an enjoyable book! Orie's character growth is commendable.

I need this to be a tv show! Attached at the Hip is a wild and entertaining ride that mixes romance, reality TV, and adventure in the most unexpected ways. Orie Lennox, a young woman who’s struggling to find clarity in her love life and career, makes a spontaneous decision to join a reality show where she’s stranded on a South Pacific island. The twist? It’s a romantic version of Survivor, and her high school crush, Remy, is also competing.

Christine Riccio blends humor, heart, and drama effortlessly as Orie navigates wild challenges, speed dating, and her feelings for Remy—while trying to stay true to herself. The tension and chemistry between the contestants (especially Orie and Remy) is palpable, and the bizarre circumstances only make things more thrilling. It’s a refreshing and fun take on romance and self-discovery, with a dash of survival skills and a lot of heart.

If you’re a fan of reality TV-inspired romance with a quirky twist, Attached at the Hip is a perfect pick. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you’ll root for Orie every step of the way.

Described as Survivor meets The Bachelor, Attached at the hip is the story of Orie who applies for a reality show where she is stranded on an island for a chance at one million dollars - but plot twist, it's an experimental romantic edition of the show, complete with her old crush.

What I liked about the book was not only the concept, but the writing was fun and it was extremely believable and easy to tell the author herself is a fan of reality shows.

What I didn't like, was the main character, Orie, personality. She felt very naive to me which made her hard to relate to and I felt like I was reading a YA instead of an adult rom-com. That being said, it was still an enjoying read overall and I did like the interactions between the castmates.

**thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins/Wednesday books for the ARC and a chance to read and review. All opinions expressed are my own**

I really enjoyed this book! I really loved the banter between the FMC and the MMC. I dont think I've read a book where ive alughed out loud this much! This book is perfect to read in the summer! I loved the whole reality show aspect of the book. I have found my new book boyfriend!

I really loved the premise of this book! Survivor meets The Bachelor?! Yes, Please! Overall, this aspect of the book and the romance was really great. Unfortunately, what I didn't like eventually took away from the reading experience. As I started to dive deeper into this book I got more and more frustrated with our FMC, Orie. Her character and actions were really silly and juvenile and I had a hard time liking or relating to her. It read more YA in my opinion, which isn't bad! It just wasn't what I was expecting.

This was a really fun story. They had me at 'Survivor meets The Bachelor'. It is definitely YA. For those who don't enjoy when a book is too YA, this may not be for you. Orie was definitely immature and needed to grow up. I think we definitely saw growth in her throughout the story. She learned how to think for herself and how to look deeper. It was just a lighthearted story that kept me entertained and laughing.

Do you love reality TV competition shows? Then you HAVE to pick up Christine RIccio’s latest novel, Attached at the Hip, which came out on May 21st.

This novel was just as gripping as a real television show! It was like Survivor meets F-Boy Island in the best way possible! Seriously, this book was every reality competition show most of us love in book form!

I adored the characters and could really relate to Orie and her struggle with figuring out what she wanted to do with her life as a post-college young adult and taking risks. And honestly, this book makes me want to go on a new adventure (although I doubt that adventure will include me climbing coconut trees on a beach in Fiji lol…).

I honestly want there to be a sequel to this book that almost mimics a season 2 of “Attached at the Hip” because the concept was so cool (hint hint: Christine Riccio and Wednesday Books!!)

If you love reality TV or are looking for an inquiry storyline to hook you in, this book is definitely worth picking up!

*I received an ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not a reality TV show watcher but this was a fun read. Lots of book and pop culture drops which were fun. Also there was a bit of twisty plot and character development which made the book entertaining. Loved reading about a character who was unapologetically herself and who was able to laugh at herself and her situation before diving in to her next challenge.

Attached at the Hip is a fun, reality-TV-inspired romance with a unique twist. Orie, a huge Survivor fan, jumps at the chance to be on a similar competition show—only to find out it’s actually a romance-based version where contestants are physically attached to a partner for 72 hours. To make things even crazier, her high school crush is also on the show… and she’s stuck with him.

The game show aspect is a blast, especially for fans of reality TV, but the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Part of that might be because the book feels a little unsure of its audience—some moments suggest a more mature tone, but Orie often reads as younger. That said, it’s still an entertaining, lighthearted read. Not amazing, but enjoyable enough.

Rounded up to 3.5 stars!

“When you turn something into your job, you have to start looking at it more critically. I want opening a book to always feel like coming home.”

I remember watching Survivor with my family and The Bachelor with my mom (my dad flat out refused to watch The Bachelor with us), so I couldn't resist when this book popped up on my radar. I've become less of a risktaker in my old age, but I thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster ride that was Attached at the Hip. The entire concept was so much fun, and I feel like marketing nailed it with those two comparisons. The challenges they had to compete in, being physically attached to another person for days at a time, and the toll it takes on a person mentally and physically - all wonderfully well done.

The shows premise is that each contestant has several compatible partners on the island and one missed connection from their past. It was interesting to see how people chose to pair up and how alliances were made. I do wish the book had been slightly longer so we could have gotten to know all ten of the castmates, but we sadly only learn about four. Orie, Remy, Kennedy, and Osprey. I was hesitant about Kennedy at first, but she definitely grew on me by the end. Also, if you're worried about a love triangle, don't be. It's written incredibly well, and I enjoyed seeing legitimate friendships develop and people reacting realistically when learning something new about another contestant.

Orie is embarrassingly awkward. She spirals and panics in a way that was relatable, although her word vomiting is something most of us have mastered by our 20's. We learn when a thought needs to remain private and unspoken, whereas Orie just starts saying anything and everything that pops into her head. It was somewhat endearing, but the secondhand embarrassment was real. I would also say this one is more NA than YA since most of the characters are in their 20's. (Boooo Christine Riccio for having her character say 24 is old. It's not! 🥲)

The ending was unexpected, and I like that we get to see Orie continue to grow in her personal life after the show ends. She can't interact with her castmates until the finale, and she can't talk about her experiences with anyone until all the episodes have aired, so she's left with her own thoughts and what she wants to do with her life. I liked this version of her way more than the one we started with.

I thought the last interaction she had with the other finalist was strange and out of character, and wish their side of the story had been explained. Instead we're left wondering what their motivations and intentions were.

The family dynamics were great. We see that pobody's nerfect and how even relationships we idolize have their hidden flaws. Orie has to deal with something traumatic that I wish the author had spent more time on, but instead it's left being a mistake that everyone forgives pretty easily. I know she had time away from it on the island to sort through her thoughts, but it was a big deal that was left mostly unaddressed. I think it would have been better had the incident been less intense. Maybe just getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar, so to speak, and not the horrific event that it was.

Overall, Attached at the Hip was a fun book that was wonderfully narrated. Brittany Pressley is amazing! Her female and male voices are different and I never confuse the two. Orie was an interesting character that reacted like a normal human being. If I was attached via rope to a cute guy on and island, I definitely would be thinking about how bowel movements would work. Orie just says them out loud — on camera — and in front of said cute guy.

PS: There are a lot of book, movie, and people references! A few of them went over my head, but a lot of them were familiar.

Perfect romcom for the Survivor fan!

Orie finds herself on a Survivor dating show spinoff competing for a million dollars and the shot at finding true love. But, is everyone on the island there for the right reasons? And will she find her happily ever after?

I really enjoyed this one as a Survivor fan but I’m not entirely sure it appeals to the masses. It felt way too long to me but it had some funny moments and the audio was really fun.

This was not it for me. I felt like the writing was very juvenile. It didn't make sense. I couldn't even get past the ridiculous names in the book. I rolled my eyes so far in the back of my head-i thought they'd get stuck. i did not care for any single part of this book.

If you’re a Survivor fan looking for a fun read, I couldn't recommend this book enough! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just two days. The story delivers nonstop excitement with unexpected plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Christine Riccio perfectly captured the feeling of rooting for your favorite reality TV stars in this adventure romance.

One of the highlights for me was the love stories.. All the characters were well-developed and engaging, with compelling love interests that added emotional depth to the adventure. The way the relationships unfold feels organic and keeps you invested in the characters’ choices.

Overall, this book perfectly blends strategy, survival, and romance in a way that feels fresh and exhilarating. Whether you're here for the twists, the relationships, or the sheer thrill of the competition, you won’t be disappointed!