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

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.