Not my favorite. There felt like a lot of plot holes & I had so many questions along the way that never got answered. Unfortunately, it felt rushed & too long at the same time. So, that was weird.

It was beautiful written and I loved the romance and the relationship and everything. It has me hooked!
It was the perfect book for my mood (cause I'm a mood reader).

I loved the setting, being in a game show, it was so original!

I went into this book super excited especially being a reality tv junkie!!

Unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me and def was not what I was expecting. I found myself zoning out, skimming pages and disinterested.

Just not for me

Book Review: Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
In "Attached at the Hip," Christine Riccio delivers a delightful blend of romance and adventure that fans of both Survivor and The Bachelor will adore. This engaging story follows Orie Lennox, a recent graduate who has always envisioned her life unfolding in a picture-perfect way. However, as she steps into adulthood, she finds herself questioning when her happily ever after will truly begin.
On a spur-of-the-moment decision, Orie applies for a reality show that promises an exhilarating escape: stranded on a tropical island, she participates in a high-stakes game of human chess for a chance to win a million dollars. This bold move serves as a catalyst for her to let go of the aspects of her life that no longer bring her joy, immersing herself in an unpredictable adventure far from her familiar world.
What makes this story even more captivating is Orie's unexpected reunion with her high school crush, Remy, who is also cast on the show. As one of ten contestants, Orie faces a series of formidable challenges while navigating the complexities of speed dating in the wilderness—without the comforts of modern life like deodorant or showers! The stakes are high, and the tension builds as Orie grapples with her feelings for Remy and explores new relationships that blossom amidst the chaos.
Riccio's writing is both witty and heartfelt, making it easy for readers to connect with Orie and root for her journey. The clever premise allows for a fresh take on romance, showcasing the delightful unpredictability of love amidst the backdrop of a reality competition. "Attached at the Hip" is not just a story about finding romance; it's about self-discovery and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a fun and flirty escape filled with relatable characters and laugh-out-loud moments. Christine Riccio has crafted a charming adventure that reminds us all that sometimes, taking a leap of faith can lead to the most unexpected and rewarding experiences. #netgalley

[Full disclosure: I lost interest in this one and forgot to finish before the archive date, stopped maybe 40% in]

I love Christine and have enjoyed her other books, but I think this one may not be for me. I found Orie's character annoying and her choice in outfit for national TV was lowkey heinous to me. Hopefully her character grows a backbone by the end of it but I didn't make it far enough to find out.

A book about a reality show, yes please.
We follow Orie who loves survivor and applies to be on the show. She gets accepted and goes into quarantine thinking she’s going to be the next contestant on survivor. Only to find out she’s going on a show called attached at the hip.
We follow her on the island as she competes to win a million dollars.
I really enjoyed this book, getting to see the behind the scenes of a reality show.

A Christine Riccio book is always going to be a fun time. I really enjoyed her first two books, so I was excited to give this one a chance too.
I don’t watch Survivor, but I AM a huge Big Brother fan, so the reality TV aspect of this story pulled me right in. The concept is great; co-dependent-on-everyone-around-her Orie decides to fulfill her dream of being on Survivor only to find out she’s been cast on a new spin-off series called Attached at the Hip meant to reunite the cast with lost love connections in a Survivor-type setting. It’s an original and fun premise.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The reality show element was a blast and the pacing of the plot and character development was great. I had picked up on something happening with one character and thought it was predicable only to be hit with a twist of the motive, so I would say it was still entertaining.

The biggest downside for me was the characters. I enjoy Riccio’s characters, I really do. But I always find that their quirkiness and pop culture knowledge is a little too in your face and it tends to take me out of the story or, at the very least, makes me roll my eyes. Maybe it only bothers me because I also make too many pop culture jokes, who knows?

Either way, I had a fun time reading this novel and, as always, I’ll be waiting for the next one.

*Thanks to Christine Riccio, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced e-book of this novel in exchange for honest review*

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley, though all thoughts are my own.

This book had an interesting premise, and I couldn't wait to see who Ori might connect with while trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.

It took me a bit to get into the story, but once things really started heating up as people were eliminated in the contest, it became much more interesting.

There were some twists, and I think that this contest really helped Ori to find her way, though the ending itself seemed to wrap up quickly.

I am happy who Ori ends up with and that she is able to figure out what she wants to do, and this book was mostly entertaining.

Trigger warnings: addiction, lying, accident involving going to hospital

Stuck in a rut, Orie fills out an application for the next round of Survivor. When she gets a place on the cast, she is elated until the one caveat is that she has to be single. Orie accepts the slot on the show only to find out that it will be a spin off named "Attached at the Hip." She will literally be tied at the hip to another person in hopes that she meets love or friendship. Quick to make alliances, Orie sails through the show until she overhears something that suggests maybe someone isn't quite who they seem.
Opinion
This was a fun book to read. I have never really watched the show Survivor but am familiar with the premise. I enjoyed the tasks they had to go through and found somethings downright funny. (Wait til you read the dialogue on how they did the bathroom.) Overall this was a great, quick read.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Being a massive Survivor fan is one of my few personality traits, so naturally I wanted this story with a Survivor themed plotline.

The game was the best part of the book, I liked the strategy and challenges. There were some specific scenarios that were pulled straight from Survivor, and those were fun to catch.

I honestly could not stand the FMC Orie. She is too cutesy quirky for me. Her entire character felt very MPDG-coded.

I wasn't sure where the ending was headed, but liked the direction the author decided to go.

In the end ATTACHED AT THE HIP rounded out to be very middle of the road, and probably will not be a memorable one for me.

Such a fun read ❤️ I love this as a slump read it was bubbly and delicious and soothed my broken heart from my previous read.

While this one was YA, it still was a good one! This was my first from this author, but i loved this one so much. I absolutely love reality TV, so you know this drew me in immediately.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for accepting my request for an ARC of this book!

This was such a fun read! I loved how it felt like the reality tv shows but in a written format!😂 honestly so much fun! Loved the characters and the romance! Definitely recommend reading this one!

This was … admittedly not for me. I was excited because the premise sounded fun, but I just wasn’t a fan of the writing, and I couldn’t get past some of the names.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I’ve had it on my shelf for a few months and kept avoiding it because it’s a bit on the longer side for a romance (almost 400 pages - which isn’t that much, but for the romance genre, it can really make a book drag on). But once I got into it, I didn’t even notice the length because the plot was so good.

Orie is the MC, and she gets accepted into a Survivor spin-off reality show. There are so many elements that the author incorporates perfectly into the plot. Multiple love interests, plot twists, and actual edge-of-your-seat moments that had my eyes jumping ahead to basically ruin it for me (I actually can’t help it…it’s involuntary).

I would classify this as a romcom, but there’s also so much more to it than that. It’s a fun and heartwarming read, and I loved everything about it. I will say that Orie drove me insane for a while (she was over-the-top quirky), but she grew on me as the story progressed. Other than that, I have no complaints.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted copy!

I was utterly delighted by Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio, which should not have surprised me, Again, But Better is a book I frequently recommend. Still, I was expecting the usual solid, likable YA/new adult fare when I picked this one up, but I found myself captivated by Orie's journey on the island - even if the premise of the reality TV show was a bit of a stretch (though I've seen some truly bizarre reality shows IRL).

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I really enjoyed this book and I have a lot of feelings about the characters and some of the things that happened in the story. There is no way that I can write this review without spoilers, so stop reading now if you don’t want to know details about some of the characters.

I enjoyed the reality show/ competition aspect of the story and liked that it was a brand new show that they were shooting, so there wasn’t a lot of show history thrown around. I also liked the partner aspect, and how it wasn’t necessarily a dating show.

Now for the characters (and where the spoilers come in).

Orie- This is 100% her story, aside from any potential romantic pairings. Orie is facing a crossroads in her life, deciding what she wants her future to look like and who she wants to be. She has a great relationship with her sister and her parents (though a recent revelation about her dad has sent her reeling). She is an honest, caring person and grows tremendously as the story progresses.

Remy- I thought Remy was perfect for Orie and was rooting for them to end up together in the end. And then things happened and I wasn’t sure. But I still thought he was end game (he is the only male character mentioned in the blurb, after all). I was really disappointed when his true colors were revealed and stopped pulling for him at that point.

Kennedy- This is another character that I initially felt differently about. When Kennedy is introduced, it seemed like she would be a player and a backstabber, but she turned out to be a true friend to Orie and one of her biggest allies.

Osprey- I didn’t know what to think of him at first, especially since Orie was drawn to him and I was still shipping her with Remy at that point. But he turned out to be a really good guy to supported Orie and her decisions throughout the game. He never pushed her, but championed her.

The show finale part of the storyline made me so angry, listening to Orie’s competitor claim that they carried her throughout the game and were responsible for her making the final two was awful, especially when they were exposed for lying (but still denied it). But I was happy to see that Orie’s true friends and allies continued to support her.

And then there was the ending, I thought it was super cute, even if a little cheesy.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In *Attached at the Hip*, Christine Riccio delivers a fun, high-stakes romantic adventure that blends the chaotic thrills of *Survivor* with the drama and romance of *The Bachelor*. Orie Lennox, a recent graduate struggling to find clarity in her life, makes a spontaneous decision to apply for a reality show where contestants must compete on a remote island for a million-dollar prize. What seems like the perfect way to escape her lackluster love life and career takes an unexpected turn when she’s cast in a romantic version of the show—where love and competition collide.

Riccio does a fantastic job creating a character in Orie that many readers can relate to—someone who's spent their life planning for a perfect future, only to find that things aren’t turning out quite as expected. The idea of going on a reality show to force a reset in her life is both bold and humorous, and it serves as a perfect backdrop for her personal growth.

The tension kicks in when Orie finds out that her high school crush, Remy, is also part of the cast. Suddenly, the game isn’t just about the prize money but navigating complicated feelings in the middle of the wild South Pacific. As the contestants engage in intense challenges and speed dating, Orie’s evolving feelings for Remy, along with the introduction of new romantic possibilities, keeps the plot sizzling with excitement and humor.

The setting of the isolated island and the absurdity of the challenges (no showers or deodorant!) are brilliantly used to heighten the tension and make the blossoming relationships feel even more intense. The format Riccio creates—part survival game, part romance reality show—creates an atmosphere where trust, alliances, and romantic sparks fly. Orie’s literal and emotional entanglements are both funny and touching, and her journey is full of surprises.

Though the premise might seem far-fetched to some, Riccio’s wit and heart bring the concept to life, making it an irresistible read for fans of romantic comedies with a twist. The characters are charming, the stakes are high, and the mix of humor and romance provides an enjoyable, page-turning experience.

If you're looking for a lighthearted yet adventurous rom-com with a blend of competition and heart, *Attached at the Hip* is a must-read. Christine Riccio nails the blend of humor, romance, and self-discovery in this captivating reality-show-inspired tale, making it the perfect escape for fans of romantic adventures.

OMG this book had me hooked from beginning to end! I loved the Survivor x Bachelor concept and the challenges were so entertaining and made me feel like I was watching the actual show Survivor! The romance was adorable but this book was not just driven by the romance, the plot was intricate and kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!