I am not one that watches Survivor or any shows like this. One episode was enough for me. I can see that the book will be popular since the shows are so popular, The relationships are interesting, the islands are beautiful and the characters are poorly prepared to survive. The book gives plenty of detail for each day but mainly follows Orie. The story was good.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pobody's Nerfect.

Attached at the Hip was hands down the best book decision I've made this week. Yes, it's only Monday, but details, people! From the very beginning, I fell in love with how adorkable our main girl, Orie Lennox, is. She's unapologetically herself, and that can land her in some hilarious situations. Her fear of spiders, and all bugs really, lives in my mind rent-free because I despise them as well. I think if she were a real person, we would become besties and try our best not to end up naming our first child Tarantula.

Besides her, I really liked the whole idea of this book. Especially with it tying in so many shows into one. Survivor meets Love Island in a way. I've never seen Love Island, so I can't really confirm or deny that, but I religiously watch Survivor. Some of the challenges were very interesting, and I enjoyed all the bonding that happened throughout the show.

Then there's the romance and friendship part. I adored all the friendships Orie made. Kennedi and Osprey were hilarious, and they just made the whole book fly by much faster. I also really enjoyed her and Osprey bonding over books, quotes, and just about everything in between. The whole drama and potential love triangle were cute, but I had a feeling they weren't going to last long.

In the end, I'm so happy with who won the game and what's going to happen next for Orie. I'm chock full of hope.

4.25 stars!
Survivor meets Bachelor / Bachelorette
When Orie and her sister get into an argument about Orie depending on everyone but herself, Orie sets out to prove her wrong. She applies for Survivor, but little does she know there is a twist on the show. She is matched with her crush from high school. Through out the show she begins to find herself, and realizes she can do things on her own. This is a cute rom-com, and a great way to show you can do anything you set your mind to. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.

Dnf at 29%

The part I did like was the game show aspect. The challenges were fun and I liked reading those.

But the romance…the interactions….pass

They asked her if she was single (and I’m assuming they asked everyone) but she literally just ended the relationship right before they left for the game show.
How is that healthy?

Also this book is kinda cringe.
Why is a girl named Orie trying to rename herself as Piccadilly? Because Orie isn’t unique enough?

Remy saying his favorite color is macaroni had me cringing. 🥴

Also, I’m tired of seeing so many pop culture references.
Why was Katy Perry mentioned so often. 😩

Anyways, this book was probably trying to be cute, quirky, and lighthearted….but it missed the mark and instead was cringey.

Imagine Survivor meeting The Bachelor, this is what you'll find in this entertaining read! With a plot that keeps you hooked, it's a perfect blend of adventure and romance. Overall, a light, enjoyable story that's hard to put down.

I love "Survivor" and I love "The Bachelor" franchise. Guess what? I loved this book!!!

There was so much heart, hilarity, and vulnerability in this book. *I swoon* I couldn't have imagined this book any better, no matter how hard I tried. All the great elements of "Survivor" are in there with a splash of romance too. And villainy, can't forget that.

The way Orie catastrophizes the spider during the challenge ... *chefs kiss*!!!

The only thing I wish was that at the finale they showed who each person was "supposed" to be compatible with, friendship, romantically, whatever. I would love if the eventual couples were who the show picked out too.

Please tell me they're making a movie and/or reality show out of this book!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Attached at the Hip, by Christine Riccio, is set on a deserted island where the characters participate in a reality show like Survivor. While they are originally grouped into twos, they eventually switch partners up as individuals get voted or kicked off the island, and in the end, can choose to win as a team or fight to be an individual winner. Like the TV show Survivor, there are mind and physical challenges that help promote the players to the finals. This is a light read peppered with a little romance.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book of self-discovery, humor, and building friendships.
All set in a Survivor style game show where one is "attached" to a potential love.
I am not a Survivor fan, only watched season 1, so that was not the draw for me. I enjoyed the setting and characters.

Orie is so quirky and reading her inner thoughts had me laugh out loud a few times! She really wants to be in love and start her story without realizing she can live a life before "love". She bonds quickly with Remy - a high school crush. Is he playing the game or is it love? Orie connects with others (like Kennedi) to build alliances. Then she meets Osprey and sparks fly. Orie tries to keep all alliances while focusing on the prize.

The story addresses identity, family relationships, parents as humans (flawed) and more. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you're a reality tv show watcher, this book is going to be for you. Mix some reality tv dating show, with Survivor and some quirky characters finding themselves and you have Attached at the Hip. A little outrageous. A little funny. A little awkward and uncomfortable.

I enjoyed the characters and the way the story was laid out in such a way that gave Orie some major room for growth. From being a young woman trying to figure out her life and love, to going onto a reality tv show and literally learning how to survive, this was all about her transformation.

At the beginning, I just thought Orie was a naive character that didn't know better. But once everyone around her changed the course of her life (boyfriend saying he emotionally cheated, sister saying she needed to do things on her own and her father saying he made some HUGE mistakes), it gave her the opportunity to take life by the horns and alter the direction her life had taken.

And that led her to applying to being on Survivor and being cast on a NEW show that was a spinoff of Survivor, but one where they had the opportunity at making some romantic connections as well as surviving on an island in the middle of nowhere. That was a fun little twist that ended up bringing her to a high school crush that she had more chemistry with in 3 days than she had in 10 years with her boyfriend. Orie began to see what she needed and what she could offer to others in this island game of chess.

I loved seeing Orie adapt and change with each partner she had on the show, but also remaining true to herself. Yes, she was a little naive and totally awkward, but she also brought a lot to the game and to each person she ended up being attached to. One of them would have a weakness and one of them would have a strength that would help them survive in the end. It is most apparent with one attachment in particular, but I'll let you find that one on your own.

Overall, this was a fun book that had characters ranging in ages from 18 to mid 20's but leaned maybe a little more to YA. I found Attached at the Hip to be an entertaining story that still gave us that little bit of sexual tension while allowing the characters to find out who they were and to grow. Like I said before, this one's for the reality tv watchers out there. If you like Bachelor in Paradise AND Survivor (yes, I just named dropped two huge franchises), you are going to enjoy this book. The characters are more awkward, but the story is fun and you still get a villain and an HEA. Bonus!!

Just finished this book a couple hours back, and I must say, it's been a crazy roller-coaster. Like a lot of books that I read, I finished within 24 hours (but many, many sittings). The book's got romance, adventure, drama, and a lot of memorable scenes. I was genuinely impressed by the ideas and execution of some of the scenes. but one of my major complaints with the book is the ending, lack of 'good romance' and the age category labelling. This isn't what I would exactly call a HEA, and the romantic aspect was a big mess in my opinion. The characters are in their early 20s, so I don't understand why it was labelled YA.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC of Attached at the Hip!
This was such a creative premise and I think I enjoyed it more than the other Christine book I’ve read (Again, but Better)!
All that being said, I can’t get passed a lot of the cringey moments. Like why did she want to be called Piccadilly?! I won’t get over that.
This book was enjoyable, but aside from its cool plot premise, I wouldn’t say it stands out among others.

I wanted to like this more than I did. It had all the thing I love. Reality TV, romance, and adventure, but i don't know something about it just wasn't working for me. I expected more and I think I just got my hopes high for what I thought it would be versus what we got. I loved the humor, I loved the challenges. I loved and cringed at the main character and maybe it was those random word vomits that made it less likeable for me

** Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

When we last left our hero, I had sworn off Christine Riccio books entirely. I am a thirty-three year old stay-at-home-mom and though I've been an avid reader my entire life, I am finding it increasingly hard these days to read books from the pov of the young people. I was determined to part ways with Christine after Better Together because it was a very young book and all aging the characters up accomplished was breaking the plot.

I decided to give her another chance. I'm glad that I did. Here's why:

The Pitch: Attached at the Hip is marketed as a rom-com set on a tropical Survivor-esque spin-off. Our main character is tethered to her highschool crush with eight feet of rope and must survive challenges, the elements, and others for a shot at a million dollars.

Promise of the premise achieved. That's exactly what you get. I've never seen Survivor (and still won't, sorry Christine) but I think reality shows/tournaments are great plot devices and I never turn them down. But if anything was lost on me because I haven't seen that show or know the ships that were referenced -- now you know why. But if you're thinking of buying this book and like me you're not familiar with those other things -- just know that the book is still completely understandable/enjoyable with out it. It stands on its own.

What I liked about it: The book is laugh out loud funny. More than once I was cracking up audibly while reading and when I had to explain why to my hubby, he cracked up too.

The book is super quick and fast-paced and she really hit on something with the action sequences. I am terrible at understanding game rules in books. I didn't understand how quidditch worked until the movies. But she explained everything in such a way that I got it and wasn't bogged down with that 'is this going to be on the test?' feeling I sometimes get. I was right there with them and that was such a relief.

The book is twisty. I wasn't expecting a lot of the turns that this took and that was fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat a lot of the time or screeching at the betrayal. It kept me engaged, it kept me on my toes, and it was highly entertaining from start to finish. The twist this time is not magical. We love the progress. I read this over Spring Break, and can confirm that it is the perfect summer vacation book.

What I didn't care for: Remember that book of hers I said made me swear off all future books? Three of those characters came back. It wasn't as awful as I thought it would be but just know that Jamie and Zarar host and produce the show. I could have lived without it. Also Shane is back from Again, But Better and she has Christine's exact career as an author. And wouldn't you know it, our leading lady Orie thinks that these are THE BEST books she's ever read and takes a minute to gush about it. Mmmkay.

I didn't like that one of the contestants was 18. That's a nit pick. I don't know if there are similarly aged people on survivor. What was she doing when the other contestants were rewarded booze? Another nit pick - I think their formal wear magically disappeared at the end. I didn't see them get their original outfits back ...one minute she's macheteing her skirt and the next she's back in macaroni and polka dots.

I wasn't really a fan of the structure of the finale. For it to be a reality dating show, it's weird to me that a couple only has to share the prize if they want to. I know there were three in the final challenge, but I think there should have been a choosing ceremony and then the exile could try and compete for the money alone, and the couple that chose to pair would either win or lose together. And then you know. Share the money. More dramatic. I like chaos.

If I could change anything about the book: We're told that there's going to be a reunion episode that shows us what everyone is doing post show. There was not. We see Orie and her boy. We'll never know what everyone else is up to, and I would have LOVED to.

I like this romcom era that Christine is in, and overall I liked the book much more than I cared about any of the things that brought it down. She's really hitting her stride and I'm here for it.

I had such high hopes for this one. The premise sounded amazing, but it’s a DNF for me. I found Orie extremely annoying and unlikable, which I understand is likely part of the story, that she’ll change. But she kept getting more unlikable. I think I could have muscled my way through the book, but the rough start wasn’t something I’d be able to look past.

Bachelor in Paradise meets Survivor? Didn’t know this was something I was missing in my life, but I am so here for it!

Orie has just gotten a dose of tough love from her older sister/business partner. So, she decides to do something impulsive, and answers a casting call for the upcoming season of Survivor, and to her shock, she gets accepted. Except, right before she officially gets taken to the island, she learns that she has not actually been cast on Survivor, but rather a spin off; Attached at the Hip. Literally tethered to other another person, and who does she happen to be paired with? Her secret high school crush, Remy!

I could not put this book down. Not only was I keen to see what would happen, but also, I would genuinely love watching this show. I also loved that it kept me on my toes, where I thought I knew what was going to happen, and then something would spin the story in a new direction. Kennedi and Osprey were amazing, and I loved how the book gave us romance, friendship, and sisterly love.

Big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC because it was ahhhhhmazing!

This one took me awhile to get through, it didn't really hold my attention. I liked the reality TV vibe of the story, but the characters were very tough to connect with. I really didn't care for any of them and the MC was so over the top immature that it did not make me want to keep reading. I know it was likely meant to share her growth, but it was too much. If you are really into shows like Survivor or the Bachelor and don't mind a lack of substance, this one may work for you.

OMG, what a fun book! I had such good vibes reading this book. I am a huge Survivor fan, and the Survivor-esque aspect was amazing. The descriptions and sound text were spot on. I could feel and hear how Orielle talked and acted around everyone. The subtle scoffs and tsks just added to a real-life feeling of speaking and reacting.
I did enjoy each of the contestants and what their dynamic with Orielle brought to the book. I loved the attached by an 8 foot rope idea as well. What a great way to force people to get to know each other. Ha!
I saw a video of the author, Christine Riccio, and it's completely her personality in this book. She is a light in any dark place for sure. Her energy is described in Orielle's personality.
As a "new adult" genre, I think this will appeal to YA readers, as well as rom-com and survivor fans.
Thanks to #netgalley for an advanced copy. I am so greatful for the opportunity to read this and critique it.

What a fun concept. I must say I would be mad if I thought I was going to be on Survivor and it ended up being a spin off that was romance based, but I loved reading about it! A great female power story. You are enough on your own, but can still find connections and be independent. My only really complaint was the length of the book. I feel like it could have been rounded out a bit quicker. Also what was with all the bird names. Slightly odd.

I LOVED this book. It was sweet and savory as far as the relationships and flow of dialogue. This book is for Survivor mixed with Love Island fans. I was reading this so quickly I had to slow myself down. Reading it felt relaxing and something akin to watching a comfort show. I was giggling and gasping the whole way through I also felt like this book was a "girls girl" it made fun of things but in a relatable way. This book was a pick me up and made me believe in Rom-Coms again. This was purely a fun time . Please read it and find your new favorite book couple or should I say showmance.

Book: Attached at the Hip
Author: Christine Ricco
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I may be a little biased by writing this review, because I have been a follower of Christine’s for a while now and I love her content. I thought that this was one of those books that is just fun. It may not be the best thing out there, but I had a lot of fun with it. I did enjoy it a lot more than Better Together.

This is a game show themed book. Orie has always done things with other people and never by herself. She doesn’t put herself out and takes comfort in knowing what she has. She doesn't want to venture away from that-even though it may be for the best. She decides to do something that she never thought she would do. She decides to try to be on Survivor and much to her surprise, she ends up being casted. Only it turns out that she is not on Survivor, but a new reality show called Attached at the Hip. There are ten cast members and they are all attached at the hip. They have to figure out how to work together and win challenges. The thing is that someone out there is your perfect match and you just have to be able to figure out who that is.

I think what I enjoyed the most about this is that this book has heart. It’s not the best written book out there, but it has heart. Orie is someone who we can all see a little bit of ourselves in. She is the type who thinks she has everything she wants and is fine with that. However, cracks are starting to appear and she is having to come to terms with the fact that what she has may not be what she wants. She finds that she has no joy in her life. It takes a large amount of self-reflecting on her part to see all of this.

By entering the show, Orie has taken herself completely out of her comfort zone. She is being pushed to the limit in ways that she did not think was possible. She’s puttering herself out and allowing herself to see what could be. She is naïve and does get taken advantage of because of this. However, she is the type of character that you cannot help but cheer for. She is us. She takes the dive that so many of us want to take but find ourselves being held back. She actually does it.

One thing that makes this book stand out is that with Better Together, I thought Christine was trying to impress. She listened to what others had been saying and tried to improve on it. This is what authors are supposed to do. However, I felt that the heart of the story was lost in Better Together. That is not the case here. There is plenty of heart and plenty of reasons to support/hate the characters. I found myself pulled into both the story and the world pretty quickly. This is what I want. I want to be pulled in quickly and I want to feel all of the feelings. I want books to have heart and to have a good time. That’s what this is. It’s just a fun read.
Now, I will admit that this is not the best written book out there and that’s okay. Many times, the books that I have the most fun with are not. Books don’t have to have the best writing to pull in readers. There has to be something there for the reader to latch onto and that is what I got here.

This book comes out on May 21, 2024.

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