Christine Riccio's "Attached at the Hip" is a fun rom-com that manages to charm even those who aren't fans of reality TV, myself included.

The author's wit and humor shine through in every page of this story. The premise alone is probably enough to hook many readers: Orie Lennox, stagnating in her post-college life, impulsively joins a reality show where she's marooned on an island with strangers, all for a shot at a million-dollar prize. But there's a twist—it's a dating show, and Orie's high school crush, Remy, is among the contestants. However, all is not as it initially seems...

I won't give more away, so I'll say thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Orie Lennox has now graduated and she's wondering when her life is supposed to start. She decides to apply for a reality show where she's going to be stranded on an island with a bunch of strangers having to perform challenges to win. She ends up finding herself in a new romantic version of that game where one of the contestants is somebody she already knew.

I was totally on board with a survivor type reality dating show book. I was here for it but this did not quite hit for me. And I feel badly about that. It was not necessarily a problem with the plot for me as it was with the character writing.

Technically speaking, the characters are young, but the way they're written it felt like they weren't in their early twenties and more like they were Middle School children and it got very annoying.

I did like the angle of the reality competition aspect of this book. That part was really fascinating and there was some really good scenes. It's just I was really annoyed by the characters for the majority of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC !

This book was more of a 3.5 but since Goodreads doesn’t do half stars I’m going to push this down to a three. That said, there was a lot I enjoyed about this, contrary to my expectations then I first started it, and it made for a very quick and easy read, which I always love.

The premise of this — a reality show but in book form — was enough for me to be hooked, and I truly was invested in the game plot. As a sucker for reality TV, the competition aspect of this was right up my alley. I really enjoyed reading about the allies, bonds between the contestants, and the games they were playing. I breezed through those chapters so quick, and I also loved the literal “attached at the hip” component of the show; made for some interesting TV, I’m sure.

What I didn’t love about this, was the dialogue at some parts. The main character, Orie, wasn’t my favorite. At times I found her … a little juvenile. For a twenty-three year old, her inner monologue and even things she would say out loud, was very Wattpad teenage protagonist-esque, which was oftentimes slightly off-putting. I wish she was written as a more mature character, and I could’ve enjoyed the romance aspect of this a lot more. Also wasn’t the biggest fan of Osprey so the romantic element just really wasn’t doing it for me.

However, I loved the mind games in this. The ending with the characters I was expecting, but I was still surprised just because of how it went down. Reality gold, honestly.

Overall, Attached at the Hip was a light and easy read, that I believe I finished in about 2-3 hours once I got invested in the story. The characters weren’t my favorite, but the plot made it a refreshing read and I’m glad I decided to request this!

3.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up Attached at the Hip on May 21, 2024.

This book was an absolute roller coaster. Some parts of it I really loved, and others made me want to put the book down and never pick it up again. This oscillation landed me at 3.5 stars, which feels fair given all that happens in the story.

First and foremost, this author's writing style is not for everyone. If you're not a fan of pop culture references and other generally millennial habits in contemporary romance, this is not your book. There were some truly cringe moments (cough AP Chemistry cough) that almost made me DNF. Also, there was no reason for the books to be over 430 pages. NO romance book needs to be that long.

However!! The main character, Orie, really grew on me, as did her companions on this Survivor/Bachelor mashup reality show. The premise of the show and the competition is what truly kept my attention for all 435 pages. I appreciated the romantic twist at the end, and I was happy with the main character's overall arc.

If you're a love triangle girlie and love reality TV shows like Survivor/Bachelor, I think you'll have a lot of fun with this one!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a funny beach read that is definitely targeted at teens.

Romance, reality tv and a beautiful setting... what more could we want?
The FMC definitely had a tendency to be dramatic, but I found that to be really fitting considering the reality tv setting.
I could see this being an actual reality show and it gave me some nostalgia from the survivor days. I thought the romance was done well and there were some reveals and resolutions I wasn't expecting. Overall enjoyable read!

Riccio's Attached at the Hip was a fun, chaotic blend of reality TV shenanigans and a taste of romantic adventures. The book is, in essence, a reflection of finding yourself amidst the unknown. Orie was a great character, she was humorous and heartfelt, and being thrust into a reality tv show with her high school crush created intriguing situations that kept me hooked to the story. I used to watch Survivor as a kid with my parents, and made me feel almost nostalgic. This was incredibly fun to read and thank you for the chance to do so!

I had a fun time reading this book. It kept me entertained through most of the book. There was a slower pace a little over halfway through, but it picked back up pretty quickly. Orie, the main character, was a fun character, but tended to be a bit dramatic and I rolled my eyes at some scenes with her. I still had fun seeing her interact with the other characters on the show.

I have to say, I was surprised at the last 20 percent of the book. I didn’t see some of the resolutions coming and I was pleasantly surprised. Overall, a fun and quick read that kept me hooked wanting to know the ending.

If you cane for the Survivor energy, you came to the right place. It's YA and touches on coming of age issues but still held my attention the way an adult book might. I went to my book club and told them to watch out for this one!

TLDR: loved it, and would recommend to people who love ✨the drama✨ 4.5 ⭐️

This book follows Orie as she navigates the ups and downs of romance… on a reality tv survivor spinoff!

I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was funny and fast paced and it really felt like a reality show. It twisted and turned. It left me flabbergasted on multiple occasions! I started reading it and got to 25% before I could convince myself to stop and go to sleep. I would read this book again and again tbh. I might have a new comfort romance. I loved that Orie is depicted as strong and capable even though she loses all sense when it comes to spiders. I love how she connects with the other characters and becomes quick friends. She’s smart and compassionate and funny. Good fmc

I have one little problem that makes it not 5 stars for me. The ending is a little abrupt. It ends with Orie and her romantic partner getting ready to go on a date. That’s great! I shipped it. I wanted that! But I feel like it would have been more resolved if there was a flash forward. There was a mention of the cast getting back together a month or so later to check up on the romance. I feel like that would make a nice epilogue ending.

I would recommend this book to someone who wants a fun read or someone in a reading slump. I think the fast pace would pull you right out! If you’re the kind of person who is going to take a book way too seriously just because you want to be negative about… that’s not the vibe. Leave. Thank you 🥰

Content summary: 🖍️ there a
Is quite a bit of swearing. There is no sex, but plenty of tension. There is LBGT representation. There is mention of addiction to alcohol and gambling. 🖍️

Orie Lennox decides to apply to be on a reality show where she will be stranded on an island playing human chess for a chance to win $1 million. Instead, she ends up on an experimental, romantic addition of the show. She is surprised to find her old high school crush Remy is part of the cast.

I was excited to get this ARC as I’m a survivor fan, but I really had a hard time with this one. There were way too many pop culture references, and they all caps drove me crazy. The main character Ori was very unlikable. She was immature, rude, and annoying. The writing style just seem to be missing something for me. I cannot recommend this read.

When you read a description like Survivor meets The Bachelor, who wouldn’t want to read this? Attached at the Hip is my first read by Christine Riccio but it will not be my last. This is a great love story with strong female characters. Orie Lennox may be one of my most favorite characters ever! I seriously laughed out loud reading this book and read it in a day. Go get this book!!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Wednesday Books for the ARC copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC.

This book is everything I wanted in a romance novel. I laughed out loud, I squealed with delight, I swooned, and I got mad. "Attached at the Hip" is a Survivor-themed romcom that you need in your life RIGHT NOW!

It's been a long time since I related so much to a character in a book, and Orie Lennox has now topped my list. I don't know how Christine Riccio did it, but she created a character that:

1. loves book quotes as much as any bookstagirlie I've encountered,
2. is unnaturally scared of spiders (as someone who once signed up for a 24/7 pest control plan, I get it), and
3. is a Survivor superfan

Plus, the love story is so dang cute. We get Survivor-like games with a Love is Blind twist and go on a wild ride as Orie figures out who the heck she wants to be.

The pace was perfect. There was never a dull moment and I felt like I was reading the script of an actual Survivor show mixed in with a love story. I loved every second and even enjoyed some of the twists Riccio threw in there.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, yes, yes! I couldn't put this one down and I loved how we had some strong female characters. Plus, we got some romantic drama but no third act breakup scene. It was perfection and I am crossing my fingers that somehow we get enough book featuring Orie.

Survivor....but make it a dating show? Orie Lennox is a lifelong Survivor fan. She has graduated and doesn't know what to do with her life. So she applies for the show...not knowing it is a romantic version of the show. Haha! Will she make a new best friend or find a life partner?
Tune in to find out!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.

An irresistible romantic adventure that combines the thrill of Survivor with the drama of the bachelor. Who knew? This was a cleverly crafted plot with romance and humor.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I’m giving this book three stars. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t terrible. I was hoping for more, I really liked the idea of this book and I thought the plot was well executed but not the characters. They felt very immature and they weren’t very likable which made it extremely hard to read.

If you enjoy reality TV you will really like this one. It's just like the premise says: Survivor meets The Bachelor. It was heavier on the Survivor vibes which I liked because I'm more into adventure and travel. There is some romance, but it's not overly romantic. I wouldn't recommend going into it expecting a happy ever after Prince Charming story. If you like the show Survivor then you will like this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a reader and a reality TV lover, so when I saw that this book advertised as Survivor meets The Bachelor, I figured I'd be the perfect reviewer of the Arc. The stunning cover art furthered my interest in reading Christine Riccio's latest work. After finishing the book, I'm sad to say that it wasn't quite what I'd hoped for.

The story begins with Orie feeling stuck in her current life. Her long term relationship is falling flat, her business relationship with her sister is strained, and her family life is in shambles. Good thing for Survivor fanatic Orie that the opportunity to be on Survivor lands in her lap. What she doesn't know until she actually gets to the show is that this particular season has a romantic twist, and her high school crush Remy is also a contestant.

Orie is quirky, and I actually really liked that about her. But her cast of supporting characters fell flat, and one their situations was downright disturbing to me. The two men Orie's love triangle were okay, but I felt their were aspects of their chemistry with Orie that lacked with each of them. My main issue with the cast, though, is that one of the primary contestants is an 18 year old that is still technically in high school. I know that 18 is technically an adult, but putting her on a dating show (and in a romantic relationship) with cast members who had already graduated college just felt icky to me. Maybe it's because my forty-something educator self isn't quite the right demographic for what I would consider this New Adult book, but I couldn't get past it or the lack of chemistry between most of the contestants. That being said, this was a quick read, and I did enjoy many of the aspects of the reality TV angle of the story. I just wish I had been able to connect with the characters and their relationships far more than I did.

*A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of Attached at the Hip in exchange for an honest review*

The writing felt college-age, not really teen, which makes sense as the MC just graduated. Likely more appropriate for upper-level grades. I’d guess three stars for the target, 4 for the right readers. I stopped after chapter 1.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an early copy of this book!

I've watched Christine off-and-on on Booktube for quite some years, and I was excited to finally read one of her works. I was actually quite impressed with how much personality and humor comes through in her writing. I think this is a perfect fun summer read to pick on the beach, especially if you're a fan of Survivor or reality TV, and love to root for your favorite couple.

I will say, I'm more of a historical romance fan, so this very contemporary setting and style of writing wasn't really for me. It was a fun one-time read, but I don't think I would pick it up again. However, if you're a fan of contemporary romance, I think this would be much more up your alley. There's also a center on family dynamics with Orie and her sister that I probably enjoyed the most. A quick warning - this book contains pop culture references. So if that's not your style, maybe pick up something else.

Overall, not for a historical fantasy lover like myself, but if you enjoy quirky romcoms and reality tv, give this a try!