This was a delightful surprise! I've only ever read the debut novel from this author and whereas it was good and the writing showed a ton of potential for a new author I was not super inclined to read her other releases. That being said I went into this book with somewhat mid expectations and man.. they were blown out of the water! I am a huge fan of survivor and adore the premise of this story. It truly reflected the passions of the author and both leads were unique and had me wanting to know everything about them. All in all it was a great light read that hit on a lot of nostalgic notes.

I have never seen Survivor, But I loved this!!! I was in love with the characters. Osprey and Kennedi were wonderful and I loved Lark!!! Such a fun book.

What a fun rom-com. Orie signs up for the Survivor show and once chosen finds out the producers are doing a romance based social experiment to test relationships. On the island she finds Remy, whom she used to have a crush on, is there from her old high school. There are ten contestants altogether. In the beginning, Remy and Orie are tied together for 72 hours and have to find shelter and food. They talk and find they both would like to win the million dollar prize to help their families. Remy kisses Orie and says he could help her in Hollywood where he works supposedly. As the days pass, contestants are eliminated, Orie is teamed up with Osprey, and Orie overhears some disturbing news from the producers. Who ends up winning? What unsettling news does Orie find out?

Let me tell you right now: I can feel it in my bones that this is a Top 5 of 2024 for me. Attached at the Hip is a fresh, creative story that still has a hold on me and I can’t quite bring myself to start a new book because I’m still thinking about how much I enjoyed this one!

Attached at the Hip follows Orie, a young twenties adult, who applies to be a contestant on Survivor after her sister tells Orie that she is co-dependent. Orie’s submission is accepted and what ensues is the tale of a girl connecting with herself and others in this delightful read!

This is a must read from me! There are swoony moments, funny moments, heart wrenching moments, moments of bravery and tenderness. Plus there are a ton of pop culture, movie and book references that I always appreciate. The dialogue is delightful and not once did I skim over any paragraphs… 🤣

Mild language, clean romantic situations. Would recommend for college aged students and my mom. 😂

Thank you @stmartinspress, @Wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe I'm finally done with this book, and unfortunately I mean that in a relieved way. Reading this book was agonizing. I do hope there is at least two more rounds of editing before this book is released because the writing definitely took away too much attention from the actual plot of the book. There was just too much of the bad parts that were rubbing me the wrong way that I ended up just skimming most of the book just so I could get it over with, which is kind of sad because there was definitely a lot of potential, especially with the way things unfolded.

First of all, the biggest thing that really bugged me was the fact that the contestants had to spend 72 hours attached to their partners, supposedly secluded from the other pairs of contestants. The emphasis here is 72 hours, not 3 days, there is no room for interpretation of what 72 hours is, BUT the days were not adding up. For example, when Orie is paired with and spend a lot of time with her THIRD partner, it is only DAY 6. If the 72 hour rule were true, then the math wouldn't add up. It also doesn't help that this was emphasized a couple times.

Secondly, there were sooooooooooooo many caps locks in this book. I know it's supposed to show that she was screaming but there was an excessive amount of caps locks and I think a mix of actual descriptive words and actions would've been greatly appreciated. Also, what is up with Orie insisting that she be called "Picadally" when:

1. Her name is already extremely unique
2. That name is literally not part of her actual name
3. It served no purpose at all in the story and character, other than provide the chance of her male counterpart to give her a unique nickname

I've also already finished the entirety of the book and still am so confused about the target audience. The age of the characters and the themes scream teen coming-of-age novel, but the writing felt like it was a 13 year old pretending to be a full grown adult while trying to buying beer.

I think that as a third book, this is definitely could have been so much better and more polished. It would've also been nice to see Christine write a character that was a little further from her own personality and beliefs, instead of a carbon copy of herself (or at the very least her online personality). Unfortunately, this is probably the last time I will be reading another one of her books, unless something really intrigues me.

Disclaimer: I have followed Christine for a while from her BookTube days and have read 'Again, But Better', and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I like this book, but it’s definitely more YA. Orie felt kind of awkward and forced for the first half, but I think it’s because of the age range this novel is for. I think it’s a cute romance story, very fun. I like the adventure aspect, the story of survivor/bachelor! I enjoyed Ories growth by the end! The second half went by a lot faster

I really enjoyed this one, it's Christine Riccio at her best! The Bachelor + Survivor setting was unique (especially for a young adult romance novel) as it allowed the plot to progress in new and exciting ways. Orie is a great protagonist whose journey, both emotionally and through the game, felt complete and satisfying. An unexpectedly sweet romance that was developed well and ended in a great place, as well as an interesting familial dynamic.

If you haven't read any of Riccio's books, she has a sense of humor that is particularly reliant on pop culture references and millennial-style jokes. While it can (and does) occasionally cross the line into cringe, I found the humor to mostly work in this. It is definitely better executed than in her prior novels.

Riccio writes with such an unbelievably earnest voice that is impossible to not root for all of the characters. She brings relationships to life in a way that feels so carefully constructed and satisfying. If you are an reader struggling to find a young adult novel with an older protagonist, look no further. There's a lot to like in this.

One thing I found weird while reading this was the way chapters would end. I'm not sure if this was just a consequence of the early edition I read, but many chapters would end very suddenly, sometimes even in the middle of conversations. It made the reading experience a bit disjointed and undercut several emotional moments.

I read this book through NetGalley.

I felt like I couldn't really get into this book since I never watched a single episode of Survivor. I thought the overall story was OK, but I just could've really get into the whole story.

As a fan of reality TV, the premise of this book was enticing. The execution, however, fell flat in my opinion. Going in expecting a romance - while the romantic elements were a part of the story, they took a back burner to our FMC Orie finding herself. As a character, Orie annoyed me to no end. Her immaturity really pushed the fact that this is a YA novel. Also, her humor was so over-the-top that I found very little of it actually funny and mostly forced. The game show elements were cute and one of my favorite aspects of the book. Overall, it was an OK read but just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley & SMP/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

When her sister calls out her co-dependence and lack of drive, Orie signs them up to compete on "Survivor". She does it originally to prove a point but come on, it's their favorite reality show and one that they've been training for all their lives. What could go wrong? However, when Orie gets cast on a dating spin-off version of the show just days before her entire world turns upside down, she thinks she might be in over her head. Will her years of super-fandom and fire-starting lessons pay off? Will she actually fall for someone? And more importantly, can she prove to herself that she can stand on her own and face whatever the game (and the other players) will throw at her?

This was a fun read, especially as a fan of Survivor myself! I loved the inserts of the confessionals, especially when it provided insight about the other players. Orie was an endearing protagonist, if painfully and somewhat unbelievably awkward at points. While I liked her chemistry with some characters more than others, I really enjoyed the dynamic between she and her sister. Their conflict was a bit disjointed at times but overall, I found myself smiling while reading their scenes together.

Negatives for me were that it started a little slow. Once we got into the "game", I got much more into the story but I could have done with a little less set up. The modern-day pop culture references are EVERYWHERE so if that bothers you, this might not be your book. Honestly I think in a couple years, they won't even feel relevant but hey, that's part of the charm of reading a book in the moment it's released.

Overall, this was a fun read and nice change of pace from your typical rom-com novel.

Shout-out to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I absolutely adore this book! I really love the Survivor elements that were placed in this story. I think they were really well done and helped keep the pace of the story. Orie's journey throughout is also very well done. I like how she finds confidence in herself and her ability to do things on her own. I think the ending of her story is so well thought out. I also did not mind the love triangle in this because it was really well done. I already knew who I was rooting for and vibing with the moment we met him tbh. Overall, I think this book is fantastic and I'm so glad I got to read an early copy of it!

Orie is stuck in a rut. She is living at home, bored of the only boyfriend she has ever had, working for her sister, and not doing anything truly for HERSELF. On a whim, she applies to survivor (after years of being a super fan).

Much to her surprise, this is basically love island meets survivor in a new show called "Attached at the Hip". They are quite literally, attached at the hip with a string! This is such an ORIGINAL idea and I loved it!!

While reading "Attached at the Hip", I truly felt like I was watching survivor. The author did such a great job at world building and expressing the story (which can be tricky with jam packed action like this).

Orie has quite the surprise when her high school crush, Remy, shows up on the island. I thought this was going one direction, but boy was I wrong! Definitely a plot twist! I loved all the characters she met and how the story ended💕.

This is a fun novel for reality tv lovers AND romantic comedy lovers!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. It was fun and definitely quirky. It took me a bit to get into because Orie was a LOT for a good chunk of the book, and that took some getting used to. If you like reality tv shows like “The Bachelor” or “Survivor,” you should definitely give it a try! There are many pop culture references, and while the romance aspect isn't fully believable (in my opinion), it has a great message about finding yourself.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

okay yeah not much for me, me and orie should never cross paths because one of us wont make it alive and i wouldnt be me

This book is a mix between Survivor and Bachelor in book form. It has lots of cool components and likeable characters. It's fairly entertaining and has for me the HEA, which is a must. That being said, I know why these are shows and not books, because at times it read slow and farcyoo frequently things went exactly as the protagonist needed or wanted them too. Overall solid read and feel good fun. Thanks #netgallry for the ARC copy and great job Christine Riccio.

Cute story of a survivor spin-off with a romantic twist.

Orie is half of a Acroyoga influencer duo with her sister, Lark. Orie is very much a go with the flow people pleaser, afraid to break up with her high school boyfriend of ten years, or make any other independent decisions. After a fight with her sister, she rashly decides to audition for this show. And she’s selected!

Orie is extremely quirky and has some difficulty expressing herself clearly when flustered, which I found to be a bit over the top. Also, the surprises that were uncovered about one of the contestants (and lack of vetting by production) was unrelatable. Otherwise I can see the story and characters having a broad appeal for YA audiences.

Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Christine Riccio for the arc.

*4.25 stars

"But in those moments of despair when you mess up, you need something to interrupt the doom spiral!...Remember that whatever's happened, it's going to teach you something, make you wiser, and you're going to use that new info to build a stronger, happier life."

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving out so many free e-ARCs!

As a Survivor fan, I was so excited to finally read a novel inspired by one of my favorite shows. This was definitely an exciting take on the show, with some unforgettable moments towards the end.

Orie "Piccadilly" Lennox has a fairly simple life. She lives at home with her happily married parents, does AcroYoga influencing with her older sister Lark, and has a steady boyfriend. Everything is fine, until it isn't.
A fight with her sister inspires Orie to apply for their favorite TV show, Survivor (of course). But after arriving in Fiji, Orie discovers that she has actually been cast on a spin-off called Attached at the Hip, a series that sees players connecting, committing, and conquering friendships and romantic relationships as they compete to win a million dollars.
To make things even more interesting, Orie's high school crush, Remi Orlando Lasorsa (what a name) has also been cast on the show as Orie's "missed connection" and potential love interest.
Over the course of the next month, Orie must fight her way through off-the-grid living, difficult immunity challenges, and complicated alliances to win the million dollars and save her family from imploding.

This book was such a pleasant surprise, and ended up being a grower. I had trouble getting into it at first because of Orie being an unlikable main character. She was loud, awkward, and unrealistically quirky. However, the development she had during her time on Attached at the Hip was a joy to witness. Slowly but surely, she came out of her shell and became a fiercely independent and strong competitor. I also found myself relating to her quite a lot. Her reluctance to fight for the things she wanted and reliance on what others' wanted for her was very real. She might be one of my favorite main characters in a while, which says something because of how much I disliked her in the beginning.

When it comes to the actual concept of Attached at the Hip, I found that the pacing was a little off at some parts and some aspects seemed random and rushed (such as the different ways of voting someone out). I wish we'd gotten to see more of how everyone interacted together instead of just in pairs. That said, I loved the story so much. It truly felt like watching a chaotic episode of Survivor, complete with fast-paced challenges, sketchy alliance members, and budding lifelong friendships. I loved Orie's relationships with Kennedi and Osprey, and how she played the game with her heart on her sleeve. The last 100 pages were especially exciting, and are what led to me giving this book a 4.25 star rating instead of 3 like I'd originally planned. Overall, this was a surprisingly enjoyable read with lots to love, even if some elements fell flat.

This romance book is Survivor meets reality dating show, which are two of my favorite things to binge watch! The main character Orie was so lovable and amazing and going through a mid-20s crisis about how her life was going and decided to apply for her favorite show Survivor, and she was picked as a cast member! But to her surprise she’s actually cast on a Survivor spin-off show with a more dating-show twist. This season will have contestants attached to each other with an 8 ft tether around their waists, and the show is called Attached at the Hip.

The plot line is incredible, it definitely gave off true Survivor elements that I appreciated as a show superfan. But the romance was also unique and easy to root for. Overall, this was an incredible book, so easy to read that I flew through it in a few days, with great characters and plotlines. I highly, highly recommend!

I was very excited for Attached at the Hip because I LOVE Survivor. This book is about a girl who signs up for Survivor but ends up being cast in a spin off show where they are literally *attached at the hip*. The writing was very direct and youthful, which makes sense after I found out it’s YA!

I enjoyed the story line, it really does follow Survivor pretty well with a few tweaks. Overall I liked it but it’s not a new favorite.

This does seem like a good book for aspiring young romance readers in my classroom.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (3.5/5)

Attached at the Hip by Christine Ricco is about Orie whose sister has just confronted her with the fact that she can’t do anything alone and is entirely codependent, so Orie decides to prove her wrong and sign up to go on a reality TV show that is loosely based off Survivor, but with a romantic twist bringing in competitors from the contestants past and others that they think they might have a romantic vibe with.

Okay, so the immediate beginning of this book hooked me, but then it kind of got a little slow. Also, in the beginning, Orie is INSUFFERABLE. She feels like one of those girls who constantly has to mention how tiny she is and tries to hard to be quirky. But once she’s in the show for a couple days, she became WAYYYYYYY better and I actually ended up loving her at the end LOL

The pacing was just ok to me, I thought some parts could have been sped up and then felt raced through other parts that I would have liked to see kind of unfold a little more.

There’s a pretty good love triangle here, and I found myself actually being thrown back and forth not knowing who was best or what I should believe, which I thought was really well done!

All in all, a REALLY unique concept that I enjoyed!!