Thank you to net galley and the publisher for this E-ARC

Omg when I received the notification that I was approved for this book I literally could not believe it !! I have been a fan of Christine for years since the book tube era.

I loved this book it was so good and funny , and so entertaining. It had everything I love I’ve been so into reality dating shows and this was giving everything Surviver fake dating I just loved it 5/5

I was excited to read Attached at the Hip as an avid Survivor fan. I thought the concept sounded interesting and the twist of being a dating show added another fun layer to plot. This was a quick read, though some parts seemed to drag on a bit. Orie was a fun main character, sometimes over dramatic, but I would have enjoyed watching her in a reality show. The other characters were interesting and I liked the banter and relationships Orie has with Kenndi and Osprey. The one part I never understood was the whole Piccadilly nickname. It made Orie seem immature, which she really didn’t need help with based on some of her earlier antics. At times the book seemed to drag and then the last fourth of the book was rushed. Overall, this was an easy, lighthearted read and I would probably watch this reality show if it came on TV.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Attached at the Hip" is the first book I've ready by Christine Riccio, but it won't be the last! This book has an original premise with a spellbinding conclusion. The book's title gives a nod to the very thing that causes Orie to be brave enough to accomplish a lifelong dream, while also being the thing that causes her difficulties during the completion of said dream. Orie and her sister run a beloved and popular combined Acroyoga Instagram account, but Orie's sister is ready for more while Orie is content to keep the status quo. Orie hates change, and doesn't want anything to change about her family, her romantic relationship, or her career. However, after some tough love from her sister, Orie decides to go for her lifetime goal: apply for Survivor. She's shocked when, a short time later, she's accepted and on her way (after being dumped by her boyfriend and discovering her dad has a major gambling problem) to complete on Survivor. But she didn't read the contract's fine print well enough and discovers herself on a Survivor spin-off called "Attached at the Hip." Not only does this show include Survivor's usual wilderness living and physical competitions, but you're also physically chained to another player for days at a time. Orie is shocked to find that the first person she's attached to is her high school crush, Remy. They get along great and Orie thinks she's finally found her guy -- but is he too good to be true?

I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I really appreciate the originality of this book's premise, and would actually like to watch a show like this! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! As a fan of survivor, this book was perfect. It had a great twist on it, great details for the challenges ( made me get nervous when they were happening and rooting for my favorite characters to win), and the pacing of the book was great!
I wasn’t very invested in the romance and do feel like this wouldn’t be categorized in the romance section of a bookstore. To be honest, I’m not sure what genre it would go with. It does feel YA but also has elements of New Adult since the main character is trying to figure out what to do after college (which I can totally relate too!!- we need more books like this!!!)

Orie's had enough of doubting herself. She's graduated university, but she's not happy with her life. She needs a change. When she applies to Survivor on a whim, the decision comes back to hit her in the face. When she arrives in Fiji, it's introduced that she's not competing on Survivor, she's competing on a new show Attached at the Hip. A show about building relationships with people, while being eight feet apart at all times. She's even more shocked when it's revealed that she's attached to her high school crush, Remy.
I ended up starting this book when I couldn't sleep last night, and binged the entire thing in one sitting. I don't think I was able to breathe throughout the entire book, and I don't think I've ever been more thankful that I picked this book up on a whim. The twists, the turns, the characters, the whirlwind of literally everything, just omg. I don't know what else to really say. I don't know if writing this review without having the chance to think first was smart or genius, but this is where I'm at. This book was absolutely amazing, and I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time. Christine is already on my auto-buy author list, but I think she's just drop-kicked her way to the top spot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book.

This book was amazing! I love the setting and the characters! I would definitely recommend this book to another romance lover.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2.4 rounded down to 2/5.

Christine Riccio's "Attached at the Hip" gives us a fresh and innovative concept, blending elements of Survivor with a romantic twist, but falls short of delivering a consistently engaging narrative. The story follows Orie Lennox, a recent graduate navigating the unexpected twists in her love life, career, and relationships with her family.

The novel begins on an intriguing note as Orie impulsively applies for a reality show set on a remote island, promising a million-dollar prize. However, what she didn't anticipate was being thrust into a romantic edition of the show, where she encounters her high school crush, Remy, among other contestants. As the story unfolds, the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of alliances, challenges, and budding relationships in the untamed wilderness.

One commendable aspect of Riccio's writing is her ability to build tension effectively. The challenges faced by the contestants, combined with the unpredictable nature of the romantic elements, keep the narrative engaging and fast-paced. The introduction of intriguing side characters, notably Kennedi, adds depth to the storyline and contributes to the overall realism of the competition.

However, the novel struggles to establish its genre identity, often feeling like a blend of Survivor fanfiction with romantic elements, trying to decide whether it's New Adult, Adult, or YA. The constant references to the Survivor TV show can be distracting, pulling readers out of the story rather than enhancing the experience. The chapter names, while attempting to be clever, sometimes give away spoilers, diminishing the element of surprise.

Inconsistencies in the level of detail provided in different chapters create a disjointed reading experience. Some scenes are vividly imagined, while others lack the descriptive elements necessary for readers to fully immerse themselves in the story. The first-person POV, although attempting to convey Orie's perspective, lacks emotional depth, making it challenging for readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

The protagonist, Orie, is a polarizing character. While some readers may find her quirks endearing, others might find her constant shouting, peculiar nickname preferences, and use of shouting in all caps off-putting.

Additionally, the predictable ending, where Orie emerges victorious, adds a touch of cliché to the overall narrative. The lack of emotional investment in the characters makes the resolution feel less impactful than it could have been.

In conclusion, "Attached at the Hip" by Christine Riccio is a mixed bag of innovative ideas, engaging moments, and some notable drawbacks. While the novel brings a fun and new concept to the table, it struggles to find its footing in terms of genre and character development, leaving readers with a story that, despite its highs, fails to deliver a truly immersive experience.

Oh. This was interesting! The plot was definitely something new and exciting but other than that I’m not sure. I was a bit perplexed on the asexual storyline as I thought it would’ve turned out differently and not just used as a simple plot point. The tiny representation is nice but something more was needed. Go big or go home. But other than that it was a decent read.

A quick summary of this book, The story follows Orie, the younger sister in the LennoxSisters AcroYoga duo, dealing with attachment, family issues, and a survior-ish dating experiment. While the survivor themes are okay, the romance unwhelming. Fans of survivor, psychological thrillers, or YA romance might enjoy this book. It does a decent good in exploring complex relationships and mind games, hinting at the author's potential in the mystery/thriller genre.
Thank you Christine Riccio and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

I want to start this by saying that I like Christine! I've watched her videos for a while and really want her to succeed but I've come to the conclusion that her books just aren't for me. I had the same problem with this one as I did with her other books--poor characterization, unrealistic dialogue, and weak grasp of story structure. These characters are adults. A lot of them are in their mid-twenties, yet they still talk and act quite young and make references that haven't been relevant since 2014. The concept of this book was so interesting (I love Survivor!) but unfortunately, the writing fell flat.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for allowing me to read a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All the views and opinions express in this review are purely my own and not affiliated with any brand.

I love Survivor so I might be a bit biased in loving this book. I could picture everything perfectly and thought the spinoff aspect was interesting. Also being a youngest child I could completely identify with the main character and her growth through the book. This book was not only a social experiment about relationships but also about family dynamics. Christine Riccio is also a wizard when it comes to words and there were so many amazing quotes from this book.! I highly recommend to anyone looking for a light read who wants to laugh and be entertained!

I love that this book is so different. I think we are all guilty of taking pleasure in reality TV and this book immediately caught my attention because of that. Overall I thought the book had great pacing and had me wanting to keep going. Some of the inner monologue got a little boring. I did feel like after having the book be so well paced I wanted more for the ending. It did seem like the ending was thrown together quickly without as much thoughtfulness as the rest of the book.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this book. As much as I wanted to enjoy this book I just couldn't get into it

1.5 stars
I was intrigued by this book based on the premise of the book: Survivor meets The Bachelor, but it did not work for me. The characters read much younger than they were and I was just annoyed at their dialogue. I grew tired of hearing their fears of using the bathroom and I was not rooting for them to win or get together at the end. As a huge fan of the reality show Survivor; I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. I would have DNF’d this book had it not been for a review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have not finished other books by this author, but wanted to give her another try. The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I don't think this author will be for me.

I feel it’s important to start this review with the disclaimer that I’ve watched Christine’s YouTube videos for over a decade. I like her content, I’ve met her a couple times and she’s a lovely person, and I am really rooting for her to succeed in her writing.

Unfortunately, this book, like her sophomore novel, missed the mark with me.

SELF-INSERT
Christine is a bit notorious for writing self-insert characters in her novels, and this was another instance. As someone who is familiar with Christine and her content, the parallels between Christine and Orie/Olivia and Lark were pretty easy to identify.

I will say, I appreciate that there were less silly substitutes for swearing in this book, compared to the amount in BETTER TOGETHER. But there was still Christine’s excessive use of caps lock and exclamation points.

When it comes to exclamation points, I always think of a rule I was taught in college—exclamation marks should be used so sparingly, there should only be 1 or 2 per 50,000 words. When they’re used too frequently, they lose their meaning, and it starts to feel like being shouted at, in combination with the all-caps.

“SURVIVOR”?
I was glad the show Orie ended up on was a “spin-off” of Survivor, but I can’t help but wish Survivor wasn’t mentioned in the story at all; I wish it was just Attached at the Hip, and we could pick up on the Survivor connections from there, as other books have done in creating fictional versions of The Bachelor, etc.

Every time Survivor was mentioned, it pulled me out of the story, more so even than the other pop culture references that were made. And as other reviewers have mentioned, I’m not sure how it was allowed to be used, as it’s not in the Creative Commons.

Attached at the Hip, the show, frames itself as being a romantic take on SURVIVOR, and while romance seemed to be a side effect of being physically attached to another human being, I didn’t really feel that romance angle much. Sure, the partners were often provided with dates upon new pairings, but I feel like a couple’s prize (like on Love Island) would’ve made more sense than it still being an individual competition. The two ideas just didn’t quite mesh for me.

ASEXUALITY
I want to preface this section by saying that we don’t know how Christine identifies, and the last thing anyone should do is force an author to come out to “justify” writing the story they did (i.e. what happened to Becky Albertalli).

And while I can say with confidence that Christine did not intentionally misrepresent the ace community, it did unfortunately happen.

Initially, I perked up when I read about Orie’s mind wandering when she would kiss her boyfriend and how she wondered if she felt romantic or sexual attraction at all. Orie and Kennedi’s conversation about asexuality piqued my interest, but I was disappointed to continue the book and find that the discussion began and ended there.

Not only that, but Orie very clearly feels both romantic and sexual attraction toward both Remy and Osprey, which made the discussion feel like a moot point anyway. There’s a HUGE misconception that asexual people aren’t really asexual and “will want to have sex with someone if they meet the right person.” And that’s just not how it works, but I fear it may be a takeaway from this novel.

THE ENDING
While I was obviously happy that Orie won in the end, it all seemed to fall into place a bit too perfectly for me to find it believable.

After Orie wins the million dollars, she’s offered not one but TWO job offers in film/TV production. Though it’s undeniable that opportunities do arise from appearing on a show like this, I found it hard to believe that an Oscar-winning director and even the executive producer of Attached at the Hip were so eager to have Orie join their teams, given that she has no actual experience in the industry.

And while I did ship Orie and Osprey, their ending felt rushed as well. Though I appreciated that they weren’t moving in together, they were still moving across the entire country just to live in the same state and date each other. Not to mention, there was a last-minute conflict with Osprey being unsure if he even wanted to be with Orie, given how she was all-in on Remy for so long, but that was resolved almost immediately.

I love a happy ending in a story, but it means more when that happy ending feels earned rather than just something that’s convenient.

WRITING CRAFT
To Christine’s credit, I stand by that I think she writes tension well—she has across all of her books. The first chapter and the chapters centering around Remy’s secrets and suspicious behavior were my favorites—the tension was palpable, and I flew through those sections, curious to see what would happen next.

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t implore Christine to pick up a writing craft book. She’s repeatedly admitted to not using them, and I know firsthand that they’re not all winners, but I really think her storytelling would benefit from a book like SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL (or SAVE THE CAT YA), which examines different story structures and provides examples from popular books.

Overall, unfortunately, I was disappointed in this book, and a lot of that disappointment stems from how much I loved Christine’s debut, AGAIN BUT BETTER. It was such a strong story, and I know she’s capable of more than what she demonstrated in this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Attached At The Hip by Christina Riccio
DNF at 52%
I want to start off by saying that I was super excited for this book, and so excited when I got approved for the advanced copy. One of my favorite things in the world is reality TV series featuring love as one of the main plot goals. I thought that this in the form of a book would be perfect for me but I guess I was wrong.

The first thing I want to point out is what I’ve found that’s good so far in the book. I think Orie has some really interesting love interests, especially Osprey. His character is super cool and funny and overall, I think Riccio did a really good job of making him likeable in a way that isn’t expected. He also really challenged Orie which she definitely needed. Remy was more of an obvious love interest but he was so flirty that it worked for him. He had good banter which is something I love seeing in characters and they had somewhat of a past which was fun to look back on.

Riccio also did a great job with side characters like Kennedi. Kennedi was so real. She was there to win ( as she should be). And she always said it like it was which I appreciated. I’d love to have seen more of her and Orie’s friendship instead of reading about Orie’s random desire to be called Piccadilly.

Ok so let’s get into what I didn’t enjoy. Orie. Reading this book and being stuck in her brain was such an unpleasant experience. I really wanted to like her, especially because I know what it’s like to feel like you can’t do things alone, but she just really irritated me. I also found it super hard to connect with her, there was no part of her character that allowed for real connection to her audience in my opinion. I felt like I was just watching someone who I didn’t like do things I didn’t like.

In addition to that, something that really irritated me was the fact that we got little to no backstory, then we got thrust into the plot, only to learn about some serious life changing things that happened, leading her to actually accept the position on the TV show. Like he cheated on her??? Ok what? Her dad is an addict??? Like everything just came out of nowhere, which would be fine if it came fully fleshed out but it didn’t.

Finally, the plot for me was just hard to follow. I got bored following what was going on. And I thought that the time she spent alone would be beneficial for her, and maybe it eventually was because like I said I didn’t finish the book, but from what I read, she spent the whole time thinking about her future with Remy and how she could follow her dreams, but only if it’s with him. Like girl isn’t that what we’re trying to avoid?

Overall, I think the idea was so great but the execution just wasn’t it. I hate dnfing books and I wasn’t even sure if I was allowed to dnf an ARC, however, I do not think I can get through anymore of this right now. Maybe if I read it in the future I’ll feel differently but as of right now it is simply a no for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Christine Riccio and St. Martin's Press for the Digital ARC of this book. This book is exactly what I wanted it to be. Its perfect for a summer read and great for older teens and adults, since there is no spice in this one. I really enjoyed this book! will definitely recommend this!

DNF @ 50%. If I read half or more of a book, I rate it.

Thanks to the publisher for the e-arc, but also, why’d you do this to me?

Anyone can tell you that I was excited for this release. Romantic comedy meets Survivor? HELL. YEAH. Sign me up.

It sucks to have your dreams crushed by a five foot something girl named Orie who is essentially <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0U4p7RJ0pt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">this character</a> put to paper.

Orie is RaNdOm. She doesn't talk, she squawks. She blurts. She shouts. She squeaks. She honks. She wears silly polka-dot knee high socks and wants to be called "Piccadilly" on the game show because Orie is not unique enough (I'm not kidding). She has no filter, loves 2014 YA quotes, and loves TO SHOUT IN ALL CAPS <3

Being in the headspace of this character was one of the worst experiences I've ever had while reading a book.

Not to mention the ~*romantic*~ aspects were some of the cringe-iest cringe of all time. We're talking characters making out within 24 hours of meeting (oh, I'm sorry, they actually said 'hi' in a few different languages one time in high school), picking out baby names kinda of insta-love. And the worst part is that I can't tell if this is supposed to be intentionally cringy or not, but I'm not sticking around any more to find out. I endured 200 pages of it, let me live in peace.

Characters aside, one of the biggest issues was the pacing. This is the type of story where we would've benefited from starting on the island, with flashback chapters to before she left scattered throughout. There are some things that happen between Orie and other characters that would've been better fleshed out and discussed this way. Instead we get a few random flashback chapters right at the very beginning, get to the island, and then find out some BIG things happened to her right before leaving, yet we never saw it happen? Huh?? What was the point in the flashback chapters if you're not going to show us the IMPORTANT moments before she left? It made absolutely no sense, and honestly felt lazy. Like the author didn't want to write these important scenes, so f*ck it, I'll just tell the reader they happened and move on.

It's not for fans of Survivor and it's not for modern day romance girlies, unless you're REALLY into the RaWr xD romance you swooned over in high school.

I need to wash out my eyes.

This one was exactly the right book for me. If you don't know, I am obsessed with reality tv and this one was exactly what it was described to be: a mix of survivor and the bachelor (surprisingly two reality shows I rarely watch but have seen). The story follows Orie, a young woman in her early 20s who is a survivor superfan and is cast on a spinoff where players live on an island in Fiji and try to survive and find love or friendship at the same time. It had lots of The Challenge, Big Brother and Love Island vibes as well, three reality shows I am obsessed with. I even felt a tiny bit of Hunger Games vibes (without the death) lol. I loved the character development, the strong female lead and of course the reality tv aspects. This is a MUST read for Reality TV fans, but I think anyone could enjoy this fun story! Attached at the Hip is being published in the new year, but Christine Riccio has other books so I will definitely be checking these out!