2.5

This is hard because I enjoyed reading this, for the most part. I was engaged and loooved the reality game aspect of the book--I think it was some of the best parts of the story. I'm a Survivor fan. At the same time, UGH. There was so much that was, on a technical level, bad/cringy about this that it kept pulling me out of the story! Let's dig in. (Warning--some spoilery content in this review. But since this is an arc, I'm going to keep things rather vague.)

The self insertion
I remember self insert characters being a problem in Chrstine's first novel, Again, But Better which I read years ago when it came out. It was awkward the first time, especially since Christine has such a public persona, and it's even more awkward this time. Orie's character felt exactly like Christine. She's obsessed with books and movies, is wacky quirky, does yoga, wants to go abroad to London. What makes it EVEN worse is that Orie is... not likeable. It was hard for me to want to root for her! She wants people to call her... Piccadilly... WTF. Listen, me personally, yes I'm weird, I'm a weirdo, I don't fit in, but girl even this is too much for me.

The pop culture references
It was too much. Wayyyyyyy too much. Orie has Divergent and The Mortal Instruments tattooed on her back and the love interest RECOGNIZES them. Too much for me to process

The love interest(s)
Okay, this was honestly pretty interesting. There are two main guys on the island and we find out one of them is not exactly what he seems. I liked this deception but I think it also felt underdeveloped. At the end, there's nothing to wrap it up. Orie also calls him a "sociopath" multiple times which feels like a bit of an exaggeration, though I think the ideas of manipulation, gaslighting, and victimizing were very interesting and could've been explored a bit more. I feel like we also don't get a full picture of his motive. The other guy is a sweetheart and I liked him for the most part.

All caps
THE ALL CAPS IS CRAZZZYYY OVERBOARD. Got me jumping in bed. BOO
(I remember hearing in a video that Christine loves all caps despite it being untraditional in publishing. I honestly don't mind them used sparingly, at all, but they were on almost every page! It reduces the impact if you're just going to capitalize everything. Italics can have a similar effect.)

Fan fiction
I can't get over that this is essentially Survivor fan fiction. I mean, I'm down, I love Survivor, and this was a fun concept. But also, what makes this different from AO3 material?! Definitely agree with some other reviewers that the name "Survivor" just needs to be... removed.

Ok. The tribe has spoken.

Such a cute story!! Very YA! The MC was relatable in some ways which made the story a a little more enjoyable for me! Recommend as a summer time read for sure! Enjoyed this book! Great read!!

This was a cute young adult novel. I wish we could have had a little more character development so I could connect more with the MC. But overall super cute!

4/5 ⭐️

As a young teen I watched Christine Riccio religiously on booktube! It’s amazing to see her go from reader to writer and it’s even crazier for me to go from watching her videos to reading her works.

Attached at the hip is the perfect spring/summer/warm weather read. It’s a romcom in the best way. This book also has a great representation of learning to find, believe and trust in yourself.

If you have a beach trip planned soon pack this one to take! It’s the perfect “beach day read”

Its Survivor meets The Bachelor.

This is one of the best romcoms I have read in a while. It's Crack like how reality-based shows are. It had all the survivor vibes and structure with the drama and messy emotional tension of The Bachelor. I was so invested in who was going to win and who was in an alliance and all the bonds that formed.

Orie's inner monologue could be over dramatic and childish but after a couple chapters I didn't mind. I love how corky and ood she is. She's funny and clever in her comebacks. Her character ARC is authentic and I was able to relate to it.

I'll keep my mouth shut about the MMC but he's so loveable and real. And their banter is fire. A definite must read.

5/5 ⭐️
0/5 🌶️

I went into this book fairly blind. I knew that it was a young adult contemporary with a mix of Survivor and Bachelor in Paradise. I love both of these shows, and immediately lost myself in this story.

The main character, Orie, had a lot of unexpected character depth. I liked seeing her interactions with the other characters and liked how the time spent with each deepened the plot and individual character development.

I loved the twist about halfway into the book, and I wasn’t able to put it down after this point. I read this entire book in a 24 hour period, and I loved every single page of it.

I enjoyed how this book was young adult but the characters were older than the typical YA cast. It was nice to see characters have chemistry and passion without the book containing any open or closed-door spicy scenes.

My favorite quote from this book is “Isn’t that piece of advice kind of sexist in itself? Because women tend to look for romance, and dudes tend to be afraid of it for years, so we should pretend to be uncaring and aloof?”

This was my first book written by Riccio, and it definitely will not be my last. I can’t wait until Attached at the Hip is available because it is begging to be a part of my physical library. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy, I loved it!

Thank you for the e-arc
This book is like survivor but teetering on the YA/NA line, similar to Check And Mate. Oh yeah and some silly goofy romance. I didn't like this book very much because the main character was a quirky girl, the stereotypical not like the other girls.

this book was SOOOO cute!!,,! 4/5 ✰

this book follows Orie, who on a wim applies to be a contestant on her favourite show, ˗ˏˋSurvivor´ˎ˗ but with a twist! this was such an interesting concept and was so enjoyable to read. The plot was soooo fun and i’ve always imagined what it would be like being on shows like this and this book did a great job at making you feel invested! ˙✧˖°

Orie gets paired with her old highschool crush and we get to see them explore their relationship. Orie is such a delight to follow throughout this book. She is written so well and her fears, life-goals and feelings are so understandable and you can feel her emotions though the pages. She is our everyday classic book and moving loving girl and this book was FULL of book and movie references (orie having a divergent tattoo and loving percy jackson was so me coded). Watching her navigate through the show and learn to live her life was a delight to read. ALSO the twists had me going CRAZYYYY I couldn't make up my mind on who I should believe or trust, making me really feel as if I was on my own survivor/bachelor show ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

➳ The friendships Orie builds through this book are so refreshing and heartwarming. (spoiler but i love how they all supported her at the end) OSPREY had my whole heart and definitely quickly became my favourite character ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ they way they bonded was so genuine and made me SO happy for her. The love you can feel through the friendships and relationships is so beautiful and quickly makes you feel connected with the characters. definitely pick this book up as soon as it comes out!!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!!!

While it took me a few chapters to warm up to Orie as a character, the more I read the more I fell in love with her! Ive personally never watched Survivor but I may have to start if it’s half as intriguing as Attached at the Hip. Even though she couldn’t hear me, I caught myself yelling to Orie “don’t trust that man” whenever I was reading her confessionals. It is always so much fun when a book elicits an out loud reaction from me.

I also adored the inclusion of LGBT folks on the island, something the dating reality TV scene rarely ever does.

(I docked a half star for some spelling errors which I found rather distracting while reading. Due to this I have rated the book 4 stars here)

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

What a delightful read!! I had the best time reading this book! this was such a fun and entertaining read and I enjoyed it immensely! I definitely recommend this if you are up for a great read!You won't be disappointed! 5 stars!!

This is the first book I’ve read by Christine Riccio, but I’ve followed her on social media for awhile now and will be picking up another of her books shortly to read. This book was a quick, humorous read.

As someone who loves reality tv, I loved the premise of this book. Orie the main character was easy to connect with, although I do agree with other readers that at times she says random things that can be annoying. I still enjoyed the book and the back and forth between her and her high school crush, Remy. I would compare this to a funny Survivor-ish read with the highlight grind the confessional portions when we get to hear what other characters in the book are thinking while on the reality show.

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

I wasn't sure if this book was going to be for me but I actually enjoyed it. HAE at the end but it was a great story although the main character made me a little crazy. I'm glad she finally started to take control of her life but it would have been better if she had started a little sooner. I enjoyed the story and it was a nice read. Haven't read the author before but it was realistic and entertaining.

I don't watch (and never have) reality tv shows of any sort, but let me tell you, this book kind of made me think I should start? I was SO sucked in and didn't want to put it down! What a fun premise for a book, and it was very well executed. I don't want to say too much about the ending, but Riccio really made me care about the characters and I was super bummed with one character's arc (and I'm still not entirely sure I understand the motivation/why behind that character's actions, tbh). This was a fun read-- add it to your summer TBR.

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 really love the aspect of this novel! When reading this book it feels like watching a Reality Show. This type of show that the author created was so fun to read. I really related to the FMC since the start bc I hate being alone too and when I started reading books, it gave me the confidence to go out and make friends and hopefully love like she did.

Survivor x bachelor

Holy craaaap this book was amazing. I'm not a huge fan of the bachelor but I like survivor and I couldn't book this book down. Devoured this book! Each scene was perfect and I felt like I was living in Fiji with them. Can't really go into the plot without spoilers so I'll just say this book had twists I was not expecting!

So good!!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

As a Survivor super fan, this book was so entertaining! Although the main character initially annoyed me, I was soon won over by Orrie and the other characters. I read this book in one sitting (with only a break for a meal) and was laughing and smiling the whole way through. It was the perfect antidote to my Survivor withdrawal due to the show being between seasons at the moment and I’m so glad I picked up this book!
Final rating: 3.5 stars, rounded to 4

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of "Attached at the Hip" by Christine Riccio.

"Attached at the Hip" follows the journey of Orie Lennox, who finds herself grappling with the uncertainty of her future. In a twist of fate, she becomes a contestant on a Survivor-style reality show with a romantic twist, aptly named Attached at the Hip. Tasked with navigating challenges not only for a shot at a million-dollar prize but also for potential love and friendship, Orie embarks on a whirlwind adventure.

The premise of the book is undeniably captivating, blending elements of Survivor with the romance and drama reminiscent of The Bachelor. Riccio's narrative unfolds with humor and a lighthearted tone, infusing the story with a sense of fun and excitement.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the overall concept and tone of the book, I found the first half to be somewhat lackluster. The pacing felt slow, and the plot took time to gain momentum. Nevertheless, around the halfway mark, the story picked up pace, becoming more engaging and dynamic.

Despite its initial shortcomings, "Attached at the Hip" proved to be a quick and enjoyable read. Riccio's comedic flair and imaginative storytelling kept me entertained throughout, ultimately leaving me with a sense of satisfaction upon finishing the book. Overall, it's a delightful blend of adventure, romance, and humor that is sure to appeal to fans of reality television and lighthearted fiction alike.

Inhaled this book. Absolutely loved it. I'm a sucker for contemporary romances, and I've really enjoyed the author's other books. Though, this one might be my favorite. Loved the setting and the characters and definitely didn't see that reveal coming.

This was a super fun quick read that had me laughing pretty much the whole time.

It was witty, charming, inspiring, adorable and had a cute romance side plot. Overall it felt more to me like watching our FMC grow and come into herself, which was done really well.

I don't have anything negative to say really - the only thing MAYBE is that towards the 80% ish mark I felt like maybe it got a little lost - like what genre is this? However, within that timeframe (no spoilers) so much happened mentally for Orie and I loved to see that.

I'll gladly read anything out by Christine Riccio after this - if for no other reason than it will brighten my day and make me laugh. I genuinely mean it when I say no book has ever made me outwardly laugh - not just a smile or giggle or snort - genuinely laugh, and that's worth its weight in gold.

Thank you for letting me review this, it was a true pleasure.