3.75 stars. I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Brittany Pressley. The narration was light and fun.

I enjoyed this audiobook that was based on the premise of a young woman who is on a reality show (Survivor type) branch off that is trying to pair people into couples. I had fun with the basis of the story. Right from the beginning, I went into it as a light and fairly ridiculous read. If you go into it and are expecting to have everything fall into line, you will be disappointed. The sexuality of some of the characters isn't always clear, and some of the situations aren't fully developed. However, I just let it all go and just embraced the absurdity of what is similar to reality TV.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I absolutely DEVOURED Attached at the Hip. We follow Orie as she enters a season of Survivor, with a new twist of being romantically and platonically compatible with fellow castmates. I grew up watching The Challenge on MTV, and I had so much fun listening to the different challenges and hardships Orie faced throughout the show. Full of interesting characters, witty banter, and twists, Attached at the Hip is entertaining from start to finish. Brittany Pressley is a fantastic narrator, and I highly enjoyed her performance.

Perfect for fans of reality tv shows like Survivor, Big Brother, and the Challenge.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you, Macmillan, for the audiobook copy!*

Attached at the Hip is a fun rom-com that focuses on a spin-off show of Survivor that makes it a romantic connection show. Orie, the MC, has had a bit of a life crisis after her sister leads her to a realization she heavily relies on others to make decisions in her life. Orie gets chosen to be on the romantic Survivor spin-off show, and is confronted with a missed love connection from her past. But maybe things aren't as they seem, as people will do anything to make themselves likable on a reality show.

I went into this story hoping it would be light and fun, especially with the game show premise. Unlike some other rom-coms I have read recently, this one reads more on a YA level even though the characters are a bit older than in most YA stories. The only intimacy is kissing and light touching. Which was not a problem for me, especially with Orie's past with relationships. I felt like the pacing was done well and there was just enough focus on the game show itself and the behind the scenes of the characters as they played.

I really liked how nerdy but also smart Orie's character was, and buckle up for a lot of pop culture references! I felt like these were appropriate in the story because of Orie's personality, which she says many times she loves books and movies and finding others that connect with her in this way. I also liked having a main character in a rom-com who was a little older but not very experienced with love and relationships since she was in the same one since she was 13. I feel like a lot of the time in rom-coms, the MCs always have been in multiples of relationships, and that isn't the case for every reader.

Since I went into this with the expectation of it being fun, light, and fluffy, I feel like that helped with my star rating. Was it eye-opening and life changing? No. But was it engaging, and I had a fun time listening? Absolutely!

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys light, no smut rom-coms and a liking for reality tv.

Absolutely loved this book from Riccio! Orie is at a standstill when her sister Lark tells her she needs to be less attached and more into her own self identity. Her identity as of late has been pinned to her sister sister social media account that she has with Lark, while being in a relationship with someone she's not entirely sure she likes or feels attraction to! In a fit, Orie signs up for one of her favorite tv shows "Survivor" and her tape is such a hit that she gets chosen! Embarking on the journey, she soon realizes that it's not quite 'Survivor' but it has elements of 'Survivor' with the twist that it's actually also a dating competition and she is taking part of the first season! There are a slew of other characters that fit in various reality television tropes including the villain that I swear to I DID NOT see coming from a mile away and my jaw dropped from all of the twists and ends. All I can say is Remy is the worst and finding that Orie does come into her own was SUCH a delight and treat! For a fun, fast-paced, and thrilling rom-com I would definitely recommend this read!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the survivor spinoff. It was funny, cute, dramatic all of the above! This was so much better than I thought it would be. I wanted a bit more but it was still great!

This is a delightfully cute romcom about our main characters finding love on a reality survivor type dating show. It’s full of witty banter! The amount of times I literally laughed out loud or was just smiling and shaking my head like a goof!!! Highly recommend and love seeing the progress the author has shown in her writing and story telling. Highly recommend the audio of this, it was so fun!

I know I talk about book blurbs a lot in my reviews, but I have a reader confession: Once I read a book, I don’t think about the blurb again until I’m done with it. So it was a huge surprise for me that the main character, Orie, is cast in a romantic version of a reality TV show in ATTACHED AT THE HIP by Christine Riccio, even though it was right there on the back cover. But it was such a good surprise!

ATTACHED AT THE HIP is described as a romantic adventure that is Survivor meets The Bachelor, and I have to say that I agree. From the beginning, I found myself giggling and enjoying every second of the book. It seems like Riccio had so much fun writing this book and including all her favorite things to make an epic story.

I’ve come to realize that I really like books that are deemed “romantic adventure.” I’ve only read a few, but I want this genre to be the next big thing. Even though Orie and the other contestants were on a reality TV show, it was so neat to see them “survive.” I think I like this genre because I’m cozy in bed reading it, lol.

And Orie’s mind!?!? I love seeing someone as obsessed about something as I get and who overthinks, too. So, I felt right at home in her head. She’s a different character, but I really liked her.

Reading Orie was fun, but listening to Orie was 1000x times better! Brittany Pressley brought her to life perfectly. Then again, Presley is an exceptional narrator on my favorites list. I can’t think of anyone who would better narrate ATTACHED AT THE HIP to get the cadence, excitement, and feelings to that level of perfection.

This book has been one of my favorites of the year! It will be a reread for me in the future. If you are a romantic adventure fan like me, I definitely recommend ATTACHED AT THE HIP.

Thanks, Macmillian Audio, for the alc!

It took me a little to get into this because of the main character. She was absolutely insufferable, but that’s how she’s meant to be portrayed. Some parts felt really rushed and other parts felt really strung out. Overall, a good coming to age story with some reality tv drama mixed in.

Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio was a fun and flirty romance with Survivor mixed with Bachelor vibes. Brittany Pressley narrated this audiobook, and she was perfect as Orie. She did a fantastic job elevating Orie’s story. The story itself has me a little confused because I didn’t see the almost love triangle coming and the plot moved a little to slow for me. Plus, it was a bittersweet HEA that wasn’t 100 percent believable. The audiobook itself was enjoyable because the narration was great.

Attached at the Hip is described as a crossover between Survivor and The Bachelor. This is exactly what you’ll get with the story. Orie, the FMC, is chosen to compete on a romantic version of a survivor reality show where the contestants are chosen specifically to be connections for the other plays whether romantically or as friends. I absolutely loved the challenges, puzzles, alliances, and getting to know you portions of the book. Really, that’s rhetorical sole reason I enjoyed it as much as I did. I struggled with the romantic pairings. They were so over the top that it felt like the trash TV shows that are bad, you know they’re bad, but you can’t stop watching. Also, I’m a little bitter because I was all in on the all girl alliance that quickly dissolved. I read this via audiobook, and I felt like the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a solid job of conveying the emotions and internal struggles Orie dealt with. Given the reality TV show tie in, I feel like this is a book best experienced via audiobook. It helps dial into the confessionals and overall vibe of the book. If you like reality TV shows with puzzles, competitions, and just general quirkiness, this book will likely be perfect for you.

Life seems to be crumbling around Ori. Her boyfriend isn’t the love of her life. Her sister wants her to pull her weight or step down as her Acro-yoga partner. Her dad made some big mistakes and her parent’s business isn’t running. One email may have just set in motion the chance to take her life in her own hands and change everything.

Ori applies for a season of survivor that is being cast locally. She gets a call. Then is signed onto the show. Upon arrival after her quarantine she finds during an interview that the show isn’t survivor after all… it’s a brand new spinoff that is running its first season. She is taken to a remote part of a beautiful island of Fiji and removes her blindfold to realize that she’s attached to her secret high school crush, Remi, via an 8 ft rope. She needs to compete with 9 other cast-mates to win one million dollars to help her parents. This competition puts these people at odds with their relationships and the cash prize. Can Ori make it to the end of the competition, win the money and find herself along the way? Will she fall for Remi? Will there be another possible love match? Will she be taken advantage of?

Christine Riccio, I freaking loved this.
This was a cozy rom-com that still had me on the edge of my seat.

This was cute. It feels more New Adult than young adult considering the early 20’s ages of the characters. I was a little confused as to why contestants on the island got wine when some of them were under 21, but overall I really enjoyed this read.

𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: romcom
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🚫
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼‍♀️: moderate
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: Survivor, dating shows, no heat

The narration for this was so good. I binge listened and had a great time. It read more like a YA but the characters were all between 18-23ish. There is a touch of romance and flirting and crushes, but no actual spice. That didn't bother me at all. It's more of a funny story than anything.

Some secondhand embarrassment in the earlier chapters. People will either love or hate the FMC for it.

Super original plot. Perfect for readers looking for something light and fun for the summer. This is my first book by this author and I would definitely read more.

Very cute. Silly. Do the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy. #MacAudio2024

I feel like this book delivered on it's promise - Survivor x Bachelorette. If you've enjoyed other reality tv show romance books like One to Watch, Here for the Wrong Reasons, or On the Plus Side, you should read the preview of this.

While I found the main character to be cheesy but generally fine, I can see how some folks may not want to hang out with her in their brain for hours. Listen to the audiobook preview or read a few pages - if her narration vibes with you, I think you'll like this!

Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC. I thought listening to this audiobook was really fun, the narration really fit the style of the book.

Attached At The Hip was such a fun read. It was as addicting as reality tv. I was hooked from the start. I love shows like the bachelor and survivor so this was right up my alley. The author did such a great job of bringing everything to life. I truly felt like I was on the set in Fiji.

Was the FMC a little young and annoying at times, yes. Was it filled with drama, also yes. But was it such a fun read that I could get past all of it. She did end up growing on me.

I truly think if you're a fan of reality TV you won't be able to stop reading this one and you'll be highly entertained. It was dramatic, all over and yet that's what we love about reality tv, so it was perfect for me.

🎧 The narration by Brittany Pressley was as usual amazing. She did a great job playing all the characters and putting the emotions in the characters. I truly think she brought the story to life and she made me enjoy the story even more.

✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks & @christinericcio for my gifted ARC, ALC & finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a very fun and fast teen/ya with a very interesting premise. The idea of a Bachelor meets Survivor style reality competition is honestly something that I can see being very popular and I was very interested to see how the lead character grew from the beginning to the end, showing that there is strength in kindness and that there is a difference in codependent behavior and being kind and invested in people. I found myself seriously on the edge of my seat at the end of the book and really, really hated that one character (you'll know who I'm talking about when you read it). I look forward to seeing what this author does next! I would say this is appropriate for teens 14-up, there is some language but nothing too intense.

Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: kissing only
Pub date: 5/21

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my gifted copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.
What starts as a spur-of-the-moment decision to shake up her life lands Orie in the midst of a reality show like no other: an island adventure filled with challenges, romance, and a hefty dose of unexpected twists. This is a Survivor meets The Bachelor style show with each contestant guaranteed to meet at least one person who is a perfect match for them. All Orie has to do is create some alliances and win everyone’s hearts to get the big prize. Should be easy, right?

This book was unexpectedly hilarious and amazing on so many fronts. Orie navigates the terrain of the island and her own emotions with gusto, hoping to win viewer’s hearts by acting the way she thinks they want her to. She leaps off the page with her relatable quirks and endearing personality. From her old high school crush to newfound friendships, every relationship she forms feels authentic and heartfelt, and I just loved her crazy self from the start. Her inner monologue is funny and snarky and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Orie’s journey of self discovery is a joy to witness and I loved all of her realizations along the way. From the supportive camaraderie of her fellow contestants to the blossoming romance with her crush, every interaction on the show is infused with warmth and authenticity. I was enthralled from the start and never stopped rooting for Orie and her companions.

Brittany Pressley is one of my favorite narrators and she really brought Orie to life. I’m not sure if I would have liked the story as much without her incredible narration.

With its charming blend of humor, heart, and a hint of romance, this is a must-read for reality tv fans or anyone craving a feel-good escape.

Read if you like:
*N/A rom-coms
*single POV
*forced proximity
*Survivor
*reality TV

This book has everything I love: banter, fake dating, reality television, and a love for the book and film industry. This is definitely my favorite Christine Riccio novel. There were only two things I didn’t like. 1. That the cover didn’t match the character description fully, and 2. That the author self-inserted herself in some areas.

Thank you St Martin's/Wednesday books and MacMillan audio for review copies of Attached at the Hip. This is a fun YA book, I loved the Survivor reality show focus and Orie was an fun character, I appreciated her character growth and the theme on having her figure out who she is independent of her family, her high school boyfriend, and perhaps free even from how she sees herself/how others tell her she is. Orie grows a lot, moving away from being someone's something (girlfriend, influencer partner) into being herself and that was what sold me. I loved the setting that allowed her to explore new friendships, people who just new her without knowing her history, and the chance for a romance that was focused on celebrating her emerging sense of self.
A greatYA book that taps into what happens when you take a chance on believing you are strong and capable.

My one note for the audiobook, I didn't love this on audiobook, I think it is likely a me thing as I am a big overall fan of the voice actor Brittany Pressley. I think it was simply the dialogue as written was a little grating for me and listening to it, versus reading it, just didn't work. That's not a comment on the genuinely great performance offered and more a statement that listening to a YA voice was perhaps just not what I wanted to hear. I say this in case others are pondering book vs audio, I preferred the book and I am usually a big audiobook fan!

I thought this was a super cute and entertaining audiobook! I loved it! I found myself chuckling to myself and smiling throughout the whole thing. I absolutely love how it ended with the love triangle! The only reason I would rate it 4.5 stars and not 5 is, I am a big Bachelor fan, more than Survivor, so I wanted more romance and Bachelor elements. Overall still such a great listen which I highly recommend. I did a review post for this and it is linked below.