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.

Read if you like:
🏝️ Tropical Vibes
🌊 Survivor
💋 Dating Shows
🔺 Love Triangles
🧼 Clean/YA romances (only kissing)

If you love a wacky MC, Orie is your girl! She was definitely wacky, especially with her nervous talk and nickname requests, but that also made her a lovable weirdo!

I really enjoyed the slow burn aspect to the book and how it was written to experience from pre to post show with the days of filming included in the meat of the story.

I also loved how the love triangle worked out and how the ending wasn’t super obvious like many romances where you know exactly who the MC will end up with.

I had so much fun reading this it makes me want to start watching Survivor again and some of the beach dating shows to scratch the itch this book is giving for those vibes.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ALC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Firework - Katy Perry

💭What I thought would happen:

I’m guessing it’s not about Siamese twins 😂 I’m thinking either super kinky or an odd predicament

📖What actually happens:

Orie has spent her life severely codependent on her parents, sister and boyfriend. When the opportunity comes to be a contestant on Survivor off to Fiji she goes.

However, when she gets there she finds out it’s a spin-off dating like show where she is tethered to another. That other happens to be her high school crush. Mmm

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I LOVE being surprised. You’d think I’ve read all the romances and no longer experience woah from one but I indeed have and it worked for me!

If you love the reality tv trope then this one is for you. It’s easily crushable and chalked full of drama.

I found the mc to be a bit of an odd duck/idiot but she did grow on me!

Read if you like:
🔥Survivor
🌴Tropical settings
😉Scandal
🩷Katy Perry

I thought I was going to read a love story between two people, and what I ended up reading was a love story for the main character learning to love herself, AND I AM HERE FOR IT! All of the turns this book took led in exactly the right direction. The plot of a romantic twist on Survivor was very clever. I would not hesitate to recommend this to a YA reader because it was not overly detailed on romance. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Title: Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio
Publication Date- 05/21/24
Publisher- MacMillan
Overall Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is narrated by the one and only Brittany Pressley so you already know the audio version is good. I highly recommend the audiobook.

The way I went to write this review and noticed it’s filed under YA, I was surprised. This very much feels adult or at least new adult. Not because there is any explicit content, it just felt way more new adult, in a positive way. I really enjoyed my time with this story. More so than most romances these days, this book holds up to exactly what it sets out to do. We actually get a game show, and tasks for the contestants to complete. The characters are so relatable, entertaining and hilarious. I have never read anything by Christine Riccio but this will not be my last. The characters were well developed, this is the story of an experienced writer.

If you enjoy reality tv or that as a setup for a book, you don’t want to miss this one. The writing is fun, the main character is fun, it’s just such an enjoyable story. Also, there are heavy hitting topics that are believable, don’t feel like too much for a romance novel, and just make the story even more complete. The characters do things that make sense, I didn’t find it cringey at all (this has been a recent problem for me and romance novels). I really, really enjoyed this story. I can’t wait for her next novel.

4 ⭐️

Attached at the Hip is a funny rom-com getting heavy inspiration from Survivor and Love is Blind. We follow Orie, a bubbly, goofy, anxiety ridden girl who lives in her sister's shadow. To prove herself, she signs up and gets accepted to be a contestant on Survivor... only she finds that it is NOT Survivor after she arrives.

We get all the dumpster fire fun of reality TV mixed with a bit of mystery and the challenges of young hot people stranded on an island. I had a good time - it wasn't extremely memorable or deep, however, I had a blast. The characters were a bit obnoxious (looking at you Orie!), but they leveled out as you saw more of their personality. Definitely a great audiobook - the narrator did a great job leaning into the emotion and I burst out laughing on more than one occasion.

★ Straight to jail for the character names ★


📖 Survivor + Love is Blind
📖 YA Contemporary Rom-Com
📖 Goofy, awkward FMC
📖 Love Triangle
📖 Lots of pop-culture references


Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St Martin's Press & MacMillan Audio for the eARC & ALC of Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio.

When I saw an advanced audio copy of Attached at the Hip by Chritine Riccio land in my inbox, I knew I had to give it a listen! I’ve known about Chritine Riccio since her original YouTube days but didn't find too much interest in her first few novels so when I saw that this was a mashup of Survivor and The Bachelor, I knew I had to give her writing a try!

Attached at the Hip was unexpectedly so much fun! our FMC Orie Lennox is going through a (near) quarter-life crisis and signs up for what she thinks is Survivor, but ends up being a Survivor spin-off with a romantic, Bachelor in Paradise type twist.

At first I thought Orie as a main character would make for a cheesy listen but her personality just simply MADE sense. She really gave off the same energy as Christine Riccio herself. Typically I hate following a main charcter/ trope like this as it always seems to give me second-hand embarrassment but in this case… it worked.

The friendships Orie builds through this book are so refreshing and heartwarming to read about. OSPREY had my whole heart and definitely quickly became my favourite character. We love a long-haired king with a little pirate mustache in this household.

The only thing that I was questioning is the target audience. Our main character is 23 and she’s one of “the oldest” characters. This book is pushed as Young Adult but the age of these characters, alongside with the constant drinking of wine every night LOL, kept tripping me up.

Brittany Pressley was the perfect narrator for this story. She embodied Orie’s character just like I would’ve imganied if I was reading physically.

Thank you Macmillian Audio for an advanced listening copy! #MacAudio2024

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/audio!!

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

♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
4 🌟
-
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•survivor game vibe
•social experience
•speed dating
•rom-com
-
I am a sucker for books with chapter names; love, love, love, them to infinite and beyond! If you enjoy the Survivor game, you will enjoy this book. It's definitely Survivor, meet The Bachelor. lol, it's a nice little twist on things. Orie was a very relatable character. She is searching for her happy ending . . . I mean, what girl isn't? But since she has graduated, she is wondering what she is doing with her life. Everything she has is not what quite she envisioned it to be. So she signs up for a show, and the story takes off.
The narrator did a good job with this story! I enjoy how she changes her voice for different characters to the point you know which character is which. Which is a major plus to me.
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 May.21♡
-
Thank you, Netgalley, MacmillanAudio for the (ALC)-Audiobook and St. Martin Press for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. I absolutely adore reality shows so when I saw the opportunity to read a book that was a survivor-esque dating show... sign me up immediately. When I had to take a pause in reading this one, it was sad because I wanted to be in Fiji on Attached At The Hip with Orie, Kennedy, Osprey, and Remy. The character dynamics in this one were fantastic. Orie could be really annoying sometimes but I felt like I could see bits and pieces of myself in her and that's why she would drive me nuts. I absolutely adored Osprey and LOVED the banter between him and Orie. I had a feeling the book would pan out like it did and I love that it did. The best part about this is that it really read like you were watching a reality show. It was captivating from start to finish.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers at St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review Attached at the Hip by Christine Riccio. Reading the e-galley of this while listening to the audio book was a supreme experience. The narrator did a fantastic job! 10/10 would recommend both formats!

This book was soooo good I want to buy a physical copy of it. I loved the Survivor aspect and all the new day references. I adored the FMC and her character development and there were so many side characters that I want more from. I will say I was blind sided about the twist in this but so proud of Orie for how she stood up for herself. Honestly, I can’t wait till this comes out and I can put it on my shelf.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily.. I loved this survivor style dating show esque book. Loved the characters lived the themes. Huge fan. Perfect summer beach book.

4.5/5☆