Book review: “Attached at the Hip” by Christine Riccio

Calling all reality TV show junkies—have I got a book for you! “Attached at the Hip” by Christine Riccio is an upper-YA novel that feels like “Survivor” meets “The Bachelor,” with contestants competing for a million dollars–all while being literally attached at the hip. Along the way, connections are made. There are romantic elements, and all the tropes from reality TV we know and love.

The story follows Orie, who’s cast on the show after her sister, Lark, pushes her to step outside of her comfort zone–Orie is known to be a codependent. Right before flying to Fiji to meet Jamie, the show’s producer, Orie’s world turns upside down: her family loses their restaurant, her father relapses and returns to rehab, and her longtime boyfriend emotionally cheats on her.

While competing, Orie reconnects with her high school crush, Remy Orlando Lasorsa–the typical bad boy, but with a plot twist (more on that in the spoilers section). She quickly becomes the hopeless romantic, imagining a future with him. But she also forms a connection with Osprey, another potential love interest, and builds a friendship with Kennedi.

Non spoiler

Without spoilers, my thoughts on “Attached at the Hip” are simple: this book is adorable and has quickly become one of my favorites.

My favorite moments were every Osprey-and-Orie scene–they were the cutest couple I have read in a while, and their early banter was so fun. This book fills the hearts of contemporary and reality TV-loving readers with warm and fuzzy feelings. It is a perfect escape for anyone needing a break from real life.

Spoiler Alert: Major plot points ahead!

Spoiler section ahead — scroll with caution if you haven’t read the book yet.

I had a sneaky suspicion about Remy’s character arc, but like Orie at the start of the novel, I wanted to ignore it–until the producer meeting.

If you have seen “Survivor,” you might remember one of the biggest power moves by the notorious villain Johnny Fairplay, who lied about his grandmother’s death. That’s basically Remy’s move–but with a twist. He lies about his grandmother being alive and claims he has a fake sister.

The first banter scene between Orie and Osprey–over the puzzles–was so cute. They were both competitive. Then came the coconut tree scene, when they’re first attached together. That moment had me rooting for them all the way.

Kennedi was also a strong partner for Orie. Their “Womentopia” alliance was powerful until Kennedi got voted off after her conflict with Remy. Orie had to stick with Remy and Osprey, but eventually forgave Kennedi, who stayed by her side in the end.

Remy also caused Priya (Kennedi’s match) to get injured and eliminated after tripping on fire, which was honestly diabolical. It created a lot of confusion in the group about his backstory, since he is such a good manipulator.

The ending–when Orie airs a documentary during the live finale to expose Remy–was such a moment. She asks his mom and older brother, digging into Remy’s backstory. Remy claimed he went to UCLA for film, but it was actually his brother, Dante, who went to UCLA for engineering.

His mom confirmed to viewers that he lied about his grandmother and his sister, stating that she doesn’t have a daughter and saying, “He started off engineering at the community college. He didn’t like it, though. Dropped out when my mother died out in Montana.” The reveal made Orie’s win even more satisfying, especially with the whole cast standing behind her in support during the finale.

We also get a super cute moment between Orie and Osprey in the dressing room, where they confess their feelings. One of the best lines is when Osprey says, “This spell. The one where I can’t take my eyes off of you.” That line made me swoon–while Orie went all in on Remy, Osprey had gone all in on her the whole time.

They end up going on a date at the end of the novel, after Orie drives to his family’s bookstore to confess her feelings again, and asks to move across the country to California so they can both live out their dreams. It was really sweet.

Final thoughts

I would absolutely recommend “Attached at the Hip” to anyone looking for that cute and giddy romance feeling. It’s one of the best books to escape the reality we’re currently living in. It has definitely become one of my all-time favorites–and I hope you will pick it up and enjoy it too.