Attached at the Hip Review

Posted on April 18, 2026

Orie Lennox is facing an existential crisis after graduating from college with no real goals in sight. Even the idea of marrying her long-time boyfriend doesn’t feel like the happily ever after romance Orie has envisioned for herself. Orie doesn’t have any plans or goals after college, and she’s become reliant on her family to help her make big decisions.

On a whim, she applies for the reality show Survivor, a show Orie and her family have watched since she was 8, and miraculously, she’s accepted to play in the first season, Attached at the Hip. A spin-off where contestants must survive on a remote island, form alliances, and win challenges while attached to different contestants for 1 million dollars. For a sheltered, introverted social media influencer like Orie, could this end in disaster or happily-ever-after?

Believe me, I had to finish this book in a DAY because of how much I enjoyed Orie competing and interacting with all her contestants. For someone who considers herself helpless at the beginning, the transition to self-reliance is seamless and avoids the “Mary Sue” trope, in which the shy heroine is exceptionally talented at everything. The fact that she’s a die-hard fan of the Survivor Series makes her a tough opponent when it comes to the challenges.

Orie is bubbly, bright, athletic, and is a hardcore movie buff/bookworm. I could feel how sincere, but strategic, her connections were when she made alliances with other contestants. So when there’s a lot of confusion about a certain contestant that she’s close to, there’s a lot of back and forth on whether she should trust anyone or not. I’ve read a few books set in reality TV, like Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly, but this had the most drama and twists I’ve ever read. But not all of the problems Orie’s facing is filmed on reality TV, but from back home, where a million dollars could support her family in ways Orie hasn’t in a long time. Her family is Orie’s biggest motivation to win.

Overall, this review highlights the unique drama, emotional stakes, and compelling main character of Attached at the Hip, making it a must-read for fans of reality TV stories. The author’s insight and the show’s high-stakes challenges promise both entertainment and heart. Since I read this in a day, it’s difficult for me to find any fault, which is why I’m shamelessly giving this 5 stars. Let me know if I’m being fair.