Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off

by Andie Elliott

A Grumpy/Sunshine MM Short Story

Grumpy. Sunshine. Elevator.

Park Palace Hotel, New Year’s Eve

Serious-as-a-heart-attack reporter Robert Ryan is here, as promised, because frankly he couldn’t think of a way to get out of being in his rival—er, colleague’s—wedding.

Sunshiny actor turned groomsman-for-hire Jamie Daley is here because the guy who was supposed to walk down the aisle with Robert decided he had better things to do.

And now they are both stuck in an elevator because the Park Palace clearly needs to do more frequent inspections of their equipment.

What could possibly go right?

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off is a cute, cozy, low-angst MM rom-com short story. The perfect quick read to cuddle up with and escape.

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Forced Proximity

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Andie Elliott is a huge fan of coffee, chocolate, cute furry things, and, above all, stories. She is a sucker for a good romance and an even bigger sucker for a good rom-com. She has been writing since she was a kid (and still can’t read her own handwriting).

Reviews

[sunnoah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute little story 🫶 i enjoyed their dynamic and the muppets mention hahaha

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick read. I really wish there was more, I want to know what happens after the elevator doors open. 😂

● Contemporary
● Great premise but there needs to be more
● Very cute
● No steam but definitely sexual tension
● Made me chuckle
● More than likeable MCs
● HFN?
● Too short, under 50 pages

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant little story, though it makes more sense if you've read I Could Write a Book (which was OK too).

[Alecia · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no. I was more confused at the end that I was at the beginning.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert had al geen zin om aanwezig te zijn bij deze bruiloft en wanneer het ook nog anders loopt besluit hij weg te gaan en niet aanwezig te zijn.
Een probleempje, de lift stopt. Hij is niet alleen in de lift maar samen met Jamie.

Grappig om te zien hoe voorbereid hij is op noodsituaties met alles wat er uit de zakken komt, zoals een naaisetje om te de scheur in de broek weer te maken.

Fijn om Robert te zien ontdooien in de tijd dat ze samen vast zitten en zelfs een paar bekentenissen en ontekkingen te doen

[Meyda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely misunderstood the synopsis and thought the main characters were the enemies and was so confused going in 😭 I'm sorry I'm illiterate apparently 💔

Anyways this was such a fun read and I genuinely liked their dynamics as well as the characterizations, although Mr. Ryan may I suggest you to never Google your own name... just no ❤️ I want more of them 🥹

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story - my review for this is very similar to I Could Write A Book (which is sort of the parent book for this novella) - loved the characters, especially grumpy newsman Richard - but the story felt way too short and truncated, even for a novella.

I know "leave them wanting more" is a good thing but Elliot has taken the idea to the extreme with these titles!

[Cecile Sheff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realized that this book came before "If I could write a book" as the incident in question was mentioned in that book. This is a novella or short story, which means it was a really quick read, so not as deliciously slow-burny and her other book. But I still loved Jamie and Robert's elevator encounter and would love to see more of them in the future.

[Melinda Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert and Jamie

This was an absolutely adorable short story of two strangers stuck in an elevator who become friends, and then agree they want more. I really hope there is more to their story and that they get an HEA!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's kind of dodgy when cute meets grumpy but throw in trapped in a stuck elevator and see the fun begin. This is a short but charming, enjoyable tale, I loved it! Two gorgeous men supposed to be part of a wedding ensemble, the pressure is on.

[Asparagoose · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would've been good as a chapter in a longer book. As it stands on it's own, I'm left with a "what's the point" feeling. It's too short to connect you to the characters enough to call this any kind of complete story.
That said, if the author expands this into a full novel, I would read it.

[AlitaConejita]

Cute intro … where’s the actual story?!

I get it’s a novella - but it should still have a beginning, middle, and end. It’s a great beginning- maybe it’ll be turned into a full story later? I’d like to read it if it does become an actual book beyond the meet-cute intro.

[meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off: ★ ★ ★

Andie Elliott

I feel like part of being an adult is realizing that you do not get trapped in elevators nearly as much as mixed media makes you think you will. Nonetheless this was sweet and cute.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, feel-good story.

[Kayleigh Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Kah · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3,5)

It was a cute and fun read, I would have loved for it to be longer because the characters were adorable and interesting.

[Patusza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish there was moreeee, I liked it 😩

[Nicole M · Rating 4 out of 5]

why isn't there more?! 😭 I think i may have caused damaged my finger with how hard I was tapping my screen to get more only to find the story was done. this was super short, funny, and adorable.

[Fritz42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mandy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. Entirely too short to get to know the character or set a foundation for their relationship.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Jenette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Especially liked the way this ended with such possibilities.