Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: Push Me Pull Me
AUTHOR: Amanda Rhodes
PUBLISHER: NineStar Press
LENGTH: 72 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2018
BLURB:
At twenty-four, Mallory Grant is still struggling with adulthood. She can’t seem to make it in to work on time and deals better with her Tumblr friend on the other side of the world than a face-to-face with a real live human. But when her boss threatens to fire her as a rental agent, Mallory has to buckle down with her new client or end up jobless.
Corinne Ibori is moving to the Chicago area and needs a place to call home. Mallory’s goal is to find just the right location for Corinne’s needs and show her boss she’s turned over a new leaf. Corinne is thirty-five, self-confident, beautiful, flirty, has a French accent, and knows what she wants.
Mallory is finding it hard to believe that what Corrine wants might be her.
REVIEW:
It’s easy to fall in love with dorky Mallory and sexy Corinne in this short story, but the length ultimately hurts it in the end. These characters are great, so I wish we got an actual story with them!
Mallory is a likable main character because she’s…well, she’s us. She’s not your typical romantic heroine. 24 years old and already sick of her job prospects and romantic life, she’s completely stunned when suave, sophisticated, beautiful Corinne expresses interest after renting an apartment from the agency Mallory works at. Of course, we can see why Mallory is a catch—she’s funny, nerdy, and sounds totally adorable with her superhero tee shirts and Tumblr obsession. But her insecurities regarding her body and sexuality prove to be a roadblock, even though she’s already head over heels for Corinne.
The start of their romance had me grinning from ear to ear. Mallory’s nerves are completely understandable, and Corinne’s patience and obvious adoration make them a perfect match. Everything was a little awkward, but it feels real, which drew me right in. But I soon realized what the actual wafer-thin “plot” of the story was, and it sort of made me lose interest. A good romance has to have a story along with the vital character development, but this work fell a little short. Mallory and Corinne are excellent characters, written with a ton of potential for great plotlines, but the message of love and acceptance (with a little bit of kinkiness thrown in for fun) felt more trite than sweet by the end.
I’d definitely be interested in reading a longer work by Amanda Rhodes. She has so much love for her characters, and the way they feel about each other is palpable. But they just needed something to do—besides each other.
RATING: 
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