Wild Side by Elsie Silver: A Marriage of Convenience? More Like a Marriage of Me Losing My Damn Mind

Okay, babes. Let’s talk.

Elsie Silver has done it AGAIN and I am not okay. Every time I think she’s given us the most emotionally ruined-yet-swoon-worthy man imaginable, she goes, “Oh? You liked that? Here’s a quieter, grumpier, even more emotionally constipated one who’ll make you feral.”

And listen... Rhys Dupris? This man could emotionally devastate me with a single blink. And I’d say thank you.

So yeah—Wild Side might be my favourite Elsie Silver book yet. And that’s not just because the man barely speaks and still somehow manages to set the entire page on fire.

Our heroine is fighting for custody of her nephew, and she’s backed into a corner—until Rhys steps up with the most “absolutely not romantic at all” offer ever: marriage. You know, for the courts. Strictly legal. No feelings. No strings. Just vibes.

Except... this is a romance novel. And you and I both know that fake marriages never stay fake. Especially not when the man in question is a hot, emotionally tortured landowner with arms like tree trunks and a gaze that could cause spontaneous combustion.

Cue: one house, one bed, one very slow emotional unravelling.

Let’s talk about Rhys.

If you like your men quiet, broody, and emotionally damaged but secretly soft in a way that feels illegal? He’s your man. He doesn’t say much—but when he does? It matters. Every clipped sentence from this man feels like a love confession wrapped in gravel and longing.

He’s not the kind of guy who’ll shout his feelings from a rooftop—he’s the kind who’ll fix your truck, build your nephew a treehouse, and stare at you like he’s trying to memorize your face for the rest of his life.

And when the tension finally breaks? GOOD. LORD.

You’ll need to sit down. You’ll need water. You’ll need to recover.

Our girl isn’t just here to look pretty and fall in love—she’s fighting tooth and nail for her family. She’s been through the wringer (grief, betrayal, disappointment) and yet she’s still standing. And not just standing—she’s thriving in the kind of “don’t-mess-with-me” way that makes you want to be her best friend immediately.

She’s guarded, with very good reason, and her walls? Let’s just say Rhys has his work cut out for him.

But the way they slowly melt into each other? The way she lets herself lean on someone again? It’s messy and beautiful and painful and honestly... SO rewarding.

You don’t watch her fall in love. You watch her choose it. And that choice? It hits deep.

Yes, bestie. We’re doing it.

This book leans into all your favourite tropes:

• Grumpy x sunshine-ish

• Found family

• Forced proximity

• Marriage of convenience

• Only one bed (because of course)

• 
  

And it’s all so well done. The slow burn in this book will actually test your patience—but in a good way. It’s the kind of build-up where your stomach is in knots and you’re whispering “kiss already” like you’re possessed.

And then they do? You will physically clutch your chest.

But don’t get it twisted—this isn’t just a spicy small-town romance with a hot guy who chops wood and has communication issues. Wild Side has depth.

This book is about grief, forgiveness, trust, and building something real in the aftermath of loss. It’s about choosing someone—really choosing them—even when it’s not easy. Even when you’re scared.

Elsie Silver doesn’t shy away from the mess of it. The characters argue. They misunderstand each other. They fumble their way through hurt and healing and hope. But that’s what makes it so good. You believe every beat of this love story. You feel invested in their happy ending because they earned it.

If you’ve read any of the other books in this series, then Wild Side will feel like coming home. Rose Hill is full of charm, chaos, and a community that wraps itself around you like a warm blanket.

If you’re new? Don’t worry—you’ll still feel that cozy, small-town pull. The friendships. The neighbour drama. The found family vibes. The meddling locals who pretend they don’t care but absolutely do. It's all here, and it's all part of what makes this book feel so alive.

If you love:

• Romance with real emotional depth

• Slow burns that actually pay off

• Protective, brooding heroes who feel everything but say nothing

• Women who know their worth and don’t settle

• Small towns, found families, and stories that heal something inside you

Then please, I’m begging—read this book.

It made me swoon, sigh, cry a little, and smile like an idiot. It gave me the good kind of emotional damage. The kind that lingers in your chest in the best way. The kind that reminds you that love doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, it’s quiet. It’s earned. It’s slow. And it’s worth everything.

Elsie Silver has me hooked. And Wild Side? It has my whole heart.

Rating: 11/10 slow burn satisfaction

Steam Level:  4/5 (controlled burn, then combustion)

Times I cried: At least two (ok fine, maybe 3)

Would I fake marry Rhys? Instantly.

Would I survive him in real life? Emotionally? No. But I’d die smiling.

Read it. Feel it. Let it ruin you just a little.