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A review by theshelfarchive
Wild Side by Elsie Silver
medium-paced
2.5
This was better than I expected in terms of emotional depth, but ultimately not one that resonated. I’m starting to think contemporary romance just isn’t for me. 😆
One thing I did appreciate was that this book had more emotional weight than some of the other contemporary romances I’ve tried/read recently. That said, I found myself questioning a few things.The biggest issue for me was how the story used Milo as a plot device to force the main characters into close proximity, only to have him fade into the background. Both characters wanted to be parents to him, yet there was surprisingly little development around them actually stepping into that role. There was no major conflict tied to their decision, no deep exploration of what that transition meant for them and Milo—it just... happened.
The romance itself also had elements that didn’t quite work for me. The sexual tension between the leads kicked in far too early. I would love to read a book where the main characters aren’t immediately hyperaware of each other the moment they meet. Give me a slow burn, please.
Then there was Rhys’ job. Wrestling was undeniably a core part of his identity, and I respect that the book fully leaned into it, but I just couldn’t take it seriously. It’s not that I have an issue with unconventional careers in romance novels, but this one didn’t work for me on a personal level.
As for Tabby, she was fine overall, but her character often felt juvenile and immature in a way that didn’t fully match the tone of the story. At times, it made it difficult to invest in her journey.
All in all, Wild Side had some bright spots, but it didn’t fully come together for me. If you’re a big fan of contemporary romance with a bit of an unconventional setup, it might be worth a try, but personally, I need something more to stay engaged.
One thing I did appreciate was that this book had more emotional weight than some of the other contemporary romances I’ve tried/read recently. That said, I found myself questioning a few things.
The romance itself also had elements that didn’t quite work for me. The sexual tension between the leads kicked in far too early. I would love to read a book where the main characters aren’t immediately hyperaware of each other the moment they meet. Give me a slow burn, please.
As for Tabby, she was fine overall, but her character often felt juvenile and immature in a way that didn’t fully match the tone of the story. At times, it made it difficult to invest in her journey.
All in all, Wild Side had some bright spots, but it didn’t fully come together for me. If you’re a big fan of contemporary romance with a bit of an unconventional setup, it might be worth a try, but personally, I need something more to stay engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content