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A review by lisa_ella
Wild Side by Elsie Silver
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wild Side delivers exactly what fans of small town romance, broody men, and emotional slow burns crave - only it turns the heat and heartbreak up a notch. Elsie Silver crafts a deeply emotional enemies-to-lovers story with just the right touch of forced proximity, a marriage of convenience, and a healing journey through grief, guilt, and unexpected love.
Tabitha is fierce, blunt, and so beautifully complicated. A chef-turned-guardian, she’s mourning the loss of her sister while stepping into a maternal role for her nephew, Milo. She’s angry, guarded, and real. Then there’s Rhys grumpy, secretive, and quietly protective. A professional wrestler with a traumatic past and a strong sense of loyalty, he doesn't expect to fall into this makeshift family... but he can’t seem to stay away.
Their chemistry is undeniable and slow-building, the kind that makes you ache waiting for the moment they stop resisting. The emotional tension between them is as thick as the small town gossip, and watching them navigate grief, trust issues, and unexpected attraction was such a rewarding ride. You feel their baggage. You feel the reluctant tenderness and the moment that all the walls finally fall.
The book doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like addiction, death, foster care trauma, but it balances them with tender, funny, and swoony moments. Milo is adorable without being too saccharine, and the side characters, especially the friend group and family, add charm without overshadowing the main couple.
What kept it from being a full 5 stars? The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, especially with the will-they-won’t-they tension stretched to its limit. And while the marriage of convenience was compelling, I wanted a bit more external conflict outside of Erika’s shadow and Rhys’s job drama to keep the stakes high toward the end.
That said, the emotional payoff is so worth it. From wedding vows to surpise security systems and cat, and a heart-melting ending. Wild Side left me smiling (and maybe crying just a little).
If you love your men broody, your heroines fierce, and your romance with depth and longing, Wild Side is 100% worth the read.
Tabitha is fierce, blunt, and so beautifully complicated. A chef-turned-guardian, she’s mourning the loss of her sister while stepping into a maternal role for her nephew, Milo. She’s angry, guarded, and real. Then there’s Rhys grumpy, secretive, and quietly protective. A professional wrestler with a traumatic past and a strong sense of loyalty, he doesn't expect to fall into this makeshift family... but he can’t seem to stay away.
Their chemistry is undeniable and slow-building, the kind that makes you ache waiting for the moment they stop resisting. The emotional tension between them is as thick as the small town gossip, and watching them navigate grief, trust issues, and unexpected attraction was such a rewarding ride. You feel their baggage. You feel the reluctant tenderness and the moment that all the walls finally fall.
The book doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like addiction, death, foster care trauma, but it balances them with tender, funny, and swoony moments. Milo is adorable without being too saccharine, and the side characters, especially the friend group and family, add charm without overshadowing the main couple.
What kept it from being a full 5 stars? The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, especially with the will-they-won’t-they tension stretched to its limit. And while the marriage of convenience was compelling, I wanted a bit more external conflict outside of Erika’s shadow and Rhys’s job drama to keep the stakes high toward the end.
That said, the emotional payoff is so worth it. From wedding vows to surpise security systems and cat, and a heart-melting ending. Wild Side left me smiling (and maybe crying just a little).
If you love your men broody, your heroines fierce, and your romance with depth and longing, Wild Side is 100% worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail