There’s something irresistible about enemies-to-lovers romances that hook me every time, but Elsie Silver’s Wild Side delivers this trope with an unexpected twist—professional wrestling. The third installment in her Rose Hill series introduces us to Tabitha Garrison and Rhys Dupris, two stubborn individuals forced into marriage to protect the one person they both love: Tabitha’s nephew, Milo. What begins as a marriage of convenience slowly transforms into something far more genuine as secrets are revealed and walls come tumbling down.
Silver crafts a story that balances grief, forgiveness, and scorching chemistry in ways that feel both realistic and deeply satisfying. While this enemies-to-lovers romance follows familiar beats, it’s the author’s attention to emotional nuance and her willingness to explore complicated family dynamics that elevates Wild Side by Elsie Silver beyond standard contemporary romance fare.
Setting the Stage: Welcome to Rose Hill
Wild Side by Elsie Silver transports readers back to the charming mountain town of Rose Hill, continuing the series’ exploration of tight-knit community bonds against a stunning backdrop of mountain vistas and small-town gossip. Silver excels at creating a sense of place that feels lived-in and authentic, with returning characters from previous books (Wild Love and Wild Eyes) making appearances that enrich the world without overwhelming new readers.
The bistro that Tabitha runs serves as a grounding force in the story, representing her independence and passion while also functioning as a gathering place for the town’s colorful characters. This setting provides a perfect contrast to Rhys’s world of professional wrestling—loud, theatrical, and constantly on the move—creating tension between their lifestyles that must be resolved for their relationship to work.
Meet the Players: Character Development that Packs a Punch
Tabitha Garrison: More Than Just Attitude
Tabitha emerges as a fiercely loyal sister and aunt who has spent years picking up the pieces after her sister Erika’s struggles with addiction. Silver portrays her as someone whose tough exterior masks deep vulnerabilities—particularly her fear of being left behind and her tendency to shoulder everyone else’s burdens. Her journey from viewing Rhys as an enemy to seeing him as a partner feels earned through moments of genuine connection and painful honesty.
What makes Tabitha particularly compelling is her complexity—she’s often prickly, quick to judge, and stubborn to a fault. Yet her dedication to family, her passion for cooking, and her gradual willingness to let Rhys in make her growth throughout the novel satisfying to witness.
Rhys Dupris: The Man Behind the Mask
Rhys initially appears as the stereotypical brooding alpha male—tall, tattooed, and tight-lipped. But Silver skillfully peels back his layers to reveal a man whose guardedness stems from childhood abandonment and a life spent in foster care. His professional wrestling persona “Wild Side” serves as both literal and metaphorical mask, protecting him from genuine connection while allowing him to channel his pain into something productive.
His gentle interactions with Milo provide some of the book’s most touching moments, revealing his capacity for tenderness long before he can verbally express his feelings. Rhys’s growth comes less from changing who he is and more from allowing himself to be seen—a vulnerability that feels particularly poignant given his career.
Supporting Cast: Small Town, Big Personalities
The secondary characters in Wild Side by Elsie Silver add dimension and humor to the story:
- Milo steals every scene he’s in, providing both emotional stakes and comic relief
- West, Ford, and Bash form Rhys’s unlikely bowling team, offering friendship to a man who’s never had it
- Gwen brings spiritual warmth as a yoga instructor with mysterious connections to Bash (likely setting up the next book)
- Cleocatra the cat serves as a delightful antagonist-turned-ally for Rhys
Slamming Storylines: Plot Analysis
The narrative unfolds through dual perspectives, allowing readers to understand both protagonists’ motivations and insecurities. Silver structures the plot around several key conflicts:
- The custody battle for Milo provides the initial impetus for their marriage
- Unraveling the truth about Erika forces both characters to confront their assumptions
- Rhys’s secretive career creates both external tension and opportunity for vulnerability
- Physical injury and recovery tests their commitment to each other
The pacing hits a sweet spot—not rushed but never dragging—with emotional revelations and steamy encounters distributed throughout the novel to maintain engagement. The plot twist involving Rhys’s profession as a wrestler rather than the “p*rn star” Tabitha initially assumes adds a unique dimension to the story, setting it apart from typical contemporary romances.
Between the Ropes: Romance Analysis
The chemistry between Tabitha and Rhys simmers from their first interaction, even as they’re antagonizing each other. Their relationship evolution follows a satisfying arc:
- Mutual distrust based on misconceptions
- Reluctant alliance formed for Milo’s sake
- Grudging respect developed through shared experiences
- Physical attraction that becomes impossible to deny
- Emotional intimacy built through vulnerability
- Genuine partnership forged through crisis
The intimate scenes are steamy without overwhelming the emotional development, and Silver excels at making each encounter reveal something new about the characters’ evolving relationship. The power dynamics shift naturally throughout, with both characters alternately vulnerable and strong.
Grappling with Grief: Emotional Depth
What elevates Wild Side by Elsie Silver above standard romance fare is its nuanced exploration of grief and forgiveness. Erika’s death serves as more than just a plot device—it forces both protagonists to confront complicated feelings about a woman who hurt them both in different ways.
Silver doesn’t shy away from showing how grief can be messy, contradictory, and prolonged. Tabitha’s inability to cry until she reads her sister’s journals feels authentic, as does her eventual acceptance that she can both love her sister and acknowledge her flaws. The novel suggests that healing doesn’t mean forgetting, but rather integrating loss into a new normal.
Technical Takedown: Writing Style and Pacing
Silver’s prose strikes a balance between accessibility and emotional resonance. Her dialogue crackles with tension and humor, particularly in Tabitha’s snarky comebacks, while her descriptive passages effectively convey both the physical and emotional landscapes of the story.
The pacing generally works well, though some readers might find the middle section—where Tabitha and Rhys are navigating their attraction while still maintaining emotional distance—slightly repetitive. The final third picks up momentum nicely, with Rhys’s injury providing both crisis and opportunity for growth.
Standing Ovation or Critical Tap-Out? The Verdict
Wild Side by Elsie Silver delivers a compelling romance with equal parts heart and heat. Silver has crafted characters whose growth feels earned and whose happy ending feels deserved. While the novel doesn’t reinvent the romance wheel, it executes familiar tropes with freshness and emotional authenticity.
Strengths:
- Rich character development for both protagonists
- Unique professional wrestling backdrop
- Emotional depth in exploring grief and found family
- Strong sense of community and place
- Steamy scenes that advance the emotional narrative
Areas for Improvement:
- Some plot conveniences (particularly around the legal aspects of guardianship)
- Occasional repetition in the middle section
- A few secondary characters who feel slightly underdeveloped
- Wrestling industry details sometimes simplified for narrative purposes
Final Bell: Who Should Read This Book?
Wild Side by Elsie Silver will appeal to romance readers who enjoy:
- Enemies-to-lovers and marriage of convenience tropes
- Found family narratives
- Heroes with traumatic pasts
- Small-town settings with strong community bonds
- Steamy scenes balanced with emotional development
- Characters with professional passions
Fans of authors like Carly Phillips, Samantha Young, and Helena Hunting will likely find much to enjoy in Silver’s writing style and emotional depth.
Looking Ahead: The Rose Hill Series
Wild Side stands well on its own, but readers who enjoy their time in Rose Hill will want to check out the previous installments (Wild Love and Wild Eyes) and will likely be anticipating Bash’s story in the upcoming Wild Card. The glimpses we get of his character and his mysterious history with Gwen suggest another emotionally complex romance on the horizon.
Silver has created a world worth returning to, populated by characters whose happiness you can’t help but root for. Whether you’re already a Rose Hill resident or considering your first visit, Wild Side by Elsie Silver offers a romance that will leave you both satisfied and eager for more.
So step into the ring with Tabitha and Rhys—this enemies-to-lovers romance delivers a knockout combination of heart, heat, and healing that’s worth every emotional round.
