#1 New York Times bestselling author Elsie Silver sat down for a chat with She Reads to discuss her latest release, Wild Side, the Western romance revival, and what’s next after Rose Hill.

SR: First, tell us a little bit about Wild Side and how it builds on the Rose Hill series.

Elsie Silver: Wild Side is the third installment in the Rose Hill series—three out of four books total. The series centers around a male friend group that meets once a week for what they call “Dad’s Night Out.”

They’re all technically “single dad” romances, but not always in the traditional sense. Some explore blended families, different paths to parenthood, and nontraditional guardianship. I wanted to reflect the many ways fatherhood shows up in real life today—not just the clear-cut version we usually see.

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In Wild Side, we meet Rhys, who’s been teased throughout the earlier books. Readers know there’s tension between him and Tabitha, but they haven’t known why until now.

This book dives into their complicated backstory, his connection to Rose Hill, and how they become entangled through the contested guardianship of her nephew after her sister’s death. You’ll also get cameos from the couples in the first two books—and a glimpse of the final couple as well.

SR: Aside from the single dad element, how do the Rose Hill men differ from the Chestnut Springs cowboys?

Elsie: Chestnut Springs has a strong Western, ranch-centered vibe—there are bull riders, hockey players, a military guy—very “athletic” to me in spirit.

Rose Hill leans more small-town rural. It’s inspired by a town I grew up visiting, and while there’s still a little farming and horse trading in there (I can’t seem to fully escape that!), the setting gave me more freedom to explore different careers and character types.

It feels more about community life than the ranch life specifically.

SR: What are some red flags and green flags for the main characters in Wild Side?

Elsie: Red flags? Rhys shows up with unexplained bruises—a big one. Also, he’s a pretty mediocre communicator.

Tabitha’s red flag is that she can’t cry, even though she’s deeply grieving.

As for green flags, one of my favorites is how Rhys lets Tabitha be mad at him even though her anger is based on a misunderstanding. He doesn’t correct her because he knows she just needs someone to be mad at. To me, that’s incredibly romantic—he falls for her at her lowest point, and if he can love her then, he can love her through anything.

For Tabitha, her loyalty to her family is unmatched. I don’t think I’ve ever written a more loyal character.

SR: What are the best parts and the biggest challenges of writing a marriage of convenience story?

Elsie: The best part is definitely the forced proximity. They’re stuck together, putting on a public face of “happy couple,” while privately still bickering and not quite trusting each other.

I love those moments where they fake affection in public but feel real emotions underneath.
The hardest part for me is making the setup believable in a contemporary context.

In historical romance, marriage of convenience makes total sense—inheritance, social standing, producing heirs. In today’s world, you really have to work to justify why two people would get married for practical reasons. I spent a lot of time thinking through what would truly motivate these characters to do it—and even had a few meetings with a lawyer to make sure the stakes felt real.

SR: Do you feel the same way about fake dating tropes too?

Elsie: Totally. I love reading it, but when I’m writing it, I have to believe in the setup. Especially now that I’m in my thirties, I’m like, “I’m not fake dating anyone to make someone jealous!” Real dating is already complicated enough.

SR: You’re a mom yourself. Do you enjoy writing characters who are parents? How does adding children change the dynamic of a romance?

Elsie: It feels very relevant to me right now because I’m living it. Most of my friends are also in the thick of parenthood, so I see it from all angles.

Writing kids into the story adds tenderness, humor, and depth—but it’s also a logistical challenge! You can’t just “forget” they exist for 100,000 words.

Kids bring out sides of the characters that we wouldn’t otherwise see—the protectiveness, the vulnerability—and it makes the romance richer.

But sometimes I’m like, “Why did I do this to myself?” because you have to constantly account for where the kid is during every scene.

SR: Why do you think Western romances are having such a moment right now?

Elsie: I think people are craving that sense of community and simplicity.

During the pandemic, we all retreated into our homes and lost a lot of day-to-day human connection. Western and small-town romances tap into that longing for close-knit friendships, family dinners, neighbors who know each other.

Plus, the rise of remote work has made people rethink where and how they live. Suddenly, the wide-open spaces of Montana or Alberta look a lot more appealing.

SR: It feels very tied to the whole sourdough-making, back-to-the-land movement too.

Elsie: Exactly! First it was sourdough, then it was buying a farm, and now it’s reading Westerns while daydreaming about living by a lake or in the country.

People realized they didn’t have to stay locked into the hustle if they didn’t want to. It shifted priorities for a lot of us.

SR: Western romances have also shifted from being hyper-masculine cowboy stories to more female-centered contemporary stories. How do you see the genre evolving?

Elsie: My books definitely sit somewhere between traditional cowboy romance and contemporary small-town fiction.

They’re not about the big belt buckles and cowboy hats 24/7. These are country boys—yes, they ride horses and run farms, but they’re also hockey players, lawyers, veterinarians.

Having my books set in Canada gives them a slightly different flavor too. It’s rugged, but it’s quieter—not the flashy Texas cowboy stereotype.

I think that more modern, relatable take is part of why the genre is having a renaissance.

SR: What Western tropes are you loving right now, and which ones do you think need a refresh?

Elsie: I love taking old-school tropes and giving them a contemporary twist.

Marriage of convenience and secret baby are two tropes people have strong feelings about, but if you approach them with a modern, female-first lens, they still feel fresh.

No tropes are truly off-limits for me—it’s about making them believable and grounded in today’s world.

My next book is actually an ex-boyfriend’s dad romance, which was definitely a “what have I done?” moment for me. But pushing myself to work through those challenges keeps it exciting.

SR: What’s your ideal summer reading setting?

Elsie: Anywhere outside in a sunbeam!

I have a courtyard at home where I chase the sun like a cat. But being by a lake is the ultimate—water and sunshine is the perfect combo.

SR: If you could go on a summer road trip with any three authors, who would you take?

Elsie: Catherine Cowles, Ana Huang, and Lauren Asher.

They’re already some of my closest author friends. We have a group chat and try to meet up once a year. It would be the best girls’ getaway.

SR: Where would you go?

Elsie: Probably a cozy lake cabin somewhere in the mountains—maybe Banff. Quiet, beautiful, and lots of space to just chill, chat, and maybe sneak in some reading.

Do you have a favorite bookish podcast or social media account?

Elsie: I don’t listen to a lot of bookish podcasts lately—when I do, it’s usually industry-focused.
On social media, I love seeing edits and reels. I’m always blown away by how much creativity and effort people put into matching music and imagery so perfectly.

SR: If you could live in one book world for a year, which would it be?

Elsie: Right now, I’d say Chestnut Springs! Springtime in Canada is magical—everything’s budding, and there’s this sense of new beginnings. It just feels right.

SR: What are you working on next?

Elsie: I’m getting ready to dive into my next series, *Emerald Lake*, which will begin releasing next year.

I’m in the plotting and planning phase right now—which sometimes takes me longer than the actual writing because I essentially write the entire book in my head first.

I’m excited—starting a new series always feels so full of possibility.

SR: We’re so excited to feature Wild Side and all your upcoming projects! Thank you for being here, Elsie.

Elsie: Thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be part of your summer reading lineup.