Fever Dream
By: Elsie Silver
Published Year: 2026
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 448
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Professional bull rider Emmett Bush is not looking for love. He’s looking for a paycheck to save his family’s farm from bankruptcy. So, when he agrees to be the leading man on a hot new reality dating show, Romance Ranch, he’s already decided it’s all one big performance.
Until Julia Silva walks onto his property. Smart, snarky, beautiful, and off-limits in more ways than one. As the location consultant on set and the little sister of his most bitter professional rival, she’s the last woman who should pique his interest.
Julia has been warned about Emmett. She knows better than to fall for his cocky swagger, broad shoulders, and smoldering good looks. Plus, she’s sworn off relationships.
But as Julia and Emmett work together, mutual distaste grows into an unexpected connection and then… something more.
Soon, they find themselves searching for excuses to spend time together and out of reach of the cameras. Knowing glances. Stolen kisses. Secret rendezvous.
Still, Emmett signed up to play the role of an eligible bachelor searching for the one. His family’s land and legacy depend on him completing the show.
The problem is, he’s already fallen in love.
Just not with a contestant.
First Impressions
I am obsessed with this cover. The colors are my absolute favorite and there is nothing I would change. I’m not normally a cowboy romance person but between this being written by Silver and the cover? Not even a hesitation.
What I thought
While this wasn’t my favorite of Silver’s books, it was still a fun read.
Emmett is a top tier bull rider. However, bull riding doesn’t make enough to support his grandparent’s farm. When he is offered the opportunity to be the next bachelor on a reality show called Romance Ranch, he immediately declines until he finds out how much they’re willing to pay. Julia is the younger sister of Emmett’s bull riding rival Theo. She is also the location manager for Romance Ranch. When they start working together on the reality show, Emmett starts to find romance in places he didn’t expect.
I really liked Emmett and Julia. I liked their history and their chemistry. I also liked that Julia didn’t take any shit from Emmett and called him on his bull (no pun intended). What I didn’t love, even though I thought I was going to, was the reality show storyline. Here’s the thing, I didn’t mind Emmett having to take part in a reality show and date other women. What I did mind was the sleezy producer. I have read a few books that center around dating reality shows (One to Watch being amazing) and I’ve watched TV shows about fake reality dating shows. I feel like I’ve seen this type of story done well and I don’t think it’s done well here. It felt like it was all stereotypical and the reality show and the contestants weren’t fleshed out at all.
I also felt so uncomfortable as Julia and Emmett started dating. They kept talking about how they had to be careful and not get caught because Richard, the producer, would stop Emmett from getting his pay day and then they would go and do things like make out in a former contestants room! I just keep freaking out internally because I was like, there are cameras and microphones everywhere. It made me nervous and uncomfortable which made the back half of the book difficult for me to read.
I do think it works really well as the first book in a new series. It set up the world of Emerald Lake really well, as well as the Brandt family. I am looking forward to reading more books in the future.
This book is a solid 3.5 stars for me. I found the first half of the book more enjoyable than the second but I really enjoyed Emmett and Julia. I thought their whole story was the strongest part which is the most important piece of a romance novel. However, the reality dating show storyline and how icky it made me feel drops it down a few points. While it isn’t my favorite of Silver’s books, it’s still solid.