Fever Dream by Elsie Silver

Here is a summary with spoilers for Fever Dream by Elsie Silver

Emmett Brandt is a professional bull rider facing what he believes is his final opportunity to win a championship. However, his family's farm is struggling financially, and he agrees to appear as the bachelor on the reality dating show Romance Ranch in exchange for $500,000. His goal is to use the money to help save the farm, thus making the financial burden on his grandparents become nonexistent. Emmett knows that he is going to hate every second of this new show.

Julia Silva has the chance of a lifetime. A dream job is basically given to her right after graduation: a location scout specialist for this upcoming TV show. Julia says yes and is sent out to a rural farm, where she is shocked to find Emmett Brandt, her brother Theo's bullfighting rival. Not only that, the two have had an interesting past. Julia tells him that they are going to have to work together and that they will need to keep things professional. He promises not to say anything about their past, and she promises not to say anything about his new show.

Julia then moves her life to return to Emerald Lake and officially takes a job with Romance Ranch. She is trying to rebuild her life after a traumatic experience that occurred several years earlier, the one she insinuates happened with Emmett. Her work places her in constant contact with Emmett, forcing both of them to confront unresolved feelings and past events. They also share similar family burdens, including difficult parental relationships, the loss of their fathers, and pressures placed on them by family expectations. This bond makes it so Julia ends up spending some time with Emmett’s family and getting close to them.

A flashback reveals that two years earlier Emmett rescued Julia from a man at a bar who tried to drug her during a Caribbean cruise. The man was able to put something in her drink, and Julia took it, but Emmett ensured her safety and brought her somewhere secure: his room. Julia later woke up with limited memory of the incident, leaving both of them affected by what happened. Following the event, Julia focused heavily on achievement and control, while Emmett continued to hide his more vulnerable side behind a reckless public image.

As production begins, Emmett is bound by strict contractual obligations. He must present himself as a bachelor searching for love and is prohibited from pursuing relationships outside the show's format. Julia's career depends on the success of the production, but she increasingly finds herself supporting Emmett and his family rather than the interests of the producers. Together, they begin working against the manipulative tactics of producer Richard Wadsworth (Dick Wad, as Emmett calls him), who constantly creates conflict to increase ratings. He especially doesn’t like the friendship that Emmett and Julia have because it seems that Emmett has more of a spark with her than any of the girls he is supposed to be choosing or dating. Emmett can’t seem to find a care in the world to date any of the girls. He doesn’t like any of them and finds them all superficial.

Working closely together causes Emmett and Julia to become trusted allies. They solve production problems, support one another during difficult situations, and spend increasing amounts of time together. When Julia is injured while scouting locations, Emmett helps care for her, which causes the two of them to have a bit of an "almost kiss" moment. Julia also develops strong relationships with the Brandt family and often places their well-being ahead of professional neutrality. Their growing closeness becomes noticeable to contestants, crew members, and family members. It eventually grows so much that the two share a kiss, but Emmett has to stop the kiss, remembering that he has a contract to uphold and that he can’t be dating anyone for at least a year after the show.

Julia goes back home to take a break from her job, only to have her mom and sister-in-law bug her about her love life. They know she is in love with Emmett, though Julia herself won’t say it, nor does she know it herself. Back at work, Emmett convinces Julia to get back into the dating world, where Julia reveals she has not been on a date in years, not since the incident of being drugged. Julia dresses up nicely and goes on the date, only to find Emmett and his sister in disguise trying to watch the date unfold. The next day, the two have a small fight about it, but it turns into more friendly banter.

The filming goes on, and the number of girls is dwindling down, and they are all wanting to get their hands on Emmett. During one particular scene, a fight breaks out among the girls. Emmett doesn’t know what to do. He lets the fight happen because he sees Julia walk away from it all. He finds her and kisses her instead. The two make out until they are almost caught, and Emmett is forced to go back and re-shoot the whole scene. Julia is left thinking that maybe she could start dating Emmett.

As filming continues, Emmett and Julia begin a secret romantic relationship. They communicate privately, spend time together away from the cameras, and eventually become emotionally and physically involved. Both understand that exposure could threaten Julia's career, violate Emmett's contract, and damage their reputations. Despite these risks, their relationship deepens, and they continue to find ways to sneak around with their relationship. One of the contestants even offers to help. Emmett plans on choosing her as the winner of the show just to make it easier for the contract.

Their relationship bubble pops when Richard becomes suspicious of their relationship. He manipulates footage, stages misleading situations, and leaks information designed to create conflict. Edited footage and false evidence make it appear that Emmett has acted dishonestly and has been cheating with one of the contestants on Julia. The footage makes it look like he invited a girl to his house. Julia begins to doubt him and, oddly, goes to his sister to find comfort and confirmation. The future of the farm, Julia's career, and Emmett's financial plans are all placed at risk.

Emmett finds out about the footage and tries to find Julia, only to find her very drunk with his sister at his family’s home. He explains everything and takes her home, not caring about the contract. Eventually, evidence emerges that the production team manipulated footage, created false narratives, and installed unauthorized cameras in Emmett’s home. The truth becomes public, exposing Richard's actions and discrediting the show's storyline. Emmett chooses to publicly reject the show and its financial reward rather than continue participating in the deception. By doing so, he prioritizes Julia, his family, and his personal integrity over the money he originally joined the show to earn.

Following the collapse of the show, Emmett and Julia openly pursue their relationship. Theo and Emmett begin to move past their longstanding rivalry, and the Brandt family rallies around the couple. Julia advances in her career and gains confidence in her ability to control her own future. Emmett achieves his long-sought bull riding championship. Together, they build a life centered on honesty, family, and mutual support. Their relationship continues to strengthen, and Emmett eventually proposes.