Hopeless
Easy read
Feel good
Sweet

Hopeless

Elsie Silver2023
"Elsie Silver's writing is a true revelation!" ALI HAZELWOOD --- Grumpy cowboys and steamy romance . . . Welcome to Chestnut Springs: the big-hitting, small-town series from TikTok sensation Elsie Silver. Perfect for fans of Devney Perry, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison. Beau Eaton is the town prince, a handsome military hero with a tortured past. I'm the outcast bartender, a shy girl from the wrong side of the tracks. He's thirty-five and all man, I'm twenty-two and all . . . virgin. He's also my fiancé. Correction: my fake fiancé. We start out as a bet. He doesn't believe that anyone holds my last name against me. So he offers me his to prove a point. It's a win-win. He gets a break from his concerned family's prying, and I get a chance to shed my family's reputation while I save up to ditch this small town. He says all I have to do is wear his ring, follow his lead, and pretend I can't keep my hands off of him in public. But it's what happens between us in private that blurs all those carefully drawn lines . . . It's what transpires behind closed doors that doesn't feel like pretending at all . . . This engagement was supposed to be for show. This agreement? It has an end date. He once told me he'd never fall in love. And yet here I am, head over heels for my fake fiancé.
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Reviews

Photo of Annabella
Annabella@onmyown
3.5 stars
Feb 21, 2025

aw, Beau

Photo of Keira
Keira@kostross
3 stars
Feb 6, 2025

a cute ending to the series, but it felt a bit predictable to me.

Photo of jenna
jenna@jennaissexy
3.5 stars
Jan 19, 2025

this series was so good :’)

loved beau and baileys story (hated their names)

+3
Photo of Ian Brakspear
Ian Brakspear@ibrakspear
3 stars
Dec 12, 2024

I’m here at the end of the Chesnutt Spring series and what a wild ride it has been over the last 14 days getting fully immersed in the characters, settings and all things Elsie Silver. The Books have been mixed but overall, it’s been an enjoyable and fun ride learning about the brothers and them finding love as well as find out about themselves. They have all been on their own individual journeys, but I think that I’m leaving them all a little better then when I started.

 

Bailey is the daughter of the family that causes trouble in Chesnutt Springs and despite Bailey not being involved with her brother it’s her surname that means she is unable to find a job as everyone says no. Beau's the golden boy, hero of the town. Except Beau's back from a traumatic experience and discharged from the military and he is not really being his best self, and he is suffering in silence too afraid to open to anyone.  His interactions with Bailey bring back a glimmer of feeling to his numbness, which keeps him coming back to the bar she works at and then things developing further from there.

Beau ends up feeling protective of Bailey and they form a partnership of a sort hinged on a bet that if they enter a fake engagement, whether being a future Eaton will open more opportunities for Bailey in their town.

 

Bailey made me laugh out loud, I loved her resiliency and determination to rise above what her family was like and what the town thought of her was superb. Beau was understandably complicated and gave a lot of whiplash however, which was an acknowledged character trait in the book. He's lost and in sorting himself out, he's still trying to force himself to be the old Beau, but then other times he's other facets of his personality, I do love the Side characters, and I love the family ties up in each of these books.

 

Overall an enjoyable series but just not my favourite of the books.  

Photo of ish
ish@heartsfromi
3.5 stars
Nov 18, 2024

Thought I was really going to hate this book because of how foreign Beau’s character switch felt, but honestly seeing their relationship unfold was so so sweet.

+3
Photo of Bri
Bri@brileitch
4.5 stars
Oct 5, 2024

the story is great but the age gap makes me cringe a lil bit

Photo of Valerie Yvonne Elizabeth Hes
Valerie Yvonne Elizabeth Hes @valerieee
4.5 stars
Sep 30, 2024

So so cute loved the story didn’t mind the age cap at all! Loved this other side of Beau and how protective he is. Loved the independent character of Bailey and her personal growth! Truly refreshing and something different than the other chestnut springs books

+8
Photo of Hana
Hana @han31
3 stars
Sep 13, 2024

This was the last of the chestnut springs series and was Bailey and Beau’s story. Was a fake engagement was cute but not my favourite of the series. 

Photo of Joan
Joan @yabish
5 stars
Jul 22, 2024

This was just amazing, had so much fun reading this book. Can I just say that I love every female character in this serie. I do love Bailey a whole lot though, she and Beau have a special place in my heart.

+3
Photo of Holly Lake
Holly Lake@holly9
3.5 stars
Jul 4, 2024

I was actually pleasantly surprised with this book! So many people had said this was one of the worst in the series and don’t get me wrong the start of the book I didn’t trust the plot development because who would date an alcoholic 35 year old who drives home drunk? But as we got further into it and the relationship grew the characters really made me interested in their story

Like the other books it’s still not an absolute masterpiece but for a small town romance it was cute and did what it needed to do- the only thing I was hung up on was how unrealistic this would actually be- and that thought kept popping up as the story progressed. Cute story but would never happen in real life

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Marie
Marie@mariecze
4.5 stars
May 30, 2024

Last book of the series had a good ending! But it was my least favourite pairing of All the couples...

Photo of surtified™
surtified™@heartrender081
4 stars
May 19, 2024

I LOVE BEAU AND BAILEY SO MUCH BRO THEY ARE SO GOOD TOGETHER AND I THINK THEY HAVE SO MUCH CHEMISTRY (aside from the fact that she's 22 and he's like 35, but elsie silver seems to have an issue with these age gaps I swear to god) BUT THEY ARE SO CUTE AND I LOVE BEAU NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A REALLY MISERABLE MOODY GUY HE CAN BE. I FEEL LIKE BAILEY HAS SO MUCH CHARACTER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER CHESNUT SPRING GIRLS, AND I'M JUST HAPPY I GET TO READ THESE BECAUSE THEY MAKE ME FEEL SO NICE AND WARM AND FUZZY ON THE INSIDE. IT ONLY TAKES ME TO READ LIKE ONE DAY, WHICH I LOVE BECAUSE IT MEANS THE PACING IS GREAT. LOVE LOVE LOVE, AMAZING AND KIND OF EMOTIONAL BUT I DIDN'T CRY, STILL LOVED IT.

Photo of Wyn
Wyn@wynnergy
4.5 stars
May 14, 2024

This absolutely did not disappoint. Elsie Silver you are now one of my favorite author.

Beau is absolutely my 2nd favorite Eaton brother (Cade will always be number 1, sorry). Looking at Bailey as well is like looking in the mirror. Like damn insert The Prophecy by Taylor Swift

It’s hard to say goodbye to this series but all good things must end I guess.

But seriously this ended with a bang, no pun intended lmao.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

+7
Photo of Jaclyn
Jaclyn@jac_22
4 stars
Apr 20, 2024

YES SIR🫡

Photo of Allysen
Allysen@allysennn
3 stars
Apr 9, 2024

so sad the series is over :( another cutie story but the age gap isn’t one of my fave tropes. Also the big fight was a little annoying, I skimmed that entire argument. Without the argument I think I would have given if 3.5

Photo of Anushree Taparia
Anushree Taparia@anushree
4 stars
Apr 7, 2024

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

THE SERIES IS OVER?????

A little 2 sex obsessed for me like is being a virgin really all that important? But I loved the story ahhhhhhh and seeing glimpses of all the couples and dynamics. Still so confused on Willa’s relationship w her brother lol

Can’t believe chestnut springs is over 🥹🥹🥹

Photo of julie reads
julie reads@juliepalacio
4 stars
Mar 27, 2024

love love love beau, was giggling and kicking my feet (no pun intended) the entire book. what a great way to end the series and now i rot in a slump after this :)

This review contains a spoiler
+5
Photo of Lynn Braden
Lynn Braden@ftbooklover
3.5 stars
Mar 15, 2024

Bailey Jansen can't get away from the stigma of being part of the notorious Jansens. The only job she can get in Chestnut Springs is bartender. Her fondest wish is to move out of town and start a new life where nobody knows her family. Beau Eaton wishes he could start over too, but he can't seem to break out of a crippling depression that has taken over his life ever since his return from Afganistan where he saved another soldier's life and seriously injured his feet. Bailey and Beau start to find common ground at the bar where she works, and decide to fake an engagement in hopes of enhancing both of their lives.

Hopeless starts out as a fairly typical fake dating situation with most of the differences relating to Beau's mental state and Bailey's family. Bailey is quirky as the young bartender with no filter who raises Beau's spirits. Both characters are well developed as they deal with depression, PTSD, and non-functional families, while their romance jumps right into a heavy physical relationship, so much so, that the scenes become tedious and repetitive. The best parts of the story include those in which the banter between the main characters and with Beau's family are emphasized. Overall, Hopeless is a good ending to the Chestnut Springs series, bringing back all of the characters from previous books and giving Beau a happily ever after.

+9
Photo of avenlaming
avenlaming@aven
5 stars
Jan 22, 2024

I can't believe I've finished this series now, i'm so glad beau and bailey was the last book. I loved their story a lot.

Photo of Doris Ivandic
Doris Ivandic @dorisiva
4 stars
Jan 22, 2024

I adore this series and these characters so much I was not ready to say goodbye to them

Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw
4 stars
Jan 13, 2024

Overall it was a really good book but it wasn’t my favourite. So glad they ended up realising how much they love eachother.

+5
Photo of G
G@lovecarved
3.5 stars
Apr 21, 2025
Photo of Aisha Iyengar
Aisha Iyengar@aishaiyengar
5 stars
Apr 10, 2025
Photo of Cate
Cate @what_catie_read_next
3.5 stars
Mar 26, 2025
+2

Highlights

Photo of Elle bagnall
Elle bagnall@ellebagnall

"And everyone else!" I turn and face the other patrons in The Railspur. "Stop looking at me like I'm infectious. Stop watching me like this is entertainment. Stop treating me like youre superior. You're all cruel and shitty and bigoted and have made living here my entire life absolutely miserable."

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Elle bagnall
Elle bagnall@ellebagnall

You don't tell a person you love them with the expectation they'll say it back. You tell them because you want to. You tell them because it's true.

Photo of ish
ish@heartsfromi

This girl has brought me back to life without even trying. All that time I searched for someone to make me feel something, and she was right fucking there.

Page 321
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

You’d think for a tier one operator he would notice me across the street, but he doesn’t.

Page 369
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

Jasper laughs. “You could use a little bit of humbling. It’s good for you. Builds character.”

Page 359
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

“No, sugar. When it comes to you, I’m downright hopeless.”

Page 357
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

Whoever said love hurts wasn’t fucking lying.

Page 353
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I don’t want to be far away from her, and I’m too tired to fight it right now.

Page 266
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

“No, I’m scared of you becoming something I can’t live without.”

Page 222
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

Age difference be damned. Bet be damned. Bailey and I like each other.

Page 195
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

“Let’s go give ‘em something to talk about sugar tits.”

Page 187
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

Plus, someone needs to give you a dose of reality. Might as well be your fiancée.

Page 175
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

“Very tier one undercover operator who could break into someone’s house in the dead of night.”

Page 132
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

But with Beau, even when he’s angry, I feel safe.

126

Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I did it because I don’t think I want the first time we kiss to be fake.

Page 115
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I’m not a rancher. I don’t care about cows.

Page 103

Beau admitting to himself for people pleasing.

Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

“I’ll take care of it. I’ll take care of all of it.”

Page 101
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

The sight of her crying makes me want to hurt someone.

Page 100
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

Yeah babydoll. It’s practice.

Page 86
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I’ll never fall in love, won’t let myself.

Page 70
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I’ve developed a totally inappropriate crush on my bartender.

Page 38
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

I wish I were a cow

Page 27
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

She’s become a calm spot in my mind that is a turbulent storm.

Page 23
Photo of Clara
Clara@claraw

But he’s still the town prince, and I’m still the town trash

Page 10

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