Wow, what must it be like to be a debut author and just hit it completely out the park. I ADORED this book, and my abundant use of annotation tabs exemplifies it. It was a journey of growth, and filled with hilarious moments. The one liners in this book are killer and had me laughing out loud. This author has quite the sense of humor and it shined through our main characters.
Margot Bradley is a popular romance writer, but when her secret of “Happily Never Afters”—a private document she has that has an HNA written for all her books as an alternate ending— comes to light, the romance community turns on her. But these HNAs are written from a deep place of hurt and constant cycle of trust in men only to be disappointed. To be honest, I can’t think of anything more relatable than that.
Her sister ships her off to middle of nowhere Alaska to find herself again and get in the feel of her next book, set in Alaska, when she meets Dr. Forrest Wakefield, who is quite literally the embodiment of her male fantasy and executes all the romance tropes. I loved how the tropes were pointed out as we as the reader experienced them, and how wonderfully written they were written.
This book was a joy, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you Atria Books for the ARC!

This book was just SO FUN. I immediately wanted to book a flight to Alaska for my own backwoods writing retreat and that is, in no small part, due to how immersive the setting is. Alaska is lovingly rendered (even for all its quirks and oddities that just make it more charming!) and the setting felt so lived in. I loved Margot from page one, and found her souring views of love after a broken engagement both nuanced and believable. The exploration of tropes was soapy romance perfection and I really enjoyed the inclusion of Forrest's POV and its exploration of his relationship with his father. This is an absolutely standout debut and one I cannot wait to have on my shelf!

Imagine all the romance tropes. Now put them together, with the main character being a romance author who has just been canceled for being outed for not believing in love. And then that author finds herself in remote Alaska running into all those tropes with the romcom-worthy ruggedly attractive proprietor.

This was a delight to read! It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s spicy. I enjoyed the character development of our beloved author FMC, Margot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Lavine, and the publishers for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.5 stars

This was such a cute romance with emotional depth. It’s a perfect read for the cold months. As a chronically ill girly, this book was very emotional to me. The MCs will do anything for their family members who are dealing with disabilities. That is something they have in common and can understand each other. This is the kind of romance that will stick with you. I can’t believe this is a debut novel.

I highly recommend it!

This was such a fun read! I love romance and delighted in seeing so many of the tropes all in one book. The tropes were woven through the story seamlessly and supported the overall plot nicely. Could you see what was coming a mile away? For the most part. Did that diminish the quality of the story or leave me less invested in the characters? Not all. I was rooting for the MCs, as a couple and individuals, and thought their development was well done and grounded in reality.

There was an unexpected depth to the story and the discussion of family members with life altering health conditions was dealt with realistically but tactfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a treat this was to read!
I am such a sucker for a good romance novel trope. This was basically a love letter to all of us romance novel lovers and everything we love about HEA in a romance novel. I love that the author really explored the idea that romance novel HEAs could seem unrealistic, but they gave all of us hope.
Margot and Forrest were a match made in heaven. The setting of Alaska was really fun and different as well. I loved everything about it. I love watching all their tropes unfold and see Margot and Forrest give into the pull of their attraction. Absolutely loved this book.
I do question the publication timing of this book. It says April release, but this book is set almost exclusively in winter and near the Holidays. Im not sure why this book would be released in Spring. Winter is clearly when it should be released. Right now is perfect timing.

Any Trope But You is a precious story about an author who escapes to Alaska to write her next book. Of course, the lodge is owned by the hottest eligible bachelor, and you know how to goes from there.

I loved the idea of this one, I just wished for more plot and fun. The ending was great, but the middle seemed to lack action for me.

I just need to know now-- do all authors have an alternate ending file?! That seems fun! Lol!

I love a winter romance the idea of snow is so nice.

I love the sibling relationship but her sister using that to basically run away from home was insane

how was her folder of deaths/divorces enough to blackmail her and actually cause issues in her professional career like can people not write fanfiction now damn, it's not like she was actually publishing them under the guise of them being romance books with happy endings.

idk why she kept going out into the wilderness after almost dying I would've quit after the first time you wouldn't catch me outside until spring after that.

Thank you so much NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a breath of fresh air! I loved our main characters, Margot and Forrest! Margot is a romance author who writes happily ever afters, but does not actually believe in HEA outside of her writing. She even has a happily never after document that features alternate endings for her characters. When this gets leaked to the public, her readers cancel her and her publishers drop her. She then goes on a quest to Alaska and is set on writing a murder mystery. She ends up running into the arms, literally, of our MMC and a love story begins

This book has all of the tropes, I mean it is literally in the title, but they are written perfectly. I enjoyed my time reading this one. It was genuinely funny. I had to stop reading multiple times to cringe at the situations our FMC put herself in. It was such a good time. If you are looking for a good laugh, a fun, and swoon-worthy story, please pick this one up! Easy 4.5 stars for me.

4.5

Thank you so much to Atria Romance and Atria books for my digital ARC!

Wow! This is such a solid debut..just as the authors mentioned in her acknowledgments( which was pretty amazing) it’s definitely a love letter to romance genre and to the community in general. It was such a fun and fast paced read that I bet you could read in a sitting, set in the wilderness of snowy Alaska the story has perfect amount of warmth and depth.

Any trope but you is about two souls who lost their trust in love after going through brutal seasons of life are compelled to raise above their fears and find themselves their own well deserved HEA. The book takes a deep dive into what it takes to be a caregiver to your loved one while navigating their life with just a hope for better tomorrow where there might a chance for their dreams too. I really loved the sisterhood in this book and definitely made me teary eyed, the romance itself was mature and quite sincere with enough amount of character depth. The dual POV is a great choice for the book because really loved seeing into Forrest’s mind along with Margot’s

If you are romance reader you would definitely end up enjoying this commendable debut. Kudos to the author for kicking big C’s ugly bu*t WHILE writing this book, so excited to see her future works. The only reason I knocked off half a star because at times it felt trope heavy, I mean the name should be a clue but I just wished it could have taken down a notch

Fav Quote “But the thing I’ve learned about hollowness-the kind that’s carved from pain-is that the deeper it goes, the more room it leaves for love. And when love finally rushes in, it fills every dark and twisty crevice with a light almost too brilliant to bear”


Trigger Warning- Cancer, Breast Cancer, Care giving, death of a parent, disabled parent

3 🌟

'any trope but you' follows a romance author who doesn't believe in happy endings and goes to alaska to reinvent herself & write a new story in a new genre. this was overall really cute! i absolutely adored the setting, someone take me to alaska pls?? i needed this wintry snowy nature setting in my life. although i liked this one, i didn't love it. listen i love taylor swift but when there are several references in a book, i can't help but get icked out 😔 i was hoping for a bit more of a genuine connection with our fmc (margot) and mmc (forrest) vs physical connection (that's just my personal taste tho!) with this being said, i LOVED margot's relationship with her sister, savannah, and forrest's family was the cutest. the letters from savannah were so sweet and probably my favorite part. i would definitely recommend if you're looking for a fun and easy escape to alaska 🫶🏻

thank you so much atria books & netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Their meet cute is her jumping in his arms because she was scared of a moose. What more do you need to know?? Cozy and spicy and filled with banter!

Margot Bradley has captured the hearts of millions with her swoon worthy romance novels. But she's a fraud. Being hurt too many times, Margot no longer believes in the "Happily Ever Afters" that she's so famous for writing about. When her secret Happily NEVER After file gets leaked to the public, her fans are exposed to the traumatic "alternate" endings that Margot finds more realistic. Looking for an escape from the chaos of LA, Margot's roommate and sister Savannah, books Margot a trip to ALASKA, so Margot can regroup, research and focus on her new book trying out a new genre.
But when Margot meets Forrest, who is quite literally a real life walking book boyfriend, her plans and walls come crumbling down. How many romance tropes can Margot survive before she really lets her guard down?

Potential Spoilers and Thoughts:

I loved it! This book was so much fun! As an avid romance reader, there was a huge comedic aspect to the tropes that were introduced and made so apparent. Almost like breaking the fourth wall!
Though the stories are completely different, I often saw little clips of The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds sweeping through my brain when reading. Headstrong city girl thrown into the snowy remote woods with no wifi? Ya feel me?

As a dual POV book, this story doesn't just belong to Margot. Forrest the MMC is so swoon worthy I had to but the book down and take a deep breath a few times! Massive, Grumpy, Incredibly Intelligent and Loyal? And something about a stoic respectful man with an absolutely dirty mouth is gonna get me EVERYTIME!

Loyalty is the main source of conflict in this story. Both Forrest and Margot are caretakers and feel solely responsible for their loved ones. Margot to her sister who deals with chronic illness, Forrest to his ailing father. They both struggle to be selfish and choose themselves and therefore each other, over their family members, despite their loved ones desires. This was a huge component to the main characters relationship being an instant attraction, but slow burn to action. But sheeeeesh was the build up WORTH IT!

Any Trope but You was so good!!! Victoria Lavine has done a great job in her debut novel.

ATBY is a delightful romance that seamlessly weaves together all our favorite tropes into an emotionally satisfying story. This book hits all the right notes for anyone who enjoys a fun and heartwarming romantic journey in one of the coolest (literally) locations... Alaska!

The chemistry between the main characters is felt from the very start. The pacing is well-balanced, giving enough time for the relationship to develop while also throwing in some exciting wilderness adventures that kept me engaged. I appreciated the strong secondary characters who added depth and heart to the story, enhancing the overall experience without overshadowing the main romance. The chronic illness representation in the book adds another layer of realness to the story while not overpowering the main story lines and humor.

Overall, Any Trope but You is a fantastic read for fans of romance tropes, delivering a charming and heartfelt love story that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Thank you to Atria for this ARC via Netgalley.

Desperate to keep making money so she can care for her chronically ill sister, Margot decides to switch to writing about murder and goes to a remote Alaskan resort to do so. Unfortunately, she quickly finds herself intwined with Dr. Forrest Wakefield, and despite Margot’s best efforts she keeps finding herself in trope-like situations with him that she could’ve written herself. But for a woman who’s determined to believe there’s no such thing as a Happily Ever After, will she ever give in to the forces that keep pushing them together?


This was an amazing debut from Victoria Lavine. This book contains every trope you can think of in a romance story and its a small town setting. This book was very funny to me. I had a lot of LOL moments. The characters have in-depth backstories which made me feel close to them. Love the letters from Margot's sister and Forrest's dad was amazing. I also love how the story showed that caretakers also need to be cared for, especially those who take care of family members. Margot and Forrest have sacrificed so much for their loved ones.

I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait to pick up my own physical copy.

This was so cute! Even though I read it by the beach, I really loved the isolated Alaskan setting. Both of the characters felt so flushed out, and I really believed their chemistry. I could totally understand the reasons behind their actions, and any conflicts they encountered felt realistic. This was such a heartfelt book, too. I don't feel like I often read romance books that center around caretakers, and how difficult that can be, and I felt that this really did a good job of exploring that. But, in addition to those heavy topics, the romance and the steamy scenes were great too! I also laughed out loud several times, which doesn't happen while reading too often. I would 100% recommend this book for romance and rom-com lovers!

Victoria, babe, it was so nice of you to write this book just for me. Every trope I love? Check. Hot mountain man? Check. Book about writing a book? Checkity Check. Alaska setting, complete with cute animal companion? Freaking check.

I adored every second of this book and these characters. It reminded me of Sarah Morganthaler's Moose Springs series, but with the spice dial turned up a bit - and I am not mad about it.

This book managed to be light and fluffy AND deep and heartfelt AND still made me giggle (and blush). I think everyone has been through a "Happily Never After" season in their lives and the way we watch Margot find her hope (and herself) again is just so beautiful. There's also this element of care takers learning to care for themselves that I just found to be so moving and lovely.

This is a classic romcom, but it's also so much more! You're going to want to read this one - and then you're going to want to book an Alaskan vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Any Trope But You – The RomCom We All Need

Any Trope But You is the perfect blend of romance, self-discovery, and humour—exactly the rom-com we’ve all been craving. Margot, a woman jaded by love, has built a career around her "Happily Ever After" stories. But when her secret file, "Happily NEVER After" gets leaked, she’s left floundering both professionally and personally. Enter her loving (and persistent) sister, who sends Margot on a life-changing six-week trip to Alaska, hoping it will spark some adventure and growth.

In the wilds of Alaska, Margot faces unexpected challenges, all while working on a new murder mystery manuscript. And in the most unlikely place—literally the middle of nowhere—she finds love. Along the way, Margot embarks on a journey to not only rediscover herself but also figure out what romance really means to her.

This book is heartfelt, relatable, and expertly written. It’s a quick, cozy read that’s as comforting as a cup of tea on a cold day. Yes, it’s a bit predictable—but what romance novel isn’t? That predictability is exactly how Margot feels about her own writing, making the story even more authentic and enjoyable as she navigates what it may be like to make a change.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read with plenty of charm and heart, Any Trope But You is a must-read. Five stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

What a cute, steamy romance set in the Alaskan tundra. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, and for the most part, I found this to be a lighthearted rom-com with a few deeper insights about different aspects of love.

I really liked this kind of easygoing, almost laid-back narrative tone the story carries - it's of those books you can cozy up with a nice cup of tea on a rainy day. Forrest was the epitome of MMC tropes, and I did find myself laughing at the absurdity of it due to Margot being a romance author herself and being a professional on this. I think my biggest issue with the story was Margot. I found her to be really dislikable in some areas as her combative personality came off more as a writing plot point than her actual personality. But overall, it was very cute and fluffy rom-com with a nice handful of spice!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Lavine, and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC. I really loved this book. Margot is a romance author who doesn't believe in love. She copes with this by writing alternative endings to all of her happily ever after's and when these endings get released, she is shunned from the romance community. In order to find herself, she goes to a remote cabin is Alaska where she meets Forrest and starts to have every single romance trope with him! I loved the relationship between Margot and Forrest and thought the whole concept was really fun and unique! I highly recommend this book to all the romance lovers out there!

Any Trope but You follows Margot and Forrest and their budding relationship after Margot ends up in Alaska for 6 weeks to write a novel. She is a bestselling romance author, who has landed herself in hot water and been 'cancelled' after a doc containing alternate unhappy endings of her most popular stories leaks during a livestream. Following this her sister Savannah sends her to Alaska so she can try her hand at writing a murder mystery.

Overall the story was fine. Not great, but fine. I actually really enjoyed the side characters, Margot's sister Savannah was great as was Forrest's dad and Jo. My main issue was actually Margot herself. She was unlikable and not in a 'love to hate' kind of way. She was rude, judgmental, martyred herself and was honestly just pretty selfish. She almost burned her house down and it was somehow Forrest's fault. She never took accountability for anything. None of these qualities endeared me to her. It's no wonder her sister had to send her off to Alaska to finally get away from her. She infantilized Savannah and treated her like she was unable to care for herself even though she was a grown adult.

Forrest was of course a little too perfect. Also Margot was not really nice to him, and only really respected him when she found out he was a doctor. Before that he was basically a wood chopping caretaker in her mind, and I didn't love that she placed a limited value on him in her thoughts. What on earth could have made him like her after the way she treated him? He had moved back to Alaska to care for his father after a tragic accident, but Forrest like Margot also martyred himself, and just put his life on hold. Neither of them even stopped to ask what the person they were caring for actually wanted.

As the title suggests, there were a ton of tropes throughout the story. Some were executed well, while others not so much. And in the end, like the panties again? Just no. The ick factor was high just then. It was A LOT to pack in one book. And at the end I thought: This is a nice, perfectly lovely in-between book. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.