It took me a while to get into this one, but there were definitely some charming moments. The plot of a jaded romance author getting cancelled for secretly having unhappy endings to all her books and then meeting someone who perfectly encapsulates all the MMC tropes she was sick of was fun!

Thanks to netgalley for this arc!

What happens when a romance writer is exposed for not believing in love? She goes to a remote location in Alaska ro write a murder mystery, of course.

Margot is not prepared for what she encounters when her sister ships her off on an Alaskan Adventure trip to recover from the fall out of being exposed as a HEA hater. There’s wildlife, hiking, snow, cold and worst of all no avocados! How will this California girl survive?

The one thing that trips her up the most though is Forrest. The man has her all twisted up. He is every romance trope come to life and it is taking everything in her to not give in to the insane attraction she has towards him. Happily ever afters don’t exist... or do they?

I loved this book! It was funny and heartwarming. It really did have every trope. I could totally understand why Margot thought Forrest was too good to be true.

I would definitely recommend reading this book. It was lighthearted nothing too heavy and had a bit of spice, but not too much.

I really liked this book! It felt so relevant to how a lot of people within the romance community can be and it sometimes makes me wonder as a reader what an author is going through. The comedy of this book was just too good and dare I say I'm pining for Savannah to have a book? The emotional connection I made to this book was almost too much and I was on the verge of tears far too many times. I'm really happy at how this book turned out. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better read right now (because I almost just fell into a reading slump, whoops). I've never wanted to travel to Alaska and find the most perfect fictional but not fictional man in my life. Anyways, I recommend. It's cute. It's angsty. I love it. Some of the best tropes rolled into a singular book and it couldn't be more perfect.

The writing was good but there was way too many references to Taylor Swift and wayyyyy too much talk about romance tropes. I get that the fmc is a romance author but still it was too much.

Any Trope but You is SO CUTE. Debut author Victoria Lavine totally nailed it! Major thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for sending this one my way.

This book was filled with all the best romance tropes. The story pokes fun at all the cliches but also portrays them so well. The characters are well developed and their banter and chemistry was so good! 🔥🌶️

Margot is a best selling romance author known for her HEAs. Behind the scenes, she hasn’t had the best experiences with the men in her life and when her dirty little secret diary of Happily Never Afters is leaked she is cancelled by the romance reading community. Her sister plans a trip to remote Alaska hoping for a reinvention. Margot is reluctant to leave her sister, who has a severe autoimmune health problem, but eventually she concedes.

Upon her arrival, Margot immediately and quite literally runs into the lodge proprietor, Forrest. A handsome, rugged doctor who cooks and takes care of his unwell father - Forrest is too good to be true.

Margot and Forrest both understand what it’s like to make sacrifices for their ill family members and have their hearts broken but will they find the courage to put their hearts and families on the line for their own happily ever after?

Grab your copy on April 1st and find out!

Victoria Lavine’s Any Trope but You is an irresistible rom-com that’s sure to capture readers with its clever humor and touching moments. The story centers on Margot, a romance writer with a secret stash of “unhappy” alternate endings to her beloved happily-ever-afters. Disenchanted with love, Margot faces a scandal when these alternate endings leak, shaking her career to its core. Encouraged by her sister, she embarks on a six-week escape to Alaska’s snowy wilderness—where she unexpectedly meets Forrest, a man who seems to embody every romance trope she’s ever written.
The setup is refreshing and packed with humor, bringing Margot on a journey of self-discovery and healing that is both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. Forrest is the ideal romantic lead—intelligent, compassionate, and family-oriented, with a charming blend of strength and sensitivity. Lavine’s writing is filled with sharp, witty dialogue, vibrant scenes, and a pace that keeps you eagerly flipping the pages.
Any Trope but You was a delight to read, and I have no doubt it’s going to be a big hit on BookTok. This book made me an instant Lavine fan, and I’m looking forward to recommending it to friends once it hits the shelves. If you’re after a romance with undeniable chemistry and plenty of laughs, this is a perfect pick!
A huge thank you to Victoria Lavine and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As I've mentioned in other reviews, one of my favorite things to do is support up and coming authors and Victoria Lavine has my FULL support after her first novel.

This was just such a fun read! I always love dual POV so right off the bat I was in. I also loved the idea of the MFC being a failed romance author that never got the happy ending she deserved. The character development is wonderful, not only for the main characters, but I loved the sister relationship aspect as well.

I'll be anxiously awaiting what comes next for this author.

YES YES YES! i had so much fun reading this. right before the holidays, and the rush and anxiety, this book will put you at ease this season. i loved the growth, romance, and progression of the story. i had a easy time reading this and time just flew by. thank you for the arc netgalley!!

If you’re a fan of Abby Jimenez, I would 1000% recommend this book! It was emotional yet it didn’t feel heavy, very heartwarming and a fun read. Let’s just say the snowed in trope might be a new favorite ;) Forrest is such a good character, so thoughtful and selfless. Margot is also a strong character and I really did love her relationship with her sister. The banter was also great and kept things fun and light even throughout sensitive topics.
Thank you NetGalley for the early digital copy, can’t wait for this book to be out so I can immediately get my physical copy :)

Fun contemporary romance with a hearty dollop of examining the caregiver dynamic!

Dual POV with more of the FMC than MMC, which I always prefer. The FMC annoyed me a few times, but she did seem like a real-life person. The MMC was a bit of walking romance hero stereotype, but that's the whole bit of the book. There were enough details on him to make him not too flat of a character. The sister dynamic was sweet, but her sister was definitely more heavy-handed than I'd personally appreciate (but what do I know as an only child).

The premise was kind of annoying (not the first book I've read with this specific your-private-writings-and-thoughts-were-published-without-your-knowledge-and-now-you-must-apologize storyline), but the story was fun and immediately got me hooked. The third-act breakup was entirely expected, but thankfully not too drawn out and was semi-reasonable. I fear Taylor Swift references are just standard issue for contemporary romance now, but I know people love that. I feared more outdoor talk and plot than there actually was, which suited me well. don't expect the majority of the book to be northern exposure camping extravaganza!

I can see most any contemporary romance lover enjoying this, and I'm pretty impressed this is a debut. I'll definitely be interested in Lavine's next books.

Thank you, Atria Books, for the arc!

Romance book writer Margot feels like a fraud. She doesn't believe in happily ever afters from her own life experience with men repeatedly abandoning her and breaking her heart. During a group call of her fans to announce her next book, she gets called out by a member who hacks her files to view her next manuscript early and instead finds all of her alternate endings. Full of beer bellies, viagra, cheating, and divorce. She ends up canceled by the romance community, and her sister books her an escape in remote Alaska to reinvent herself in a new genre, away from love. Unfortunately for her, life has other plans.

*******

This was such an incredible, satisfying read that I wish I could read it again. Normally, I'm not so effusive about novels, but this one had me in a chokehold. The slow burn, the conviction to their own issues, the hilarity of Margot living begrudgingly through her own tropes - it was so delightful and charming that I burned through this book in one sitting.

I enjoyed how Margot was presented as very much not a nature girl, but it was never truly held in contempt of her. Her semi-high maintenance ways were more of an interesting subtext to who she was in California, instead of becoming another "bimbo in the wild." We see moments of fish out of water, and moments of her growth, interspersed with how deeply she loves and cares, and equally has been damaged.

Forrest, being the walking trope who not only deeply understands her but embraces every quirk and chasm inside her, was such a genuine character that you couldn't fault the third act breakup. It played so well into who the characters consistently were, that you could feel their elation and downfall succinctly. It was here that I felt how well the author knows her characters, that the remorse on the page was palpable.

I loved the full circle moment at the end, and how genuine and open the dialogue carried through the book. The only areas that got a little bit slow for me were the constant similies. Although entertaining, I'm not sure everything needs to be compared to something else to be fully grasped. Other than that catching my eye, I loved this book. Although it was absolutely criminal of the author not to include an epilogue!!

I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a light-hearted escape with a healthy side of despair, love, and personal growth. I know I'll be picking up whatever this author continues to write after this being her debut.

****

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i loved this story! it was so sweet and i loved the concept of her being a “failed” romance author but then finding her own romance

This was adorable and the perfect romcom! I love the characters and the setting! The writing style was so easy to get lost in and I can’t wait for everyone to read this one.

Okay, this was super cute! The synopsis drew me in and it was all I had hoped for and more. 😁

An author who tries to avoid romance and is practically forced into a romance of her own that would fit right into a book. Adorable. :) Loved Forrest. He was dreamy. :)

Spice level: open door

I had so much fun reading Any Trope but You! I always love a book that recognizes that romance readers are the best readers (sorry not sorry) and plays with the idea of tropes in a way that is both fun and slightly making fun of them. It was a very clever way to make a hero who was a doctor who also led wilderness excursions, carried people down mountains, and sometimes helped out when there was only one tent without it seeming ridiculous.

On top of having a great sense of humor, I liked how this book explored the challenges of having a family member with a chronic illness without it seeming like those characters were a burden. As someone who struggles with depression one setup I tend to dread is the parent who got depressed and ruined a child's life and now they are stuck caring for them as an adult. While this does happen and it can be really difficult, I think this type of story can often come off as blaming people who struggle. This story really captured how someone can be a person who brings so much joy to other's lives and also needs help sometimes.

If you love a good tropy situation this is a must read! Additionally, if you are a switfty this one is right up your alley! It is also a great fit for fans of hot doctors, fish out of water, enemies to lovers, or a moose cute (ok that's not a thing but I feel like it should be). This is a wonderful debut book and I can't wait to read more from Victoria Lavine!

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine is a delightful romantic comedy that playfully subverts classic romance tropes while delivering a fresh and engaging story. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and their witty banter had me laughing out loud. Lavine’s clever writing and well-paced plot keep the reader invested, making it a fun and satisfying read. I loved how the book balances humor with heartfelt moments, reminding us that love can be found in the most unexpected places. This novel is a perfect pick for anyone looking for a lighthearted escape!

Any Trope but You delivered on almost all my favorite tropes while trying to make it not about the trope. Margot is a romance author who essentially ends up living out a romance novel much like the ones she writes. She points out the tropes as they happen to her, to her chagrin but not really because… c’mon. We meet also meet Forrest… of the forest. A bit on the nose but at the same time funny and adorable. The tension… the banter… the spice (mild to moderate)… was wonderfully combined in ATBY. Mountain Daddy is definitely on my list now.

I wish Forrest called her California more often (I’m a sucker for nicknames) and that there was an epilogue. It would’ve been the cherry on top for me.

ATBY was just delicious. I ate it up. Victoria served up a three course meal with this debut!!! Loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Margot is a romance writer who is met with a disgruntled audience due to the release of some personal writing regarding her opinion on Happily Ever Afters. In order to escape from the situation, bad publicity, and stress; her sister Savannah convinces Margo to go to Alaska for some R&R. Upon arriving, Margot immediately meets Forrest, in a trope-worthy meet cute…except Forrest has a surly attitude.

And the R&R Margot expects to enjoy while writing her newest mystery novel turns out to be impossible, as she’s landed at an adventure lodge. Margot must prove herself with weekly excursions in order to receive information from her sister. Of course, during these excursions, trope after trope occurs with Forrest, the incredibly attractive son of the lodge owner.

My first book by Victoria Lavine, and I will definitely pick up her next book. Her characters were fun to read and easy to attach to. Her description of Alaska, particularly the lodge, played a huge part in the book and my enjoyment of it.

While I do feel some of her characters stories were not smooth introductions and integrations, things became smoother as the book continued. As I said, her depiction of the Alaskan wilderness and lodge, made me feel like I was there. I could smell the trees, picture myself in the cabins, and the sauna…oh the sauna.

Overall, this was a cute little book for those who love rom-coms. Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I will be the first to say that I HATED the beginning of this book. The idea that a romance author can’t have her own beliefs on love and a private file on HER stories is wild. I did not think it was realistic at all that she was immediately cancelled by her ENTIRE fanbase. I did almost DNF’d it at around 20% but I held on hope and I am glad I did.

I liked the overall development of ALL of the main characters throughout the book and how they overcame their fears. I loved that the FMC and the MMC both shared a lot of the same struggles with their family members and having to uproot their lives to care for someone else. I think without this part, the relationship between them would have been very surface level.

HOWEVER I didn’t really love Margot. In the beginning she felt like an entitled brat who expected too much. She didn’t really even treat Forrest good until she got to know him better. One thing that really bothered me was how she had to pick out everytime a trope happened to her - I found this super annoying and kind of took away from the story for me. Forrest also had his issues and while he was good at validating Margot, he struggled to see his own flaws.

This was a cute read. It felt very hallmark-ish!!!! I would recommend this book to friends for sure. It is a bit sad at times but overall, a very good read.