Oh, for cute.

The idea of a book full of tropes didn't sound like fun, but right from the start the humor of this pulled me in, and that it was about why those tropes work in the first place. Margot is in a rough spot - her career smashed to bits, caring for her sister, and also resisting love and relationships. When her brilliant sister sends her off to Alaska to write, she meets Forrest. The perfect, albeit grumpy, man. The chemistry between them is immediate, and neither of them wants it.

Their resistance was also funny - it meant that Miranda didn't have much of a filter, and some of the joking banter between them is not even remotely sexy, but you can see how it builds their relationship. I was laughing out loud at multiple points in this book just from the way these two are together, not just events but also the way they speak to one another.

There's also a plot regarding both Miranda and Forrest as caretakers, what that means, how it changes their priorities, and it impacts their ability to be in a relationship fully. Events occur that impact both of them, but always with care and sympathy. It's hard to confront the idea that the person you're taking care of needs space from you, and to see and hear them as a person and not their illness.

Cute, steamy, and a laugh out loud read.

Any Trope But You is such a cute and fun read. I loved Alaska being the setting and the grumpy/sunshine trope is one of my favorites! I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun romance!
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

If there’s a microtrope I love more than the others it’s the Alaska wilderness microtrope. But enter my other love, hot doctor/researcher? It’s over for me.

This was such a cute and heartwarming story about Margot, a romance author who stopped believing in HEAs, who runs away to Alaska when a work scandal hits. She runs straight into the arms of Forrest, the grumpy wilderness guide and inn keeper.

The book contains so many tropes and Forrest is the amalgamation of some of the best ones you can find in a MMC. I thought it would be too much, but it actually made the plot quite funny. I loved Margot’s constant gripes about the tropes that kept falling into their laps.
This book is for anyone who is a lover of the genre and wants something that gives you all the tropes but in a way where the author is aware of and points out that this is exactly what they’re doing.

Margot and Forrest’s chemistry was really great from the start. And I loved their banter. But this might be because I thought Margot was funny in a chaotic but somehow still put together way.

Margot’s relationship with her sister and Forrest’s with his dad were also really cute. I loved the sibling moments we got between Margot and Savannah. Sibling dynamics as adults are so hard to navigate, even without one taking on a caretaker role.

Even though the pacing at the end felt a smidge rushed, I had a great time reading it.

Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, only one bed (tent), kinda enemies to lovers, and my faves Alaska and hot doctor/researcher.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a solid debut by Victoria Lavine. It was well-written, with a heartfelt story both for the couple and their individual family relationships.

That being said, for someone reason I had a hard time connecting to it. Honestly, it might just have been a case of the wrong book at the wrong time, or my expectations that there would be more fun hijinks based on the cover and their initial meeting?

I really can’t pinpoint precisely, so I would absolutely recommend this book to readers, because I think it’s a great read. It just wasn’t a five-star for me for whatever reason.

Thank you to Atria for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I actually really enjoyed this author’s debut book “Any Trope But You”. I thought it was adorable, thought provoking, and hilarious! Margot, a romance author, is ousted by an internet hacker that she writes romance but doesn’t believe in happy ever after and is subsequently “cancelled” by her fans. Her sister, Savannah, sends her on an Alaskan adventure to get away and rediscover herself. There she challenges herself to wilderness adventures, meeting new people, finding herself, and discovering true love and happiness. In Alaska, she also meets Forrest, a cancer researcher, and the son of the resort’s owner. He is taking care of his father, who recently fell in. Both are not looking for love but as all romance novels go they find it with each other. It was funny how so many romance tropes were added into their story, that even Margot acknowledges it.

The romance between them was a fast burn which I didn’t mind as the story only takes place over 6 weeks. It was quick, but they opened up to each other once they let their walls down and trusted one another.
They both are such strong willed and selfless characters to give up their life to take care of family members. They were finally able to have someone who understood one another . And I loved seeing their family members push them out of their comfort zone and be selfish with their decisions. The banter between characters was hilarious and it furthered the story along. There was a 3rd act breakup which was a little frustrating but luckily the story jumped forward 2 months so it didn’t last too long. I just wished Forrest would have groveled a little bit more after the way he ended it with Margot. Overall, a fantastic debut from this author.

Very cute and meta love story. It tries to hit as many tropes as possible in a sweet way. The romance was cute and the side characters provided depth in the story. I had a good time reading the book.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ARC REVIEW: ANY TROPE BUT YOU by @victorialavinewrites 🫎❄️🪵
Publication date: April 1 2025 (OUT NOW!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Review:
Excuse me?? This is a DEBUT???? girl you better keep writing cause I ATE THIS UP. THE BANTER. THE SPICE. I just 😍😍😍

Chronic illness representation was SPOT ON and was such a refreshing point of view. It gave me all the feels for how much I appreciate my husband 😭. The FMC and MMC are both caregivers for their loved ones and are the most selfless souls.

He’s a hot doctor? Ma’am say less 🏃‍♀️. A city girl forced to be in the wilderness which goes …as expected? Hilarious and relatable.

Tropes: ALL OF THEM!!
So, if you love any trope you will love this because it has it. I love how it was done so organically but got totally called out 😂
- however this includes some I don’t love and therefore 4.5 and not 5 star cause honestly so good and almost 5 stars but 😠 I’m lookin at you 3rd act ….

🚨 TW: mentions of cancer, injury leading to paralysis/ disability, brief mention of sick child (in the past), cancel culture, miscommunication, 3rd act you know what, chronic illness, called off wedding

thank you to Atria @atriabooks and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🤍

Read if you like

*debut novels
*Alaska setting
*she’s a disgraced romance author
*he’s a doctor who’s helping his dad run their rental cabins
*grumpy and grumpier
*forced proximity
*slow burn
*laugh out loud funny

Are you ready for *all* the tropes? This debut novel is adorable - Forest and Margo are great MC’s. And this is so self aware and pure fun to read due to that awareness.

I didn’t love the ending (way too rushed) but I adored this debut. I will absolutely read Ms Lavine’s future works.



Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

This book is GOOOOOOD. Like stay up until 1am, read in one sitting type good. And I am a mom of two, kindergarten teacher with a deployed husband so my sleep is precious to me if that says anything to you…

Margot Bradley is a best selling romance author who doesn’t believe in romance. After being let down by too many men in her life she has come to the conclusion that Happily Ever Afters are fictional, just like in the books she writes. When her romance writing career takes a nosedive and all her fans turn on her, she finds herself exiled (technically her sister planned/executed this trip for Margot) to a remote Alaskan lodge/resort. Margot is determined to put the romance writing behind her and churn out a murder mystery with her newfound abundance of time. She quickly finds herself distracted by the lodges caretaker, and owner's son, Forrest Wakefield. It’s almost as if he is literally every romance trope she is trying to distance herself from all wrapped up and tied with a well endowed bow 🤭😉. Acting upon their sexual attraction/tension would be a bad idea for soooo many reasons so they have to do their best to keep one another at bay…

Everything about this book was wonderful. The writing, the banter, the characters.. I literally found myself laughing loud and hard throughout the whole book. I finished it last night and have caught myself thinking about the characters and what they’re up to as if they are my actual friends. HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Victoria Lavine for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Friends, do yourselves a favor and read this book ASAP!

This was such a fantastic read! It’s left me kicking my feet, giggling and not wanting to put it down at all. I absolutely adore Forest, Margot and all of their tropes. The banter and chemistry was top notch! The perfect romcom when I needed a light read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria publishing for this ARC!

Margot is a bestselling romance author who doesn’t believe in HEAs. When a leak happens, we find Margot going through the wringer and her solution to it all is to run to Alaska to write a murder mystery. Forrest Wakefield is an ex doctor who is now a lodge owner and is a serious grump!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one and honestly, this book was very self aware that it sometimes felt like satire. Margot was all over the place. Her internal monologue didn’t match her actions. As the story went on I couldn’t connect to her character and she annoyed me with a conflict arose and she didn’t take Forrest’s side or at least hear his side of the story first before even choosing a side. Forrest, however, was on her side, no questions asked, when a similar situation arose earlier. It made me question a lot about their relationship and just how solid it was.

The supporting characters were great! It was great seeing how all the tropes that were used came to fruition and worked within the story. I LOVE a story with an Alaskan setting so extra points for that!

Ok, everything about this was so stinking cute. Give me ALL THE TROPES! There are times I love me a good, fluffy Hallmark romcom, and other times they make me cringe so hard that I’m completely turned off from the entire genre for weeks (if not months) on end.

So as a mood reader, it’s important for me to know what I’m getting myself into. I like to set myself up for success, ya know? I must have read this at the exact right time because I loved everything about it from the beginning to the end (as rushed as it might have felt—give us more Margot & Forrest, PLEASE). I’m excited to read more of Victoria Lavine’s work and can’t believe this was her debut!

This book? Absolute romance gold. If you love all the tropes, this one packs them all in and still feels fresh, fun, and totally unique. I adored the main characters and was so invested in their story.
Seriously, save this one for a cozy winter weekend or a chilly day when you need something warm and fuzzy. It’s charming, witty, and had me grinning from start to finish. Highly recommend for your next comfort read!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Margot Bradley, is a famous romance author who struggles to believe in the romance stories she writes, retreats to snowy Alaska to write a murder mystery but instead stumbles into a plot straight out of her own novels. Enter Forrest, the rugged resort owner who embodies every romantic cliché she’s ever written and of course he is quite the grump!

I thought that their chemistry was undeniable and once they got together you could just see how well they complimented one another. There’s humor, heartfelt moments, and the author did a great job exploring themes of love, family, and self-discovery. What I really loved most was the descriptive language around the picturesque Alaskan setting— it definitely added a cozy backdrop to the story. Lavine also did an amazing job with the authentic character development and emotional depth— overall it was a very good debut! While this was cute I simply wasn’t infatuated with it like many are so take my rating with a grain of salt— so many ppl loved it!

This book was a delight! I laughed and I definitely teared up multiple times and I was sad when it ended, but sighed contentedly because the ending was perfect! Margot and Forrest have an enemies to lovers vibe from the beginning, which is one of my favorites because it builds tension through the witty banter that ensues. The Alaskan setting and wilderness excursions are woven so perfectly into the story. Highly recommend this debut romance!
Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy via NetGalley-all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A huge shoutout to Victoria on her debut book. 💖 What an amazing way to start! 🎉🎉🎉
I absolutely loved this story! It had so many of my favorite tropes all wrapped up in one, plus the chemistry between Forrest and Margot was undeniable. Their extreme adventures together made for such fun, heartfelt moments, as each time together slowly broke down their walls and they eventually learned to love again 💕

The Alaskan setting was written beautifully, and the plot kept me intrigued the whole way through. The supporting characters were such a great addition. I always feel like they can make or break a story, and this crew definitely made it. Plus, the letters from Margot’s sister were so sweet and encouraging! Such a beautiful touch. 💫

This book was such a great mix of romance, growth, and second chances. It’s all about picking yourself up, pushing through tough times, towards getting that happily ever after. Absolutely loved it!

5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. It honestly reminded me of an Abby Jimenez vs Katherine Center kind of storytelling with the many layers to each characters, excellent case of side characters, sizzling chemistry between the FMC and MMC, and some adorable animals of course! I am always a sucker for a grumpy-sunshine mixed with a little medicine (MMC is a doctor and there are 2 key side characters with important medical battles). The author gave a raw representation of some of the challenges that caregivers face when also balancing their careers, lives, and tough decisions they have to make. It also showed how much love can bring to a person's life. Life is always more fun when you have someone special to share it with. This book had so many fun tropes (snowed in...) included in fun ways (it did not feel like trope overload). I would definitely recommend picking up this book and diving in! Even though the cover is giving the winter vibes, this book can be enjoyed during any season!

I cannot wait to read Victoria Lavine's next book!

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine is one of my favorite books I read this year. I could not put this book down. It’s literally packed with all the tropes we love: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, snowed in, one bed…only it’s one tent instead!

Margot Bradley is a romance writer whose career gets canceled after being exposed during a live chat with her readers. She doesn’t believe in “happily ever after” and has a secret alternate “happily never” endings to all her books just for her. While doing a live chat, her alternate endings are leaked. Her fans are furious that she doesn’t believe in the books she writes, and Margot feels like her career is over. Her sister, who is also her biggest fan, sends her to Alaska to escape and try her hand at writing a new genre: mystery now that she feels she won’t be accepted in the romance community again.
Upon arrival, she literally jumps into the arms of Forrest Wakefield, who is chopping wood, as a moose approaches her. Forrest is actually a doctor, but he left his job to take care of his dad and help run the resort, which is why he is in the middle of nowhere, Alaska. There are two other groups of people staying who have visited before because they like how secluded it is (no Wi-Fi) and all the outdoor activities they can do as a group. Margot quickly realizes that she will have to take part in these activities that her sister had planned in advance.

Margot and Forrest perfectly fit the enemies to lovers trope as both have emotional wounds, including heartbreak while learning to trust again. Like I said, I couldn’t put this down, and this would be a book that I would reread again for all the feels. Very few books I’ve read more than once.

Margot is a romance writer who gets caught up in a little internet drama. Her sister sends her off to Alaska to find inspiration for her next book, a thriller.

Instead, she finds the grumpy Forrest who works at the nature retreat she’s staying in. I always love a “fish out of water” type story. And Margot was definitely out of her element! But with encouragement from her sister, she forced herself out of her comfort zone.

I loved the Alaskan setting in this one. Right away we get a hilarious encounter with a moose. This book was funny, yet so swoony. A perfect balance.

There’s just something so special about reading a romance book that involves a romance novelist who is living out her own romance dream! It’s all very meta but heart warming and charming. This book was truly a love letter to both romance readers and the entire community around romance novels, and I truly just ate it up. I loved the actual romance in the book. We have two adults who are age appropriate, who communicate, and are going through real life hard times being caregivers to chronicially ill people in their lives and find solace in each other? Yes, please! But, I also just loved how much the character of Margot felt indebted to the romance community and recognized how important these readers are to the book world as a whole. This was true even when she was going through hard times herself romantically and felt like she was an outsider and rebelled against her romance roots. This book is the epitome of what contemporary romance is! I just loved this book. I thought the entire concept was just so fun and so well done and I could not get enough. This is definitely in the top contender of my favorite romance book of the year so far! HIGHLY recommend to all readers who love a happily ever after.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.