Oh. My. Goodness. I haven’t enjoyed a debut novel this much since I read Emily Henry’s first book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for a review. I did not request this book but boy am I grateful it landed in my hands.

What I love about the new explorations of old tropes is the depths to which different authors can take it. This really delivered on that. It was playful and steamy, but also had a lot of depth. Many times when I read new rom coms I feel like they get to the point where the dude sees how amazing she is based on nothing - but the point of connection between Forrest and Margot has meat on the bones. So, when we inevitably get to the dramatic point in the book where things go wrong - it feels real and full of heart, instead of contrived even if you know that’s where it’s headed. The characters are driven by deep care and love by those around them, and some fear gets mixed into that - and it feels REAL. I really enjoyed this, the jokes were cute without being too corny, the fears real, the hunk real sexy. If anything he was hunky enough that I could have used more steamy scenes - but maybe then the character development would have lagged. I also feel like other authors sometimes create a bit of a caricature of the empowered feminist leading heroine, and belabor their points related to that, but Margot was imperfect and doing her best but not in a way where she’s totally blind to her shit ( for the most part, cause that’s a trope too so it had to be in the book).

I hope her debut makes this author into a star because I need more novels from her.

If John Green, Chloe Liese, and Ali Hazelwood had a book three-way (Sorry, John. I'm trying to make a point here), then you would get Victoria Lavine’s “Any Trope But You.”

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book was perfect. The writing was beautiful, so impactful, and every big moment or revelation the characters had just took my breath away. I have so many notes and highlights on my kindle where I said to myself, “oh, this is good and I wish I was this deep.” She's a romance novelist who doesn't believe in love and I was rooting for her from the JUMP!

Moreover, I cannot believe that this is a debut novel because it was utter perfection. *chef’s kiss*. From the dialogue to the character backstories we hear about as the main story develops, every aspect of this novel was so intentional, delicate, and powerful. The fmc was witty, hilarious, jaded, a little annoying at times, but I was still rooting for her at every page turn! And don’t get me started on Forrest, the mmc. 🥵

Lavine is now on my auto-buy author list!

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the privilege of reading an e-ARC from NetGalley. 💚

P.s. A word of advice, don’t finish this book in public. You will ugly cry. Like, sob. 😅

I enjoyed the overall story, but at times it a little too cheesy for my tastes. It got better as the story progressed, but it certainly made me cringe at points. I felt the connection between Forrest and Margot and enjoyed their journey together.

Goodreads:

Are you a fan of Romance Tropes? This is the book for you!

Any Trope but You follows Margo Bradley, disgraced romance author, to Alaska as she attempts to write her next novel. Only problem? Forrest from the forest and all his inherent tropes.

This book does a great job of almost “breaking the 4th wall” addressing romance books, fans and tropes. Forrest is your next top book boyfriend and a self proclaimed “Margo Bradley kind of guy now”.

Great read (especially in the winter months!) with moderate spice!

This book was provided to me by NetGallery and Atria Publishing in exchange for an honest review.


Instagram:

Grab your hot cocoa bookworms: this one is a must-read for your TBR pile! Just finished reading Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine, and I’m absolutely obsessed! 🌟 This ARC provided by NetGalley deserves a solid **5 stars**! ⭐️✨

With its 🌶️ moderately spicy 🌶️ scenes and witty banter between the main characters, it’s a delightful read. Plus, the Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout make it even more fun! 🎶💖

If you love a good romance with a twist of humor, this one’s for you!

This one didn't quite work for me! Absolutely love the premise, the setting (my first Alaskan romance!), and the meta element, but the voice wasn't a fit. Grateful for the opportunity to get to know this author. I'm eager to keep looking for my 2025 début gems!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. This is for the romance girlies through and through. I would recommend this to fans of Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez.

Any Trope But You is about romance writer Margot, who stops believing in happily ever afters. Once the world gets wind that she actually doesn’t believe in love, she is forced on a trip to Alaska to reinvent and rediscover herself. In comes Forrest, a walking MMC trope himself. I DEVOURED this plot line. It is the epitome of romance tropes and LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it!!!

Without revealing too much, there is romance (obvi.), there is plot with depth, there is banter and wit, and there is some spice. This is a MUST add to your summer 2025 TBR!

Thank you so much to Atria Books, and Victoria Lavine for letting me enjoy this e-arc. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to enjoy Margot and Forrest and the rest of the gang.

Book Review: "Any Trope but You" by Victoria Lavine

Victoria Lavine's "Any Trope but You" is a delightful romp through the landscape of contemporary romance, anchored by the witty repartee and palpable chemistry between its protagonists, Margot and Forrest. This engaging story deftly plays with romantic tropes while subverting expectations, making it a refreshing read.

Lavine hooks readers with her sharp dialogue. The banter between Margot and Forrest is electric, filled with playful jabs and clever comebacks that not only entertain but also reveal their deepening connection. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the tension that builds throughout the story keeps you eagerly turning the pages.

Lavine's ability to balance humor with genuine emotional moments is exemplary. As Margot and Forrest navigate their feelings amidst misunderstandings and personal growth, readers are treated to a rich exploration of love in all its complexities.

I also appreciated the incorporation of Taylor Swift references, which add an extra layer of charm for fellow Swifties.

In a genre often filled with predictable plots, "Any Trope but You" stands out as a delightful twist on familiar themes, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys witty romances. Lavine’s voice is fresh, and her characters are relatable, ensuring that this book will linger in your mind long after the last page.

I cannot wait to see the splash that Victoria Lavine makes with her debut novel, as I truly believe this rom-com will contend with titles in a similar publishing timeframe (and the more the merrier, in my opinion)! Everyone should look forward to April 2025!

I give "Any Trope but You" 5 out of 5 "Chars!"

Note: this ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley!

I was afraid that the constant in-book trope talk would make me not like this book, but I'm happy to report that I found it adorable! I feel like the characters really grew throughout the story. It was a cute, quick read!

Absolutely loved this!! Its was funny, there was spice, there were so many emotions and I absolutely loved Margot’s character. You see her nurturing side and her vulnerable side and omg I just loved it.

I loved how as a romance writer herself she called out the “cliche” tropes as they happen in her real life. Margot and Forrest have just such a great romance story and seeing them fall in love when they both have full lives is so realistic and beautiful.

When Margot’s career gets put on hold, after the world finds out she’s a romance writer who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters, her sister sends her to Alaska for an escape. There, she meets Forrest and despite neither being interested in love, they find themselves every romance trope there is.

This will be a top 2025 read and a perfect book for fans of Abby Jimenez, Jess Joyce, Meghan Quinn and Tarah Dewitt (I know an epic combo)! A romance set in Alaska with snow filled adventures, tropes on tropes, self-discovery, fantastic banter and writing that just sucks you in. There was so much depth and realness to both Margot and Forrest. I loved their backstories and how their experiences caring for others made them understand the other all the more.

Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Books about romance authors
-Breast cancer awareness
-One bed/ snowed in
-Swiftie references
-Debut novels
-Alaska setting

Omg i want to thank Victoria lavine and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. This book was so good for getting me out of a reading slump it was so perfect. This is such a homage to the romance readers the way the Victoria put all the romance girls favorite tropes together in this book so good. 5/5 ⭐️’s

4.75 ⭐️

I was invited to read this book by Atria publishing.

This book is not out yet but I highly suggest adding it to your “Want to Read.” Romance writer Margot ships off to middle-of-nowhere Alaska after her file of miserable romcom endings gets released and her fans unceremoniously drop her. Of course there’s a meet cute, and dozens of romance tropes Margot desperately tries to avoid. She and Forrest bond over caregiver fatigue and their individual selflessness for those in their life that need them. I truly can’t believe this is this authors debut.

dnf at 69%

frankly, i should've known from the beginning this wasn't going to work from me. this novel was too "meta" for my personal liking, especially when it came to referencing tropes, but i decided to give it a go, and in the beginning it was actually very promising. i was interested in the very close relationship margot and her sister had, how she was savannah's caretaker, and how this mirrored forrest's situation with his father. it slowly but steadily went downhill, being in margot's head was exhausting and at times annoying, it felt very repetitive and at some point after another misunderstanding between the two main characters i just gave up.

ATBY follows Margot (My aunt shares this name with our FMC, except in her case it's spelled 'Margo' so I spent the whole book trying to undo 30 years of niecehood) and Forrest. Get it? A...forrrrrresst in Alaska?

Margot is an author who has spent years writing happy ever afters for her audience, the reading community. She's a highly sought after author who has made her living in the field! Yet secretly, she doesn't believe in them at all. Margot releases book after book out into the world with drool-worthy FMC/MMC relationships that help her readers to believe in love. Behind the scenes, however, Margot has a secret file titled 'Happy Never Afters' where she writes alternate endings to her bestsellers. Alternate endings in which the relationships spiral, ending in divorce, loss of youth and health, and so on.
That file is accidentally leaked, and the industry essentially tries to 'cancel' Margot. She leaves at the request of her very ill sister for some solitude in the wilderness of frigid Alaska.

"Margot, what is this? Is this real? It says here that Avery and Caleb ... get a divorce? That Caleb ..." A sharp gasp. "Gets a beer belly?"

A lot about this book that I really enjoyed. The concept was frankly hilarious. I highlighted quote after quote and the author did a stellar job with prose. The style of writing is 'let your hair down' in a way that really let me relax into the plot. She took a lot of chances with a more 'lax' but creative style, and I think it paid off nicely.

"Is wood chopping an Olympic sport? If not, it should be. I've never felt more patriotic in my life."

"Under the overhead light of the porch, he looks even younger. Almost Peter Pan-ish, if Peter had gone through puberty and taken up mountaineering."

This will likely be an unpopular opinion, but I think we could have done a little more in the setting, which might sound silly as there are several excursions that take place on this trip, but if you're going to Alaska, liiiiiiiive out there! Maybe I need to read that other book, the one about the guy living in his van in Alaska. Except, wait... I think that guy dies. Disregard.

The really amusing thing about this book is that Margot leaves home intending to leave romance behind, and instead, finds a guy who encompasses every single trope under the sun in one way or another. It's very funny and nearly to the point of satire, but in a good way.

"Is this another trope? If so, I'm okay with it. Huge fan. It feels like more than an olive branch. It feels like a gesture. A message."

Lavine also manages to sew in a few deeper moments, though the plot, for me, was largely lighthearted.

"But maybe some baskets don't want to be filled with warm and cozy feelings. maybe some baskets are destined to be decorative because they know hats can be pulled over eyes and scarves can choke."

This book does have a fair amount of spice so make sure you are open to that or willing to skip it (I am not a big fan of this, and skipped over portions of it. It did not take away from the story!). Only other thing I will say is that I did NOT agree at all with the characters idea at the end of the book of what a HEA ultimately is. But hey, maybe that's the romantic in me.

I'm excited to see what else this author does, I will surely read it! Thank you to Victoria and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.0/5.0

Loved it. Margot and Forrest were so god dang cute. Also I cried (it is not a heavy/super sad book, I am just a sap) because I just really loved them both and wanted them to get out of their own way. Adorable

What a fun premise, I also really loved the inclusion of the letters!! So many lovable characters throughout and I felt like each character was given depth and great development

I stopped after chapter 1 (6%) but I really liked the voice and the premise. This will be a great fit for contemporary romance readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.

Tell me, if your favorite romance author got hacked, and it turned out they secret bad endings for all of their books, what would you think? Endings where the couples got divorced, had horrible MILs, things like that? I would think it was super hilarious. In this book, the author has gone through some horrible relationships and doesn't believe in love, so has a secret HNA (happily never after) file and gets canceled and dropped by her publisher when it gets released.

So off she goes to Alaska to try her hand at a new genre and get away from everything. Obviously, meet-cute bc of course. This book is so amazing! Definitely would recommend it to anyone would loves romance (unless you are looking for a clean romance, tons of smut).

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book in exchange for my honest review!!!

An adorable, trope-laden romcom that is perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn! Margot is forced into a 6-week writing retreat by her sister, where her meet-cute with Forrest sparks a chain reaction of romance tropes that feel like there's a behind-the-scenes producer masterminding their interactions. This was sweet and fun, and I quickly flew through the banter and budding relationship between Margot and Forrest.

Fun and entertaining read. A little trope-y (we were warned with the title!) and cliche at times. A lot of the plot required a bit of suspended disbelief, but I was happy enough to go where the story took me. A decent mix of cozy and steamy. It's a decent fun/silly read, recommend if you're in the mood for that