The idea for this rom-com was good and the idea was fun but I do feel like I've read something similar before, with some slight differences. The FMC is a romance author who no longer believes in love, and ends up taking a trip to a cabin in the snowy wilderness, and meeting a man that matches every romance trope that she's ever included in a book. Sounds familiar, right?

Margot just didn't interest me as a FMC. her and Forrest, the MMC, start off in some type of bickering relationship that I just wasn't a fan of the way that it was done in this case. Margot was just rude and unlikable from the very start. I get that she had a lot of stress and needed to take care of her sick sister, but there was no reason for her to be the way that she was to people who had nothing to do with that and just wanted to help her.

Now to Forrest. There literally is not much to say about him. He was pretty bland and to me, it seemed like he was just there to play the stereotypical perfect guy that fits into all of the romance tropes. What more could a woman ask for? Let me answer that. A lot more. He was kind. He was polite. He countered Margot's abrasiveness. But where was the personality? He didn't really have any kind of personality that set him apart from any other MMC that I've read about in a romance book, and he wasn't really memorable. Putting the two characters together? I don't really see any kind of actual connection.

Thank you to Atria Books, Victoria Lavine, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

Review: Any Trope But You
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was cute, emotional, and steamy. I’ll admit, it took me a bit to get into it at first, the reference to romance tropes made me cringe just a little—but around the 40% mark, the story really started to feel real. It started to feel deeper and more emotionally layered, and the connection between the characters became more meaningful than just physical attraction.

One of the things I appreciated most was how guilt and grief were portrayed. The emotional weight of losing a loved one or caring for for family when ill, was handled with care, and I found that really rewarding. It gave the story more heart and depth than I was expecting.

The final stretch? A full-on emotional rollercoaster. Love, passion, heartbreak, revelations, and healing all came together beautifully. And Forest? He was thoughtful, intelligent, passionate, and yes, handsome. The kind of MMC you can’t help but fall for.

I already know I’ll be coming back to reread some of my favorite parts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was so excited to read this book based on the blurb, and Victoria Lavine did not disappoint.

With a book that is heavy on the common tropes found in romance novels, you'd think that it would get old or feel forced, but it wasn't. Every single trope was masterfully collected and had it's place for reasons. Set aside the fact that the book was hyper aware of what it was doing (like it felt very break the fourth wall to me), the characters have so much passion and soul.

A cancelled author who runs off to a remote lodge in Alaska meets the grumpy former doctor now her lodge mate for six weeks. What could go wrong?
NOTHING!!!

Margot didn't believe in love/HEA but ends up being part of the quirky tropes she found to be silly but still wrote about.

Gah! this was such a cozy easy read.

This was a really cute book. I very much enjoyed reading all the tropes you see in the romance books you know & love.

This is a perfect summer read; despite the snow. :)

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In a genre that is starting to feel repetitive and all blend together, this books stands out! Loved it!

The sweetest ode to romance novels. Every trope you could think of was in this novel. I absolutely ate it up!

With heart, lush prose, a funny, relatable voice, and enough sexual tension to set the sauna on fire, this was a beautiful love letter to the romance community. From their very first meet cute up until their HEA, I was head over heels for Margo and Forrest.

I loved this one. I started it last night and finished it this morning, it was basically a read straight through type of book that even though set in Alaska would be perfect for a by the pool read. I loved Forrest, the ultimate good guy and every too good to be true romantic hero. It was just a relatively low stakes but emotional book dealing with a tough subject - caretaking. I highly recommend.

As an Alaskan girlie, I was chomping at the bit to dive into Victoria's romcom. I am a sucker for books about books or authors and the fact that Any Trope but you follows a romance author and a hot lumberjack doctor? It was everything I needed and more. My wintery, Alaskan heart is overjoyed.

I will absolutely be reading anything and everything else by Victoria now.

3.75 stars! This was a fun quick read with just the right amount of spice. Like the title suggests it really leans into the romance genre tropes but does so in a comical way that is tongue and check. Some story lines are a bit over the top and corny but overall this was a perfect quick cozy read.

We have a jaded romance writer who has her secret file of alternative endings randomly hacked and leaked ruining her career. Her sick sister sends off to Alaska to get her writing grove back - wherein she meets another jaded person who fits every romance MMC archetype. While they both fight not to have feelings, every trope you can possibly have makes it hard for them not to fall in love.

I’m on the fence on what I feel about this story… it was a cute quick read, but also it felt like it was about two characters, despite having family members they have decimated their lives to taking care of, let them go live their lives together, which is hard to imagine as someone who takes care of her own parents.

I was excited to ready Any Trop but You since it's based in my home state of Alaska! I have to say it was a DNF for me since it was spicier than I enjoy reading. The storyline was good and the writing was also great, it just wasn't my style.

I really loved this one! This is a really perfect debut. The tropes are top notch and Forrest is an amazing book boyfriend. I loved that the inciting incident was in Margot being outed as a romance author who didn’t believe in romance. It was a perfect set up for the romance even better than fiction that was heading her way.

Any Trope But You is a fun and heartwarming rom com set in a snowy Alaskan lodge. The story follows Margot, a romance author who secretly hates happy endings. When her dislike for love stories goes viral, she escapes to Alaska to fix her image—and her next book. While she is there, she meets Forrest, the grumpy lodge owner who wants nothing to do with her. But as they spend time together, sparks fly (of course, it’s why we love this genre, right?!)

This book is full the usual feel good components like enemies-to-lovers, forced close proximity, and a small-town setting which again, we love in our rom com stories! Margot and Forrest both have emotional struggles that make their bond feel real and the setting is cozy and perfect for a winter read. The chemistry between the characters is on point as is the twist that I didn’t see coming!

Read: May 29th - June 6th
Format: E-book
Rating: No rating, DNF @ 25%

I'm so sad to be DNF-ing a book about an author because I LOVE bookish books. But after chapter 1, I just could not get into this. The writing doesn't grab me, and I don't really feel any chemistry between the two leads. Yes, they relate on the whole "family member with disability we dedicate our lives to" thing, but that's it. And they barely understand much past that before they're giving each other the "I want to kiss you" eyes.

Also, something about the way the MC refers to things as tropes comes off as cringe to me.

Between the writing not really gripping me, the characters also not really clicking with me (either together or separate), I'm just not going to continue.

Others have really loved this book, though, so I hope more can as well 💙 It just won't be me.

Unfortunately, this story wasn't for me. I DNF'ed not too long into the story when the author meets a guy who has all of her favorite characteristics that she has put into her main male characters in her romance novels. For some reason the story just felt too much too quickly.

Any Trope But You is a delightful and self-aware romance that playfully embraces everything I love about rom-com tropes, while also poking fun at them. The story follows two former best friends turned enemies who are forced back together by a fake dating scheme, only to find that old feelings never truly disappeared.

Victoria Lavine strikes a perfect balance between humor, heart, and heat. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is electric, and the emotional depth gives the story real staying power. It’s a love letter to romance fans, especially those who live for second chances, forced proximity, and a well-earned happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Victoria Lavine's debut, Any Trope but You, is a charming nod to the romance genre, embracing beloved tropes while delivering a heartfelt story. Set against the snowy backdrop of Alaska, the novel introduces us to Margot, a romance author grappling with her own disbelief in happily-ever-afters, and Forrest, a former cancer researcher turned resort caretaker 🫶

Their interactions are laced with witty banter and undeniable chemistry, making their journey from reluctant acquaintances to something more both entertaining and endearing. Lavine masterfully weaves in classic romance elements (forced proximity, a single tent scenario, and meddling family members) without making them feel clichéd.

Beyond the romance, the novel delves into deeper themes of personal growth, familial responsibilities, and the challenges of confronting one's fears. The emotional depth adds layers to the narrative, ensuring it's not just a lighthearted read but also a reflective one.

While the pacing occasionally slows, particularly in the middle chapters, the engaging characters and heartfelt moments more than compensate. For fans of Emily Henry or those seeking a cozy read that celebrates and playfully critiques romance tropes, Any Trope but You is a delightful addition to your bookshelf. ✨

I love that the main characters were both caretakers. The way the author developed that plot line was done very well. It gave the caretaker viewpoint in a realistic and thoughtful way. Having that as the reason why their romance wouldn’t work was realistic and had me rooting for them even more.