4.5/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 0/5😢

Finally a rom-com that is ACTUALLY laugh-out-loud funny!! When I tell you I literally snorted in almost every chapter, I am not exaggerating 💀

I really loved this debut novel—a true love letter to romance readers and authors, it mashed up (and lightly poked fun at) a lot of the common “tropes” and plot devices used in romance books. The main characters self-journeys were heartwarming and thoughtfully crafted, creating a well rounded rom-com that was equal parts hilarious and touching.

If you love contemporary romance genre books, this book is an absolute MUST READ! ✅

𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗺͟𝗲͟𝘀͟ ͟&͟ ͟𝘁͟𝗿͟𝗼͟𝗽͟𝗲͟𝘀͟:
→ Alaskan wilderness setting
→ hot doc x romance author
→ both MCs are caregivers
→ loathe to lovers (& all the witty banter to go with it)
→ ONLY ONE TENT ⛺️ (among many other tropes lol)

This was such a cute book. Going through every trope was fun. It was a easy, light, predictable read. I would recommend.

I really enjoyed seeing the characters progress in this story. The story was well paced and well written. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured it in just a few sittings.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I ADORED this book. Every trope you love is in it and it’s so self aware that it tells you right in the title that it’s coming. I was trying to put my finger on exactly why I loved it so much and I finally got it- it’s like if Kate and Anthony from Bridgerton got put in present-day Alaska, and their names were Margot and Forrest.

Victoria Lavine- you have an instant fan in me!

This was honestly the cutest Romcom l've read in a long time! I read this one in two days, and lately that's been a rarity for me. I absolutely loved the storyline, so much of it had me rolling (especially the beginning of the book).
Margot's and Forrest's witty banter, seriously had me laughing out loud and the love that they both have for their families is just truly amazing. I loved all of the characters, I loved all of the millions of tropes and I would definitely recommend you to pick this one up!

Any Trope but You follows a romance author who has been "canceled" that travels to Alaska to get inspired and to hopefully reinvent herself.

Margot is our FMC and she is anti romance despite being a romance author. I didn't love her as a main character but she made me laugh and I did want her to have her Happy ever after. Forrest checked all the boxes as far as book boyfriends go- every box you could think of he checked. Margot, on the other hand, was not very likeable and at times I wondered what he saw in her besides being very pretty.

I think the use of all our favorite trropes in one book was fun and comical. I also loved the setting in Alaska and all the outdoor experiences.

I feel like I wanted to see more from the side characters- they really shined to me (her sister and Forrest's father.)

Overall this was a fun read that I would recommend to readers that enjoy a trope filled romance that's easy and quick to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for this ARC!

This is the cutest yet most heartwarming debut book I’ve read this year. Any Trope but You follows Margot Bradley, a romance author who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters, and Forrest Wakefield, a cancer researcher who left the city life to work at his family’s resort in Alaska. When Margot’s secret Happily Never Ever document gets hacked and leaked to the public, Margot’s sister books her a trip to Alaska to write a murder mystery as a way to recoup. Between meeting Forrest and her stay in Alaska, Margot realizes that perhaps happily ever afters do exist after all.

Margot and Forrest’s meet-cute was hilarious and fitting. Their banter and chemistry were so enjoyable and adorable. With almost every romance trope incorporated into the story, ranging from enemies to lovers all the way to only one tent, Lavine debuts a delightfully splendid book that is enjoyable and fun to read. However, despite the easygoing nature of the book, Any Trope but You also touches on serious topics and themes of self-discovery, sacrifice, love, and loss. It also acknowledges the importance of family, the navigation of life after failure, and the courage to try again.

Humorously witty and touching, Victoria Lavine solidifies herself as a promising debut romance author, and I’m so excited to read her future works.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was incredibly sweet and adventurous. Any Trope But You is fully aware of what it is so even though it could come across cringey, every moment is hilarious and sweet as a disgraced romance author flees to a remote, Alaskan camp and tries to not fall in love with the handsome and caring son of the owner. I loved the relationships both between Forrest and Margot and Margot and her sister, as well as the adventures and growth Margot goes on. She’s a little overly clumsy and awkward in her decision making, but I was rooting for her. Forrest is obviously the perfect MMC based off the title alone (hehehe). The pacing is a little off towards the end but I had a great time.
🪵🌲❄️“I came to Alaska to escape everything I knew. To leave behind my identity as a romance author and write a grisly murder-mystery novel. Instead, I’m having a picture perfect meet-cute with a man who seems ripped straight out of one of my own romance novels.”

Thank you to Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC to Any Trope but You in exchange for my honest review.

Any Trope but You is an outstanding romance book that takes a twist on popular tropes and challenges something I greatly despise, cancel culture. Any Trope but You follows Margot, who after a difficult breakup, no longer believes in love. The only catch, shes a beloved romance author. When the unthinkable happens and her personal Happily Never After journal gets out, her fans turn on her, causing the industry to essentially blacklist her. Determined to continue writing, Margot goes to Alaska for inspiration for her newest pursuit, a murder mystery. However, her sister was the one who booked the trip and she kept some secrets from Margot about where Margot will be staying. While in Alaska, she meets Forrest, whom she dislikes at first, but as time goes on, that dislike turns into something much more passionate.

There are so many things about this book that I love. First, I love the representation that we see in this book, and the fact that the representation does not feel forced. Second, I love that it includes so many popular romance tropes in a new way. As Margot is a romance author, she knows the tropes, so when things like only one bed happen to her with Forrest, she is able to point it out. It gives me what I am craving while also bring in a sense of comedy. The character development in this book was out of this world, both in terms of Margot's development and Forrest's development. I loved loved loved watching them grow both as people and as a couple. Additionally, I really appreciated how this book indirectly discusses cancel culture. I absolutely hate cancel culture. People in the public sphere are expected to be perfect, and when they inevitably make a mistake they are canceled, given a world-load of hatred, and never given a chance to learn and grow. I love how this book showed Margot's experience through cancel culture, and how she was not able to learn/grow, but given forgiveness, something that we do not always see. I could keep going for awhile but I will not. I cannot recommend this book enough. I did not give it five stars, but it was so close! I suggest all romance lovers at least give this book a chance, you will not regret it!

Margot is a bestselling romance author ✍️ Her world comes crashing down when her readers find out she’s a secret love hater *gasp*. How is she going to fix this? 💡Oh! By spending six weeks in the middle of nowhere Alaska, meeting the grumpiest lumberjack-looking-doctor-turned-caregiver-with-sexy-forearms named Forrest (aka Mountain Daddy). She just has to resist the real-life swoon worthy tropes thrown at her. Easy peasy! 😅

Read this if you like:
💫 Romantic comedies
💫 Strangers to lovers
💫 Caregivers for family
💫 Chronic illness rep (not MC)
💫 Bullwinkle the (almost) domesticated moose
💫 Taylor Swift references
💫 Swoony micro-tropes
💫 Dual POV, first person

This is a STUNNING debut novel. I loved it 🥹 The writing was so funny, full of banter and the concept of a romance writer living in her own tropes was so good. This book was a love letter to the romance genre, to family love and the hope of finding your Happily Ever After, even through the ups and downs of life 💕

My rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 5)
My tear-jerker level: 2/5 💧💧
My spice level: 2.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

⚠️: Trigger warnings include: chronic illness, death of parent (off-page), cancer (off-page, not main character), abandonment, injury

This book is packed with humor, heart, and a perfect balance of satire and sincerity. While it leans into every romance trope imaginable, it does so with a self-aware, comedic twist that makes it such a fun read!

I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first—how do you cram so many tropes into one book without making it feel overdone? But Lavine delivers them with a wink and a nudge, making the clichés feel fresh and fun rather than predictable. The result is a book that celebrates romance while poking fun at its most beloved conventions!

One of the standout aspects of this book is the relationship between Margot and Savannah. Savannah’s unwavering support for Margot, despite her own struggles, was so heartwarming and made me want to call my own sister!

The humor in this book is also really good, offering many laugh-out-loud moments without losing the emotional core of the story. Whether it’s Margot’s sarcastic inner monologue, over-the-top romantic situations that feel straight out of a Hallmark movie, or the sheer chaos of the Alaskan wilderness, the comedy keeps the pages turning.

Speaking of Alaska, the setting adds so much charm. The isolated resort, complete with snowstorms and cozy cabins, serves as the perfect backdrop for forced proximity and unexpected romance. It’s the kind of place you can vividly picture while reading, and it adds a layer of magic to the story.

If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this book is for you!

Any Trope but You is about Margot, an author from California, and Forrest, an employee at his family’s resort in the Alaskan wilderness. To help Margot overcome her latest bout of writer’s block and to help inspire her new book, her sister sends her on a journey to Alaska.

I had high expectations for this book because the premise reminded me of one of The Simple Wild (one of my favorite books). And while there were some similarities, this one didn’t work quite as well for me. I didn’t care much for Margot and Forrest as characters (and therefore wasn’t that invested in the romance).

I enjoyed the atmosphere and would recommend this as an easy, wintry read. But I thought the story was lacking depth despite dealing with some heavier topics (i.e., caring for an ill parent). And I found the idea of Margot experiencing lots of romance tropes was silly at first, but I warmed up to it as the story went on.

So overall, this was a nice palate cleanser between heavier reads, and would be enjoyable to the right romance reader! Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc.

This was a romance book that had everything in it to make it for a good read. The location of Alaska was perfect for the storyline. I really enjoyed all the troupes that were in the story. The author has written a great debut book, and I know for sure I will be looking for more books from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Lavine and Atria Books for the book Any Trope but You. This is my personal review.

Overall, Any Trope But You was fun, lighthearted, and super easy to read with a good does of steam. I loved seeing all of the different tropes were woven into the story as well. My only complaint is that things were a bit cheesy and cringe more often than not, which wasn't too much a deterrent as I did overall enjoy.

This book is so unique. The writing was so well done, with colorful language that ebbed and flowed (Seriously, this book had some of the best metaphors and one-liners I’ve ever read) It tugged me into the story right away and didn’t let me go for over 300 pages 😂

The tension between Forrest and Margot was EVERYTHING. Every interaction had me freaking out and ultimately waiting for the moment they realized what they meant to each other. They each had their own unique backstory that complimented each other beautifully, and that made watching them fall in love that much more meaningful. And Forrest is the perfect book boyfriend. He really is all the best tropes mixed into one (iykyk)

Margot’s relationship with her sister was one of my favorite plot points. It explained why Margot was the way she was, because not only was she overprotective of Savannah, but she was overprotective of herself and her own emotions. She put things in a safe box for both of them. I really loved how it played out. The pinnacle scene with them was peak poetry. And Savannah is a f*cking rockstar. It was utter perfection.

Also, this is a DEBUT?! Okay, Victoria, I see you! 🤭👀 I can’t wait to see what else you have in store. I am officially a fan.

Thank you to Atria Books for the eARC via Netgalley! 💌

Okay, hear me out— what do you get when you get a jaded romance writer, an Alaskan mountain man, a winter getaway and every rom-com trope in existence? THIS STORY! I LOVED IT!
My favorite was the duo POV. It added an extra layer to the story. We see how Margot Bradley, a bestselling romance author, slowly gets hit with every romance trope under the sun when she is anti-HEA. Her world comes crashing down when her Happily Never After document gets leaked and she gets canceled. What to do in a strange and tumultuous time like this? Retreat to the wilderness of course and write a completely different genre. What could go wrong? Enter grumpy, cinnamon roll, Forrest Wakefield, a brilliant doctor turned overnight parental caregiver to his sweet father and reluctant Alaskan lodge owner with an adorable doggy!
There was so much I LOVED about this book. The winter snow globe setting, FOREST WAKEFIELD, the slow burn romance and the sister letters. One thing I wish there was more of was the ending. It felt a bit rushed and I needed more time with these two characters.
I cannot believe it’s Victoria Lavine's debut novel. When she delivers, I’m definitely coming back for more!

I thought this was a decently well-written sort of grumpy-sunshine, sort of enemies to lovers kind of romance! I did think it was hilarious and meta that she called out her own romance tropes in real time- very self-aware haha. Highly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this one—so much so that I read it in a single day. The writing is fresh, funny, and perfectly paced. The banter? Exceptional. It’s sharp and witty without feeling over-rehearsed, like the author spent days fine-tuning every joke as if writing a stand-up special. It all flows naturally, making for a truly engaging read.

The setting is wonderfully unique and does a great job of developing the secondary characters without making the outside world feel overwhelming. But what I really loved was the meta aspect of the “romance trope” game woven throughout. It’s a playful, clever touch that makes the book feel even more fun, and I especially appreciated how it fizzled out naturally rather than overstaying its welcome. That was a masterful move.

One thing I’m still thinking about: Forrest, our MMC, felt more fleshed out in terms of background and motivations than Margot, even though she technically had more introspective moments and exposition. I get that the whole joke is that Forrest is the perfect mash-up of every romance hero trope ever—so of course, he’s going to be more defined—but I wish Margot felt a little more real to us, too.

If I could change one thing, I’d want more time with them together. The buildup is fantastic—organic, funny, and entirely believable—but after spending 70% of the book on it, I wanted a bit more payoff. Their time as a couple is compressed into the last 10-15%, which makes the ending feel a bit rushed. It also made me question whether a two-week relationship was really enough to justify moving across the country and completely rewriting your life.

That said, one of the novel’s biggest strengths is how it handles long-term illness and the (sometimes unnecessary) sacrifices we convince ourselves we have to make. It’s a nuanced and deeply thoughtful exploration—kudos to the author for that.

Overall, this is a stellar debut. I’ll absolutely be looking out for whatever Victoria Lavine writes next. I just wish I could have lived in this book a little longer.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

i stars!! this is easily my favorite book of the year so far!!

what an amazing debut! i was laughing out loud, kicking my feet and giggling reading this!

this follows margot, who is a romance author that doesn’t believe in love. during an interview, her happily never after file is exposed to the public and she becomes shamed in the romance world. hoping to pivot genres and get her reputation back, her sister convinces her to take her research trip to alaska after all. set out to write a murder mystery, margot lands in alaska and then lands in the arms of our ruggedly handsome male lead, forrest, after being scared by bullwinkle the moose!

this felt like a love letter to the romance genre. there are so many trope in this book and margot was trying to fight off every single one of them. even with a trope around every corner, it never felt overdone or corny! it was so funny to me every time margot and forrest would find themself in a classic romance trope because margot would call it out immediately.

the relationship between forrest and margot was so flirty, heartwarming and steady. i loved that they could understand each other like very few people could and really empathize with the choices they were making, even if they hurt. this book is perfect for anyone that loves acts of service! being a caretaker was such a big part of both margot and forrest’s lives. i really loved the chronic illness and condition representation. it was so well done and the conversations that happened because of the people in their lives that relied on them were so real and raw.

i loved all the side characters in this book. margot’s relationship with her sister savannah was my favorite. i really loved the way they loved each other so fiercely, their banter, and the way they were each other’s biggest cheerleaders.

overall, i adored this book so, so much. i cannot recommend any trope but you enough!! i will happily read anything victoria lavine writes!!

A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and hide out after being cancelled by the romance genre, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in her own rom-com plot instead.

I'd give it a 4.5 rating. I loved the story, but felt the ending was a little rushed. I wish we had gotten just a little more out of it.

This book was so heartwarming. Margot and Forrest grow so much throughout by working through their familial obligations, career obstacles, and former romantic traumas. It was so honest and real and I feel like this book "broke the fourth wall" in such an interesting way. It hit all the tropes, and did it so perfectly! It's a truly unique story. Margot's growth was probabaly my favorite, I feel like she needed it the most and it felt so real and not surface level like in other books with similar plot points. Forrest had some great growth too, but I felt like his was more forced along than Margot's. Either way, like I said, it felt honest, and I loved it.

I can't wait to read more from Victoria in the future, she is going to be one to watch!
My instagram review will be live 03/18/2025