Absolutely gobbled this story up!! The way the characters are written, the banter, the spice! This one is going to blow up on booktok! It’s such a fun read!!

(Actual: 3.50-3.75⭐) Another decently cute & spicy romcom that certainly checks off most of the "right" boxes (especially for a debut work), but ultimately fell just short of the home-run mark for me when it came to the characters and execution of the plot. While I found the premise of ATbY to be very interesting and original, the pacing was a bit.... off? I don't know, sometimes it just really DRAGGED for me, but I also think that may be because I had a hard time connecting to Margot, our FMC, because of how inconsistently she is written. For as many times as I felt like she was naturally growing and progressing as a character, there were just as many times where she would do or say or think something so rude or seemingly OOC that it'd feel jarring and make her rather unlikeable in the eyes of the reader. And I don't mind unlikeable characters! I love flawed MCs/ensemble casts, it makes them all the more realistic for me. I still rooted for her, her arc, and her eventual romance with Forrest— I just feel like Lavine didn't know 100% how to write her during certain scenes/points, and it shows. That said, I loved Lavine's atmospheric writing when it came to describing Alaska/general settings within the book; I had no trouble at all visualizing where the characters were or what they were doing, and I did find most of the humor genuinely funny* (*some parts were def a bit cringe though, so be ~warned lol). Overall, I'd still recommend this book because it was fun and the premise is unique and mostly works— I look forward to what she comes out with next and to see her growth as an author!

A very successful romance writer, Margot Bradley—whose own love life is nonexistent and who is quite jaded by the whole soulmate thing—finds herself in quite the predicament when her computer is hacked, releasing her “Happily Never After” file to the world. 😱💻 This file contains all the alternate endings to her novels—ones without a happily ever after! Her readers are not happy, and Margot is swiftly cancelled. 🚨📉

To escape the chaos, Margot’s sister sends her on a six-week trip to Alaska 🌲❄️, hoping she’ll find inspiration to write again—and maybe even find herself. With no WiFi and a complete break from her cushy L.A. life, Margot is in for a serious change.

Upon arrival, she literally crashes into the lodge’s wilderness guide, Forrest. 🏕️🔥 Tall, dark, and handsome? Check. Annoying? Double check. 😂 But as the story unfolds, Margot and Forrest keep stumbling into classic romance tropes (totally intentional, btw 😉), while also learning why each of them ended up in Alaska in the first place.

I found Margot & Forrest’s romance to be swoon-worthy, witty, and real. 🥰 Their family dynamics added an unexpected emotional depth, which I loved. This debut novel truly impressed me, and I can’t wait to see what Victoria Lavine writes next! 📚✨

Thank you so much @netgalley & @atriabooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! 💖

Margot Bradley is a beloved romance author with a dark secret. She doesn't believe in Happily Ever Afters. She even has a "Happily Never After" file, with alternate endings to her books. All seems to be going great until her computer is hacked, and her secret "Happily Never After" file is leaked during an online interview. Soon, she finds herself canceled by her readers and her publisher. She is left struggling to figure out how to take care of her chronically ill sister Savannah and decides to start writing books about murder. In an attempt to help her sister regroup and focus, Savannah books her Margot a 6-week stay at an Alaskan retreat.

As soon as Margot arrives in Alaska, she finds herself running from a moose and leaping into the arms of Dr. Forrest Wakefield, the proprietor of the retreat. Forrest had not expected to leave his career as a cancer researcher to run an Alaskan retreat, but his father's illness changed things. He is getting stagnant, and quite frankly, freezing over while caring for his father and running the retreat, until Margot shows up. One adventure after another, and mishap after mishap, force them to spend more time together, and the last thing he wants is another relationship that could threaten the existence of the family-owned retreat.

What they didn't expect is that they both end up in a romance they tried to avoid.

This was a bit racier at times, but it is still a great storyline, and I would recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book. It had me laughing throughout and also touching at times. What better way to have a romance than bundled up in the Artic and Forest is the perfect 6’3 mans-man to star in it! My only critique is sexy time in a sauna?! That part wasn’t for me, but the rest of it I Loved!

I enjoyed this debut by Victoria Lavine which felt like a love letter to the romance community.

The premise was slightly far fetched and a bit bonkers but Lavine used it to have lots of fun with the typical tropes of romance novels.

Overall it was well written with some very funny lines.

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine is an absolute treat for romance fans! This book cleverly incorporates all the classic romance tropes while giving them a fresh and engaging twist. I adored how the story played with familiar themes while still feeling unique and heartfelt.

The chemistry between the main characters was off the charts. From the first meeting, you can feel the tension, and as they navigate their individual struggles and grow together, it’s impossible not to root for them. The female lead, in particular, was so relatable. Her journey of dealing with past heartbreaks that left her jaded and skeptical about love was deeply moving. Her fear of vulnerability and reluctance to open her heart again resonated with me, and I’m sure many readers will find themselves reflecting on their own experiences as well.

What stood out to me was how the characters’ personal growth was as important as their romance. Both characters had their own obstacles to overcome, and it made their relationship even more meaningful. The way they supported each other was inspiring, showing the power of love, trust, and communication.

The secondary characters added so much fun and flavor to the story. Each one was memorable, bringing a unique charm to the overall narrative. I especially loved how they contributed to the main characters’ growth, both through humor and emotional support.

Victoria Lavine has crafted a beautifully emotional and compelling romance in Any Trope but You. It’s heartwarming, funny, and just the right amount of steamy. This book is perfect for anyone who loves a well-written romance with depth and relatable characters. Highly recommend!

This was a sweet, sexy, and emotional book.

As an Alaskan I appreciate that there's no mention of sheriffs (iykyk) and only one mention of snow mobile made it into the copy I read--snow machine was used every other time. That's a rarity in books set in Alaska written by Lower 48ers and I appreciate the attention to detail. I know that sounds weird, but nothing pulls me out of a story set in Alaska faster than a sheriff or a snow mobile--or worse a sheriff riding a snow mobile!

Back to my review: I really enjoyed the relationships in the books, Margot and her sister, Margo and Trapper and Jo, and of course Margo and Forrest. And the pining!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This book was *every* rom-com lover’s dream! From start to finish, it was an absolute joy to read, packed with humor, heart, and just the right amount of spice (because what’s a rom-com without some delicious tension?).

The way it played with tropes had me laughing out loud, and the *Happily Never After* twists? Genius. One moment, I was crying from sadness, and the next, I was crying from laughter—talk about an emotional rollercoaster!

Also, can we talk about the forest that actually smells like a forest? Perfection. The representation in this book was everything the world needs more of, and honestly, *where* do I find a Savannah in real life? Because we all need one.

Couldn’t put this book down—10/10, *highly* recommend!

Clever. Witty. Sweet. Spicy. Truly a fantastic debut! I can’t stop thinking about this book. Have been recommending to all my romance loving friends!

this didn't work for me. the characters weren't particularly dimensional or likable and the plot was too far fetched. the plot reads like book lovers meets it happened one summer in a way that just feels unoriginal and boring. 2⭐️

thank you netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ I requested this ARC after Becca Freeman adored it so much. About a cancelled romance writer (is it just me or are there LOTS of books about writers lately?) who escapes the social media backlash at a remote Alaskan wilderness resort that happens to be run by the owner’s handsome son who happens to check just about every romance trope on the list. It wasn’t exceptional to me, but it was a cute romance, and I enjoyed the Alaskan setting... I’m kind-of surprised this has a spring release date since it takes place in a snowy location, but what do I know?!?

This was one of my top anticipated reads of 2025 and it did not disappoint! It was an excellent debut and I’m eager to see what Victoria writes next.

If you are a trope lover, this one is for you with Margot, a romance writer, being forced by her sister to spend 6 weeks in a remote area of Alaska. Upon arrival, she literally leaps into the arms of Forrest, who is helping his dad run their inn.

The chemistry between Margot and Forrest was excellent. They both put their family before themselves and I loved that they didn’t need to explain things to each other when they needed to make decisions others would give them grief about.

Rating: 4/5

Quick Synopsis
Margot Bradley, a romance author, goes to Alaska to reinvent herself and write a mystery book after her opinions on happily ever afters is discovered. Dr. Forrest Wakefield helps to run the resort Margot is staying at while taking care of his father. When trope after trope keep bringing the two together, they have to figure out how to become a happily ever after.

Review
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. The chemistry between the two characters is amazing. Forrest literally checks all of Margot’s boxes to the point she thinks he’s come straight out of her books. I really liked the setting and the pacing of the plot. Some of the tropes/themes are small town romance. I would recommend this book to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

When a romance lover gets exposed for not actually believing in happily ever after, she escapes to Alaska to avoid dealing with her crumbling career. There she is forced into adventure and spending time with the handsome Forrest who lives at the lodge. I’ll be honest the romance had potential but little chemistry. Their banter was fun but their connection felt forced. I wanted more fun, more adventure, more stolen moments. All together it was a quick easy read with a handful of steamy scenes. Would have loved more development but that’s okay!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

So well written, funny, and sexy! I loved the romance as well as the familial relationships explored.

I LOVED this book. The mmc was broody and grumpy, just how I like them. I really enjoyed the FMC actually. She overcame not wanting to be there and being so upset with her sister to actually enjoying Alaska (kind of). The side characters were also great and added so much history to the lodge. It really showed how loved it was and why Forrest was fighting to keep it up and running. Margot’s relationship with her sister was so incredibly real. The letters Savannah sent broke Margot, but also put her back together. I loved how Margot and Forrest came together and while there were some sad parts (I definitely teared up) the ending was so so good. I do wish there was more though!
Overall, I liked the setting and the characters. I liked Margot and Forrest, both together and separately. This was a really good one!

While I did find the premise of this super fun, the execution was not, I’m afraid, and I’m kinda sad about it.

The idea of a romance author secretly rewriting the endings of her novels to reflect the harsh reality (in her opinion) only for everyone finding out and basically upending her whole career and then her going to Alaska to change it up and write a thriller while meeting a hot doctor? That sounded great to me.

My reading experience though was mostly filled with some serious second-hand embarrassment, an unlikeable fmc and a romance I didn't care about.

I just couldn’t stand Margot. She came across very rude and entitled and defensive. I can’t for the life of me figure out why Forrest would ever be interested in her, seeing the way she acted towards him.
And with an unlikeable main character, you can’t win in a romance setting. I need to like the main characters in a romance, or it won’t work for me.

I did enjoy the Alaska setting but that was about it.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A romance author who doesn’t believe in happy endings and a man straight out of a romance novel? YES PLEASE! Margo, has to escape after her readers feel she betrayed them, so her sister books her a 6-week trip to Alaska. Of course, we have a meet cute with Forest, who is our MMC. Over this slow burn, there is banter, plenty of romance tropes, jealously, and some good character growth. Both of our main characters are caretakers, and this added a depth that I personally really enjoyed. If you love a good romance with a little bit of cheese factor, you’re gonna like this one!
Stay safe but not too safe,
Lauren

Review will be posted on my insta closer to pub date

This book was so cute, I loved it. It made me feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside, I loved that she discovered who she is, and that she found someone who loves her for her