This book was funny and adorable!

Romance writer Margot has a secret, for every HEA she has ever written, she has also written a secret HNA (happily never after) and tucked them away in a file just for her. She doesn’t believe HEA are realistic, so finishes her stories her own way, even if that’s not what the fans want.

When a hacker leaks her file, her career feels ruined and she needs an escape. Her sister sends her away to remote Alaska to write and get away from all of the negative press. She’s determined to forget romance and go in a totally different direction, but life has other plans when she has every romance trope thrown in her face.

I loved the depth of the characters in this book, how they had to navigate real life obstacles, and loved each other because of them, not in spite of them.

The way more and more tropes kept showing up on the story was humorous and created some fun witty banter.

It was a fun read the whole way through!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure this book would be for me. I don't love the outdoors. I don't really care about Alaska. I for sure don't read (much less experience) camping. But these two characters who are both a little broken and their people sucked me in. This book had heart that I almost didn't see at first. I enjoyed watching them grow and come together so much. I loved their sense of responsibility to their loved ones but also loved how their loved ones took care of them back. I thought the conflict was handled well. I thought that this book about a romance writer who is starting fresh and a doctor finding his purpose was just a great mix of entertainment, swoon and heart.

I am the least outdoorsy person ever (so I related hard to Margot), but this debut from Victoria Lavine made me want to book a flight to Alaska to hike and live in the woods. This book was beautiful and full of layers. It’s the perfect ode to romance, and the most fun grumpy/sunshine dynamic with chemistry that flies off the page. I am so impressed with this debut and cannot wait to read more from Victoria.

Margot & Forrest have banter for DAYS from the very first time they meet. They are immediately at odds (though also immediately attracted to one another) - Margot’s not interested in being in Alaska, and Forrest is not interested in doing anything that may jeopardize the lodge (again). The two are forced together in all sorts of ways and the way Forrest can’t stay away from Margot was so delightful to read.

While this book has so much humor (drier humor sometimes that absolutely made me giddy), and plays with tropes in the most delightful way (only one tent! Steamy sauna moment!), what pushed it to the forefront of my mind was the depth of both Margot & Forrest’s characters. Both sacrifice themselves for those they love. Margot has made every decision she has in order to help her sister out - she’s sacrificed her own love life and become cynical in the process. Forrest has given up a lucrative career and the home he loved in order to be there for his father.

I loved reading the letters Savannah wrote for Margot – the way they built up to the conclusion and also gave us a perfect way for Margot & Forrest to connect. The way they made me SOB at the nostalgia of them. I am such a sucker for epistolary elements in a romance and this was perfect.

And I cannot end this review without giving a shoutout to Forrest. The man, the myth, the legend. Want a down bad man who’s outdoorsy but also a doctor, who’s rugged but sweet for her, who’s got a mouth on him but also cooks for her? Yeah, this is it. In a book full of self-awareness, Margot constantly calling Forrest out for being too good to be true had me cackling. I wanted nothing more than to see them get their HEA (even if Margot had stopped believing in them).

What a treat this one was!
Best- selling romance author Margot Bradley gets outed for being a non-beleiver in romance and gets cancelled by her fans. She takes a 6 week getaway (with limited wi-fi) to Alaska to write her next book- a murder mystery.
When arriving at the lodge she finds herself ending up in romance trope after romance trope with handsome Forrest.
This was so easy to get lost in. I loved both Margot and Forrest and their banter was fantastic. I laughed out loud at so many parts- it truly was a rom-com at it's very best.
I can't beleive this is Victoria Lavine's debut- I'll definitely be reading whatever she puts out next.

4.75 stars from me!

This title releases April 1. Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for early access!

Any Trope but You was such a fun read - the number of romance novel tropes that are fulfilled is high but it is done in a smart and witty way. Margot and Forrest have amazing chemistry from the start - even with their antagonistic ways - you know that the ways that they differ will only make their relationship stronger. And North Star Lodge is definitely a place you want to visit - the setting and people that Margot encounters on her trip make you feel welcome and almost like family. The book doesn't shy away from deeper issues like the loss of a parent and caregiving for a loved one. But did it with so much heart and humor. Highly recommend! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 4/1
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for my free copies!

This book was such a fun surprise! It’s packed with humor, depth, and all the romance tropes we know and love—but with a fresh twist. Margot Bradley, a bestselling romance author, secretly doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. She even keeps a document rewriting her characters’ love stories with breakups and heartbreak. When that document gets leaked, her career tanks and she escapes to a remote Alaskan resort to reinvent herself as a murder mystery writer. The last thing she expects? To end up starring in a rom-com of her own with Forrest Wakefield, the ridiculously handsome resort owner.

Margot and Forrest’s chemistry is off the charts, and the story is full of hilarious banter and deep, emotional moments that hit just right. Their push-and-pull dynamic kept me hooked, and the way they kept stumbling into classic romance scenarios (only one bed, forced proximity, you name it) was so much fun. The snowy, remote setting just adds to the magic, making every moment between them feel even more intense.
Forrest is total book-boyfriend material, and Margot’s journey of self-discovery made this more than just a romance. The fact that both of them are caring for ill family members and struggling under the weight of that responsibility makes the story feel real and relatable.

Overall, this binge-worthy, feel-good read had me smiling and swooning. And it’s a debut, which is unbelievable! Definitely excited to see what Lavine writes next!

In any other book, the number of tropes included would make me roll my eyes. But this was so clever and witty! It’s very self-aware, playfully poking fun at the tropes as they appear, which made them feel genuinely integral to the story. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and I absolutely loved that.

When readers discover their favourite author, Margot Bradley, doesn’t truly believe in happily-ever-afters, offending the romance community in the process, she is immediately dropped by her publisher. Fleeing to North Star Lodge in Alaska, Margot plans to spend six weeks rebranding herself as a murder mystery writer. But then she meets Forrest, the irresistibly grumpy lodge owner who also happens to be a doctor specializing in cancer research. I mean, he’s just too good to be true! Unfortunately, he has one rule: never get involved with the guests.

The romance is fast and passionate, but totally believable! Margot and Forrest are both incredibly loyal, protective, and deeply family-oriented. I loved their shared connection and understanding in caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, often putting their own lives aside in the process. The cherry on top was the cozy Alaskan setting, complete with a domesticated moose and wintry wilderness adventures. Such a fun time!

Review template

I received a free early copy of this book for review. This is my own opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review!

<b>Genre:</b> contemporary romance

<b>Tropes:</b> ALL OF THEM 😂 (it’s the point of the book)

<b>Spice Level:</b> 2-3/5. Multiple on page spicy scenes, descriptive but not kinky.

<b>Content Warning:</b> mention of death of a parent due to breast cancer, caregiving, divorced parents.

There is a very mild spoiler below, but I’ll mark it. It doesn’t reveal any plot, just my commentary on the ending.

Margot is a romance writer who doesn’t believe in love. That’s nothing novel (ha) but what IS new is that she keeps a file of the REAL endings of her books, and she gets canceled when that’s discovered. (I actually think I’d LOVE to read those endings as a ‘what if’?? Wild, I know.)
Anyway, she’s also a caregiver for her sister who has an unnamed autoimmune disease, but the sister sends her off to Alaska to rediscover herself and write a murder mystery. In Alaska, she crashes into Forrest, who is the physical embodiment of every romance hero ever. He’s tall, gorgeous, is amazing at All The Things, AND he has a high paying, high level job that is also somehow altruistic (breast cancer research physician).
They go on adventures (Savannah, the sister, signed Margot up for all the adventures and in exchange she gets a letter for each one) and consistently get more and more flustered because they are essentially living out the snowed in trope (and like, all the others. Seriously.)

Forrest is, obviously, hot. He’s also extremely dedicated to his dad, to a negative degree. Margot is snarky and quipped. She is also dedicated to an unhealthy degree. When they finally get together it’s explosive.

I don’t think this overplayed any of the tropes it used, and while the book could’ve put both our characters through some serious darkness, it’s still light and humorous. The spicy scenes were unexpectedly good, so that gets an A+.


Mild spoiler for the way the book wraps up the publishing thing below:







I really appreciate that Margot didn’t have to change genres or grovel or bust her ass to return to publishing. I actually view her as the victim in this instance, so I love the way things wrapped up.

A cute story that gives a couple of devoted caregivers the opportunity to find their happy ending. The opening of bestselling romance author Margot, fueled by her disillusionment with love following a bad breakup, secretly penning a document detailing the unraveling of each couple she's written that goes public and results in a fan outcry provides the perfect push to her much-needed journey of self-reflection. By putting this pampered woman smack dab in the middle of remote Alaska, the fish out of water element strongly reminded me of It Happened One Summer, with sparks immediately flying when Margot comes into contact with Forrest and numerous tropes explored as the two interact with each other. The tale falters a bit with these main characters; the pacing and progression of their relationship is off, and there are serious issues featured in both of their backstories which are not explored as deeply as I would have preferred. While the ending is fitting, it feels a little rushed and an epilogue with a glimpse from their future together would have tied everything up nicely. Pleasant enough, but missing a necessary ingredient that would have elevated it to something really special.

This was a romance trope extravaganza! I loved how the author worked so many into the story - fish out of water, forced proximity, enemies-ish to lovers, only one bed (tent), caretaker, etc.

It took a bit for Margot to grow on me, but I liked her character arc and how she grew in the story. The set up to get her to Alaska was a little far fetched, but Forrest was well worth the trip. I loved that he truly saw Margot and that she saw him. The build up between them was well done and their sexy times left me fanning myself - “you can take it” 🔥

Forrest was a fantastic book boyfriend, but he did lose some points with me because of the third act drama. I knew it was coming, but hoped it wouldn’t. I understand why he made the choices he did, but I feel like he could have been a lot more gentle with the delivery and given more grovel in the end.

As much as I loved the romance with Forrest, it was the relationship between Margot and her sister, Savannah, that made this book shine. That special ride or die connection was captured so well and I loved their jokes and banter.

This was a great debut that romance lovers are sure to devour. I’m excited to see what Victoria Lavine writes next!

CW: caring for loved ones (injury, chronic illness), invasion of privacy/computer hacked, death of parent (past, breast cancer), grief

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy ebook. Overall, this was a solid debut romance. The beginning was hilarious, but as the story continued, I found myself getting bored. I enjoyed the setting, but the characters were definitely experiencing lust more than anything. With nothing but sexual chemistry going on, it was hard to buy into the “falling in love” idea.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Levine is an absolute delight of a rom-com that plays with classic romance tropes in the best way. From the start, I was hooked by the chemistry and banter between Margot and Forrest—every interaction between them was just so good. Their dynamic felt natural, witty, and full of sparks, making their romance all the more satisfying to watch unfold.

One thing I really appreciated was how dedicated both Margot and Forrest were to their families. It added so much depth to their characters and made their love story even sweeter. It wasn’t just about them falling for each other—it was about how they balanced love, career, and their personal responsibilities, which felt really refreshing.

And thankfully, there was no miscommunication trope to create unnecessary drama! Margot and Forrest actually talked through their issues and handled things like adults, which made their relationship feel even stronger and more realistic. Their ability to work through conflicts maturely was a huge plus for me.

Overall, Any Trope But You was a fun, heartwarming read with the perfect blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth. If you love romance novels that embrace tropes while keeping things fresh and well-written, this one is definitely worth picking up!

I loved this book deeply enjoyed it and it definitely talked about heavy topics but did it with so much grace and care. I laughed so much it was such a good read.

Drop me in the middle of snowy, small-town Alaska and call it a day because Any Trope but You DELIVERED. Victoria Lavine wasn’t playing around—this book took every romance trope, threw them in a blender, and delivered a novel that gives you that gooey feeling.

Meet Margot Bradley, a romance author with a secret stash of unhappy endings. When her "Happily Never After" files go viral, she swaps love stories for murder mysteries and lands herself in a remote Alaskan resort. Cue the entrance of Dr. Forrest Wakefield, a former cancer researcher turned lodge owner, who's as rugged as the wilderness itself.

We’ve got:

✔ Moose-induced meet-cute? Check.
One bed (you love to see it).

✔ A love triangle moment (just enough to be fun, not annoying).

✔ Steamy Sauna sessions. (Things get HOT in the cold!)

✔ A rugged, cinnamon-roll lodge owner (Forrest, I am free on Thursday).

✔ A romance author in crisis (Margot, I feel you, babe).

✔ Side characters so good I need spinoffs (Savannah book WHEN?).

Margot and Forrest are both so ridiculously selfless they almost get in their own way, but their chemistry? Off the charts. Also, can we talk about how the setting is basically a character? This book had me feeling the cold, the isolation, the remote cabin in the woods charm—10/10 on the immersive vibes.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC! Any Trope but You hits shelves on April 1, and trust me, hearts and minds will be MELTING.

Another absolutely absorbing and unputdownable 2025 romance debut!! I loved romance writer Margot who gets cancelled when her secret jaded heart is uncovered only to have her sister send her on an Alaskan writing retreat where she ends up falling for the grumpy guide, Forrest who has a heart of gold. Full of ALL the romance tropes, this book has emotional depth, strong secondary characters and great caregiver rep. There is also a really personal breast cancer awareness element that adds an extra layer of greatness. I can't recommend this one enough, especially for fans of authors like Abby Jimenez or Emily Henry. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Any Trope Will Do by Levine is a witty and wonderfully self-aware romance that leans into every beloved rom-com cliché—and somehow makes them all feel fresh. The story follows a pair of opposites (naturally) who find themselves caught in a series of increasingly ridiculous but utterly charming trope-filled situations. Fake dating? Check. Only one bed? Of course. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic? You bet. Levine’s sharp, playful writing makes it clear the book is in on the joke, which only adds to the fun.

While the story occasionally feels a bit over-the-top, that’s also part of its charm. The characters are quirky but lovable, and the banter crackles with chemistry. It’s the perfect pick for rom-com fans who enjoy a little meta-humor with their happily-ever-after. Four stars for being a trope lover’s dream, even if it occasionally winks at itself a little too hard.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’m afraid I had to DNF around 17% in because I can’t stand Margot as a character. With her being 30, she’s way too immature and her ineptitude of anything at the beginning was laughable. Her “defensive mechanism” of trying to make herself as unlikable to Forrest because she was attracted to him and scared wasn’t relatable, it made her look like a bad person.
Unfortunately, I have no motivation to keep reading

I loved how self-aware and self-deprecating this book was about the romance genre. It's always refreshing to come across a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Margot is a famous romance writer, but after several bad experiences with men, she’s started “screaming into her pillow” by writing alternate endings to each of her books in a secret file called Happily Never After. When one of her fans hacks and leaks the file to the entire internet, Margot is canceled. Wanting to encourage her to reinvent herself, her chronically-ill sister, Savannah, books Margot a six-week trip to Alaska to write her next manuscript. Once there Margot immediately meets Forrest who somehow embodies every single male character she’s ever written. What’s the catch?

This was a fun romp in the Alaskan wilderness. I liked the characters, especially Forrest’s family, and I appreciated that Forrest and Margot understood what it meant to sacrifice for a family member in becoming a caretaker. This deeper connection helped me overcome the instant-love trope. Speaking of tropes, this one includes so many of them that I wouldn’t be able to list them all. Because of this, it could have come off extremely cheesy or trying too hard, but it didn’t. It poked fun at romance while also celebrating it. Were the tropes turned on their heads and subverted? Not quite. But the fact that the FMC was aware of all the tropes and calls them out, was a fun spin.

What didn’t work so well for me were the numerous Swiftie references. This was also outside of my threshold for intimate scenes, but I skipped them anyway, so I can’t comment on them. I also felt like the characters called this an “enemies-to-lovers” trope, but I couldn’t see it; a little bickering does not equal enemies to me.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read but better suited to an audience who will appreciate every part of it.

📖arc review: any trope but you by victoria lavine
⭐️rating: 5/5
🌿genre: romance

💌my thoughts: thank you so much to atria books & victoria lavine for this ARC via netgalley!

i absolutely adored this one! i picked it up just for a fun read not having super high expectations & i ended up devouring it in a day because it sucked me in. not only is the banter amazing, i really appreciated the depth we see from margot and forrest🩵

the outdoorsy alaskan setting was also so fun & i loved all the side characters. the letters from savannah like cmon🥹

overall, i think what drew me into this story was how real it felt, although yes it did include the typical tropes (like one bed, a fav of mine🙂‍↕️), but it felt like so much more than that. i definitely recommend giving it a try when any trope but you comes out april 1, 2025!!

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