Margot is a famous romance writer with one catch. She doesn’t believe in the happily ever afters she gives her fans. After being publicly outed for her secret file of “happily never afters” Margot escapes to a remote lodge in Alaska to get a fresh start and start working on a book in a new genre. Upon arrival she meets Forrest, the hunky straight out of a romance novel lodge manager, and a friendly moose named Bullwinkle. They try their best to avoid one another but they can’t help but bond over their roles as caregivers. Forrest for his father and Margot for her sister. As Margot takes on adventure after adventure with Forrest their attraction continues growing deeper. But Forrest’s life is in Alaska taking care of his dad, and Margot lives in LA with her sister. They only have a few short weeks together at the Lodge. Will it be enough?

Ugh I just loved this book. Just the concept of putting all the romance tropes into one book seemed chaotic but the author did it so well! It was so much fun, and I’m not even a trope girly but I absolutely loved it. This is a super light, fun read, with most of the depth coming from both characters being caregivers. I think the caregivers aspect felt like a unique perspective I don’t read a lot about so I appreciated it here! I think balanced out all the silliness from the tropes making this a super well rounded book!

One bed
Snowed in
Twisted ankle
Hot doctor
Cute moose
Adorable dog
Alaskan wilderness
(And sooooo much more!)

Thanks netgalley and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a delightful read! I flew through it and enjoyed every second. The characters were fun and relatable. The concept of the book was hilarious and I loved that they kept stumbling into every typical trope and she’d poke fun at it along the way. Such a fun book!

This was cute but not my favorite book ever to read. It was okay but kinda bland in my opinion. The characters didn't feel really sometimes and it got boring at certain parts.

Any Trope but You was such a great read! Lavine’s voice shines through her characters, and I especially loved Margot’s chapters. While the relationship between Margot and Forrest kept me turning the pages, I loved the sister relationship between Margot and Savannah and the personal growth Margot experienced. I definitely recommend this book!

This is the best debut I've read this year. Margot and Forrest are so complex, nuanced, and relatable. Rough around the edges, but it's done in a way that makes sense given their circumstances.

I loved their meet cute and the way their relationship built. The side characters were fantastic, from Ollie to Savannah to Bullwinkle, everyone was written in a way that made them a real personality rather than a charicature.

I loved the arc of their relationship and the conflict was believable rather than contrived. The HEA was exactly what I'd hoped for from this book so focused on the role of a HEA.

Anyone who loves Trash DeWitt and Jessica Joyce will love this book.

A big thank you to Atria Books, Simon & Schuster, and Victoria Lavine for this eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I begin? The beautiful navigation of an enemies-to-lovers arc, the fiery connection between Margot and Forrest, or the fact that this book had me in tears with that third act conflict? Any Trope but You is an addictive rom-com, with the perfect combination of a slow burn love story and simultaneous fast pacing. Fully fleshed out characters that are impossible not to love, and a story that will keep you interested til the end.

This book has made it's way onto my list of anticipated releases of 2025, and there's no way I won't be yearning for a physical copy.

(This little note is for the author, if she ever sees this; I adored this book, truly. You've gained a fan for life out of me, and I hope your career blossoms with the publication of this book.)

I absolutely loved this book. I loved that Margot wrote HEAs but didn't believe in them. I loved how she pointed out all of the tropes and joked about them (in a loving way). I loved the way the author talked about the reason readers choose romance novels (AMEN!). And I loved the HNAs that were never supposed to be seen. I think reading some of Margot's alternate endings might be a blast.

The characters were well written and the relationships between them were great. Seriously just a great read all around! This was such a fun book and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity by Atria Books and NetGalley to read it early. Thank you!

This is cute if a little ridiculous. I think the current trend of "romance novels about romance novelists" has probably hit its peak but this was a fun setup and I do in fact want to visit Alaska now. The ending was a little abrupt and there were a few rambly internal monologues that seemed excessive, hence the 4 and not 5, but solid effort and story.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Could Forrest be more perfect?! My goodness! The love & care he has for his dad & the lodge is just so beautiful.

Savannah & Margot’s relationship is truly special. Savannah is hilarious. Her letters melted my heart and I just loved them.

The banter & inner dialogue is so funny & smart! I guess this is what it would feel like when two smart people bicker. They use big words & witty comebacks.

I enjoyed how each character had incredibly huge obstacles to overcome in life, but they did it together & sought the help from one another to grow from their previous traumas.

Forrest’s trauma being that he felt like he was distracted with school while his mom was sick & dying when he could have spent more time with her.

Margot’s trauma being that every man she’s ever loved or cared for, left her.

Overall, this story is so. Any Trope But You is super cute & entertaining.

✨Thank you Netgalley, the publisher Atria Books & of course the author, Victoria Lavine for the Arc! ✨

This book is a love letter to romance readers. Especially the ones who escape into them. I loved how all of our favorite tropes made their way into this book. From meet cutes to only one bed this book has them all. It also made me really want to book my own Alaskan wilderness experience. This book is well written and paced perfectly. It made my heart happy and sad. I giggled and kicked my feet and also clutched my heart. The spice in this book was also unexpected it was spicy without being over the top. Would recommend especially during the cold months

Sinopsis en español:Una autora de romance superventas huye a Alaska para reinventarse y escribir su primer misterio de asesinato, pero el robusto propietario del complejo pronto la tiene temiendo que está viviendo en una trama de comedia romántica en este debut seriamente espectacular con una nueva e impresionante voz. La querida autora romántica Margot Bradley tiene un oscuro secreto: no cree en Happily Ever Afters. No para ella misma, ni para sus lectores, ni siquiera para sus personajes, para quienes escribe en secreto finales alternativos que intercambian bodas y bebés por papeles de divorcio y el ocasional neumático cortado. Cuando su documento Happily Never After es hackeado y lanzado al público, se encuentra cancelada por sus lectores y abandonada por su editor. Desesperada por encontrar una manera de seguir apoyando a su hermana con una enfermedad crónica, Savannah, Margot decide cambiar a los encuentros lindos por asesinato. El tipo ficticio. Probablemente. Pero cuando Savannah reserva a Margot una estancia de seis semanas en un remoto complejo de Alaska para escribir su primer misterio de asesinato, Margot se encuentra huyendo de un alce y saltando a los brazos del guapo propietario, lo que le hace temer que acaba de aterrizar en una novela romántica. Lo último, Dr. Forrest Wakefield siempre esperó que dejara el trabajo de sus sueños como investigador del cáncer para convertirse en un botones glorificado. Lo que realmente está haciendo en el complejo de su familia es cuidar a su padre obstinado y enfermo, y su mente amante de los rompecabezas se está congelando lentamente, hasta que aparece Margot. Pero Forrest no tiene espacio en su vida para otra persona que podría perder, especialmente una con fecha de salida. A medida que las largas noches nevadas y un tropo improbable tras otro juntan a Margot y Forrest, cada uno tendrá que aprender a superar sus miedos y dejar de lado sus suposiciones antes de que Margot se vaya, o arriesgarse a convertirse en una Felices por siempre.



Reseña:

Me encantó, ambos protagonistas (Margot y Forrest) me parecieron personas interesantes y amorosas. Estaban destinados a estar juntos.

Es una pena que no haya capítulos de ellos siendo novios (formales), quería saber cómo fueron los arreglos para que siguieran al pendiente de su hermana y padre respectivamente.


Gracias NetGalley por el Arc a cambio de una reseña honesta.

Do you ever feel like maybe the romance genre is unrealistic? Maybe sets people up to expect the impossible? Well so does Margot, the FMC of this story! After her Happily Never After files (think the unhappy epilogues some reels predict but coming straight from the author) leak, her sister sends her to remote Alaska for six weeks to reset.

And while Margot wants nothing to do with the romance genre, she accidentally finds herself in the arms of a muscular, bearded, Alaska man within minutes of arriving. And from there, the tropes keep on coming!

Both Margot and Forrest have sworn off of relationships after their own respective dating disasters. But as the universe sends them towards each other over and over, they realize that they want to be together.

This book had me laughing out loud as trope after trope foils their plans to stay away from each other. But it also tells the story of two people who fall in love and understand each other in a deep and meaningful way.

If you’re looking for a fun, touching, and overall solid romance read, this charming book comes out on April 1, 2025 (not a joke, add this to your TBR so you don’t miss it!) 💗

Romance tropes can be so formulaic and tired after reading them in book after book. In Any Trope But You, the author embraces the cheesiness and throws literally every romance trope at this story ON PUPOSE. The idea is that a romance writer, Margot, loses faith in love and HEAs, and goes off to Alaska to find herself. While there, she meets handsome mountain man Forrest, and alllll the tropes begin. Enemies to lovers? Check. Tall, bearded lumberjack vibes? Check. Snowed in? Check. Only one bed-- try only one sleeping bag! Grand Gesture? You know it!

In spite of the over-the-topness of all the tropes, I did enjoy this book. The writing was smart, the main characters were likeable, and the setting was unique.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was looking forward to this book but I found it to be to be trying too hard if that makes sense. Too jokey, too much sarcasm, too much snark and the story gets lost. I found myself frustrated early on and just turned off.

Victoria Lavine is going on my list of authors to watch for now! Nothing about this felt like a debut novel. It was sooooo good! I loved it and didn’t want it to end!

The story follows Margot Bradley, a romance writer who doesn’t personally believe in HEAs. She writes them for her fans but writes alternate endings she thinks would be more realistic in a separate file she calls “Happily Never After”. After her file is made public and her career is in shambles, she decides to try her hand at writing a murder mystery novel instead far away in a remote resort in Alaska. Enter Dr. Forrest Wakefield, the proprietor, wilderness expert, and all around annoyingly perfect guy. He is tall, handsome, rugged, smart, a doctor, a great cook, and the caretaker for his injured father. They both desperately try to deny anything between them because they can’t be distracted, and each have someone they have to care for they make their priority (Margot has her chronically ill sister and Forrest has his injured father). But time after time they find themselves in every romance trope there is and find it harder and harder to stay away from each other.

Victoria Lavine did such a great job with this book! It was a fun tribute to all romance readers and our love of a good trope. I laughed so much at Margot calling them out in frustration because she was living out a romance book she didn’t want to be a part of. The banter between Margot and Forrest was hilarious as well. Anyone who loves a good romcom will have fun reading this! Beyond the laughs, there was depth as well. Margot and Forrest are both caretakers of others and you really get a feel for how much that consumes their thoughts, and they feel a responsibility and need to set aside their wants to make sure their family is cared for. And because of that, they understand each other in a way no one else can. I had a great time reading this and can’t wait to see more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Victoria Lavine for an advance copy of this book to review!

This book is outrageously wonderful, and I feel especially justified in saying this as Victoria's critique partner who has read Margot and Forrest's story no less than three times. The lines between 'honest' and 'biased' might appear blurry butttttt if you'll glance down at the dozens upon dozens of positive reviews accompanying mine, I think you'll see that I can comfortably be both :)

When popular romance author, Margot Bradley, is cancelled for not believing in love, she escapes to Alaska to reinvent herself as a mystery author, only to leap into the arms of the most delicious Alaskan mountain man that ever mountained 🥵🧯 (Someone in the earlier reviews called Forrest a 'Mountain Daddy' and can I just say THANK YOU???). As for Margot, she believes she can avoid love by reversing out of the romance formulas she knows and writes so well, but Forrest is real, and so are happily-ever-afters, as Margot beautifully discovers 💕

This is Victoria's ode to romance novels, and you'll feel her love for the genre as she celebrates the beloved tropes we all can’t get enough of, along with others we didn’t even know existed (FOREARM PINING?! Yes, please.). As someone who knows Victoria in person, I can promise she is just as genuine and relatable as her beautiful characters, and I couldn't be more thrilled for Atria to launch this story into the world for us romance readers.

This ARC was gifted to me by Netgalley and the Atria team in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for allowing me to see the final product in all of its glory!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Margot Bradley, famed romance writer heads to remote Alaska after she is "cancelled" for not believing in the happily ever afters she is so famous for creating.

Dr. Forrest Wakefield, caring for his newly paralyzed father, and their family lodge in Alaska, all the while trying to avoid the same mistakes he has made in the past.

While Margot tries her hand at a new genre and earning a letter from her sister after every risk taking adventure with Forrest and other guests, sparks fly between Margot and the all encompassing male romance trope, Forrest.

I engulfed this story and loved the characters, plot, locale, and hitting up all the romance tropes.

My current favorite trope is when a character is *aware of* said tropes in their own lives, and this book served all of that funny goodness on a silver platter! From the first page to the last, this was the coziest little escape with just the right amount of depth and levity. The overall premise of this book was so delightful, and I just adore how well it leaned into the stereotypes of the genre-- including having such a delightfully perfect man.

Margot was such a lovely protagonist, and I deeply connected with her. Her outlook of the world was so honest and understandable, and as an eldest sibling, I also felt her deep sense of family and responsibility. Then there was Forrest who absolutely captured my attention from the first second (and Margot's of course;)). His balance of strength and kindness was so perfect, and I loved witnessing him and Margot fall in love. Alaska was the perfect setting for this amazingness, and their little excursions (cursed as they might have been) and the moments they created had me cracking up, giggling, and kicking my feet. It all was made even better by the blatant trope acknowledgement all throughout including but not limited to: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed (or one tent, I should say...), and a good ole slowburn romance.

The whole cast of characters really just stole my heart as well. Savannah was a stunning character, and her letters were the perfect element of heart and depth, and as a fellow chronically-ill girlie, I loved seeing her journey unfold alongside Margot's. And each member of the Alaska group was so delightful and heartwarming, and they made up such a loveable cast of characters.

This book was such a perfect read for escaping the real world and jumping headfirst into a charming, sweet, and delightful fictional one. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victoria Lavine for the opportunity to read this ARC and fall in love with such a sweet story!

Victoria Lavine is a genius! Any Trope but You immediately sucked me in, had me turning pages as quickly as I could possibly read them, and I stayed up way too late not wanting to put this down! An impressive novel that has all the classics of a romance, but yet has heart, wit, and well rounded characters throughout. I can't wait to read the next novel by Victoria Levine.

First of all, thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a free advanced copy of this book.
I went into this book completely blind, as it was sent to me randomly, and boy am I happy it found it's way in my inbox.
Any Trope buy You follows a romance author who is known for her amazing stories with even more amazing happy ever afters. She has a huge following and her fanbase is ridiculously devoted. That is, until it is revealed that she actually doesn't believe in happily ever afters after all. Then she is essentially canceled and shunned from the romance community.
She travels to Alaska to write a murder mystery and of course, she finds exactly what she ISN'T looking for... the perfect man. Ridiculously tall, handsome, smart, and kind. And for some reason, every single trope she can think of is being thrust upon them. One bed (sleeping bag), enemies to lovers, he takes care of her when she's injured, etc...
This book is so freaking good. I don't know how else to say it. It's one of those romances that offers so much more than some banter and spice. Not to say that it lacks those because it certainly does not. However, we get to meet two people, who take care of everyone around them and refuse to take care of themselves. We get to see a beautiful relationship between two sisters who would do anything for each other. And we get to see our fmc find her faith in love again and rediscover how beautiful and real those endings that she writes about can be. I'd recommend this book to every romance reader out there. The writing is great, the plot is captivating, and the ending is everything.
5 stars!