Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. While I found the story enjoyable in parts, it ultimately wasn’t a standout for me. The premise was promising—Margot, an author from LA, escapes to the Alaskan wilderness—but I struggled to connect with her character. Margot often felt insufferable, coming across as judgy and entitled, which made it hard to imagine her pairing with Forrest, whose grounded and warm personality was her polar opposite.

Although I expected some tropes given the title, the sheer number of them became overwhelming by the end. With that being said, I did thoroughly enjoy the Alaskan setting and the warm, loving family dynamic with Forrest's family along with the visitors at North Star Lodge.

After having her secret “Happily NEVER After” list exposed, author Margot Bradley is sent off to Alaska by her sister to focus on writing and bringing back her career.

Former Doctor turned lodge proprietor Forrest has one rule: don’t fraternize with guests (again 🫣).

Can Forrest resist the bit of California sunshine from Margot that reminds him of his old life? Can Margot resist every trope known to the romance community when she runs right into Forrests’s arms?

A story of trust and tropes, I ADORED Any Trope But You from start to finish! The concept was creative and well executed with a perfect balance of storyline and spice. Margot and Forrest were some of the best MCs I’ve read recently and I would loveeee an epilogue to see what they’re up to!

I’ve grown wary (and weary) of characters who are romance authors or avid romance readers. Mainly because they are all too often used as vehicles for cringe-y self-aware commentary. Sure, it was cute the first time a character pointed out the situation was a trope (“Ugh, of course there’s only one bed,” she sighed upon entry into their room at the inn.) But this trope is now a trope unto itself. Which is just too much meta for me.

So why did I request an ARC about a romance author FMC with the word “trope” in its title? Well, because I’ve been hyperfixating on Alaska lately (going for the first time later this year).

It turns out there wasn’t a ton of Alaska-specific details, but I actually ended up enjoying it anyway!

It helped that the clichés were pretty much limited to the MMC’s characteristics (tall, bearded, and flanneled lumberjack/doctor hybrid named <s>Hunter</s> Forrest). Otherwise, any opportunities (only one tent, snowstorm, etc.) were smoothly bypassed without comment.

I also appreciated how emotionally mature and pragmatic both main characters were. Sure, there was the obligatory “I can’t be with you because <i>Reasons</i>”. And, yes, some details felt a little too convenient (the fact that the MMC had, up until recently, lived and worked approximately ten mins away from the FMC’s house in LA made for a downhill journey to HEA). But there were no unnecessary dramatics and an appropriate amount of angst.

And the author was able to convince me that there was an emotional connection. A rare feat these days. At at one point the FMC explains their relationship to another character, simply saying “we have a lot in common.” Which is just such an obvious catalyst for attraction in the real world, but something we rarely see explicitly acknowledged on page. It also speaks to how well the author <i>showed</i> the character development and relationship arc. Because when I read that I was like "huh, I guess they do have a lot in common." The author made it made sense.

I will say that the ending didn't leave me entirely satisfied.

As much as I love a good grand gesture, I’m not really one of those readers who base their perception of a book on the grovel (or lack thereof). The circumstances surrounding the “80% break-up” didn’t really necessitate a grovel (see above re: emotional maturity/pragmatism).

BUT, the circumstances surrounding the catalyst for the FMC’s trip to Alaska BOILED MY BLOOD. [Minor spoilers ahead].

This has nothing to do with the author’s craft or my level of engagement, so I’m not “docking points” or whatever because of this. But I’m not in a book club and the book hasn’t even been released yet, so here we are.

I personally find Cancellation Culture to be toxic and problematic, even when it’s objectively warranted. So when it’s unwarranted and potentially traumatic…Defensive Mode activated. But Margot just seems to accept it! Sure she’s sad. And her perseverance is commendable. But the romance community’s reaction was utter bullshit. Then they welcome her back (cancel her cancellation?) because she…fell in love? And she’s okay with all of this! She just jumps back in with open arms as if her career wasn’t over because of relatively innocuous thoughts she had that were maliciously (and illegally!) disseminated.

So, I’m not here to judge an author’s decision regarding her characters’ actions. But Margot’s reactions were so antithetical to my own that I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief. Which probably says more about me and my level of maturity and pragmatism.

But I’m not here to talk about me. So… rant over.

But go read this book so I have people to talk about it with!

This was a perfect book in my opinion. It’s like the author tapped into my brain and picked out exactly the storylines, characters, and clever writing that I would want to read and lined them up into the perfect order.

I think the first time I belly-laughed was in the first or second chapter and my verbal responses to the both the humor, as well as the very well-done spice, continued throughout. I was alternating between chuckles, squeals, and even tears throughout my read of this.

I felt that the trope concept was very original and done very well. It was wild to watch the truly artful way that the author could fit so many tropes into the story without it becoming too unbelievable —while we do have to suspend our disbelief a tad because there’s no way a man that handsome ✨✨WHO’S ALSO A FREAKING DOCTOR ✨✨ actually exists in the barren Alaskan wilderness.

The FMC was well-developed, and despite the initial superficial impression she gives of a spoiled, LA writer, the MMC was able over the course of the book to learn how vulnerable and selfless she really is underneath. The MMC was handsome, sweet, and just grumpy enough to play into the trope concept at the right part. He really did embody all the best parts of our favorite romance heroes, and I will forever love him for that. 🏔️🤍

Additionally, THE BANTER. 🙌 The main characters’ banter is unmatched and consistently fantastic. There were short quips of silly bickering as they try to deny their attraction to each other as well as deeply emotional speeches of their true feelings.

In sum, 10/10 no notes. Once you get your copy come April 1st, PLEASE DO slide into my DM’s about it. 🙏 I have so many more specific thoughts that include spoilers!

Thank you very much to Victoria Lavine and Atria Books for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity and can’t wait for the release! 🤍✨

ANY TROPE BUT YOU by Victoria Lavine

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

From the very first chapter, I knew Any Trope But You was going to be something special. The humor? Impeccable. The setting? A cozy, remote slice of Alaska perfection. Margot, our romance author, and Forrest, the dreamy doctor-turned-wilderness-guide, are everything you want in an enemies to lovers story. Toss in a single tent, a little wilderness adventure, and some serious tension, and you’ve got pure magic. ✨

But let me tell you, this book isn’t just about the swoons (though there are plenty!). It’s layered with heartfelt, emotional moments that tackle past wounds and the beauty of reinvention, with such thoughtful representation of chronic illness and caretaking. It’s the kind of story that wraps you up in its warmth, breaks your heart just a little, and then pieces it back together.

And oh, the spice. Let’s just say, it’s like your favorite Hallmark movie—but with the volume turned up. 🔥 The dual POVs add so much depth, making you fall hard for both Margot and Forrest.

This is one of those reads that’s cozy and heart-fluttering in all the right ways. Oh, and it’s a debut novel! I can't wait to see what Victoria comes out with next!

Read if you like ⬇️:
•Dual POV
•Enemies to lovers
•Forced proximity
•Only one tent
•Caregiver rep
•Chronic illness rep
•Cozy Alaska setting

💭QOTD: What’s your favorite romance trope and why?

🏷️: #anytropebutyou #victorialavine #netgalley #allbookedwithbri #winterreads #cozyreads #enemiestolovers #romancereads #bookstagram

This debut by Victoria Lavine was a lovely read! I liked the premise from the very start, loving the ubiquitous stories about authors and their craft, so I was surprised when this book turned out to be oh-so-spicy but also full of heart. I could have taken or left Margot as a FMC, but that may have been because the author created Forrest to be the MMC of all MMCs, and I can't imagine any woman being good enough for him.

I'd recommend this book for readers who like exotic locales, hunky geniuses devoted to important causes, and spice that will make you blush. The book feels a little long, perhaps because the spice gets going somewhat early (IMO), but the ending makes the whole thing worth the journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book made me so happy and I will definitely be adding it to my shelf on release day! Despite and because of the tropes explored, I found myself captivated by Margot’’s and Forrest’s journey. I rooted for them every step of the way and saw myself in their reluctance to open themselves up. I was ecstatic when they finally did and wish there was epilogue, where we could see their life as an established couple.

I would have given the book five stars if I hadn’t struggled with the writing in the beginning. The amount of similes made sections unnecessarily painful to read. Though some interjected comparisons were apt and entertaining, most felt like they were added to satisfy a higher word count. Despite this, I did find myself highlighting much of the writing because I felt it needed to be remembered.

This was such a fun and surprisingly profound read that I would recommend to anyone!

🏔Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
🏔Tropes:
• Every Single One
• Just Kidding
• Okay Actual List
• Romance Author who doesn't believe in love
• Small town man who makes her believe in love again
• There's Only One Bed... I mean tent?
• 3rd Act Breakup

❄️ Synopsis ❄️

After a big hit to her public image, Margot takes a break from LA to write in a new genre while staying at a remote lodge in Alaska. Immediately she finds herself attracted to Forrest, the son of the lodge's owner. They both clearly like each other, but have their own reasons for seeing a 6 week stay / relationship as a bad idea.

❄️ Review ❄️

This wasn't *bad*, I think I'm just tired of rolling my eyes at Margot for constantly saying Forrest is this trope or that trope. The fact that Forrest didn't get upset by being but into these tiny boxes over and over again instead of being seen as one complete person??

It truly felt like Margot was in capable of seeing the things happening in her life as reality instead of just fictional ideas. Oh he's a Dr. trope, he's a hard exterior soft interior trope, a small town trope. But Margot, that's a real human being... He ISN'T a trope. I wish at some point there had been a realization of that or a conversation of how dehumanizing it is to only see "tropes" in a person instead of them as a fully developed individual.

There is also a plot line about an influencer that lied in her review of the lodge in retaliation for Forrest not being interested in her. It very much felt like commentary on Me Too and the way that allegations become reality even if they are false. "I had to take her word for it" Really? A review that was clearly not true considering you have been here for 3-4 weeks and the experiences have not been the same at all? It is really unhealthy to take one point of view and consider it gospel, like use your head a little bit and do some critical thinking honey.

Overall, this *was* fairly enjoyable even though I am critical of it. I am a lover of a one-bed trope, and so that will always make me enjoy a book a bit more. I think we need to move away from 3rd Act Breakups in general and find healthier ways for characters to have disagreements without forcing them to breakup, go no contacf, and then suddenly be perfect together in time for a HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley & Atria Books for providing me with an eARC of Any Trope But You.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: The title definitely fits! Every rom-com trope in the world is in this book and the fun part is that Margot, a fallen romance author, acknowledges them all. Things like, “his cast-iron abdominals. At the thought, I nearly laugh. I’ve used those exact words to describe romance hero abs before, but Forrest’s are even better because they’re real…” So many times I LOL’d in this book at Margot’s assessment of her situation. Forrest is the perfect rom-com man (a DOCTOR and a rugged outdoorsman) and I liked that the chapters went back and forth between his POV and hers. Both MCs are coming off of heart break and also deeply tied caregivers for a family member. They have a lot in common and are both hesitant. That makes the union even more exciting. They are both good people and they deserve happiness. I was hoping and waiting and appreciative of the author’s build up…some pretty spicy scenes as well. Also, being without WiFi, having to hike and camp in the bitter cold, and write a novel at the same time made Margot not just an engaging main character, but an actual warrior (in my opinion!)
If you are a rom-com fan you’ll like the nods to the genre and the jokes about “the perfect man”. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
We all have our tropes we love, and those we hate. So what happens when an author decides to take all the romance tropes and throw then in one book? A lot of fun, that's what! This Hallmarkish story had me from page one. Not only is it fun, it's funny, and witty, and just full of that push and pull chemistry that reals me in and keeps me stuck on a story.
Romance writer Margot Bradley has made a terrible mistake. She's forgotten how to let love into her life. Tainted by years of disappointment from the men around her, she channels her disbelief in love into her books. But when someone finds her own personal document of happily never afters, she gets canceled by her audience. Forced to face this tumultuous time in her life, and love by her disabled sister too much to let the opportunity slip by, the sister books Margot into an Alaskan hunting lodge turned extreme hikers dream. Margot is such a great character. She's charming and witty but she also has this nerdish quality to her that makes her super endearing. And she has no idea the hold she can possess on someone. Her blinders for love or anything like it are fully in place, until she meets Forrest Wakefield and starts to realize all those tropes she's written about in her many romance novels really do come true. Cute, chiseled man? Check! Man who wants to care for her? Check? Close proximity vibe? Check! Enemies to lovers? Well, sort of!
Forrest has his own demons. He's been forced to give up his promising research career to care for his injured father and help him get back on his feet. The man is so selfless he has given up everything he's ever wanted to make sure those around him do not suffer. But he also carries around a mound of grief over his mother's death and this keeps him tethered to a life he truly does not want. Meeting Margot Bradley was not what he expected at his hunting lodge turned extreme hiker's paradise, but here she is jumping into his arms and throwing him off kilter. So for all the tropes of a perfect man, he is truly un perfect underneath, giving up his own happiness so that others don't have to do so.
I don't know much about Alaska, except there's a lot of snow, ice, and cold. But what I do know is that it is beautiful. Lavine did a nice job creating a landscape that was at the same time inviting and frozen. I loved her descriptions and, despite me not loving the cold at all, she really did make me want to go to Alaska and check out what it may have to offer.
As the story unfolds, and Margot begins to write in another genre to see if she can fix her career, she finds herself drawn to Forrest over and over again. Lavine wrote their chemistry really well. Of course she inserts the love (lust) at first sight trope right from the very start. Though there is so much more to how the relationship between Forrest and Margot grows and changes, blossoms and sparks. The spicy scenes are just perfect enough to keep me wanting more. I loved the compatibility between the two characters despite their differences.
Lavine's pacing is spot on. The story flows well with a great amount of tension building and then bursting just at the right time. For those of you who are not fans, their is a "third act break up" but this story would not follow all the great tropes if it did not have that. I loved how Lavine truly built her story around almost every single romance trope you can think of. It made the book fun, if not a little predictable. But for me, I love a bit of predictability in my romance books. And her writing was very good. I enjoyed it. It wasn't full of the characters telling us what was going on, but truly showing us what was unfolding around them.
What probably hooked me the most in the book were Margot's letters from her sister. Each letter telling a story about their lives past, present, and future. It was like having another POV happening while you were only hearing from the FMC.
This book has it all: great tropes, firey chemistry between the two main characters, well developed FMC and MMC, fun and funny side characters. challenges, and growth and reflection. I'm definitely a Lavine fan and she will be on my auto-read author list for all her future books! 4.75 stars!

Margot is a jaded romance author who travels to remote Alaska after her fanbase learns that she doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. Shortly after arriving she finds herself living all of the most popular romance novel tropes. This was such a fresh and exciting debut novel! The writing is fun and the storytelling handles spice and more serious topics (chronic illness, loss of a parent, etc) equally well. Margot wasn’t my favorite FMC but the MMC, Forrest, and her sister more than make up for it! I can’t wait to see what Victoria Lavine comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this fantastic ARC provided in exchange for my honest review!

Such a cute Hallmark-esk story. Everyone hits a burn out where it is hard to see the positives at times, one of the best ways to work through it is writing it to get it out. When Romance author Margot had her rough times, and times of doubt she added them to a file of alternate endings. During a podcast of booklovers a hacker outed her file causing her to loose everything and everyone to label her as a fraud. In an attempt to help her find her true self her sister sends her on a six week trip to the wilderness of Alaska, where Margot meets Forrest, who checks off every romance Trope you can think of. But he has some choices of his own. Will Margot find her Happily Ever After?

I received this ARC from Atira Books, via Netgalley.

This romance set in Alaska draws readers into an emotional journey that deeply connects with the heart. The story unfolds around two characters whose love grows and faces challenges as they navigate their personal journeys. Their connection feels real and develops naturally, offering a heartfelt portrayal of love and growth. The novel beautifully delves into the complexities of relationships, showing that love is not always straightforward but can bring profound change.

The ending is both moving and memorable, leaving the reader to reflect on the impact of love in their own life. This story stays with you, offering a look at how love shapes decisions and where it ultimately leads.

This book was an absolute delight, filled with heart, spice and triumph.
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The sheer quality of writing had hooked me from the first page. It was absolutely refreshing to be swept right into the world of the North Star Lodge, Alaska and Margot & Forrest’s lives via every one of my senses. On top of being incredibly well written, Any Trope But You was so engaging and filled with an enjoyable plot, developed characters with interesting backstories, needed challenges, tender moments, lots of love and lots of spice! We got to know Margot and Forrest in a way that made you fall in love with them right as they were falling in love with each other and the important parts of each other’s lives.
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What an incredible debut novel, I am officially hooked and will wait IMPATIENTLY for whatever is next from Victoria Lavine!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review!

I overall enjoyed this story. I was drawn to the cover and so excited that I was given a copy to read ahead of publication because the premise of a romcom taking place in the Alaskan wild is the perfect snowy day read. The fun that the author poked at romance tropes was great, it kept it light hearted. The spice was great, Margot is correct that Forrest is the perfect novel man.

I will be honest, Margot was hard to root for and Forrest wasn’t fleshed out as much as he could be. I’d really love a book focusing on Savannah because she was the best character.

Oh wow, I really loved this.

I went into Any Trope But You expecting cute and fun. And it is - it’s got entertaining characters, a fantastic setting, and as the title promises, it’s packed full of romance tropes galore. On top of that, it’s SO witty and entertaining - it got me to laugh out loud in public (and as a spicy romance connoisseur, I have perfected the public poker face so that’s saying something). However, as you read, you realize it’s getting better and better with every page, and before you know it you’ve got goosebumps and you’re crying because you weren’t expecting such a beautiful love story. It’s tribute to romance readers and a celebration of all of the best things about the community and the genre.

I truly can’t believe Victoria Levine is a debut author. I was sucked in right away by the writing style and basically forgot I was reading until the book was over. Although it’s *purposefully* full of well known tropes, I thought the premise was fresh and interesting. I loved that Margot, the fmc, is a romance writer attempting a switch to murder mysteries after a scandal. Despite being neither outdoorsy nor a fan of the cold, I also loved the Alaskan setting. All of the excursions they went on were so fun to imagine, and I loved the coziness of the lodge as well. The guests and staff were so much fun to read about, and I of course loved the quirkiness of Bullwinkle the moose just hanging around as well.

This comes out April 1st, but I am already patiently awaiting whatever Victoria Lavine comes up with next. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this arc. It was a pleasure!

The FMC was really annoying and I found that I didn’t really care about any of the characters. Everything was silly and forced.

Have you ever read a book and known within the first few pages that it was just *your* kind of book? That’s how I felt reading this one! This book was an absolute treat - the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading romances so much. The author describes it as a love letter to romance readers and that’s exactly what it felt like. From the clever wordplay to the sizzling chemistry to covering quite literally every trope in the book, it was everything I look for in a romance. As the title indicates, you can expect to find many of your favorite romance tropes within the pages of this book, but you can also expect to find hilarious dialogue, endearing characters, and a setting so stunning that it’ll have you googling Alaskan vacations. I can hardly believe it was a debut - it was so delightfully charming and heartfelt and laugh out loud funny and I just adored the author’s writing style. After reading this book I firmly believe that Victoria Lavine is going to be the next big romance author, and you simply can’t convince me otherwise!

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

It’s hard not to love a good romance trope, but what about when they’re all wrapped into one?

Margot Bradley is a romance author who after an unfortunate turn of events is cancelled by her beloved fans. Her sister, Savannah, ships her off to Alaska to write her next greate novel where she literally jumps into the arms of Forrest Wakefield. The first thing she notices about her interaction with Forrest? The legit meet cute they just had. Over Margot’s next 6 weeks in the remote Alaskan wilderness, she’s forced to face to fractures in her own heart so that she can heal and maybe have her own Happily Ever After (HEA) someday.

Read if you:
✨ like dual POV
✨ like witty banter
✨ want a legitimately laugh out loud read
✨ like any romance trope, because they’re all there—wrapped up into one individual

Victoria Lavine’s writing was so refreshing—straightforward, laugh out loud funny, and easy to read. She created an idyllic setting in remote Alaska that has me wanting to go and spend some time off the grid. I really enjoyed watching Margot and Forrest face their own jaded pasts in order to heal and be the best versions of themselves in order to grow and move forward. I also really related to the caregiver aspect that both Margot and Forrest both experience.

Overall, this was such a fun and refreshing read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the finalized copy in April!

I can’t believe this is a debut and she got breast cancer while writing this book 🤯 .it was heartfelt, witty, banter and the perfect chemistry. I hope she writes more novels! Some of my favorites quotes:

“So you were knocked on your ass. So what? Do you think Taylor Swift gave up after her recording company screwed her over? No. She started rerecording her own albums and emerged as a new woman. A better woman. And when people still tried to dim her shine? Do you think she threw in the towel? No. She slapped the world back with her Eras Tour.”

“And maybe this was his plan all along, because I feel a sudden alarming urge to confess everything. To tell him that all my life, I’ve wrapped falsehoods around me like duct tape over broken glass, so no one gets hurt.”

“what I didn’t understand about Happily Ever After is that there are some people who come into your life—even for just a moment—who have the power to fundamentally change you forever. They’re the people who see right through all your masks, and all your bullshit, and love you anyway. And not just despite all your wounds but because of them too. You’re safe in their hands for as long as you can hold on to each other, but even when it’s time to part ways, you leave knowing you’ve been truly seen.”