Margot is a romance author who writes happily ever afters, even though she doesn't believe in them. When a private document with her alternate endings of happily never afters leaks, she is dropped by her publisher and canceled by her readers. Margot's sister sends her to a log cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness for 6 weeks. There she meets Forrest, who embodies every hero she's ever written about. The more time they spend together, the more it's like Margot is living in her own romance novel trope by trope.

Margot and Forrest started off with some fun banter during the enemies portion of their relationship. I enjoyed the humor and the different tropes Margot started experiencing with Forrest, who was like a book boyfriend come to life. But as they really got to know each other, they connected on a deeper level. Both having made sacrifices to care for their family members. Their commitment to their loved ones showed how selfless they both were.

This author wrote the characters in a way that made you care about them. The relationship between Margot and her sister was very special. Looking forward to her next release!

What an absolute perfect book 🤩 the snowy vibes, the steamy scenes, the love for romance readers, ahh! I was so wrapped up in this story and didn't want it to end-but was completely satisfied by the conclusion.

4.25⭐️ I am so glad I got to read this before it came out, because it was great. I really enjoyed Margot and Forrest’s story. It was sweet and wholesome. I loved that it was set in Alaska and all of the side characters were so fun.

Forrest and his dads relationship was so special. It made Margot and Forrest’s connection even deeper. I loved that there was no miscommunication between the main characters and that they really understood each others loyalty to their families.

I enjoyed every second of Any Trope but You. This is a love story (duh!) about love stories. By that I mean at its heart it celebrates the romance genre. It felt like this book was written for me, a romance reader.

Not to mention the actual romance between Margot and Forrest is alive and felt so real. This book is full of tropes—that’s the whole point. Every trope mentioned is blatantly acknowledge throughout. But it didn’t feel heavy handed or cheesy or trite because of the emotional and personal struggles Margot and Forrest bond over.

This is a wonderful debut and I can’t wait to read more from Victoria Lavine.

—
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Read If You Like:
- Alaska Settings
- Grumpy/sunshine dynamics
- Writers as protagonists
- Remote, snowy settings
- Slow-burn romance
- Witty banter

Bestselling romance author Margot Bradley harbors a secret: she doesn't believe in happily ever afters—not for herself, her readers, or even her characters, for whom she writes alternate, unhappy endings. When these cynical conclusions are leaked, Margot faces public backlash and professional ruin. To support her chronically ill sister, Savannah, Margot pivots to writing a murder mystery. Savannah arranges a six-week retreat for Margot at a secluded Alaskan resort, where she encounters Dr. Forrest Wakefield, a former cancer researcher now managing his family's property and caring for his ailing father. As Margot and Forrest navigate their personal struggles, they find themselves drawn together, challenging their preconceived notions about love and happiness.

This novel offers a fresh perspective on familiar romance tropes, delivering top-notch banter that will have readers laughing out loud while rooting for Margot to find her own happily ever after. The Alaskan setting provides a cozy, snowy backdrop that enhances the narrative’s charm. The characters are imperfect yet relatable, and their development throughout the story adds depth to the plot. The clever subversion of traditional romance elements keeps the story engaging and unpredictable.

Any Trope but You is a delightful read that will leave you smiling, laughing, and believing in the magic of unexpected connections.

I love the cover, the title and every bit of this story. I love the characters and their story. Books about books/authors/writing are my catnip- toss in all the tropes and I'm a happy reader!

This was so good??? The premise was so unique for a romance book

- a romance author doesn’t believe in happily ever after and her secret file of alternative bad endings gets leaked which causes her to get cancelled. She goes to Alaska to rebrand and write in a new genre and falls for someone there -

This managed to pack in just about every romance trope into one book but still be such a fun and unique read. I loved the two main characters together and was rooting for them so much! Can’t wait to see what this author writes next because I will 100% be reading it!

A fun story that uses all the tropes in this self-aware rom-com. A book with good representation of chronic illness and the impact on caregivers.

The FMC was not likable in the beginning of the book, but by the end I was understanding of her situation and why she behaved the way she did.


Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.

Margot is a romance author whose career is put in jeopardy once a hacker discovers and publishes her "Happily Never Ever" file - a document where she has written alternate endings to all of her books in which the two characters don't end up together after all. In the aftermath, her sister Savannah sends her to a remote lodge in Alaska where Margot plans to write a new novel that is a murder mystery after being cancelled by her romance readers. Enter Dr. Forrest Wakefield, who has taken a career break to care for his ailing father and the family lodge. Despite their chemistry, Forrest has sworn off falling for anyone staying at the lodge after he was burned by a past flame. While Forrest and Margot's story goes through all sorts of romance tropes (meet-cute, forced proximity, only one bed, etc.... ), the two start opening up to one another. But can they overcome all the obstacles to their own Happily Ever After.

I've been in a bit of a romance rut lately and I feel like I'm being more critical than usual. That said, I enjoyed this one even though I wasn't blown away. Margot and Forrest have lots of parallels in their lives so they make sense as a couple. Margot maybe could have been developed a bit more. My favorite part was probably the conclusion of Margot and Savannah's story.

Overall: 4/5
Spice: 1/3

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Any Trope by You! This sparkling and fun debut is a romance lover’s dream come true, packed with every trope you could want—dual POV, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, and of course, sizzling open-door spice.

When bestselling romance author Margot Bradley’s secret Happily Never After file is leaked, she loses everything—her readers, her publisher, and her career. Desperate for a fresh start, she escapes to a remote Alaskan resort to write her first murder mystery. What she doesn’t expect? Running (literally) into the resort’s handsome but broody proprietor, Dr. Forrest Wakefield, and finding herself in the middle of a rom-com instead. As long snowy nights and unexpected tropes bring them closer, Margot and Forrest will have to face their fears before time runs out on their story.

This book is pure joy for romance fans—clever, self-aware, and packed with heart. Margot and Forrest’s chemistry sparks off the page, and the way the story weaves in and plays with tropes is just so much fun. If you love rom-coms with depth, humor, and a bit of spice, add this one to your TBR now! Any Trope by You hits shelves on April 1!

I didn't super love this. It was okay I just didn't connect to any of the characters. I loved the alaskan part and the hike and camping were fun to read about but I just found both characters to be quite dramatic and jump too quickly to the end of the world. I also got so annoyed at the amount of Taylor references. I love T Swift, don't get me wrong, but when its mentioned at every opportunity it just feels like using her name to get people to like the book and im not a fan of that. Overall, good book, well paced with some really fun moments but its not life changing.

3 50- 3.75 stars

Margot Bradley is a romance writer who doesn't believe in happily ever after. When her venting diary is leaked, her sister plans a trip for her to Alaska. There it feels like she is dropped into " a romance novel" with all the meet cues and tropes. I found this really fun! Both Margot and Forrest struggled with taking care of sick loved ones and the guilt and fear of failing them. I really loved the relationship between the sisters and wished it was expanded more. I also would have seen a little more happily ever after at the end. Overall this hallmark rom com feeling is definitely there with this book. I enjoyed it.

Any Trope but You had such a promising premise, but unfortunately the execution it did not work for me.

I struggled with Margot's character - I did not find her likable - and subsequently I struggled to root for her and Forrest.

The ending was sweet and I liked the caregivers rep, but overall the story was simply was not my cup of tea.

Margot Bradley writes romance, but Margot Bradley doesn’t do romance. It’s too bad one of the hosts for her six-week stay at a remote Alaskan resort seems to be the embodiment of all of her romance heroes rolled into one.

Assorted thoughts I had while reading:
- The bit with the moose cracked me up!
- What a fun meet-cute/meet-disaster!
- I love the push-pull between Margot and Forrest ❤️
- And I really appreciate the autoimmune rep.
- Tension, tension, tension!
- Oh Lordy, that sauna scene (*fans self*)
- All the letters 🥹
- LOVED it!

I had a couple quibbles with actions that felt out of character that are included in order to move the plot along, but all in all, this is a solid debut from Victoria Lavine. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!

4.75⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from Atria Books. All review opinions are my own.

Before I start, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I'd say this is a 3.5 rounded down. First off, I loved the Alaskan setting. Being stripped of outside communication for the most part was an excellent vehicle for both Margot and Forrest's character development. The banter was incredibly sweet too, and there were several places where I laughed out loud at all the fish out of water hijinks. However, what kept me from really loving the book was that the spicier moments didn't feel as earned as I would have liked, and I didn't love the dialogue there. Also, I was Margot and Savannah's dynamic was more developed. Other romance authors have balanced romance with similar subplots better, in my opinion. I hope that the author considers writing a book from Savannah's perspective as she was my favorite character, and I definitely felt her spirit shine through in her letters.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I'd consider reading more of Victoria Lavine's novels!

3.75 stars, full rtc in goodreads on release day!

ok lowkey I didn't expect to enjoy this? because all my arcs recntly were letting me down, but this one did the job!!😌🙌🏻 Despite liking it, I feel like there could've been more to the end, as I felt the ending was rushed. I honestly more of Forrest & Margot, like an epilogue of them finally living together. Anyways their relationship was everything!! the way they saw each other truly through all the inner walls, it was so sweet to read. Forrest made Margot believe in love again, when she gave up the idea of getting her HEA a long time ago. They atlast found their HEA with eachother 🤧

what to expect:
⛄ enemies-to-lovers
⛄ forced proximity
⛄ bestselling author x doctor
⛄ one tent
⛄ set in Alaska
⛄ no connection with the oustide world for 6 weeks
⛄ rediscovering oneself
⛄ emotional family bonds

thank you to the author, atria books, and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!💕

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine is a delightful, laugh-out-loud romance that brilliantly plays with classic tropes while delivering something fresh and utterly charming. With sparkling banter, undeniable chemistry, and a cleverly meta approach to romance storytelling, Lavine crafts a novel that feels both like a love letter to the genre and a sharp, modern take on it. The characters are irresistibly lovable, their dynamic crackling with tension and humor, making every page a joy to read. Witty, heartfelt, and brimming with romance, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who adores rom-coms with a self-aware twist.

This debut romance features a fish out of water heroine and the mountain man she meets while working on her new book at a rustic Alaskan lodge. It is a great rom-com that felt like a love letter to romance readers, touching on so many fun tropes and having our main character comment on them along the way. I adored the characters and their banter and had fun reading this one!

Thank you to Atria for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I got to read an ARC of this adorable rom-com thanks to @victorialavinewrites and @netgalley . It was so cute!!

Margot Bradley is a rom-com writer who has stopped believing in love. In an attempt to help her reinvent herself, her chronically ill sister sends her for a six week sojourn in the Alaskan Wilderness. Margot plans to use the time to try her hand at writing a murder mystery, but Forrest, the hot doctor turned wilderness guide who cares for his ailing father who owns the lodge where she is staying, is disrupting her vibe. She finds herself facing trope after trope with him, and soon, her hard earned walls are crumbling.

The romance between Margot and Forrest was sweet and fun, and the heavier themes surrounding caretaking and the toll chronic illness takes on loved ones were handled with care. I really enjoyed the metafiction aspect of a rom-com writer living out her most written tropes. I haven't read anything else by Victoria Lavine, but I will definitely be seeking out more of her work.

Any Trope But You will be released on April 1st

"Any Trope But You" by Victoria Lavine is one of the most refreshing romance books I've read in a long time. I'm not going to lie, at the beginning I was a little nervous because the main character, Margot, was grating on my nerves a bit. Also the constant mentioning and pointing out of tropes was taking me out of the story, kind of like when the fourth wall is broken - it very rarely works. HOWEVER, and that's a big however because not only did Margot turn around and actually had great character development, but even with the pointing out of tropes it all worked really well. This book was aware what it was doing - it was poking fun but in a loving way at all those cheesy romance tropes while also blatantly feeding into them. The romance between Forrest and Margot was slow burn and then a fiery inferno and I was in it all the way through. I loved how they both had similar life-situations and were able to support each other and ultimately had empathy for the other even during the third-act conflict. Overall such a great story and I can't wait to see what else Victoria Lavine puts out.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!