This was fun! We jump right into Margot’s disastrous upheaval from the romance community and reinvention trip to Alaska. There, she meets Forrest, son of the lodge owner and ironically, the perfect romance hero brought to life.

Honestly, laughed more than I thought I would! Both Forrest and Margot’s inner voices are hilarious. Being a romance book author, I loved seeing her realize all the romance tropes life was throwing at her. This plot device could’ve felt cheesy, but instead made the story feel charming and endearing. I thought the side characters were interesting and fun, helping move the story along while not stealing the spotlight from Margot and Forrest. All the humor was nicely balanced with the poignant letters from Margot’s sister and the heartfelt conversations about the main characters’ pasts. While the story did drag a little towards the end, I enjoyed all of Margot and Forrest’s Alaskan adventures.

“You’re telling me there isn’t something you desperately crave from California?”

If readers like authors like Christina Lauren or Abby Jimenez, I think they will enjoy this. An excellent, engaging, funny, well-rounded romance with a healthy sprinkle depth.

“Stay safe, but not too safe.”

Any Trope But You was a delight! The Alaskan setting is unique and perfectly lends itself to the characters getting into a lot of fun situations. Do you like Only One Bed? Well, this book has an Only One Tent scene where the characters have to cuddle while mostly naked to stay warm while they fight their growing attraction to each other. Camping has never been so sexy.

Any Trope But You puts a fresh spin on familiar romance tropes and does it extraordinarily well. This is a book for romance readers by an author who clearly has a ton of affection for the genre — and who can lovingly poke fun at it, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

ANY TROPE BUT YOU was one of the books were I couldn't turn the pages fast enough I was so immersed in the story, and yet at the same time, reluctant to reach the end for I didn't want to leave Margot and Forrest's world. I'm pleased to say that the book had much more depth to it than I thought it would as I went into it thinking it would be more on the cutesy perhaps cheesy side... but happy to report it's full of relatability and pureness between the characters that allowed me to stay connected to the story the whole time and has romance tropes tastefully done!

After romance author Margot finds her career at a halt when her documents leak that expose that she doesn't actually believe in happily ever afters and what she really thinks about romance, her sister books her a trip to a resort in the middle of the woods all the way up in Alaska, where Margot can take some time for herself and finish her murder mystery manuscript. The last relationship Margot was in her heart was broken... to protect herself and her wounded heart, she needs to stay away from Forrest, or if she has to be around him, then she has to make herself unlikable. And the last time (and only time) Forrest slept with a guest that stayed at his family's resort, it ended up in a one-star review that took a while for his family business to recover from, so he will not be making the same mistake twice, besides he needs his full focus on caring for his injured father.

Margot is only as the resort six weeks, it would make sense to look for something hot playful and casual and not something that makes her feels things she's scared of feeling like with Forrest, especially when already knowing how strong her connections is to him when hardly knowing him will be much harder than with her last serious relationship. But it also doesn't help her case when knowing that Forrest his a brilliant doctor who has dedicated his life and career to studying the cancer that took his mom way and seeing how her cares for his dad full-time... she can't help but give into the attraction and feelings she has towards Forrest.

I loved their differing yet complimenting personalities with Forrest being stern and meticulous but a completely softie on the inside and Margot the lively artist who is self-reliant (and very relatable!). They connect on knowing what it's like to care for a family member... with Margot and her sister and Forrest and his dad, and understand what it's like to put family over anything else.

I sooo enjoyed their playful banter and crackling tension (who knew it could get so hot in Alaska!?), all their charming awkwardness, and how they try to push the other's buttons and challenge one another. AND I loved the fact how they both had theories about each other on why they are the way they are. I really admired how this books also explores growth and reinvention, staring your fears in the eye, pushing yourself to be reminded of your strength and resilience, and trusting yourself and the assuredness in self to make it through hard times. It felt like a privilege and an honor to witness Margot and Forrest's story and their love and I can't stress enough how much I can't wait to read whatever the author decides to grant us with next!!!

Much gratitude to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Any Trope But You
By Victoria Lavine

In her debut novel, Victoria Lavine introduces Margot Bradley, a romance author who has lost faith in the very love she writes about. When a hacker reveals her secret to her fans, Margot’s sister Van sends her to an Alaskan retreat to write and rediscover herself. There, Margot meets a real-life embodiment of her male characters and confronts every classic romance trope. Will she open her heart and embrace her own love story, or will she walk away from a chance at happiness?

This book is a must-read for any romance fan. It explores not only the theme of love but also challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for those we care about.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Rating 4.2/5 rounded to 4 for Goodreads.

Any Trope But You, are you sure that you’re Victoria Lavine’s DEBUT novel? It’s too good.

What happens when a jaded romance author gets doxed and subsequently canceled by her fans? Her chronically ill sister sends her to Alaska, of course! Margot thinks she is going to be spending the next 6 weeks writing in a new genre, but she keeps finding herself stuck in the tropiest (is that even a word?) of tropes with the super hot, super off-limits Forrest. He's sworn off relationships, and especially relationships with guests.

I love how Victoria was able to pick fun at what makes the romance genre so cliche, but was able to pull you in and get you so invested in Margot and Forrest's HEA.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

DNF-ed at 21%

The premise of the book was okay, but I didn't like the main character Margot at all. I felt like she was being really defensive for no reason. For example, some people invite her to a hiking trip in Alaska and Forrest (the male protagonist) tells her that the hike isn't for amateurs, so she gets mad at him for assuming she's an amateur (even though she has made it very clear that she is). Another example, she gets into a writing zone but doesn't realize that the fire inside her cabin has gotten out of control. Forrest comes to save her, and she gets defensive and says something along the lines of "Okay, fine, I don't know how to build a fire, I'm just an amateur, jeez" when Forrest checks up on her (obviously these are my words, so don't think it's a word by word verbatim of what she said).

Also, the reasoning why she ends up in Alaska is because she wants to write a murder mystery instead of a romance novel. Seems okay, but it feels like she went into this with 0% research on how to write one, how to prepare living in Alaska, etc. To be fair, her sister booked her the trip, but also it was her plan to go either way.

Also, literally jumping into a hot stranger's arms makes me cringe so much. And the scene where her thoughts on Happily Ever After's is exposed was also a little cringe.

Overall, this could be a good book, but it's not for me.

Any Trope but You was as expected - a flurry of tropes and romance that filled the Hallmark bucket in my heart all the way to the top!

If you love romance tropes, clear communication, and strong lead characters, this is the perfect book for you.

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC and I am leaving this review willingly.

Wow— I absolutely adored this debut from Victoria Levine and can’t wait to read whatever she puts out next. I admit that I’m a sucker for a rom com set in Alaska, but this book seemed like it might be a bit cheesy (a romance writer who is outed as not believing in HEA goes to a remote lodge in Alaska to write her next book and meets the proprietors son who embodies every romance trope), but reader, let me tell you that this book is so thoughtfully written and completely heart-warming! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice. I loved the premise and this book it was so cute and heartwarming. It was fun getting to see ALL the tropes play out.



Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Lavine, and Atria Books for the ARC of this book.

I’m in love with this book! Lavine nails the “author writing about authors” thing without making it awkward. The FMC hilariously calls out romcom clichés but realizes life’s messier than that. It’s funny, smart, and surprisingly deep — tackling love, loss, and the hard truths with a wink and a nudge. If you love tropes, buckle up! This book is like a romcom bingo card — every trope you love is here. Margot’s dragged to a writing retreat by her sister, meets Forrest, and suddenly it’s like a romcom producer is pulling the strings. The banter is top-notch, and I flew through this sweet, fun story.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for this eARC!

Any Trope but You was a heartfelt and fun book to read! It was romantic and provided enough backstory on the characters that it made you feel like you knew them. I really enjoyed reading this book!

Wow, I absolutely adore this book. Lavine sure does know how to write writing within writing. What I mean, is that I've read few books where the main characters are authors, but somewhere, always, it becomes really hard to read due to how cringe worthy it is. This book is smart and funny, and the FMC is able to look past the tropes she sees in her life and realize that there are real people she's putting these tropes onto, and that real people aren't fictional characters. It's really eye-opening and wise to think about, and sometimes I think we all need to hear that too. There are a lot of truths these characters face in this book that I think are hard for a lot of people to hear. Those who have lost loved ones, those who find themselves caring long-term for those they love, those who put their lives on hold and lose the things they cherish because they put their lives on hold for their loved ones. And realizing that you can't hold yourself back from what you long to do forever, just for someone else's sake. This book is well written and very mature, and I feel will capture the hearts of a lot of people, as well as give them a good laugh here and there.

YA sapphic holiday romcom with estranged best friends/first loves having 12 fake holidates that may or may not turn real by the end

I feel like this book is a love letter to all romance readers, because it's about an author and it features all the tropes, but does it such a fun and funny way, while also being steamy and swoony. Forrest and Margot have their own baggage and issues, but what's also clear is how much chemistry they have and how much they can change each other's lives for the better. There was a lot of emotion in this book too, but I think the author balanced it very well with lighthearted moments and some steamy scenes, as well as the overall romance. I can't believe this is a debut novel! The author is really good, and I look forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Lavine, and Atria Books for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Margot Bradley is a best selling romance author who doesn’t believe in love. She secretly writes alternate endings for her characters that end in divorce or a breakup that she calls her Happily Never After document. When it’s hacked and released to the public she finds herself cancelled. In order to support her chronically ill sister, she decides to trade HEA for murder. When her sister books a six week stay in a remote Alaskan town, she suddenly finds herself in her very own romance novel.

Dr. Forrest Wakefield left his dream job as a cancer researcher in order to care for his stubborn father. He spends his days running the family resort and questioning his choices until Margot shows up. He doesn’t need another person in his life he could lose, but as they find themselves navigating through trope after trope he can’t seem to let her go.

I really enjoyed Ms. Lavine’s sense of humor which is sprinkled throughout the novel.

“It’s dark inside, but even so, I wouldn’t mistake this place for anyone’s but Forrest’s. For one, it smells like someone lit a scented candle in here called Cedar and Muscles, and it’s painstakingly neat.”

“He raises his eyes to mine right as his now-familiar scent wallops me in the face like a dictionary of romance hero smells. Cedar, whiskey, and bad decisions.”

“Honestly, what is it about men who smell like trees? At what point did biology decide wood was the go-to scent for making men smell attractive? It’s intoxicating, but I will not let my eyelids flutter.”

Forrest and Margot both have a lot of baggage so it’s easy to see why they’re hesitant to follow through with the attraction they feel towards each other in their meet cute. But after an arduous hike that ends with Margot spraining her ankle, the two slowly start to let down their guards. There’s a lot of push and pull on both their parts, but Ms. Lavine handles it with a deft hand. She builds the tension between them expertly. I especially loved her take on the one bed trope. There are also moments of tenderness especially when the two bond over being caregivers for a loved one. They understand each other and respect the sacrifices the other has made. It was so lovely to watch their relationship develop.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There’s lots of humor and romance.

A cute one for us romance girlies. It was fun getting to see ALL the tropes play out. I could have used a tiny bit more depth to really hook me in. But still a fun read. I’m ready to go to Alaska!

My initial thoughts on this book was that it was funny! Margot is definitely a character and I enjoyed reading her. Typically, I don’t go for cynical hell-bent on being anti-love characters but she won me over from the start. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I can’t wait to have this on my shelf!

Margot Bradley is a bestselling romance author who has lost her hope in Happily Ever Afters. When she appears on a podcast to talk about her upcoming novel, a hacker exposes her lack of faith by leaking her private Happy Never Afters, leading to an uproar amongst the reader community. Spiraling from the devastation from the leaked manuscripts and a potential career ending exposure, Margot’s sister decides to send her on a research getaway. The goal is for Margot to connect with nature, write her next novel, a murder mystery, and to focus on finding herself in the great outdoors in Alaska. Without Wi-Fi, finding herself on a new adventure outside of her comfort zone, Margot must learn how to navigate her feelings, the challenges she faces, while trying to reinvent herself.

When Margot arrives, Forrest Wakefield has some similar ideologies about love and life, which he starts to question as he spends more time with Margot. He prejudges her and finds himself annoyed with having to “look after” her. Forrest learns early on that Margot, and he have more in common than differences. Forrest starts to struggle with fulfilling his obligations or choosing himself.

This story is like a love letter to all romance readers. I love how it pokes fun at the predictability of romance tropes by acknowledging them along the journey. It provides us with a dose of reality that not every story has a HEA and sometimes those HEA’s look different then we expect. The relationships Margot has with her sister and Forrest has with his father create a deeper connection to some of the challenges each one face. It feels genuine, almost to the point, I questioned if it was based off real author experience. Being a caregiver for someone you love with a chronic illness, can be so difficult. There are so many underlying fears and worries for both the person who is experiencing the illness and the caregiver. It’s such a delicate dance that isn’t always done well. It scary, exhausting, and always filled with the desire to do what’s best for the person you love. I look forward to reading more. My only complaint is that I wanted more when I flipped on the last page of the book. :)

Thank you, Atria Books and Victoria Lavine for the advanced copy of this book.

This read had many favorite tropes! One bed, forced proximity, etc. Margot is a romance author who doesn’t believe in HEA. Forrest is a research MD who left his career to care for his Dad in Alaska. When Margo gets sent there by her sister (who she also is caregiver to) they are forced to spend 6 weeks together. I liked the main characters and they have depth to them as they both have given up a lot to care for their families. The author captures the joys and sacrifices caregivers face as well as the blessing and burden of being cared for. The bedroom scenes were too explicit for my taste, and at times didn’t reflect how the characters, which is why I gave it 3 instead of 4 stars.

This just wasn’t the book for me.

In this novel we follow Margot who is a romance writer who secretly writes harsh endings to the books she publishes (but doesn’t tell anyone). When these secret endings are leaked, her career is over. To help her find her spark again, her ailing sister sends her to Alaska for 6 weeks. Once there, Margot meets Forrest, the owners son/hot local doctor. From there we see all the common and cliche tropes in romance novels.

I say this book isn’t for me because Margot is such a nasty person. I get being cynical and not believing in love, but to call your readers naive for believing in your stories and characters is just plain rude. Not to mention she spends a good chunk of the book acting privileged and entitled when she interacts with Forrest. Not to mention she just loves yelling at him while he is perfectly nice.

There were too many characters in this novel. Sorry but it’s true.

Ollie drove me nuts. I’ll leave it at that. Same with Savannah and her letters. She is too cheery.

Forrest was a decent character but he deserved better than Margot.

I requested this book because I love a good Alaskan romance, but this just missed the mark. Maybe if you like loud FMCs who are rude, and crazy side characters you will enjoy this novel.

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.