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.”

3.5-4⭐️

Overall, this one was cute and enjoyable. The writing style was really engaging and the humor landed well. The banter, chemistry, angst, and mutual pining was on point. It had a good balance of humor and heart. I enjoyed the dual POV! It’s always fun to read about a guy being completely gone for his girl. All that said, I did have some complaints and there were some things I wish had been done a bit differently.

I think my main struggle with the book was that I had trouble connecting with Margot. I found her to be very frustrating and annoying at times. There were times throughout the book where I thought I was starting to like her more and then she would do or say another thing that made me roll my eyes at her again. She just came off as a bit bratty to me.

I will say that Forrest was a pretty generic MMC. But I guess that was his whole thing…he was basically supposed to be the embodiment of a perfect romance MMC. Predictably, I liked him haha. He was hot, kind, caring, capable, strong, rugged, intelligent, selfless, successful, enjoys reading, and has a heart of gold (I mean, who wouldn’t be into that?!) 🙈 He lost some points with me for how she handled things I the third act. (Frankly, I would’ve liked to have seen more groveling after that lol).

Speaking of California, I wish he had stuck with that nickname. I think it’s such a cute microtrope when we have a teasing nickname that turns into a term of endearment; however, switching to “sweetheart” was unfortunate to me. Maybe that’s more of a personal preference but “sweetheart” makes me think of a grandpa or creepy old man and was a bit of an ick during spice scenes. Even a nickname like “sunshine” would’ve been better (like the CA sun, how she brightens his life, makes him feel warm, etc.). Again though, that’s more of just a personal ick rather than a real complaint about the writing or story. 🙈

I think Savannah was probably my favorite character. I enjoyed the epistolary trope with her letters! I did think the side characters were fun too!

I went into this book knowing that it would be very trope-driven, as the title suggests, and it did in fact hit ALLLL the big tropes (even a few that I wasn’t a huge fan of—looking at you “too big to fit” and third act breakup 👀). I actually had a lot of fun with it having so many of the tropes we all know and love. That said, I didn’t love that they were pointed out/listed pretty much every time, it felt a little uncomfortable to me that that’s how Margot’s brain worked (especially when she starts rolling her eyes or complaining out loud or telling Forrest he’s just another trope and reducing him to that. I did like that she had some moments of self-awareness about this where she realized that she was kind of being unfair to think about him that way. Idk, it felt like the author was just trying to check off a list of all the big romance tropes and while she did pack a ton of tropes in there (too many to list), some did feel a bit forced into the story.

As far as the romance, I also had some difficulty believing that he loved Margot for HER rather than what she represented (a reminder of his California life that he missed and someone who could relate to his experiences) given the instalove and how this his inner narrative was pretty repetitive about her reminding him of his old life and everything he couldn’t have but wanted, etc. I was also a little unconvinced about how quickly Margot was able to start believing in love and HEAs again after having a lifelong disbelief in them. Like they’ve only known each other a relatively short amount of time and much of that time they were in conflict. It just seemed a little quick for her to do that much of a turnaround and want to spend her life with someone. But I guess, as they say, “when you know you know”. 🤷‍♀️ I don’t mind a fast-burn—my husband and I knew we wanted to marry eachother within 2 months of dating too; however, I also wasn’t fighting against a lifelong disbelief in love and HEAs.

The main area of character growth was her learning to let herself love again. I would’ve liked to have seen them both grow to recognize how their self-martyrdom was unhealthy and make the decision for themselves to do less of that rather than having their hands forced by family. It just felt like they only ended up together and had healthier boundaries due to external influence rather than internal growth. As a therapist, I just wish that had been executed a little differently. 🤷‍♀️

(**Potentially slightly spoilery**) On that note, I have to agree with Forrest on being frustrated with the timing of his dad’s decision due to the impact on his career. I’m glad he at least gets Margot back, but that wasn’t enough of a HEA for him in my opinion. I would’ve liked an epilogue showing a glimpse into their HEA for it to feel more convincing. I would’ve liked to have read that he made some kind of huge accomplishment in his research or got another grant or something and read about them moving in together or being married or whatever to convince me of a HEA rather than a HFN.

Overall, I enjoyed this one quite a bit despite my qualms with some aspects of it. It was fun and funny, swoony and sexy, but also surprisingly poignant. It was a good debut! Victoria Lavine seems like she will be an author to watch!

Thank you to Victoria Lavine, NetGalley, and Atria Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A perfect love letter to the romance genre. FIVE CHARS (Even though we don't like Charlotte over here). This book made me feel all the feels.

I loved the setting of Alaska. This is pretty sweet romance book. There were couple cringe moments which sometimes can make me hate the book. Here it wasn’t anything too major. This book made me go to Alaska even more than I wanted before.

Any Trope But You by debut author Victoria Lavine is my first 5 star read of 2025. Margot is a beloved romance author whose HEAs are world renowned, but when Margot’s personal file documenting her hatred for her fans favorite characters and her belief that HEAs are not real gets leaked and then goes viral, her sister helps her flee to Alaska to take a 6 week hiatus internet free. In this 6 weeks, she needs to recover from the scandal by writing a new book and communing with the Alaskan wilderness. Who better to help her recover than hotel proprietor Dr. Forrest Wakefield? Let me tell you, he makes sure to keep Margot warm in the Alaskan tundra. First of all, this book is hilarious. I laughed and giggled at the crazy wilderness excursion mishaps that Margot finds herself in. The simmering chemistry between Margot and Forrest is hot, but Margot resists as long as she can because as a romance author, she see tropes all around her and she doesn’t want to fall into a trope and be let down at her own HEA. Any Trope but You releases 4/1. Grab a copy. It’s funny, sexy, and guaranteed to be a good time.

Any Trope but You is a refreshing and delightfully self-aware take on the romance genre. The author’s ability to balance sharp humor with heartfelt emotional beats sets this book apart, making the characters feel vivid and relatable. While the premise of two rival writers reworking tired tropes could have felt gimmicky, the story instead shines with its nuanced exploration of creative tension, personal growth, and the way love often defies categorization.

The premise and start of this book were really cute but the execution fell a bit flat. While I always enjoy dual POV in romance novels, I felt like I was just getting the main characters’ thoughts the whole time and felt a severe lack of dialogue. I also felt like the two main characters learned way too much about each other from other people or indirect ways instead of sharing things directly with each other. This led to their relationship coming off a lot more shallow than what the author intended it to be. Also, the main character’s sister was by far my favorite character and it wasn’t even her story. Lastly, while I understand the main character was a romance writer herself, all the mentions and use of tropes just all felt way too much on the nose and (I hate to use this word) cringey. All that aside, I did appreciate the ending and how they were able to work out their own happily ever after despite the challenges they faced to get there.

This was so sweet!! heart-wrenching read, yet beautifully written. I loved both Margot and Forrest, and how they manage to care for a beloved family member. The setting is one of my favorite things about this book. The writing is well done. I’ll definitely be seated for her next books <3

I went into this book thinking it would be a light, fluffy romcom. (Definitely some It Happened One Summer vibes). And while it is funny and romantic (and spicy!), it’s definitely not fluffy. There’s a lot of hurt and angst and caretaking that adds a number of layers to both MCs. And I enjoyed it so much more because of all of it. Thanks to Atria for the ARC.

This was a bit cliche and the plot wasn’t very deep but overall I thought this book was a good one. It kept me intrigued from the beginning. The right mix of love and laughter for a book. It was a bit long for my liking. It was also the first time I have read this author.

This was a fun debut novel and I’ll be sure to check out future releases from Victoria Lavine.

The premise of all the romance tropes happening in this book was unique. Margot is a best selling romance author who secretly has a file of ‘happily NEVER afters’ and that being leaked was hilarious and refreshing. This starts her adventure in Alaska where *gasp* she meets Forrest who fits in all the romance tropes. The banter and chemistry between Margot and Forrest was perfect during their meet-cute and forced proximity-sharing one tent. Also, Margot’s sister Savannah was the best cheerleader, it’d be amazing to see her get her own book too. This book was funny, heartfelt and adventurous.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

This was cute. Definitely a little cliche and you can totally pick out where the plot is going but if you’re in the mood for a cozy, only-one-bed style romance!

This book strikes a wonderful balance between authenticity and humor, making it an engaging and relatable read. I was drawn to the main character’s journey, particularly her evolution as she navigates out of a period of turmoil. The romantic chemistry between her and the male lead was palpable—rich, dynamic, and compelling. Together, they created a relationship that felt both genuine and captivating. The supporting characters and subplots were well-crafted, complementing the central narrative and adding layers to the overall story.

The writing itself was exceptional, with a fluidity and pacing that kept me invested throughout. The way the narrative unfolded, particularly in terms of character development, made me feel intimately connected with Margot’s world. It’s clear why this book has garnered such popularity—each chapter was a new reason to stay invested in the story. Forrest, in particular, embodied all the qualities I look for in a romantic lead: charm, emotional depth, and his own character arc that gave the story even more richness.

What I especially appreciated was how the book navigated familiar romantic tropes, turning them into something fresh and satisfying. It’s a perfect read for anyone seeking a thoughtfully written romance with depth and substance. Without a doubt, I would recommend it to those looking for a narrative that combines emotional resonance with intellectual appeal. -a must-read that’s hard to put down.

3.5/5

I liked, didn't love this one. These characters are constantly getting in their own way, and there's one trope after another to the point where the fmc, Margot, exclaims "I can't be in another trope with you!" I love a self aware trope, but it gets to be a bit much.

I also had a hard time believing the extreme repurcussions of someone leaking Margot's secret file of "happily never after" endings to her well loved HEA romance novels. It rocks the literary world, her publisher DROPS HER, and she has to go escape to Alaska to rediscover herself.

Once there, she literally jumps into the arms of Forrest, which I mention because 1) it's the first of their tropes, and 2) it's to escape what she thought was a bear but what ends up being a "completely harmless" moose. Yes, it turns out to be a basically domesticated moose named Bullwinkle, but my first thought when facing a moose wouldn't be, "Oh, harmless."

In the end, not deal breakers. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story, including some steamy moments (hello, sauna).

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I think this will be gobbled up when it comes out in April, and I will definitely read more from this author.

Did this make me want to fly to Alaska and meet a hot, grumpy lumberjack kind of man? Absolutely. Beyond that, this one fell a little flat for me. I think my issue right off the bat is that it felt a little unrealistic. Of course, I know it's a book, so I take these things with a grain of salt, but the idea that an author was outed for not believing in happily ever afters and, therefore, essentially gets canceled by her entire audience feels... silly. It definitely gives Hallmark, which I know is popular for a reason!

I also very much enjoyed putting as many tropes as possible into a book to lean into the fact that that is such a big marketing tool these days. Authors focus heavily on tropes, so putting them all in one book to shine a light on that was very entertaining! By the end, however, it felt a little repetitive by the end. All in all, it was a very cute story, but it wasn't my favorite. I would definitely recommend it in the winter when you're looking for a snowy getaway.

"Any Trope but You" by Victoria Lavine was a delightful surprise! Don’t let the Alaskan setting make you save this for winter—add it to your summer TBR immediately! The book provides a playful twist on common romance tropes in a refreshingly unique and funny way. In a genre often saturated with predictable love stories, this one feels fresh. The vivid Alaskan backdrop (a personal auto-read setting for me!) and well-crafted characters, brimming with witty banter and undeniable chemistry, make this a must-read. This book gets rather steamy, especially towards the end which did start to feel a bit redundant. Overall, it's a fun and entertaining read!
Thank you to NetGallery and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Someone rent me a cabin in Alaska! This book was so much FUN. I loved the characters, the setting and the solid writing. Some of the scenes got quite steamy, but the overall story was super sweet and I loved the connection between the sisters and the discussions surrounding caregiving. I thought it was really beautifully done. A fantastic debut. I will be keeping my eye out for future books by Victoria Lavine (hopefully with another super cute cover)!

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Posted to Goodreads on January 16, 2025

Any Trope But You was so good!! I was hooked right from the start of the book. Our female main character Margo is wracked with guilt because she writes romance books for a living but doesn’t actually believe in the HEA’s (happily ever afters) she writes about. She has private notes with alternate endings for her books where her MMC’s end up with hilarious travesties like a beer belly or the need of a prescription for viagra. This private list of HNE’s (happily never afters) gets leaked to her fans and they cancel her for being a phony. Margo decides to make a career comeback by writing a new book which will be the antithesis of romance, a murder mystery. After Margo’s humiliating PR disaster her sister urges her to head up to a remote area of Alaska to get inspiration for her book. The first person Margot encounters is our MMC, Forrest, who happens to embody all the qualities of every romance hero she’s written about. Forrest comes with his own baggage and pessimism toward love but the two find themselves experiencing just about every romance cliche trope you can think of. It’s so fun to see them slowly realize their affection for one another while they work through personal struggles. Margot and Forrest kept me wondering whether they were going to get a HEA or HNA in this life romance.

There are some sad and serious subplots in the story but Victoria Levine wrote them perfectly. I saw a mention of triple negative breast cancer before I started the book and, as someone with metastatic TNBC myself, I was bracing myself for something upsetting. I was so happy with the way it was handled and kudos to the author on creating awareness around this specifically awful type of breast cancer.

This is a bold statement so early in the year but I think it will be my favorite romance book of the year. Victoria Levine, how is this your first book and when can I read the next?