Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine was a refreshing read. I loved the book's premise. I enjoyed how different it was to read. The main character is a writer (cliché, I know) who is basically cancelled because all of her HEA stories turn out to be not as HEA as they appear, so her sister convinces/sends her on a trip to find/reinvent herself and her writing so that she can make a comeback, but what Margot, our main lead, doesn't expect is to find romance with our male lead, Forrest, who happens to be the blueprint for perfect book boyfriend material. Margot and Forrest cross off so many book boyfriend check marks that
Margot begins to question whether HEA exists.I was cheering for these two from the beginning; their banter and chemistry were endearing and amusing. I really loved Margot and her sister's bond. I related to the narrative since I have a supportive sister and am a cancer patient, which added to my emotional connection. Overall, I was impressed with this author's book, especially considering it was her debut novel, and I hope to read more of her work.

⚠️I was gifted an ARC courtesy of Atria Publicity and Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

How dare this book make me feel all the things! Ugh, as I write this with tears in my eyes I can't help but think of my own HEA. Like Margot, I didn't want to believe in love. I found all the tropes cringey and hallmark movies too cliche when out of no where in bursts my walking cliche of a husband. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing at every trope that Margot found herself in and Forrest is literally a cinnamon roll of a guy. The epitome of grumpy vs sunshine. He's a doctor researching breast cancer, c'mon! There's so many heartwarming and relatable events in this book, I couldn't put it down. It's a very feel good story about not only relationship love but the love of family, which may be more powerful. This story was definitely a favorite of mine this year.

omg what a slam dunk debut!!

And what a great winter read -- I'm so glad I chose to read this when I did.

A cancelled romance author who doesn't believe in HEAs is exiled to the Alaskan bush to reinvent herself and escape the virtual vitriol. During only-one-tent wilderness excursions and the unfortunate proximity to a real-life (yet grumpy) romance hero -- essentially, all the tropes Margot writes but fundamentally doesn't believe in -- she must decide how to move forward amidst the unknowns of her future and her heart. Both she and the uber-hot Mountain Daddy™ Forrest (yep, a forest-dwelling Forrest) find unexpected connection in caring for their chronically-ill family members and fight to ignore their immediate physical connection. What do their futures look like, and how can they include each other? And can Margot find faith in her own possible HEA?

Damn, this book is so smart and WILDLY funny. I was so impressed with Victoria's writing and could not put this book down once I started. It's beautifully understanding of the feelings of caregivers and full of emotionally resonant conversations around illness and loss -- both in the lives of the ill, and in the lives of the caretakers. Plus, it's super hot (steamy sauna time, literally and figuratively) and is such a tender love note to romance readers and the romance genre. It's a story about hope, resilience, growth, sacrifice, love, brave forward motion.

There will be (much) cackling, heartstring-tugging tears, fanning oneself, and loss of respectable bedtime routines. All this to say: a must read.

ANY TROPE BUT YOU is meta as hell and I gobbled it up yum yum yum

(*my only minor note is about pacing: I wanted one less third act breakup -- there are two -- and the first felt unnecessary. I wanted that time to help build the relationship and trust between Forrest and Margot so her change of heart about HEAs was stronger, more believable, and more satisfactory. Then again, that's coming from me, a jaded, recently divorced HEA-skeptic. HA.)

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC (and Atria Books for the physical ARC) in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. ANY TROPE BUT YOU is out 04/1/25.

This book was just ok. I loved the Alaska setting but I didn’t feel a ton of depth with the characters. I also don’t love insta love/attraction and felt like this sort of leaned that way.

Such a cute winter romance read <3

~ plot ~
a romance authors darkest secret is exposed and her fans start to turn on her. Margot’s sister exiles her to Alaska for six whole weeks without wifi to rediscover herself. this is where she meets her stereotypical romance MMC & struggles to believe the men she writes about are actually real. Forest (aka Mr perfect) works at the Alaskan resort Margot was exiled to and chose to taking care of his disabled father over his career in cancer research (swoon). Let the steamy romance and cliche tropes begin!

~review~
Amazing debut novel by this author! This book was such a perfect wintery read & the depth to the characters & their background stories made it hard to put down. Perfect amount of spice to story telling ratio as well. I would recommend adding to every romance lover’’s TBR!

What a sweet DEBUT novel! I am a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers trope in any romance novel, so it was easy for me to get hooked into this quickly.

It reminded me a lot of the themes in It Happened One Summer and The Simple Wild (like, hello city girl in essentially “exile” in a small town/rural area, and one is actually also set in Alaska).

Margot is a romance author living in LA with her younger sister who has a chronic illness. Margot has trouble believing in the HEA and her secret is hacked off her laptop and leaked across the internet. She gets cancelled by her fans/publishing industry so her sister sends her to her “exile” in Alaska where there is no wifi or cell service to essentially find herself again. Then enters Dr Forrest Wakefield, the son of the owner of the North Star Lodge, who leads her to question everything. Forrest also struggles with the HEA and is afraid to commit to anyone, except maybe his father and due to health issues, Forrest puts his career on hold to return home to Alaska to help his father run the resort. Can these two put their own fears aside to try for their own HEA?

This is a novel of tropes. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Forced Proximity? Check. Meet Cute? Check? Love at first sight/slow burn? Uhm, YES.

✨ARC Review✨

Sometimes you read a book that is perfectly perfect and exactly what you want at that time. This is that book for me.

Margot is a successful romance author who secretly doesn’t believe in HEAs. She loves her fans and the success they’ve brought her, but she thinks they’re naive for believing in love. Obviously, Margot has *issues*. She also has a chronically ill sister/bestie whom she cares for.

During a live Zoom call with a podcaster, someone shares her formerly secret Happily Never After files. These are the alternate endings to all her romance novels: they end in divorce and erectile dysfunction. You already know she gets canceled.

Her sister, Savannah (Van), convinces her to go on an Alaskan retreat. It’s remote. It’s cold as hell. And Margot is not happy. Until she thinks she’s being stalked by a bear and jumps into a stranger’s muscular arms.

That stranger is Forrest. He’s a doctor home in Alaska helping to care for his father. He’s stunned by the beauty in his arms, but he’s sworn off getting involved with guests.

And then every trope you’ve ever wanted starts happening and it’s funny and sweet and absolutely delightful.

These two also “get” each other in the way two caregivers of the most important people in their lives do.

Highly recommend! @victorialavinewrites has written a stunner! ❤️❤️❤️

I was given this eARC via #netgalley and @atriabooks. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #

When a romance author falls out of favor with her audience, what's a girl to do? Set off for Alaska of course! Finding herself and a new romance in the piles of snow, this trope had me hook, line, and sinker.

Any Trope but You is about a bestselling romance author who goes to Alaska to reinvent herself and wants to write her first murder mystery but the resort proprietor has her fearing that she is in a rom-com plot instead. The author wrote this so well and I was turing pages until the very end. I loved all of the characters in this especially Margot. I loved the winter setting in the book a lot. I can not wait to read more books by this author. Overall, this was an amazing rom-com that I loved so very much. I would recommend this one to any reader especially to romance readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this romance read in exchange of my honest review of Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy!

Tonight my husband asked me if I was done reading rom-coms yet and I said “probably not.” I’m in a swoon-hole and I can’t get out of it and I’m perfectly okay with it.

This one was perfection. All the tropes tied into one and really just adorable. The banter was cute and quirky. You’ll get the ending you want for sure, which is the reason we are all reading these to begin with. And the steam was chef’s kiss!

Thank you so much to atria books and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!

This book was a fun, trope-filled ride that had me smiling at its Hallmark-movie charm—truly, a compliment! I loved the clever play on romance tropes, from meet-cutes gone awry to forced proximity in the snowy Alaskan wilderness. Margot’s journey to reinvent herself after losing everything was engaging, and I enjoyed the unique premise of a romance author diving into murder mysteries.

That said, this one was more of a like than a love for me. While Margot and Forrest’s story had potential, I wished for more chemistry between them to truly sell their connection. Margot’s relationship with her sister, Savannah, felt unhealthy at times, and the emotional weight of their bond didn’t always land for me. Additionally, Margot’s behavior often made her seem far younger than her stated age (which I think it said she was in her thirties), which occasionally pulled me out of the story. And while the puns and jokes were fun, there were just a few too many for my taste.

Still, the heartwarming storyline and cozy, snowy setting make this a great winter read. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies with a side of self-discovery, you’ll want to check this one out!

I loved this book so much! I haven’t shut up about it since finishing it. A real joy to read during the holiday season.

4.75 stars, rounded up

I absolutely loved this!! I thought it was the perfect Holiday rom-com! The characters were perfectly hilarious, the setting was perfect for the holidays, and the plot was great! I especially loved the pointing out and making fun of all of the romance tropes. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the whole book and even cried a few times as well.

I wish I could reread this for the first time all over again because it was nearly perfect. I also felt like it showed real relationships very well, both the good and bad parts of them. It felt very authentic (even though some of the ways the characters found themselves in the different tropes were a bit outlandish at times, I didn't feel like that took away from the plot or character development, it was just for comedic relief), which I enjoyed greatly.

I cannot wait for the next book by Victoria Lavine, I just want more from her!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I just read two books smashed together. Absolutely loved the first half! The banter, the tension, the gorgeous Alaska backdrop, the relentless poking fun at romance tropes.

Then, the enemies to lovers trope switches to lovers and both main characters become cringeworthy cheeseballs. Let the record show my dream romance hero will NEVER call me sweetheart 17 times in one bedroom scene. Come on.

All that to say. This author has strong Abby Jimenez vibes— and I felt the exact same way about her first book. So I’m looking forward to more!

Just please stop infantilizing the strong sarcastic femal lead, ok?


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the early review copy!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
I would give 6 if I could. Loved this book from start to finish. It was emotional, funny, heartwarming… everything you want from a romance book. This was one of my favorite books of the year, and I’m so glad I requested this one. No flaws.

Any trope but you was an enchanting, heartwarming read set in the mountains of Alaska. Margot is a romance writer who was heartbroken and unhappy with her happily ever after. One way of coping was to write her stories with not so happy endings. When he fans found out she was outcasted and hid away in Alaska. Where of course she runs into a burly sweet man who also happens to be a doctor. The clever way the author calls out the stereotypical tropes and how Forrest (such a clever name) hit every one of them. Between the one bed, forced proximity, to enemies to lovers the tropes kept coming. I loved how this story so clearly touched on so many aspects of romance writing. The characters were so loving and their physical attraction was undeniable. My favorite part of this book was how real the spicy scenes were. It wasn’t without the awkward moments which happen when you’re intimate! It was a very refreshing take on romance. This delightful romance release in April 2025.

4.5 stars
okay so this book was SUPER cute and almost a 5 star read. Margot is a romance writer who doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. When her private diary of not so happy endings get leaked- she gets cancelled! Her sister Savannah basically ships her off to Alaska so she can reset, reinvent herself, and trade romance for murder mysteries only to literally leap into the arms of a man who embodies every trope you could imagine!

This book was hilarious, swoon worthy, heartwarming, with lovable characters, exceptional banter, and a little bit broken. The relationships between Margot and her sister Savannah and Forrest and his dad were so dynamic and beautiful— they really put into perspective the lengths someone will go for the people they love.

I really love how this book simultaneously makes fun of all the romance tropes while making you root for them!

Meet Cute
Forced Proximity
“Enemies” to lovers
One bed (tent)
Dreamy Doctor
A+ banter
Mutual pining
No miscommunication 🙌

Shout out to NetGalley for letting me read this one early!
This one comes out April 1st- no joke add it to your TBR

Any Trope but You is a sweet and delightful romance that I absolutely loved. The story follows Margot, a bestselling romance writer who ends up in Alaska after her secret, she doesn't actually believe in love and romance, gets out. Trying to reinvent herself, she heads to a remote resort to work on a mystery novel.Enter Dr. Forrest Wakefield, who's back at his family’s rustic resort to care for his ailing father. The two are brought together by several classic romance tropes Margot is quite familiar with from her writing. At first, they’re both hesitant to connect, but they soon realize they need to put aside their fears and assumptions to find love.The story is filled with heartfelt moments and humor, sprinkled with just the right amount of spice and swoon. The romance feels fresh and is loaded with witty banter that keeps the pages turning. The snowy setting and the forced proximity of the characters add a charming and cozy touch to the narrative.

Overall, Any Trope but You is a wonderfully crafted romance that blends humor, heartfelt moments, and engaging character development. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves romance novels, especially those set in beautiful, wintry locations.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Delightful cozy romantic read! I really enjoyed the meta-ness of a romance novel about a romance writer noticing romance tropes playing out in front of her--it made me feel like the protagonist and I were in on a joke together. The tropes didn't feel forced, though--the characters were well-developed and they had compelling stakes keeping them apart and pushing them together. I liked how Savannah's character influenced the story through her letters--it was impressive how she maintained such a role in the story even though she wasn't physically with the other protagonists most of the time.

Overall, very fun read! I will keep an eye out for future Victoria Lavine books.

5/5 ⭐️, 2/5 🌶️, 2/5 💧

All the tropes as the title suggests!
🫎 Caregiver Rep
🫎 Snowed In
🫎 Fish Out of Water
🫎 Self Journey

This was a love letter to romance readers and book lovers. Calling out every trope was hilarious in a way as if the author was breaking the fourth wall to chat with you about all the cliches used in this book. A voice that is unique, it was fun to read, enjoy, and laugh at ourselves for loving romance the way we do.

It was a great mix of incorporating all the cliche tropes, calling it out, but also weaving in nuanced character development, as well as complex and sobering circumstances that will break your heart. It had humor, spice, and a really emotional love story that was hard not to fall in love with, topped with a happy ever after bringing it full circle. Very highly recommended!