DNF. The biggest gripe I had with Any Trope but You was the main character, Margot. I found her unlikable. From the opening scene with her talking about her readers, I could tell I wasn't going to click with her. I found Margot immature and unnecessarily harsh. I wasn't a fan of how she treated Forrest at the beginning of the book. Romance tropes were a pivotal part of this book. At first, I enjoyed them; however, it became too repetitive, especially with Forrest's character. He was too tropey for me. As a result, Forrest's character felt flat. Although a little unbelievable, I thought the plot was fine (from what I read). I just couldn't get past the main characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Any Trope but You is a witty, heartwarming debut that’s equal parts rom-com and emotional journey. Margot’s reluctant leap from romance to murder mysteries is as hilarious as it is touching, and the Alaskan resort setting is the perfect backdrop for her unexpected love story with the broody yet endearing Forrest.

Margot’s skepticism about Happily Ever Afters creates a compelling tension as she’s reluctantly swept into a real-life rom-com full of snowstorms, moose encounters, and undeniable chemistry. Forrest’s own struggles with family and loss bring depth to his character, making their connection feel authentic and hard-won.

This book is a love letter to romance tropes, cleverly subverting and embracing them in ways that will delight any romance fan. With laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and a swoon-worthy slow burn, this debut is a must-read for anyone who believes in love—no matter how reluctant they might be!

I loved this book! It checked all the boxes of a good romance novel for me. A fun, enemies (really more stubborn knuckleheads) to lovers story, just the right amount of spicy (🌶️ 🌶️), and a great lesson learned by both main characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

I already have a top 2025 romance. Any Trope But You is a top tier romcom full of banter, heart, and locationsss. The story follows a popular romance author who has lost faith in love. When her secret document full of dark alternate endings for her beloved characters (“Happily Never Afters”) gets leaked, Margot is cancelled by the romance book community and flees to Alaska. There she finds a man who checks every quality of a perfect leading man - Dr. Forrest Wakefield. Naturally, this means Margot must do everything to push him away. Will it work?

This book was e x c e l l e n t. One of my favorite bookish romances. I laughed when Margot would find herself in another classic romance book trope. Forrest is the perfect leading man while still having plenty of flaws. I also really loved the sister bond between Margot and Savannah. Overall, a truly perfect romcom.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this story was amazing. I loved the slow burn of the relationship and how jealous our MMC was! I thought Forest was a dreamy MMC and never fell short of perfection, even at the end. His character was so well developed that I understood and agreed with his decision. Our FMC was good. I actually loved her sister more. I would actually love to hear more about HER love story. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to any contemporary romance reader! It’s a great debut book.

I love a book about a romance author who is a little jaded and this delivered in so many ways. It was fully of all the things we love about romance books all while Margot is rolling her eyes at it! It was funny and witty and swoony and so full of love! I loved it so much. Both Margot and Forrest were on a non-romance mission! neither of them had the time, they had both been hurt! But of course the tension and the chemistry of being thrown together in the middle of nowhere Alaska does something to people!! Watching the fight it and fall in love was SO MUCH FUN!

I LOVE FORREST WAKEFIELD! I feel like it’s been second since I’ve read a grumpy hero and Forrest was absolute PERFECTION. He was so grumpy but also so sweet and so loving and he cared SO much for his family and even for Margot before he even really realized what she was doing to his FEELINGS!! And Margot was amazing! I loved her happily never after file. I loved how much she loved her romance community even though she didn’t quite believe in romance herself. I LOVED her and her sister, and how they were finally able to grow and change together and apart.

Margot and Forrest were HOT! A good enemies to lovers with ALL the best tropes thrown their way, in the best way! I loved their banter and I loved watching Forrest be SO jealous of Ollie. And watching them fight so hard not to face their feelings even though they were getting stronger by the second!!! Was hard but also so worth it in the end!!

Thank you so much to Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

4.5/5

I bumped this up on my arc tbr after seeing a couple great reviews on instagram and I’m so glad I did! I loved everything about this. The setting, the characters, the love- this is one I’ll be recommending to everyone!

First off, I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I’m a big fan of winter cabin snow vibes. As far as tropes go, this is described as enemies to lovers but I don’t think they were ever enemies but they both did an extraordinary job fighting their feelings/attraction.

My main 3 issues with this was,
1) Ollie. When I read a romance I like the focus to be on the two people falling in love. For the first ~30-40% , Ollie was too involved for my tastes. Margot took too long to tell him he had no chance and even though it wasn’t her intention, used him to play mind games with Forrest.
2) Codependence with both main characters and the family members they were caring for. I felt smothered.
3) The cheesy ending. I feel like the romance community needs to do a revote on 3rd act breakups. I would like to vote them out, healthy communication can be angsty if done right.

But, this was very well written otherwise and the spice was the perfect amount. Although I wasn’t a fan of the feelings fighting, I did enjoy the build up of that makes sense, because the pay off was worth it. Would definitely read more from this author! 3.5 stars rounded up!

Oh man, I just loved this and how they hit so many of the tropes and the FMC was so jaded but she came around and found her HEA!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this eARC

One thing I didn’t expect from this book was the heavy topics that were in it. Death of a parent and illness to name a couple. But I loved how despite the hard topics, I was able to laugh too! I really enjoyed it

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this one! It was a bit meta with the main character being a romance author trying to avoid all of the tropes while falling in love. Even the main character California-girl-out-water-in-the -Alaskan-wilderness trope was well done.

The line "a film collaboration between the Hallmark Channel and Pornhub" is the best summary I can give. So, explicit open door, if that's your thing.

This is a very charming romance. It basically makes fun of every romance trope that exists in a very meta but also sweet way.
Any Trope but You tells the story of Margot, a successful romance writer (she knows every trope) who goes to rural Alaska to write her latest book. She meets Forrest there and hijinks ensues (enemies to lovers, both care for sick relatives, she is blond and beautiful, he is a huge buff lumberjack etc. etc.) We all know how this story goes but Victoria Lavine tells it with wit and creativity. She is definitely a new romance writer to watch.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars

Margot is a romance writer who has not had the best of luck with romance in her own life. She has been hurt one to many times, and although she writes books about them, does not believe in Happy Ever Afters. Once her readers find out about this, they turn on her. With her career spiraling, her sister books her a 6 week get-away so she can focus on getting her life, and next book, back on track. Of course, she meets a handsome man when she arrives at her retreat, and her life begins to follow a variety of romance tropes. Will this be enough to make Margot believe in Happy Ever Afters once more?

We follow Margot, and Forrest, the mmc, through the many romantic tropes that take place in this book. They both have similar experiences in taking care of sick loved ones, and losing people they love, which is where their connection really blossoms from. They have also both been hurt romantically in the past, and therefore have mile high walls built up arround themselves.

I personally love the premise so much. A romance writer who doesn't believe in romance!? A romance writer who knows all the tropes, yet still tries to not fall in love when they are happening to her!?

The connection between the two main characters is incredible. The witty, sarcastic humor is the key to a good story for me. I was laughing and crying throughout this whole book. The amount of smut was perfect, enough to get the point across, but not overbearing. The writing itself was also incredible. It flowed really easily and the metaphors used throughout were original and kept it engaging.

Although there was some repetition it really didn't bother me, and i was fully invested in the romance from the beginning of their cringe meet cute.

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, it was so very close for me. I think where it fell a little short was the unrealistic recovery time of an injury the fmc sustained. With how intense it seemed, she should not have been able to go on a grueling hike a week later.

I loved everything else though, I didn't see any obvious plot holes, inconsistencies or other unrealistic situations, which are big per peeves of mine.

Its hard to believe this is a debut novel from the author, and I will definitely be getting my hands on any other books she publishes in the future.

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

DNF 15% in
I'm sorry!!! I'm sorry ok!! This has a lot of potential but there was soooo many pop culture references that I just couldn't do it anymore.

That and it was veryyyy trope heavy- which yeah it literally has trope in the title but wow it was a lot.
Ultimately not what I was in the mood for. I read the last chapter and I'm not sad about not finishing it👀😅

Really enjoyed this super fun rom com about a romance writer who’s happily never after endings to her beloved book leaks on the internet and she get cancelled by her fans. As a way to reset her mindset her sister sends her to a remote lodge in Alaska where see meet the son of the owner who happens to fit all the romance tropes from her books she’s trying to get away from. I love a book filled with misadventures and a moose named Bullwinkle.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an eARC. A romance author stops believing in happily ever afters and once her readers find out they turn on her. She goes to Alaska to recover and try writing a mystery novel. She has an adorable and funny meet cute with a handsome man in Alaska. He is trying to focus on caring for his father and she doesn’t believe in love but the more time they spend together the more romance tropes she sees in her daily life. Cute and funny romance that made me laugh. Also deals with family health issues and the love of family. Deals with parental trauma and relationship trauma. Recommend this romance novel.

3.5 stars! I really enjoyed the off the grid, Alaska setting of this book and it made it a perfect winter read. Since it was a romance book about a romance writer, it was very heavy on tropes/pointing out tropes to the point where I felt like there could’ve been less or just integrating them naturally. I also felt the reason that Margot was cancelled by her readers was super unrealistic.

Definitely the kind of debut that gets me excited for more from the author, this was such a love letter to the romance genre. I loved the concept of a romance writer whose own love life has fallen apart, making it difficult to deliver the HEAs her readers expect. Seamlessly blending romance with women’s fiction, this digs deep while still letting the love story shine. Our heroine is forced to go on a journey of self-reflection… with a man who embodies every quality of a perfect book boyfriend right by her side. The relationship is front and center, even as both characters fight against it with all their might. The push/pull kept me turning the pages, and I ended up bingeing this in one sitting. There were a couple of small things that bugged me, but I sincerely enjoyed the journey the whole way through. It was a strong 4/low 5-star read for me, and one that left an impact.

The story follows Margot, an author who has gotten herself into some trouble. Though every one of her books ends with the characters living happily ever after, she has a private document that details the way those relationships unravel after the final page. That document is essentially a sad journal, and it was never meant to go public… until it does. Suddenly cancelled by her fans and not sure what to do with herself, Margot’s sister sends her on a weeks-long trip to Alaska. Out in the wilderness with no connection to the internet, Margot is forced to push herself in ways she never imagined. The worst part? Her ruggedly handsome wilderness guide, Forrest. Though the two clash from the moment they meet, there’s something about Forrest that pulls Margot in. As the two find themselves in countless tropey situations, Margot soon realizes that Forrest might just be book boyfriend material after all - if only she could keep him.

I’m really torn between 4 and 5 stars, though that’s a good problem to have. This was very well done, and the potential in Lavine’s writing shines through. The characters are complex and multifaceted, the romance is both swoony and angsty, and the vibes shift from playful to emotional. It truly put me through my paces, and a lot of the themes are thought-provoking. Plus, we have the absolute dream man that is Forrest. I loved him more with every layer that was revealed, and Margot knew she didn’t stand a chance at guarding her heart against him. I will say that the pacing was a little peculiar - Forrest and Margot begin fighting their feelings early on, constantly encountering new obstacles that force them to retreat. They traveled through a myriad of romance tropes, and I enjoy some of those more than others, lol. Their connection was great though, and I loved how much they ultimately had in common. I doubt I’ll forget this story anytime soon, which is why I'm choosing to round up my rating.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a feeling this book was going to be a ton of fun, and I was dead on! With a title like this, it’s fair to make the assumption that it’ll be filled with your favorite romance tropes. While they are present in full force, it comes from an incredibly meta approach considering our FMC is a romance writer herself.

Margot is ferocious and incredibly tightly wound from her recent catastrophes and Forrest is potentially even more stubborn than his father, making the two a perfect match to buttheads day in and day out.

I really loved watching the two characters grow from their past experiences. Both experience their own journey where they have to confront their past in order to see a future.

I read this book over the course of three days and had a hard time putting it down because I just wanted to stay in this world!

For a debut, this was an amazing start to what I hope is a long and amazing writing career. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

‘Any Trope But You’ releases on April 1st, 2025!

thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc read in exchange for an honest review.

overall this was a fairly cute read. i will say it is deeply cliche and the ending felt rushed. but aside from that this was generally a fun winter read.