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Nothing gives me life like a romance book that is an ode to romance books. As romance readers, we all recognize the tropes and we know ahead of time how the book will end, with a happily ever after. It's the definition of the genre, but it makes us happy every time. Margot, however, is a romance author who has lost her faith in love and HEAs. Through her own series of tropes and romantic adventures, she obviously learns to believe in love again. The end! And I ate it UP. Honestly, an impressive debut novel. I even loved reading the acknowledgments.

Thanks to netgalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Release date 4/1/25

What I thought I signed up for: a fun and spicy romp through snowy Alaska.
What I got: see above, but add a sucker punch to the feels.

After Margot’s career as a romance author ends with her fans turning their backs on her, her sister sends her to a remote Alaskan resort so she can focus on writing her next book in a new genre. Margot arrives only to find herself quite literally in the arms of the proprietor and over the next six weeks, they continue to find themselves trapped in every single, cliché romance trope that she’s been trying to avoid.

The depth Victoria Lavine created in these characters was something I wasn’t expecting with such a fun plot. A lot of this comes from the connection Forrest and Margot have with each other as they are each the primary caretaker of a chronically ill loved one. Because of this, they’re able to empathize and understand each other’s needs, motivations and concerns in a way that is bone deep and all their own.

Another reason I love this book so much is the relationship Margot had with her sister. Minor spoiler: the letters that Savannah leaves for Margot were so beautifully inspiring and left me, and Margot, in tears every time.

Finally, the book is genuinely laugh out loud funny. I literally woke my baby from laughing so hard at one particular aside from Margot.

What a dream of a book. I can’t wait to hold it in my hands come April.

Thank you to Atria Books, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book! Loved the setting, loved the characters, and loved the inclusion of so many tropes that romance readers just adore!

Top tier romcom! I laughed, I swooned, and my heart felt so full reading this. I can't believe this is a debut novel! The slow burn...oh lord...I ate it up. I was kicking my feet and giggling through all the banter. Everything you could want in a romcom is in this book.

A romance author who doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters? Gasp!

Margot’s world crumbles when her secret alternate endings to her swoon-worthy romance novels are leaked, and fans are NOT amused. Desperate to escape the fallout, she flees to Alaska to reinvent herself as a murder mystery author. Instead, she stumbles into her very own rom-com, hitting every (Alaskan cedar) trope-branch on the way down.

Were some tropes overdone? Absolutely. Was it Hallmark-y to the last drop? You bet Margot’s spandex-covered bottom!

I liked this one but didn’t love it. It’s a fun read with some tropes feeling a bit forced into the narrative. What really shines are Lavine’s hilarious one-liners—they’ll have you cracking up even as the story tackles more serious themes. And BLESS YOU, Victoria, for steering clear of the dreaded miscommunication trope… at least as a major plot driver.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own!

I had the best time reading any trope but you! Margot’s bond with her sister is so heart warming, and the antics of their relationship was my favorite!

I’m a sucker for an Alaskan romance and it’s even better when it’s met with a reluctant hero! (And moose) Forrest and Margo are so perfect for each other, and reading about their relationship and their character growth brought me true joy!

Thank you Atria for the netgalley widget in exchange for an honest review!

Perfect book to start off the winter season. Romance author who hates HEA but still writes about them is so creative. Such a cute romance

This book is simply adorable. Margot is a romance author who doesn't believe in happily ever after. Her readers find out and her life blows up. She goes to Alaska to reinvent herself for 6 weeks and meets Forrest. Is this story unique not necessarily but the characters are very likeable and well developed. They are understanding of each other's needs and the trauma they have both experienced. It is sweet and spicy and all around lovely!

I was looking for a light, fun rom com to read between my study sessions in medical school and this hit all the right notes. If you're a fan of romance tropes you will absolutely love this book. It's over the top and cliche at times, but it's exactly the type of book I needed for escapism. I always love a good grumpy x sunshine trope, and I found that in this book it was done in such a cute, slow burn way that I couldn't help but love both the MC and the love interest by the end of it. I also saw parts of myself in Margot, the MC because of her deeply rooted relationship with her sister. As an older sister, I could relate to the fierce overprotectiveness Margot had for her sister Savannah. It also made me appreciate how the love interest, Forrest saw and understood parts of Margot that no one could have truly understood before. The only reason it wasn't a five star was mostly because the thrown in "conflict" towards the third act which seemed kind of silly but was resolved quickly. All in all, I would definitely check this book out for a short and cute winter read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely adore the idea of Alaska. It is my dream vacation so any time I get the chance to read an Alaskan romance, I always jump at the chance. I’m sure most people will read the blurb and think I feel like of read something like this before, but it’s different and great and magical. Both main characters were so well written. The banter was so fun and witty. This is my first book by this author, but I honestly can’t wait to read more.

Here is my confession…

I don’t normally read romance novels. With that being said, this debut by Victoria Lavine, was entertaining and fast paced enough to hold my interest all the way through.

The chemistry between the two protagonists was really solid and the romance rather steamy. The two characters were well developed, and the story itself was funny, charming, and feel good.

I can’t say I’m hereby a romance reader but for a change of pace, this was a good one to pick. True Romance-Com readers will be delighted by this impressive debut.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

So cute! A love letter to romance novels. A burned out romance author who has lost her belief in love has her whole world crumble around her when her "Happily Never After" file is leaked. Banished to Alaska by her sister to help her recover, she meets a man who embodies every single romance trope. So cute, with unexpected depth to the characters, its a definite must read.

I did have one complaint, though. Their meet-cute is due to Margot getting scared by a moose. The moose is treated like a totally safe, no big deal animal but moose are actually more dangerous to encounter in the wild than bears, especially a bull moose with full antlers. As a zoologist, I cringed a little knowing that people are going to read this and think moose are safe to feed and approach in the wild.

This is a rom-com to the T! Easy/fast read that keeps your attention. Literally has so many tropes but in the best way! Forrest is a dreamy MMC. I love that you get two perspectives (Forrest and Margot). There are lots of likeable side characters as well…except Ollie 😂. Thanks to netgalley for this ARC!!

This was such a fun and cute while also steamy romance, and I just loved it so much! I honestly loved our main characters from the very beginning. The chemistry between them was AMAZING and felt perfect for this story. They both had pretty big things holding them back, but I really enjoyed how they were able to help each other and support one another, even if it meant they could not be together like they wanted. Life is unpredictable and can be hard, but when you find that one person who understands you fully, it can be such a beautiful part of life. I really liked how thought out and informative this book was about being a caretaker and the incredible importance it has on those who need it. This was a beautiful story and an even better debut from the lovely Victoria Lavine. Beautifully done.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Margot is a romance author who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. Her readers find out and it makes her take a step back from her life. She’s finds herself in Alaska rediscovering herself. She meets Forrest and they quickly get off on the wrong foot. On her Alaskan journey she rediscovers herself and finds herself falling for Forrest. There was so much I adored about this beyond the romance. I loved Margot and her sister’s relationship. They are there for each other the whole time. Honestly I can’t believe this is her debut novel.

What happens when a Romance Author no longer believes in happy endings? Margot's secret is leaked and so she finds her self in Alaska, trying to write her first non-romance book. Only she begins experiencing all of our favorite romantic tropes. With everything she's been through, is she capable of believing in her own HEA?

This was a fun read and a great concept for all Rom Com lovers. Overall it's a 4 ⭐️ rating for me, but considering this is her first book, I'm extra impressed. Victoria Lavine wrote a beautiful story that had me laughing, crying and swooning from page to page.

Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Lavine and Artia Books for the opportunity to read this in advance of its release. I look forward to recommending it and seeing it on shelves soon!

In short: Wow!

In long: Any Trope but You was literally delightful (despite the fact that I cried twice while reading). With a tongue-in-cheek take on the rom-con genre, Lavine's debut catapults her onto my will buy/ read anything and everything she graces us with next!

Set in remote Alaska, Margot Bradley finds herself far from civilization - but not quite far enough that all her problems can be forgotten. Having written plenty of her own, she spots the Tropes crossing her path from miles away. But she can only fight off the inevitable for so long. A story of sisterhood and growth, Margot eventually learns to embrace her new reality and leans in to all things Alaska - even the lacking wifi.

My #1 favorite thing about this debut is the representation of caregiving across generations. Any Trope but You tackles complicated family dynamics & health challenges earnestly & honestly. Where one of our main characters continues to beat himself up for not being there for his Mom, the other feels tethered to her sister out of fear and necessity. This book explored where these feelings originate from & the truth in the stories we tell ourselves in order to show up for our families. This was tactful, smart, and endearing. Am empathic 5 stars from me.

I’ll take ALL tropes in Any Trope But You!!!!! This book was an amazing fun and sweet ride! Savannah was absolutely right when she said “romance readers are the best readers” - especially when we have amazing FMCs and MMCs to fall in love alongside with.

With a solo trip planned (by her sister) to Alaska for 6 weeks after PR scandal turned cancelling, Margot did not think there was any digging out of the hole she was in. With anticipating letters from her sister during said trip Margot quickly realized she had no idea what she was in for. She also didn’t think she’d (literally) jump right into the arms of Mountain Daddy - aka Forrest. And allllll the tropes begin (forced proximity, enemies to lovers, grand gesture, one bed ((sleeping bag)), STRETCHED HENLEY??)

From this being a debut novel - i’m so excited to see what else comes from the author 🥰 Absolutely enjoyed every second reading this and HIGHLY recommend putting on your TBR immediately.

Margot, a jaded romance writer, retreats to Alaska to reinvent herself after her secret "Happily Never After" document is released. She arrives, only to find herself immersed in what seems to be her very own rom-com with the proprioter's son, Forrest.

This books is for those who love ALL the tropes. Only one tent, grumpy vs. sunshine, forced proximity, and the list goes on.

If anything, Forrest just felt a little TOO perfect. At one point, I was begging for him to have more flaws. One man cannot be that amazing. Part of me was also shocked at how quickly Margot's fans flipped, but I also remembered how strong cancel culture is.

I loved the notes interspersed from Savannah and how both characters were so invested in their family. Caregiving really can totally absorb a person, and I could definitely relate with that.

This was a sweet, yet spicy - looking at you sauna scene - book. Perfect for those searching for a light read full of laughs. I'd give it a solid 4.25 stars.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All views and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this story, this is my objective review. Margot is a popular romance author as well as a closet love cynic, who must try to revive and re-invent her writing career after her beliefs about "happily 'never' afters" come to light. A much-needed change of scenery brings her into contact with Forrest, a doctor who's temporarily working at his family's Alaskan resort. Both of them caregivers (in fact and at heart), and both burned by past relationships, can they overcome their preconceived ideas about love and responsibility and still find happiness?

Margot has a sardonic voice that I enjoyed, and Forrest was delightfully dead-pan at times. The author has a dry wit and a fun turn of phrase that really enhanced the story for me. (FWIW, I would totally buy a scented candle called "Cedar and Muscles" because I bet it would smell amazing. Like a lumberjack-scented air freshener.) The story is a little meta with all the talk about tropes but not unexpected given the book's title. *So* many tropes, and it got to be fun to watch how much Margot realized that they kept popping up. Forrest definitely ticks a lot of main character boxes for me. Like, an almost ridiculous amount. (Again, though, the author was clearly going for over-the-top.) I just know that I liked them both, together and apart, which is the type of characterization I enjoy the most in a book. (And Forrest is my kind of book boyfriend: super-duper smart but not a jerk about it, nice but not too nice, all covered in a beautiful wrapping of hubba-hubba. I am and will always be a sucker for a #hotnerd.) Some open-door sexy times but the focus is more on both characters slowly dropping the guard with one another. I like that there were realistic conflicts and problems, especially with both of them being caregivers. And although every HEA is a bit predictable, this one had enough twists to keep things interesting.

One final note: I loved Margot's thoughts on her readership and her realization about romance novels in general. Romance stories give hope, which is definitely why I read them. There's just so much sheer, distilled hopefulness in a love story and in the belief that love in all its forms is worth believing in. As well as the comfort that comes from the fact that eventually, things will work out just fine.

I would absolutely read this new author again and I'm looking forward to seeing more from her! Publishes April 1, 2025.