Any Trope But You is a delightful, heartfelt debut romance novel that I absolutely adored. Margot is a romance writer who does not believe in Happily Ever After. When she meets Forrest she fights every instinct in her that is drawing them together like a romance novel come to life. Every imaginable trope keeps playing out but Margot refuses to become vulnerable like a romance character and to fall in love.

The summary of this book drew me in immediately! I am obsessed with rom coms and knew I would fall in love with this one. Victoria Lavine has written a beautiful story that has hooked me as a reader.

After reading the acknowledgements I just want to stand up and applaud this amazing, fearless author who deserves all the accolades and more for her perseverance to complete this book while battling cancer. Victoria Lavine you deserve my applause. Take a bow. Outstanding debut.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
***I received a copy of this as an ARC via Netgalley for my honest review ***

- Rom-com - Alaska setting - one tent/sleeping bag - snowed in - hurt/comfort - hot Dr/mountain man - sworn off love - HEA -

Best-selling romance author, Margot, is canceled by the romance readers community after her private thoughts of how she really feels about HEAs is leaked by a cyber-hacker. With the encouragement from her chronically ill sister whom she cares for, she decides to take a break from the every day and go to a cabin retreat in Alaska to reinvent herself and her image by trying her hand at her first murder mystery novel. Little does she know, she will jump right into the arms of the epitome of a romance MMC (literally).

Forrest is the proprietor of North Star Lodge, along with his father, who he has taken under his care after an accident left him unable to properly use one side of his body. Because, of course, the handsome rugged man running the lodge would also be a genius doctor taking time off from his groundbreaking breast cancer research to care for his ailing father. The more time he spends with Margot, though, he starts to question if he really wants to stay in Alaska or move back to California and see where things can go with her.

I loved how this book blatantly pointed out each time our characters stumbled upon each and every romance novel trope you can think of. The banter between the characters was fun and natural feeling. This story also represented the caretakers side of assisting a family member with both a chronic illness and lingering effects of a major accident well. Overall, it was a cute, fun, and spicy read where everyone finds their HEA no matter how reluctant they are to accept it.

Just not for me. Didn’t care for the FMC. After 25% of the characters hating eachother, it then felt like insta-love. I just didn’t really care about finding out what happened to these characters, and it just felt predictable either way.

A million stars wouldn’t be nearly enough to express how much I adored this book and my new favorite auto-buy author, Victoria Lavine. This novel embodies the warmth of a heartfelt hug, brimming with sisterly love, self-growth, and a fair share of passionate moments. Margot and Forrest are perfectly matched, and these pages are a testament to their captivating journey and so much more.

Lavine’s writing is in a league of its own. Someone compared her style to a blend of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood, and I couldn’t agree more—except Lavine brings her own distinctive wisdom that illuminates every line. I didn’t realize I needed her words in my life until I read ATBY, and now I can’t imagine being without them. Knowing there’s another one of her books on the horizon fills me with pure excitement.

This is set to be the book of 2025, and I can’t wait for everyone to discover this masterpiece. A huge thank you to the publisher for this early holiday gift. This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

any trope but you features margot, a cynical romance author who has lost all of her belief in the genre, but continues to write to appease her fans, but even more so for her younger, chronically-ill sister, savannah. after a career blunder savannah sends margot to a wilderness retreat in alaska where margot encounters forrest, the embodiment of every romance trope she now resents. this was really fun and steamy, with a lot of the meta commentary about the romance genre and specific tropes will resonate with any lover of the genre. i did find the pacing was off a bit in terms of the relationship development and the plot dragged at times. margot's treatment of the mmc sometimes rubbed me the wrong way. savannah was a stand-out character and i really enjoyed the sister relationship as well as forrest's relationship with his dad.

I did not want this book to end! This is a wonderful debut romance, by Victoria. This story has a little bit of everything, I also loved the backcountry, Alaska wilderness setting for this book. If you are looking for a fun and cozy winter story, this books is for you!

One of my fave romances I’ve read this year. Smart, sexy, charming, funny and genuinely affecting. I loved that it dealt with two caregivers.

This is exactly what you want if you are looking for a winter romance. Margot is trying to recover from an epic professional failure, and also believe in love again, which is important for her as a romance author, so she is sent to the Alaska wilderness to write a new book by her loving sister. I loved the atmosphere of this book- perfect for winter, chilly weather.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the early eARC of this incredible debut novel!

Margot is a romance novelist who's built her career on writing the happily-ever-afters readers crave. But secretly, she has her take on how those stories could end. Behind closed doors, Margot doesn't believe in true love, and she has an entire file of alternate endings titled "Happy Never Afters," where her beloved characters face broken relationships, growing older, and losing themselves and their relationships. When this file leaks, Margot's career implodes, and she retreats to Alaska at the request of her ill sister to reinvent herself as a mystery author. Though her sister Savannah has other ideas about how Margot will spend her time reinventing herself.

This book is a delightful mix of romance and humor, with a touch of satire, as Margot ironically finds herself falling for a man who embodies every romantic trope she's ever written. I loved the witty writing, full of memorable quotes that had me laughing out loud. Lavine's prose feels natural, relaxed and not fussy, which allows readers to settle into the storyline quickly, even as it surprises us with heartfelt moments.

Margot's relationships with her sister and with Forrest are written with warmth and depth, making the characters relatable and well-rounded. The bond between Margot and her sister moved me to tears more than once, and Forrest's dedication to his dad added a grounded, authentic layer to the story. Lavine weaves in tender insights that explore love and loss without taking away from the lighthearted, almost satirical tone.

While the Alaskan setting was beautiful, I found myself craving a bit more immersion—Alaska is breathtaking, after all! This story includes some steamy moments, which I found to be spicy and not cringy.

In the end, this book felt like a tribute to romance lovers and Bookstagram readers everywhere. I'm thrilled to have had the chance to read it this early, and I can't wait to ATBY it in the wild and read what Lavine has in store for us next!

This was a delight! I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a book chock-full of tropes, but Lavine stayed *just* on the right side of self-awareness without tipping into meta/cringe territory. The main and side characters were lovable and loving and their banter had me cracking up.

I especially appreciated the inclusion of caretaker storylines and how Lavine wrote Savannah and Trapper's characters. While their disabilities were important factors in their lives and relationships, they didn't define them.

I'd say the story was medium on character development. Both MCs displayed personal growth and had to push themselves beyond comfortable patterns. Ultimately, the HEA hurdle was outside the MCs' control and relied on other characters for resolution. All in all, it felt authentic, given the circumstances.

There were just a couple things that kept this from being a five-star read. First, I would have loved to see more from Forrest's perspective. His chapters account for about 1/3 of chapters, which means most of the plot is seen through Margot's eyes and it felt like his narration didn't have as distinct a voice (the pop culture references felt v. similar to Margot's).

My second gripe may say more about me as a reader than anything else--the MCs were just too beautiful. In the first couple chapters, Margot comes off as a relatable hot mess. Once she and Forrest began describing each other, things too a sharp right into "beautiful people--they're just like us!" territory. The descriptions of their conventional beauty (and the effort to maintain it) were personally a bit distracting.

Even with these minor complaints, this is easily in my top 5 rom-coms so far this year (high praise in October)! Now I have to wait patiently for Victoria Lavine to write something else...

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this book! It made me giddy and giggly and in all the best romance feels. It was exactly what I needed to read to have me in cozy and swoony mode. The chemistry was sizzling and the banter is unmatched! The FMC had me laughing out loud. Loved the play on romance tropes in a playful yet endearing way. The characters were developed perfectly and I loved the side plot of these two characters and what life as caretakers is like. It's perfection! Can't believe it's a debut.

Oh my gosh, this is such a good book at the right time. It's adorably cute, funny, and engaging, and the banter on this is on point! It was the perfect trope within a trope storytelling that needed to be told. Consider me sold with anything this author writes.

Massive thanks to Elizabeth Hitti, Melanie Iglesias Perez, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC gem in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book ! Definitely loved all the books extra tropes that were added into it !!
I look forward to reading more of Victoria Lavonne’s books! Forrest is goals 🤗

This book has all the charm of a rom-com with a fun twist! Margot, a romance writer who secretly despises happy endings, is trying to bounce back after her “Happily Never After” files leak, tanking her career. Desperate to support her sister, she heads to a remote Alaskan resort to write a murder mystery. There, she meets Dr. Forrest, a former cancer researcher turned reluctant resort manager. Their banter and chemistry are on point, and the setting adds a cozy, wintry vibe to their slow-burn romance. If you love humor, heart, and a fresh take on romance, this one’s for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Victoria Levine for the ARC of *Any Trope But You*! I’m thrilled to give this book 4.25 stars.

This book resonated with me right away, largely because it’s set in Alaska, which is where I’m from. The authentic Alaskan setting added an extra layer of warmth to the story for me.

What really made this story shine was the growth and change in its characters. Both Margot and Forrest have been hurt and are guarded in their own ways, but watching them break down walls and gradually heal each other's wounds was rewarding. Margot’s inner monologue was a standout, and I found myself cackling at her wry, often hilariously relatable thoughts. Her humor made her feel so real and approachable, and it added a lightness that kept the story engaging from start to finish.

Forrest also grew on me as a character; his journey was just as moving as Margot’s, and their interactions struck a perfect balance of fun, warmth, and genuine vulnerability. I’m grateful to have experienced a romance story where the characters help each other find joy and strength while still feeling layered and complex.

For readers who love a blend of humor, growth, and a beautifully rugged setting, *Any Trope But You* is a fantastic choice.

I want to start off by saying this book killed me in so many more ways than one. I laughed, I cried, I hung on the edge of my seat for the romantic tension and storyline. I enjoyed every second of it. This book was absolute PERFECTION to me and I 100% plan to read any and every other book this author decides to release.
Forrest and Margot were the BEST couple and I truly loved every single bit of their slow building relationship. As well as their bittersweet and adorable ending. I will also add, Forrest is THE FICTIONAL BOYFRIEND OF THE YEAR. Trust me.
I received this book through Netgalley, and I cannot be more thankful at all. THANK YOU for the opportunity to love these characters as much as I'm sure you do. This book will remain in my heart for a very long time.

5 stars
3/5 spice

This book is a masterpiece from start to finish! The characters are compelling, the plot is gripping, and the writing is simply beautiful. A must-read for anyone looking for an unforgettable story. I devoured this book. I loved it all and I definitely plan on buying a copy.

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

Em Hen who? Just kidding, but this new rom com from Victoria Lavine gave me TOTAL Emily Henry vibes in the best way. It was also a very META analysis of the romance genre itself. Margot Bradley, the nation's hottest romance author, falls victim to prime millennial cancellation when it's outed that she actually has "realistic" endings written for all of her books and she doesn't actually believe in true love. To support her desperate dream of pivoting to writing thrillers, her sister sends her off on a six-week stay in the Alaskan wilderness. Before Margot even checks in, she's thrown into a complete parallel of the stories she used to write - scared of a moose, she jumps into the burly arms of the lodge's caretaker, Forrest. Through the six weeks of her stay, Margot unlearns everything she thought she knew about love, and she and Forrest are both left with big decisions to make.

This book was laugh out loud funny, but also very poignant - Margot's sister sent her a weekly letter to read, examining their childhood together and slowly breaking down Margot's mental barriers to love. The characters were all absolutely loveable, and Forrest was a phenomenal love interest. I'll be hyping this book to all of my romance reading friends - it's a MUST READ for 2025.

4 stars - what a fantastic debut romance novel! Margot is a romance novel but gets "canceled" for her 'happy never after' endings being hacked and released to the public, so her sister sends her off to Alaska for 6 weeks to hunker down and tackle writing a mystery novel as her next week. As soon as she arrives she meets the MMC, Forrest, who is working at his family's Alaskan resort and caring for his hurt father, and the angst immediately begins. This books hits the nail on every single romance trope and i ate it alllll up! Margot and Forrest's banter was fanastic, and I loved the emotional connection they made over thier caregiving similarities. And Margot's relationship with her sister was so sweet <3

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was an easy read about Margot an author who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters in real life. It was a sweet and hard warming read. I do love me some enemies to lovers banter and forced proximity! Overall was a good read