A trope heavy romance book that makes fun of books that go heavy on the tropes? Color me intrigued. This book was everything I wanted and more. The story begins with a romance author at the height of her career, and it all comes tumbling down when her fans discover she doesn't actually believe in the happily ever afters she writes about. *Cue the main character fleeing the city to find herself in a remote location with the hot local hunk*

This author knew how to poke fun at the cheeky tropes we constantly see in romance books like enemies to lovers, and hot doctor who works with a worthy cause, and only one tent. What sets this book apart from other romance books though is the author's ability to pull real emotions out of her characters and bringing their personal lives to the table. Both Margot and Forrest go out of their comfort zones and start to care about themselves and each other instead of constantly taking care of their family members. We see them slowly fall in love and start to take down the guards they built up.

Any Trope but You is more than just a hot and steamy romance book, it is about finding yourself when you are feeling your lowest, learning to stay safe "but not too safe," and trusting that someone else will take care of your heart for you.

Looking for a sweet but steamy read with substance and heart, check this one out!


Thank you to Atria Books for an ARC and finished copy of the book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Any Trope but You by VIctoria Lavine is the story of bestselling romance author, Margot Bradley, who is cancelled after it is revealed that she doesn't believe in Happily Ever Afters when her Happily Never After doc is released to the public. Her chronically-ill sister, Savannah, books Margot a six-week getaway to remote Alaska to escape the uproar and to try her hand at a different genre - a murder mystery. But when Margot arrives, she finds the proprietor is a handsome bundle of every romance trope ever.

Dr. Forrest Wakefield has abandoned his dream job to care for his ailing father, and has resigned himself to never returning to his dreams in California. But when Margot arrives, smelling of gardenias and reminding him of everything he left behind, he finds her hard to resist. Will they find their own Happily Ever After? Or will Margot's checkout date be the end of their connection?

I enjoyed the premise of this book and the idea was cute. I appreciated the reality that was infused into the story, with both main characters connecting over their similarities of dreams being pushed aside to care for loved ones and being emotionally wounded and finding space to open up to one another. The synopsis of this book reads like a cliche but the book itself is well written.

There were a few reasons why I personally took stars away for this book. First, it seemed like certain parts of the story were rushed. The pacing felt a bit off and the resolution/ending was very short. I also felt like it was a bit more spicy than I was expecting and the 'romantic scenes' seemed a strange juxtaposition with the characters outside of those scenes. It was a bit much for my personal taste.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria books for an eARC of this book!

Oh my goodness I loved this book! Such a fun and mature romance with ALL the tropes.

The premise of a romance author getting called out for no longer believing in HEA and needing to reinvented herself and hide out for a bit hooked me in quickly.

This book was so playful and had me laughing and giggling from the beginning. From the ambitiously flirty other men on the resort to Margot and Forrest both underestimating each others abilities and careers prematurely.

Both characters have great backstories and development making this feel like a real, mature relationship. There was just the right amount of trauma and emotional turmoil. Just the right amount of tearing up while reading.

As a lover of tropes, this was a blast! The perfect amount of cheesy and heartfelt. The characters were relatable, the writing was funny and easy to breeze through. A really fun ride.

🫎Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine🫎

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was absolutely adorable and so funny! Margot is a romance author who doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. She keeps a Happily Never After document with alternative endings to all of her stories. When it’s hacked and released to the public Margot flees to Alaska to reinvent herself as a mystery writer.

Let me tell you, when it says “Any Trope” it really means any and every trope! This book had every classic rom com trope and I LOVED it! I especially enjoyed that Margot points out all the tropes (I’m definitely guilty of doing this). It was done incredibly well and had me giggling the whole way through!

Thank you to Atria Books and Victoria Lavine for this ARC.

Some of my favorite romance books this year feature writer characters ✍️, and Any Trope But You just proved that this trope still totally owns my heart 💘.

What did I love the most?
Ohhh where do I start?! When canceled romance author Margot heads to Alaska ❄️✈️ to find her voice again, she meets Forrest — a rugged, swoony wilderness retreat co-owner 🌲🪵. Cue the witty banter, iconic romance tropes (hello, ONE TENT 🏕️), and steamy forced proximity that had me kicking my feet in the best way!

All of it nestled in a breathtaking Alaskan setting 🏔️ where Margot steps outside her comfort zone to rediscover who she really is.

✨ What to expect:
• Forced proximity 🔥
• Caretaker rep 🫶
• An adorable moose 🫎
• Gorgeous Alaskan vibes ❄️

Spice level: Open-door 🔥🌶️

How’s the romance?
Margot & Forrest = soulmates 🥹❤️. They balance each other perfectly — both natural caretakers carrying heavy family responsibilities, and both in need of someone who gets it. Their connection is so real, so tender, and the ending? Absolutely perfect 🥰🌅.

Do I recommend it?
1000x YES! If you love romantic comedies, grumpy/sunshine dynamics ☀️🌧️, writer MCs ✍️, and remote settings that feel like a hug — this belongs at the very top of your TBR 🧡. Any Trope But You is sweet, spicy, and full of heart.

Perfect for fans of:
Emily Henry ✨
Tessa Bailey 💋
Katherine Center 🌸

Mood: Cozy, flirty, heartfelt & healing 🫶💫

Read it if you love:
Small-town romance 🏡
Tropey goodness ❤️‍🔥
Books that make you laugh, swoon, and smile like a dork the whole way through 🥰📚

You’re going to fall HARD for this one — and maybe book a cabin in Alaska while you’re at it.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
3.75 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️📚❄️
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Victoria Lavine’s debut, Any Trope But You, is a charming and self-aware rom-com that leans into genre tropes with humor and heart. Fans of Sarah Adams or Naina Kumar will feel right at home with Lavine’s voice and her clear affection for happily-ever-afters.

The story opens with Margot, a successful romance author, participating in a live video panel with her publisher, agent, and fans. Things take a sharp turn when her computer is hacked mid-broadcast, revealing a private document titled Happy Never After – a cynical take on romance – and some rather personal journal entries. In a hilariously mortifying moment (yes, it involves standing pantsless on camera), Margot finds herself “canceled” by the very audience that once adored her.

To escape the fallout and reconnect with her writing, Margot’s sister Savannah encourages her to spend six weeks in Alaska. Though reluctant – especially due to Savannah’s autoimmune condition – Margot eventually agrees, setting the stage for both personal growth and a sweet slow-burn romance.

Once in Alaska, the cast of characters immediately shines. Bear, the warm and quirky cab driver, and Forest, the broody-but-kind doctor and cancer researcher (and Bear’s godson), bring a lot of heart to the story. Forest has returned home to care for his ailing father, and Margot quite literally stumbles into his arms during a moose-related mishap – yes, the moose is named Bowinkle, and yes, the scene is as adorable as it sounds.

As Margot adjusts to Alaskan life, she begins to rediscover herself. A delightful twist comes when she learns that her sister has left her a series of letters – but each one must be earned by completing a new outdoor adventure. Cue hiking, skiing, and a slow unraveling of Margot’s emotional walls.

The romance between Margot and Forest is refreshingly gradual, marked by mutual vulnerability and growth. Both carry emotional baggage from past relationships and career disappointments, which adds depth to their connection. And for those wondering – yes, there’s a steamy sauna scene that’s just as fun and swoon-worthy as you'd hope.

Any Trope But You balances comedy, introspection, and romance in a heartfelt debut. Lavine proves she knows her tropes – and how to turn them into something uniquely her own.

Margot is a bestselling romance author who doesn't believe in love and happily ever after. She writes alternative endings to her Happily Never Afters and it gets to her fans. Now she is dropped by her publisher and her life falls apart. A 6 weeks trip to the Alaska is the only thing that can save her.
This is such a delightful book, so beautifully written, I couldn't put it down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The banter and spice is top tier! I absolute loved the FMC! Something just loveable about two people caring for those that they love and falling into each other not just for each other! A romance author who doesn’t believe in what she’s selling was such a crazy trope for me but don’t be fooled those that think they can’t but do makes it even better!! I think if you’re a romance reader this is the book for you because we fall under so many of reading our favorite tropes and this really breaks the mold! Such a fun ride of a book!

Cozy Romance with lots of spice in last 30% of book. I really enjoyed this book, I would probably re-read it again in the fall because of the Alaska location it has more fall vibes but the characters were well rounded, there were lots of LOL moments and an adorable HEA moment. I love the MMC (Forest) and overall this was a feel good rom-commy book.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Margot Bradley is a beloved romance author who keeps secret that she doesn't believe in Happily Ever Afters...for anyone. In fact, she even keeps a secret filed called "Happily NEVER Afters" on her computer where she writes alternate, and in her opinion, more realistic endings for her characters (think divorces, beer guts, and slashed tires). When her Happily Never After document is hacked and released to the public, she is dropped by her publisher and shamed and canceled by her readers. Margot decides to try her hand at writing murder mysteries instead to help continuing to support her chronically ill sister, Savannah. Savannah goes ahead and books Margot a six-week stay in a remote Alaskan resort in order to write the new book. However, Margot ends up being way out of her element (this is no spa) and she keeps finding herself in need from the handsome owner. Dr. Forrest Wakefield had to leave his dream job as a cancer researcher to work at his family's resort and caring for his ailing father. Margot and Forrest are continuously drawn together and both have to learn to overcome their fears before the six week time is up.

This one was so cute! I am really finding myself enjoying the "fish-out-of-water" trope lately because it leads to so many funny moments. And yes, I love a book that can make me cry, but I also love to gush about a book that makes me laugh. And this one was so fun and heartwarming! And the title says it all -- this book was full of tropes, but the FMC is a romance author and she calls them all out and it just adds to the fun! As someone who also feels like life loves to throw tropes my way despite the absurdity at times, I appreciated this so much. The banter between Margot and Forrest was also excellent and the way it smoothly morphed into something more was the best. Forrest is so broody at first, but you immediately know he has that softness behind the walls he has built up. I just love that. And on a more serious note, the chronic illness rep was done with care, too.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC. The above honest review and thoughts are my own.

This is sadly a DNF for me at 20%. I really love the enemies to lovers trope but when they start trying to get together so early in the book & it just gets really lusty I usually lose interest as that just doesn't seem like enemies to lovers to me. I think a lot of others will like this book, but unfortunately not for me. Loved the premise, just wasn't for me on the execution.

The fact that this was a debut is so impressive! I loved this author‘s writing style and the whole premise of the story was really fun.

It really came down to personal preference for me. I was hoping for more push and pull between the main characters before they got together. I wanted a little more attention and angst, especially considering their personalities and situations.

But overall, I really enjoyed this, and I will definitely be recommending it. I can’t wait to see what more this author puts out into the world.

I had a feeling about this one! I am a sucker for rugged grumpy heros and an Alaskan setting. Add some fun banter, surprisingly hot spice, and a lot of heart, and you've got this gem of a book.

It turns out I'm really loving meta romance books lately. This is a book that is hyper aware of the tropes we crave as romance readers and calls them out playfully, while also speaking to the deeper reasons we all read romance in the first place.

That balance of playful goofiness and heartfelt sincerity is done so well. One minute I was laughing at Margot's complete ridiculousness and internal monologues, and the next I was appreciating the roles both she and Forrest played as caretakers for their ill family members.

The chemistry was flying from the first meet cute, but it was the pining and resisting that had me in a chokehold. I was rooting for these characters until the inevitable fireworks set off between them. But at the end of the day, their relationship felt very grounded and genuine.

I just really loved this, and I hope I can convince more people to pick it up!

Read if you like:
🫎 All the romance tropes
🌲 Grumpy, lumberjack doctors
🔥 Steamy sauna scenes
🏕 Only one tent (and sleeping bag)
❄️ Alaskan wilderness expeditions

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

•Debut
•Alaskan Wilderness
•Enemies to lovers
•Forced proximity...one sleeping bag!
•Slow burn
•Dual POV
•Third act breakup

This book is cute & hits all the marks. I just so happen to read it in the midst of some amazing five star books so I fear it may be a bit forgettable for me.

3.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

Thank you to Atria & NetGalley for a gifted arc in exchange for my review.

I ate this up!! I loved Margot and Forrest so much, together and individually. The premise of them falling into a bunch of tropes together was SO FUN. I won’t spoil which ones, but they were definitely some of my faves! It was definitely a tiny bit ridiculous but in the BEST way. The inclusion of both of their families’ health issues really added depth to the story and rounded out the characters so well. I highly recommend!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Any Trope But You is a delightful debut novel by Victoria Lavine. Beloved romance novelist Margot Bradley is at the top of her game, a blessing inasmuch as she has taken on the care of her sister, Savannah, who suffers from a complex combination of autoimmune disorders that cause untold pain and suffering when she has a flare. But when an anonymous viewer at an online book talk publishes her Happily Never After file hacked from her computer her fans turn on her and. at that point Margot becomes a pariah to the fans that once loved her.

Distraught, Margot must regroup as this career is all she knows and wants. Perhaps she will shift gears and try her hand at writing mysteries instead of romance. Savannah has an even bigger shift in mind when she constructs a full plan to send Margot to a remote wilderness lodge in Alaska to write said mystery while getting away from the fallout that surrounds her. Savannah has made all of the arrangements, including getting her boyfriend to stay with her so Margot won’t worry that no one is there for Savannah should she have a flare.A lot can happen in six weeks, perhaps the fans will forget and the hoopla will settle while Margot is away.

After a day long literal planes, boats, and cars travel day, Margot arrives at the lodge but can’t find anyone. Following a path towards the cabins, Margot is startled by a large, brown, furry creature sending her running into the strong arms of a woodchopper, creating a meet-cute that would be perfect for one of her romance novels. In fact, over the course of the next few days romantic trope after romantic trope occurs, almost like a story writing itself.

Dr. Forest Wakefield, resident wood chopper, is at the lodge to help his dad, Trapper, recover from a serious accident that occurred about six months ago. Taking a leave of absence from his cancer research position near UCLA, Forest has taken on running the lodge, leading excursions for guests, and care of his father, including physical therapy, with the help of Jo who provides meals and help around the lodge as well as care for Trapper.

Although the chemistry may be off the charts, and the romantic tropes may be stacking up daily, both Margot and Forest are bound by their senses of responsibility for their loved ones, making it implausible that anything can come of it.

This is a perfectly plotted tale with many twists. The characters are well drawn and relatable. The scenery is dynamic. And the story, particularly pitfalls with our healthcare system, is spot on. I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to more offerings from this new talent. I do recommend this book!

Cheesy, adorable, tropey (if that’s a word) goodness! It was definitely very over the top but somehow it worked. I really enjoyed it. 🫎 ❤️

Romance author Margot takes a 6-week trip to secluded Alaska following a scandal exposing how she really feels about happily ever afters. The lodge she is staying at is currently being run by Forrest who is a thoughtful, handsome, and fiercely loyal doctor (a man that checks all of her boxes). Both Forrest and Margot are resistant to acknowledge or act on their growing attraction but keep finding themselves forced together.

I loved both Margot and Forrest’s relationships with their families and how similarly they approached their loved ones health related issues and how they understood each other.

Thank you for the eARC!

This was a really enjoyable book, the characters and the setting made it a unique story. I think this was a debut book, the author was new to me, but I would definitely read whatever she writes next.

Any Trope but You was a fun read. We quickly get into the story and attached to Margot. She was relatable and I found myself rooting for her early in the story. It was fun to see an author as main character recognizing the different tropes she was confronted to, it felt a bit like breaking the fourth wall and it was done well. When I started the book, I felt like the « exiled herself to Alaska and met an handsome innkeeper » trope has been already done a lot, but the bond with their family, the personnality of the characters and the chemistry between Margot and Forrest made it enjoyable and fresh.