I really love this book! It felt so meta with a romance book about a romance author and calling out all romance tropes. Romance plot was good but forever hate a third act breakup. The writing was excellent and witty. 5/5 would recommend

It's honestly hard to not fall in love with a book titled <i>Any Trope but You</I>, especially when it is jampacked will ALL the tropes out there. Their meet cute may have been my favorite part. But also, the fact that a romance writer ends up experiencing all of the tropes all at once with one guy is so fun. There was great banter and chemistry making this an enjoyable read.
I will say that there is one part that I can't shake about the start of the book. Margot gets caught out by her fans that she does not believe in love and has secret alternate endings to her books. For me as a reader, I would have loved a spin on that. Yes, it looks bad, but I honestly think it would be funny to admit to instead of cower away from.
Regardless, this was a sweet reset on life and learning how to give in to love again.

Okay, let’s melt my ice cube of a heart with all of its Happily Never Afters, because Forrest & Margot are all I need to get my heart to flutter again. This book has everything and would absolutely be the best new romcom, down to a funny and supportive cast, so many tropes, and some of the most embarrassing moments one could ever think of. I wholly enjoyed this one. :)

3.5-4⭐️ Best-selling romance author Margot Bradley secretly hates the HEA, but with a sister who suffers from chronic illness, she relies on them for financial support. When her secret “Happily Never After” list, a document in which she swaps happy endings for unhappy ones, is released to her adoring fans, she is all but cancelled.

Determined to save her writing career, Margot decides to write a murder mystery instead. When her sister books her for a 6-week stay in an isolated resort in Alaska, the last thing Margot expects is to meet someone in Dr. Forrest Wakefield who will challenge her ideas about romance and whether or not the HEA can only be found in fiction.

Overall, this is a cute romcom centered around the idea of romance novels, their tropes, and HEAs (Happily Ever Afters). While seemingly surface-level in nature, the book tackles heavier themes such as living with chronic illness, parental loss and grief, and learning how to let go of the reins. There is a wonderful sense of found family, as Margot settles into her stay in Alaska, and so many of the characters were both charming and lovely.

I loved the initial meeting between our MCs and the enemies-to-lovers vibes they give off originally. That is, of course, until Margot realizes Forrest is much more of a cinnamon roll hero, what with being a breast cancer researcher and all. If you are someone who loves open-door romance, there was quite a bit of steam here (a little too much for me these days), including the beloved “one bed” trope, although in this case, it happened to be one tent and even one sleeping bag. The love story itself, however, is a very slow burn - something I always prefer to its counterpart, instalove.

Although this is a solid debut in its totality, there were a few things that took my rating down a bit, including frustration with the characters’ decisions and actions. Let me give just one example of this. We, of course, are treated to the 3rd-act breakup, not surprising for a book about the stereotypical romance novel. However, in one scene, Forrest is reassuring Margot that even if she lives her life to the fullest (i.e. continues a romance with him), she can still be there for her sister too. Too bad he then completely forgets this minutes later when he gets word that his father has had a seizure and he blames himself and his romance with Margot for not being there for him, at which point he proceeds to dump her. I was hard-pressed not to want to throw my book against the wall. However, the majority of the book was still enjoyable and an overall impressive romcom debut (especially in a sea of romance books).

🎧 I have a feeling this book is better as an eyeball read versus an audio read. While the narration is perfectly fine, I think in a way, it emphasized the flaws more and made them harder to overlook. I would therefore recommend doing this solely as a physical/ebook read.

Read if you like:
▪️slow burn
▪️enemies-ish to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️one tent/sleeping bag
▪️books about books
▪️Alaska setting
▪️chronic illness rep

Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

I adored this book so dang much!

A very cute nod to romance lovers. It didn't feel overly cheery or forced. It was very much written for romance readers by a romance reader. I didn't feel like it was making fun of the genre or the readers like many others who tried to pull off a "tropey" book. This one was perfect!

As for the story, my gosh I loved Margot and Forrest so much. The jaded romance author and the grumpy resort manager/owner. I had so much fun with their banter. The back and forth, how much they wanted to resist each other but were always ultimately pulled to each other. I seriously loved them.

I was not expecting the tears at the end. I was having a jolly good time and then I was assaulted with emotions! It was beautiful and every bit of it made me want to explore Alaska even more than I always have.

i loved this one!

while it felt a little insta-lovey i think it was done well — it was presented more as they both fell for a fantasy of each other and their connection (romantic, sexual, platonic, etc.) happened gradually overtime. i think it relied heavily on tropes but it was fun and considering she is a romance writer, it makes sense she views a lot of her life through what she writes so i didn’t find that a bother too much.

anyway, this was fun and it was great and i’d recommend this as a really nice palate cleanser!

If you are looking for a debut fun rom com with all the tropes, look no more. This one is filled with:
- Disastrous meet cute
- Forced proximity
- Enemies (sort of) to lovers
- Only one bed

Margot flees to Alaska after a leaked document of her un-HEA to her well loved romance books. She meets Forrest, the inn owner's son who is there to help with running the place as well as take care of his dad.

They are total oil and water and Margot drove me nuts in the beginning. She was in an Alaska and not prepared and didn't ask for help. Forrest was a total grump but I appreciate how he took care of Margot. I liked that this was a slow burn and both held back.

The romance was fun but what I really loved was Margot's relationship with Savannah, her sister. They were best friends and the letters really showcased their relationship.

I look forward in reading what Lavine writes next. Thank you @atariabooks for a copy of the book.

Great story and a great cover to go with it.
This was a great rom com feel good book. I truly enjoyed it and will be checking out more books from this author!

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine is a fun, tongue-in-cheek nod to romance novels and their many well-known tropes and cliches. The main character, Margot, is a disgraced romance author who has been cancelled after a document is leaked that shows she doesn't actually believe in her Happily Ever After endings she writes in her books. She lives with and cares for her chronically ill sister, who gifts Margot with a six week stay in Alaska to write her next book, which is going to be a murder mystery since her romance fans are so angry with her. Upon arrival in Alaska, cue all of the romance tropes beginning with a hot lumberjack named Forrest (yes, really) and continuing on with forced proximity, only one bed, enemies to lovers, and more.

The thing I love about this book is that it is funny while also having real emotional depth. Both main characters are caretakers of their loved ones and put their family members' needs before their own, creating an impossible situation for a Happily Ever After for them. Will Margot finish the new book? Will her fans ever forgive her? Will Forrest ever return to his research? Read this slow=burn rom-com to find out if they get their HEA!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this wonderful book!

Reading a book by a new author is both exciting and scary. You hope to find a new author to add to your “favorites” collection yet all the while waiting to see if they will make the cut.

Any Trope but You definitely made the cut! Within the first few chapters I was invested in Margo, her life imploding and her sister shipping her off to Alaska to regroup and reinvent herself. A romance writer, Margo has begun to lose hope in happily ever after. Now, she only believes in happily never after. One livestream podcast, one person who exposes Margo’s secret happily never after file and her life implodes and she has no idea what to do.

Margo’s sister ships her off to Alaska to regroup and reinvent herself. From the moment Margo lands in Alaska every book trope imaginable presents itself in some way - even romance - and Margo cannot believe this is her life. Everything she was trying to distance from herself is suddenly right in front of her with no escape.

Then, there is Forrest, who radiates “leave me alone” vibes. Margo is not impressed especially when she discovers he is holding precious letters from her. In order for Margo to receive a letter, she is required to complete one excursion a week. As Margo seems to resign to what she must do, she discovers more of herself and she discovers that while Forrest has a rough exterior, he also shows caring, comfort and even worry during situations involving her.

I was so engrossed in each trope appearing, Margo and Forrest and everything else that I was at the end before I knew it. There is so much more to this book, but I cannot spoil it - read the book! I recommend you add it to your TBR pile right now!

Huge thanks to Atria Books for ebook ARC via NetGalley.

This delightful novel is about a romance writer who doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. After her Happily Never After list is exposed, she fears her writing career is over. She decides to switch genres and her sister books her an extended trip to Alaska to work on her new book. Hijinks ensue from her first meeting of the handsome proprietor at where she’s staying in Alaska.

I really loved the banter between all the characters. Aside from the ending feeling very rushed to me, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel.

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Daaaaang Victoria Lavine, what a ride. And a debut too!? I should've known that I was in for a wild one when it kicks off with a romance author's Google Drive getting hacked, revealing an incredibly dour "happily never after" fanfic and her beige granny panties to the internet. I cackled. And the narrators really kept up the humor throughout this emotional book.

And the tropes, THE TROPES! Caretaking, meddling siblings, book within a book, one tent, galore! (TBH I'm still not sure where that tent went). I loved how reluctant Margot and Forrest were to admit their feelings for one another, especially given their sizzling chemistry. But what I loved more about this story was the focus on caring for their loved ones and how (at times) it took away from their own lives. It was really food for thought about priorities. And also I really want to read the Alaska mystery book??

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an e-ARC for an honest review!

For the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure if I could get into this book. By the end, I fell in love with the characters and the good, cheesy romance vibes. If you have ever gone camping or backpacking unprepared (maybe that's a unique experience for me), then you will find yourself cackling at Margot's inexperience. This book hits a million rom-com tropes, but in the best cheesy way. Margot and Savannah's relationship is so precious, and I loved their sisterly connection and dynamic. The idea of love for your family and an older sister sacrificing it all for her younger sister made me cry.

Forrest is the perfect leading male in a rom-com and sees Margot in a sweet way that shows he sees her and all she sacrificed for her family.

Yes, there were unrealistic moments. Yes, Margot is a bit of a valley girl. Yes, it ends almost too perfectly. But, like Savannah said, romance novels help us feel hope again, even when we are in our hardest times. They are realistic in that they remind us there is always something to look forward to.

Oh, what a cozy read!!

First of all, thank you to Victoria Lavine, Net Galley and Atria Books for the eARC of Any Trope But You.

Any Trope But You follows Margot, a romance writer who recently fell from grace after her private “Happily Never After” doc was shared with the world. Her fans feel betrayed, her sister who looks up to her in every way is shocked, and Margot feels lost in more ways than one. In desperate need of a change of scenery and maybe even a change of genre, Margot heads to Alaska, where she runs into romance tropes at every turn, including the rock hard abs and dazzling green eyed tropes named Forrest. The pair try to fight their growing feelings — each for their own reason — but can’t deny they feel drawn to one another. Do they give into their “happy right now?” Or do they have what it takes for a true HEA?

I’ve been on deadline for a really amazing project and while it is incredibly exciting to be so close to the first finish line marker, it means that most of my life has revolved around work and all things my project, so reading for leisure has definitely been on the back burner.

If you are in the same boat and are itching for a heartfelt, trope filled laugh loud, fast paced rom com, Any Trope But You is definitely your golden ticket. The banter, the incredible scenery, the ornery cast of characters, the pining, the nuances of being a caretaker, the “f$&k it” moment — there is truly not a mark missed here. I especially enjoyed watching Margot and Forrest work through their struggles with grief and how it’s shaped them as people. Lavine tackles that grief in a way that is sensitive, but also as her characters say about love, shines a light on the parts of themselves that need healing.

(Also, that is single handedly one of my favorite lines in the book)

4 CHARS 🤣 IYKYK

Doctor Mountain Daddy meets Romance Author? Say less! This one had me kicking my feet & laughing pretty much the whole way through. Would have given this a 5 star if not for the crazy rushed ending & the ridiculous amounts of Taylor Swift references. It’s every other new romance release now & I was over it months ago.

Fantastic debut! I hope we get a second book about Savannah though, she was a delight!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a cute read!! Margot and Forrest are straight out of a rom-com. This book incorporates so many romance tropes, but in a cohesive and fun way. I love the opposing personalities—a snarky FMC trying to find herself and a grumpy (but gushy inside) MMC devoted to his family. If you’re looking for a light, fun, rom-com read, this is the book for you!

I loved the snowy Alaska setting! It made the book feel cozy and warmed my heart. It was a little wild that almost every single romance trope was used, but it somehow worked and it book was very cute!

4.5 ⭐️
This was such a cute romance and I enjoyed that the FMC was a romance author, so she calls out that the MMC embodies different romance tropes in a “of course he does, *eyeroll*” way. This reads like a love letter to romance readers - it’s a love story with all the favorite tropes, but also explores the relationship between a romance author and her fans. I also loved the relationship between Margot and Savannah and the letters she gets while at the lodge. I was laughing out loud throughout the whole book and definitely recommend this to any romance readers. Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

Adorable! This was such an endearing story and the ironic romance-trope tie ins were hysterical.

A superbly unique plot of the remote Alaska wilderness and the characters commonality being care takers - I felt this was done exceptionally well. Not to mention how funny our characters were too! It was cozy and funny with the right amount of personal and romantic growth.

I really loved the selflessness of our main characters and their duty to their loved ones.

I would’ve loved an epilogue though because I felt like Forrest’s research was pivotal and it would’ve been great seeing how that landed.

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and Victoria Levine for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

A cozy, snowy delight with just the right mix of heart, humor, and healing. Margot, a jaded romance author turned accidental murder-mystery writer, is the kind of flawed, funny heroine you can’t help but root for. Her banter with Forrest (the grumpy, secretly soft resort owner) was spot-on, and the Alaska setting added such a charming, slightly chaotic vibe. I loved how the story leaned into rom-com tropes while still feeling fresh and emotionally real. It was a little predictable at times, but honestly, that just added to the comfort-read appeal. Perfect for anyone who loves a romance with a dash of wilderness and a lot of heart.