Any Trope but You was a witty, cozy, unexpectedly emotional gem that completely swept me off my feet. This author’s debut delivered everything I never knew I needed—fake flannel, forced proximity, emotional healing, and yes, an actual moose. Margot Bradley was the kind of heroine you root for from page one: snarky, wounded, self-aware, and navigating a truly spectacular fall from grace after her secret anti-HEA document leaks. Her voice crackled with humor, heart, and the kind of weary vulnerability that made every page feel like a confessional.
And then came Forrest Wakefield. Grumpy, brilliant, and heartbreakingly devoted to his ailing father, Forrest was the perfect slow-burn love interest. The chemistry between him and Margot simmered like a pot of cocoa on a woodstove—sweet, warm, and with just the right amount of tension. Their banter had me grinning, but it was their moments of quiet honesty that made me believe in their story.
The Alaskan resort setting was a character in itself—charming, quirky, and the perfect escape for two people pretending they don’t believe in love. The author cleverly layered romantic comedy tropes with sharp commentary about grief, burnout, and creative reinvention. Every scene managed to balance hilarity with heartache, and somehow, amidst the snowstorms and sabotaged manuscripts, the author convinced me that even the most jaded among us might find their way back to hope.
This wasn’t just a rom-com. It was a soft, funny, healing story about writing new endings and daring to believe in love again. Five glowing stars and a recommendation to anyone who has ever rolled their eyes at a love story… while secretly wishing they were the one in it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

If you like romance, read this now. A canceled romance author escapes to Alaska and finds herself stuck in all the tropes. This was so enjoyable. I laughed, I cried, and felt all the feels. Some parts were steaming, like in a literally sauna, hot. Treat yourself to this guilty pleasure, but don’t feel guilty about it at all.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC

#NetgalleyARC

A romance writer who escapes to Alaska but experiences all the love tropes! I knew I wanted to read this book when I first saw this cover many months ago and the book did not disappoint!

"If you're not careful, sometimes life can trick you into believing you're living in the best parts of a romance novel."

🔥❄️⛺️📖🪵

This was fun. It had so many tropes and yet it didn’t feel like too many. Not sure how that worked. It did have a third act breakup. That was annoying. I hate third act breakups.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the arc.

This was a fun and cute rom-com that had enough story background and development that made it not only fun, but interesting and "real". I loved the Alaskan location with lots of adventure involved. The relationship was mature and not too fake. It definitely had all the tropes, which was kind of the point, and it was kind of fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the gifted e-arc.

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.