When bestselling romance author Margot Bradley’s “Happily NEVER After” stories get leaked when her personal files are hacked, she escapes to the Alaskan Wilderness to hide out until things cool down.

I absolutely loved the premise of a romance author no longer believing in the romance she writes about - this is such a unique spin and I love Margot’s cynical, sassy character and the way she approaches her writing. Given todays social climate of “cancel culture” - this felt like a very relatable execution.

Despite being a bit cliche of the “too good to be too” trope (which is definitely on purpose) Forrest is a delicious MMC - he’s a dreamy family man AND a doctor too. He truly is the best match for Margot. I loved their banter from the start. The Alaskan setting was a perfect backdrop for their romantic shenanigans- I fear I’ll never look at a sauna the same way again 🥵🌶️

Speaking of tropes… the mention/use of multiple tropes in rapid succession actually worked so well to my surprise! It’s honestly comical that a romance author who tried to avoid romance and heartache at all costs continued to fall head over heels one trope after another.

Finally, the dynamic between Margot and her sister Savannah, as well as the broader plot points around caregiving and chronic pain were all very relatable to my own personal life. I honestly didn’t expect to feel all the feels - (happy, emotional, frustrated, giggling, mad) - but it only added to the joy of reading!

**Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC and chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

I am honestly not sure how this book worked as well as it did. It was romance trope overload, but in the best way imaginable. The characters were adorable. Their chemistry was perfect. I loved the banter and the personal growth along the way. The supporting characters were also amazing. There were times that this book was so unrealistic and other points where I felt like it was my best friend's love story. I wish we had more of the romance at the end, but maybe there will be a sequel for that?! A best-selling romance author escapes to Alaska after something personal ruins her career. While there, she learns that she will be living every romance trope that she has ever written. Will she and Forrest manage to keep their hearts protected? This was chaos, happiness, sadness, fire and more all wrapped up in a hilarious romance. Honestly, Lavine managed to write a book that had way too much going on, yet it felt like not even close to enough! A perfect beach read!!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Any Trope But You.

Margot is a very well known romance author but what her fans find out is that she does not believe in the happy ever afters that she writes about. Her fans and social media turn on her so her sister sets her up on a trip to Alaska for six weeks to find herself again. She meets a man named Forrest and she is instantly attracted to him. He fits every trope she has ever written about but she knows he has to be too good to be true.

This was such a cute book. I loved the plot and the characters. I also loved that the characters could bond over caring for loved ones. I really enjoyed this one!

thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

this was an entertaining romcom read from a new debut! i enjoyed the writing style and actually found myself laughing at several points, lots of witty one-liners, and entertaining (if over the top) situations to be had. margot and forrest make for a cute pair, and their banter is enjoyable, though i'm not a fan of the modernized "enemies to lovers" we try to force on contemporary romance just because they didn't immediately get along.

however, as a lifelong alaska resident, the setting irked me. it was an alaskan Potemkin village. i appreciated the research the author actively did, like including some named locations, and state-specific slang in forrest's point of view, but it all sort of fell apart for me when considering the actual events that take place. i think the sensationalization of alaska as some kind of wintery paradise is strange, especially given how much BOTH leads wanted to leave the entire time. it's a means to an end, which disappointed me a lot, because i think it was a great chance to weave in some of the positives of living here that don't stop at the pretty views. but unfortunately, this was all just one big cardboard mountain for margot to look at.

finally, the excursions. oh my days. the setup: margot, an uninterested, unwilling newbie, is essentially forced into several serious outdoor activities by way of her sister withholding letters from her unless she "expands her horizons" - a fine setup that i would have found funny, if the actual activities weren't so seriously horrifying. you're telling me she goes backcountry skiing, outdoor camping in november(?!?!) where forrest decides to just trust this unexperienced person to pack their own gear, and 8+ hour winter hikes? i cannot buy into this, and i'm sorry. i understand the potential for humor here (where californian margot has to experience Dreaded Alaskan Winters Outside, the horror) but these are things that actively kill experienced people, and her almost getting hypothermia because she didn't want to listen to forrest because she was mad, just for them to have sexy time in a tent together... i can't.

all that said, for readers without my subjective takes regarding the setting, this is a fun read with silly antics! the romance arc is mostly good, and there are instances of great communication between the leads. a good read overall that i think i would have found much more enjoyable without my personal background grinch-ing it up.

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine is an absolute delight of a book from start to finish! This book is a masterclass in blending humour, romance and emotional depth, creating a story that is both captivating and relatable.

Lavine's writing is both witty and heartfelt, capturing the essence of what makes romance novels so enchanting. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making their journey from reluctant acquaintances to passionate partners both believable and engaging. The author's clever use of familiar tropes adds a layer of humour that will resonate with romance readers.

Beyond the central romance, the novel delves into profound themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Margot's journey is not just about finding love but also rediscovering her passion and belief in the stories she tells. This introspective journey resonates deeply, making her character.

In essence, Any Trope but You is a heartwarming and thought-provoking read that seamlessly blends humour, romance and emotional depth. Victoria Lavine has a crafted a debut that's both a love letter to the romance genre and a testament to her storytelling prowess. It's a must read for anyone seeking a novel that will make them laugh, swoon, and reflect in equal measure.

“...𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 — 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 — 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

A romance writer that doesn’t believe in HEAs? A romance interest that literally hits all the romance tropes? Plus the vast wilderness setting of Alaska? I’m sold.

Outside of the sweetheart nickname (I don’t know why it makes me cringe), 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 was everything I look for in a romcom. This includes amazing character growth, plenty of female empowerment (her sister’s letters were amazing), depth in the problems at hand (when to let go, when to move on), ridiculous humor (omg... the zooming in underwear), and a plot that is mostly believable. Plus, the moose is named Bullwinkle, which was a charming detail!

Details: Victoria Lavine • 336 pgs • 1 April 2025 • Gifted by: @atriabooks • 4.25⭐

🫎 Happy Pub Day @victorialavinewrites 🫎

Thank you @atriabooks for the #gifted copy of this book. Extra special hugs to @just_talking_to_my_shelf and @bookswithnopictures for hosting this sisterhood of the traveling book.

Look no further than "Any Trope But You" to read the sweetest and swooniest love letter to romance. *insert happy sigh here*

This book is everything I wanted in a light rom-com. I was squealing. I was wheezing. I was swooning. I was fanning my face. It truly was e v e r y t h i n g.

We all know I love a love story that works in hiking, climbing, and outdoorsy experiences. Victoria convinced me that I need to go on an outdoor excursion in Alaska after reading this. And... I h a t e being cold.

I still can't get over the fact that Margot ends up in ALASKA of all places and ends up in the most perfect love story with the cliche romance hero. It's so funny. It's swoon-worthy.

Romance readers will appreciate everything Victoria did in this. It's a celebration of romance as a whole from the authors to the dedicated readers. It shows how beautiful and awesome the community of love really is.

Last note, Savannah was my favorite. I loved seeing her aide of the story through the letters she gifted to Margot throughout her challenging journey. Seriously, just wait until you meet her. She's the absolute best.

Not a sponsor, but @aardvarkbookclub has this debut gold as a pick for April. This book won't disappoint. Trust your resident romance dork.

🫎 Hilarious Dialogue
🫎 Grumpy Sunshine
🫎 Forced Proximity
🫎 Outdoorsy
🫎 Love Letter to Romance
🫎 Family
🫎 Author FMC
🫎 Adventures
🫎 A domesticated moose?

This is a darling debut! I was totally engrossed in the plot and adored the characters. This has everything you want in a romance plus much more. I love that Lavine leans in to our beloved romance tropes and pokes fun at the genre while still creating a great story. Both MCs are super relatable and I was able to connect with each of them. Their families really made this story and it is one that I highly recommend.

When a document of Margo’s is released during an interview, she ends up escaping to Alaska, per her sister’s request. Her life an as author might have taken a hit, but what happens when she is thrown into a romance novel of her own (and by that I mean she literally ran into Forrest’s arms)? While she has many challenges weekly, resisting Forrest might be the hardest. Forrest does not want to risk a possible bad review for his family’s lodge. This book has many different forms of family looking out for each other. It is the first time I have read this author but will not be the last. Despite heavier times, there still managed to be funny moments.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 STARS!)

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books for the advanced copy! 💙

Alaska? Yes, please! This book had me laughing out loud every other page, and I still can’t believe it’s a debut novel—SO. SO. GOOD.

Margot, a bestselling romance author, gets canceled when her secret file of Happily Never Afters leaks to the public. With her career on the line, her sister sends her to Alaska to clear her head and find inspiration for her next book.

Enter Forrest—THE most perfect man—who just so happens to help Margot live out every romance trope imaginable. Cue all the swoons, all the tension, and ALL the Happily Ever After feels.

💙 What I Loved:
✔️ Alaska + adventure = instant win.
✔️ The humor! This book pulled me out of a reading slump.
✔️ Dual POV (because we need to be in Forrest’s head).
✔️ ALL the tropes—forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, only one tent, and more.
✔️ The heart of the story—believing in love, even when it feels out of reach.

I need a follow-up book for Forrest and Margot! Manifesting this now. ✨

Add this one to your TBR ASAP!

I enjoyed Any Trope But You, but I felt it lacked a bit of chemistry between the characters. The story had all the right elements for a great romance, but the beginning felt somewhat unrealistic, which made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters. The book plays a lot with classic romance tropes in a fun way. I enjoyed reading it, and if you like slow-burns, you should give it a try!

Margot is a romance author faced with a lil scandal and heads to Alaska to work on a new book. Forrest is working at his family’s resort and taking care of his dad. Both of them have sworn off relationships, but their immediate connection is apparent. The tension was good, character arcs were really well done and their respective families were an excellent addition. Overall, a good book!
3.5 stars, rounded up to a 4.

This book is hilariously funny, heart-squeezing, and hot in all the right ways. Some might call it standard rom-com fare—but I’m here to say: absolutely NOT. This author knows exactly what she’s doing. It leans into the tropes we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) crave, and it does it with charm, wit, and real emotional pull. <b>The minute the FMC’s life started crumbling, I knew I was in.</b> Watching her rebuild, while butting heads with a grumpy, ridiculously attractive doctor? Pure serotonin. It’s sharp, funny, romantic, and just messy enough to feel real. Totally enthralling page-turner. I was OBSESSED from start to finish.

Tropes You’ll Love:
❤️‍🔥Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️‍🔥Romance writer heroine
❤️‍🔥Overly handsome, overly muscled doctor
❤️‍🔥Forced proximity
❤️‍🔥Life falling apart = new beginning
❤️‍🔥Just the right amount of family drama
❤️‍🔥Somewhat slow burn that turns deliciously spicy

I liked this one beyond my expectations!

A jaded romance author, Margot, is sent for a forced vacation to an Alaskan resort by her sister to rediscover her mojo. She meets Forrest, who is currently a glorified bellhop for his dad's resort. While Margot unwittingly finds herself in situations exhibiting romantic tropes with Forrest, she realizes she has to confront her fears while Forrest does the same.

I liked how this novel didn't follow the normal romance route. Margot and Forrest both have complex issues with backstories to match, where they have to dig deep into themselves before and after falling for each other. Their fears felt real, and some situations do demonstrate how things don't always happen like we would want them to, we just have to deal with them in the best way possible. Plus the banter between the main characters adds a nice zing to the story.

Read this one if you want to read a romance novel which is complex but also delivers on the romance equally.

4.5 ⭐️

This is such a fun story! I loved Margot and her sister Savanah from the first chapter. This book is full of witty banter and moments that literally make you LOL. And can we talk about Forrest 🥵 it only makes sense that a book FULL of the romance tropes we all love and swoon over, that his character would be top tier 😉

What I really liked about this story was the depth of both Margot and Forrest’s own journeys. How two completely different people, with different backgrounds and histories, can both be so empathetic to their families that it can change the trajectory of their stories, and not always in the right direction

If you are looking to laugh (a lot!), enjoy open door romances (sauna scene 🥵), and want a truly unique story then pick this book up asap!

I enjoyed this one. I loved the setting of Alaska and I loved their excursions. Forrest was swoony and both of their loves for their family was endearing. I loved the weekly letters from the sister. They were sweet and emotional.

Any Trope but You 🫎❄️🪵

Romance writer Margot Bradley has a secret… she doesn’t believe in Happy Ever Afters. Not for herself, her stories, or her readers. When her list of alternate endings gets leaked to the public, she gets cancelled by her readers. Margot’s sister decides she needs a break and what better way than to ship her off to Alaska where there is no internet. When Margot finds out the inn keeper is the utterly handsome former doctor, Dr. Forrest Wakefield, she can’t believe she isn’t in a romance novel herself. Will she be able to survive the cold Alaskan air or will things heat up with Forrest??

I have to say the beginning of the dedication got me “To my fellow breast cancer survivors, previvors, and warriors. This books for you.” As someone who works very closely on a daily basis with women in the beginning stages of breast cancer and lost my grandma to breast cancer. This dedication really touched my heart 🩷🥹

Now time to dive into this super cute romance! I loved the characters and the characters development throughout the story! The aspect of putting (almost) every trope in a romance and making light of it made the story cute and funny. I loved how much Margot cared for her sister and Forrest for his dad. This was such a good read and I loved the cover! Looking forward to more @victorialavinewrites books!

Read if you like:
Meet cute 🤍
One bed/ tent 🏕️
Alaskan wildness 🪓
Rom com 🫎

Ratings:
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 1/5
📖: 335
🍾: 4/1/25

Thank you @victorialavinewrites @netgalley @atriabooks for an early copy!

I really enjoyed this book! The Alaska setting was the perfect winter read. I really enjoyed the trope aspects being an avid romance reader. Would recommend this book to anyone who loves a little wilderness and romance along the way.

What a meta book this was😂. The title alone and the cover had me adding this to my TBR as quick as I could click. I loved the premise of this book, and there were parts that were surprisingly deep (i.e., caretaker relationships, and the burdens that each party bears). The ending felt a little rushed (wait- that's it?), but overall, this was a solid debut!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

📚 Read if you like: contemporary romance, alllll the tropes, forced proximity, hurt/care, spicy books, dual POV
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5

I had so much fun with this debut romance! It’s a self-acknowledged trope fest done with so much love for the romance genre. I was immediately hooked by the intro and was laughing hard and vibing. And then it slowly started seeping under my skin as topics of complex familial love, expectations and responsibility were handled with so much understanding. There’s a lot of self exploration and learning what you’re capable of and honestly I think that’s all something we can learn from - we’re all more resilient than we think. This book really is a love letter to romance readers and the romance genre and I absolutely recommend it!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!