4.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the E-ARC. Margot (FMC) gets cancelled as a romance writer and her sister sends her to Alaska to write a new genre of a book. Enter Forrest (MMC) from Alaska. They have the cutest meet cute and he checks of all her prev book boyfriends that shes written about and they go thru all the tropes.....but Forrest is in Alaska taking care of his father who had a accident and Margot takes care of her sister who also has health issues. Uggg the way this book gutted me because of course there was a third act breakup....but is it a break up if its something that has to happen. This was such a easy read with just the right amount of spice.

This book is so fun. It had me laughing out loud. Sometimes at the banter and sometimes at the situations. This book does not take itself too seriously and throws all the romance book tropes at you. But in the most fun way.

Margot is a romance author who has fallen out of love with love and when her readers find out she flees to the Alaskan wilderness. She's trying to escape romance and focus on writing a different genre but the romance tropes keep popping up. They keep pushing her together with Forrest, a doctor who is caring for his father after injury.

Funniness aside, this book also explores disability and chronic illness. Not only for the people experiencing those things, but the toll it takes on their caregivers.

I love the Alaskan setting! It's so atmospheric! I will definitely read more from Victoria Lavine!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest opinion.

When romance author Margot is canceled after not believing in HEA, she flees to Alaska for a few days to write a murder mystery that hopefully will get her back on people's good list. Dr. Forrest left his cancer research job in California & moved to Alaska to look after his family's resort. The last thing he needs is to entertain a certain something who doesn't belong here.

This romance was funny, comforting, & steamy. Margot & Forrest' banter was hilarious & the slowburn was angsty. Even though they butted heads on some levels, they always were protective towards their families.

What made me chuckle was how Margot was comparing every sub-trope possible when it came to Forrest. That was lighthearted and added fun to the story. And of course the Alaska setting was a plus for me. Reminded me a bit of The Simple Wild.

<i>Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.<i>

🫎 Book Review 🫎

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: April 1, 2025

Rating: I loved it!

Oh my goodness! I loved seeing Margot and Forrest trying to figure out who they are while also tumbling in love with each other. The banter made me giggle and the writing was so easy to fall into. I found myself turning pages well into the night.

For fans of:
🫎 First person POV
🏔️ Dual POV
🫎 Debut
🏔️ Autoimmune disease rep
🫎 Disability rep
🏔️ Meet cute
🫎 Grumpy x grumpy
🏔️ Forced proximity
🫎 Both healing
🏔️ One tent ⛺️
🫎 Just one time
🏔️ Both reinventing themselves
🫎 Spicy but not too hot 🌶️

✨ What to Read Next ✨

🌟 Forever Never by Lucy Score (deep winter setting & similar romance vibes)

🌟 The Simple Wild by KA Tucker (Alaskan setting & deeper romance)

Since I'm pretty sure I’m not the one who wrote this book, I'm glad to know my entire existence can be described as a series of cliches put together.
And you may ask: why would you say that? Well, if there ever was a book that screamed “that's so me” and “I’d have written the same thing”, that book is ANY TROPE BUT YOU.

Don't be misled by the title; there are tons of our favourite tropes in this story — even if I missed the good old only-one-bed trope —, but the way they blend into one another and how they work in the biggest scheme of the whole book… *chef kiss*
(I feel like I must report I haven't cringed once because, most of the time, the FMC was the first to point out how ridiculous the situation was, and I just loved how completely normal and sincere the whole thing felt)

But perfection doesn't exist, and even if a book doesn't have to be perfect to be loved, I'm sad that this one lost me a little bit near the end.
The reason? I’d have liked for our dear first-born daughter, who raised herself and her sick sister, to stand up for the hurt she felt and dive a little bit more into that.
And, before you ask, there is a third-act break-up — if you think about it, it’s like a necessary trope to have in a book full of tropes —, which is completely understandable given the characters' situation.
But the very end, the big-speech-to-win-her-back moment, felt rushed and due, and maybe even something that didn't necessarily need to happen.

The ones who know me know I don't make this comparison lightly but — and please trust me on this —, if you love Emily Henry’s type of giggling-screaming-crying-throwing-up type of romance, then this one has to be your next reading.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Margot has lost her faith in Romance, and as a popular romance author that’s a problem, even more so when her private document, where she gives sad, bitter endings to her characters gets leaked all over the internet, getting her promptly cancelled by the community that loved her books.
Deciding to reinvent herself and start fresh in a new genre, she accepts her sister’s idea and travels to Alaska to stay in a remote and internet-free lodge deep in the wilderness.
Soon she meets Forrest , the son of the owner of the Lodge, and the one in charge of the weekly excursions that Margot is forced to attend, by her sister’s request.
This book was an intimate explanation of what it means to care for a loved one. How raw and sacrificing it is, while also being a surprisingly funny book.
The situations Margot find herself are often over the top and very much tropey, in a meta way, but I sure loved it

Solid 4.6⭐️. Wow, this book totally exceeded my expectations! From the start, I knew I was going to love it. The Taylor Swift references, witty banter, and mix of real emotion had my heart soaring. It’s the perfect debut fun, heartfelt, full of romance, and characters that you will fall in love with.

Any Trope But You is a love letter to rom-com fans, second chances, family love, and personal growth. The way the romance and family storylines blend together is just perfect swoony, funny, sexy, emotional, and powerful all at once.

Margot Bradley, a bestselling romance author, is burned out on love and after a personal journal of hers is leaked she isn’t sure whats next. Her sister sends her off on a 6 week trip to Alaska for a fresh start, where she meets Forrest, the charming son of the lodge owner and a doctor who is basically the embodiment of every quality Margot could ever want. Their instant dislike quickly turns into something much deeper.

This book is a trope lover’s dream, hitting all the classics, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, and more but with a self aware humor that makes it even better. The characters even poke fun at the tropes, which had me laughing out loud. But beyond the humor, there’s a lot of emotional depth as Margot and Forrest deal with real life struggles and family responsibilities.

I loved the dual POV, the character development, and how effortlessly the author brought the tropes together. It was a quick, fun read that I couldn’t put down. Margot and Forrest felt so real and I couldn’t get enough of them. I’m definitely looking forward to more from Victoria Lavine!

Big thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!! I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to read this amazing debut!

i kind of don’t like margot lol she’s such a hater but it’s also kind of funny so i didn’t mind it all that much. she’s also kind of selfish so it adds to my dislike for her. i will say that she truly does care a lot about the people she loves though. she’s not a terrible person, she’s just flawed and that’s okay. that makes her human.

forrest IS a cliche. that’s kind of the point. but did i eat him up anyway? yeah i did. did i melt a little inside every time he called margot sweetheart? you bet your ass i did. he sort of reminds me of a teddy bear in a way, based on the way margot sees him. he’s got the whole survivalist thing going on and he would do anything for his family, including giving up a crap ton of breast cancer research money.

i found the plot to be a fun one. i did want to throw my kindle across my room and hope it would shattered against the wall at one point but i didn’t. it did feel a little slow at times but it picked up before i could get bored.

A book about a woman who writes HEAs for a living, but doesn't believe it is a possibility for her anymore.

Meet Margot, a successful romance author who ends up in a wild Alaskan retreat planned by her chronically ill sister, following a public fiasco. What awaits her there is a man who might have just walked out of a romance novel himself. Meet Forrest, the hot lodge owner, who is also a talented doctor researching in the field of breast cancer but gave it up to care for his dependent father in a heartbeat. Eventhough he's attracted to Margot, he tries his best to keep distance because he is not new to heartbreak and deceit.

From the moment these two meet, the chemistry is on point. As Margot tries to re-discover herself outside of her sister's world, she learns to love herself again. If you have a sister, then you would definitely appreciate the sisterly bond between Margot & Savannah. This is conveyed beautifully through a series of letters that Savannah leaves for her at the retreat. I kind of had tears reading them, they were so sweet and insightful.

Talking about trope - because duh - you will love everyone of it, and like Margot you might roll your eyes too and think if all these truly happen in real life! But what truly felt special was the emotional aspect of the book - how real life is not as simple as in a book, but still love could be worth taking a chance. I loved how both of these were dealing with these difficult decisions and did their best to understand and respect each other's needs. This felt so mature, real and heartwarming. I could go on but still won't be able to express how happy I was while reading this book.

For Victoria - Congrats on an amazing debut - the writing is so easy to get into - Margot's voice, the depth of the characters, their emotional connect all worked so well. Also, if you read through the author's note, you would gain the perspective she had while writing this book. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and eagerly look forward to her next work.

Best selling romance author Margot finds herself “cancelled” after she is hacked and a document surfaces with alternative unhappy endings for all of her books. Margot loves her fans and is devastated when they all turn on her. With her sisters encouragement, Margot heads up to Alaska to work on a new book, in a new genre, a mystery. The second Margot arrives at the quaint resort she is hit with every imaginable romance trope beginning with running into the arms of the man running the resort, Forrest. Of course he is outside chopping wood in his flannel shirt with all of his muscles flexing when a giant moose scares Margot and she jumps into his arms. Meet Cute! Neither of them are looking for love and in fact they both want to push it away as far as they can so they find themselves making verbal jabs, and saying snarky things to each other. Enemies to Lovers! This just continues to happen as they both discover that they have a lot more in common than they thought.

This was really cute !! I loved the tropes and how they kept coming hard and fast at these two reluctant love birds. Great debut, cant wait to see what is next for the author!!

4 🌟

Margot and Forrest love story is so powerful in so many ways. I love the connection both characters had and how they were developing feelings not wanting to fall first. This book is so heartwarming and I also loved the setting of this story (Alaska) it made the story more fun and cozy! I highly recommend this romance book to everyone!

oh, to be loved is to be seen. i didn’t expect to sob as much as i did reading this! beautiful debut novel. this book felt like a big love letter to romance writers and readers alike.

thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc!

Margot Bradley is a bestselling romance author of romance books. But, plot twist she diesnt believe in HEAs. When word leaks that Margot feels this way, her readers cancel her hard! Not wanting to face any of it, Margot runs off to Alaska and decide to write a thriller. What could go wrong.
•
This book had every romance trope thrown in that you could think of it and somehow it’s worked. I typically don’t like when so many things are thrown my way, but I loved that Margot was such a realist even she couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.
•
This story was lighthearted and so fun. I enjoyed it every step of the way. The one thing that didn’t work for me was the ending. Sadly it felt a bit rushed. Still enjoyed and would definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Any Trope but you.
3.5 stars.
I always enjoy books about books. I love when the characters are involved in the publishing world, specially if they are romance authors.
I really enjoyed that aspect of this story.
I loved the special conection that both Margot and Forrest had with their families, I specially enjoyed the letters that her sister Savannah wrote for her, and it was very touching how Forrest take care of his dad.
. And I was enjying the mention of the topes while Margot and Forrest´s relationship started to grow. But I think that was the problem, at some point it was a Little bit to much. Although, I really liked the tension and the slow burn between them and I loved how they overcome their fears and insecurities. Also I have to say that all side characters were very lovable.
Thank you NetGalley, thank you Atria Books and many thanks to the autor for this ARC.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

This book is a love letter to those of us who have fallen for the modern romance novels, endless tropes and all. Like most other romance readers I know the tropes and it is that type of comfort that you know that there are enemies to lovers, forced proximity and the HEA.

This story is about Margot Bradley who does just this for the fans of her romance novels. She gives them the tropes and the HEAs that they love but she has her own secret, Happily Never After file. When that is exposed to her readers Margot goes into a forced exile to Alaska to write a non-romantic novel to get her career back. Of course this doesn’t go according to plan when she meets Forrest who is every man she has written about in her novels.

There is so much depth in the characters and the story that keeps the reader wanting more. I enjoyed the nods to ever popular tropes and the “will they won’t they” of it all. It is a little spicy but mostly a sweet story of rediscovering what makes you truly happy. It doesn’t look the same for everyone and this was an uplifting read in that respect. It deals with real issues around caring for the people you love and figuring out how to not lose yourself.

I recommend this one for the modern romance fan who is looking for another uplifting love story with a little spice set in a snowy Alaska! This one comes out on April 1st and don’t be a fool and miss out!

What a fantastic debut! This is a love letter to the romance book community, healing and self growth, second chances and family love. I loved how the romance and the depth filled family plot-lines blended so well. It was swoony, funny, sexy, emotional and powerful all at the same time. Consider me part of the Forrest fan club!

I’m so grateful to have participated in the cover reveal, and even more so for the chance of this arc! Thank you Atria, Net Galley and Victoria Lavine for the early copy. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

🫎 Set in Alaska
🫎 Grumpy / Grumpy
🫎 Enemies to lovers
🫎 Forced proximity
🫎 Dual POV
🫎 Only 1 tent
🫎 Chronic illness representation
🫎 Caretaking

Margot Bradley is a best-selling romance author who keeps a secret journal of Happily Never Afters, and her life is turned upside-down when it gets leaked. Her sister books her a 6-week trip to Alaska so she can start her new life as a murder mystery author. She meets Forrest, the hot son of the lodge's owner, who also happens to be a doctor. Basically, he's the walking embodiment of every romance hero she's ever written, and she tries her best to dislike him on sight. Forrest sees her as a California girl who isn't cut out for the wilderness adventures of the lodge. They both learn there's more to the other than meets the eye.

I loved that as a romance author, Margot calls out every trope as it happens and that they somehow manage to cram almost any trope into the storyline in a way that didn't feel clunky. This was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed the dual POV and the character building. I would definitely read more from Victoria Lavine.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Lavine for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This was a highly anticipated read for me, and it didn’t disappoint! I had such a good time with Margot and Forrest. As someone with my own share of heartbreak in the past, I’ve absolutely felt disillusioned by the HEA before, and Margot was instantly relatable. This was the perfect end of winter read, and I hope everyone else enjoys their time at the North Star Lodge as much as I did!

Any Trope But You tells the story of a woman who writes about love but has lost faith in finding it for herself. ❤️🏔️🫎

This book was a humorous, trope-filled explosion! It embraced every rom-com trope imaginable—forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, one bed/tent, and more!—pulling them all together brilliantly. The author took everything romance readers love and delivered a delightful tribute to our favorite genre. What makes it even better is the self-aware humor. The characters themselves acknowledge the absurdity, even poking fun at the tropes, which is downright hilarious!

Beyond the fun and laughs though, there's a powerful emotional depth to this story. Margot and Forrest's journey is rich and meaningful, exploring the complexities of taking care of an ill family member and finding love amidst real-life obstacles. This story and its characters are utterly unforgettable! An absolutely epic debut rom-com from Victoria Lavine! I loved every minute of this read and can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you to Victoria Lavine and Atria Books for the #gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I approached this book with a bit of skepticism. Margot's introduction, where she labels herself a fraud, followed by her cancellation, left me unsure about her character. The initial encounter between Margot and Forrest, involving a chaotic moose chase, was as frosty as the Alaskan setting.

What drew me in early on was Margot's endearing relationship with her sister, Savannah. Their bond was genuinely heartwarming, and seeing Margot as a caregiver added depth to her character. Additionally, Van is a standout character—brilliant and captivating in every way.

Forrest initially came across as somewhat surly, but gaining his perspective helped to flesh out his character. Perhaps a bit too much, as he seemed almost too good to be true at times. I enjoyed the irony of him being a skilled doctor yet intensely anxious about bad reviews, while his father and manager persisted in setting him up with potential partners.

What truly captured my attention was the shared experience of Margot and Forrest as caregivers for close family members. The author skillfully conveyed the anguish and guilt they felt about considering leaving their loved ones. The hopelessness Margot felt about her future beyond her time at the lodge was particularly poignant.

When Margot and Forrest finally surrendered to their desires, their chemistry was undeniable. The romance was well-balanced with humor and emotional depth.

The ending was satisfying, avoiding an overly idealistic happily-ever-after. Instead, it felt more realistic and authentic. I'd recommend this book if you're looking for a romance with a good balance of humor and emotional resonance.

Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart flutters: 💖💖