This unfortunately felt like a parody book to me. A romance scary movie (parody franchise) if we will. The writing also overall felt quite dull and boring to me.

Victoria Lavine’s “Any Trope But You” is a triumph that seamlessly blends humor, heart, and raw emotional depth. At its core, this novel is a love letter to the romance genre while also exploring the complexities of caregiving, self-discovery, and second chances.

The story revolves around, Margot, a disillusioned romance writer who has sworn off the genre after her belief in "happily ever afters" (HEAs) crumbles. When her once-glittering career nosedives, she is coaxed by her younger sister to retreat to Alaska under the guise of writing a murder mystery—a stark departure from her previous works. What follows is an enchanting and unputdownable tale of growth and unexpected love.

Enter Dr. Forest (Dr. MD), a former big-city doctor/ researcher turned reluctant innkeeper at his family’s rustic Alaskan lodge. Having stepped away from his career to care for a terminally ill relative, he inadvertently embodies every romance trope Margot has ever written about (and now vehemently avoids): the brooding hero, the accidental rescuer, the charming and slightly flawed idealist. Sparks fly between the two when their worlds collide, but Lavine doesn't stop there—she builds a story where their deepening connection is balanced by the stark realities of their responsibilities as caregivers.

Lavine’s brilliance lies in the way she deconstructs and reimagines familiar romance tropes. Their journey is not just about falling in love but about navigating grief, guilt, and sacrifice. The Alaskan setting is as much a character as the protagonists, its breathtaking beauty offering a serene but rugged backdrop to their emotional struggles and eventual triumphs.

What makes Any Trope But You a standout is Lavine’s ability to weave humor and emotional vulnerability. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and the slow build of their relationship feels authentic and rewarding.

This book is more than just a romance—it’s a reminder that love is complicated, messy, and worth fighting for, even when life throws its heaviest challenges your way. Lavine’s writing shines with empathy and insight, making Any Trope But You a must-read for anyone who loves stories that capture the full spectrum of human emotion.

This book was such a fun take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, with an icy Alaska setting and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic that had me hooked. Margot, a romance author who secretly doesn’t believe in HEAs, ends up stuck in a small town with Forrest, a broody but lovable doctor straight out of one of her books. All side characters were great!

It’s a fast paced romance and an entertaining, trope-filled read.

Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

4.5 rounded down to 4.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

How absolutely adorable this book was!! Any Trope but You is a classic enemies to lovers, but with very cold twist! The Alaska backdrop with the fish out of water excursions for Margot added something new and exciting to this romance read. This book gives us disability representation, an author struggling to hang onto her career and a ruggedly handsome mountain man! This combination was romance gold!
The dings were for the "sweetheart" nickname and how many times Margot let us know how small she was. We get it, you're beautiful and petite. I didn't need a million reminders.

4.75 stars

For a good portion of this book, I felt it was a solid 4 stars but something felt missing but then the 3rd act hit so hard, i almost changed it to a full 5 stars. There is a lot to love about this book, jaded romance author hides out in remote Alaska and meets the romance hero to end all romance heros. They encounter every realistic to the situation trope under the sun (except surprisingly only one bed). There’s even a very slight love triangle (but not really). There’s even was good communication and honesty, deep care and understanding, and this all made the 3rd act make sense. For a minute there I thought there wasn’t going to be a 3rd act conflict which I don’t think would have worked in this book so I was actually glad for it. It hit hard and made my cry but it was right for the story and the characters. All this to say I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Rating 3.75 stars. This book has a lot of aspects that I love: witty banter, lovable side characters, and a deep love for family. The romance was great, albeit the falling in love was a bit quick for my usual taste, but the broader aspect of them truly understanding each other and their lifestyle is what made this book so enjoyable.

I’m laughing as I type this bc I’m going to make an honest statement- after I received the ARC of Any Trope But You, I scratched it from my TBR pile. It sounded too much like any other cliche trope book sitting on the shelves. I ignored it for two weeks then said I’d give it a 50 page read and decide . . .
WOW! 🤩 I couldn’t stop at page 50. I read this(V. Levine) debut novel in three sittings!

The story follows Margot, a bestselling romance author who doesn’t believe in HEA.
Her lack of trust for HEA leads her to write her depressed wrath and unhappy endings for her novels, compiled in a private “Happily Never After” file. The file is leaked and Margot faces public backlash, hate mail, and embarrassment.
Margot’s sister books her a retreat to a remote Alaskan lodge. She wants Margot to be out of the spotlight and begin writing a new genre of murder mystery
At the lodge, Margot meets Forrest, a former cancer researcher, now managing the family resort while caring for his ailing father. A classic enemies from the start. As they spend time together, they find themselves in the classic romance tropes—everything her best sellers state but everything she doesn’t believe in.
Smiling again - the spicy 🌶️ was not expected but well written and playfully played out.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a classic tropes, enemies to lovers, heartwarming, cliche romance novel.

She's a romance author who doesn't believe in HEAs?! Margot, a bestselling romance author, has built her career on love stories, but she doesn't actually believe in them. After her career is sabotaged, she whisks away to Alaska to reinvent herself as a thriller author. What she doesn't expect is Forrest - he's a handsome, broody doctor who radiates the MMC energy in every book she's written. Enter the ultimate enemies-to-lovers dynamic, complete with forced proximity, and I ATE IT UP.

I really enjoyed how this book touched on deeper topics like job loss, self-sacrifice, caring for others, and grief. It added a layer of relatability, even though the trope-filled story kept things lighthearted and often funny, though sometimes a bit cheesy. Margot’s internal monologue had me laughing out loud! After all that slow burn, I could’ve used a longer epilogue to see where things went with these two. It’s the ultimate cozy read!

A++ debut novel! I can't wait to see what else Victoria has in store for us

This book was funny and adorable!

Romance writer Margot has a secret, for every HEA she has ever written, she has also written a secret HNA (happily never after) and tucked them away in a file just for her. She doesn’t believe HEA are realistic, so finishes her stories her own way, even if that’s not what the fans want.

When a hacker leaks her file, her career feels ruined and she needs an escape. Her sister sends her away to remote Alaska to write and get away from all of the negative press. She’s determined to forget romance and go in a totally different direction, but life has other plans when she has every romance trope thrown in her face.

I loved the depth of the characters in this book, how they had to navigate real life obstacles, and loved each other because of them, not in spite of them.

The way more and more tropes kept showing up on the story was humorous and created some fun witty banter.

It was a fun read the whole way through!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure this book would be for me. I don't love the outdoors. I don't really care about Alaska. I for sure don't read (much less experience) camping. But these two characters who are both a little broken and their people sucked me in. This book had heart that I almost didn't see at first. I enjoyed watching them grow and come together so much. I loved their sense of responsibility to their loved ones but also loved how their loved ones took care of them back. I thought the conflict was handled well. I thought that this book about a romance writer who is starting fresh and a doctor finding his purpose was just a great mix of entertainment, swoon and heart.

I am the least outdoorsy person ever (so I related hard to Margot), but this debut from Victoria Lavine made me want to book a flight to Alaska to hike and live in the woods. This book was beautiful and full of layers. It’s the perfect ode to romance, and the most fun grumpy/sunshine dynamic with chemistry that flies off the page. I am so impressed with this debut and cannot wait to read more from Victoria.

Margot & Forrest have banter for DAYS from the very first time they meet. They are immediately at odds (though also immediately attracted to one another) - Margot’s not interested in being in Alaska, and Forrest is not interested in doing anything that may jeopardize the lodge (again). The two are forced together in all sorts of ways and the way Forrest can’t stay away from Margot was so delightful to read.

While this book has so much humor (drier humor sometimes that absolutely made me giddy), and plays with tropes in the most delightful way (only one tent! Steamy sauna moment!), what pushed it to the forefront of my mind was the depth of both Margot & Forrest’s characters. Both sacrifice themselves for those they love. Margot has made every decision she has in order to help her sister out - she’s sacrificed her own love life and become cynical in the process. Forrest has given up a lucrative career and the home he loved in order to be there for his father.

I loved reading the letters Savannah wrote for Margot – the way they built up to the conclusion and also gave us a perfect way for Margot & Forrest to connect. The way they made me SOB at the nostalgia of them. I am such a sucker for epistolary elements in a romance and this was perfect.

And I cannot end this review without giving a shoutout to Forrest. The man, the myth, the legend. Want a down bad man who’s outdoorsy but also a doctor, who’s rugged but sweet for her, who’s got a mouth on him but also cooks for her? Yeah, this is it. In a book full of self-awareness, Margot constantly calling Forrest out for being too good to be true had me cackling. I wanted nothing more than to see them get their HEA (even if Margot had stopped believing in them).

What a treat this one was!
Best- selling romance author Margot Bradley gets outed for being a non-beleiver in romance and gets cancelled by her fans. She takes a 6 week getaway (with limited wi-fi) to Alaska to write her next book- a murder mystery.
When arriving at the lodge she finds herself ending up in romance trope after romance trope with handsome Forrest.
This was so easy to get lost in. I loved both Margot and Forrest and their banter was fantastic. I laughed out loud at so many parts- it truly was a rom-com at it's very best.
I can't beleive this is Victoria Lavine's debut- I'll definitely be reading whatever she puts out next.

4.75 stars from me!

This title releases April 1. Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for early access!

Any Trope but You was such a fun read - the number of romance novel tropes that are fulfilled is high but it is done in a smart and witty way. Margot and Forrest have amazing chemistry from the start - even with their antagonistic ways - you know that the ways that they differ will only make their relationship stronger. And North Star Lodge is definitely a place you want to visit - the setting and people that Margot encounters on her trip make you feel welcome and almost like family. The book doesn't shy away from deeper issues like the loss of a parent and caregiving for a loved one. But did it with so much heart and humor. Highly recommend! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 4/1
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for my free copies!

This book was such a fun surprise! It’s packed with humor, depth, and all the romance tropes we know and love—but with a fresh twist. Margot Bradley, a bestselling romance author, secretly doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. She even keeps a document rewriting her characters’ love stories with breakups and heartbreak. When that document gets leaked, her career tanks and she escapes to a remote Alaskan resort to reinvent herself as a murder mystery writer. The last thing she expects? To end up starring in a rom-com of her own with Forrest Wakefield, the ridiculously handsome resort owner.

Margot and Forrest’s chemistry is off the charts, and the story is full of hilarious banter and deep, emotional moments that hit just right. Their push-and-pull dynamic kept me hooked, and the way they kept stumbling into classic romance scenarios (only one bed, forced proximity, you name it) was so much fun. The snowy, remote setting just adds to the magic, making every moment between them feel even more intense.
Forrest is total book-boyfriend material, and Margot’s journey of self-discovery made this more than just a romance. The fact that both of them are caring for ill family members and struggling under the weight of that responsibility makes the story feel real and relatable.

Overall, this binge-worthy, feel-good read had me smiling and swooning. And it’s a debut, which is unbelievable! Definitely excited to see what Lavine writes next!

In any other book, the number of tropes included would make me roll my eyes. But this was so clever and witty! It’s very self-aware, playfully poking fun at the tropes as they appear, which made them feel genuinely integral to the story. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and I absolutely loved that.

When readers discover their favourite author, Margot Bradley, doesn’t truly believe in happily-ever-afters, offending the romance community in the process, she is immediately dropped by her publisher. Fleeing to North Star Lodge in Alaska, Margot plans to spend six weeks rebranding herself as a murder mystery writer. But then she meets Forrest, the irresistibly grumpy lodge owner who also happens to be a doctor specializing in cancer research. I mean, he’s just too good to be true! Unfortunately, he has one rule: never get involved with the guests.

The romance is fast and passionate, but totally believable! Margot and Forrest are both incredibly loyal, protective, and deeply family-oriented. I loved their shared connection and understanding in caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, often putting their own lives aside in the process. The cherry on top was the cozy Alaskan setting, complete with a domesticated moose and wintry wilderness adventures. Such a fun time!

Review template

I received a free early copy of this book for review. This is my own opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review!

<b>Genre:</b> contemporary romance

<b>Tropes:</b> ALL OF THEM 😂 (it’s the point of the book)

<b>Spice Level:</b> 2-3/5. Multiple on page spicy scenes, descriptive but not kinky.

<b>Content Warning:</b> mention of death of a parent due to breast cancer, caregiving, divorced parents.

There is a very mild spoiler below, but I’ll mark it. It doesn’t reveal any plot, just my commentary on the ending.

Margot is a romance writer who doesn’t believe in love. That’s nothing novel (ha) but what IS new is that she keeps a file of the REAL endings of her books, and she gets canceled when that’s discovered. (I actually think I’d LOVE to read those endings as a ‘what if’?? Wild, I know.)
Anyway, she’s also a caregiver for her sister who has an unnamed autoimmune disease, but the sister sends her off to Alaska to rediscover herself and write a murder mystery. In Alaska, she crashes into Forrest, who is the physical embodiment of every romance hero ever. He’s tall, gorgeous, is amazing at All The Things, AND he has a high paying, high level job that is also somehow altruistic (breast cancer research physician).
They go on adventures (Savannah, the sister, signed Margot up for all the adventures and in exchange she gets a letter for each one) and consistently get more and more flustered because they are essentially living out the snowed in trope (and like, all the others. Seriously.)

Forrest is, obviously, hot. He’s also extremely dedicated to his dad, to a negative degree. Margot is snarky and quipped. She is also dedicated to an unhealthy degree. When they finally get together it’s explosive.

I don’t think this overplayed any of the tropes it used, and while the book could’ve put both our characters through some serious darkness, it’s still light and humorous. The spicy scenes were unexpectedly good, so that gets an A+.


Mild spoiler for the way the book wraps up the publishing thing below:







I really appreciate that Margot didn’t have to change genres or grovel or bust her ass to return to publishing. I actually view her as the victim in this instance, so I love the way things wrapped up.

A cute story that gives a couple of devoted caregivers the opportunity to find their happy ending. The opening of bestselling romance author Margot, fueled by her disillusionment with love following a bad breakup, secretly penning a document detailing the unraveling of each couple she's written that goes public and results in a fan outcry provides the perfect push to her much-needed journey of self-reflection. By putting this pampered woman smack dab in the middle of remote Alaska, the fish out of water element strongly reminded me of It Happened One Summer, with sparks immediately flying when Margot comes into contact with Forrest and numerous tropes explored as the two interact with each other. The tale falters a bit with these main characters; the pacing and progression of their relationship is off, and there are serious issues featured in both of their backstories which are not explored as deeply as I would have preferred. While the ending is fitting, it feels a little rushed and an epilogue with a glimpse from their future together would have tied everything up nicely. Pleasant enough, but missing a necessary ingredient that would have elevated it to something really special.

This was a romance trope extravaganza! I loved how the author worked so many into the story - fish out of water, forced proximity, enemies-ish to lovers, only one bed (tent), caretaker, etc.

It took a bit for Margot to grow on me, but I liked her character arc and how she grew in the story. The set up to get her to Alaska was a little far fetched, but Forrest was well worth the trip. I loved that he truly saw Margot and that she saw him. The build up between them was well done and their sexy times left me fanning myself - “you can take it” 🔥

Forrest was a fantastic book boyfriend, but he did lose some points with me because of the third act drama. I knew it was coming, but hoped it wouldn’t. I understand why he made the choices he did, but I feel like he could have been a lot more gentle with the delivery and given more grovel in the end.

As much as I loved the romance with Forrest, it was the relationship between Margot and her sister, Savannah, that made this book shine. That special ride or die connection was captured so well and I loved their jokes and banter.

This was a great debut that romance lovers are sure to devour. I’m excited to see what Victoria Lavine writes next!

CW: caring for loved ones (injury, chronic illness), invasion of privacy/computer hacked, death of parent (past, breast cancer), grief

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy ebook. Overall, this was a solid debut romance. The beginning was hilarious, but as the story continued, I found myself getting bored. I enjoyed the setting, but the characters were definitely experiencing lust more than anything. With nothing but sexual chemistry going on, it was hard to buy into the “falling in love” idea.

Any Trope But You by Victoria Levine is an absolute delight of a rom-com that plays with classic romance tropes in the best way. From the start, I was hooked by the chemistry and banter between Margot and Forrest—every interaction between them was just so good. Their dynamic felt natural, witty, and full of sparks, making their romance all the more satisfying to watch unfold.

One thing I really appreciated was how dedicated both Margot and Forrest were to their families. It added so much depth to their characters and made their love story even sweeter. It wasn’t just about them falling for each other—it was about how they balanced love, career, and their personal responsibilities, which felt really refreshing.

And thankfully, there was no miscommunication trope to create unnecessary drama! Margot and Forrest actually talked through their issues and handled things like adults, which made their relationship feel even stronger and more realistic. Their ability to work through conflicts maturely was a huge plus for me.

Overall, Any Trope But You was a fun, heartwarming read with the perfect blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth. If you love romance novels that embrace tropes while keeping things fresh and well-written, this one is definitely worth picking up!