Any Trope But You is such a delightful debut. When novelist Margot Bradley's romance career implodes in scandal because her readers find out she does not believe in the sacred HEA, she heads out to an Alaskan off-grid resort to write a murder book. Instead, she gets trapped in one romance trope after another with a guide who is every romance hero archetype--Henleys and corded forearms included. This ode to romance delivers all the favorite tropes with a twist while hilariously breaking the fourth wall. The prose is witty and warm, and the chemistry is sizzling. Victoria Lavine has a fabulous voice, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Congratulations to author Victoria Levine on this outstanding debut novel!! I was completely immersed in the characters and their stories from the very first page! Margot is a successful romance author whose professional life nosedives after a secret file becomes not so secret, sending her to a remote area of Alaska. There, she meets Forrest, the grumpy brooding but incredibly rugged and good-looking man who somehow always seems to come to her rescue. They are complex characters with painful pasts and uncertain futures, both professionally and personally; both devoted caregivers to family members who seemingly sacrifice their own hopes, dreams and chances of a happily ever after. The setting is gorgeous and dangerous, adding another layer to this fantastic book. I can’t wait to see what else the author has in store for all the readers who will love her debut!

received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for my honest review. Any Trope But You is the first book by Victoria Lavine and it is set in Alaska! I rarely find books set in Alaska so I was excited for this one. I liked how the author used (and openly acknowledged the use of) as many classic romance tropes as possible. I could have done without the constant references to avocados (we get it, Margot REALLY loves avocados). I also felt like the only real thing the MCs had in common was that they are both caregivers for family members. Overall, it was an okay read but I found myself being more interested in the side characters than the main ones.

“I’ve got a hunch that you remind Forrest something awful of home.”

4.5 ⭐️!!!

I!! LOVED!! THIS!! Listen. I’m not a big romance girlie like it takes a DAMN good romance book to pull a 4 ⭐️ from me let alone a 4.5. This felt like coming inside to the warmth after having a snowball fight with your family & friends in the pouring snow. Like sitting down in front of the fireplace, warming your hands while sipping hot cocoa. 🤎

I was intrigued by this immediately- it didn’t take me a couple chapters to feel invested which I loved- because usually it takes me foreverrrrr with a romance. This was stuffed to the brim with tropes and I ate it up!!! They never felt like it was just added in there for the sake of the plot/title. Like every time one was mentioned it made sense with the setting at the moment. I adored Margot & Forrest so much & the way the conflict in this one wasn’t just something silly that they just needed to communicate to fix. It was a real issue that I could 100% see & that was refreshing.

“Suddenly, the made-for-Margot room inside my heart has throw blankets and fucking fairy lights.”

The banter between Forrest & Margot was THE BEST. I was cackling at them multiple times hehe. I usually don’t like insta love/like but the way he was DOWN BAD for her from his very first POV had me kicking my feet & giggling. & the way he’d would get nervous & BLUSH???????? YOUR HONOR I LOVE HIM!!!!

“But I can’t be in another trope with you,” she whines. “And we already did this one! Remember the fire?”

overall this was SO good that I had to stop myself from binging it in one sitting bc when I do that I end up not digesting it fully. Also why. WHY was this so emotional!!! I was soooobing through the last 15% of this y’all. I didn’t think anything like that was going to happen and I was UNPREPARED. I was going through it, under it, below it all the directions. I’m also on my period but that’s irrelevant !!!!

The only reason and I mean the ONLY reason I’m not rating this 5 stars is the ending. I wish the ending would have been a little more impactful, it felt kind of rushed to me. I didn’t love the way they reunited, but it still had me cheesing nonetheless. This was so so so good. Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review 🖤🫎

“Every day you’ve been here, I’ve thought that Mom must have sent you. She knew you’d be the only person who’d get me back to California.”

This is, without a doubt, one of the absolute best romances I’ve ever read. I was completely captivated from start to finish. The female main character stole my heart—her growth throughout the story was inspiring and beautifully written. I adored her journey, her resilience, and the way she found love in the most unexpected way.

And Alaska... The setting was so vivid and breathtaking that I now have a deep urge to pack my bags and experience it for myself. The atmosphere, the adventure, and the raw beauty of it all added so much to the story. I'd love to have the night in the sleeping bag with my husband.

Honestly, if I could give this 6 stars, I would. It was so, so good. Highly recommend!

ANY TROPE BUT YOU was everything I want in my romcoms: it's heartfelt, hilarious, spicy, swoony, AND sexy! My only hiccup was that I didn't really connect with the FMC which is why I gave it a 3 🌟. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early ebook copy exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 12%. I just didn’t connect with this book. Nothing particular stuck out but I struggled to like the characters. I think it just wasn’t for me

[note: I do not post reviews publicly of books I do not finish.]

Margot is a romance author who has lost hope in happily ever afters. She keeps a secret folder of epilogues she’s written where the couples from her books break up. When it’s leaked, her sister suggests she spends time off the grid, in remote Alaska, to get inspiration for her next novel. She meets the son of the resort owner, Forrest, a man straight out of one of her novels.

I’ve been seeing rave reviews everywhere for this book and I’m upset that I can’t say the same. I understand that Margot is a romance author and that the title of this book is Any Trope But You, but the frequent mentioning of tropes/comparisons to her characters really took me out of the book. I honestly took a long time reading this book because I wasn’t invested. I really didn’t enjoy the third act break up (which occurred only a couple pages after they decided to be together) and the ultimate resolution. I really wanted to enjoy this more, but I’m glad that this book is clearly loved by others.

Thank you so much to Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the eARC. Any Trope But You comes out April 1, 2025.

finished this because I saw so many good reviews - and I think people liked it so much becuase it's HONEST. You can fall in and out of love... BUT how often do we discuss falling out of the idea of love? Only a few novels have actively talked about how hard dating is in the modern world in these specific terms.

SO - while I still stand on the idea my initial impressions - I think that if you can get through the first bit, readers will really enjoy getting to dive deeper into a story where someone gets unfairly 'canceled' (way too easy in today's techy-viral world) and overcoming your mistakes in a way that also allows for personal growth.

Margot is also a decently good person, and I really loved the exploration of the struggles behind being a caretaker. Both of our main characters have struggled with upholding all of their responsibilities! It's nice to see this style of responsibility - not your typical single-parent trope.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Rounded up to a 4)
🌶️: 3/5

I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

Just read it okay. Do it. Preorder your copy so come April you can all caps and chest full of excitement love this one, too.

Margot.
Forrest.
Alaska.
Fish out of water romance author.
Family man doing it all.
Hot tubs and saunas.
Bullwinkle.
Winter excursions.
Letters from home.

This novel is a love letter to romance readers. It’s a reminder that reading love stories and yearning for that HEA isn’t fluff or just for fun. It’s an entire world where we are seen and heard and appreciated by authors and our fellow love story aficionados.

This was a super cute and enjoyable read! Margot is a romance author who gets cancelled after being hacked and the hacker sharing her "Happily Never After" file - what her jaded heart really thinks happens to her romance novels' couples. Her sister sends her to Alaska for 6 weeks as a break and she meets her very own HEA-in-waiting. This was a cute story, and fun when Margot is cued into all the romance tropes happen to them.

A picture perfect rom-com! Funny, witty, swoony, spicy, also emotional and heartwarming. A perfect pick for lovers of the romance genre. The play on tropes was SO FUN, and had me laughing out loud!

What an incredible debut novel by Victoria Lavine. My favourite read of 2025 so far!

Any Trope but You is a love letter to the romance genre, and boy, does it deliver! A story filled with allll the tropes, I thought it was such a refreshing and fun take on romance. Margot and Forrest both put their lives on the back burner to take care of their loved ones, which is why they had a deep understanding of each other. The banter between them was top notch, their meet-cute made me laugh out loud (shoutout to Bullwinkle!).

I can’t believe this is Victoria Lavine’s debut novel, I’ll be patiently waiting for whatever she has in store for the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for providing me with an ARC. Keep an eye out for Any Trope but You releasing April 1, 2025!

3.5-4 stars. Bestselling romance author Margot Bradley is canceled by her fans when her Happily Never After files are leaked onto internet so her sister sends her on a 6 week retreat to Alaska for a reset, but to also give Margot a chance to write a murder mystery in hopes of reinventing her career. Margot has been disappointed or burned by every male figure in her life, starting with her father and ending with her former fiancé. Hence her jaded stance on the existence of romance and happily ever afters despite making a lucrative profit from it, leading her to write her Happily Never Afters for her eyes only.

This story is cute in certain ways because Margot is the expert on romance tropes and even I could agree with her on how eye rolling it is that many of those tropes get lumped together and it becomes ridiculous. Forrest Wakefield is a medical cancer researcher living in the wilderness of Alaska so he can look after his ailing father and to help run his family’s lodge. Despite their instant attraction, they both regard each other with plenty of yellow caution tape because of their own previous experiences and their current priorities in life, particularly loyalty to their families. But Forrest is the culmination of all the tropes in one package because how is this guy even real and worthy of his own starring role, never mind be a cover model?

On the other hand, it does get a little cheesy at times because of the recycled theme of romance tropes and Margot is living and breathing in her own main storyline worthy of a book. And it’s the kind of experience that she never thought she’d have for herself because love found her when she wasn’t looking. This would certainly appeal to the average romance reader who wears rose colored glasses, and while I did enjoy it, there were also parts that were cliche because it followed the romance template.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. What a fun rom-com at the perfect time of year-Valentine's Day!
A fabulous debut from an author that puts you into the heart of the story immediately! Very unique premise of a romance writer rejected by her fans when her private file is leaked. In an effort to remake her career she retreats to Alaska for inspiration where she meets Forrest and the romance tropes are unleashed! A true homage to the romance genre while also addressing health and family issues of the two main characters.
Very sweet and spicy with a very thoughtful ending! Will be a favorite romance to many!

Victoria Lavine is a debut author to watch! I loved the quirky set up and cozy Alaskan setting, with a great voice and swoony romance!

I absolutely loved this story. Yes, it was about the love story between the two main characters, but it was also about the love of family. It was beautiful to watch the growth and journey that Forrest and Margot went on throughout the book. I laughed and I cried. Highly recommend!! Thank you Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!!

Cute! Hard to believe this is the author’s debut. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

A bestselling romance author is outed as a total cynic and promptly cancelled. To escape the fallout and finish her next book, her sister sends her to an Alaskan wilderness retreat where, of course, there's a guy.

As the title suggests, the book is packed with tropes, but they're all well done, making for a self-aware love letter to the romance genre. I also really appreciated the thoughtful representation of caregiving for a sick family member.

This is a charming contemporary romance . The story beautifully captures the themes of love and personal growth, showcasing how they navigate their past while discovering new opportunities. Overall, it's a heartwarming read that leaves you feeling hopeful about second chances in life and love. Highly recommended!

2.75⭐

Loved:
- The relationship with the sisters was the best part of the book, though I found the letters a bit tedious to read as they were so information dense and relied a lot on telling and not showing. The letters also just…kind of didn’t work for the sake of it kept feeling like Savannah was dying (that’s an odd way to describe it, but it they really felt like goodbye letters). I did like this relationship and wish that it had felt just a bit more grounded in some sense of reality. When the sisters were together I enjoyed it.
- Forrest’s POVs were stronger to me. He felt like a more well-rounded character and his motivations/goals were more rooted. The stuff with Charlotte was a bit silly, but the ties with his family and his job and all of the turmoil he was going through mentally was just more interesting than Margot’s issues (sorry).
- I liked Trapper and Jo a lot. I liked their interactions, moreso Trapper, with both MCs.
- Breast cancer and cancer research rep is great to see.
- Alaska as a setting is always fun. Though I could have done with more descriptors and the FMC actually addressing her changing feelings towards her environment more.
- I like this cover well enough. It’s not mind-blowing but it has charm. The UK cover rules though. It’s so beautiful.

Loathed:
- I think the author wrote a check she couldn’t really cash with the idea of “romance author gets trapped with a man who fits all of the tropes she’s ever written.” This wasn’t explored enough in my opinion and that left the “trope-iness” of the book falling flat and honestly just feeling a bit lazy. - - - This book should have been jam packed with tropes if it was actually going to go for it, almost to the point of absurdity. Especially when the whole point was that Margot didn’t believe that these tropes or a HEA were possible.
- Her inciting incident is silly. Someone uncovering her personal files “through the cloud” aside, her fans would not be this upset. She would not be canceled for having silly little musings about what if her characters didn’t have storybook ending. I just really struggled to suspend disbelief with that. She needed to have also exploded in the Zoom call or something that would have actually justified her agent being so callous. I know it’s covered a little bit at the end of the book, but it just felt silly.
- I did not get any chemistry with the two MCs beyond just insta-lust, which, to be fair, I am just generally not a fan of in any capacity. But there was also an expectation that we as the reader would see this as some kind of enemies-to-lovers? Why. There’s no reason for her to be mean to him at the beginning and then he just ends up liking her? We get it. You’re both hot. But nothing felt like “love”.
- The other side characters were not interesting. I didn’t care about any of them and just found them to be filler.
- Listen, I’m an “unlikeable or annoying FMC” apologist. But Margot was barely even unlikeable. She just…wasn’t really anything. I get that she’s supposed to have trust issues because of her exes and her dad…but she was just kind of slightly mean. And the connections to her feelings just didn’t feel substantiated.
- This is petty. But why. Did she live. In LA. Has the author ever even been to LA? Why would a surfer bro (Cooper) live in Los Feliz which is in East LA away from the ocean. And why does everybody own a house?? It’s LA!?!

Longed For:
- More understanding as to why these characters “love” each other
- More drama with her cancelation
- Less of the side characters

Will I read the next one? : Maybe. This is a debut so it seems cruel to write this author off, and I don’t think she’s a bad writer by any means. I think it all depends on the description/plot/etc.