Any Trope but You is a 5-star debut novel by Victoria Lavine. I immensely enjoyed the author’s writing style. I couldn’t put the book down. This romcom was such a fun read. The main characters, Margot and Forrest, had depth and chemistry. It was easy to root for a happily ever after for these two. Must read.

I really enjoy books about authors so I knew I’d enjoy this one! It was a fairly easy read and I loved the setting in Alaska. It didn’t stand out too much against other romance books but I still enjoyed!

Oh tragic personal crisis - Oh handsome brawny hunk in the woods who can right any wrong with his handsome brawny-ness! Any Trope But You is a mostly lightweight romantic comedy that will walk you through the set up for The Next Great American Romance, because despite trying to run away from romance novels entirely, the main character Margot is literally walking into one.

It's a cute story, yes, and if you really love romantic comedies, you'll probably like this one. It just wasn't my favorite.

The one thing I do applaud here is the inclusion of characters with disabilities and chronic pain, characters who need full-time carers and have unpredictable health patterns. Both of the main characters have family members they feel responsible for, and I think the topic is handled very well (without one of the characters actually being one of the disabled themselves...somehow the lead characters are always the normies).

That being said, I think my main complaint here is that given the sincerity of the themes implied by those circumstances, this novel leans far too heavily in the almost-stupid romantic comedy hijinks. Of course, we're expecting to go through a long list of cliched tropes (hey-it's in the title), but I think it was the air-headedness required for Margot to fall into all of them that bugged me. Was it her actual personality? Eh. The two sides of her just didn't seem to match up very well for me.

The romance, however, seemed quite genuine once it got going (given that the first of the tropes was dumbfounding-attraction at first sight), and by the end I didn't need any further convincing that it had legs to stand on once they got into the 'real world'. Also, the spicy scenes in this book were particularly good, in my personal estimation.

The themes, as well, are valuable. Throw yourself into new experiences, pick yourself back up when the world knocks you down, don't erase yourself within the needs of others, and, of course, you'll always find your true love once you hit rock bottom and decide to take a spontaneous trip to Alaska in hopes of rearranging your entire life!

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, but with issues previously discussed and some elements of the ending that also felt a little too convenient in a way that put a bad taste in my mouth, this is sitting at three stars from me.

Note:: I received this book for free through the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

While it was a slow start to get into, it kinda grew on me.

Funny, slightly tragic and a light read, but also just like a lot of the recent romance novels I've read.. I found myself wishing for more..


Thank you Net Galley and Atria books for the advanced copy!

This is absolutely everything I want in a romance book and more. The emotional depth and character growth??? Incredible. But even better, the handling of grief and chronic illness????? Victoria Lavine has my eternal gratitude for writing this.

*Thank you, Netgalley & Atria Books, for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I'm debating between a two and two-and-a-half stars for this one. While I loved the concept and was super intrigued, I got bored halfway through, and it just lost me. The spice scenes were awkward and felt misplaced. It took me forever to get past some points because I was just not interested in reading. Their conflict was super drawn out; you see it a mile away. Wished the plot had more going on. And honestly, if they were a real couple, they wouldn't have a chance of lasting, I'm sorry. The ending left much to be desired.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy of Any Trope but You. All opinions are my own.
I loved this story! In Any Trope but You, we meet an author, Margot, who writes romance but has private difficulty believing in HEAs. After her fans find out about her true Happily Never Afters, her sister helps send her off to Alaska, where she meets Forrest, a doctor who is helping his father. This book is full of all the fun romance tropes you love, while watching so much growth independently and together for Margot and Forrest. This book hit all the emotions and made me feel so much for both main characters. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers, especially those who love a hate to love romance, and watching character growth, while family members have some serious medical conditions which these 2 care for above and beyond. 5 stars!!

Every once in a while I want a book that is fun and comforting. Something light to escape into each night. With the buzz already for this title… Any Trope But You which releases 4/1… I knew it would be my next late night read.

A romance author is canceled after her Happily Never Afters leak and so she sets off for Alaska thanks to her meddling sister where she hopes to hunker down and write a mystery novel. Upon arriving she finds herself falling victim to numerous romance tropes with the jaw dropping proprietor…starting with a meet cute 🥰

A wonderful debut that puts a fresh mark on the romance genres. The chemistry is 🔥, the setting is frigid (Alaska so fun!) and a side plot about caring for loved ones that will capture your heart. I giggled throughout. The main character Margot stumbling into one trope after another was comical with her crass eye rolls and commentary on the situations. Add this to your contemporary romance TBRs!

Thank you Atria Books for the free ecopy!

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4.25 stars

This is a fantastic debut novel! Margot is a romance author who has a bad experience and escapes to Alaska to try and write a murder mystery. She runs into Forrest, a research doctor who moved home to care for his father. All the romance tropes ensue, with the main one being grumpy x sunshine.
The spice was good, the romance was sweet and not too predictable. The third act breakup was well justified. The underlying stories of adventure and loyalty to family make the characters multi dimensional. I was rooting for them the whole way through. Really appreciated that although Margot is from LA, she isn’t written like a ditzy valley girl. I’ll definitely look out for more from this author, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this one was.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC; all views are my own.

This book absolutely snuck up on me!!! I thought the premise might be a bit on the nose at first but no!!!! It was so sweet and fun and I really didn’t know exactly where we were going at any given point.

I LOVE that reading romances can get a bit repetitive; it’s like a big warm hug but it’s also so so nice when a book shakes it / you up a little bit. I loved this book!!! I also thought that the discussions / feelings around choosing to live far away from ppl you really really love was special and done so well:)

Ebook provided by publisher for review:)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing debut novel from author, Victoria Lavine! I absolutely loved reading Any Trope But You.

Margot is a 31 year old, bestselling romance author who has lost her belief in Happily Ever Afters. After a secret document she wrote full of Happily NEVER Afters is leaked to her adoring fans, she is promptly cancelled by the romance reading community and dropped by her publisher. Her sister, Savannah, books her into a 6 week retreat in the Alaskan wilderness - the kind with hikes, camping, and no WiFi, basically a California girl’s nightmare, to reinvent herself and draft a new manuscript.

While staying at the North Star Lodge, Margot butts heads with the grumpy son of the proprietor, who is aptly named Forrest. He also happens to be a doctor who left California to care for his father after he had a bad accident leaving him in need of full time care.

Told in dual POV, Margot and Forrest clash and fight with on another while also learning more about each other and growing closer. All while ticking off nearly every romance trope around! Could Forrest be the one to mend Margot’s jaded heart?

The plot is well paced and the story moves along nicely. The setting is the gorgeous and lush Alaskan landscape that had me, a total indoor cat, thinking about going for a hike.

Forrest and Margot have major chemistry on the page and I was rooting for them each to get their HEA.

Victoria Lavine is an author to watch!

This book was amazing and I really enjoyed the banter between the both characters. I loved their interactions and how good the story flowed.

Margot is a romance writer whose fans have turned against her when they find out she secretly writes unhappy endings for her characters. Feeling the heat, she escapes to Alaska for some peace and quiet as she attempts to write something non-romancey. While there, she meets Forrest and begins to question her stance on love after all.

While the premise is a bit silly, Any Trope But You is a fun story with lots of witty back and forth, great vibes between FMC and MMC, some heft to the story when it comes to each MC's personal responsibilities and a lot of fun characters to engage with. This was the perfect read when the days are feeling extra long.

I'm not usually super into meta books, but Margot and Forrest's story had me in the feels. Any book that has me laughing throughout is a win for me!

Plot: 5/5
Vibes: unimaginable, off the charts

You know, I don’t normally tear up at romance books, but damn Margot & Forrest got me GOOD. TWICE.

This was a beautifully written meta novel and, as the title states, was full of romance tropes. I saw a lot of them coming, was still surprised when they happened, and Ate. Them. Up.!!!!


Margot & Forrest are two types of stubborn caretakers that go against each other, but when they end up working, it’s a gorgeous thing to read. I am grateful to have my own Happily Ever After, but I also understand Margot’s need for a Happily Never After file too.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC💗

3.5⭐️
Our leading lady is a jaded (for good reason) romance author who's reading audience turns on her when they find out she has secretly (and privately) written "happily never afters" for each of her romance novel couples. This is where I had to gloss over the ridiculousness that an entire fan base would cancel an author because she didn't love love.

That aside... Margot escapes to Alaska for 6 weeks to write a mystery novel instead to keep her career alive.

It's here she meets Forrest, who might have the potential to change her opinion on if a happily ever after might be possible.

There were a few laugh out loud funny parts and a couple of steamy scenes, but there was also some heavy stuff with each of our MCs being primary caretakers for a relative.

*please note that I did receive this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Loved this book! Did my secondhand embarrassment struggle a bit with the beginning of this book? Yes, yes it did, but at least I knew going into it that we were going to see our FMC's fall from grace and so I could be a bit prepared. I enjoyed Margot's journey in Alaska, discovering more about herself and of course, getting to know Forrest. The banter between Forrest and Margot was a lot of fun and I love a dual POV romance. Both characters had their own problems to work through, while trying to figure out how to let the other in.
The story was completed with a colorful cast of side characters that helped round out the story and Margot's sister, Savannah, was absolutely adorable. There were a few things here and there that I felt like should have been addressed or perhaps wrapped up a bit tighter, but overall I'd rate this a 4.5, rounding up to a 5.
Overall, I feel like this book was a love letter to romance fans - their loyalty, the fact that they carry the book world, their excitement, etc.

I adored this book! The characters were wonderful, the story was creative, the concept was very well done! Perfect for romance readers and will definitely be a book that I will be recommending to everyone this year! LOVED it!

Wow did I end up loving this 100x more than I thought I would! I usually don’t like the “book about a writer writing a book” but this one had me. I love Alaska and having that in here was great and feeling that the characters really struggled and made it through those struggles. I can say I cried the whole last 15% but it was so worth it. She writes HEA but was she going to get her own? I was hooked, love the build up and the ending, the beginning was not my fav!

Romance author Margot Bradley finds herself in hot water after her “Happily Never After” list is revealed to her fans. Facing an uncertain career, Margot is sent to Alaska by her sister Savannah, tasked with finding inspiration for her next book. But when Margot arrives, she is met with Forrest, the embodiment of all her romantic dreams. And her world is turned upside down by Forrest’s attentions, because Margot doesn’t believe in romance anymore… doesn’t she?

I think the idea of this book was very fun and creative, what with all the romantic tropes coming to life in Margot’s story. Ultimately, though, it all fell a little flat for me. Instead of it all being romantic, it felt a little cringey. I liked both Margot and Forrest as characters, but I don’t think they made the best couple. They were often fighting, which wasn’t enjoyable to read. A lot of their interactions seemed based on lust. (There are lots of spicey chapters, so be prepared.) The only thing they connected over was their experience in being caregivers for their disabled family members. For me, this was the best part of the book, as their love for their family members was so beautiful and strong. There were good messages for caretakers in this book.

Overall, I don’t think this was for me. But thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!