Thank you to NetGalley for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the setting and overall vibe of the story. With that being said, I found Margot, the female MC, to be pretty unlikable. There were a lot of fun scenes in here that I think could have contributed to some stronger character development, but unfortunately that development was lacking here. I can appreciate some of her apathy about HEA's, but often times she just comes across as rude and selfish. I wish this worked better for me!

This was an entertaining read! Loved the setting - really felt like I was there. Also liked seeing the relationship between the main characters develop. Wish we could have seen a little more of a glimpse into things at the end but overall recommend!

So, I thought this was gonna be a light read. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of humor, but it has some seriousness too. They run through a lot of the tropes, and acknowledge it, It’s pretty fun. Margot and her sister’s relationship is sooooo sweet, and wholesome. I loved all of their interactions, and how they showed up for each other. Forest was swoon worthy, and of course checked so many boxes. Everyone at the lodge? Chefs kiss! I loved every one of them. I really enjoyed this one, and highly recommend!

✨ Review ✨ Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine; Narrated by Tim Paige & Jesse Vilinsky

Thanks to Atria, Simon & Schuster Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

A steamy listen to help you cool off this summer.

Classic romance writer who is jaded with love meets a wilderness hottie in the middle of nowhere where they they crash into every romance trope in existence. So much in this book made me laugh out loud (her granny panties + zoom, the moose, the flue vs. flu, and on and on).

While there's lots of silly joking around tropes, this also features deep personal exploration and growth - both characters are caring for disabled family members, and together they can explore how to better balance this with their own goals and well-being.

🎧 Overall, the audio narration is great. The chapters are on the longer side, which sometimes make for harder listening, I think, though this certainly wasn't a deal breaker.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: remote Alaska
Length: 11 hours 17 minutes
Pub Date: April 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ remote wilderness settings
⭕️ every cliche trope ever
⭕️ deep familial love & loyalty
⭕️ books about romance authors

A romance writer who doesn't believe in love meets her match in a doctor with lumberjack vibes in the Alaskan wilderness when she is down on her luck (her fans have found out about her Happily Never After thoughts).

How is this a debut novel? It’s so good! And has SO many tropes that are, somehow, not too cliché or out of place.

I love how perfect and yet realistic and authentic Forrest (MMC) is. He’s pretty much the perfect book boyfriend (complete with a grand gesture). Normally, my book boyfriends come from fantasy novels, but Forrest easily makes the cut!

There’s only three spicy scenes but WOW are they goooooood! Hot, sweet, and intimate.

If you like:
- Dual POV
- Meet Cute
- Forced Proximity
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy + Grumpy
- Fish Out of Water
- One Bed / One Tent
- Slow Burn
- Grant Gesture
- Alaska Wilderness
- Doctor MMC
- Writer FMC

Audio Review: I alternated between print and audio. The book has dual point of view, so the two narrators were perfect for audio. They captured the characters energy and emotions well.

Book Review (slight spoilers): I loved the meta-ness of this book. Margot is a romance writer who doesn’t believe in love and is found out by her fans and immediately ostracized. Her sister surprises her with a trip to Alaska where she’s hoping to write a book in a different genre. Instead, she finds a super attractive man at her lodge, who basically is her dream hero (he’s also the son of the lodge owner and a doctor). Romance trope after romance trope ensues in their interactions and her wry acknowledgment of all the tropes adds to the humor and story. Forrest and Margot start with chemistry and end up realizing how much they have in common even though they both think their commitments to family members mean they can’t be together. I enjoyed their story- it made me smile and I was rooting for them. I also love how Margot was a fish out of water in Alaska- the author managed to capture the Alaskan beauty as she put California Margot (aka first time she’s seen snow) in challenging situations.

I loved seeing how they both had to grow personally along with watching their forced proximity, slow burn romance unfold. Also, a bonus side character is a moose named Bullwinkle.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.

Any Trope but You was a fun romance that also dealt with some deeper topics. As a romance author, Margot Bradley is fully familiar with the tropes and is determined not to let them happen to her - after all, she doesn't believe in happily ever after. After a scandal, she escapes to Alaska to work on her first non-romance novel. She wasn't expecting Forrest Wakefield - and he finds her similarly infuriating. But the more time they spend together, the more they learn of their commonalities - and the attraction that has been there since day one.
Margot could be frustrating at times, but she had good reasons for her thoughts and actions. And, Forrest also had flaws, though a soft spot for Margot. I recommend Any Trope but You for a romance reader who enjoys a spin on the classic tropes, including opposites attract and just one bed (tent). Note: I received an advanced reading copy & paperback from Atria Books, receipt of which did not impact my review.

I mean this was one of the most surprising books for me. I expected to not like it as much but ended up loving it. It was steamy and while I usually hate when the FMC is a writer, especially a romance writer, I find this one really enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this seasonal gem out of season.

This book was sweet, tender, and a little melancholy—the kind of story that quietly seeps into your heart and settles there for a while. It was exactly what I didn’t know I needed, like a warm drink on a cold day… even if I was reading it in the middle of summer.

It was my first time reading this author, and now I’m honestly wondering why I waited so long. There’s something so comforting in their writing style—soft but sharp, emotional without being overwhelming, cozy but with just enough depth to make your chest ache a little. I’ll definitely be checking out more of their work.

Now, let’s talk about the characters. Two grumpy souls falling in love? I mean, yes please. You just know it’s going to be a bit of a mess—slow burn, walls up, emotionally constipated moments… and I’m here for all of it. What really made it special, though, were the little details: the vulnerability beneath the sarcasm, the soft gestures hidden behind eye rolls. And I don’t know who needs to hear this, but when a grump quotes Taylor Swift? That’s not just romance—that’s poetry.

I genuinely enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. It felt real, not rushed. Full of tension, yes, but also moments of quiet understanding. And even though I read it under the sun, I just know it’ll hit differently when I revisit it in the middle of winter, wrapped in a blanket, with cold air outside and a warm heart inside.

Once again, thank you so much for the eARC. Some books find you at just the right moment, and this was one of them.

Great romance book to read during the winter season. It had great pacing and spice throughout. I can't wait to read her future novels. Thanks, netgalley, for the arc.

This book had all the tropes, but felt anew. Experience the exquisite tenderness and profound connection between two souls. Prepare to be swept away by a passionate journey that transcends conventional boundaries. This compelling story will resonate with readers long after the final page is turned. Discover a world of romance that will redefine your expectations and leave you breathless.

4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A love letter to romance readers.

Margot is a romance writer who no longer believes in happily-ever-afters. After a scandal rocks her career, her sister sends her to a remote lodge in Alaska. As a seasoned romance author, Margot recognizes all the tropes unfolding around her—and tries her best not to get swept up in them.

Enter Forrest, a doctor who has taken on the responsibility of managing his family’s lodge and caring for his disabled father. He’s guarded and keeps everyone at arm’s length. But thanks to forced proximity and meddling families, the two are inevitably drawn together.

This was excellent. The tropes and buzzwords had me hooked (forced proximity, only one TENT…), but what really surprised me was how heartfelt and emotional the story turned out to be. It explores the challenges of being a caretaker, the pressure of being the ‘savior sister,’ and the deep, sometimes painful bond between siblings. The relationship between Margot and her sister brought me to the verge of tears more than once.

There’s fluff, banter, and a few delightfully silly moments I’d normally roll my eyes at (especially in "trope-soup"), but I think it was all cleverly done.

I'm excited to see what Victoria Lavine writes next!

Wow, I absolutely LOVED this! I think this has been my favorite romance this year yet!

I went into this thinking it would be a typical, cheesy rom-com of a novel. Don’t get me wrong, it does have many elements of this -- the tropes, the pining, the absolutely perfect male main character (sometimes "eye-roll" worthy, but I don't mind it!). But the depth to it was a nice surprise! It touches on deeper emotions like trauma from abandonment, choosing between duty and desire, and wanting the best for your loved ones even at the expense of your own happiness.

I thought it was clever and funny how as a romance author, Margot realizes how trope-ridden their "meet-cute" and Forrest in general is and how she laments (or is secretly grateful? Lol) over this. I loved the chemistry and tension between them!! There was a bit of miscommunication that thankfully WAS resolved between them because they were adult enough to talk about it (very rare in a romance book I have to say!). I appreciated that the largest thing that was in the way of their relationship was not actually miscommunication or them being juvenile.

Key Elements:
-Dual POV
-Chronic Condition Representation
-One Bed--make that Tent!
-Snowed In
-Enemies to Lovers

Thank you author Victoria Lavine, NetGalley, and Atria Books for this eARC! This is a gem of a book!
Great debut from the author!

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine had a lot of potential, especially with its charming and unique setting in small-town Alaska. I genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere—there’s something cozy and captivating about stories set against a snowy, remote backdrop, and Lavine did a great job painting the landscape. The community vibes and the quirky secondary characters all added warmth and personality to the setting.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn’t work for me. The main issue was the romance, which felt rushed and unearned. The relationship between the two leads jumped from strangers to soulmates in what felt like a matter of pages. I understand the book is intentionally playing with tropes, but without the emotional development to back it up, the romance didn’t feel believable. It leaned heavily into insta-love territory, which made it hard for me to connect with or root for the couple.

That said, if you're a reader who enjoys fast-paced romance and tropey fun with a strong sense of place, this might still be your kind of story. I just personally prefer more development and tension in my romances. Two stars from me—but I wouldn't rule out trying another book from Lavine in the future, especially if it’s set in another charming locale.

This was romance, through and through. It’s packed with every trope you can imagine, pandering Taylor Swift and reader references, impossibly hot protagonists, dual POVs, and inner monologues that trend toward parody, but it’s okay, it’s in the title. I rolled my eyes so often, and then I enjoyed it. Something deeper slipped through. There were honest reflections on familiar and romantic love and the burdens of expectation that come with it. I didn’t cry for the couple, but I did cry for everything else they were carrying. The spicy scenes were predictable and satisfying. This one managed to evolve into something with empathy and emotional resonance. This book won’t surprise romance readers, but it might charm you anyway. At the very least, it will remind you to hug all your loved ones tighter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy.

I wish I could give feedback on this book. I requested this book when it was still possible to transfer on Kobo.

I'll update this review once I read this book on my own.

This book did not disappoint!

It had so many things I enjoyef: character depth, great banter, conflicts that felt realistic yet interesting to read, a sub plot that envokes all the emotions (yes I cried a little bit), a rural setting in snowy Alaska, fun outings, fun side characters that I very much enjoyed as much as the main ones, and a satisfying ending.

At times it did feel a little slow while the ending felt a tad bit rushed but that is just a minor thought I had, it didn't keep me from still enjoying the book.

Thank you to the publisher for generously sharing an advanced copy of this story with me.

please stop with the “of course i instantly attracted to them at first sight they’re the most beautiful gorgeous human ever but i have bigger things to worry about so romance is the least i should think of” but then also literally can’t function like normal human when they’re in the same room. I couldn’t bear it. so damn cliche and forced goodbye

Lavine has done a great job of sucking me into this story. It felt a bit raw with how Margot's life just falls out from under her and showing the emotional tole of being caregivers for love ones. I enjoyed how she finds her way, from jaded, walls firmly around her heart after so many heartbreaks, and then going through all the tropes that she writes in her romance books breaking those walls down brick by brick. I'm a sucker for a dual POV and Forrest's POV was great. Lavine's writing style kept me reading long past when I should have put the book down to go to bed.

This was one of my most anticipated romances of the year and I LOVED it. Ate it up! I adored both Margot and Forrest’s characters and their relationship made me giddy. Thank you so much Atria and NetGalley for the eARC!