Arc review: I loved the plot and this was really cute. I hate that every book has to have cancer In it though

This was cute. Not super memorable but entertaining enough. I liked the family members and the side characters. 3.5 stars rounded up

Margot is a bestselling romance writer who's been canceled after it was revealed that she doesn't believe in love. But Margot is no quitter, so she decides to lay low and try her hand at writing a murder mystery set in Alaska. When her sister concocts a plan to get Margot to Alaska Margot is hesitant to leave her sister who suffers an autoimmune disease, which can leave her dependent upon Margot. Ultimately Margot decides to head to remote Alaska where she finds her sister has booked her into a remote adventure lodge run by a father/son duo. While staying in Alaska, Margot must participate in one ambitious adventure excursion a week - her reward is a letter from her sister. But the adventures aren't as bad as Margot had imagined when she finds herself in the middle of every romance trope you could think of with the proprietor's son, Forrest, who may end up changing Margot's mind about the possibility of Happily Ever After.

There were a couple of scenes that literally made me laugh out loud. The plot was a fun and fresh idea - one that I haven't read yet. I liked Margot's dry sense of humor and her general pessimistic outlook regarding love - a subject she should be an expert on. I also liked the heartwarming family connections between both Margot and her sister, and Forrest and his dad. I found the family-ties sub-plot to be endearing. My only complaint is that the paragraphs would be long winded at times, which made the reading not as easy and seamless for me (but, in all honesty, this could very well be a self-criticism because my writing style also tends to be wordy and complicated, and this could be something that doesn’t bother anyone else). While I saw the ending coming, this was a light, fun, entertaining read that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The title Any Trope but You is spot on—and yes, it might sound cheesy, but trust me, this book embraces every delicious cliché in the best possible way. Dr. Forrest Wakefield is basically every book boyfriend wrapped into one swoon-worthy, cinnamon roll of a man.

Margot Bradley, a famous romance author, is recovering from a major writing blunder—and to make things worse, her private thoughts (essentially her diary) get leaked to the entire romance community. Yikes. Her well-meaning sister decides the cure is some forced introspection and ships Margot off to a remote Alaskan lodge for some soul-searching and self-discovery.

The idea was to push Margot out of her comfort zone and remind her of the strong, independent woman her sister knows is still in there. What her sister didn’t count on? A ridiculously charming doctor who checks every “perfect guy” box—in and out of the bedroom.

This book is a quick, cozy, trope-filled delight. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, unapologetically romantic, and totally self-aware of the genre it’s playing in. If you love rom-coms that lean into the fun of tropes while still delivering heart and heat, don’t skip this one.

This was such a fun read!!! I loved all the tropes and the emotional conversations between the main characters. The spice is certainly enough to keep a reader warm in Alaska, and the mmc is even hotter. I did struggle to get into the book at first, but that quickly changed. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I am impatiently waiting for Lavine's next release.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a 5/5 romance for me! Gorgeous setting, doesn't take itself too seriously, deals with real emotions and relationship issues, chemistry is palpable from the beginning but not forced or insta love, spice is incredible, etc. If you like romance at all, you'll love this one.

Margot is a best-selling romance author who doesn't believe in love and has a secret Happily Never After file where she writes alternate bad endings for her couples - the couple gets a bad divorce, or the husband cheats, or one of them gets a terminal illness, etc. - and vents about her readers' naivete in thinking happy endings exist. When her accounts are hacked and her Happily Never After file is leaked to the world, she gets "canceled" by her readers and her publisher. Margot is a full-time caretaker for her sister Savannah, who has a chronic illness, and so she needs to make money fast. Unbeknownst to her, Savannah books Margot a six-week stay at a lodge in Alaska so she can write in a new genre: murder mystery. Of course, when Margot arrives in Alaska, she immediately meets a man named Forrest who embodies every trope she seeks to avoid, and the rest is history :)

I really adored this one. Margot is witty, sassy, and not too self-deprecating, but she wrestles with her flaws and points of view and does real emotional work and growth. Forrest is obviously hunky af - I absolutely adored every time Margot thought to herself that it was so annoying that Forrest had so many romance hero tropes all in one - and Lavine's cheeky ways at putting them together are so funny and fun. As usual, I love when a romance book addresses the protagonists' whole lives, not just their romance, and this one did a particularly good book of parsing Margot and Forrest's issues and decisions to be made. The sex scenes are really well-written and not remotely cringy, and they were well-paced and furthered the emotional narrative. The Alaska setting is also breathtaking, and the lodge and cabins feel cozy and lovely. All in all, this one was a treat from start to finish!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really love this book! It felt so meta with a romance book about a romance author and calling out all romance tropes. Romance plot was good but forever hate a third act breakup. The writing was excellent and witty. 5/5 would recommend

It's honestly hard to not fall in love with a book titled <i>Any Trope but You</I>, especially when it is jampacked will ALL the tropes out there. Their meet cute may have been my favorite part. But also, the fact that a romance writer ends up experiencing all of the tropes all at once with one guy is so fun. There was great banter and chemistry making this an enjoyable read.
I will say that there is one part that I can't shake about the start of the book. Margot gets caught out by her fans that she does not believe in love and has secret alternate endings to her books. For me as a reader, I would have loved a spin on that. Yes, it looks bad, but I honestly think it would be funny to admit to instead of cower away from.
Regardless, this was a sweet reset on life and learning how to give in to love again.

Okay, let’s melt my ice cube of a heart with all of its Happily Never Afters, because Forrest & Margot are all I need to get my heart to flutter again. This book has everything and would absolutely be the best new romcom, down to a funny and supportive cast, so many tropes, and some of the most embarrassing moments one could ever think of. I wholly enjoyed this one. :)

3.5-4⭐️ Best-selling romance author Margot Bradley secretly hates the HEA, but with a sister who suffers from chronic illness, she relies on them for financial support. When her secret “Happily Never After” list, a document in which she swaps happy endings for unhappy ones, is released to her adoring fans, she is all but cancelled.

Determined to save her writing career, Margot decides to write a murder mystery instead. When her sister books her for a 6-week stay in an isolated resort in Alaska, the last thing Margot expects is to meet someone in Dr. Forrest Wakefield who will challenge her ideas about romance and whether or not the HEA can only be found in fiction.

Overall, this is a cute romcom centered around the idea of romance novels, their tropes, and HEAs (Happily Ever Afters). While seemingly surface-level in nature, the book tackles heavier themes such as living with chronic illness, parental loss and grief, and learning how to let go of the reins. There is a wonderful sense of found family, as Margot settles into her stay in Alaska, and so many of the characters were both charming and lovely.

I loved the initial meeting between our MCs and the enemies-to-lovers vibes they give off originally. That is, of course, until Margot realizes Forrest is much more of a cinnamon roll hero, what with being a breast cancer researcher and all. If you are someone who loves open-door romance, there was quite a bit of steam here (a little too much for me these days), including the beloved “one bed” trope, although in this case, it happened to be one tent and even one sleeping bag. The love story itself, however, is a very slow burn - something I always prefer to its counterpart, instalove.

Although this is a solid debut in its totality, there were a few things that took my rating down a bit, including frustration with the characters’ decisions and actions. Let me give just one example of this. We, of course, are treated to the 3rd-act breakup, not surprising for a book about the stereotypical romance novel. However, in one scene, Forrest is reassuring Margot that even if she lives her life to the fullest (i.e. continues a romance with him), she can still be there for her sister too. Too bad he then completely forgets this minutes later when he gets word that his father has had a seizure and he blames himself and his romance with Margot for not being there for him, at which point he proceeds to dump her. I was hard-pressed not to want to throw my book against the wall. However, the majority of the book was still enjoyable and an overall impressive romcom debut (especially in a sea of romance books).

🎧 I have a feeling this book is better as an eyeball read versus an audio read. While the narration is perfectly fine, I think in a way, it emphasized the flaws more and made them harder to overlook. I would therefore recommend doing this solely as a physical/ebook read.

Read if you like:
▪️slow burn
▪️enemies-ish to lovers
▪️forced proximity
▪️one tent/sleeping bag
▪️books about books
▪️Alaska setting
▪️chronic illness rep

Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

I adored this book so dang much!

A very cute nod to romance lovers. It didn't feel overly cheery or forced. It was very much written for romance readers by a romance reader. I didn't feel like it was making fun of the genre or the readers like many others who tried to pull off a "tropey" book. This one was perfect!

As for the story, my gosh I loved Margot and Forrest so much. The jaded romance author and the grumpy resort manager/owner. I had so much fun with their banter. The back and forth, how much they wanted to resist each other but were always ultimately pulled to each other. I seriously loved them.

I was not expecting the tears at the end. I was having a jolly good time and then I was assaulted with emotions! It was beautiful and every bit of it made me want to explore Alaska even more than I always have.

i loved this one!

while it felt a little insta-lovey i think it was done well — it was presented more as they both fell for a fantasy of each other and their connection (romantic, sexual, platonic, etc.) happened gradually overtime. i think it relied heavily on tropes but it was fun and considering she is a romance writer, it makes sense she views a lot of her life through what she writes so i didn’t find that a bother too much.

anyway, this was fun and it was great and i’d recommend this as a really nice palate cleanser!

If you are looking for a debut fun rom com with all the tropes, look no more. This one is filled with:
- Disastrous meet cute
- Forced proximity
- Enemies (sort of) to lovers
- Only one bed

Margot flees to Alaska after a leaked document of her un-HEA to her well loved romance books. She meets Forrest, the inn owner's son who is there to help with running the place as well as take care of his dad.

They are total oil and water and Margot drove me nuts in the beginning. She was in an Alaska and not prepared and didn't ask for help. Forrest was a total grump but I appreciate how he took care of Margot. I liked that this was a slow burn and both held back.

The romance was fun but what I really loved was Margot's relationship with Savannah, her sister. They were best friends and the letters really showcased their relationship.

I look forward in reading what Lavine writes next. Thank you @atariabooks for a copy of the book.

Great story and a great cover to go with it.
This was a great rom com feel good book. I truly enjoyed it and will be checking out more books from this author!

Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine is a fun, tongue-in-cheek nod to romance novels and their many well-known tropes and cliches. The main character, Margot, is a disgraced romance author who has been cancelled after a document is leaked that shows she doesn't actually believe in her Happily Ever After endings she writes in her books. She lives with and cares for her chronically ill sister, who gifts Margot with a six week stay in Alaska to write her next book, which is going to be a murder mystery since her romance fans are so angry with her. Upon arrival in Alaska, cue all of the romance tropes beginning with a hot lumberjack named Forrest (yes, really) and continuing on with forced proximity, only one bed, enemies to lovers, and more.

The thing I love about this book is that it is funny while also having real emotional depth. Both main characters are caretakers of their loved ones and put their family members' needs before their own, creating an impossible situation for a Happily Ever After for them. Will Margot finish the new book? Will her fans ever forgive her? Will Forrest ever return to his research? Read this slow=burn rom-com to find out if they get their HEA!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this wonderful book!

Reading a book by a new author is both exciting and scary. You hope to find a new author to add to your “favorites” collection yet all the while waiting to see if they will make the cut.

Any Trope but You definitely made the cut! Within the first few chapters I was invested in Margo, her life imploding and her sister shipping her off to Alaska to regroup and reinvent herself. A romance writer, Margo has begun to lose hope in happily ever after. Now, she only believes in happily never after. One livestream podcast, one person who exposes Margo’s secret happily never after file and her life implodes and she has no idea what to do.

Margo’s sister ships her off to Alaska to regroup and reinvent herself. From the moment Margo lands in Alaska every book trope imaginable presents itself in some way - even romance - and Margo cannot believe this is her life. Everything she was trying to distance from herself is suddenly right in front of her with no escape.

Then, there is Forrest, who radiates “leave me alone” vibes. Margo is not impressed especially when she discovers he is holding precious letters from her. In order for Margo to receive a letter, she is required to complete one excursion a week. As Margo seems to resign to what she must do, she discovers more of herself and she discovers that while Forrest has a rough exterior, he also shows caring, comfort and even worry during situations involving her.

I was so engrossed in each trope appearing, Margo and Forrest and everything else that I was at the end before I knew it. There is so much more to this book, but I cannot spoil it - read the book! I recommend you add it to your TBR pile right now!

Huge thanks to Atria Books for ebook ARC via NetGalley.

This delightful novel is about a romance writer who doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. After her Happily Never After list is exposed, she fears her writing career is over. She decides to switch genres and her sister books her an extended trip to Alaska to work on her new book. Hijinks ensue from her first meeting of the handsome proprietor at where she’s staying in Alaska.

I really loved the banter between all the characters. Aside from the ending feeling very rushed to me, I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel.

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Daaaaang Victoria Lavine, what a ride. And a debut too!? I should've known that I was in for a wild one when it kicks off with a romance author's Google Drive getting hacked, revealing an incredibly dour "happily never after" fanfic and her beige granny panties to the internet. I cackled. And the narrators really kept up the humor throughout this emotional book.

And the tropes, THE TROPES! Caretaking, meddling siblings, book within a book, one tent, galore! (TBH I'm still not sure where that tent went). I loved how reluctant Margot and Forrest were to admit their feelings for one another, especially given their sizzling chemistry. But what I loved more about this story was the focus on caring for their loved ones and how (at times) it took away from their own lives. It was really food for thought about priorities. And also I really want to read the Alaska mystery book??

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an e-ARC for an honest review!

For the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure if I could get into this book. By the end, I fell in love with the characters and the good, cheesy romance vibes. If you have ever gone camping or backpacking unprepared (maybe that's a unique experience for me), then you will find yourself cackling at Margot's inexperience. This book hits a million rom-com tropes, but in the best cheesy way. Margot and Savannah's relationship is so precious, and I loved their sisterly connection and dynamic. The idea of love for your family and an older sister sacrificing it all for her younger sister made me cry.

Forrest is the perfect leading male in a rom-com and sees Margot in a sweet way that shows he sees her and all she sacrificed for her family.

Yes, there were unrealistic moments. Yes, Margot is a bit of a valley girl. Yes, it ends almost too perfectly. But, like Savannah said, romance novels help us feel hope again, even when we are in our hardest times. They are realistic in that they remind us there is always something to look forward to.

Oh, what a cozy read!!

First of all, thank you to Victoria Lavine, Net Galley and Atria Books for the eARC of Any Trope But You.

Any Trope But You follows Margot, a romance writer who recently fell from grace after her private “Happily Never After” doc was shared with the world. Her fans feel betrayed, her sister who looks up to her in every way is shocked, and Margot feels lost in more ways than one. In desperate need of a change of scenery and maybe even a change of genre, Margot heads to Alaska, where she runs into romance tropes at every turn, including the rock hard abs and dazzling green eyed tropes named Forrest. The pair try to fight their growing feelings — each for their own reason — but can’t deny they feel drawn to one another. Do they give into their “happy right now?” Or do they have what it takes for a true HEA?

I’ve been on deadline for a really amazing project and while it is incredibly exciting to be so close to the first finish line marker, it means that most of my life has revolved around work and all things my project, so reading for leisure has definitely been on the back burner.

If you are in the same boat and are itching for a heartfelt, trope filled laugh loud, fast paced rom com, Any Trope But You is definitely your golden ticket. The banter, the incredible scenery, the ornery cast of characters, the pining, the nuances of being a caretaker, the “f$&k it” moment — there is truly not a mark missed here. I especially enjoyed watching Margot and Forrest work through their struggles with grief and how it’s shaped them as people. Lavine tackles that grief in a way that is sensitive, but also as her characters say about love, shines a light on the parts of themselves that need healing.

(Also, that is single handedly one of my favorite lines in the book)