This was a really enjoyable story! I was rooting for both main characters, and it was fun to see the romance writer recognize and resist trope after trope until she finally got her happily ever after. The supporting cast of characters were also very well-drawn and likeable.

I'll recommend this widely to anyone who enjoys romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

Although this book kind of started slow for me, I ended I really enjoying it! I was kicking my feet and squealing haha. I like how the MCs relationship actually BUILT and had SUBSTANCE. It wasn’t instalove or instalust. And as someone who literally bought a house for my terminally ill mom to move in with me, I could relate to the MCs so much 🥺 this book had all the tropes and also wasn’t afraid to poke fun at itself and it was just so different! The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is, like I said, it took a little while for me to get into it.

Thanks Netgalley!

“I really wanted to enjoy *Any Trope but You*, but it didn’t quite work for me. The concept—two writers clashing over their favorite romance tropes—was fun, but the story itself felt underdeveloped. The characters never felt fully realized, and their chemistry seemed more told than shown. The humor had potential but came across as forced, and the plot was predictable, with no real surprises to keep me engaged. It’s an easy read, but it left me wishing for more depth and authenticity."

This was a cute meet-cute, enemies-to-lovers typical romance. What pulled it all together for me was the supporting characters, and how they shaped the relationship of the main characters. It truly made it an even more enjoyable read, and I found myself not knowing how I wanted it to end. It's not often that I shed tears while reading a romcom, but this one tugged at my heartstrings.

This was a perfect winter romance. It was funny, sweet, relatable, loving, and much more. I loved Forrest and how sweet he was with both Margot and his dad. Margot was the typical downtrodden lead female. How Forrest was able to bring her back to the HEA side with the help of her sister was fun to go through. All the nods to the romance tropes was fun. Perfect book to read on a cold winter night nestled up by the fire. And I agree, romance readers are the best!

I’ve been in such a mood for wintery romance lately, and Any Trope But You finally delivered what I wanted! This is a fun, self-aware romance that tackles many tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed, and tons of swoony MMC characteristics. It’s a sweet and steamy romance that I wanted to root for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Move over, rom-coms—Victoria Lavine’s Any Trope but You just redefined the genre for me! This laugh-out-loud, heartfelt debut has everything: a romance writer questioning Happily Ever Afters, a moose-related mishap, and one too-handsome-to-be-real Alaskan resort proprietor. Seriously, what’s not to love?

Margot Bradley is a bestselling romance author who secretly writes Happily Never Afters—and when her alternate endings are leaked, her career implodes in the most dramatic way possible. Enter Alaska, where Margot plans to trade meet-cutes for murder mysteries at a remote resort. What she doesn’t plan for? Running straight into Dr. Forrest Wakefield, a brooding former cancer researcher turned reluctant resort manager. He’s rugged, emotionally unavailable, and utterly swoon-worthy. Cue the tropes, and let the sparks fly.

What makes this book such a standout is how Lavine lovingly pokes fun at romance clichés while delivering a story that feels completely fresh. Margot and Forrest’s banter is sharp and genuine, their chemistry undeniable, and the layers of vulnerability they slowly reveal are just chef’s kiss. Both characters are carrying heavy emotional baggage—Margot’s fear of failure and Forrest’s reluctance to let someone in again—and their journey to healing is beautifully woven into the snowy, magical setting.

Speaking of Alaska, the setting is practically a character itself. Lavine’s descriptions of the icy wilderness, the quirky resort staff, and even that moose (yes, the moose deserves its own shoutout) brought the story to life in such a vivid way, I could almost feel the chill in the air.

Thank you to Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for giving me the chance to fall head over heels for this incredible debut. If you’re a fan of romance that balances humor, heart, and just the right amount of emotional depth, Any Trope but You is a must-read.

This debut was awesome! Very compelling characters with lots of depth. Their meet cute was adorable. So many tropes can be found in this book, but it is far from stale or cliche. Great story and great character development.

Victoria Lavine’s *Any Trope but You* is an irresistible blend of wit, heart, and romantic chaos, offering a meta love story that pokes fun at every rom-com cliché while embracing them with earnest charm. With its captivating Alaskan setting, layered characters, and a story that’s as hilarious as it is heartfelt, Lavine’s debut is a fresh and spectacular addition to the romance genre.

Margot Bradley is not your typical romance heroine. A beloved author with a secret disdain for Happily Ever Afters, her life unravels when her "Happily Never After" alternate endings go viral, and she’s canceled by fans and publishers alike. Margot’s snarky edge and relatable flaws make her a refreshing protagonist, and her plan to reinvent herself as a murder mystery author seems almost plausible—until her sister ships her off to a remote Alaskan resort, where she stumbles straight into a rom-com plot instead.

Enter Dr. Forrest Wakefield, the grumpy yet ruggedly handsome resort proprietor who left a prestigious career to care for his ailing father. Forrest is the perfect foil to Margot’s skepticism, with his stoic demeanor, puzzle-solving mind, and a soft side he keeps hidden under layers of practicality and flannel. Their first meeting—complete with a moose-induced leap into his arms—is laugh-out-loud funny, setting the tone for a series of trope-filled misadventures that will leave romance lovers grinning.

Lavine’s writing is sharp and self-aware, packed with clever nods to classic romantic tropes that Margot begrudgingly finds herself living out. From the grumpy/sunshine dynamic to forced proximity and snowed-in hijinks, each moment is delivered with a wink to the genre while still packing genuine emotional depth. Margot’s inner battle between embracing love and protecting herself from disappointment is beautifully mirrored by Forrest’s reluctance to open his heart again.

The Alaskan setting is brought to life with vivid detail, from the breathtaking snowy landscapes to the cozy charm of the resort itself. It’s the perfect backdrop for Margot’s reluctant self-discovery and her growing connection with Forrest, and Lavine uses the setting to enhance both the humor and the romance.

What sets *Any Trope but You* apart is its balance of humor and vulnerability. Margot’s journey isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about rediscovering hope, embracing imperfection, and learning that Happily Ever Afters come in many forms. Forrest’s struggles with loss and his sense of duty add depth to his character, making their eventual connection feel authentic and deeply earned.

The pacing is spot-on, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, simmering romantic tension, and introspective beats that give the characters room to grow. Supporting characters, from Margot’s sister Savannah to the quirky resort staff, add warmth and levity without overshadowing the central romance.

*Any Trope but You* is a love letter to romance itself—both the genre and the unpredictable messiness of real-life connections. Victoria Lavine has crafted a debut that’s equal parts funny, heartfelt, and swoon-worthy, reminding readers why we keep rooting for love, even when it feels impossible. Five stars for this hilarious, self-aware, and utterly delightful story that will leave you smiling long after the final page.

Any Trope But You felt like the best immersion into a book I’ve had in a long time. From the first page, I found myself living in the pages, vividly picturing the characters and each tiny detail written by @victorialavinewrites. She masterfully blends character development and growth with the most tender and heartwarming romance. I loved being able to read and follow Margot’s personal journey as she grappled with past wounds and her present struggles.

The relationship between Forrest and Margot is full of chemistry but never feels rushed or forced. It is clear that both characters are their own people with their own journeys and that makes their connection feel so much more genuine and meaningful.

Lavine truly did a phenomenal job of making her written world come alive. I felt invested in the characters’ joys and struggles and could not put this one down. The moment I read the last word, I found myself grieving the end of a truly great novel. Run, don’t walk, when this one hits the shelves.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC

Okay, loveddddd this one! It had all the tropes talked about in the title with just rhe right amount of surprise. We are romance readers so we know what’s going to happen but I just loved their story. Throw in some remote Alaskan lodge and I’m sold!

Margot is a writer who doesn’t believe in HEA. So, after every book she writes she actually has a Happily Never After ending. That gets out and she gets canceled. Her sister sends her to Alaska and she meets Forrest in the forest. He happens to be all the tropes and tada a magical book I absolutely loved! Guys!!! So freaking cute! I was so obsessed with this one!!

The romance genre is full of authors who, at their core, are just writing about love. It seems so simple, yet it is often hard to do so in an endearing and not too cheesy way.

This debut from Victoria Lavine is a masterful debut. It's also an ode to romance writers and readers, which I loved. She leans into the world of tropes, almost as if breaking the fourth wall. Our main character Margot acknowledging, "Yeah, there is only one bed" was funny, amongst all the other tropes as well. The book follows Margot, a romance author, as she heads to remote Alaska for six weeks to research her next book after suffering a PR scandal. There, she, of course, meets a ruggedly handsome man and sees the tropes she writes about come to life.

AND IT'S A DUAL POV!!! I feel like dual POV's aren't as easy to find nowadays, which is a shame, because getting to read from the love interest's point of view is such a treat.

I was tempted to give this 4.5 stars because there is a third-act breakup, which I don't like. However, I think it actually does work for the context of this story.

This was a delightful, romantic, funny, entertaining story!!

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria books for the opportunity to ARC read this book!

If you want a cutesy rom-com that is set in a winter wonderland but isn't all out Christmas, this is perfect for you!

The book follows Margot, a jade romance author struggling with imposter syndrome. She faces a major media storm after her files are hacked and released to the public. With this. Her sister sends her to an Alaskan retreat of sorts for Margot to figure out a new genre of books and for her to get her manuscript done.

What this Alaskan resort lacks in wifi makes up in an attractive man. Margot is trying to avoid all romance, trying to dig into the mystery genre, but what actually happens is that this woman faces every trope she's written in real life with a man named Forrest... who is a doctor, taking care of his father, who owns the resort... it doesn't end there. Forrest is a doctor who is researching the cancer that took his mother. (SWOON)

Forrest and Margot have their own hilarious meet-cute, face forced proximity, where "a one bed trope is downgraded to a one tent trope" (I died reading this).

This book was a fluffy rom-com that hit the spot for me, I had fun reading the book and investing in the characters! The side characters were a lot of fun to meet and get to know.

Any Trope But You has a lot going for it and I think romance lovers will eat it up.

The writing is strong, the MMC is swoony, there's snappy dialogue with fun banter, not to mention an epic Alaskan setting. I will say that the MC chemistry felt forced in the first half, like they hadn't earned the level of familiarity they were expressing. Still, it didn't deter me from finishing or enjoying this read. (I do think the title is dumb....but the cover art is what hooked me.)

Its cute. It's ok writing and the plot is fine. I was not invested in the characters as much. Its an ok holiday story

4 stars for this cozy contemporary romance that had me laughing and smiling the whole way through! The FMC felt very relatable despite being a successful author, and I absolutely adored the fact that she felt like a book reading, Taylor Swift loving friend that we all have in our lives. Her and Forrest's journeys of feeling solely responsible as a caretaker for their respective family members are going to resonate with a LOT of people. I also liked the pacing, and felt the story never dragged on unnecessarily. Well done! Thank you to Atria Books and Victoria Lavine for allowing me to be an ARC reader!

Any Trope But You follows a romance author to Alaska after a professional fiasco. Margot experiences trope after trope with a hot Alaskan man, but there's one problem - she swore off love. I loved the banter, the setting, the family relationships, and the MMC so much. I did find the dirty talk a littleeee much at the end, but that is just personal preference. Overall this was a wonderful debut by Victoria Lavine, and I will be on the lookout for any future novels!

I received an ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars, no notes. I absolutely loved this novel and stayed up LATE LATE to finish it. The setting, the plot, the play on romance as a genre I absolutely loved. I truly felt immersed in the Alaskan bush, hiking behind the hottie MMC who checks every box you could imagine. The relationship between our FMC, a romance writer, and her sister with a chronic illness was so wonderfully depicted it felt real. The complexity of being a caretaker of a family member while also juggling your own life was very much a common subplot that kept the book developing and added some complexity. Loved.

goodness, i fricken LOVEDDD this book.
Margot Bradley is an established romance author, known for her beautiful happy endings. When it comes out publicly that she actually doesn’t believe in the happily ever afters that her readers love so much, her reputation falls to shambles. To help her get back on her feet, her sister sends her to Alaska for 6 weeks to push her out of her comfort zone. Enter, Forrest Wakefield. The embodiment of every single romance trope that Margot has ever written about. No matter how hard Margot tries to run away from romance, Forrest pulls her right back in. Is he the answer to HER happily ever after?

There’s so many things to love about Victoria Lavines debut novel. For one, the chemistry between the two characters. Slow burn with tension??? Amazing.
If you’re a Swiftie (which i most definitely am), you’re going to adore the Taylor Swift references. I know I did.
Savannah’s letters? I had literal tears in my eyes at the love the two sisters had for one another. The belief in each other, the support.
As Savannah told Margot, “Your books bring joy and escape to all your readers.” Victoria Lavine, you have done just that. I’ll consider this an absolute must read of 2025.

This was such a fun read!! Who doesn’t want to read a book about a romance author who got cancelled cause she doesn’t believe in HEAs and ends up in her very own romance book plot complete with all the tropes and the perfect grumpy hero?

First off, after visiting Alaska (and wanting to go back) I love books set in Alaska and make it set in a remote lodge and have the couple get snowed in? Sign me up! From the adorable meet cute involving a moose and the hero chopping wood and all the other tropes we as romance readers love in between this book is a love letter to all of us and the hope and joy romance books bring.

Margot and Forrest are so different yet so alike in many ways and it just made the start of their enemies to lovers arc all that more fun. Every trope they experienced and adventure they went on just proved how much the two of them were meant to be but they definitely needed that push to get there. They helped each other find a piece of themselves they left behind a long time ago through the understanding of why they did and found hope in a future where they could have it all and have their own HEA.



Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback