This was a super fun sweet romcom, definitely something I would recommend for a good romance.

The FMC is doing everything she can to avoid her classic romance tropes but she can’t escape them. I love that the book leans into and pokes fun at the tropes whilst acknowledging that people love them and they are the backbone of many romance book. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the FMC and the MMC and the little found family moments they create at the lodge. It was funny and cynical but charming.

The book was heartfelt at times, exploring themes such as caring for ill loved ones. I think Forests arc of caring for his dad was really well written, being torn between feeling guilty for not being there but still wanting his own life. I loved the self awareness of her sister to realise that she needed to make a change, understanding that she benefited from her elder sisters constant care to her own detriment and changing that. I hate the trope of the elder sibling who cares for the ungrateful younger sibling and they never seem to be aware of their sacrifices or apologise so it was nice to see that altered for the better.

That being said, I do think the romance progressed quite slowly but then suddenly there was discussion of him moving back to LA with her despite not much progress being seen on page.

Overall, really enjoyed this book.

Victoria Lavine makes a dazzling debut with Any Trope But You, a witty and heartfelt romance that blends sharp humour, emotional depth, and a charming Alaskan setting. This book is perfect for readers who love self-aware romance, reluctant protagonists, and the irresistible pull of opposites attract.

Margot Bradley, a bestselling romance author, has built a career on love stories—but she secretly doesn’t believe in them. When her cynical alternate endings are leaked, she finds herself dropped by her publisher and shunned by her fans. With no other option, she pivots to writing a murder mystery and retreats to a remote Alaskan resort to reinvent herself. The last thing she expects is to find herself in a rom-com scenario of her own, complete with a moose encounter and a ruggedly handsome, emotionally guarded resort owner.

Dr. Forrest Wakefield never planned to leave his career as a cancer researcher to run his family’s resort, but caring for his ailing father has taken precedence. The arrival of Margot shakes up his carefully controlled world, and despite their differences, an undeniable chemistry sparks between them. As the snowy Alaskan nights bring them closer, both must confront their fears and reconsider the possibility of a real-life happily ever after.

Lavine’s writing is fresh, funny, and full of heart. The book playfully leans into romance tropes while offering a thoughtful exploration of grief, vulnerability, and second chances. With its picturesque setting, engaging characters, and perfect balance of humour and emotion, Any Trope But You is an absolute delight. A must-read for fans of romantic comedies, especially those looking for a fresh spin on the genre.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

‘Any Trope But You’ by Victoria Lavine is a sweet, fast-paced romance that plays with all the tropes we know and love in the genre, and it does so with a knowing wink. The story centres around Margot, a romance author who has just been canceled after her disbelief in love is exposed to the public. Seeking solace, she’s whisked away to a remote Alaskan lodge, where she meets Forrest, a charming lumberjack and med student. The two have undeniable chemistry, and their journey of personal growth and love makes for an engaging read.

The book often feels like a love letter to the romance genre. Margot’s recognition of the tropes, especially in her own writing, adds a fun layer to the story. The positive portrayal of the romance community, which is often underappreciated, was a nice touch. Romance readers will especially appreciate how the book leans into familiar clichés, from the brooding yet caring hero to the sweet, self-discovering heroine. It’s meta, and while it occasionally borders on predictable, it still manages to be a delightful read for those who enjoy light, heartwarming romances.

One of the standout elements of the book is the character development. Margot and Forrest are both well-developed, with their own backstories and personal struggles, including caring for ill family members. The pacing of their growing relationship is natural, and their emotional depth is underscored by their intimate scenes, which feel organic and contribute meaningfully to the story. Forrest, in particular, shines as a multi-dimensional character — he’s not just the handsome, capable hero; he has his own dreams and challenges, which makes him feel real and grounded.

However, ‘Any Trope But You’ isn’t without flaws. Margot’s character arc could have been explored a bit more thoroughly before the abrupt transition to Alaska. Her decision-making process at times didn’t align with her characterisation, which may have left some readers feeling disconnected. Additionally, the writing style, particularly the first-person narrative, and a third-act breakup felt like tropes in themselves, which some may find a little too formulaic or off-putting.

While the book is undeniably charming, there are moments where the writing falters, especially with some of the steamier scenes, which might come across as overly cringy for some readers.

Overall, ‘Any Trope But You’ is an enjoyable, cosy romance perfect for readers looking for a heartwarming escape. It offers fun banter, strong chemistry between the leads, and a sweet Alaskan setting.

I’m not outdoorsy in the slightest but I really like books with the tropes fish-out-of-water and cabins in the woods so I was really happy to get an ARC of Any Trope But You via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Margot is a romance author who after a series of disappointments has fallen out of love with love. To keep romancelandia happy whilst still maintaining her sanity, she has a top-secret side project where she gives her characters more “realistic” Happily Never Afters. Unfortunately after a hacker exposes her cynicism on a popular podcast, she gets cancelled and is persuaded by her sister, Savannah to hop on a plane to rural Alaska for a few weeks and switch genres by working on a murder mystery.

When Margot arrives in Alaska, it seems like Cupid has got other plans though and after a meet-cute involving a moose called Bullwinkle, she finds herself attracted to Forrest, the son of the owner of the lodge where she’s staying. Forrest has his own reasons for steering clear of romantic relationships but as he and Margot make their way through a bingo card of tropes (only one bed anyone?), he forgets why he was so keen to keep his distance. Margot and Forrest have a lot in common particularly their dedication to taking care of their families (Margot’s sister has an autoimmune disorder and Forrest’s father is wheelchair bound) but how can it work when Margot’s life is in L.A. and Forrest’s is in Alaska?

I really liked the bond between Margot and Savannah and how it’s Savannah who still believes in love and encourages her sister to be “safe but not too safe.” It was clever of her to bribe Margot to go on excursions in Alaska in exchange for letters. Margot and Forrest have great chemistry and the scene with them in the sauna is five-alarm hot. I like how caring Forrest is with those he loves and how he extends that protection to Margot even on their first excursion when she sprains her ankle and he carries her all the way down the mountain.

I definitely recommend Any Trope But You and can’t wait to read more by this author.

Honestly, I love a bit of self-referential romance. This made me laugh out loud but it’s also rather sweet, and quite steamy in places (I found myself reading it on a plane and had to angle my screen away from the stranger sitting next to me).
Margot is a massively successful romance writer whose life falls apart when a hacker reveals her list of Happily Never After musings. She doesn’t believe in love, and she’s not very kind about her readers who do. To get a re-set her sister, Savannah, sends her off to a wilderness retreat in Alaska, where the first person she meets is Forrest, who keeps on meeting all the tropes you’d expect in a romance novel. But can Margot really fall for him and find her happy ever after?
Very enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"I live in perpetual fear that my fans will somehow learn the truth about me. That beneath all the romance tropes and triple-orgasm sex scenes I peddle like snake oil, I'm more jaded about love than a former Bachelorette star, mid-divorce. I know it begs the question: How can she write romance novels if she believes love is Satans pyramid scheme?"

What’s your favourite romance trope? Grumpy/sunshine? One bed? Enemies to lovers? Slow burn romance? Once bitter, twice shy? Struggling family business? Multiple suitors? City girl/country boy? Forced proximity? Or … all of them?

This book is both a fabulous quip about our most loved cliches and a celebration of them all in one — bringing us a delightful narrator who hates everything about the very romance novels she creates finding herself living one, with much protest. I could literally feel Margot’s eye rolls through the pages — she was delightful. She had so much love, a huge heart - but jaded and confused and honestly done with the idea of Happy Ever After. I loved her relationship with her sister - seeing someone with chronic pain and health issues who seeks solace and peace in reading was like looking in a mirror and she really encapsulated the way so many of us feel about escaping into a story. A self confessed “indoor cat” who finds herself hilariously in the wilderness and just waiting for romcom antics to occur. Top tip: maybe don’t read this in public because cause you will laugh out loud or blush.

"What I didn't understand about Happily Ever After is that there are some people who come into your life - even for just a moment - who have the power to fundamentally change you forever. They're the people who see right through all your masks, and all your bullshit, and love you anyway."

Margot and our new delicious book boyfriend Forest share being the narrator, showing us a sweet, steamy love story from both sides and my god, I ate it up. It had everything - the fun tropes, the sickeningly sweet romance, intensity steamy sex (clearly written for woman, I needed a fan) and just enough angst and worry for some added flair. Think missing tents on a mountaintop, major life decisions, former heartbreaks and the trip of a lifetime.

This book was the literary equivalent of a hot chocolate- warm, cosy, steamy , indulgent, unbearably sweet and just so, so much fun.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.

My rating:The ending sealed the deal for me actually. I was going to rate it 3 ⭐ but a low 4⭐ is more accurate.

Read if you like:
INSERT YOUR FAVOURITE TROPE HERE.
WE'VE GOT THEM ALL.

My thoughts:
Although this isn't going to be my newest ride or die, I've got to admit it's a good book.

True, there were times where I really didn't vibe with the FMC and I was rolling my eyes with some of her reactions (I felt she was forcibly shoved into some stereotypical 'dumb blond' boxes when she was actually competent and intelligent the rest of the time, so she just came across as entitled and whiny) and a few of the stylistic choices were a bit too much for me, but there's not a ounce of doubt Victoria is a remarkably talented writer.

On the other hand, I did enjoy the MMC character, and the epistolary aspect of the book.

Plus I'm a sucker for some of the beloved romance tropes such as big, grumpy, handsome hero, one bed, nursed to health, forced proximity, dislike to love... Round of applause for a job well done with all these.

I'd probably recommend it to someone who loved It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, as they are very similar in vibes.

I really loved Margot and Forest. Their characters were great. I loved the setting and really enjoyed the story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

This was such a wonderful heartfelt story, that covered issues around loss and chronic illness so well. I loved both Margot and Forrest, as well as the full cast of characters and the snowy Alaskan setting was perfect for a winter read!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up because I absolutely loved this book! Margot and Forrest, and the surrounding cast, were great characters with amazing chemistry. The angst and trauma felt real, the miscommunication was always quickly rectified, and the tropes were well done. The setting was also beautiful and now I really want a snowy cabin trip to Alaska. I can’t believe it’s a debut! I’d recommend it for fans of Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez.

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for the eARC
I have such mixed opinions about this book but overall would say I enjoyed it.
The premise of this book felt like a love letter to the romance genre and romance book community and I thought it was a really unique concept which I LOVED.
Until about the 30% mark I thought I’d rate it 5 stars but I struggled with the middle of the book.
It started off fast paced and witty and I felt like there was good character development. I really liked the acknowledgment of all the book tropes and the reluctance of the FMC to partake in them.
I found the character development to be good and was rooting for the FMC and MMC to give in to temptation but when they did it felt very instalovey which is something I can’t stand in a book, personally. I also feel like not much happened in the mid section of the book and found it quite difficult to persevere with but I did enjoy the ending.
I had such high hopes but it sadly didn’t live up to all of my expectations. I do, however, think it’s a great book for a debut and would recommend it for a quick easy read! I would also consider reading the author’s future works as I think she has great potential!

4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc, in exchange for an honest review.

A good book. This story has a lot of growth for the characters, you laugh, you cry and imagine yourself getting lost in amongst the plot. There were a lot of heavy topics, but definitely topics many people can relate to and reflect in their own lives.

The only reason it’s sadly not a 5⭐️, is due to the really slow pacing. It was really hard to get through the book after the 25%, and especially the second half. After all the excursions and everyone had left the cabins, the story really slowed down. It sadly did put me in a bit of a slump. However, the ending was great.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘡𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

When a jaded contemporary romance author is cancelled by her fans for being jaded (let us suspend our disbelief, because if an author ACTUALLY wrote a bunch of hilariously real 'Happily Never Afters' for all their characters it would be kinda iconic?), she is sent to Alaska by her sister for six weeks to try and reinvent herself. A genre switch-up, if you will. The FMC embraces this on a very literal level - goodbye romance, hello crime novel manuscript.

What she doesn't anticipate is that the tropes she's spent so long interrogating in her own works will find her IRL. We're talking forced proximity / grumpy mountain man with a heart of gold / only one tent / oh no we're snowed-in / sexual tension in the sauna / instant attraction / I injured myself on this here hill and he rescued me etc. etc. Anything you can imagine happening in the wilds of Alaska probably happens.

It's very much a fish out of water tale, which is fine so long as you don't find characters who are allergic to the outdoors irritating. Unfortunately for me, the FMC's incompetence was more grating than charming. Also can't really support her dry humping the MMC at any given opportunity? Like there's horny and then there's WTF are you doing?

There's some thoughtful interrogation of grief and co-dependency and living with disability. What is it to live in aid of a loved one instead of for yourself? What things are you willing to sacrifice? When it deals with the realer moments, it's definitely at its most interesting.

3.5

I was initially thrown by the slightly unrealistic circumstances - would the publishing industry and a whole fandom turn on an author for being pessimistic about love? I feel like this generation would probably just say ‘girl same’ and move on with life haha. But aside from this, the main characters are realistically jaded and I’d honestly jump at the chance to move to Alaska and exist off grid, so the setting was perfect! I didn’t gel with the writing immediately, but felt it improved throughout. The protagonists attempting to ignore every trope, plus the FMC being a fish out of water in the wilderness made for a cute and funny plot. I especially loved how accurately the author portrayed the guilt involved in prioritising yourself when someone close to you is vulnerable/unwell!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘜𝘒 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

Very fun, very cute romance novel that captures with the beloved tropes of the genre in a playful way when a cynical romance novel finds herself (despite her best efforts!) living out the romance cliches she privately scorns. The love interest is a hottie and the addition of both protagonists' caring responsibilities gives this book some extra emotional depth. An easy recommendation for Beth O'Leary fans!

I love a book with a bit of SPICE! 🌶️ What a beautiful romcom - if you love Beth O’Leary and Emily Henry then you’ll LOVE this! I love how both characters had so much in common that they could understand their respective challenges, and not only that, they were relatable and likeable. I loved the Alaskan setting! Gorgeous.

This was fun! I liked the premise. The love interest was definitely sexy and the main characters fun. The dilemma was just about believeale enough to work! Only note: saunas ARE NOT full of steam. They are dry. I think the author was thinking of a steam room when she wrote that scene. But it was irritating!

This charming rom com was the perfect evening read, with an endearing FMC who shares my cynicism for love, and a rugged MMC that you can't help but fall for. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Any Trope But You follows romance author Margot Bradley after a super-fan leaks her secret document exposing her for not believing in Happily Ever Afters. After the scandal puts her writing career into question, Margot’s sister sends her to a remote Alaskan cabin on a writing retreat so that she can regroup and write something new. But then she meets the handsome owner, Forrest.

What a great debut! This was a swoony, funny romance that had a lot of heart and emotional depth. I really loved the Alaskan setting, especially when the characters went on wilderness excursions, which put them in some very funny situations with forced proximity.

I loved that this book played on romance tropes, especially as it follows a romance author. It felt like a love letter to romance readers and the romance genre.

I found Margot really relatable, and she reminded me a lot of Nora Stephens from Book Lovers - coming off as tough and cold, but actually being very selfless and holding on to a lot of hurt deep down. Forrest was a great MMC who had me swooning!

Although Forrest and Margot were in some ways very different, they found common ground as they were both carers for their sick relatives. The author explored the difficult topics of grief, chronic conditions and terminal illness thoughtfully, and I would really recommend reading the acknowledgments after you finish the book.

The characters had great chemistry and witty banter, and I loved seeing their relationship unfold through tropes. The spice was well written, although if I’m being really fussy, there was one “trope” used during the intimate scenes that isn’t my favourite, but it didn’t make the book any less enjoyable.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, especially Forrest’s dad and Margot’s sister, and the love they shared with the main characters.

The third act breakup felt realistic, and I loved the grand gesture. The ending was everything I wanted for the characters, but it was over very quickly. It would have been great to have had an epilogue of where the characters were a few months or years down the line.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut, and I’ll definitely keep my eye out for this authors next release! Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful and fun read with a lot of heart about a romance novelist who is revealed to be a 'fraud' who doesn't believe in love and runs away to Alaska and meets a man who seems to be a combination of all the characters she's ever written in a novel.
Lighthearted with moments of seriousness, this is heartfelt and a joyful ode to all the romance tropes.