I had heard a lot of hype about this one but it didn't quite live up to my expectations! I really enjoyed it up to a certain point – there was a fun premise, I liked fact it was set in Alaska and the way Margot was aware of yet groaned at all the tropes being flung at her. But this suffered from Tall Love Interest Syndrome and the last third was too angsty and overwrought for me; I found myself actively annoyed at the way the characters believed they couldn't have a single second to themselves without somehow feeling responsible for anything that happened to their families. And I think more could have been made of the Alaskan setting (but this is probably just my appetite for travel talking). A bit sad it wasn't as good as I was expecting but you can't win them all!

Margot is a romance writer who is outed by a disgruntled fan for having written a series of “Happily Never After” scenarios for all her characters where things happen after the books that ruin the stories. Her sister Savannah sends her to Alaska, to a cabin with no WI-Fi, but a very sexy outdoorsy man called Forrest.

Thanks to @netgalley for this lovely enemies to lovers story. Dual PoV really helps to delve deeper into the characters. Margot was a strongly fierce character, who had been hurt in the past, but just wanted to be able to care for her sister. Mr Grumpy Dr Forrest was the stereotypical hunky hero, who cares for his dad and misses his mum.

I loved the wilderness aspect of the story, but did find it slow to begin with. Some of it felt a bit unbelievable like how quickly she recovered from the sprained ankle, or that Forrest carried her the entire 2 hour hike back down, but overall I loved it. Really easy to read once I got into it, bit steamy, and well written.

I loved the idea behind this and regular romance readers will appreciate the injokes and sense of fun. However I felt the book later moved into the area it was (gently) trying to satirize and the 'spice' didn't work for me. Loved the relationship with the sister though and the very adult and moving resolution there

Margot is a successful romance writer, until her fans discover that she doesn't believe in Happy ever after endings .her sister sends her off to remote Alaska, where she meets Forrest. 2 full time carers for close relatives, will this destroy their romance? Perfect winter reading.

A romance author who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters? Yes please! This was such a cosy, steamy rom com and I devoured the book in one sitting. This was exactly what I asked for in a rom com.

I loved how Margot almost broke the fourth wall of her life by comparing all the situations she is being faced with to tropes from the books that she has written. It felt like a sarcastic “obviously” eye roll kind of thing and I found it so funny.

The chemistry between the two MCs was just perfect! They both have huge family commitments in their lives which cause the biggest barriers, but they still tried to make something work for them in the moment. The banter was everything! The will they/wont they conversations and situations really had me rooting for them.

The reason why I dropped a star is only because I felt like the ending was rushed and I would have loved a bit more to it. The trope near the end isn’t really one that I’m into, but it did work for the book, so I’m not unhappy about it happening.

Tropes:
•Forced Proximity
•Rom Com
•Dislike to Lovers
•Meet Cute
•One Tent
•Dual POV

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bonnier Books/Zaffre for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book - such an easy fun and delightfully romantic read.

The FMC was a great main character to read about - funny, a bit hopeless at times and entirely relatable. I loved that it was a romance about a romance author. The relationship between the FMC and her sister was brilliant - so much banter and it really had me giggling.

The writing in this book was great, the story flowed and the pacing was spot on.

The romance was perfectly paced - a bit of dislike to love but there was nothing insta-lovey about it. They took time and. you could see the chemistry grow as they got to know each other which I really enjoyed. They were both delightful characters to read and I think they were well suited so I was definitely rooting for them.

Just a wonderful, uplifting romance. A brilliant read!

She’s a romance author that doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. Her career comes to an abrupt pause and she ends up at an off grid lodge in Alaska where she meets a man that fits the bill for every single one of the romance tropes she’s written about. This book is like a love letter to the romance readers, bookstagram community and to anyone who needs an extra dose of hope in their life.

I was thrilled to receive this arc as had already pegged it on my tbr on Goodreads.

However………. I really struggled to get into it. I’m pretty tired of authors using Taylor Swift references - it’’s a bit old hat and frankly, I find it really off putting.

Also whilst I appreciate it’s a tropey book by its very title, I think I was expecting it to be executed a bit better than it was - felt like I was being hit over the head with each one.

Really disappointed I didn’t enjoy it but thanks for the opportunity to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this Arc!

This book had me from the start!
Margot being a romance author with a high fanbase who find out she doesn’t believe In love sends her to Alaska to have some time and to write a new book in a new genre.
Whilst there she meets Forrest who has given up his career to care for his dad after an accident!

This book is funny, cute, romantic and a little spicy at times! The idea of her seeing all the book tropes happening with Forrest is hilarious and lovely to see.

I was genuinely Interested as to what was going to happen next,
If you’re looking to curl up by the fire with a cute book this is the one!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the copy 💕

This was such a cute and cozy book! It did take a little while to get into but once I did I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. I found myself getting invested in Margot and Forrest's relationship and was rooting for their happy ending the entire way through the story. It's definitely one to sit and read in winter by a cozy fire

𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧…
🏔️ love letter to romance
🫎 jaded romance author fmc
🏔️ forced proximity
🫎 only one tent

𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ★★★★.✫

𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨…
When fans learn that romance author Margot Bradley doesn’t believe in HEAs, and decide to cancel her, she escapes to Alaska to reinvent herself… only to meet Forrest, the embodiment of a perfect mmc.

𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
I absolutely loved this book - it’s a very cute & cheesy love letter to romance novels, and an absolutely wonderful debut 🤍

Upon arriving in Alaska, Californian Margot finds herself living out every trope she’s ever written in an almost comical manner. It’s so much fun and will have you kicking your feet and smiling throughout! 🫶🏼

Having said that this will give you all the feels as well - Margot & Forrest are both extremely likeable characters who sacrifice so much to care for people they love… including each other 💔 This aspect of the story had similar vibes to AJ’s upcoming release Say You’ll Remember Me - they are stuck in an impossible situation 🥲 (this one is less heartbreaking though thankfully 😂)

Also Forrest is a perfect man - he’s obviously supposed to be… but he really is. An outdoorsy lumberjack genius doctor who walks away from his life to be there for his family..?🧎🏼‍♀️👏🏼

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance book that was so much more! The character development and journey of both main characters was well done and made me bond with both Margot and Forrest. The addition of Savannah’s letters really gave great backstory to Margot and an insight into her mindset. I enjoyed all the side characters and would like to visit Trapper, Jo and (especially) Scout in Alaska please! The only slight minor point was that ending was a bit abrupt and I would’ve liked a bit more of a wrap-up or an epilogue.

A brilliantly told love story that packs a real punch. This is a fantastic debut novel that is beautifully written and engaging making it hard to put down. The characters are relatable and well brought to life drawing you in to their story and keeping the pages turning. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend for fans of romance, this book is the perfect escape to cosy up with on cold winter days.

This book! Omg I loved it and didn't want it to end! I love that Margot is a romance author who writes HEA but doesn't believe in them herself due to her own past experience / vulnerabilities and love the way Forrest was all the best tropes rolled into one. It had me crying with laughter (the banter had me laughing out loud), but also in empathy and sympathy (even the authors acknowledgements at the end had me weeping - Victoria you are a badass 💜) at the vulnerabilities they shared and their own personal turmoil and 'responsibilities' that they would give up their HEA for their selfless love of their family. There was steamy spice but I found my heart beating faster in anticipation when reading because, although it was HOT, I had got to know and love them both so much, I loved the endearing love they shared. The ending was perfection.

Victoria, I hope you don't mind me being a bit personal but you have clearly been through your own battles, but I'm glad (and thankful) through everything you have been through, that you preserved writing this book (what a debut!!) and have your own HEA x

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

4.3*

Any Trope But You is a great debut from Victoria. It's everything you want in a romance, funny, relatable, spicy.

We have a strong main FMC Margot, who is not only relatable but funny, kind and compassionate.
Margot is a romance writer who goes to Alaska to reinvent herself after a big mishap.
As a character she grows through the book and you see vulnerability that she kept hidden.

This book touches on disability and the struggles of having to watch and worry about the person you care for. The main FMC and MMC are both caretakers. I think this is a very touching side theme through the book that not a lot of authors write about, it's very refreshing to have these topics spoken about.

Themes of finding oneself, learning to deal with the past, being able to reinvent yourself. Caregivers and learning to let go and listen.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC for a honest review.

I was so looking forward to reading this story, and it did not disappoint. I loved the characters, the small town setting, and the journey the characters go through together. A great read!

Thank you for my earc if this book. Whilst I enjoyed this story, I felt that the pacing was a little slow and the 2nd half in particular felt long
I loved the setting and author storyline and found mysejf more invested in that than the romance at times!

[4.5] yeahhh, this was it!! firstly, the concept was so unique and well thought-out (and genuinely funny in places), i thought it worked really well for a romance / rom-com vibe. secondly, the CHEMISTRY between the two main characters, margot and forrest was so apparent, which - literally how do you even acheive that by typing words on a page?? this caught me so off guard, smiling and dancing one second, and then making me gasp or cry in the next. i also have to mention the whole book just felt like victoria lavine's love letter to the romance genre and for that alone, i appreciate it so much 🥹.

thank you to netgalley and bonnier books uk for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Any Trope But You is hilarious, sexy, fun, yet deep. At first, there's some similarities to The Proposal (mainly the Alaska part). Lavine really plays with tropes through her Dr. Forrest character. It makes you want to say, "but of course he is" every time you learn anything about him. There are so many fun details, from Margot's love of avocados and Taylor Swift to the detailed letters Margot's sister writers her. In addition, the sauna scene is absolutely incredible (and also hilarious). The full-circle moment at the end is really great too. Overall, Lavine's debut is above and beyond our wildest dreams, and it will be super exciting when it comes out.

A really lovely heartwarming read, especially cosy during these cold days, and I’m pleased it was my first read of the year!

Only one quibble… I spent the entire book on edge waiting for the mystery of who revealed the Happily Never After file, but then it was solved in one throwaway line. A huge subplot opportunity missed, and the explanation of a random hacker never made sense to me. If it was just a hacker, where was the blackmail? Maybe it’s because I work in cybersecurity, but this kind of cybercrime just doesn’t make sense without the threats to expose, and the demand for money. It was personal. Someone knew the file was there. Someone hated Margot enough to want to do this. The fact that this really interesting plot element was wasted is disappointing, and because I was looking forward to it (was it a bitter ex? A stalker? Was it Savannah trying to push Margot off the metaphorical cliff???) it kind of dampened my overall enjoyment of the novel.

But not by much! I know so many people who would love this story. Even if the protagonist got over her seriously sprained ankle super conveniently quickly… 😉