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… 😉

This had me from the off! A lot of fun and swooniness, cuteness and hotness. An homage to all the tropes of Romance – meetcute, one bed, big- kind-super intelligent- bed skilled, capable man in a Henley who chops wood – it’s all there, and more and completely lap-uppable. Loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Thanks to @zaffrebooks @victorialavinewrites for my ARC copy
What a delightful experience this was! When Margot, a passionate romance writer and city dweller with a nurturing spirit, discovers that her private document detailing her secret collection of unhappy story endings has been leaked online, chaos ensues. To shield her from the inevitable fallout, her well-meaning sister sends Margot to a remote cabin in the heart of Alaska. There, she is cut off from the distractions of city life—no friends, no internet, and certainly no need for high heels.

In this secluded sanctuary, Margot encounters Forrest, the personification of every charismatic and rugged romance hero she has ever conjured in her novels. The chemistry between them crackles like a flame in the cold Alaskan air. This narrative is an enjoyable romp, embracing all the beloved tropes of the romance genre while also introducing challenges that give depth to Margot and Forrest's characters.

Although I found some parallels between Margot's and Forrest's experiences to be a tad too coincidental—something that tends to be a hallmark of romance novels—I genuinely appreciated the rich character development and the expressive writing. This book is the perfect winter escape, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a world of love and laughter. I would gladly revisit this charming tale and eagerly look forward to Victoria Lavine's next enchanting release.

#RomanticEscape #AlaskanAdventure #WinterReading #CharacterDevelopment #BookReview #VictoriaLavine #LoveAndLaughter #RomanceNovels #LiteraryJourney #CosyRead

This was fun! When Margot (romance writer, city girl, carer) finds her secret unhappy endings document leaked online, her sister sends her off to avoid the fallout and write a crime novel in a remote Alaskan cabin - no friends, no internet, and no need for heels. There she meets Forrest, the embodiment of every romance hero she has ever written about. This was an enjoyable romp through allllll the tropes, with some difficult and hard-hitting situations thrown in for both characters as well. I loved the concept of actively embracing all the cliches, and it's lovely to read such a wholehearted celebration of the romance genre.

For me, some of the similarities between Margot's and Forrest's situations were a bit too coincidental (although really that's probably true for pretty much every romance novel) - but I enjoyed the characters and the writing, and it's perfect as a bit of wintery escapism. Would very happily re-read, and I'll be keeping an eye out for Victoria Lavine's next title.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

A laugh out loud and Heart-warming romcom to add to your tbrs yes please.

I have heard some hype around this book so thought when it came up on NetGalley that I definitely needed to give it a read. I love my romance books with all the tropes and throw in some hilarious moment and then your romance reader here is one happy girlie.

The book is about romance writer Margot Bradley and she is a liar. She writes romance but doesn't believe in it due to past relationships, things come to ahead when she does a online podcast in front of hundreds of people and someone announces that she doesn't like Happily Ever Afters like she writes in her book, throw in her showcasing some granny panties to to the internet and her whole world implodes. Margot is then sent off to the wilds of Alaska by her sister to try and figure out what she wants and to write her new Murder Mystery as she's feeling stabby after what happened. Forrest is out male MC and is literally climbed like a tree as soon as he meets Margot. He himself has some past history that is stopping him from moving forward with his life. In comes Margot who literally turns his world upside down, and he starts to feel things that he hasn't before.

This book was super cute, funny and ticks all the trope boxes. If you love a one bed (tent) trope then by all means read ahead, love the he falls hard and fast trope, check then read this. It is swoon worthy, you will honestly fall in love with Forrest and his ways, you will laugh and smile along with Margot as well as nod your head with some of the things she talks about.

I found this book really easy to read and did devour it in less than 24 hours, it cute, funny and does have you look at relationships that are not only romantic but those between siblings and parental. This book touches on physical health needs of secondary characters and that they had a big part in the book which I simply adore. They made the book that much more than a romance book between the two main characters but who they are as individuals and why they do things they have done.

Overall a really enjoyable romance read that I think will be a big hit with romance readers in 2025.

Loved, loved, loved! I immediately connected with both Forrest (swoon) and Margot, and not only an immediate connect with the MCs but with North Star Lodge itself. Is there anything better than a snowed in trope????

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

Flawless. No notes.

However, I appreciate you may be expecting more of a review than this so I'll try to put my love for this book into words. Any Trope But You follows a jaded romance author as she flees to Alaska to try writing in a completely different genre. Enter, the MMC of every romance writer's dreams and all the cliche romance tropes to go with him.

I was worried when picking this up that the tropes would feel clunky or thrown in just to get them in there. However, I was delighted to find that they were all flawlessly executed and served a real purpose in driving the relationship dynamic forward. This book is a true love letter to the romance genre and beyond giving me a fun, lighthearted, wintery evening, I come away from the story with a real appreciation for how wonderful the genre is.

I'm a sucker for romance novels that are full of heart and I'm so excited to see what this author brings us in the future.

4.5 stars

4 🌟
"For the first time in a very long time, I remember why I became a romance writer in the first place. It's not about my beliefs on love. It's about giving people hope when they need it most."

OMG DID I JUST READ THIS BOOK IN A DAY? Yes.
Thank you NetGalley and Victoria for the ARC! 🤍
First of all, this cover is so cute and perfect for December (also the winter and Christmas vibes in the book were perfect).
I honestly had 0 expectations for this book but it was so cute, I loved the main characters and the way they communicated with each other. Also, the love and effort they put for their families? I literally cried every time the fmc interacted with her sister 🥺
Also, only one tent??? Just perfection.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and I highly recommend it! ✨

Read if you like:
❄️ forced proximity
❄️ enemies to lovers
❄️ small town vibes
❄️ winter vibes
❄️ dual pov

Any Trope But You - Victoria Lavine

Perfect winter read. I devoured this book in a few evenings, cosied up under a blanket, and enjoyed the chemistry between Margot and Forrest. These characters were brilliant, not only were they really easy to love but they both had such great backstories to get stuck into. The setting (remote Alaskan cabin) was just amazing, I felt everything was really easy to picture and was a lovely bit of escapism. This was my first time reading a Victoria Lavine book and I really hope to read more from her in the future. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions

i really enjoyed reading this book - and it was a book that hooked me from the very start with a unique premise that i loved ! from the very first page, this book swept me into its witty, emotionally rich world and never let go.

margot and forrest ―୨୧⋆ ˚ their chemistry was electric, and every moment between them was laced with tension, humor, and tenderness that i really loved. margot’s vulnerability and sarcasm paired perfectly with Forrest’s quiet strength, and their journey was a beautiful while being raw and realistic.

The plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ this book was about rediscovery, grief, and learning to embrace imperfection. by the last page, i had the absolute best time reading this book — so If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances that challenge and heal you, this book is an absolute must-read.

Is this really a debut?! Because it is so perfect! Love the concept of this book. Inclusion of all romance tropes. The MFC is a romance author. The entire book is a love letter to romance books! How sweet.

On top of that, the banter is great, all characters includimf side characters are likeable and fun. The chemistry between the two MCs are hot. And the emotional bond they form is beautiful.

The Alaskan setting makes it unique. Al though there are other books set in Alaska, it’s still a rarity. This one is added to my top favourite book set in Alaska now.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can’t think of anything that puts off anyone, so I bet this book will be well-received by romance readers when it comes out. Highly recommend it!