In Victoria Lavine’s debut novel “Any Trope but You,” we’re treated to something deliciously meta: a romance about a romance novelist who doesn’t believe in romance. This ingenious premise sets the stage for a story that simultaneously honors and gently pokes fun at the genre’s beloved tropes while delivering a heartfelt narrative about healing, trust, and the courage to love again.
As someone who devours romance novels like they’re chocolate truffles, I approached this book with high expectations—and Lavine exceeded them with her fresh voice, genuine emotional depth, and characters who feel as real as the friends we text every day.
The Perfect Setup: A Romance Author Who’s Lost Faith in Love
Meet Margot Bradley, a #1 New York Times bestselling romance author with a devastating secret: she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever Afters. After multiple heartbreaks—culminating in her fiancé abandoning her one week before their wedding—Margot maintains her successful career by writing swoon-worthy novels while privately documenting what she believes are the inevitable disastrous endings her characters would face in real life.
When her secret “Happily Never After” file is hacked and leaked online, Margot’s career implodes. Canceled by the romance community and dropped by her publisher, she flees to remote Alaska to reinvent herself as a murder mystery writer. There, she encounters Dr. Forrest Wakefield, a former cancer researcher who’s sacrificed his career to care for his ailing father at their family’s wilderness lodge.
What follows is a reluctant but undeniable attraction as these two damaged souls find themselves living through one romance trope after another—from enemies-to-lovers to snowed-in, forced proximity to hurt/comfort. The irony isn’t lost on Margot, who tries desperately to resist falling for the living embodiment of every romance hero she’s ever written.
Characterization That Shines
Lavine’s greatest strength lies in her character development. Margot and Forrest aren’t just romance archetypes; they’re complex individuals with layered histories and genuine growth arcs:
- Margot is sharp-witted, independent, and fiercely protective of her chronically ill sister, Savannah. Her jadedness about love feels earned rather than performative, making her eventual thawing all the more satisfying. Her first-person narration is filled with self-deprecating humor that had me laughing out loud.
- Forrest balances brooding intensity with genuine compassion. His dedication to his father and his medical research gives him depth beyond the “grumpy mountain man” stereotype. The subtle ways he cares for Margot—like quietly leaving fire starters by her cabin door—show rather than tell his developing feelings.
- The supporting cast shines just as brightly, particularly Savannah, whose letters to Margot provide emotional touchstones throughout the narrative. Trapper (Forrest’s father) and Jo (the lodge manager) bring warmth and wisdom, while the younger guests Ollie and Topher add humor and a touch of romantic complication.
The Alaskan Setting: A Character in Itself
Lavine transforms Alaska from a mere backdrop into an essential character. The harsh yet breathtaking landscape mirrors the emotional journey of the protagonists—initially forbidding but ultimately transformative. From Margot’s first hilarious encounter with a moose to the steamy moments in a hot tub amid falling snow, the setting enhances every scene with rich sensory details:
“The snow is a deep, soft blue in the falling twilight, and her arms tighten around my waist. I know it’s not something I should be feeling so goddamn self-satisfied over, since it was either ride with me or walk, but the way she automatically climbed onto the back of my machine without a single look over at Ollie had me revving the engine like a balls-for-brains idiot.”
Trope Awareness That Elevates the Story
What makes “Any Trope but You” stand out is its self-awareness. Margot constantly recognizes the romance tropes she’s falling into with Forrest—and her internal struggle between professional cynicism and personal yearning creates delicious tension. Lavine doesn’t just employ these tropes; she examines why they resonate with readers:
- Enemies-to-lovers: Their initial antagonism stems from real concerns and differing worldviews
- Forced proximity: The Alaskan wilderness naturally isolates them
- Hurt/comfort: Forrest tending to Margot’s sprained ankle leads to genuine vulnerability
- Sharing body heat: The “there’s only one bed” trope gets a survival spin when Margot faces hypothermia
This meta-awareness doesn’t diminish the emotional impact of these moments—it enhances them. When Margot finally acknowledges her feelings, it’s all the more powerful because we’ve witnessed her journey from skepticism to belief.
The Heart of the Story: Families We Choose and Keep
While the romance is captivating, the novel’s emotional core lies in its exploration of family bonds and caretaking. Both protagonists have dedicated their lives to caring for family members—Margot for her sister with autoimmune disorders and Forrest for his father with mobility issues following an accident. This parallel creates a profound understanding between them that goes deeper than physical attraction.
Lavine handles these caregiving relationships with nuance, showing both the love that motivates such dedication and the way it can become a barricade against vulnerability. When Savannah and Trapper both push their respective caretakers toward independence, it creates a beautiful parallel narrative about letting go and embracing new possibilities.
Some Minor Stumbles Along the Way
Despite its many strengths, “Any Trope but You” isn’t without flaws. The pacing occasionally falters, particularly in the middle section where some of the wilderness excursions begin to feel repetitive. The “third act breakup” relies on relatively predictable miscommunication, though Lavine handles it with more emotional honesty than many romances.
Additionally, the subplot involving Charlotte Bard (a previous guest who wrote a scathing review after Forrest rejected her) feels slightly underdeveloped. Her villainy seems somewhat one-dimensional in a story that otherwise offers such nuanced characterization.
The final reunion scene, while emotionally satisfying, wraps up a bit too neatly, especially given the complex geographical and career obstacles the couple had been facing. A few more pages exploring how they’ll practically manage their relationship would have added realism to their happy ending.
Who Will Love This Book?
“Any Trope but You” will appeal to:
- Romance readers who appreciate self-aware, genre-savvy narratives
- Fans of emotional depth alongside steamy scenes (and there are definitely some steamy scenes!)
- Readers who enjoy both snappy humor and genuine emotional vulnerability
- Anyone who’s ever been a caretaker and understands its joys and complications
- Those who appreciate romances where both protagonists must overcome internal obstacles rather than just external ones
It will especially resonate with fans of Emily Henry’s “Beach Read,” Christina Lauren’s “The Unhoneymooners,” and Olivia Dade’s “Spoiler Alert”—all novels that similarly play with meta-awareness of storytelling and romance tropes.
Final Thoughts: A Debut That Promises More to Come
Victoria Lavine has crafted an impressive debut that balances humor, heart, and heat in equal measure. Her skillful navigation of tropes shows deep respect for the romance genre while adding fresh perspectives. The dual-POV structure allows readers to fully inhabit both characters’ emotional journeys, and the supporting narrative device of Savannah’s letters provides touching insights into Margot’s past.
For a debut novelist, Lavine shows remarkable confidence in her voice. Her prose strikes that perfect balance between accessible and evocative, with occasional passages of striking beauty:
“I think, this is it. This is when we both lose our everloving minds, but then his hand betrays him. His fingers, which have been steadily moving in their upward journey, finally tease the outside of my opening with the barest featherlike stroke, and I realize he’s in complete control.”
This combination of emotional insight, steamy romance, and gentle humor makes “Any Trope but You” a standout in the contemporary romance landscape. If this is what Lavine delivers in her debut, romance readers have much to look forward to from her future works.
In the end, much like Margot herself, even the most jaded romance skeptics might find themselves believing in happy endings again after spending time with this charming novel. And isn’t that what the best romance stories do? They remind us that love—in all its messy, complicated, wonderful forms—is worth the risk.