The Villainess Wants to Make Money, Not a Match

The Noblewoman's Guide to Cosmetics, Commerce, and Courting Disaster #1

by Arisa May

Why choose royalty when you could shape your own destiny? Meet Renee de la Croix, a girl bestowed with remarkable beauty and born into opulence, yet flawed by arrogance. She once harbored affections for the illustrious Duke Montfort and bullied any woman who dared approach him, only to find herself on the receiving end of his icy contempt. Tragically, her life takes a turn for the worse when her father loses their fortune to gambling. Renee falls ill and dies, filled with regret for her past actions. But as if touched by a benevolent fairy's wand, Renee awakens in her eleven-year-old body, gifted with a precious opportunity to start anew. Driven by unyielding resolve, she vows to weave a fortune vast enough to shield her family from the impending storm of ruin. How might she spin this miraculous tale of financial victory? By allying with a talented wizard's apprentice and crafting magical cosmetics—a market she knows like the back of her hand. In a society unprepared for a noblewoman’s transformation into a pragmatic entrepreneur, Renee faces daunting challenges. Intriguingly, Montfort seems drawn to this new, resolute Renee, but she keeps him at bay, unwilling to relive the heartache of unrequited love. Amidst the whirlwind of fate and fortune, will she be able to stay true to her path? Join Renee on her magical journey of transformation, where despair blossoms into hope, and where second chances exist for those daring enough to reach for them.

Genres: Time Travel, Fantasy

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2025

About the author

Arisa writes stories with a touch of magic, and is especially interested in portal fantasies (isekai) and the villainess trope. She has written over fifteen novels; several have been translated into French and Italian. She hails from Taiwan, where she can’t survive without air-conditioning, and when she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys baking desserts and dancing to Kpop.


*formerly published under the name of Aya Ling.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Lissa Hawley]

When one of your favorite authors enjoys the same webcomics trope you do.

Definitely recommended. Can't wait to read the next.

[Annette]

When I stumbled upon this book on BookSirens I got curious right away and just wanted to read it! From start to finish this book was insanely entertaining. I especially loved how the heroine used all her knowledge from her "previous life" to create a better life now she's got a second chance. I also like how her behaving differently changes how other characters react to her. It's clear she became a better person. Although, there are still some ethical issues I'd wanna talk about. The ending felt a little abrupt. I was expecting a little more before the book would end, but I'm for sure very curious about the sequel! I can't wait to see how things will work out!

[Shelby]

3.5 🌟 A fun and engaging light read!

[Kaylee Dolat]

I wanted a reincarnation webtoon in book form.
That much I will say I got out of it.

BUT~
1. The prologue was boring and confusing.
2. I felt that the pacing of this was off kilter slightly.
3. I also thought that maybe there was a chance we would see a second book?

[Kiyomi]

I enjoyed this story the second time around! I’m glad to see the book available again, enjoying the re-read, and very curious to see where the series will go after the republished editions are out and the plot moves into new territory.

I had purchased the earlier “Villaness” edition and received an ARC for an honest review: a few moments I had enjoyed in the previous edition were changed, and I missed some of the context from the main character’s “first life”, but as a result the storyline was much smoother overall, so the changes ended up net-positive :)

[Bridget Book Dragon]

4.25/5 ⭐ I was drawn in immediately by the summary and I was engaged from the start. The characters are unique and it is a fun and cozy story. I do have an issue with the FMC completely stealing her whole business from another person in her original life. I wish it could have been worked out as a partnership or something instead. That did kind of rain on the cozy parade some. I quickly added the next in the series to my TBR and I'm grateful that I had a chance to read this ARC through BookSirens.

[Bess]

3.75 stars
I'm going to review the whole series.

I've only ever read one book, and it was earlier this year, with the idea of a "second chance" at life. So, this was very different, yet interesting!

Renee is a spoiled aristocrat cut down before she's really lived life. Given a second chance, she vows to life differently and plans for the eventual happenings that led to her first demise.
Waking up 11, was certainly strange! But very cool!!
I loved her tenacity. I thought there were times when she was still too cold, too mean, too ruthless only to remember that she's coming at this from a place of already having the ending if things don't change for her.
So, I gave her some slack.
There are two eventual love interests. I'm team Antoine the whole way!
I loved how Renee took more time for her sister this time around.
The whole series was fun, however, there were times where things were super slow.
Flossie was a great character. However, I was more invested in Renee's story. So, when each chapter switched between the two, I was highly irritated. To me, this is Renee's story. Everyone was else was secondary. However, that's a very unpopular take given the reviews! But that's what I do.
I liked that Renee grew and changed. I liked her kindness to her servants and those working for her. There were times though, things were rough.
Overall, the series was cute!
Disclaimer: there's about a handful of adult language in the entire series, premarriage sex in book 5 (completely off screen, nothing explict at all), dragons, cute sibling/nephew energy, criminal organizations, no gore, no sex, gambling, there was some seriously witty banter, shots/vaccines, created virus, unusual symptoms of the vaccine (homo-relationship [G-rated] briefly until their brains were cleared -- it was hilarious as these two men hated each other outside the weird side effects), redemption, paying for ones actions, being held accountable for crimes, and honestly, there's so much good in the book, it outweighs the bad!
This was super fun and cute! Definitely should give it a try!!

[Jade]

This book was amazing


I read this around March, but I only just now got a chance to review it.

Well, I just finished the last book (A Game of Risks and Remedies: A Villainess Reborn Novel) yesterday, and let me tell you, this book, and the whole series, is awesome.
In the beginning, I was kinda 'meh' about this book and actually DNF'd it for a bit because I just wasn't in the mood. But when I picked it back up again, I found myself loving this book and finished it in the same day.


Renee is a girl who, in her past life, was, to put it plainly, a spoiled, obnoxious brat.
Yeah.
After Renee's father died, her family was plunged into poverty, and then Renee herself died at 18 years old. She finds herself once more in her 11-year-old body.
God had given her a second chance.
And what does Renee have to do?
Save her family, of course.
Make more money of course.
Build a cosmetics empire.
At the age of 11.

Content

Violence: No violence.
Romance: No romance in this book due to main character's age.
Language: No bad language that I can recall other than the occasional use of 'damn.'

This book is entirely clean and appropriate for all ages

[Sydney]

3 I'd Rather Make Something Of Myself Stars

The Villainess Wants To Make Money Not A Match is the first book in the series by Arisa May.

I'm excited to find a work of literature that closely resembles the plots of manwhas and tapas comics I have come to devour, lament my lack of ink. If only this first book was longer and more detailed.

I have definitely come to enjoy this more in-depth view of a young villainess reincarnated and given a second chance to lead her life to fruition. Taking all that energy, she spent on her appearance and nearly stalking the object of her affection towards her family. Ensuring they do not meet bankruptcy and destitution yet again.

She has managed to capture Montfort's interest while completely trying to dissuade it, unlike her previous life, which is ironic to a degree that is ultimately humorous.

I love her bonding time with her sister and the true friendship she is building with Flossie. I can't wait to experience how she struggles to change her fate in the coming books.

[Terry]

Do you ever wish you could have a “repeat” of your life so you could make things different? Well, Renee was granted that wish. She returned as a 10 year old (almost 11) but with the full memory of her first life. People notice that her actions are peculiar for her age and she takes a few risks that a normal young aristocrat wouldn’t. Renee changes how she treats a few people based on her past life and the results are fascinating.

She needs to raise funds to help her family. Hard for a young girl but she remembers a magical face cream from her first life and is convinced that selling that cream will fix her problems… until it becomes a problem.

This was an exciting, quick read and it ended too quickly. I went straight to Amazon and ordered the series to see what other adventures Renee and her friends go on. Happy reading!

[Kira]

I am a sucker for the villainess reincarnation trope, and this author does a fantastic job weaving such a fun and adventurous story in A Touch of Magic and Makeup! Renee finds herself having a second chance at life. After her family lost their fortune and she was left with nothing but to watch her younger sister perish before she too succumbed, Renee will not be making the same mistakes. Now with the knowledge of a way to make money and no longer a desire to woo Duke Montfort, her focus is purely on the survival of her family. What she doesn't realize is the decisions she makes will change much more than just her family's fate. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!

[Vanessa]

I wanted a novel that captured the tropes and trappings of those "Oh no I'm reincarnated as a villainess in this French high society" webtoons, and this one was just as I hoped. Super easy read, cute characters, lots of little shenanigans and low stakes drama. (I do hope that in the next book, Flossie gets to focus on more than her weight, though.)

I like the manga-core original cover and how the author's note was structured like the end of a fanfic with the characters popping in to tease the author. It's just so unashamed. It's fun. On to the sequel!!

[janice]

A more satisfying light novel than a real light novel

Love, love, love this story. Even though the author has borrowed so many elements from Japanese light novels and manga, the character is refreshingly REAL. Nothing like having real drama to change the outlook of the main character. Yes, she maybe a villainess, but she has perfectly good reasons for her actions. Can't wait for book two...

[Delphia Von Heeder]

A Touch of Magic and Makeup is Book 1 in The Noblewoman's Guide to Cosmetics, Commerce, and Courting Disaster by Arisa May. I thought this Regency Fantasy was excellent and creative. Renee is an 18 year old spoiled brat. The story takes her from haughty to compassionate. She is taken back to 11 years old and got a do over in her life. This is a book that I could not put down. I kept turning page after page. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Karen D Haughn]

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline moves at good pace and the character descriptions are excellent. The premise of the story is quite enchanting. This is a clean, easy read, with the promise of more to be written. The protagonist, Renee, gets a do over in life and it is interesting how she handles it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nic]

Just like a webtoon

I’m so excited to keep reading this series! It read just like a webtoon and I loved it! I can’t wait to see the adventures our group of characters go on. Our cast of characters are so fun and I can’t wait to see how they grow.

No spice
No explicit language
G rated violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️so fun!

[Roberto Flores]

Simple, short and sweet.

This is a simple setting with a basic idea and it is done well. The pace is just right and the characters are hinting at bits of complexity. The whole thing is great.

[B.J. Sikes]

Charming fantasy told by a "villainess" hoping to redeem her life. The twist is she is 11 years old and the daughter of a duke. Formerly a horrible brat, she's given another chance at life and decides to help her family's finances by creating a magic cosmetic.

[Amanda]

So much fun!

I greatly enjoyed this first book in the series. The main character has enormous amounts of gumption as well as cleverness, and I’m rooting for her! Bring on the next book!

[Klissia]

The little girl still a villainess, stole the business ideia of other woman...

[Lumiere]

dnf'ed it cause the mf annoyed me

[Lorraine Berry]

This reincarnation/chance for a do-over is a quick and easy read, with cute characters and some mild drama. A good start to the series, although does end suddenly.

[Ranja Biswas]

I was about to DNF too much info dump but as I read more I really liked this charming little book.

[Bigbootyreader]

Wonderful! really is up there with rest of the villainess fiction from webtoons to novels.

[Annie V]

A cute light read. A take in changing the route of a rough ending in a previous life by rigging the game for your own success in the second try.

[Mella]

#1: The Villainess Wants to Make Money, Not a Match 1
REPUBLISHED AS: A Touch of Magic and Madness

Renee de la Croix died penniless and alone and full of regrets for the way she lived her life - only to wake up as her eleven year old self with a chance to fix things. So she eschews romance and conventional lady concerns and decides to build a cosmetic business and become a billionaire.

The title got me interested and the premise had me hooked. I couldn't not read this story. And it delivers. Renee is awesome. The contrast between her inner mean girl and her second chance outlook was great. She has perfect looks and she realises her previous life was shallow but she still struggles to be empathetic and has to really work against falling back into her luxurious lifestyle. I like that she's a work in progress and that she recognises she needs to actually work at it.

I was fully invested in Renee's story. It was well written and took a no nonsense approach to having Renee overcome the obstacles standing in her way. From finding a wizard to create her miracle beauty product, to learning more math, she was determined to make her mark and I was here for it.

I particularly loved the friendship between Flossie and Renee. Flossie is the best. She's nice and kind and has a sunshine personality just waiting to be revealed. I loved that Renee encourages her to be her best self and gives her the confidence to stand up to her family. Watching Flossie come out of her shell was fantastic. But I also loved the easy going supportive relationship that Renee and Flossie develop. They're not in each other's pockets all day long but they make sure they check in with one another and cheer on the other's successes. I just wanted more.

My biggest complaint would be the romance. I get the feeling the Montfort is being set up as the love interest and frankly I would like for Renee to go in a different direction but it's not a dealbreaker, just annoying. Also I would've liked for her to go around her parents rather than spilling the beans about her plans to sell cosmetics, but that's a minor issue. The rest of the book had me engaged and I can't wait to continue the tale.

4 stars.