Waking up from a dream shouldn’t be this hard. I’ve been here for so long that I’m starting to think there’s no going back.
One day I was in a run-down motel, and the next I was in a fancy, glamorous mansion, with no idea where I am, which day is it, or who I am.
I’m Bea.
But also not Bea.
Anyway, I have to go with the flow until I figure out how to get away from this mess and be a good noble daughter my pseudo-family expects. Yes, I’ll attend the magical academy. Yes, I’ll study magic. No, I won’t be part of the Twelve Champions!
I’m leaving and no one can stop me.
“Is it Wrong to Escape My Fate?” is Book 1 in a series "Dealing With Fate": 18+ why choose romance fantasy, with magic, mystery, and a huge group of possessive men.
first ever arc review!! I've been dnfing books left and right the past couple of months, so i was hesitant for just a second on this being my first arc but then i read the blurb and i just knew ill be having i fun time! i really couldn't put this book down. I liked guessing on which guy is gonna be in her harem but I just wished there was more one on one times with her guys and if there was it was over really quickly but that's alright cause there are 12 of them and there's more books to come. I also want to see more of her brother. cant wait for what's to come!
tropes: otome isrkai romantasy magical academy they fall first morally grey fmc big harem! 12 mmc's 1 pair of twins and 1 pair of brothers no mm professors in harem 19-yo fmc 19-27-yo mmc's no virgin fmc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was an ARC reader for, "Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate?"
Initially, I was really nervous about being an ARC reader for this book, because the first few chapters of the ARC were admittedly pretty rough. The writing and info dumps did not inspire confidence, and I wasn't looking forward to 24 chapters of that. After reading the entire book, I can tell you this: DON'T LET THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS PUT YOU OFF.
After the first few chapters (which are also shorter than the rest), the writing gets much, much better. Also, while I don't enjoy info dumps, and although we get quite a few early on, they were all at least concise and were gotten out of the way as quickly as possible. The information given also all seemed relevant and made it very easy to move on to the actual plot without having to spend a huge chunk of the book on learning about the setting.
It was all up from there! I was so glad I stuck it out, because this story has a lot to offer! While the overarching plot was nothing especially unique to the isekai fantasy genre, I still found myself intrigued about where Bea would end up and what she'd learn by the end of her journey! If you like isekai romance fantasy and you want to enjoy it with a reverse harem twist, this is the book for you!
I'd say the spice is probably 3/5. Open door, multiple scenes, tasteful, but not frequent (much to Bea's dismay- she's so unabashedly thirsty).
About the MMCs This was my first time reading a reverse harem with so many MMCs - there are 12! - and I was genuinely surprised that I was able to keep track of them all. The author did a good job making sure they were all distinct enough to tell apart. Although this is in part because many of them fit into typical MMC archetypes, I didn't mind, specifically because it helped me very quickly keep track of everyone. I felt that the characters who were given a bit more, "screentime," showed noticeably more depth, so I think it's safe to assume we'll be getting to know the others more in the next book.
While some of the MMCs had known the original Bea for a while, I felt like most of the men fell for the protagonist very quickly. I didn't mind since, again, there's 12 of them and it got the plot moving. If you prefer medium or slow burn, though, this is probably not the book for you.
About the FMC (Bea) I wasn't expecting Bea to be so... Bea. She has a distinct character voice, and I found her to be a very different FMC than what the reverse harem genre usually has to offer, which was refreshing. She's self-assured, knows what she wants, and will readily speak her mind without being an asshole about it. Oftentimes, I found myself saying, "Alright, Bea. CHILL, GIRL! We GET IT!" but honestly, she was a very fun character overall. By the end of the book, I found even the exasperating sides of her more humorous than annoying. I also liked that she exasperated me a bit, as it made her feel like a more well-rounded character.
Although she's confident and can buckle down to get things done all by herself, I wouldn't say she's perfect or a mary sue. She does have some character flaws, and it wasn't the usual, "I'm a small woman who's out of shape and completely helpless in a fight," which was nice to see.
I think her perspective on building her harem was also very different from what I've seen in other reverse harem stories, and I did appreciate seeing a FMC who laid out what she wants so clearly while also respecting the MMCs' own autonomy ("We obviously like each other. Before we go any further, here are my non-negotiables in a relationship. If you can't accept them, it's okay; we can just end things on good terms here," (paraphrased)).
I also really liked how the author handled Bea's internal struggle about taking over someone else's life/body (a common trope in this type of story, though seemingly new to the Western reverse harem genre - if you're unfamiliar with it, just know that Monica Ybarra pulled it off very well!). I also like how the author seamlessly set up and addressed the FMC's need and ability to hide the fact she wasn't the original Bea without making any of it feel forced. The backstory of the original Bea comfortably led into to how the protagonist was able to pull it off while avoiding suspicion for so long, and directly tied into other aspects of the story.
About Monica Ybarra (the author) Before posting my review, I did message the author to see if she was open to feedback. She was, and I found her to be very nice. It was clear to me in our brief conversation how much heart and effort she's put into writing this book. Even disregarding my interaction with her, I really respect that she self-published, as I know it's difficult to push through the nerves of putting yourself out there, especially without a publisher. Knowing it's her debut book, I was impressed, and it was a fun read!
Honestly, I’m undecided on this one. I would really give it a 3.5 if I could give it half stars. I feel like there is a lot of potential. I loveeeeeee the whole woke up in a fantasy world in someone else’s body trope. I loveeeeeee why choose, especially with big harems. That said I feel like this was just trying to mash the two together and it didn’t necessarily come together the way it might have been intended. I did like it enough to finish it and to be frank I will probably keep an eye out for the next book because I am curious enough to know what happens next and where its actually going to go. Bea’s character definitely has room for growth and I think definitely needs it. I can tell you that Bea definitely wants to go back to her world and looks in to how she could potentially do that, but she doesn’t really think it through on the actual logistics of things. Almost feels like in some ways she’s just winging it. I can make some guesses on the purpose of her character in this world, but I definitely feel like there’s not enough info to make a concrete guess. I do like that Bea was very honest with the guys she started being with that she was set on not being exclusive and that it was something non negotiable. She did let them know that if at any point they realized they were not okay with that, all she asked is that communicate that with her and they can part ways with no hard feelings. I also do like that before she just started listing names of who she was with, she wanted to get consent from the other gentlemen first. Like I said, there is definitely potential for this story and this world, I do have every intention on keeping an out for more. I just wish it was executed a bit better.
Honestly this book has an imaginative start to dealing with Fate series blending fantasy romance in a way that will feel familiar to people who love to read isekai romance mangas. if you love stories with a female lead who is thrusted into a new magical world surrounded by powerful complex men and the female lead trying to navigate life in the new world but remain independent this book is for you all . Bea is determined to navigate a world shaped by faith while trying to reclaim herself and find a way home, or maybe shes already home. And she does know it yet. The male leads range from brooding protector to Charming flirt, each bringing their own tension and some depth to the story. So far, I love the connection betwen most of male leads, thankfully if you're someone who struggles to pick a favorite love interest, don't worry this is a why choose so you don't have to. While I enjoyed the premise and the character Dynamics I didn't fully connect with the emotional depth of some of the scenes, I feel like there were a few moments that felt rushed and find myself wanting more development in the relationships as well as the World building. It did, however, end on a cliff hanger and I am excited to see what's in store for the next book. I would say that this is a fun, spicy romance book and great read that I recommend fans of why choose and romance mangas that have fantasy and amazing new magical world , will appreciate. Especially if you're into magical possessive love interests and a heroin who refuses to be controlled by Fate or obsessed men, this book is worth picking up!
Okay let me preface this by saying I am a MASSIVE isekai fan. It’s my favorite genre of anime so when I heard about an actual isekai RH I was VERY excited….
My excitement was my undoing lol. It felt like it was very much all over the place. Let’s start with the FMC’s confusion over being reincarnated/summoned (we don’t find out which happened). She makes several comments about her video game knowledge and how it helps her throughout the story but for some reason she can’t understand basic isekai logic? Her main goal is to get back to her earlier but it doesn’t hit her until the literal end of the book that she might not be able to do that.
I didn’t have any initial feelings towards the FMC initially and I still don’t understand why the author decided to make her this sex starved, oblivious, dingy girl. I mean she literally slept with the BROTHER of her childhood friend as soon as she sees him! Then later tells her childhood friend that she’s going to sleep with whoever she wants and he’s just going to have to accept it. Umm?? There wasn’t a better way to say that?
She doesn’t really know who she wants to be and the men around her overbearing. The golden boy hero? Annoying, he “staked his claim” right away in such a tacky fashion and no one bats an eye? Please. We get a mix of guys all your normal variety: , golden boy, haughty prince, smug captain, spicy twins, childhood friend & his brother, quiet librarian, the forbidden teacher etc. We get introduced to what I think is all of them at various points but the time isn’t split equally so some are very forgettable. I feel like a bunch of stuff was shoved together with the hopes it would all work.
I may continue the series because I want to know what happens but I really really hope it gets better
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What I did not like: I did not like how the author wrote the book. It felt like Wattpad. There were some cringe moments. Bea also commenting how horny she is is kind of jarring when reading the narrative. I honestly thought the dialogue and interactions between the female and male characters were cringe. One book was way too fast for all 12 of them to be obsessed with Bea.
What I did like: this is the first time I have ever found an isekai rh in the western hemisphere. I liked the internal dilemna Bea faced with whether or not she had the right to use the body she inhabited and the implications of isekaing into another world, etc. Jane Washington also gave me the hope to read a novel with 12 mmcs. I was able to differentiate them apart. I liked how the men got possessive because I'm not here to think, but to have a silly goofy time.
Overall, if you are interested in reading a newer genre (isekai romance fantasy) with 10+ mmcs and an OP fml that's a nympho, the book is for you.
Hi I got this book as an Arc Read! I was super excited. Thank you for the opportunity to read it before it came out. Overall, I would not recommend to anyone under 18 years old partially because it is a fantasy romance with adult content. Overall it gave me historical fantasy romance vibes. I really liked it but there were parts that just kind of dragged for me. Overall I would say that it was probably 2🌶️ out of 5🌶️ 4⭐out of 5 ⭐ I wouldn't say that it completely ends on a cliffhanger but it does kind of leave you hanging. So if you're not one that likes to be left hanging waiting for the next book, I would honestly wait for her to finish the series because I have a few unanswered questions. I'm hoping book two will answer. Overall, if you're not for like a historical like time traveler contemporary type fantasy person. This is honestly probably not a book for you because those are the vibes that I got from it just from the first book.
Bea as a character is fun and doesn't hold back when it comes to her boundaries and needs. With such a large group of MMCs, I was nervous about them not having their own voices and melding together into one character, but the author did a fantastic job of making sure each character was distinct. The story itself for me was a little lackluster, and my enjoyment of the characters carried me through the book. It took about 100 pages for the book the hook me, but when it did I couldn't put it down because I couldn't get enough of the dynamics between Bea and all of the MMCs. Overall, I did enjoy reading "Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate?" and am excited to see what happens next with Bea and her men.
I received this book as an ARC. I love otome and isekai concepts, and I think this author does an amazing job hitting on the normal tropes in these series. The concept of an actual raunchy reverse harem with the otome and isekai is like trifecta of what I’ve always wanted. She has done a great job world building and setting the stage for the characters and has done wonderful artwork to go along with the story. My only complaint is at times the dialogue and inner monologue can be a bit choppy or rushed, I think this is part of the issue of having so many men competing for the main characters attention. I can’t wait to see what this author does next and I am definitely a fan! Book 2 can’t come soon enough.
Fabulous—I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Your FMC is the best kind of self-advocate without the drama. Even with the large number of MMCs the author manages to give them all standout personalities and experiences to set them apart. You have all your favorite MMC character types from OTT golden retrievers, to touch her and die undercover psychos. You have epic fantasy world building, with modern humor, and all the mystery. Let’s not forget the spice 🌶️ 🌶️ . I’m anticipating an uptick in spicy goodness in book 2, and I can’t wait to see where the mystery leads and what kind of trouble Bea and her guys get into.
I received an ARC of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a combination of some of my favorite generes: reverse harem, otome, isekai, and just over all cliche romance fantasy. In a good way though. This reads like a comfy raunchy comedy and I will definitely be reading book 2!
Things to note: this is a large reverse harem, we are talking 12 ish men that we know about so far. And our FMC is very blunt in her approach to letting the men know she is not a 1 relationship kind of gal. So if those are not up your alley then this book isn't for you.
All in all I think this is a solid debut and I can't wait to see the world building in the coming books
The concept of the story is what drew me to pick this one up to read.
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and plot along with, of course, the romance (spice).
Bea finds herself waking up in a new world as someone different and she now has to 'play' this person to be a blessing to eventually go back to her world, or at least that is her initial intention. Along the way she discovers things (and people) in this new world that will make it difficult to let this new life go.
I highly recommend this book but, know it does end on a cliffhanger. However, even with the cliffhanger, it just makes me super excited to read the next book in this series.
I smashed this book in a few hours, and I am now obessed. I love reading Korean/Japanese transmigration novels. This book is the perfect transmigration novel in english. The story revolves around Bea, who came from earth into this new fantasy world. She's has to adapt to this strange new world while attending magic school pretending to be the original Bea. This book has decent spice, and the men in this book are delicious. They are all the beautiful flavours we love in romance books and you won't have to choose. I can't wait for the next book and see how her relationships with the men expand.
I was so excited to get an ARC for this vook! This is an absolutely fantastic first book for a new author, really well written and so entertaining and fun! whilst it is apparent the author's native language isn't English, it does not affect the enjoyment of the book at all. I've read plenty of books written by native speakers that are way worse and I mean it's impressive enough to write a whole ass book without doing so in a whole other language!! The world building, the characters, the magic system are all so well thought out and well fleshed. I cannot wait for book 2!!
This is my first time being an ARC, but it was a fun book! It combines isekais, otomes, and reverse harems all into one book, and while I do think it was a bit quick to have everyone fall in love with Bea, it was refreshing to have a female main character that knew what she wanted relationship and had the confidence to speak what she wanted to. I also enjoyed how the author tackled Bea’s inner conflict with taking over the body she is in.
All in all, I really did enjoy the book. Can’t wait for the next one!
I enjoyed this book. It was a little disjointed in parts which I later realised is because English isn't Monica's first language! Despite the odd sentence or word here or there, I really enjoyed the story. I slowly put each name to a face, and by the end of the book I really wanted book 2 already! I've never read a story with such a large harem, it's definitely interesting. I love the FMC's internal thoughts, and how realistic and genuine it feels, too. I look forward to more! Monica you've gained a fan, and if you want someone to help with edits I'd be more than happy to! <3
If you love isekai anime, you’ll be hooked on this story! The FMC is transported to a magical world filled with elemental affinities, a magic academy, and even a looming demon lord all blended together seamlessly. She’s strong, upfront, and sets boundaries, which made me love her character even more. Fair warning: the spice level is very high, but it fit the story perfectly. I devoured this book and can’t wait for the sequel!
This book is a breath of fresh air for me. Being in a reading slump for months now, this has renewed my reading journey. It’s so fun to have a different spin on a genre you have grown to love. The story is really captivating for me and is so fun and very enjoyable! I absolutely loved the characters and can’t wait to see where our FMC goes from here. I’m truly looking forward to reading the next book. I’d totally recommend- it’s such a good story!
I do regret the fact that there were a few too many male characters for my taste, developing twelve (or more!) of them properly feels almost impossible. That said, I loved the heroine, the worldbuilding, the sweet green-flag male leads, and the charming light-novel-reincarnation vibe. The plot also kept me hooked from start to finish.
I am a sucker for all the tropes this book offers! Large reverse harem, sexy men, smart bratty FMC. I think the timeline of everything progresses smoothly. I overall really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait to read the next book. This is a amazing novel for it being her first one. I totally recommend!!!
My fav books of the month !! I've been looking for a first-person POV isekai for sooo long, but then I see it was a why choose !! omgg, the why choose manwas are frustrating because the MC never ends with all the love interests, it was perfect 🫠
My favorite genre of anime mixed with my favorite genre of book (reverse harem romantasy) and I couldn't be happier. The only thing I'd change is making it multiple POV instead of just the FMC POV
Loved it! An easy reading, with easy-to-follow plot despite the large number of characters. It has enough spice to understand the special need that Bea has! Can’t wait for the sequel!