Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! Vol.1

Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! #1

by Kotoko, Dawson Chen (Translator), ＡＴＡＫＡ (Illustrator)

The plan was play the foil, get dumped, live happily ever after. Now? The duke is head over heels for me, the world’s on the brink of war—and I’m going to die.

I was reincarnated into the pages of my favorite romance novel. Not as the bright, beloved heroine, but as the cruel, grasping villainess, a mere stepping stone in the story. My only job is to dump the “Cold-Hearted Duke” so he can meet his true love. Fail, and war breaks out. I die. Nobody gets their happily ever after.

Easy, right?

Except playing a vindictive noblewoman when I’d been an ordinary woman in my past life is harder than it looks. Because if that’s the case, why—at the end of it all—is the duke holding me close, murmuring into my ear, “Grace… I will never, ever let you go”?!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Romance, Manga, Fantasy Romance, M F Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

About the author

Name (in native language): 琴子.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute! Though maybe she should look for a different love interest for Charlotte and keep the man she loves? Just a thought. And Evan sounds like a slightly smarter Kronk. But just as muscular. I wish they had included a picture of him when we first meet him… tee hee.

And the hint of a second love interest…he sounds very appealing… I’ve always been into the “Reformed Rake” character. In theory. In reality they are probably riddled with STIs and have a pack of illegitimate kids who aren’t raised properly.

But, romance books are fantasy, so it’s ok if you squint and don’t think too hard about it.

It’s obv who she’s going to end up with, but the journey promises to be fun!

4, can’t wait for the next volume to come out, stars.

[ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of story where you have to turn off the rational side of your brain as some things really don't add up that well. With that being said, it's still a really cute funny story that I thoroughly enjoyed. (I have my moments okayy)

Grace was a pretty good MC though a bit more intelligence wouldn't have hurt. Her unstoppable goal is questionable to me given the circumstances. Bonus points for the steady pace. Loved loved loved Mariabelle. Such a cutie!

I really liked Zane's pov and wish to read more from his view in the future because I feel like exactly when his pov was needed the most, it wasn't delivered. That was probably on purpose in order to maintain suspense, still!!

The fact that I don't have the second volume in my hands right now is a tragedy.

SPOILER ALERT
As I said with this one I just went with the flow because otherwise... how am I supposed to believe she knows which piece of land to buy to make money, but can't figure out how to stip hell from breaking loose without breaking his heart like ma'am

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kotoko's authored manga so I saw this novel in libby so I read it. It was a really fun little ride was it different for Kotoko? I don't think so but she does her stories so well. I did really miss the manga aspect and I hope the manga for this one becomes available to read in English. I did think it was funny she things her MLs are yandere, I think they are yandere adjacent but not always cause they don't seem the sick part always. But I want more ASAP.

This novel's flow was really good, which is not always the case with light novels. I find most of them hard to get through so I congratulate the translation.

Publishers, give me everything with Kotoko attached, I am their biggest fan.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Grace was reincarnated as the villainess in one of her favorite books, she’s determined to make sure things go according to plan so that her OTP can get together! Now she’s on a mission to appear as mean as the Grace everyone in this world knows without actually hurting anyone. Things begin to go off the rails when she saves a character who doesn’t survive in the original story, but nothing prepares her for Zane to fall more deeply in love with her than she intended. How is he supposed to meet his true love if he won’t let Grace break things off?!

I really enjoyed following Grace as she tried to keep the original story on track. It was interesting to see how she got along with others before she had “amnesia” as well as seeing who was truly on her side as this new and reformed Grace! However, I had a hard time believing she was an adult in her original life because she came off as a very sheltered teenager suddenly thrown into her favorite book. I understand having a lack of dating experience, but she seemed to be 100% naive and lost in every single area.

That said, I did enjoy the story. It did get a little boring around the middle, but then it picked up again and hit the ground running. I’m loving all the characters, the world, and just the story itself. I just wish Grace wasn’t basically a very sheltered teenager rather than an adult from our world. However, the story is funny and even heartwarming at times, so it’s worth checking out if you can get past the inconsistencies with Grace in the present vs who she was in her former life.

[Mariána K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the standard formula for this type of subgenre, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story! I laughed out loud so much that I feel like the joy I got reading this was amazing!

If you like this type of story, and you want shenanigans that'll make you laugh until you cry, this is definitely a good one for your library. It's an easy light read and full of ridiculous comedy. I'm glad I only have to wait until the end of the month for the next volume to come out. The wait is going to be frustrating already, unfortunately the third one isn't due to come out till June... So that way it's going to be a brutal multi-monther... Lol 😆

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! Vol 1 is a really entertaining light novel. I'll admit that Grace does come off as pretty dim sometimes, but I think that's just a function of the author pointing out social cues so that we the reader know how other characters feel. So when Grace doesn't pick up on them it feels like she's clueless. But I loved her scheming and innocent attempts to get the story to follow the plot. The few chapters with Zane's POV really fill out the story. I grabbed the next volume right away.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was way funnier than I expected from the genre/summary. The narration was excellent, the MC and the guard character were particularly funny, and I was crying with laughter at multiple points through the book.

The plot was predictable, though that's not a bad thing. It hit all the emotional beats that I wanted, the characters were charming, and the narration and humor were on point. Looking forward to the next volume.

[Zero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly enjoyed this a lot. It wasn't mind blowing, but the low stakes villainess isekai novel was fun to read.

It was predictable. But it was very comforting to read that kind of predictability.

[wan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next volume! Grace is such a sweetheart and I hope she tries to find a new love interest for Charlotte😂

[Mk · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is stupid and cute and funny and charming and I love it

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a random pick up for a reading challenge, and yet I found it to be much more entertaining than expected. I loved Grace and her determination to keep her favorite story on track even though she finds herself in the position of the villainess. She knows what she's supposed to do to make sure the story happens correctly and the kingdom can be saved, but that means she has to be mean and nasty...not her normal personality. This was fun. I enjoyed her slip ups as Grace was just too polite and nice to her servants and others around her.

Definitely going to have to read the next installment.