Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! Vol.2

Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! #2

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

Try, try, try as she might, Grace just can’t shake off the devotion of her so-called “cold-hearted” duke.

Grace Saintsbury, reborn as the villainess in her favorite novel, knows she must betray and break up with Duke Zane—the story’s male lead—if she wants to prevent a looming war. But her schemes are foiled, her intentions laid bare, and Zane only clings to her more fiercely each time she tries to escape. As if that weren’t enough, her former ally in these breakup plots, the notorious playboy Count Gardner, has suddenly turned his charm on her. With a rose in hand and a bold confession—“Won’t you be mine instead?”—he upends her plans entirely. Caught between love and a hard place, Grace struggles to navigate this twisted new version of the story she thought she knew.

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Name (in native language): 琴子.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much! Though I wish Grace had been honest with the Duke a lot sooner so they didn’t have to suffer as much and OMG the poor “secondary has no chance in heck” love interest!!

He’s such a secret CinnaRoll, I’ll take him if you don’t want him Grace! I’m a sucker for Gap Moe, who knew??

And Evan is SO Kronk it’s not even funny. Loving him!

And maybe the “Power of Love” has changed hands from Charlotte to Grace? (Fingers and toes crossed at this point, I want my HEA!!)

And I’m not trusting Charlotte and Isaac AT ALL.

5, whhhhhyyyyy isn’t the next volume out yet, stars?!?

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! Vol 2 was lovely. Zane was just as extra as in the first book. His devotion to Grace is swoon-worthy. Grace still had moments where I wished she'd get some sense but overall it was much less frustrating this book. There were some interesting insights into some of the side characters, some expected and some not. Some absolutely blew my mind and I can't wait to read the next book.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love kotoko, everything by this author I just eat it up. I even like this light novel. It does genuinely feel more like a novel than some I read. It is immersive and I love the characters. Ethan is my fav. Zane is obsessed and I love it. He pushes but still respects her. I want more.

6/6 stars