Introduction
Looking for your next fantasy romance read?
This is a spoiler-free review of Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, a whimsical young adult fantasy romance that took the book community by storm.
But is it really worth the hype, or is it just another TikTok and Bookstagram favourite with pretty aesthetics? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Is Once Upon a Broken Heart worth reading?
Yes , Once Upon a Broken Heart is worth reading if you enjoy whimsical fantasy romance, morally grey love interests, and fairytale vibes with a darker edge.
So, you are scrolling through BookTok and Bookstagram and a blond guy, who isn’t Aaron Warner, catches your attention.
Fairy tales, girls with pink hair, foxes, and quotes about true love and heroes not getting happy endings… what’s all the fuss about?
For me, the appeal is Jacks and Evangeline’s contrast.
The author doesn’t try to justify Jacks’s actions. He is jealous, possessive, and genuinely morally grey. He behaves badly, and he doesn’t seem to care. Similar to Cardan in The Cruel Prince, he is a broken character with selfish motivations, little fear of consequences, and no problem hurting others.
When we contrast Jacks with Evangeline, a sweet girl who truly believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is constantly seeking her true love, we get a very special chemistry between them: two completely different personalities trying to find a middle ground.
We can truly see the dichotomy in these two quotes from the book:
Heroes don't get happy endings. They give them to other people
I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings
If you love slow-burns, check out this series .. it hits just as hard, heartbreak included
Author: Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy romance
Published: 2021
Pages: 416
Spice level: 1.5/5
Synopsis
For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings… until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.
Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.
But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy…
Once Upon a Broken Heart Spoiler Free Summary:
Always promise less than you can give, for Fates always take more. Do not make bargains with more than one Fate. And above all, never fall in love with a Fate
The story’s premise is quite simple and works perfectly as a hook:
Evangeline Fox is the daughter of a merchant. She leads a peaceful life, helping her family run one of her late father’s businesses and planning to marry the love of her life, Luc.
However, her world shatters when she discovers that Luc is going to marry Marisol, her stepsister.
Convinced that Luc has been cursed by her stepsister, Evangeline takes drastic measures to win him back.
She decides to seek help from the Fates, immortal beings similar to Faes, who are inherently jealous and possessive.
Jacks, The Prince of Hearts and Fate of Unrequited Love bargains strikes a bargain with her, asking for three kisses in exchange for preventing the wedding between Marisol and Luc.
As a result, Evangeline’s fate becomes intricately linked to one of the most powerful and deceitful Fates.
Will she succeed in stopping the wedding and avoid becoming a pawn in Jacks’s games?
Once Upon a Broken Heart tropes
Is Once Upon a Broken heart spicy?
Once Upon a Broken Heart spice level:
Spice: 🌶 1/5 Mild. Sweet kisses and tension. Nothing explicit
Angst: 💔 4.5/5 Emotional rollercoaster. ANGST and betrayals
Tension: ⚡️ 5/5 Three books of pure slow-burn agony like no other (though this series might actually compete on that front )
There are no sex scenes in Once Upon a Broken Heart.
This book is the perfect example of how to write a no-spice fantasy romance book. It has the best tension I’ve ever seen since The Cruel Prince without getting into spicy territory.
You will just MELT reading through the pages. Because Jacks isn’t your typical Rhysand, he is mean, jealous, and possessive and he doesn’t ask for permission.
Jacks uses a variety of nicknames for Evangeline who denotes the possessiveness he has for her and there are quite a few moments where the tension is elevated to the skies and beyond..
Believe me when I said that you won’t miss the explicit scenes in this book. All the teasing and banter will COMPLETELY compensate for the lack of spice. You have my word!!
Loved Jacks? Read These Next
Once Upon a Broken Heart reading order
Both Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart take place in the same universe.
Like Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, the awarded series from Leigh Bardugo which are set in the “Grishaverse” The same happens here but with some important differences.
Both series, Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart ( from now on OUABH )features Jacks as an important character ( in Caraval he acts as an antagonist ) whereas here he is one of the main protagonists.
OUABH is not considered a direct sequel to Caraval, and like Shadow and Bone, both series tell different stories with some shared characters.
Once Upon a Broken Heart acts as a spin-off, focusing on the story of ONE character who happened to appear in the Caraval series as a morally grey villain.
From my personal experience, I can say that you don’t need to read Caraval before OUABH. The author delves into worldbuilding quite well, and you can understand the story from the beginning without feeling lost.
Of course, there are differing opinions. Some people who read Caraval first believe it’s important to read the initial series before diving into OUABH because it provides insight into Jacks and his motivations.
Having already read Caraval, I strongly disagree with those who recommend reading it first. I enjoyed going into the story blind, and some facts about Jacks’s past are quite controversial.
For me, it was better to discover them within the Once Upon a Broken Heart series rather than knowing them beforehand.
However, here’s the reading order most readers in the community recommend:
- Caraval (2017)
- Legendary (2018)
- Finale (2019)
- Once Upon a Broken Heart (2021)
- The Ballad of Never After (2022)
- A Curse for True Love (2023)
- Spectacular (2024 – novella/epilogue)
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Is Once Upon a Broken Heart a duology or trilogy?
Once Upon a Broken Heart is a completed trilogy.
The final book, A Curse for True Love, was released in 2023 and became a viral success.
If you want to know more about the last instalment or you’re looking for books similar to Once Upon a Broken Heart, don’t miss these related posts:
After A Curse for True Love, Stephanie Garber released a Caraval novella titled Spectacular , but so far ( 2025), nothing new set in the Once Upon a Broken Heart universe.
Recently, she published her first adult fantasy novel, Alchemy of Secrets, for which you can read my full guide and summary here.
Jacks’s past has marked him in the worst possible way, and he is unable to have hope or expect good things from others.
Evangeline, on the contrary, is a dreamer who believes there is a happily ever after for her out there. Her beliefs rule her decisions and actions throughout the series.
As a result of these two diametrically different characters, we are presented with one of the most breathtakingly slow-burn romances in YA fantasy romance in recent years.
Once Upon a Broken Heart: a real enemies-to-lovers:
You know how often a book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, and they end up being friendly and cozy by chapter 2? Well, I despise those deceiving books.
Breaking my expectations almost guarantees that I’ll DNF a book immediately.
This book is a TRUE enemies to lovers. No friendly feelings here, he is bad, he is evil..will he eventually care for her? We don’t know.
The book is intentionally deceptive, and with more than one love interest in the story, anything can happen!
Last but not least, what makes this book special is the worldbuilding and overall aesthetic. It blends magical and medieval landscapes commonly found in “traditional” fantasy romance books but infuses them with a “bubblegum” vibe.
And YES, I INVENTED AN AESTHETIC TERM to describe Stephanie Garber’s worldbuilding, haha.
Once Upon a Broken Heart narrative structure
Once Upon a Broken Heart is undeniably a character-driven story.
Right from the start, we encounter the inciting incident that will not only shape the course of this book but also lay the foundation for the entire series: the three kisses that Jacks demands in exchange for his assistance to Evangeline.
You might wonder how such a seemingly straightforward plot point can guide an entire series.
As I mentioned earlier, Stephanie Garber places great emphasis on character-driven storytelling, and a significant portion of this book’s success can be attributed to one particular character: Jacks.
He essentially carries this series singlehandedly.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that he also played a pivotal role in the Caraval series (making appearances in the second and third books).
The perfect morally grey character
In fact, Jacks is the ultimate morally grey character.
Typically, we see morally grey characters undergoing a slow transformation to become the good guys as the plot progresses.
For example, we often witness them gradually changing until they are nothing like their former selves (Rhysand, I’m looking at you).
However, the opposite is true for Jacks in Once Upon a Broken Heart.
The Prince of Hearts possesses a well-defined personality that never wavers or goes out of character.
Truth be told, all his actions are driven by his wicked intentions.
Jacks doesn’t offer apologies, as he views his actions as a means to an end. Despite the obstacles that arise throughout the story, Jacks remains steadfast in his motivations.
Why does Jack's character work so well in Once Upon a Broken Heart?
However, we also have to give credit to other aspects of Stephanie Garber’s writing.
I defined Stephanie Gerber’s writing style as “bubblegum fantasy (props to me for coming up with a new term, haha).
Despite her characters and worldbuilding immersing you in a sensory experience filled with all things pink, flowery, and sweet, she subtly adds sprinkles of darkness to this Barbie-like world, all without you even realizing it.
Jacks is undeniably the embodiment of wickedness in her bubblegum and innocent world.
He doesn’t need to tone down his malevolence; in fact, Jack’s sinister character serves as a perfect counterbalance to the sweetness of the cute world and Evangeline’s personality.
As a result, there are only a few authors that come to mind who can capture Stephanie Garber’s unique style.
Once Upon a Broken Heart Special Editions
God bless these covers!! OUAH covers are just breathtakingly beautiful. There are two well-distinct editions, the UK and the US.
Let’s take a look at some of the covers and where to get them ( take in mind some of them are already out of stock or won’t be reprinted, so they are very coveted by the fandom )
You can click on the images to see them bigger.
- Once Upon a Broken Heart standard USA hardcover edition. The standard edition. Paperback design is the same. Available in both formats
- Once Upon a Broken Heart Barnes & Noble exclusive edition (with bonus material) . Totally out of stock and discontinued
- Once Upon a Broken Heart exclusive Owl Crate signed edition. White cover, signed. Exclusive foil design on the hardcover case. DISCONTINUED
- Once Upon a Broken Heart standard UK hardcover edition. I love the UK edition. Sadly it seems it is discontinued as well
- Once Upon a Broken Heart Fairyloot exclusive edition. OMG this edition…is signed, has exclusive bonus content, sprayed edges..artwork by the wonderful @rosiethorns88 ..just PERFECTION. DISCONTINUED
- Once Upon a Broken Heart standard UK paperback edition. Just look at the colours!! Available
- Once Upon a Broken Heart exclusive Waterstones paperback edition. With inside cover printing and flaps featuring character quotes and hidden images. STILL AVAILABLE
Once Upon a Broken Heart Ending explained
This section is FULL OF SPOILERS for Once Upon a Broken Heart ending
The conclusion of “Once Upon a Broken Heart” left us with more questions than answers, but one thing is certain: Evangeline Fox is the key that can unlock any door, and Jacks orchestrated everything to ensure she would become that key.
The Valory Arch Prophecy
"This arch may only be unlocked with a key that has not yet been forged. Conceived in the north, and born in the south, you will know this key, because she will be crowned in rose gold. She will be both peasant and princess, a fugitive wrongly accused, and only her willing blood will open the arch"
Evangeline Fox is the Key to the Valory Arch.
- She was conceived in the North and born in the South.
- Her hair is rose gold
- She started as a commoner and then married Apollo ( all orquestrated by Jacks )
- She is wrongly accused of murdering his husband
- Her blood can open any door ( We will see this in The Ballad of Never After the second book ))
During Evangeline’s visit to Jacks’ house in search of a cure for the love spell Marisol had cast on Tiberius, she stumbled upon some key findings.
Although these discoveries may not appear significant in Once Upon a Broken Heart, they will play a crucial role in the second book.
Among the items she found were books related to time travel and an encyclopedia focused on the letter ‘E.’
Without giving away any spoilers from the second book, it’s safe to say that Jacks has a keen interest in time travel, and this is strongly tied to the opening of the Valory Arch.
Towards the conclusion, we learn that Jacks used Apollo, who is in a coma-like state, as leverage to persuade Evangeline to unlock the Valory Arch.
In the upcoming second book, ‘The Ballad of Never After”, we will discover Jack’s true motivations for wanting to access the Valory Arch and how this connects with “The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox”, a cursed Ballad mentioned in “Once Upon a Broken Heart” that will take center stage in book 2.
Once Upon a Broken Heart Favorite quotes
These are some of my favorite quotes ( no spoilers!!).
When I’m looking for books to read, I love reading quotes to inspire me.
“Wait- are you saying that your kiss isn't deadly if you don't want it to be?' 'Careful, Little Fox, you sound curious. But you shouldn't be.”
“ I might not be the most handsome person in the room, but you know that you’re intrigued.”
“Always promise less than you can give, for Fates always take more. Do not make bargains with more than one Fate. And, above all, never fall in love with a Fate.”
About the author
Stephanie Garber is a US bestselling author of Young Adult fantasy romance books.
She is very active on herInstagram account and usually does Q&A in her stories with info about her upcoming books. She has a “Friday fanart day” where she posts fanarts from her fans.
Stephanie Garber seems to have a special spot for special editions of her books and she puts a lot of detail into them, adding little tidbits here and there.
She had a beautiful Pinterest account with the pins she used as inspo for writing the Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series but sadly the pictures have been removed 🙁
I strongly recommend following her to see beautiful art and merchandising about her books and for new announcements!!!
Once Upon a Broken Heart: Final thoughts
This book is my latest obsession. It has taken the YA fantasy romance community by storm, and honestly, the hype keeps going for a reason.
I highly recommend Once Upon a Broken Heart to any fantasy romance reader who fell in love with Jude and Cardan’s dynamic in The Cruel Prince and enjoys straightforward but well-crafted stories. In this series, nothing happens by chance, and every little detail has a purpose.
Stephanie Garber is an expert at leaving breadcrumbs here and there, which makes her books perfect reread material.
If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn romance, whimsical fairytale vibes, and morally grey characters, this book will absolutely consume you.
Jacks and Evangeline stole my heart and shattered it into tiny little pieces. Get ready for a massive book hangover after reading this series.
Frequently asked Questions:
Once Upon a Broken Heart is a TRILOGY.
You can read my full guide with all the alternative endings explained for the final instalment of this trilogy here
Once Upon a Broken Heart is not considered a direct sequel to Caraval, and like Shadow and Bone, both series tell different stories with some shared characters.
Having already read Caraval, I strongly disagree with those who recommend reading it first. I enjoyed going into the story blind, and some facts about Jacks’s past are quite controversial.
For me, it was better to discover them within the Once Upon a Broken Heart series rather than knowing them beforehand.
Yes, you can read The Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy without reading Caraval. However, the Caraval series adds depth and context to the world and to Jacks’ character.
The community generally agrees it’s best to start with Caraval, since it gives you all the background on the world and Jacks’ origin.
That said, I actually read Once Upon a Broken Heart first, and I still ended up enjoying Caraval even more afterwards. So honestly, you can’t go wrong either way!
Here’s the reading order I recommend if you want the most complete experience:
Caraval (2017)
Legendary (2018)
Finale (2019)
Once Upon a Broken Heart (2021)
The Ballad of Never After (2022)
A Curse for True Love (2023)
Spectacular (2024 – novella/epilogue)
Once Upon a Broken Heart is suitable for young audiences. The publisher’s suggested age range is 13 to 18 years old
Once Upon a Broken Heart spice level:
Spice: 🌶 1/5 Mild. Sweet kisses and tension. Nothing explicit
Angst: 💔 4.5/5 Emotional rollercoaster. ANGST and betrayals
Tension: ⚡️ 5/5 Three books of pure slow-burn agony like no other (though this series might actually compete on that front )
Once Upon a Broken Heart ends on a mild cliffhanger… but trust me, it’s nothing compared to the EMOTIONAL DEVASTATION waiting for you in The Ballad of Never After (second book in the series) easily one of the best cliffhangers in fantasy romance, IMO.
Nothing initially suggests that Jacks has a love interest in Once Upon a Broken Heart, but he’s deeply possessive and utterly obsessed with Evangeline
Yes 🙂 It’s the very same Jacks who first appears in Legendary, book two of the Caraval trilogy.
Indeed! Jacks is one of the most beloved characters in the fantasy romance community charming, manipulative, and VERY morally grey.
He’s often compared to Aaron Warner from the Shatter Me series (and honestly, the comparison fits way too well).
QUESTION: Are you planning on reading Once Upon a Broken Heart? Tell me in the comments!
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