Once Upon a Broken Heart

I had fun reading this book by my GOD Evangeline is an airhead when it comes to letting her emotions control her. Girl let go of the idea of love for like two seconds. She’s as bad as Tina Belcher with that, every man who looked at her she was immediately like “um okay MAYBE tho!” The twist at the end got me GOOD though and I really liked how the story progressed. Also I really wanna know what Jacks’ obsession with apples is and what each different color means. Looking forward to reading the next one!

Another whimsical novel in the Caraval universe! 4.5 stars rounded up because I really enjoyed this. I mostly love Stephanie’s writing but- and I mentioned this in my Caraval reviews - I feel like there’s a lot of rumination from the characters, sometimes feeling redundant and taking away from the story. I’m really excited to continue with this series! and if you take one thing from this review - read Caraval first!!!!!

Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop


Once Upon a Broken Heart takes readers back into the Caraval world with an all-new lead and a magic-focused plot.

Storytelling
Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline in the world Garber created with her Caraval series. Now, in case you’re wondering, no, you don’t have to have read Caraval to appreciate this story.

It features some characters from the Caraval series, and while reading the Caraval series would give more insight into who they are, they are not the focal point. Instead, Garber does a fantastic job highlighting those crucial moments from Caraval and summarizing them for the reader.

Garber focuses on building up this story from the ground up. The world is already established, but the callbacks to the Caraval series give the world the history it needs to ground the reader. Moreover, by focusing on the magic within the story, Garber maintains an engaging, fast pace.

Characterization
Following Evangeline, Once Upon a Broken Heart takes an exciting turn. Again, Garber lets the magic and history drive the story forward, creating this intricate mystery about a magically locked door. However, although the magic moves the story forward, Garber does not neglect the characterization.

Evangeline is such a wonderful character. Her belief in love and her love of curiosities make her so charismatic. But she is also so selfless in a way that does not make her annoying. Instead, the reader can tell she feels that she genuinely cares about other people with all her heart.

And then there is Jacks. Jacks is a character readers of Caraval will be familiar with. He is mischievous, and it is hard to see where his desires lie. He is self-serving, but is he evil? He likes to joke that he has no heart, but his actions and how Jacks takes care of Evangeline show he cares.

They have a strong dynamic here, making them incredibly wonderful to read about. The reader is invested, but they are also kept guessing where they are going.

The same can be said for Marisol. Once Upon a Broken Heart is a fairy-tale-like story, so this underlines the themes of the wicked stepmother. But does Marisol fit the bill of the wicked step-sister? Again, the reader is kept guessing. Evangeline has a good relationship with her step-sister, and Marisol is slightly more tempered. Again, Garber keeps the reader guessing, making the reader invested in how these character dynamics will play out.

Final Thoughts
Once Upon a Broken Heart is perfect for readers who love that fairy-tale atmosphere and storytelling, and Garber delivers that with something unique.

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I really enjoyed our bookclub choice so much so I need to read the second one straight away

✨ Once Upon a Broken Heart Book Review ✨ Author: Stephanie Garber Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars) ⸻ Synopsis: Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline Fox, a hopeless romantic who believes deeply in true love, happily-ever-afters, and the magic of stories. When she learns that the boy she loves is about to marry someone else, desperation leads her to do the unthinkable. She makes a bargain with the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, a Fate known for his beauty, charm, and cruel games. But bargains with Fates are never simple. What begins as a wish to stop a wedding soon unfolds into a dangerous journey filled with curses, secrets, and ancient magic. As Evangeline is pulled deeper into a world where love is powerful, fragile, and often twisted, she must learn that happily-ever-afters are not always guaranteed, and that matters of the heart can demand a terrible price. ⸻ My Review: This was my first time reading Stephanie Garber, and knowing how beloved her books are, I went into Once Upon a Broken Heart with equal parts excitement and curiosity. I’m happy to say that I truly enjoyed this story, and in many ways, it felt like stepping into a beautifully broken fairytale. From the opening pages, I was drawn in by the dreamy atmosphere and emotional intensity. The world Garber creates feels lush and magical, yet there is a quiet darkness woven through every scene, as though something dangerous is always lingering just beneath the surface. That sense of unease gave the story a mysterious, almost haunting quality that I found hard to resist. Evangeline is a heroine ruled by hope and longing, and her belief in love makes her both tender and vulnerable. Even when her choices are driven by desperation, it is impossible not to understand her heart. Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is equally captivating. He is charming, cruel, and impossible to trust, yet utterly magnetic. Their interactions are layered with tension, longing, and uncertainty, making every moment between them feel charged with possibility. While I did not remain quite as enthralled throughout the entire story as I was at the very beginning, the novel still held me in its spell. The fairytale elements, the slowly unfolding secrets, and the romantic darkness of the world made this a rich and immersive fantasy read. I continue to be surprised by how deeply I’ve fallen in love with the fantasy genre, and Once Upon a Broken Heart has earned a special place on my shelf. Though it did not quite reach a full five stars for me, it came very close. This is a story filled with magic, yearning, and the ache of a broken heart, and I am giving it a solid 4 star rating.