Make the first bargain with Evangeline
Start with Once Upon a Broken Heart; the trilogy's twists depend on reading in order.
Book Series · 3 Books
Once Upon a Broken Heart Books
In order from Once Upon a Broken Heart to A Curse for True Love.
Stephanie Garber's YA romantic fantasy follows hopeful Evangeline Fox into a world of magical bargains, dangerous curses, shifting memories, and the irresistible but untrustworthy Prince of Hearts.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read Once Upon a Broken Heart
Read Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, and A Curse for True Love in numbered order. The romance, mysteries, and consequences of Evangeline's bargains continue across all three novels.
The Mirror of Infinite Endings is a forthcoming illustrated companion scheduled for September 22, 2026. It is excluded from this page until publication and does not change the current three-book reading order.
Sources: Macmillan's official series page, Official forthcoming companion page.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Beneath the fairy-tale atmosphere are deadly bargains, coercion and manipulation, poisoning, murder attempts, deaths, blood and injuries, grief, curses, memory loss, and repeated threats from powerful immortals.
The story centers on romantic longing and includes kissing, sensual tension, jealousy, and emotionally unhealthy power dynamics. Readers should expect cliffhangers and shifting loyalties rather than a gentle fairy-tale romance.
Where to start
Where Should My Teen Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$2564
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2021
Once Upon a Broken Heart
A deal with an immortal for love's sake risks a tragic fate.
551 pages· 87,800 words· Est. 8 hour read
$26.99Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Evangeline Fox believes in true love until her beloved is set to wed another. In desperation, she bargains with the enigmatic Prince of Hearts, agreeing to give him three kisses. But as she fulfills her promise, Evangeline discovers the peril of dealing with an immortal. The Prince's intentions are far more complex, leading her toward a destiny that could be her ultimate fairy tale or a heartbreaking tragedy. Will Evangeline's quest for love lead to her downfall, or will she find the happy ending she craves?
In reading order
Once Upon a Broken Heart Series
3 books · Published 2021–2023
#1
Sale price
$2564
Once Upon a Broken Heart
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2021
A deal with an immortal for love's sake risks a tragic fate.
#2
The Ballad of Never After
Chapter Book · 2022
A deadly curse forces a reluctant alliance. Can trust be found amidst betrayal?
#3
Sale price
$1797
A Curse for True Love
Chapter Book · 2023
A girl must uncover the truth behind her fairytale life before it's too late.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series?
There are 3 books in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. It began with Once Upon a Broken Heart in 2021, and the newest book, A Curse for True Love, was published in 2023.
What order should you read the Once Upon a Broken Heart books in?
Start with Once Upon a Broken Heart and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #3.
What ages are the Once Upon a Broken Heart books best for?
The series is best for ages 13–17, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Once Upon a Broken Heart book is the longest?
Once Upon a Broken Heart (Book #1) is the longest book in the series at 87,800 words (551 pages).
Which Once Upon a Broken Heart book is the shortest?
A Curse for True Love (Book #3) is the shortest at 82,158 words (416 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Once Upon a Broken Heart to life.
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