Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel that blends magic, romance, and heartbreak. It tells the story of Evangeline Fox and her dangerous bargain with the Prince of Hearts. This summary highlights the most important events of the book, giving you a clear sense of its twists, turns, and emotional highs.
First Half Summary: The Beginning of Evangeline’s Story
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel that explores love, loss, and the dangerous bargains people make when their hearts are on the line. The story follows Evangeline Fox, a young woman who believes in happily-ever-afters until her world shatters. Her beloved, Luc, is set to marry her stepsister Marisol, leaving Evangeline devastated. Desperate to stop the wedding, she turns to the one figure infamous for granting impossible wishes—the Prince of Hearts, Jacks.
Jacks is a Fate cursed with a deadly kiss, but he offers Evangeline a bargain: he will stop the wedding in exchange for three kisses that she must give to people of his choosing. She accepts, but the deal has consequences she never imagined. Luc is turned to stone, and Evangeline quickly learns that bargains with Fates are never simple.
As she struggles with guilt and regret, Evangeline becomes entangled in the magical politics of the North, a land of castles, curses, and hidden truths. Jacks continues to pull her deeper into his schemes, and though she fears him, she also feels an undeniable pull toward him. The kisses she owes him set in motion events that change her reputation, her relationships, and her understanding of herself. Marisol’s role becomes increasingly complex, and Evangeline realizes not everyone she loves is as innocent as they appear.
The novel builds toward an emotional and dramatic climax where Evangeline must choose between trusting Jacks, whose motives remain a mystery, or protecting her own heart at all costs. With its mix of romance, danger, and enchantment, Once Upon a Broken Heart is both whimsical and heartbreaking, leaving readers eager to see where Evangeline and Jacks’s twisted story will lead next.
Second Half Summary: From Climax to Ending
In the second half of Once Upon a Broken Heart, the consequences of Evangeline’s bargain with Jacks grow darker and more complicated. She begins to repay the kisses she owes him, and each one has unexpected outcomes that shake her trust in him even further. Jacks seems to be pulling strings for reasons beyond mischief, hinting at a deeper plan tied to ancient curses and his own desperate search for a love strong enough to break his fate.
As Evangeline becomes more involved in the world of the North, she uncovers hidden rivalries, political games, and magical dangers that test both her courage and her heart. Her relationship with Marisol takes a sharp turn as Evangeline realizes her stepsister may not be as sweet and blameless as she once believed, casting doubt on everything she thought she knew about loyalty and family.
Also read: /nudge/
Jacks continues to be both a danger and a temptation. His unpredictable behavior and charm leave Evangeline torn between mistrust and a reluctant attraction she cannot deny. The tension between them builds as the story races toward its climax, where Evangeline must face impossible choices. She learns that love in this enchanted world comes with heavy sacrifices, and that trusting the wrong person could cost her everything.
The ending delivers shocking revelations that set up the larger arc of the series, leaving readers questioning Jacks’s true intentions and Evangeline’s role in the unfolding magical struggles of the North. Full of enchantment, betrayal, and emotional twists, the second half of the book captures the heart of Garber’s story: love and hope can be as dangerous as they are beautiful.
Conclusion
Once Upon a Broken Heart is a novel about bargains, heartbreak, and the search for true love in a world full of enchantment. Stephanie Garber delivers a story that is whimsical yet deeply emotional, pulling readers into a setting where every choice has lasting consequences.
The book’s greatest strength lies in the tension between Evangeline and Jacks. Their relationship is equal parts dangerous and magnetic, raising questions about fate, trust, and sacrifice.
For readers who enjoy fantasy tales filled with romance, curses, and morally gray characters, this book offers a captivating journey. It’s not just a love story—it’s about how far someone will go to protect their heart, even if it means risking everything.
FAQs About Once Upon a Broken Heart
1. Who is the author of Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Stephanie Garber, also known for the Caraval series, wrote the novel.
2. Is this book part of a series?
Yes, it’s the first in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy.
3. Who is Evangeline Fox?
She is the main character, a young woman who makes a dangerous deal with Jacks after her heart is broken.
4. What role does Jacks play in the story Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, is a Fate who manipulates Evangeline into a bargain that changes her life.
5. Why does Evangeline make a deal with Jacks?
She wants to stop her beloved Luc from marrying her stepsister, Marisol.
6. What is the cost of her bargain?
Evangeline owes Jacks three kisses, to be given at times and to people he chooses.
7. Is Once Upon a Broken Heart a romance novel?
It’s a fantasy romance with strong magical and mythical elements.
8. Does Evangeline fall in love with Jacks?
She struggles with her feelings. Their relationship is complicated, filled with attraction and mistrust.
9. What themes are explored in the book Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Themes include love, betrayal, destiny, sacrifice, and the consequences of bargains.
10. Where is the Once Upon a Broken Heart story set?
It takes place in a fantastical world, mainly in the magical North.
11. How is Marisol portrayed?
Marisol starts as Evangeline’s stepsister, but her character reveals hidden motives later in the book.
12. Is Luc important in the story Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Yes, Luc is the man Evangeline loved, whose fate changes drastically after her bargain with Jacks.
13. Is Once Upon a Broken Heart connected to the Caraval series?
Yes, it’s set in the same universe but focuses on new characters and stories.
14. What makes Jacks different from other Fates?
Jacks is deeply flawed yet complex, searching for a love that can survive his cursed nature.
15. Is Once Upon a Broken Heart ending satisfying?
The ending is dramatic and open-ended, designed to set up the next installment in the trilogy.