Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie Garber -> Starting April 4th, 2025

[Jamie]

How far would you go for happily ever after?

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...

[Haley]

this one is still on my radar! needing to finish 1/2 before re-reading the 1st one

[Grace]

I think I'm going to start today

[Haley]

woo woo okay! I'll try to read start once you do :)

[Grace]

Chp 1
(view spoiler)[not the church smelling like Jacks' heartbreak!! Poor baby (hide spoiler)]

@Haley did you read Caraval first?

[Grace]

Part 1

(view spoiler)[
I expected something else for the 3 kisses deal with Jacks and now I am even more excited about seeing where the story will go
Especially with knowing that Tella was Jacks' one true love. I still don't understand that but I'm told this book will explain.

I'm also glad I read Caraval first. Too many spoilers otherwise.

And for that, I already feel a great deal for Jacks.

I like Evangeline. She's smart.
I wonder what kind of magic she is connected to, cz of course there is magic with all the descriptions we've gotten so far for her.

And the Scarlett and Tella cameo warmed my heart!
I actually love Tella more than Scarlett I think.

Also this is so Cinderella coded 🥹 (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

=> chp 20
(view spoiler)[
I love that I don't ever know where the story is actually heading with Stephanie Garber, and I don't want to try to know.
Her writing makes me believe in magical fairytales again and I appreciate that.

I'm wondering what will happen after the 3rd kiss? Maybe he doesn't want her to kiss 3 different people?
What is Jacks' angle?

And babyboy went and died his hair blue after the break up 🥹 blue as in Tella blue!! (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

(view spoiler)[is Evangeline a descendant of the Valors? (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "

Chp 1
[spoilers removed]

@Haley did you read Caraval first?"

I recall reading that one AGES ago its been so long

Actually scratch that I don’t think I have

[Grace]

well the start of OUABH has major spoilers for the ending of Caraval, not too many that you would know everything that happens but enough to know some major outcomes

do you plan on reading Caraval?
if yes, maybe read that first?

Brittni and I had a thread for it that ended in January (I think)

[Grace]

=> Chp 28
(view spoiler)[I am fairly certain at this point that Jacks is the one behind the Luc-Marisol ordeal. He made them fall in love together so that Evangeline will come to him and owe him a favour, because he already knew who she actually was and what she is capable of.
I might even go to say that Jacks sent Luc to console Evangeline in the first place after her father's death too (unknowingly to Luc ofc)

That cunning man! But I still love him. (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

I probably won’t get around to reading that one before this series, *hopefully* I end up forgetting any main points if I ever read it

[Grace]

Haley wrote: "I probably won’t get around to reading that one before this series, *hopefully* I end up forgetting any main points if I ever read it"

I have noticed a lot of major things so far (75% into OUABH book 1) but yeahhopefully you forget them allll hehehe
I know I forgot some details from the 3 books

[Grace]

=> Chp 47

(view spoiler)[I am wondering if Jacks' heart stopped beating after Tella and is now beating again because of Evangeline, or is it still beating.

Spoiler for Caraval (Finale)
(view spoiler)[if a Fate's heart is beating then they can be killed, correct? I mean they have to "feel" love and stop being immortal.
But does this work differently for Jacks?
Are the hearts' fates always beating and only Jacks' heart is not until he meets his One True Love?
(hide spoiler)]

I need to know the logistics of this.

(hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

End
(view spoiler)[
lol, so halfway through I was like nahhh Jacks didn't do this (like I thought in the previous updates) he wasn't the cause, I'm wrong about him (just like Evangeline thought she was wrong)
But yeahhh he did it!! and I just love him for it.

It's interesting how she is building this friendship between them and leading to the romance. I am here for it.

I am not sure about Marisol. I mean makes sense but I didn't care for this part much. (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "
Part 1


I expected something else for the 3 kisses deal with Jacks and now I am even more excited about seeing where the story will go
Especially with..."


Trying this one out as an audiobook instead of physical (like last time I read) & I’m thinking I would be more into it if I read caravel prior (but oh well)

(view spoiler)[ DEFINITELY Cinderella theme with this one, I remember thinking that witht the step sister last time and how Evangelina is making her out to be. Jack is putting up a front with his “cool boy/ I’m too good for heartbreak” fasade (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "

=> chp 20

I love that I don't ever know where the story is actually heading with Stephanie Garber, and I don't want to try to know.
Her writing makes..."

(view spoiler)[ I wish I loved her writing as much :'( I think because I had the same expectations as the first time I read it, not much changed on how I listened.

Evangeline can kind of be an annoying character, more so because she's naive but I'm hoping she changes in the upcoming books in the series.

not sure the end game with the three kisses... something is up Jack's sleeve with the arches. (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "

=> Chp 28
"

(view spoiler)[ I wonder how he would have known about Evangeline before??
out of all the characters so far, I'm liking Jack the most with his witty comments and sarcasm lol (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "

End

."

(view spoiler)[ I had a feeling *even though it's my second time around reading lol* there was no way Jack was doing anything out of the good of his heart. I only wonder what his end game is and how Evangeline is going to torment and make things worse for him..

overall, thought similar thoughts like the first time. I could connect a bit more with Jack, but Evangeline fell short for me bleh... it's hard going from strong female leads to her (hide spoiler)]

I did impulsively buy the entire series two years ago so I plan on finishing & hoping it gets better :)

let me know when you'd like to move forward with the 2nd book! I'm thinking beginning of next week or even next month works best for me

[Grace]

Haley wrote: "Grace wrote: "

=> Chp 28
"

I wonder how he would have known about Eva..."

(view spoiler)[So Jacks is a Fate, he's been alive for thousands of years and has a lot of connections and definitely knows the North and it's stories well.
Evangeline's pink hair is a dead giveaway, and now that I'm thinking about it, he did ask her where was she born the first time he saw her, which I suspect is to confirm that this is her or it's just foreshadowing.
But when I tell you Jacks knew, believe me he is that cunning and he knew. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

I think I'll read book 2 early next month.
I kinda slumped last week and got things messed around for my timeline.

[Haley]

sounds good with me! I *think* I crammed a bit too much this month haha, the month is flying by BUT I'll aim to start around the 6th

[Brittni]

I'll definitely join in on book 2 with both of you!

[Haley]

amazing! can't wait :)

[Grace]

The 6th works! I'll see you then.

Hahahaha when you were mentioning you BR on the requests thread I actually called you a champion.

April was a weird month.

[Haley]

thank you!! :.) yes next month I probably won't go as crazy (at least not with as many big books

[Kim]

i forgot about this BR and totally have it on my TBR toppler. gonna try to keep the thread alive!

[Grace]

coming back for book 2 soon in May!

[Haley]

started book 2 last night! but barely made a dent, hoping to add some updates by tomorrow morning

[Grace]

I made a FBAA detour, then a quick ARC, then coming here for book 2

[Haley]

amazing! I have a bit of a drive tomorrow, so hoping to get through a good portion of it :)

[Grace]

Drive safe and enjoy!!

[Haley]

part 1 (view spoiler)[ liking this one more than the 1st book. at first I had the same thoughts going in of .. (oh gosh here we go naive Evangeline) thinking Apollo will still be in love with her. But now it's taking a turn..

who is behind the curse, I'd like to think it isn't Jack but also don't want to rule it out. It could maybe be chaos as a way to push jack into speeding up the process of unlocking the gate?

I truly don't know who would be behind it ... kinda liking the slow building tension and love between jack and evangeline (hide spoiler)]

[Haley]

part 2 (view spoiler)[ so much happening!! so Lalas was behind the curse?? I can't say I blame her, considering her circumstances behind wanting her happy true love ending.

mirth stone was the one to blame.. smh I really thought there was some chemistry.. (well I know there is chemistry, but I thought Jack was giving into wanting to really care about her) almost as if it was the truth stone...

I don't think Evangeline's feelings were lying to her .

why does jack want all the stones together what will it do? (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Starting tonight

[Brittni]

Woohoo! I want to jump back into this series soon!

[Haley]

Grace wrote: "Starting tonight"

yay! I can't wait to read about your thoughts

[Grace]

I think Rebecca Soler and Stephanie Garber are becoming synonymous for me 😂

[Grace]

Words of warning
(view spoiler)[I actually find Evangeline smart.
Wise of her to write that letter to herself.
We'll see when she needs it because she sure will! (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

I've been trying to stop for 5 chapters and each ends in a more intriguing way and I HAVE to continue!

[Grace]

so I've been told that is the best book in the series and ever written by her, and I kind of want to agree!

such a page turner! had to force myself to stop yesterday
and the stakes are so high!!

=> chp 12
(view spoiler)[
I knew the archer ad the fox was going to play a role and so intrigued by how she did it!
At first I thought it might be her and Jacks, but dammit if he isn't making himself more swoon-worthy and just subtly care for her! (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

End of part 1

(view spoiler)[
I've been suspicious of the apples and their colours and where Jacks gets them for a while. I hope we get answers.
Also, on the note this part ended, I will go back to reconsidering Jacks being the real archer or the one affected by the curse. We'll see. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Haley wrote: "
part 1 ..."

(view spoiler)[I don't believe it's either Jacks or Apollo who put the curse.
I think maybe the guards (Havelock for ex) or someone else.
It could also be a countdown or trigger, like a failsafe. Once the Key comes to the North and she opens or triggers a door, then the curses come back to life and manifest to try and stop her. Like more layers to stop the arch from opening. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Chp 22


(view spoiler)[
I think the symbols relate to which House the stone is with. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

I need you to read and finish The Ballad of Never After because I need to start book 3 IMMEDIATELY.

Like right now, I am in these states:
SHUT THE F UP
GET OUT OF HERE
NO WAY
My heart is in a million pieces
Jacks is top 5 book boyfriends
Stephanie Garber became an auto-buy author
Rebecca Soler became an auto-listen narrator
I just found a new Roman Empire series

Good night

[Haley]

YES YES I finished it!! I enjoyed this 2nd one so much more than the first, and even though I have the physical book the audio version!! *amazing*

If you want I can squeeze it in next week?? if that works for you?

[Grace]

a couple of thoughts in the end
(view spoiler)[
I knew Jacks was the Archer.
She gave so much importance to that tale in book 1 for him not to be.
And then I was surprised Apollo became the archer because it didn't make sense in my head. Like Eva is the Fox and Jacks is the Archer, that's how it is!

So while I am worried how this will transpire in book 3, I am still excited that this is how it turned out.

The entire "break-up" and her death, and then Apollo taking her memories just was gut-wrenching and I was crying because they deserve better.

The build-up and tension is a definition of slow-burn and how romance should be like in books. It's so undeniable.

Now, I thought the symbols next to the stones are for which house has them, but maybe now I am thinking which Valor they control? or are associated with?

Still curious about the apples
And curious about the Jacks + Aurora...

And I didn't know Fates can be made... so interesting to learn how Fates can be made.
I thought they couldn't, and Legend was the closest thing to a Fate that can ever come....

"There's nothing of equal value to me."
Then she was taken from him....
I do wonder how Apollo got these powers and why he used them. I wonder if he saw the memories.
But it's definitely "time" taking something of equal value from Jacks... my heart (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Haley wrote: "YES YES I finished it!! I enjoyed this 2nd one so much more than the first, and even though I have the physical book the audio version!! *amazing*

If you want I can squeeze it in next week?? if t..."

So I should read Heir of Fire next, but honestly between OUABH and FBAA, I feel TOG is just so meh and I don't care
But I should stay committed.... I guess :p

[Haley]

I’m loving TOG but that’s me :)) but I would love to finish this series before getting back into another one.

I’m finding myself so connected and invested with the characters, how is FBAA?

[Grace]

I am not totally vibing with TOG, but I am BR with someone too (outside of the thread) so that is encouraging me alongside you guys.

FBAA is soooo goood!