Once Upon a Broken Heart
reading order.
2 books by Stephanie Garber.. Spice tracked per book. Here's the only order that works.
Quick verdict
Use this reading-order guide to start the series without guessing, then follow the related book and author paths if the world feels like a fit.
- Best starting clues: 432 pages, Spice 1/5.
- 2 book profile links help you compare before choosing.
- 8 related guide links keep the craving going.
Reader fit
432 pages | Series guide available
Read if
- Readers who want a faster, clearer path through this reading-order guide.
Skip if
- Readers who want to skip series context entirely.
Spice breakdown
- Spice 1/5
- Use this as a comfort-zone clue before you commit.
Pacing and commitment
- 432 pages
- moderate commitment
Series context
Reading order guide | verified series context
What you're getting into.
This series doesn't flinch away from difficult territory. It earns its intensity — the characters face real consequences and the stakes feel bone-deep. Stephanie Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart spans 2 books and totals 821 profiled pages (roughly 13 hours of reading time). The spice level sits at 1/5 on the spice scale.
The series is complete with all 2 books published, so you can binge the whole thing without waiting. If you're looking for a series that rewards you for reading in order — where callbacks land, character arcs pay off, and the ending hits different because you were there from the beginning — this is worth clearing your schedule for.
Last updated April 2026
Start with Book 1. Always.
Start with A Curse for True Love. It's Book 1 for a reason — the author built the world, the characters, and the tension in order. Skipping ahead means missing context that makes later books hit harder. Trust the process.
The 2 books, in verified profile order.
The heat, book by book.
How the spice level changes across the series.
Every book in one line.
- Once Upon a Broken Heart - Spice 1/5 | 432 pages.
- The Ballad of Never After - Spice 1/5 | 389 pages.
Before you dive in.
Themes and content present in this series, based on book summaries and spice levels.
What you're signing up for.
Real talk: once you start, you won't want to stop. Plan accordingly.
Similar series worth reading next.
Series with overlapping vibes, genres, or authors.
Aurelian Cycle
Covenant
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Modern Faerie Tales
Serpent & Dove
The Beautiful
Quick answers.
Do I need to read Once Upon a Broken Heart in order?
Yes. Once Upon a Broken Heart is built to be read sequentially — characters develop across books, plot threads carry over, and later reveals depend on context from earlier installments. Starting out of order means missing the buildup that makes the payoff worth it. Start with Book 1: A Curse for True Love.
How spicy is Once Upon a Broken Heart?
The spice level in Once Upon a Broken Heart ranges from 1/5 throughout. There is some romantic content, but it's not the primary focus.
How long will it take to read Once Upon a Broken Heart?
The full verified local series set is 821 pages across 2 books. At an average reading speed, that's roughly 13 hours of reading time, or about 27 hours on audiobook. It's a manageable commitment — you could finish it in a dedicated weekend or spread it across a couple of weeks.
Is Once Upon a Broken Heart finished?
Yes — Once Upon a Broken Heart is complete with all 2 books published. You can read the entire series without waiting for future releases.
What is Once Upon a Broken Heart about?
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a 2-book series. A romantic, dark Young Adult ya fantasy built around amnesia, true love, resolution. 400 pages with a gentle romantic... The series builds on its foundation with each installment — characters deepen, stakes raise, and the story earns its payoff by the end.
Are there content warnings for Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Yes — we've compiled content considerations for Once Upon a Broken Heart in the content warnings section above. These are based on themes present in the book summaries and the spice level of the series.
Love series like Once Upon a Broken Heart? Get one every Friday.
Series recommendations with reading order, spice per book, and where to start.
No spoilers. No spam. Just books worth losing sleep over.
Need a cleaner match?
Use the craving quiz to sort by mood, spice, trope, and time commitment.
Take the craving quiz