What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOnce Upon a Broken Heart
Stephanie Garber · Book · 2021
If you loved Once Upon a Broken Heart, start with Once Upon a Time (Edward Kitsis, 2011) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Once Upon a Broken Heart across media.
You loved Once Upon a Broken Heart for the intoxicating blend of high-stakes magical whimsy and the desperate, messy pursuit of true love.
Films on the same thread
Don't Say Good Luck
Julia Hart · Film · 2026
Explores: family conflict, performance anxiety, high school social hierarchy.
Much like the dramatic stakes in Once Upon a Broken Heart, this story mirrors the intense pressure of balancing personal desires against the chaotic expectations of a public stage.
The Last Sunrise
Carlson Young · Film · 2026
Explores: Living with chronic illness, Family secrets, Carpe diem.
If the emotional vulnerability of Once Upon a Broken Heart moved you, you will appreciate how this narrative balances deep, hidden secrets with the urgency of living for today.
Reminders of Him
Vanessa Caswill · Film · 2026
Explores: Estranged motherhood, Second chances, Forbidden romance.
This story captures the same yearning for redemption and connection found in Once Upon a Broken Heart, focusing on characters who find hope while navigating complex, painful pasts.
Purple Hearts
Film · 2022
Explores: Marriage of convenience, Redemption, Opposites attract.
The tension of a marriage of convenience in this film echoes the complicated romantic entanglements of Once Upon a Broken Heart, where duty and love constantly collide.
Series on the same thread
Once Upon a Time
Edward Kitsis · Series · 2011
Explores: Cursed Town, Lost Identity, Breaking a Curse.
This series delivers the same atmospheric fairy tale magic as Once Upon a Broken Heart, trapping its characters in a world defined by powerful, life-altering curses and secrets.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore · Series · 2026
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
The transition from a strategic deal to genuine emotion in this show mirrors the captivating romantic progression that defines the core experience of Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Gossip Girl
Stephanie Savage · Series · 2007
Explores: Privilege, Social Status, Secrets.
Fans of the intricate social dynamics in Once Upon a Broken Heart will enjoy this look at the high-stakes secrets and whispered gossip defining an elite, privileged world.
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo
Tong Hua · Series · 2016
Explores: Time Travel, Historical Romance, Power Struggle.
This historical fantasy mirrors the time-bending, identity-shifting stakes of Once Upon a Broken Heart, thrusting its protagonist into a dangerous world of political intrigue and complex royal romances.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Heart
Kaitlin Prest · Podcast · 2026
If you were drawn to the raw exploration of human longing in Once Upon a Broken Heart, this podcast provides an equally intimate, cinematic look at the complexities of love.
Everyone Has An Ex
Podcast
Explores: breakups, relationship experiences, heartbreak.
These stories of heartbreak and growth resonate with the central themes of Once Upon a Broken Heart, offering a grounded look at how we survive and move past love.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Once Upon a Broken Heart a standalone novel?
Once Upon a Broken Heart is not a standalone novel. It marks the launch of a new series from author Stephanie Garber that explores themes of love, curses, and the pursuit of a happily ever after for the protagonist, Evangeline Fox.
What is the premise of Once Upon a Broken Heart?
In Once Upon a Broken Heart, Evangeline Fox, who has always believed in true love, finds her world shattered when she discovers the love of her life is marrying someone else. She then takes desperate measures to stop the wedding and heal her broken heart.
Who wrote Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Once Upon a Broken Heart was written by Stephanie Garber. The book was published in 2021 and became a number one New York Times bestseller, serving as the beginning of a new series focused on curses and the lengths people go to for happy endings.
What themes are explored in Once Upon a Broken Heart?
Once Upon a Broken Heart explores themes of love, curses, and the lengths individuals will go to for a happily ever after. The story follows Evangeline Fox as she navigates the emotional fallout of learning that the love of her life is marrying another person.