The Best Stephanie Garber Books Ranked (2026)

Last updated on 7 January 2026

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It was 2017 when I first discovered Stephanie Garber, not that much longer after she’d released Caraval. And I absolutely loved it. Granted, it took me a little while to read the sequels after devouring Caraval, but the love was absolutely there. Garber doesn’t have an overwhelming book catalogue (at the writing of this blog post), but the books she does have are top-notch, so we’re going to look at the best Stephanie Garber books ranked on Goodreads.*

Best Stephanie Garber Books Ranked

Caraval (Caraval #1)
Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1)
The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2)
Legendary (Caraval #2)
A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3)
Finale (Caraval #3)
Spetacular (Caraval #3.5)
Alchemy of Secrets (2025)

Let’s take a look at them, from eight back up to one.

Alchemy of Secrets

New out in 2025, Alchemy of Secrets hasn’t really had enough time to time in popularity, but I think it will. I loved this book. It was one of my last reads of 2025, and I ate it up in 2 days. It’s the story of Holland who is taking a class called Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths which is taught by The Professor. And it follows Holland as she uncovers the secrets and truths about the so called legends and myths, and the magical world of LA hidden below the surface. I loved it.

Spetacular (Caraval #3.5)

Spectacular is a novella set in the world of Caraval, and follows the characters from the series as they take part in Great Holiday Eve Eve. It’s almost a Christmas story, if you will, from what I can gather (I have yet to read this one!). Snow falling, secrets swirling, and familiar faces returning, it seems like quite the cosy read.

Finale (Caraval #3)

Interesting that Finale, the last book in the series that started it all, is sitting at number 6. As of writing this blog post, I have yet to read Finale. I know, I know. It’s ridiculous because it’s 2026 right now and I read the first book in 2017.

And while I don’t want to give much away, according to Goodreads, the people’s reviews, and also the fact that this was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers’ Favourite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2019, it seems like it was a pretty good ending to a brilliant series.

A Curse for True Love (Once Upon a Broken Heart #3)

A Curse for True Love brings Evangeline’s story to a dramatic, heart-tugging close, and it did not disappoint. This is the third and final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy, and it really delivered.

This one had that fairytale sparkle on the surface, with a darker thread running underneath, and I loved every twist of it. There’s mystery, high stakes, and just the right dose of heartbreak and swoon. Getting even a little of Jacks’ perspective made it even better. A brilliant, bittersweet end to a series I’ll be re-reading for sure.

Legendary (Caraval #2)

Legendary picks up right after Caraval, but this time it’s Tella in the spotlight. She’s out of her father’s grip and Scarlett’s safe, but freedom comes at a cost. Tella made a dangerous deal, and now she owes a debt no one’s ever been able to pay: Legend’s real name. The only way to uncover it? Win Caraval all over again.

This was a great addition and follow up to Caraval and while it was years alter that I read it, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2)

The second in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy is The Ballad of Never After. This was an excellent sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart. I loved the tension, the banter, the romance, and the sense of wonder woven through every chapter. And that ending? I’m still not over it. Definitely deserves to be in the third spot, for sure.

With a deadly curse hanging over her and an uneasy alliance with Jacks (again), the stakes feel higher and the twists hit harder. I loved watching Evangeline come into her own magic and strength, even as everything around her seemed to unravel. The tension, the reluctant partnership, the heartbreak… it all just worked. This book was impossible to put down and had me flipping pages late into the night. Oops.

Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart #1)

I remember reading Once Upon a Broken Heart and being totally sucked into this world and these characters. I absolutely loved it. I think I read it in about 3 sittings.

The story is full of charm, whimsy, and that quiet kind of magic that Stephanie Garber does so well. It’s not intense or gritty, so much as rich in mystery, adventure, and fairytale wonder. Evangeline’s story starts in Once Upon a Broken Heart with a desperate deal and quickly spirals into a world of enchanted castles, magical creatures, and royal secrets. I loved the quirky, storybook feel of the world and the slow-burn tension between Evangeline and Jacks. The setting was beautifully imagined (the map is stunning), and the light, whimsical touches (like the chipmunk-sized dragons!!) just added to the magic. It’s a fantastic start to a brilliant series.

Caraval (Caraval #1)

I think, like many of us, Caraval was probably the first Stephanie Garber book I read. You too? Is that a safe assumption? And it is probably the one I recommend picking up first, too.

It follows Scarlet as she’s swept into the dazzling world of Caraval, a game full of secrets, puzzles, and a prize that could change everything. What starts as a way to save her sister quickly becomes something much bigger, and the stakes are higher than Scarlet ever imagined. The world is vivid, the characters are layered, and the twists keep you guessing right until the end. It’s enchanting and dramatic and such a fun ride.

I loved the concept, the atmosphere, and the sense that anything could happen. Scarlet was a strong and determined lead, and Julian had that instant intrigue that kept me guessing. If you enjoy stories that feel rich, immersive, and just a little bit dark, this one is such a great pick.

What would I change about this list?

I don’t know that I would adjust this list much at all, to be honest with you. I think perhaps I’d move Once Upon a Broken Heart to the top space and Caraval in at number 2, and possibly swap the order of Legendary and A Curse for True Love, just because I do love that series a lot.

And I do think that Alchemy of Secrets is going to move up the list. Just give it time.

All of Stephanie Garber’s books are addictive, and I always find myself getting lost in the story. If Garber is working on new books, then I cannot wait to get my hands on them. Even if I haven’t quite finished reading the ones that are already on. 🙈 Oops.

What about you? What do you think about these best Stephanie Garber books, ranked by the masses over on Goodreads? Let me know what you’d change, or which ones you enjoyed more than others, in the comments!

*I looked at Stephanie Garber’s author page on Goodreads and sorted the books she’d written by popularity to get this list.