Once upon a Disappointment Audiobook By Tessa Conway cover art

Once upon a Disappointment

How to Break Free from Fairy Tale Myths to Find Real Happiness

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Once upon a Disappointment

By: Tessa Conway
Narrated by: Michol Mae
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About this listen

Happily Ever After? Think Again. Fairy tales, Disney movies, and romantic comedies: we love them, we quote them, and sometimes, we let them ruin our lives. From the idea that a magical romance will solve all your problems to the belief that a single grand gesture can fix a broken relationship, these stories have shaped how we see love, family, careers, and success—and not always for the better. In this sharp, hilarious, and insightful book, Tessa Conway takes a sledgehammer to the myths we've been fed since childhood.

Through laugh-out-loud anecdotes, biting sarcasm, and thoughtful analysis, this book explores many different challenges we face such as some of the following:

  • The Beast Syndrome: Why your love isn’t enough to change a toxic partner.
  • The Prince Charming Illusion Spoiler: Perfect people don’t exist.
  • The Grand Gesture Fallacy: Why a bouquet of roses won’t magically fix your problems.
  • The Love at First Sight Trap: Real connections take more than a meet-cute.

And so much more!

But don’t worry—this book isn’t about giving up on love, dreams, or the idea of a happy ending. It’s about replacing the unrealistic fantasies with something better: real, messy, and fulfilling lives! With a mix of wit, realism, and practical advice, Once Upon a Disappointment doesn’t just call out these myths—it offers a path forward. Together, we'll learn how to break free from the lies we’ve been told, embrace the chaos of real life, and find true beauty and happiness in the small, imperfect moments. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic, a fairy tale skeptic, or somewhere in between, this book will make you laugh, think, and maybe even roll your eyes. Because while real life might not always be a perfect rom-com, it doesn’t mean you can’t write your own happy ending. Are you ready to rewrite the script?

©2025 AM Creative Publishing (P)2025 AM Creative Publishing Love, Dating & Attraction Personal Development Personal Success Relationships Magic Romance Fiction Fantasy Funny Witty Inspiring
Refreshing Perspective • Practical Advice • Calm Narration • Empowering Truths • Entertaining Approach • Relatable Tone
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Once Upon a Disappointment is what happens when you try to force Hallmark movie mentality into real life. The result is more Blumhouse than Hallmark and Tessa Conway make you roll with laughter. She absolutely harpoons the fairy tale BS we've been fed all our lives. She reminds us real life doesn't come with a fairy godmother, pixie dust, or cute little singing big-eyed critter helpers. But, she makes us realize that even though life is full of disappointments, you can flip your reaction with a sense of humor, sarcasm, and a firm grasp on the reality served up in this book. If you've ever screamed at the tv as another baker saves her bootstrapped cupcake shop with the help of the new-to-town, secretly-a-real-live-prince of a bucolic European (fake) country (and always come back for the next new movie), this book is for you. I highly recommend!

Hilariously relatable. Get this listen now!

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Listener received this title free

This audiobook offers a refreshing take on the stories we grew up with. It challenges traditional fairy tale ideals about love, success, and happiness. It's honest, funny, and relatable. Instead of chasing perfection, it encourages us to embrace the messy, imperfect moments that make life real. If "happily ever after" has ever disappointed you, this one is worth a listen.

Breaking Free from Fairy Tale Myths

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Listener received this title free

This book is a must for so many of us who judge ourselves and our lives as not good enough because we have embraced a fairy tale vision of how things should be.

This book offers a warm and relatable voice to the journey of breaking free from fairy tale thinking. The author helps listeners face the myths we often carry, those about romance, success, and perfection, and gently offers a more grounded path to real happiness.

The narration is clear, calm, and easy to absorb. What stood out most to me was how validating and empowering this book feels. It does not shame you for having hope or for being hurt. Instead, it gives you tools to grow from disappointment and create a life based on your own truth.

Highly recommended for anyone going through a breakup, major life change, or simply tired of chasing someone else’s version of a happy ending. This is the kind of book you will want to return to with a notebook and an open heart.

Refreshing, Real and at times Fun

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Listener received this title free

I picked this up after a breakup that left me feeling like I’d failed at love. This book helped me see how much pressure I’d put on myself to live out some version of a perfect story. It was honest without being harsh, and it gave me space to reflect on what I actually want—not just what I thought I was supposed to want. I feel more grounded now and a lot less stuck in old patterns.

Let Go of “Perfect” Expectations

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Listener received this title free

Have you ever watched a romantic comedy and come away feeling empty and sad? As much as you love to see the dramatic (and funny) love story unfolding on screen, you leave unfulfilled, wondering when you are going to meet "the one." Or maybe you're already in a relationship, but you're not sure if he (or she) is "the one." Then this book is for you.

Shattering the stereotypes of "love at first sight," and "having it all," Tessa Conway advises us to embrace life's messiness and to accept that real love is rarely perfect. And that's okay. Because imperfection is what makes it real. And real is always better than fake.

Big decisions are hardly ever made during the space of a musical montage, and real love doesn't happen in 90 minutes. Forgiveness and compassion can sometimes mean setting boundaries. And that's a good thing.

Tessa offers techniques to accept our sometimes messy lives and even become empowered by them. Mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and fast decision making can transform our lives, avoiding "analysis paralysis."

Becoming the star of your own story, and learning to love yourself is definitely (as Whitney Houston told us in the 80's) "the greatest love of all."

Revelatory and Empowering!

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Listener received this title free

This audiobook was funny, smart, and refreshingly honest. It completely changed how I look at romance and the unrealistic expectations we grow up with. The author’s sarcasm had me laughing out loud, but the advice was actually solid and relatable. I appreciated the breakdown of common myths and how they really mess with our relationships. Definitely recommend if you're tired of fairy tale nonsense and want something real.

Hilarious Reality Check on Modern Love

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Listener received this title free

After a lifetime of fairy-tale endings that I read in romance novels, this book taught me the power of rewriting the script after disappointment. I even tried the author's "gratitude for the letdown" exercise - writing a short letter to an unmet expectation. That moment of pen to paper was cathartic—I didn't just move on, I leveled up my story.

If you’re ready to find your own happy ending, even when life takes a detour, this one gives you the tools - and the permission - to do it.

Turns Out, I'm My Own Prince

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Listener received this title free

Everyone has probably imagined themselves as the main character of a romance book at least once. This is especially true when that is the picture they want. This is a unique self-development book where you can feel the author's wit and delicacy. If it does not stimulate thoughts or emotions, it naturally gives you the wisdom to deal with the differences between reality and reality through imagination and dreams. Instead, it makes you think by seeing yourself in reality as the main character of a romance created through imagination. It guides you from self-discovery to self-development, from what you hoped for in imagination to what you need as actual results. The point is that fantasy does not remain a fantasy, but you face reality based on it and become wise and mature. I highly recommend it to romantic people. It was a fascinating book.

It was a fascinating book

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Listener received this title free

This book felt like a much-needed conversation with a wise friend. Once upon a Disappointment gently unpacks the unrealistic expectations we've absorbed from fairy tales and shows how they can quietly shape our view of love and life. Tessa Conway offers relatable stories, practical advice, and the empowering reminder that real happiness isn’t about chasing a perfect ending—but creating a fulfilling, authentic life. A must-listen if you've ever felt let down by the “happily ever after” myth.

A Refreshing Reality Check on Love and Happiness

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Listener received this title free

I loved this book!! It is so true life isn't perfect and we aren't perfect but there is happiness to be found everywhere! Its a motivating book that captures fairy tales and how to truely get the life we want in reality ourselves by putting our values first and not waiting for someone to save us! Thank you!

Best life book!

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