I should start by saying that I have always been a Royal Watcher. I adored Princess Diana. I have read about the courage and dignity of the Royal family during WWII. I have watched their weddings and have been excited to see their new babies. So – it was no surprise that I couldn’t wait to get this one (on audio through my audible account) and listen to Harry reading it himself. And of course I loved it!! It was so interesting to get his point of view in his words. I also have never been a Camilla fan and he’s not overly fond of her himself, it seems. And I’ve never been a huge Charles fan, but I softened to him as Harry shares that he is never called “Harold” by his father, but always “Darling boy”. I know other bloggers have criticized this title, but if you are entranced with the history, the pomp, and the personalities of the Royals, I think you’ll enjoy it. But do yourself a favor and get it on audio. I think hearing it in Harry’s voice is key.

Here’s the scoop:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Discover the global phenomenon that tells an unforgettable story of love, loss, and healing.

“Compellingly artful . . . [a] blockbuster memoir.”—The New Yorker

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love. 

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.