Spare by: Prince Harry

 

Goodreads Blurb:

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 Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Prince Harry wishes to support British charities with donations from his proceeds from Spare. The Duke of Sussex has donated $1,500,000 to Sentebale, an organisation he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers' legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Prince Harry will also donate to the non-profit organisation WellChild in the amount of £300,000. WellChild, which he has been Royal patron of for fifteen years, makes it possible for children and young people with complex health needs to be cared for at home instead of hospital, wherever possible.

Honest Review Time:

Let me start by saying that I have always been extremely interested in the British monarchy (History was my minor). I loved Dianna and feel Harry is the most like her, and have since I was a teenager. I was THRILLED to snag this from my library’s Libby app. Thrilled. I also listed to him read it to me (yes I hogged both digital and audio for 5 days, sue me).
The book was broken into three parts, so my review will too:
Part 1:
I had so many emotions. Harry was 13 when his mother was taken from him. This whole part is heartbreaking and his grown perspective on his inability to process that his ‘mummy’ was actually gone haunted him through adulthood. It kept coming back up throughout the other two parts and it hurt every time. I appreciate his willingness to share that with the world, because the world loved her so much.
Part 2:
This part is LONG and he breaks it up into tiny chapters which makes it easier to process. This is everything from graduation of grade school until right before he meets Meghan. It’s a lot of personal struggle and growth. The way he describes his desperation for his family to do something about the media makes you understand why he was plastered in tabloids as the ‘naughty’ spare. I felt like parts of this were a bit drab, but necessary because you see him finding connections and slowly learning to trust, when no one in his immediate family filled that void. I appreciate it for what it is.
Part 3: (AKA, Meghan)
I was dying to read this part. The media rips her to shreds and it ticks me off because she’s SUCH an advocate for women. She may be a lot to people, but I’ve never once disliked her. She’s not my most favorite human on the planet, but I have zero issues with her. I wanted to know what he saw in her. I love that it draws him back to his mom, and he comes full circle in processing that loss and gaining his wife. My heart broke for her, and my suspicions about Will and Kate make me kind of worried for Kate, but also hesitant to put blame all on “Willy.”
Also—don’t get me started on Charles and Camilla.
I’m so glad I read this.

5/5 🌟
There’s no spice, but he describes his lower half after an encounter with frostbite.

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