mrmarshall591's review
4.25
Graphic: Stalking, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, War, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Gaslighting, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Medical content, Suicide, Sexism, and Classism
Minor: Classism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Antisemitism, Excrement, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Slavery, Colonisation, and Cultural appropriation
venetiana's review
3.75
It's in three parts: roughly, those are 1. Harry's childhood, 2. his time in the army, 3. his time with Meghan.
The childhood/yourh part is of course emotional and sad, but also interesting. The army part absolutely made me cringe, the way he talks about war and killing people etc. (also slightly racist, though I guess trying not to be). The third part was shocking in terms of the violent and racist press, the aggressions within the family/firm etc., but of course also romantic and hopeful. Harry reading the book himself certainly adds to that, and makes it much more personal.
Given how the author has spent his whole life "inside", certain views didn't surprise me, though I was kind of disappointed that he hadn't yet found the time to "adjust" them to a world less enabled by privilege. But I definitely respect how he shared all his traumata (and stories), and how he's working on them. I respect that Meghan and him left, it's a big step, and I think it was important to share and explain what led there.
That being said, one small thing, I felt the book ended quite abruptly.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Car accident, Stalking, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Ableism, Gun violence, Slavery, Islamophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Body shaming, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Mental illness, War, and Xenophobia
The way Harry writes about travelling to Africa isn't always done well, there are sort of mildly racist bits (also, a bit white saviour-y and tourist-y). There are islamophobic/racist bits in the army part (quite violent at times). It's within the frame of the "duty" of war etc., but still.readingwithmeredith's review
3.75
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Alcohol