tdhuck's review
4.25
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Drug use, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Death, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Antisemitism, Addiction, and Bullying
teaandpetrichor's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Murder
samantha_diluca_duckworth's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: War
hempk's review
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty
The animal cruelty warning is only relating to a page or two of texts that describes poaching of rhinos.mollie1h's review
4.0
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Racism, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Animal death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death
kelly_e's review against another edition
4.0
Author: Prince Harry
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: January 10, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Revelatory • Intimate • Tragic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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, Spare is that story at last. From his battles with loneliness and anger; to his struggles at school; to his time in the army; to meeting Meghan, their fairy-tale wedding, and being hounded by the press; to finally choosing to step away from the spotlight lest history repeat itself, Harry bares everything in his memoir.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When I first heard that Harry was going to be sharing his story, I wasn't sure if I would read it. I cannot call myself a royal follower, but of all the members of the Royal Family, I have always had a soft spot for Harry. I can relate to being the second-born and his struggles to find himself or his place in the world. Nonetheless, I placed a hold at the library for the audio knowing the wait would be lengthy and when it finally came through I decided I needed to see what everything was about for myself.
Presented in a chronological manner that works best, Spare offers an unprecedented inside look into royal life. With unflinching honesty, Harry holds nothing back detailing his intense loneliness and struggles in the wake of his mother's death. My heart went out to his younger self as he describes how everything was handled and how he chose to believe his mother was simply off on vacation somewhere for many years.
I never realized the extent of the role the media plays and how it sensationalizes a lot. I don't know how anyone can handle having every single thing you do, scrutinized by millions of people. It will come as no surprise that Harry speaks openly about his mental health struggles, which I highly commend him for. The rigorous standards of the monarchy at times even made him feel like a failure, which is just heartbreaking.
The memoir is quite long and there were definitely parts where it lulls throughout the middle. As with everyone's story there are always parts that are more and less interesting. For me, my interest was mostly in his life in the wake of his mother's death, his time in the army, and his and Meghan's life. I'll admit I was a tad disappointed that his life with Meghan comprises only a small part at the end, but I completely understand his reasoning in doing so - privacy has become an very important aspect of their lives and I respect that. At the end of the day, I am glad that they found each other and have created a beautiful life together.
If you're on the fence about Spare, I'd make the suggestion of reading it for yourself so you can form your own opinions. There is no denying he was born into a life of privilege, yet that doesn't mean he isn't entitled to his own feelings, thoughts and desires. The way he and his family have been treated in the wake of stepping down speaks volumes to the outdated conditions of the monarchy. I'd also highly recommend the audio as there's certainly power in the fact he narrates it himself.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• royal family devotees
• celebrity memoir lovers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"No one had an answer for a boy actually seeking external pain to match his internal."
"Grief is a thing best shared."
"I'd traveled the world from top to bottom, literally. I'd hopscotched the continents. I'd met hundreds of thousands of people, I'd crossed paths with a ludicrously large cross-section of the planet's seven billion residents. For thirty-two years I'd watched a conveyor-belt of faces pass by and only a handful ever made me look twice. This woman stopped the conveyer belt."
"In this mixed-up world, this pain-filled life, we’d done it. we’d managed to find each other."
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Car accident, Racial slurs, War, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Abandonment, Suicide, Racism, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, and Colonisation
⚠️ CW: PTSDkaceymarie13's review against another edition
3.5
Some reviews of this book say that Harry is twisting things for his own gain, but I don't know if that is true. Of course the book is going to be one-sided, that's how we as humans perceive the world. We see it from our point of view only. By no means am I saying to take this book as gospel, but I did feel, at least in Harry's mind, that it was honest.
Even if you only believe half of what is said in this memoir, it's still heartbreaking. I'm glad I read it.
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, War, Classism, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
susanlanigan's review
4.5
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Islamophobia and Abandonment
lmy612's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very heavy book and I cried many times listening to his recount of very painful topics: his mother’s death, 9/11, self medicating with drugs and alcohol, going to war, racism against his wife and children, threats against their lives, the loss of an unborn child, the toxicity of his family, the death of the Queen, and the paparazzi who refuse(d) to let them live their lives.
This was a highly enjoyable and deeply moving memoir, even for an anti-monarchist living in the colonized commonwealth.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Mental illness, War, Death, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Car accident, and Cursing
Moderate: Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racism, Animal death, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, War, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Colonisation, Genocide, and Incest