Reviews

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess by Andrew Morton

elsbethmartha's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

3.0

laurenc18's review against another edition

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4.0

Really interesting to read about Meghan. I loved getting to know her backstory before she was Princess Meghan to understand her better.

writingwwolves's review against another edition

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5.0

I felt this was a very balanced insight into Meghan's life before Harry, & a very positive look at how their relationship first blossomed. Some people think Meghan isn't fit to be royalty, but in my opinion she's everything I would want a princess to be. I throughly enjoyed this book & recommend it to anyone interested in Meghan.

Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2zM

lizmart88's review against another edition

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2.0

I am such a sucker for celebrity biographies! Saw this and had to pick it up.

Objectively, it's a pretty terrible book in terms of writing and perspective. It reads like a really long Wikipedia article.

It presents the facts of Meghan's life, supplemented by what feels like random anecdotes, presumably only the anecdotes he could dig up. He presents her family, which has many dysfunctions, alternately with compassion and with derision.

At times, he goes into great detail about what feels like inconsequential details while glossing over other parts. I can only surmise that it depends what information he was able to get.

Particularly on issues of race, the writing and narrative feels tone deaf and out of touch. It's pretty clear that a straight white British man trying to write authentically about the childhood and adulthood of a female biracial American is doomed to be a failure. And it is.

In short, there has to be better books on Meghan. If not, save yourself and just read the Wikipedia article or Google her. It will be more fun.

disasterchick's review against another edition

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4.0

More of an inside look to our American Princess. I honestly did not know much about Meghan Markle, but have become more interested since she became engaged and now married to Prince Harry. Shortly before the wedding I have heard about her 1/2 siblings take on her and really questioned what kind of a person is she? From the book she seems like the perfect match for Harry. Had she not met him I have a feeling she would have been more like Angelina Jolie with her humanitarian efforts. It was also great to see how much more relaxed the royal family has become with welcoming new members, and not the isolation that Diana experience. It is sad to see the racism Meghan will still experience. I wish them both a lifetime of happiness together.

laileanah's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted slow-paced

1.25

 2022 Reread:
I'm rereading the books dealing with Meghan & Harry in anticipation of Harry's upcoming 'Spare' memoir. I'm trying to reread this gossipfest in the order they were published to track how opinions of the couple change. 
This is still abysmally awful.
That said the misogynoir that Meghan will continue to face in the UK is fully present in this text.
Morton judges Meghan for her drive and ambition while excusing and even praising those same traits in her ex-husband, Trevor Engelson. He also ignored that as a WOC Meghan was held to entirely different standards than Trevor. She couldn't show up to awards shows late and with rumpled clothes, it would negatively impact her career, while having zero impact on Trevor's.
It seems disingenuous at best, racist at worst, to not even mention that the couple's experience in Hollywood is impacted by their differing gender and race.
Also this is a money grabbing rehash of popular gossip blogs, just shameless.

Original 2018 Review:
Largely unsubstantiated gossip and tabloid standard. I like gossip and am nosey. Honestly this was not really that good.

sydredd's review against another edition

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informative inspiring slow-paced

2.0

manda_reads's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5 stars. Before beginning this book, I was really intrigued by the royal family, so I was excited to learn about the Duchess of Sussex. However, I found this book to be a bit too much like a research paper.

johnw613's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

4.0

A serviceable and sympathetic biography of the now Duchess of Sussex by a journalist who has been covering the Royal Family for over a generation. Morton covers the early life and acting career of Meghan Markle in some detail, up to the time immediately before her wedding to Prince Harry. Given the tumultuous events of 2020 and beyond the book is now in dire need of an update but the ground it covers is well examined. 

turtlemagix's review against another edition

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2.0

I am unabashedly obsessed with the Royal family, so after not knowing a whole lot about Meghan I decided to read this one. I felt like it left much to be desired, & after realizing it was released not long before the royal wedding this seems like a cash grab more than anything. I did really love the old school and family snapshots of her & her friends.