#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Discover the global phenomenon that tells an unforgettable story of love, loss, courage, and healing. “Compellingly artful . . . [a] blockbuster memoir.”—The New Yorker (Best Books of the Year) 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.

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Published Jan 10, 2023

416 pages

Average rating: 7.07

965 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Spare* is an honest, often lengthy memoir that offers a rare, personal glimpse behind royal headlines. While some find it slow or repetit...

RM
7/10 stars
I enjoyed reading about Harry’s childhood and his memories of his Mom. I have always been a huge Diana fan. I didn’t know about heir vs spare until I read this book. I know there are 2 sides to every story and I read this with an open mind. Makes me really glad that I was not born into a royal family.
ReadingBTWines
8/10 stars
Although I am Canadian, I really did not follow along with the Royals, and knew very little about Harry going into this book. I found it to be an honest and open book that is full of sadness, humour, love, and everything in between. I felt that Harry provided a look at his life that many would not see. It changed my perspective of him and left me with a tremendous respect for his honesty and personal hardships.
Angelica Garcia
6/10 stars
It’s way too long, buuuuut I think it’s only fair that him tell his side of the story after being treated so awful in UK and in general . I don’t understand why people think this heirs owe them approval of their private life . The Royal family sounds pretty shitty even before this book . Kudos for him for break free (even if he was kind of forced by the lack of support)
LadyAmandaW
2/10 stars
DNF. The writing wasn’t good. I kept losing interest and couldn’t be bothered to pick it back up. The furthest I read in the book was him going to boarding school the first time.
Booknerd20
10/10 stars
Love Love Love this book and the Audible version.

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