#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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416 pages

Average rating: 7.03

801 RATINGS

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57 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Barbara ~
Dec 11, 2024
6/10 stars
“Why did Prince Harry write this book,” many asked? Simple put, because his father and brother were both not understanding why. They really didn’t know why he chose to leave England. This was the only way they pay attention to hearing him out rather than speaking over him. Prince Harry realized they didn't know him, at all.

Between the egos, jealousies, self deprecation, post-traumatic stress, mourning the loss of his mum, constantly losing his girl friends due to the intense intrusion by the paparazzi into their lives, Camilla, it’s all too much.

Thankfully, he did have very close knit people in his life. In Botswana, he hasTeej and Mike.

They never censored him. When Camilla’s spin doctor PR person used him as a scape goat to boost King Charles and her popularity with the people, Prince Harry could not defend himself against the allegations. Naively he thought his family would issue a statement indicating it’s slander against him. He was told to ignore and not let it get to him. Yet King Charles & Prince Willy as Prince Harry calls his brother, go into a fury if they or their spouses are in a bad light with the papers.

At first when Prince Charles was met Megan, he found her absolutely delightful. In fact , he was quite a show boyish“ around her. When Queen Elizabeth passed, Prince Charles requested Harry to come alone and spike negatively about Meg. Prince Harry was stunned and stood up for his wife. Prince William just avoided Prince Harry’s phone calls and barely acknowledged Harry at Grams funeral.

Family and monarch turn apart due to being naive and huge egos.

Life isn’t all fairy tales. By the way, Gran Gran gives terrible advice. Even when it pertains to protocol.
SKALDSWE
Nov 21, 2024
2/10 stars
Didn't like
Carla_is_Reading
Oct 24, 2024
2/10 stars
I had to DNF I think that his experience is so rich and deep. I acknowledge his pain and his hurts. As a spectator in the general public, I am intrigued of the weight of his decisions specifically with his royal family. I picked this book up knowing it would be a Non Fiction biographical read.
I already have a hard time with these type of books.
But ultimately I feel the need to DNF. I have deep rooted feelings as well, in particular with the royal family and the benefits they still reap with colonization.
I cant sit comfortable with myself in tuning into this book. I still will remain a silent spectator and will cheer for his mental health and stability.
At the end of the day he still believes in the monarchy, such an outdated system that still actively ignores the white supremacy thread and backbone of it.

But as a fellow human that has also experienced trauma I see his experience and acknowledge how far he has come.
ljzsreadsandreviews
Oct 22, 2024
6/10 stars
I’ve never been real invested in the royal family and haven’t known much about them, but there are a few things I did know before reading this book. One - Princess Diana was beloved and lost too early. two - Queen Elizabeth II was the longest serving British monarch. and three - prince harry married an American Actress and left England. So, knowing really only those three items, this memoir was enlightening. First off, the title alludes to so much. Prince Harry simply exists to be a backup heir to his brother and that is an incredibly sad way to think of a child. In fact that was my general takeaway from the whole thing - how can human beings be treated this way. Royal life does not seem at all glamorous or something anyone should be dreaming of. The way the paparazzi treated Diana, and harry and then Meghan is just sad. and then the family not defending it, or in ways even supporting t is even crazier. This is a highly interesting read but it was a little long in the story telling for my liking. It was cool to see how “normal” a prince really is and I’m happy he was able to separate his family from what royalty was always having to endure.
Anonymous
Oct 17, 2024
8/10 stars
That boy deserved better and bless him for doing the hard thing. 4 ⭐️

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