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graceybookster's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.5
2.5 stars read via đ§Audiobookđ§
Ok so I went through a rollercoaster of a ride with this book. To begin with I was drawn in and found it heart wrenching hearing about the boys growing up and how the death of Diana affected them, hearing it from his perspective. It was clear Harry was traumatised and had PTSD from this long before the army. It broke my heart.
Then I was VERY bored through at least a third of the book because it was extremely Army heavy which is not something I relate to or am particularly interested in. I understand however that The Army was a huge part of Prince Harryâs life and a passion of his, but I felt this went on for much too long, giving us endless step by step commentaries on his tasks and procedures there. Probably great for army-minded people but not for me at all. I also did not like the talk of how many people heâd had to kill during his time there, describing them as âthe baddiesâ or âpawnsââŚ.BUT I can imagine he has been very conditioned to thinking this way with his upbringing and training so I guess I couldnât really blame him either for these thoughts. I donât agree with it, but I could see why heâd think this way.
I was then drawn back in after he left the army, with him openly speaking about his depression and anxiety. I commend him for that and more people should speak about it! I was then hooked until the end going through his journey of meeting Megan etc.
I know this book and his actions have caused a lot of controversy which has divided people, as some people strongly disagree with what him and Meg have done in regards to interviews and this book, but how else can they get their side heard if theyâve constantly been railroaded into silence and made to look like the bad guys? I do believe there are two sides to a story and have no doubt that ALOT of stuff has gone on behind closed doors we know nothing about and I wholeheartedly believe that there is a particular biased narrative thatâs spun by the establishment and press to make certain family members look good and others look bad. The monarchy have been controlled for years, and perhaps his side of the story is something that NEEDS to come out to break the cycle. Diana was berated and made out to be crazy when she was in fact telling the truth and desperate for help. She was a truth teller and people naturally HATE when truth is spoken against the grain, against the corruption and higher order! Well, Iâm sorry but Prince Harry has a right to speak about whatâs happened to him and Megan. He has a right to share his side. Him and Megan and his CHILDREN are HUMAN BEINGS.
The press, paparazzi and media are honestly the most disgusting and vile cretins on this earth. Look how it ended for Diana. KILLED FOR A STORY AND A PICTURE. Making a buck out of peoples misery and harassment has become a norm that shouldnât be normalised or accepted! Itâs criminal, inhumane and causes so much pain and anxiety. It shouldnât be allowed. Especially racism. Period. So I make him right for speaking out! I couldnât believe some of the things I was hearing with how manipulative and gaslighty the institution is. All for the sake of appearances which is what it boils down to. Absolutely ridiculous.
People deserve to be happy, they deserve freedom to live their lives without constant bombardment of cameras, scrutiny and bullying. They have a right to feel safe and not just thrown to the wolves, royal or not!
The reason I gave it a low rating was because of the huge section I found tedious. I also found the audiobook recording to be quite sloppy - Harryâs voice changing in tone on occasions due to different recordings being pieced together which also had mistakes. I donât think that was down to him though, more the editors and producers of the recording. I did also find his voice very monotone which again made me shut off a bit, I often had to rewind sections repeatedly because Iâd drifted away and gotten lost lol but I did find some of the writing really good with clever imagery and metaphors, which helped bring his world and feelings to the foreground.
Harry has undoubtedly grown up very privileged and has a lots of naivety due to being so sheltered and controlled throughout his life. I do however think he recognises this and has admitted to making mistakes but has also learnt from them and tried to make amends and be better. Overall I found the book quite sad, to be born as an object, a âspareâ must have been so difficult and confusing to deal with. Messed up really, but I do hope one day there can be a resolve between him and his brother at least.
Ok so I went through a rollercoaster of a ride with this book. To begin with I was drawn in and found it heart wrenching hearing about the boys growing up and how the death of Diana affected them, hearing it from his perspective. It was clear Harry was traumatised and had PTSD from this long before the army. It broke my heart.
Then I was VERY bored through at least a third of the book because it was extremely Army heavy which is not something I relate to or am particularly interested in. I understand however that The Army was a huge part of Prince Harryâs life and a passion of his, but I felt this went on for much too long, giving us endless step by step commentaries on his tasks and procedures there. Probably great for army-minded people but not for me at all. I also did not like the talk of how many people heâd had to kill during his time there, describing them as âthe baddiesâ or âpawnsââŚ.BUT I can imagine he has been very conditioned to thinking this way with his upbringing and training so I guess I couldnât really blame him either for these thoughts. I donât agree with it, but I could see why heâd think this way.
I was then drawn back in after he left the army, with him openly speaking about his depression and anxiety. I commend him for that and more people should speak about it! I was then hooked until the end going through his journey of meeting Megan etc.
I know this book and his actions have caused a lot of controversy which has divided people, as some people strongly disagree with what him and Meg have done in regards to interviews and this book, but how else can they get their side heard if theyâve constantly been railroaded into silence and made to look like the bad guys? I do believe there are two sides to a story and have no doubt that ALOT of stuff has gone on behind closed doors we know nothing about and I wholeheartedly believe that there is a particular biased narrative thatâs spun by the establishment and press to make certain family members look good and others look bad. The monarchy have been controlled for years, and perhaps his side of the story is something that NEEDS to come out to break the cycle. Diana was berated and made out to be crazy when she was in fact telling the truth and desperate for help. She was a truth teller and people naturally HATE when truth is spoken against the grain, against the corruption and higher order! Well, Iâm sorry but Prince Harry has a right to speak about whatâs happened to him and Megan. He has a right to share his side. Him and Megan and his CHILDREN are HUMAN BEINGS.
The press, paparazzi and media are honestly the most disgusting and vile cretins on this earth. Look how it ended for Diana. KILLED FOR A STORY AND A PICTURE. Making a buck out of peoples misery and harassment has become a norm that shouldnât be normalised or accepted! Itâs criminal, inhumane and causes so much pain and anxiety. It shouldnât be allowed. Especially racism. Period. So I make him right for speaking out! I couldnât believe some of the things I was hearing with how manipulative and gaslighty the institution is. All for the sake of appearances which is what it boils down to. Absolutely ridiculous.
People deserve to be happy, they deserve freedom to live their lives without constant bombardment of cameras, scrutiny and bullying. They have a right to feel safe and not just thrown to the wolves, royal or not!
The reason I gave it a low rating was because of the huge section I found tedious. I also found the audiobook recording to be quite sloppy - Harryâs voice changing in tone on occasions due to different recordings being pieced together which also had mistakes. I donât think that was down to him though, more the editors and producers of the recording. I did also find his voice very monotone which again made me shut off a bit, I often had to rewind sections repeatedly because Iâd drifted away and gotten lost lol but I did find some of the writing really good with clever imagery and metaphors, which helped bring his world and feelings to the foreground.
Harry has undoubtedly grown up very privileged and has a lots of naivety due to being so sheltered and controlled throughout his life. I do however think he recognises this and has admitted to making mistakes but has also learnt from them and tried to make amends and be better. Overall I found the book quite sad, to be born as an object, a âspareâ must have been so difficult and confusing to deal with. Messed up really, but I do hope one day there can be a resolve between him and his brother at least.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Miscarriage
blissofalife's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
It felt simultaneously full of emotion and emotionless, burnout personified. Straightforward, no beating around the bush. It feels wrong to say I enjoyed listening to it, to hearing Prince Harry lay his life out for all to see, but it was well done. I would recommend the audiobook for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Racism, Miscarriage, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Car accident, Racial slurs, Stalking, Death, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
The saying âAn heir and a spareâ is one that haunts Prince Harry. It is one that his father referred to him when he was born and one that has haunted him his entire life. Feeling as though he his existence is to always be a backup in the eyes of his family, a formality.
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I do not follow the royal family close, I am a person who is very thankful to not live under a monarchy and after reading this I am even more thankful not to live under one.
It is sad how much Harry and William went through growing up with the death of their mother, and the lack of mental health help provided to them was shameful. Prince Harry spent his life tortured and haunted by the media.
The only thing about the book that Prince Harry contradicted himself on was he hated people who wrote âtell alls âexposing things. And this book was a âtell allâ.
I hope Harry and Megan find peace away from the monarchy and press like the hope.
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I do not follow the royal family close, I am a person who is very thankful to not live under a monarchy and after reading this I am even more thankful not to live under one.
It is sad how much Harry and William went through growing up with the death of their mother, and the lack of mental health help provided to them was shameful. Prince Harry spent his life tortured and haunted by the media.
The only thing about the book that Prince Harry contradicted himself on was he hated people who wrote âtell alls âexposing things. And this book was a âtell allâ.
I hope Harry and Megan find peace away from the monarchy and press like the hope.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Racism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use
syza17's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gun violence, Classism, and Racism
enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I want to preface this by stressing I am not a âroyal watcher,â meaning I have never been one to keep up with the British royals. Although, I do my best to keep up with the Kardashians, I had no desire to watch their speeches, track their appearances, or follow their lives. But when Harry and Meghanâs relationship went public, I took interest. A real-life American princess love story, just like The Prince & Me!
Not only was a British Prince dating an American, but she was mixed race. Though I myself am as white as they come, I can understand and appreciate Harry and Meghanâs ground-breaking relationship. There was a real opportunity to unite the Commonwealth, most of them being predominately black countries, and bring the ancient royal institution into the modern era. So I started paying attention. Many of the interviews they gave, the life milestone announcements, etc., I tried to keep tabs on them. It didnât hurt that they were relaxed with one another, cracked jokes, and were a generally likeable couple.
Eventually, I saw their sparkle start to dim, especially Megâs. It wasnât until after reading Harryâs book and watching their Netflix docuseries, I realized the power and viciousness of the British tabloid press. They called Megâs race, morality, intellect, and physical appearance into question. They essentially stripped Harry and Meghanâs relationship of everything that made it unique and good to replace it with false narratives vilifying Meghan, in particular.
Overall, Harryâs detailed account of his life is an important read for anyone interested in the life of a British royal, the burden of being a person in the public eye, what a life in dedication to service (both in the military and to the betterment of the world), and how it feels to fall in love with your person. Harryâs candor about the brutal and relentless obsession of the British tabloid press as well as the racial and xenophobic undertones of his and Megâs relationship, is appreciated and fascinating to read. Regardless of how you feel about the royals, his story is one to root for and this new chapter of his life might prove to unveil the best version of Harry the world has ever seen.
Not only was a British Prince dating an American, but she was mixed race. Though I myself am as white as they come, I can understand and appreciate Harry and Meghanâs ground-breaking relationship. There was a real opportunity to unite the Commonwealth, most of them being predominately black countries, and bring the ancient royal institution into the modern era. So I started paying attention. Many of the interviews they gave, the life milestone announcements, etc., I tried to keep tabs on them. It didnât hurt that they were relaxed with one another, cracked jokes, and were a generally likeable couple.
Eventually, I saw their sparkle start to dim, especially Megâs. It wasnât until after reading Harryâs book and watching their Netflix docuseries, I realized the power and viciousness of the British tabloid press. They called Megâs race, morality, intellect, and physical appearance into question. They essentially stripped Harry and Meghanâs relationship of everything that made it unique and good to replace it with false narratives vilifying Meghan, in particular.
Overall, Harryâs detailed account of his life is an important read for anyone interested in the life of a British royal, the burden of being a person in the public eye, what a life in dedication to service (both in the military and to the betterment of the world), and how it feels to fall in love with your person. Harryâs candor about the brutal and relentless obsession of the British tabloid press as well as the racial and xenophobic undertones of his and Megâs relationship, is appreciated and fascinating to read. Regardless of how you feel about the royals, his story is one to root for and this new chapter of his life might prove to unveil the best version of Harry the world has ever seen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, War, and Stalking
jamie_rich's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Car accident, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting
danimcthomas's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Beautifully told and enlightening. I knew nothing about the royal family going in. I found the book very sad overall, but it feels hopeful, too. Iâm sure itâs biased in some ways, but Harry seems to be very Frank and honest about his own failings as well as his familyâs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, Drug use, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Racism, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
alicer718's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I felt I had to read this being a monarchist and having seen most of the Harry and Meghan stuff first hand and being absolutely horrified by it. The book was really interesting and informative it has made me see the entire situation in a different light and has really killed what little trust I had in the press and the âtruthsâ they tell
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Cursing, Grief, Racial slurs, and Drug use
Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death, Bullying, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
aharper's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, War, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
notanniewarren's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
Oh bloody HELL. Look, except for occasionally getting tearful when I think about how much Princess Diana would have made an amazing Drag Race judge, I'm not really interested in Price Harry or any of the monarchy. HOWEVER. For better or for worse, I am a citizen of the UK and therefore the monarchy does affect me and so while I don't have an opinion on Prince Harry as a person, I think it probably does serve me to be informed about the royal family, at least in a broad sense. There were a lot of things in here that I didn't need to know but in general it was actually better than I thought it would be. I have so many thoughts about this book, too many to write down here - there were bits that amused me and moved me, bits that bored me, shocked me, and bits I rolled my eyes at - but mostly it made me sure that being born into the monarchy is a human rights violation. Haz went further than I thought he would with his condemnations, but not as far as I would have liked.
PS. Absolutely hilarious that he wanted to start his book with a quote and admits in the introduction that he found it on brainyquote.com
PS. Absolutely hilarious that he wanted to start his book with a quote and admits in the introduction that he found it on brainyquote.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, War, Racism, and Racial slurs