Prince Harry’s Memoir Faces Backlash Before Release

On November 3rd, Bethany Frankel stirred the pot on her podcast, Just Be, as she tackled the buzz surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The reality star wasted no time expressing her thoughts on Harry's upcoming memoir, Spare, which she believes has a rather unfortunate title.

Frankel suggested alternatives like Share or Overshare, arguing that the current label feels overly dramatic and self-pitying.

She noted, “No one wants to hear wealthy royal family members complain,” hinting at the disconnect between the Sussexes' experiences and public sentiment.

Frankel, who prides herself on her marketing savvy, critiqued the title's lack of appeal.

She feels that instead of dumping all their experiences in one go, Harry and Meghan should take a more measured approach, sharing snippets over time.

“I don't think they're making smart long-term business moves,” she remarked, suggesting that their strategy could backfire.

Her concerns echo those of royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, who believes the fallout from Harry's memoir might be significant.

Fitzwilliams pointed out that the memoir's sensational title implies that Harry may have felt undervalued or sidelined in his own narrative.

He cautioned that this could lead to serious repercussions, especially given the current climate within the royal family.

With King Charles just beginning his reign, the palace is likely anxious about the implications of Harry's raw honesty.

Interestingly, Frankel isn't alone in her skepticism.

She aligns with Fitzwilliams, suggesting that from a marketing perspective, the title Spare might not be the best choice.

Adding to the intrigue, Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca English revealed that the memoir's release date was pushed back to January 10th, surprising many in the publishing world who expected it to launch during the lucrative Christmas season.

English speculated that the delay could be due to logistical issues, particularly with the impending release of Michelle Obama's new book, The Light We Carry, set for November 15th.

It seems that Harry's team needed extra time to make changes, while also grappling with the challenges of book production in the U.S.

The competition with Obama's book may have played a role in the timing as well.

As if the situation couldn't get more complicated, reports indicate that Harry plans to return to the UK for promotional efforts related to Spare.

This comes despite his controversial remarks about the royal family, raising eyebrows about the effectiveness of such a PR strategy.

Meanwhile, the book has already been heavily discounted by major retailers, with prices slashed by 50%.

The heavy discounting raises questions about the book's reception among independent bookstores.

Many shop owners are hesitant to promote a title that is being sold at such a low price elsewhere.

Amanda Truman from Truman Books expressed her frustration, stating that it's tough to get excited about a book when chain stores are advertising it at half the price right after the announcement.

Janet Breakspear, owner of The Caution Bookshop, echoed these sentiments.

While she plans to stock a couple of copies of Spare, she remains unsure about its sales potential, given the significant discounts offered by Amazon and other large retailers.

“We don't discount books,” she said, indicating that her shop won't be participating in any special promotions for the memoir's release.

As the release date approaches, the anticipation surrounding Spare continues to build, albeit with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over it.

With mixed reactions from both the public and industry insiders, it's clear that Prince Harry's memoir is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about publications in recent memory.

Whether it will resonate with readers or be seen as a misstep remains to be seen.