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Prince Harry’s “Spare” Faces Major Backlash as Ratings Plummet
In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry's autobiography, “Spare,” has been labeled one of the lowest-rated celebrity books in recent memory.
This revelation comes from research conducted by QR Expert's QR Code Generator, which analyzed ratings from popular platforms like Goodreads and Amazon.
Despite the book's numerous allegations against senior members of the royal family, it seems that the publishing company might be the real winner in this scenario, according to the data.
The analysis showcased some impressive titles, with Sir Paul McCartney's “The Lyrics 1956 to Present” taking the crown as the highest-rated celebrity book, boasting an impressive score of 4.75 out of 5.
Following closely were works by BTS and Cicely Tyson, which secured the second and third spots, respectively.
Other notable mentions included Michelle Obama and Billy Connolly, rounding out the top ten.
However, “Spare” struggled to make a mark, landing far down the list as the fourth lowest-rated celebrity book in the last three years, with a rating of just 3.99.
Adding to the book's woes, it has also been dubbed the most discarded book of 2023.
Reports indicate that copies of “Spare” have been found abandoned in various locations—left behind in hotel rooms, tossed into bins, and even discarded by poolside lounges across Europe, including popular destinations like Spain, Greece, and Turkey.
Earlier reports revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had signed a lucrative four-book deal with Penguin Random House, estimated to be worth between $35 to $40 million.
This means that Harry's advance for “Spare” was only a fraction of that amount, roughly between $9 to $10 million.
However, whispers in the industry suggest that Penguin Random House is now seeking to recoup that advance, claiming Harry violated his contract by contradicting statements made during his witness testimony in a phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers.
The fallout from “Spare” has raised questions about the financial implications for Penguin Random House, which reportedly lost a significant sum on the project.
In an effort to boost sales, the publisher even distributed free copies and audiobooks, but this strategy seems to have fallen flat.
Notably, Harry received no nominations for his audiobook, a rarity for authors who narrate their own works, and his documentary also failed to garner any nominations, further indicating a lack of interest from audiences.
Critics have not been shy about expressing their disdain for Harry and Meghan, suggesting that their popularity has dwindled significantly in Hollywood circles.
Some have even remarked on the irony of Harry's situation, with one commenter sarcastically noting their surprise that “Spare” has any ratings above one star on Amazon.
Speculation arises that fake five-star reviews may have been orchestrated by social media bots associated with Meghan.
Recent articles have highlighted the uphill battle “Spare” faces in terms of sales.
Reports indicate that the book needed to sell twice as many hardcovers to recoup the advance paid to Harry.
While initial sales figures reported $1.2 million, experts estimate that the publisher would need around $2.7 million in sales to break even, raising concerns about the financial viability of the book.
As the dust settles, many are left wondering how much Harry has actually contributed to the charities he promised to support.