Many readers found the book boring, repetitive, and poorly written, resulting in low ratings on platforms like Goodreads and Amazon. Expert analysis reveals that Harry's book secured the fourth-lowest rating among popular authors in the past three years, with an average score of 0.5 out of five. In stark contrast, legends like Sir Paul McCartney achieved an impressive score of 4.75 out of five for his book, "The Lyrics," also published by Penguin Random House. The poor reception directly impacted sales, with "Spare" selling only 200,000 copies worldwide, while "The Lyrics" exceeded 2 million copies and topped bestseller lists in the UK and the US.
The disappointing performance of Harry's book inflicted a significant financial loss on Penguin Random House, which had invested at least $20 million in advance payments for the memoir. The publisher hoped for global success but faced a costly mistake and a PR nightmare instead. Sources reveal that the publisher is now demanding the return of the advance or a substantial portion, citing Harry's failure to meet expectations.
Adding to the predicament, Harry's refusal to collaborate and promote the book, including interviews or events, further disappointed the publisher. Sources claim that Harry shifted blame to the publisher, accusing them of leaking the book to the press before its release date, damaging its reputation and sales.
The fallout from the memoir has strained Harry's relationship with Meghan, who is reportedly furious about him revealing their private life in the book. Meghan, with her own book deal with Penguin Random House, feared the impact on her own prospects and reputation. The memoir also strained Harry's ties with his family and country, leading to calls for him to be stripped of royal titles and privileges. The public response underscores that Harry's memoir, intended to cement his Hollywood dreams, instead damaged his reputation, leaving him with little support, and revealing him as a self-centered individual lacking a sense of duty or loyalty.
