Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: I think it's self-explanatory, literally one of the most hyped books of 2023.

Overall rating: I've said it before and I'll probably say it with every memoir/autobiography I ever read and review on here - I find it hard to rate these books because I am just thankful the individual chose to share their interpretation of their life with us readers. I think we all need to take a step back when we read memoirs/autobiographies and remember that everyone experiences, responds to, and remembers things differently. Unless you are the person or people directly living that experience, you have no room to lay speculation on the absolute truth of a situation. Additionally, the story within the pages is the author's recollection and feelings on a specific subject and place in time. It's not what you may have read in the tabloids. It's not what you saw on a talk show. It's not who you perceived this person to be via their social media presence. It's them. How they felt at that time and how they interpreted that feeling (and wanted us to interpret the feeling through reading) at the time they wrote the book.

Phew, all that aside...I enjoyed 'Spare.' I'll be honest, I'm not a huge royal family follower. I know general things but I'm not keeping up with their daily activity or following them for their latest faux paux. I like the raw, emotional way Prince Harry approached the writing for 'Spare.' I do find it a bit hard to believe the Palace wasn't at least partially aware of what was going on with the writing of the book - either formally or informally - everything seemed a bit like a calculated showing rather than a tell-all, but I think they did a great job making it enough substance and enough secrets that it kept it an interesting read. I would recommend 'Spare' and am definitely happy I was able to cross it off my TBR.

Reader's Note: 'Spare' includes themes of drug use, death, harassment, war, and an extensive telling of a frost-bitten penis.