What I’ve Been Reading: March 2023

Hello!

I always enjoy reading about what people others have been reading, and I like ending the month sharing what I’ve read as well.

Well, this month I felt like I read a bit more even though I still kept up with my three books a month average. The month started off strong because I had only my Kindle to entertain me for five straight days with now power. I thought I’d get some more reading in this past week but with not feeling well, I really didn’t feel like it. Anyway, it was still a good month of reading.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Spare:

Summary:

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Quick Thoughts:

You know I love the British royal family. I was excited to read this book. I didn’t necessarily want to buy it, so I’m glad the library copy became available without waiting too long.

With the Royals, I’ve always been the most interested in William, Harry, and Kate. When Harry found Meghan, I thought that quartet would be perfect together.

Overall, I thought this book was interesting. I enjoyed hearing Harry’s point of view. Honestly, this book just kind of made me sad. I was disappointed to learn that Harry and William aren’t (were never?) as close as I assumed they were. Also, the fact that the family is so businesslike and formal all them time was disheartening. Harry seems to really still be struggling with so much that happened in his life. With Meghan, it seems he’s found his “safe place,” where he can do the introspective work and make his own family and future.

While I see his point that the media will spin things however they want and that others have “had their say” so it’s his turn, there did seem to be some family dirty laundry aired.

Overall, I’m glad that I read it. I will still keep up with the ins and outs of Kensington Palace, but I do hope the family can unite again.

Rating:

Wrong Place Wrong Time:

Summary:

Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?

Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.

You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.

That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake… and it is yesterday.

And then you wake again… and it is the day before yesterday.

Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it…

Quick Thoughts:

I picked up this book because I thought I’d read other books by McAllister, but I actually don’t think that I have? Anyway, this book was really interesting.

The plot of this book moved backwards in time which took a while to wrap my brain around. To me, it was a page turner because I wanted to get to the end to see what the “trigger” for the crime was. This book was suspenseful, and I definitely enjoyed it.

Rating:

Majesty:

Summary:

Is America ready for its first queen?

Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we’re looking at you Daphne Deighton.

As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her “party princess” persona…and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace–and Prince Jefferson–at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne’s carefully laid “marry Prince Jefferson” plans.

A new reign has begun….

Quick Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (American Royals), but I’d forgotten to continue on with the series. This book was a “suggestion” on the library app, so I figured I’d pick up reading where I left off with book one.

This series is young adult-ish and easy to read. I love reading the modern day American spin on royalty. This book focuses on Beatrice becoming Queen and her impending marriage. There are quite a few characters and sometimes this reads as a “soap opera” with who likes whom, but still a good read.

I think I’m going to go ahead and read book 3 (Rivals) while Majesty is fresh in my mind.

Rating:

Also…

This month I gave up on The Family Remains. I read about 40% of it and wanted to keep going because I liked The Family Upstairs. But, I finally just threw in the towel. I rarely give up on a book, but I just figured if I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, why keep reading? Then, I moved on to Majesty.

While I didn’t have any five star books this month, these three were all different and good choices for me.

What have you been reading?