Prince Harry’s memoir Spare has suffered a blow ahead of Christmas, as the book has hit a troubling new milestone—becoming the most traded-in biography of 2024.
This negative achievement follows a string of controversies since the memoir’s release, where it became the fastest-selling book of all time in 2023.
Despite its initial success, recent reports suggest that Spare is now losing its appeal with readers, with many opting to sell their copies just months after purchasing them.
Released in January 2023, Spare quickly became an international bestseller, breaking records by selling 1.4 million copies in its first day across the UK, US, and Canada, according to its publisher, Penguin Random House.
The book, which chronicled Prince Harry’s life within the Royal Family, including explosive claims about his family members, his relationship with his brother, Prince William, and his personal struggles, created a media frenzy.
The candid and controversial revelations made Spare a must-read for many, leading to its massive initial success.
However, the book’s reception took a turn after the initial excitement wore off. The memoir’s paperback edition, released in October 2023, did not replicate the success of its hardback release.
According to figures from The Bookseller, the paperback sold only 1,809 copies in its first week in the UK and an additional 3,391 copies the following week.
These sales figures were far below expectations for a book that had once been the talk of the media world.
Fast forward to 2024, and the book has now achieved a less glamorous milestone—it has become the most traded-in biography of the year.
We Buy Books, a website that buys second-hand books, revealed that Spare topped the list of traded-in biographies for the second year in a row.
In 2024 alone, the website purchased 567 copies of the book. This number reflects not only the growing disinterest in the book but also its fall from grace in the public eye.
The spokesperson for the site commented, “For the second year running, Prince Harry’s Spare is the most traded-in biography of 2024,” further emphasizing the book’s waning popularity.
While Spare initially commanded a high retail price—£28 for the hardback edition at retailers like Waterstones—it is now being sold for a fraction of that value in second-hand markets.
According to We Buy Books, the website offered just £3.38 for a second-hand hardback copy of Spare. This price has created a stark contrast to the book’s original retail value, illustrating the dramatic decline in demand.
As for the paperback edition, the website is reportedly offering only 75p for it, even though it is now retailing for £8.99 at stores like Waterstones, down from its original price of £10.99.
This drastic devaluation underscores the book’s current lack of appeal in the market.
Despite its initial success, the public’s interest in Spare has significantly dropped. The paperback edition’s dismal sales numbers further suggest that readers are growing tired of the book, perhaps feeling that the revelations have already been digested by the public.
The book’s themes—Harry’s troubled relationship with his family, his military service, and his personal struggles—were already heavily publicized through interviews and media coverage before the memoir’s release, which may have contributed to the lack of continued interest.
Additionally, the memoir’s controversial nature has likely played a role in its declining popularity.
While many were initially captivated by Harry’s candid portrayal of life within the Royal Family, some readers may have been put off by the aggressive tone and the detailed personal accusations against family members, especially with the publication of Spare and Harry’s subsequent media appearances.
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As the public moves on to newer stories and books, the legacy of Spare has been marked more by its controversies than by any lasting literary significance.
The negative reception of Spare reflects broader challenges for Prince Harry’s public image. His decision to publish a tell-all memoir and make personal accusations against his family members drew both support and backlash.
For some, the book was an opportunity for Harry to speak his truth and share his side of the story. For others, the book marked a betrayal of the Royal Family’s private matters, leading to criticism of his actions.
The trading-in of Spare only adds to the growing sense that the public is turning away from the Duke of Sussex and his increasingly controversial actions.
Despite his desire to return to the UK and seek reconciliation with his family, as recent reports suggest, Prince Harry faces the difficult task of rebuilding his reputation not just with the Royal Family, but also with the public.
The continued decline in sales and interest in Spare only adds to the challenges Harry faces in the coming years as he navigates his complex relationship with the monarchy and the media.
The story of Spare is not just about a book’s rise and fall; it reflects a shifting public narrative surrounding Prince Harry.
While he may have once been seen as a sympathetic figure—trapped within the constraints of royal life—his decisions to publicly air the family’s grievances and open up about personal struggles have shifted the tone of public opinion.
With the book’s diminishing sales, it seems the public is moving on, leaving Harry’s memoir behind as a part of the past.
As Christmas 2024 approaches, Prince Harry’s reputation and the legacy of Spare are likely to continue to evolve.
Whether he will find a way to redeem himself in the eyes of the public or whether the narrative surrounding him will continue to be shaped by controversies remains to be seen.
For now, the book’s new status as the most traded-in biography of 2024 is a stark reminder of how quickly public opinion can change, even for a global bestseller.
