Prince Harry’s autobiography, “Spare,” has been identified as one of the lowest-rated celebrity books, according to research conducted by QR Code Generator.
The book, which contained damaging allegations against senior members of the royal family, seems to have fallen short in terms of public reception.
QR Code Generator experts analyzed ratings on Goodreads and Amazon to determine the top celebrity book over the past three years.
Sir Paul McCartney’s “The Lyrics, 1956-present” claimed the first-place spot with an impressive overall rating of 4.75 out of 5.
BTS and Cicely Tyson secured second and third place, respectively, while Michelle Obama and Billy Connolly also made it to the top 10.
However, Prince Harry’s “Spare” dropped significantly in the rankings, landing within the bottom 50.
With a rating of 3.9 out of 5, Harry was named the fourth lowest-rated celebrity author in the last three years.
A spokesperson for QR Code Generator highlighted the appeal of reading books about celebrity authors, whether as fans or out of curiosity, as they offer a glimpse into their unique journeys, fostering a sense of intimacy and connection with readers.
In the context of book selling, ratings play a crucial role as a key metric for readers to assess the quality and appeal of a book.
Positive ratings instill confidence in potential readers, contributing to increased discoverability and visibility in online marketplaces and bookstores.
Furthermore, positive or negative word of mouth, often fueled by ratings, becomes a powerful driver of sales as readers recommend books to others.
Ratings provide readers with a quick and accessible way to make informed decisions about which books to purchase.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a lucrative four-book deal with Penguin Random House worth $35-40 million.
This means that Harry’s advance for “Spare” was approximately one-fourth of the total amount, ranging from $9-10 million, although some reports speculate that he received as much as $20 million.
JL Moringa, his ghostwriter, reportedly received a million-dollar advance as well.
However, considering the numbers, it appears that Penguin Random House may have overpaid.
Calculations indicate that Harry would have had to sell over twice the original price of $36, equivalent to 2.7 million copies, to earn back his advance.
Adding to the challenges faced by “Spare,” it has been deemed the most abandoned book of 2023.
The 416-page diatribe has reportedly been left behind in various locations across Europe, including hotel rooms, bins, and poolside areas in Spain, Greece, and Turkey.
Tour operator On The Beach revealed that it has already received 100 copies of the autobiography from hotel workers this summer alone, despite the school holidays just beginning.
Zoe Harris, Chief Customer Officer at On The Beach, expressed her surprise, stating, “We’ve never witnessed anything quite like it.”
She further explained that the company now has bookcases filled with copies of “Spare” and has been compelled to ask hotels to halt the return of these books, jesting, “Maybe we should take a leaf out of Harry’s book and spare ourselves the bother in the first place.”
Moreover, Penguin Random House may have incurred significant losses as they distributed numerous copies of “Spare” and its audiobook for free in an attempt to boost sales.
Despite their efforts, Harry’s audiobook failed to receive any nominations, which speaks volumes about its reception.
Rumors suggest that Penguin Random House’s CEO is furious with Harry and may even consider terminating their deal due to Harry’s involvement in providing dramatic content for Omid Scobie’s book, “Endgame.”