Meghan: A Hollywood Princess

Author: Andrew Morton
Genre: Biography
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2018
Pages: 272
Rating: Do Not Recommend

Synopsis: Women who smash the royal mold have always fascinated the public, from Grace Kelly to Pricess Diana. Now acclaimed royal biographer Andrew Morton, the New York Times bestselling author of Diana: Her True Story, brings us a revealing, juicy, and inspiring look at Meghan Markle, the confident and charismatic duchess whose warm and affectionate engagement interview won the hearts of the world.

When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were set up by a mutual friend on a blind date in July 2016, little did they know that the resulting whirlwind romance would lead to their engagement in November 2017 and marriage in May 2018.

Morton goes back to Meghan's roots to uncover the story of her childhood growing up in The Valley in Los Angeles, her studies at an all-girls Catholic school, and her fraught family life-a painful experience mirrored by Henry's own background. Morton also delves into her previous marriage and divorce in 2013, her struggles in Hollywood as her mixed heritage was used against her, her big break in the hit TV show Suits, and her work for a humanitarian ambassador-the latter so reminiscent of Princess Diana's passions. Finally we see how the royal romance played out across two continents but was fiercely kept secret, before the news finally broke and Meghan was thrust into the global media's spotlight.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with her family members and closest friends, and including never-before-seen photographs, Morton introduces us to the real Meghan as he reflects on the impact that she has already had on the rigid traditions of the House of Windsor, as well as what the future might hold.

Review: I'm a huge Kate Middleton fan, but I want to love Meghan too. However, this book did her no favors. Morton didn't always show her in the most favorable light, and while I give Meghan props for climbing as she did, she hurt a lot of people in the process.

As only 272 pages, this should have been a fast read, and some chapters were. Overall, I give this five yawns ;-)